High Marks!
Written: Sep 07 '05
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Easy to use Good backlight. Sensitive. Great input screens for naming. Inexpensive. Magellan reputation.
Cons: Highway by my house is inaccurate. Used it to "see" towns, airports, waterways, roadways, though.
The Bottom Line: If you want a gps, and you don't need computer interfacing or updateable map feature (and who does?), this is the biggest bang for your buck.
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| jbradfield's Full Review: Magellan Explorist 200 GPS Receiver |
I have been studying various units available to me (other namebrands and other Magellans), borrowing them from friends and squadron mates.
I was very pleased that initial acquisition right out of the box took only about five minutes. Have had to wait longer than 10 on another unit. Subsequent satellite acquisition has depended on how long unit was off. Never longer than 3-4 minutes. Often within a minute if unit is "warm" (has been used within a few hours of turning on again).
I am deliriously happy with the simplicity. Who needs complicated manuals, right? (but there are directions and "hints" built in, too, so you don't have to run for the manual if you have an advanced question). You will not, as you do with some units get (ironically) "lost" in the gps screens. They are obvious and clear.
I don't need the map features of more expensive units and would consider them a waste of money. What I wanted, the Explorist 200 more than gave me. For the money (right at $100 if you shop carefully; not more than $149 currently, as I write this), I don't think you can beat this unit.
As one other reviewer mentioned, the map isn't navigation-accurate. For instance, following the state highway near my house, the unit portrayed me traveling 100' off the road. (And no, it's not a new road.)
But as I said, I don't need the mapping and computer interfacing right now for anything (I do search and rescue, but the squadron has a more expensive unit for computer plotting on topos, for training review.... None of the rest of really have the need to spend tons of money duplicating that ability). I need to mark or travel to lat/lon coordinates. I need to do about what a geocacher does. And this does it splendidly (I will also use it for when my son goes hunting -- he'll mark his favorite stands and give those coordinates to me. He is ever late, I'm able then to go to his location without having been there myself before).
It's small, lightweight, waterproof, runs a relatively long time on two AA's, has clear, high contrast screen, has good backlight for night use, can be used as a standing-still compass if you can see the sun or moon (it lets you align unit with icons showing their position, and then your unit's compass display is a stand still compass---sort of primitive). Its input screen is excellent (a little keyboard that you can manipulate through to enter your personal i.d. info if you lose the thing and want someone to return it... also for naming POI's). And shortly after using it a couple times, you don't need to look at the buttons to get the screens you want and use the features you want. Becomes instinctive in very short time.
I love it!
I am currently selling or giving away other units I have.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
jbradfield
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Reviews written: 1
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