Re: Magellan Explorist GPS

Danny Colyer wrote:
Following a recent ride where I became trapped after dark in a maze of
country lanes and took over 2 hours to find my way out, SWMBO has
informed me that I'm getting a GPS unit for my birthday whether I want
one or not.

My top priority is that it should display my location using OS
co-ordinates, as I'll always be using it in conjunction with a paper
OS map.

The facility to program a route in advance and have the unit alert me
when I need to make a turning would be useful. Any connection to my
computer must be via USB, as I CBA to rummage round the back of my
desk to find a serial port every time I want to use it.

Basic mapping would be nice, but I don't want an expensive unit and
nor do I want to have to spend extra on maps for it.

Having rummaged around www, I think the one to go for is probably the
Magellan Explorist 210. Before I order it, does anyone here know of
any problems with it that I ought to be aware of, or can anyone
suggest another unit that I ought to consider, or can anyone simply
reassure me that I'm making the right decision?

I've got one. It tells me where I am if I'm not sure, eg on trails (it
doesn't show the trails, only the major roads, but it give os reference, and
displays most villages). Also useful in unfamiliar towns. I don't have it on
a mount, just in my pocket, or a bag somewhere I can reach (depends which
bike.). If you have it on a mount you can get it to display a speedo
complete with moving needle so you can pretend you're in a car. Also a
compass, and where the sun is (or the moon). You can programme a route and
it should give you warning when a turning point is coming up. I have only
tried this once, in the car, but I don't really want that function. I have
used it for the opposite reason, by turning down roads I don't know, getting
totally "lost", then picking up the 210 to get the map reference, and
finding a way out. More detailed maps are available for it, but again,
that's not what I want it for.
It logs your route, so you can retrace it if things get really bad, but it's
interesting to save the route and import it into Memory Map or the cheaper
(=free) GPSTrackmaker (http://www.gpstm.com/) and check the altitude
profile, speed profile, time spent in pub etc.
Niggles - batteries only last a couple of days - I change them each day
to be on the safe side - it will lose the current track if the battery goes
while in use. Get rechargeable and carry spares.
- even holding one or two tracks in memory severely
reduces the time it takes to display the current track or a stored one. I
download the day's ride to laptop then delete it off the 210 each day.
Forgot to take the lead on my recent 10 day holiday, and had to save the
routes internally. It has plenty of memory for this, but just seems so
reluctant to divulge the information later.

I'm happy with it. Mind that Garmin Etrex that Matthew's posted a link to
looks like good value.

Martin Bulmer





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