Magellan Meridian 64MB Color Traveler GPS Navigator Value Pack

Magellan Meridian 64MB Color Traveler GPS Navigator Value Pack

Brand: Magellan    Model : 980598-40    List Price : $599.99    Sale Price : $475.00    Availibility : Usually ships in 1-2 business days

Magellan Meridian 64MB Color Traveler GPS Navigator Value Pack Feature

• Meridan Color handheld GPS unit
• MapSend DirectRoute CD-ROM
• 64 MB SD memory card
• Vehicle mounting bracket
• Turn-by-turn audio prompts; includes serial interface and PC cable

Magellan Meridian 64MB Color Traveler GPS Navigator Value Pack Overviews

An ideal solution bundle for recreational purposes as well as vehicle navigation. This value pack includes Magellan's Meridian Color GPS and Magellan's new MapSend DirectRoute software. MapSend DirectRoute is a powerful map software package that adds address level routing and guidance to your Magellan handheld. The value pack also includes a 64 MB SD card, vehicle mounting bracket and a 12 volt cigarette adapter and data cable.

Magellan Meridian 64MB Color Traveler GPS Navigator Value Pack Specifications

Amazon.com Review The Magellan Meridian Color Traveler kit comes with everything you need for navigating unfamiliar city streets--as well as tracking through your favorite mountain trails. The kit includes the MapSend DirectRoute CD-ROM for street-level map detail, a 64 MB Secure Digital memory card, vehicle mounting bracket, and cigarette lighter power adapter (with PC data cable). It also offers easy-to-read navigation screens, good-sized buttons, and a thumb directional pad on the front, and WAAS (Wide Area Augmentation Service) for three-meter accuracy.

Create a route on your PC with MapSend ...

... and navigate the route on the GPS unit.

The Meridian Color is versatile GPS device that is perfect for navigating the highway or the trails. View larger.

Compared to Magellan's portable Sportrak line, the Meridian is bulkier both in weight (8.5 ounces with batteries compared to the Sportrak's 6.1 ounces) and overall dimensions--6.5 by 2.9 by 1.2 inches (W x H x D)--making it not as pocket-able for use while walking or hiking.

The bright color screen measures 2.2 by 1.75 inches and has a decent 160 x 120 pixel resolution. We found it to be nicely readable in the car and in most outside conditions, though it wasn't at its best in direct sunlight. As with cell phones in the car, you will have to be wary with your usage. The Meridian Color can be a bit distracting while you're driving, as you have to read the screen (though there are audible prompts) rather than hear a voice providing exact turning instructions (a feature of the Magellan Roadmate).

We've known several new GPS owners who have been frustrated at the need to purchase additional software to make their new device road-ready. The inclusion of the MapSend DirectRoute CD-ROM (compatible with Windows only) makes this kit invaluable, and we hit the ground running (well, driving really) within an hour of opening the box.

With a selected map region loaded into the memory, simply press the GoTo button and select either a new or previously loaded waypoint or a point of interest (such as an airport or sports arena) to navigate to via a street route. After a bit of calculating, the Meridian Color presented us with a turn-by-turn journey that we could follow while driving. As we neared each turn, the Meridian Color emitted a set of beeps to warn us (which elevated to an urgent beeping when we were right on top of the turn). We used this to plot a course to Seattle's Space Needle, and it produced acceptable results (though, if you're familiar with the terrain, you may know better shortcuts). If you turn off the Meridian while following a route (say if you take a coffee break), you can return right back to it once you turn the device back on.

Magellan's Meridian series offers Secure Digital (SD) memory card expandability, which is a bonus for adding a large amount of map data (especially for long trips). However, we were disappointed at its placement within the device behind the batteries rather than in an external slot. This won't be a problem for most users, but it will be annoying if you've got a number of maps spread across several cards.

We experienced good battery life during our test (Magellan boasts 13 hours of continuous use with two AA batteries), and the cigarette lighter adapter was instrumental in preventing battery drain.

The included vehicle mounting bracket connects to your dash via three suction pads, which isn't completely secure--you'll need to ensure the dash surface is completely clean before applying the wetted suction pads. The bracket's bendable arm is very firm, and it can move both vertically and side to side (a plus if you can't to position it near the center of the dash). However, because it's so tightly stable, you'll need to take it off the dash to adjust it, then reapply the suction pads.

Overall, we were pleased with this car navigation kit. The Meridian's color screen definitely helps with quickly viewing details while driving (or while hiking or mountain biking), though it did take awhile to get used to looking at the screen when alerted to a turn. If you do worry about the hazard of having to divert attention from the road, you should think about moving up to the Magellan Roadmate, which offers voice instructions. --Agen G.N. Schmitz

Pros:

The kit has everything you need to get maps easily loaded into the GPS receiver

Color LCD is very readable--routes and icons pop off the screen

Mounting bracket has a strong, firm arm that bends both vertically and horizontally

Mapping software is easy to use and transfer

Cons:

SD memory card slot not easily accessible

Mounting bracket suction pads aren't 100% secure and are not quickly adjustable

What's in the Box
Meridian Color GPS receiver, MapSend DirectRoute software, 64 MB Secure Digital (SD) memory card, PC data cable with cigarette lighter adapter, 2 AA batteries, vehicle mounting bracket, and user's manual.

Magellan Meridian 64MB Color Traveler GPS Navigator Value PackCustomerRewiew

This unit is great for all around use; hiking, biking, marine, and auto. Auto function is simple, but effective. It essentially picks a route between 2 waypoints. We load Topo charts too onto the SD Card for hiking, and mountain biking. The unit floats!

SD Card: The largest file size the unit can read is 64MB, BUT you can load as many files as you want onto the SD card. You tell the PC Software to upload to the hard drive, then use a card reader. If you go direct to the SD Card while installed on the GPS then you are limited to 1 file. You can use an SD card as large as you want, with as many files as you want (just don't transfer files larger than 64MB).

USB/Serial: You can easily buy a USB to Serial cable adapter if your PC does not have a serial port.

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*** Product Information and Prices Stored:May 05, 2010 06:50:11

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