Magellan Meridian Water Resistant Hiking GPS Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Ill try to make this one short and sweet.I just finished a several month process of evaluating magellan machines.I started with the companion for the handspring visor.....(which for the money is amazing for navigation but i have not found a good way to handle bodies of water...).This unit was stolen and I have been evaluating units on a buy and try basis since then and I think (god i hope so) that i may have found the one i wanted.Main use desired:Road navigation assistance, boating and fishing on rivers streams and the chesapeake.
I have purchased the meridian gold because the size and focus of the base map and the larger screen size.I have also purchased and used the marine, the base meridian unit, the 330x and the most recently the sportrac pro.My plus and minus list:
meridian (entry level unit) great capabilities, but base map is very lacking at 2 meg memory.I thought this would not be an issue with the SD memory cards but the uploaded detail doesnt show until you are at street level mapping in this unit (when zoomed out only main interstates show) you need to get down to around a .8 mile zoom to get state level roads which in the boonies can leave you scratching your head when you are trying to plot a course.If you dont need that capability this is a wonderful unit.
Meridian - nicer unit but the focus of detail is not as well oriented for those mostly landbound. and the marine aids shown werent of much use to a person with a 16 foot boat anyhow.
Map 330x- nice unit.Display is a little to small for navigation via vehicle (of course we know no one would ever do that to begin with...) 8 meg can be too little memory for installation of mapping.On that basis I would look at the sportrac if you like the size of the unit.
Sportrac Pro.- very nice unit especially given the capabilities of memory and the base map.The only downfall I didnt like was the screen size again.This screen is the same size as the 330 series. tough when you are driving a boat or car.(although the meridian screen is only slightly larger it to me is easier to use at a quick glance)There is a difference between display quality of the sportrac and meridian units also that is worth noting.Im just not sure which i like better.different under different conditions (compared them side by side for a while) and at different zoom levels.SportTract seems a bit crisper but the text is oversized when you are zoomed out.
I honed in on the gold unit because of the street oriented base map since driving through VA is mostly what I am using it for and the address search capability is wonderful.
One final beef with these units.the maps are based off of tiger maps. which as a rule have notoriously been inaccurate.Not too big of a deal for the main uses of this but it is notible when the unit is at times showing that you are as much as several 10ths of a mile off of where you are actually located.Again this is an accuracy issue with the maps and not the units from what I know.There have been times that I have been boating down the highway...... final lesson... always trust your eyes and another handy map to help you if in doubt....
In general these are all good units but make sure you take a good look at what is available and what you want out of the machines.Each unit seems to be tailered a little different and its tough to find details on what the differences are as they can only be found through trial and error and use of the machines.Good Luck Hunting........

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Product Description:
With 2 MB of built-in map data and a Secure Digital Memory Card slot, the Magellan Meridian Global Positioning System receiver allows you to access and store extensive location information. This rugged handheld GPS unit coordinates data from up to 12 satellites to pinpoint your location anywhere on the globe. The Meridian's 2 MB base map allows you to access worldwide political boundaries and major cities. Slide in a data card to get even more detail, or use a memory card to store waypoints and routes.
The Meridian is PC compatible and stores up to 500 waypoints and 20 reversible routes with up to 30 legs. It also comes with a quadrifilar helix antenna for optimal satellite signal reception and fast position fixes. WAAS and EGNOS capability adds to the versatility of this receiver, which can be operated in English, French, German, Dutch, Finnish, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, or Swedish.
See your exact position on the Meridian's seven navigation screens and vertical profile graphs that show elevations of the route traveled. The oversized grayscale display allows you to easily see location information and comes with a backlight and backlit keypad for use even in dim light. Waterproof rubber armoring and an ergonomic, compact design add to the Meridian's functionality.
The Meridian is compatible with Magellan's MapSend software, including MapSend Streets Europe and the recently released MapSend Topo for the United States. Vehicle, bike, and swivel mounts are sold separately.