I'll Never Be Lost Again
Written: Feb 21 '01 (Updated Feb 21 '01)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: GPS precision at a low cost
Cons: Doesn't have all the functions as the higher priced models
The Bottom Line: Overall, this has been a very reliable device that has been worth every penny.
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| Daxman's Full Review: Magellan Blazer Handheld GPS Receiver |
The Magellan GPS Blazer 12 is a hand-held GPS receiver designed for basic navigation and position locating. GPS stands for global positioning system and relies on transmissions from orbiting satellites to the receiver. The receiver then triangulates your position, altitude, direction you are traveling and velocity and displays it to you in a clear and easily read display.
This technology exploded during Desert Shield/Desert Storm to help our troops navigate in a featureless desert. Also, this technology was part of the precise weaponry that hit targets with pinpoint accuracy from hundreds if not thousands of miles away.
But lets talk about the $100 technology in this handheld GPS receiver.
Batteries not included
The only thing you need to start using this GPS is 2 “AA” batteries. This will supply approximately 20 hours of continuous use. Battery power is fine for many uses where other power is not realistic. If you use the device in a car, boat, private airplane often or for long duration, you may want to purchase the $10 lighter adapter to power the GPS. A nice feature on this GPS is that if power is interrupted from the lighter it will automatically switch to battery power without shutting down.
Who could use this?
I bought this GPS as a backup navigation device during my private pilot training. The Blazer 12 was so much more reliable than the twenty year old avionics in the Cessna I was flying, it became my most trusted piece of navigation equipment. As there are no road signs in the air and potentially dangerous situation may arise if you enter restricted airspace, this is a “small cost for piece of mind.”
Fishermen and boaters navigating unfamiliar waters will also find this device useful. One application is to use the feature “save present position” over a spot where the fish are plentiful. On following days, you can call up that saved position and the GPS will tell you which direction to go and how far away it is.
I wouldn’t recommend this model of GPS for automobile use. As the position displayed is normally given in Latitude and Longitude, it won’t be useful for the average motorist. In that case I would recommend a higher priced GPS with a moving map that shows interstates and state highways. These cost roughly $250 or two and a half times what the Blazer 12 costs.
Features
The Blazer 12 is a basic no-frills device. The features match the price you pay, but as I stated earlier it is very trustworthy and accurate. Here is what the Blazer 12 offers:
Satellite tracking display -shows the number of satellites the device is communicating with. More satellites means more precise location and navigation ability. If you have less than three satellites, the display will flash warning you that the navigation data is no longer accurate.
Battery meter -shows how much time you have left on the batteries or if you are using an alternate power source.
Compute present position -if you turn the device on. It automatically calculates the present position.
Add landmarks -I would call this feature waypoints. These are different locations that you input to the GPS to define points of interest. For example, the location of your campsite or that great fishing spot.
Goto - the GPS will display a direct route to whatever landmark you select.
Create a route -sometimes a direct route is not possible. You can create a route, by selecting the landmarks/waypoints you want to go to and in which order. The Blazer 12 will guide you to each point in order. Once you hit the first landmark, the display automatically tells you the course and direction to get to the next point.
Miscellaneous
Overall, this has been a very reliable device that has been worth every penny. There are significantly more advanced systems on the market that have more features and options, but they will cost anywhere from $250 on up.
Thanks for reading and good luck navigating!
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
Daxman
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Member: Dave
Location: Fort Rucker, AL
Reviews written: 20
Trusted by: 45 members
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