IanNMissy Posted April 22, 2009 Share Posted April 22, 2009 Intro - My name is Ian, I live in Minneapolis, and am new here. (Hi.) Ok - So I live in MN, (obviously) and last year was introduced to geocahching through the MN DNR Geocaching Challenge for the sesqucentennial celebration. The wife and I really enjoyed it, but couldn't spring for a unit to get active and keep us active. Well, today I was in a local Sporting Goods store that was closing, and bought a brand new Magellan Triton 300. Worked fine on the drive home, as far as I could tell, but when I got the Vantage Software installed, the update failed, and bricked the unit. Not to fear, I called Magellan, and actually talked to someone and they're sending me out a brand new unit. First Question: Should I bother updating firmware on the new unit, or should I just take the brand new unit and sell it and get something else? The first unit I ever used was the cheap Garmin one you can borrow from the State Park, and while it definitely did it's job, I was looking for something a little more feature packed. Second Question: I've seen a fair amout of negative reviews on the Triton 300, (After I bought the thing) But none are really concise as to exactly why it's such a bad unit. What makes a good unit for geocaching outside the ability to load a billion maps on it? It seems most reviews seem to be incredibly fickle about one or two options. Like I said, I'm new, we're definitely going to get more involved in the sport, But just need some sound advice to be able to go forth and start our hobby! I know there's quite a few caches close to our house, and it's frustrating as hell that it's supposed to be so nice, and I've got a hunk of crap plastic on my desk unusable... Quote Link to comment
+kdaks & fletch Posted April 22, 2009 Share Posted April 22, 2009 Might want to check out this link -> http://www.geocaching.com/gps/device.aspx?id=109 Quote Link to comment
+SkellyCA Posted April 22, 2009 Share Posted April 22, 2009 Welcome to the Hobby/sport/obsession! I have a Triton 400 and love it! I have a Triton 400; I believe the only difference is that mine has an SD card slot. NO, you do NOT need a billion maps! In fact You don't need any maps; although after a while, TOPO maps may be helpful; you can download those to your unit. The Triton units are paperless units. Meaning you can get the info from the cache page onto your Triton so that you do not have to print all that info on paper! I find the Triton very good for caching; they are paperless, accurate and the learning curve is easy. The best thing to do is to become a premium member so that you can download .gpx files and take advantage of the Triton's paperless features. Short of that, you can download the .loc files for free without being a premium member; then import them unto VP(Vantage Point); then download then to your unit. If you want step by step instructions on you T300, just ask. Quote Link to comment
IanNMissy Posted April 22, 2009 Author Share Posted April 22, 2009 Thanks for the link to the review site.. I have noticed the reviews of the Triton units have been getting better and better over time.. Have they really started to push for better firmware and QA? Most of the other reviews online have been older, like right after the unit was released. I didn't find it too much of a pain to navigate today, and didn't need to look at the manual for anything, really. Biggest thing is some complain that the unit loses signal in tree cover, and others say it's great.. rather odd there. The paperless part of the unit is something that does really appeal to me. I have an Axim 50 I may be getting rid of soon, practically new. (With dock and original CD) (No need to carry 2 devices..) Once I get my unit back I'll really start looking into the topo maps more. I really do like the topo data, especially in parks you're unfamiliar with. I was in Duluth last year, and the unit had some topo data, and helped find where we needed to be since it was on top of a really big friggin hill. What kind of area would someone be able to fit on the limited memory of the 300? Do you have to have the entire base map loaded, or can you use that memory space as well for more topo maps for parks and such? I have no desire to use this unit as a road navigation device.... Quote Link to comment
+SkellyCA Posted April 22, 2009 Share Posted April 22, 2009 The T300 had 10MB for map storage. The TOPO I have for all of Yosemite national park is 85MB; won't fit on yours, but then Yosemite is a pretty big park! I have a few maps of local East Bay Parks here and they only take up about 1MB each. So you should be able to load enough maps to last you for a few days of hiking. I use the Nat Geo TOPO maps I don't believe the basemap takes any of the 10MB, I think it has it's own space Quote Link to comment
IanNMissy Posted April 23, 2009 Author Share Posted April 23, 2009 I was looking before mine bricked, and it said 54Mb free... I guess while I'm waiting for the new unit I can try some of the things I've found to try on the tritonforum site.. Since I can get into "dev mode" as long as I can get it to connect to my PC, I MIGHT be able to get this thing to work, at the very least I can't screw it up more right? I do plan on getting the Nat Geo topo maps.. hopig for those for Fathers' day. Quote Link to comment
IanNMissy Posted April 23, 2009 Author Share Posted April 23, 2009 Alas, after a couple hours of trying on a Vista 64 and Win XP system no luck.. Vista doesn't see it when I connect the device, and XP saw it, then I shut it off after installing the drivers, then started the update, and the device disappeared, and the drivers all of a sudden refused to work.... Guess I DO have to wait for the new one... Which sucks. Bad. It's supposed to be 80 and sunny tomorrow! (Today) Quote Link to comment
+SkellyCA Posted April 23, 2009 Share Posted April 23, 2009 I hope you get it fixed soon, prime caching season is upon us! Quote Link to comment
IanNMissy Posted April 24, 2009 Author Share Posted April 24, 2009 Thanks, as soon as I get the new unit, we'll be good to go. I think if the "Customer Service" guy was right the new unit should be coming from Tennessee, and via FedEx and UPS that's pretty quick to me.. so we'll see. I was hopig against all hope that it'd work, so I could at least get out for a bit... Quote Link to comment
IanNMissy Posted April 24, 2009 Author Share Posted April 24, 2009 Update - Got a new Unit from REI today, and it seems to be working great. Need to do the firmware update on it, little apprehensive to say the least right now.. now I just need to figure out how to make a map of my neighborhood.. there's a TON of caches within about 5 miles of me that are still very much active... Quote Link to comment
+SkellyCA Posted April 24, 2009 Share Posted April 24, 2009 If you know your way around the neighborhood, you probably don't need maps for that; just use the Triton when you get close to the cache Quote Link to comment
IanNMissy Posted April 25, 2009 Author Share Posted April 25, 2009 That's part of the problem.. I really don't. Lived in this neighborhood for 4 years almost, and I've pretty much only gone from home to work to somewhere else, and not really explored. :/ Quote Link to comment
+jeffbouldin Posted April 25, 2009 Share Posted April 25, 2009 Do you have a phone with a data plan? If so what kind of phone? Quote Link to comment
IanNMissy Posted April 25, 2009 Author Share Posted April 25, 2009 I've gota moto Rokr.. Ok for a phone, better for a music player.. (Sad, I know...) But no data on it, other than unlimited sms. I have managed to create a couple maps with terrain / street data and import them into VP.. I just need to get my XP system to talk to my unit.. But I guess I can always use my vista Laptop that will connect.... Doncha just LOVE technology? Quote Link to comment
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.