Buyting GPS - which one ?

oz,I have a Magellan Meridian which I am still learning about( and I am quite happy with it ) and I was given a Etrex on the weekend . I have Oziexplorer but I have discovered my laptop wont run the
auslig maps. though it will run the Desert treks. ( need a newer laptop) Do you reckon I should persevere with the magellan or get the mapping software for the EtrexThanks
RAY

Ray, there is no good reason why your present laptop will not run the Auslig/Natmap maps. What version or describe the front cover of the Auslig Map CD case.
When you say you cannot run them, can you describe the problem you are having.

Ray the Magellan Meridian works no problem, but it is just the interface and hardware design, not the best receiver under adverse conditions, and the large old fashioned clumsy plug they put on the back. If you don't use other GPS's or have never previously, you will not know the issues. Equipment is like software, the unit you own and know is the best one for you. The new Meridian models are supposedly not far away with a smaller case, better screen resolution to match Garmin, and generally a complete change in design.

That's a good point Gary. Thanks.

Gary is correct on the Garmin, base map cannot be changed by user, however if you are buying the Metroguide this is not an issue.

With Magellan, you can change the base map on some models.

So if you do buy a Garmin from the US how do you change it?

You have to send it to GME www.gme.net.au who will charge you more than the saving you made in the US to change the base map.

Personally, yes, I buy gear from the US, but not GPS gear. By the time you stuff around and often you get caught for customes and GST especially since the increase in checking, you are better buying in Australia.

Magellan Meridians can have the base map changed... FREE.

What was the postage?

Lyds, days of defrauding customs are over with the increased security.

Truckster just likes being a small time criminal and fraudster from copying software to defrauding the public of Australia to avoid paying his way.

What is more, the Magellan Merridian are not one of the better GPS units. Reason, the reception under adverse conditions is not terrific, the interface design is poor and they have far to many screens, the main switch is placed in a dumb place, the PC cable is clumsy and awkward, just check out the large bike mount and the receiver is that oversize it is not easy or suitable to put in your pocket. The revamped Meridian range is due for release according the rumours at the end of February.

Lyds, Ignore the fool. hes cheezed that he isnt smart enough to save $.

Mail them, they will tell you what the freight costs are. Different to each state. It wasnt much really(note was in around Sept Oct cant remember)

He couldnt resist saying it isnt good ..

Lyds, try http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Magellan_Meridian/ group for 2439 happy owners.

Why would you believe a thief like Truckster who steals peoples pictures and copyright, defrauds the Commonwealth of Australia openly and encourages others to do it, and steals and pirates illegal software.

Why do you think Garmin has such a much greater share of the GPS market over Magellan - Reasons, the Magellan interface is poor in design, the mapping is extortion and more than triple the price of Garmin, check out the extortion prices of Magellan cables that are around $100 when you can buy the exact same cable in Garmin for $35, and what is more, you can buy Garmin plugs for a couple of dollars and make your own cables. The only really decent receiver Magellan have made is the SporTrak and everything else is sub-standard, accessories and mapping conservately two to three times overpriced to Garmin. What is more, many of the Magellan models do not even support the Australian datums. Magellan is a product you are better staying away from.

Ozi,

Horses for courses. I have a Magellan 315 and almost everyone I know has a Magellan of some sort. They are not the crap you purport them to be. I have no problems interfacing the unit and I have absolutely no reception problems under 'adverse conditions', and the unit supports the Australian Datums. I also love have a large number of different USER DEFINABLE screens to page trhough as a nd when I need them.

Personally I wouldn't touch a Garmin, so let's put it down more to personal preference rather than bagging the other manufacturer with claims that their units are substandard.

Ozi,

I think you might also find that Magellan has the biggest market share when you look at the global market, not just the overall tiny part that is Australia.

Steve, never did I say they were crap. It depends on what you want to interface a Magellan to. Every program supports Garmin, only about half support Magellan and even those that do, few support Magellan fully in Waypoint icons and route and track formats. As for Magellan having the biggest market share, that is absolute nonsence. From memory I think Garmin has 60% to 70% market share world wide, but will have to check the figures. In Australia Garmin could possibly be as high as 75% market share. Magellan does not support all the Austrlian datums and the 315 most definitely does not have them all. Unfortunatly on checking the Magellan website they do not list all the datums, but from memory the AGD66 and GDA94 datums are not on the unit. The majority of professionals in the field use Garmin because of support of hardware and software.
The Magellan SporTrak as I said previously is the first hand held Magellan unit I consider worthy of buying, HOWEVER, the price of unit in Australian, their mapping and accessories is nothing short of extortion. Just compare the cable and mapping prices for a start. Magellan charge $112.20 for a lousy power data cable, and you can buy an equivelent Garmin one for $35.00. Magellans maps of Australia $1,036 - Garmins maps of Australia which are more detailed in some areas $269.
Garmin also have their models I am not fussed on, for example I am no fan of the eTrek range for the same reason as the Meridian range, poor reception under adverse conditions and no external aerial socket. The little SporTrak kills the Meridian units under adverse reception conditions in the field, so if they can do it for one unit, why not make the Meridian the same. I suppose the new Meridian models will have the same aerial system and an external aerial socket.

Ozi,

I agree that the GDA94 datum is not on the 315 unit. However, as the co-ordinates achieved using this datum are only a few metres different from the WGS84 datum (and given the accuracy of ALL GPS units - anything upto 15 metres 'off'), the lack of this datum is not an issue. Same goes for AMG66/84 vs AUS66/84 (AUS66 and 84 are on the unit).

I don't know what the problem is with the Meridian aerials, but the quadrifialiar aerial on the 315 must be more like the SporTrak as I have never lost reception in trees, rocky outcrops, etc. (have lost it in tunnels, but then ALL units lose track when they can't 'see' the sky regardless of manufacturer), and that's with the unit mounted next to the A pillar in the corner of the dashboard - with no external or re-radiating aerial.

I also agree with your comments re the pricing of some units (though I couldn't find a Garmin with all the features of the 315 for anywhere near the same price, and yes I don't like the Etrex range either as they were options I investigated) and all accessories, however shopping around does lead to a number of bargains being found - I have purchased a combined 12 volt power/data cable as well as a stand-alone data cable and a windscreen mounting bracket, and have only paid around half the RRP.

Obviously as far as manufacturers maps go, I'm not worried as the 315 isn't a mapping unit. I bought it for that particular reason. No screen on any unit is, in my opinion, big enough to warrant mapping - if I want to follow my progress on a map I'll link to a laptop with a decent screen - hence the data cables. To get such detail as metro street names, etc., on the units screens you have to go down to a very high level of detail and basically can't follow anything of your travel except the current 200 metres or so. Obviously this is a personal choice and many feel otherwise - whether they don't have a laptop or it's cheaper to buy the unit with mapping rather than also buy the laptop I don't know (guess it'd be hard to prop a laptop on the handlebars with the GPS!).

Bruce you will need the iPaq serial/USB cable and a 9 pin NULL modem adaptor. Personally, I split the serial/USB cable and cut off the USB part completely and fit a plug directly to the iPaq lead. I don't think you can get non-genuine plugs for the Magellans yet.
Being in the US there are quite a number of connector and cable suppliers:
http://www.gomadic.com/connectors.html
https://www.bluehillsinnovations.com/
Make sure you get screen protectors for your iPaq as soon as you get it.