Review
Magellan Meridian GPS (October 10, 2003)
| Ease of Use |
|
(3/5.0) |
| Value |
|
(4/5.0) |
| Performance |
|
(5/5.0) |
| Overall Rating |
|
(4/5.0) |
Reviewed By: Terry F. - Pearland, TX
I purchased the Meridian GPS with Mapsend software - Streets and Destination. I found a 32 meg SD memory card on the internet, since they were in short supply at the time I purchased. The memory card can be supported up to 512mb IF you have a card reader that can load the maps to the card. Otherwise it appears that 64-128mb is the maximum the Mapsend software will support for uploading directly to the GPS. I did find that I could make the trip utilizing only 16mb, and never use the remaining 16mb of memory card space, BUT this was a short trip from Houston to Dallas.
I also wasn't sure the GPS would track along with the route while driving, but you only initialize takes 5-10 minutes it the first time you use it so that it locates the satellites in your area, but after that it turns on more quickly to establish connection. It tracks continuously as you move with lots of information and location, including lakes and waterways. The Streets and Destination Mapsend software installs on your computer and a furnished cable uploads whatever areas you will be travelling through called regions into your memory card. Each region can be up to 16 meg, so I would buy a 128-512 meg card for long trips. The Mapsend software adds lots of detail to the basic map which comes installed. For example, the GPS information at the bottom of the display changes from compass direction and speed to give you large lettered street name intersections as you approach them on your route. You can indicate waypoints for navigation purposes, street addresses, points of interest, etc. along your route to allow the GPS to plot each leg. It also tracks your route establishing automatic waypoints that you can then use to update and save your route for reuse another time after you return, or for backtracking when you need to reverse the route while in progress.
It is more complicated than I imagined, but that just means it has lots of features. It will take the first time user some days to get a feel for what is happening and to understand the nice features it provides
I did have trouble getting one computer running XP Pro to communicate with the GPS so I installed the Mapsend software on my Windows 98 system and it worked fine it does not say it supports XP software, so I think it is out of date software over five years old!. The port would appear BUSY after being recognized by the automatic function, and I never found why this was the case. It takes a long while to upload the regions to the GPS. But you can already plan your route from the software rather than on the GPS, marking your waypoints and destinations at the computer map. It uploads the routes separately from the regions and the routes load fast, however.
I thought about getting the topography map instead of streets and destinations. Topography has virtually the same USA street information plus terrain visuals, I understand. Topography doesn't have Europe information and maybe not marine information, and possibly not as many points of interest. They told me there would be software updates forthcoming since many streets and subdivisions are missing that have been added since 1998 or before in my area. This was disappointing that the software was so old and outdated, but they assured me by email that updates would be forthcoming do I need to pay for these updates? Unknown. Five plus years is a long time between good quality updated software maps. The software comes on a CD disk. Wouldn't it be nice to be able to upload updates via the internet? Maybe they will get the hint! Their current provision is not adequate.
I have the GPS velcro attached to my Van's dash and I purchased their optional DC adapter to power it in the van. It came with the computer interface cable, but the cable was already furnished. Added expense for very little gain, if you ask me. They did not offer the DC Power cable separately where I purchased it, only with both DC power and Serial cable together.
The GPS performed quite well and helped in navigating or confirming the route while we went to Dallas and returned. In some areas Maquest on the internet filled in travel directions where none was available on the GPS. Once I got back I saved the actual waypoint plotted by the GPS plots back to the route we indicated, making a return trip much more acurate instead of an aircraft point to point navigation aircraft with GPS navigation make point to point navigation extremely easy - no maps or plotting courses on charts for location and direction! Every airplane should have GPS navigation installed.
Was it helpful? Yes, it confirmed several times that we were on the correct route when no visible Highway markers were evident after taking branches on our course. It confirmed we were headed the correct direction to the point where we met for the reunion. And it was nice to see intersections indicated so we knew we were on track.
I saved the waypoint travel data route back to the computer for future need. I can't image anything better than voice activated GPS, which costs close or over $2000 installed in a vehicle. My brother-in-law was contemplating having voice activated installed in his new car, so that is their quote to him. He declined.
The only improvement I can see is having a larger memory card to input more regions. My Dallas, Houston, San Antonio region used about 16 meg of the 32 meg card. You can break the regions into small areas and create a more confined and detailed track, though, using smaller amounts of memory card space. I image that I could navigate directly to New York City by specifying small regions along my route with my present memory card. It is nice to see the data - food, gas, etc., plus elevation, bodies of water, compass heading, distance traveled, time to arrival, odometer, speedometer, etc. I found that my vehicle actually is indicating my speed about 3 mph more than actual. The ETA was always right on the money. It's like flying to see where you are, the distance you have travelled and have left on your course, and when you expect to arrive.
With the GPS mounted on my dash close to the instrument panel I could easily change between the 7 or so screens, move in or out of the display, and leave the unit on since it was using the vehicle's battery power. I saved several new waypoints and named them for the new locations of relative's homes in the Dallas area. The automatic tracking made it possible to learn some new routes by following others. All saved for future reference, if needed.
I guess any GPS is a great addition. Color or black & white. But I would look for some expandability for uploading map data with any GPS purchase. The Meridian GPS is an excellent low cost model, only improved by more current Mapsend software.
MY CART
Meet Geoff
Product
