Magellan Meridian Platinum
Written: Dec 12 '02 (Updated Jul 22 '05)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: 3 Axis Electronic Compass,Barometer and Large backlit display
Cons: Eats batteries but what GPS doesn't
The Bottom Line: If your in the market for a GPS check out the Magellan Meridan Platinum the prices have come way down and you can find one online for around 240
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| Imbroke's Full Review: Magellan Meridian Platinum Handheld GPS Receiver |
The Platinum is basically the same as a Meridan Gold except it has two added features. A barometer and electronic 3 axis compass.The three axis compass is a great feature to have it allows you to tell direction without moving.You can hold the Platinum at any angle instead of vertical like most other units with a compass.Holding the unit at an angle allows for a better reading of satellite signals.This is because the antenna is mounted in the top of the unit.The platinum can track up to 12 satellites simultaneously it also employs the WAAS (wide area agumentation system) making it accurate to within 3 meters or better .The barometer is good to have also it allows you to see if barometric pressure is rising or falling Indicating a change in the weather.Great to have up here in new england It also keeps a 24 hour record so you can look back.
As with all of the Meridan series this unit can use the Mapsend CD roms.I purchased the Mapsend Topo CD and the optional 64 MB Secure digital memory card.These two options greatly enhance this product.The Base map that is provided is not very detailed but you would kind of expect it it is only 16MB for all of north America.
The unit seems pretty rugged, only time will tell if it is or not.The button layout is pretty good i figured out most of the functions and this is my first GPS.The only gripe i have with it so far is accidently hitting the power button and shutting the unit off when i put it in my pack.I really like the large 160X120 pixel display.The 2 different level backlights are useful too.They also claim it floats but i dont want to try it after spending 240 dollars.Oops i just thought of another gripe this thing Eats batteries the best i have ever gotten out of a set of AAs is 8-9 hours i think rechargables might do better.
I have used this unit to do a little geocaching.(if your not sure what that is check out www.geocaching.com)I have found that in real world conditions under trees and in the woods this unit is amazingly accurate well atleast to me it gets me to within 20 ft almost every time.And then i can just hit backtrack and get right back to the car.
Update 12/21/02
Magellan has just released new firmware for this unit. Available at
http://www.magellangps.com/en/support/products/meridianplatinum.asp The firmware v4.02 addresses the main issue I had with this unit,the problem with the power button being easy to accidently turn the unit on/off now you have the option to hold the power button down 2 sec to turn it on and you now can be asked to hit enter to turn the unit off.The firmware also makes the unit a lot more customizable you can change which measurements go where.They also added a MAX speed option that records and saves your top speed.just cool to have.I'm sure they probaly added a lot more but this is all i have noticed so far.I like the changes
Update 12/21/03
Wow has it already been a year? Since the last update.Now i really feel like a slacker.
Once again Magellan has released a new firmware for the platinum ,V5.02 This new firmware allows you to use there new MapSend DirectRoute® software.This software will give you turn by turn directions to any Street address, POI (point of interest)or waypoint that you have saved on your unit.The msrp on this software is $175 Not cheap but if it works like its supposed to would be very nice to have.
I have not had very much time to use my MeriPlat but I did find the time to find a few Geocaches.Not as many as I would have liked Hopefully in the new year I'll have more time The Unit has held up well and im still impressed by how accurate it is.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
Imbroke
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Reviews written: 13
Trusted by: 11 members
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