starbox189

I own an Magellan Explorist XL and a Garmin 60CS. Both have routable street mapping. I notice, however, that the Garmin City Select has considerably larger library of helpful POI's than the Magellan DirectRoue. Are there any 3rd party collections of POI's out there that I could download to supplement to the ones in the DirectRoue library, or am I stuck with what I get in these programs?

I have an Explorist XL. I'm thinking about getting a 2GB SD card. Can I put maps from different Mapsend software programs, such as DirectRoute, 3D TOPO and Blue Nav XL3 on to the same SD card?? Also, can I down load maps directly into the SD card from the SD slot on my computer, or does it have to be loaded throught the XL unit via the USB connection cable?

Not sure if you are beeing ironic here. Clarification: I don't own an eXplorist and I never had one im my hand. However, basically all the reviews I read about this series point the problems of screen reading under sunlight as a Con for the unit. On my XL unit atleast, you can't see the screen without the backlight on. My 60CS is perfectly readable without the backlight on.

I currently have a Garmin 60CS with current versions of TOPO, City Select and Blue Chart. It has always served me well, except that I wish the screen was bigger and it had expandable memory. I bought an Explorist XL for the big screen and the expandable memory a few days ago. I bought Direct Route v3, too. I would like to try the 3D TOPO to see what it is like. The large screen is GREAT, however, I find that I need the backlight on all the time in order to see it, thus wearing down the battery faster. I also find that the software is not as sofisticated as that of Garmin and it doesn't have as an extensive a list of included POI's as that of Garmin. The XL locks on to a fix much faster and holds it much better that the 60CS. I know that the 60CSx would be as good as the XL in that regard. I'm debating whether to exchange it for a new 60CSx. These units are quite different, however, the pro's and con's of each unit sort of balance out with me. Any one with experience with these to units? What do you think?

I just bought a new Explorist XL. I had to contact customer service to resolve a special offer on 3D TOPO. The phone was answered by a human within a minute or so. They immediately acknowledged the problem and recitified it with me. I called back the next day and within a minute got another human and they gave me the tracking number of the new software. Their service was very professional and courtious.

Magellan's FAQ web site states that their software applications can only be used on one GPS unit. If I purchase several different types of software and use it with certain handheld unit, what happens if in the future I either sell or lose that particular GPS unit? Can I use the same software on a new replacement unit or do I have to repurchase all new software all over again for use with a new unit? I know Garmin allows their software applications to be used with two units registered to the same owner.

Comp-U-Plus is selling Explorist XL's for $304 and they claim you can get the new 3D Topo for only $10. There is a rebate that you can download regarding this offer. It says that it you buy an XL from them (this may also apply to other Explorist models as well) and register it with Magellan, you will be able to get the 3D Topo for only $10. It doesn't say exactly how this transaction is supposed to happen or whether it comes from magellan or Comp-U-Plus. There is nothing on Magellan's web site about this. I just bought an XL from them and just registered on Magellan's web site. There was no indication about this offer after I registered. Is this for real or is it an advertizing scam by Comp-U-Plus? Has anybody actually received this for $10??

Currently have: Garmin 60SC (fabulous unit) Street Pilot c330 (great unit) Magellan Explorist XL (just ordered it today-wanted a big screen with removeable data card) Used to have (starting with the first): Trimble Ensign (great unit) Eagle (Lowrance) Map Pro (I think that was it's name-great unit) Magellan Meridian Marine (not crazy about it) Garmin 1620 with Dell Axim (piece of s**t) Lowrance i350 (not crazy about it)

I just purchased an Explorist XL from Comp-U-Plus with DirectRoute 3.0 and Topo 3D. I sure hope I like it. Do you find that the XL locks onto a fix and holds it as well as the 60Cx?

For a relatively small company, Lowrance is fabulous and cutting edge. I used to own their first mapping unit that could download from their CD of marine maps. I think it was a Map Pro, or something like that. It came out around '96 or '97 and was the first in the industry. What I'm looking for now is a handheld with a large screen. I just don't know whether to trust Magellan now that Thales in France owns them. Nothing against the French, of course .

I've owned a multitude of different GPS's over the past 13 years. Currently I own a Garmin 60CS and a Street Pilot C330. Love them both. Besides hiking and driving, I do a lot of boating. The Magellan Explorist XL is appealing to me because of the large screen. A large screen is very helpful for viewing marine charts because of all the detail on the chart. I'm a bit worried though about buying a Magellan. In the distant past they had a great reputaion as a company. I get the drift that these days they aren't a good company to deal with from a customer relations viewpoint, based upon reports in forums and various opinions of users. My questions as as follows. First and foremost, are the units dependable, particularly the XL? Do a large percentage of XL's fail or otherwise have problems? Is Magellan's customer service okay or do they not stand behind their product? Compared to my 60CS, would I be disappointed with the operation of the XL? Any comments would be appreciated. Thanks.