GPS - detail maps for Magellan Triton 400??

Author

detail maps for Magellan Triton 400??

Pieter

2007-12-12, 12:33 pm

I am an experienced GPS user, and have created and uploaded detail maps
using Magellan MapSend, used several GPSs with my PC, etc.

Recently I went shopping for a GPS for my son for hiking/hunting. I stopped
at a local Eastern Mountain Sports (EMS) store, and looked at the Magellan
Triton series. I was particularly interested in the Triton 400 due to
SD-card compatibility, but this question would apply to the 300 and 500 as
well.

The Triton packaging states it is compatible with the Nation Geographic
STATE SERIES (emphasis mine) maps. There is only one problem. I live in
upstate NY, and our state series national geographic package is for NY and
NJ, and says right on the box that it will NOT upload detail, and can only
be used to send and receive waypoints, tracks, etc. from the GPS. We also
have a national Geographic topo for the Adirondack region, but it bears the
same message.

Anyone got a clue? What topo maps can be used in upsate NY to add topo
detail to a Triton 400. I suspect the answer might be "none."

Thanks, Pieter

Ted Edwards

2007-12-12, 12:33 pm

Pieter wrote:
> Recently I went shopping for a GPS for my son for hiking/hunting. I stopped
> at a local Eastern Mountain Sports (EMS) store, and looked at the Magellan
> Triton series. I was particularly interested in the Triton 400 due to
> SD-card compatibility, but this question would apply to the 300 and 500 as
> well.

One of the reasons I went with a Garmin 76Cx is that Magellan units
don't support use of an external antenna. I have one and have found it
a significant help in steep sided valleys and/or heavy cover even with
the SIRF III chip. I'm in Canada and use Garmins Topo Canada. If their
Topo USA is as good, it should do the job. My 76Cx accepts micro SD
cards. I have a 2 GB one in mine.

Ted

Jack Erbes

2007-12-12, 3:33 pm

Ted Edwards wrote:
<snip>
> One of the reasons I went with a Garmin 76Cx...
<snip>

What Ted said!

I shifted from Magellan Meridians to a Garmin 76Cx because Magellan was
falling badly behind on hardware, software, and support. And that
situation has not improved much, especially in the areas of optional
mapping software and support.

Look at the 60 and 76 series in the Cx and CSx models. The hardware,
displays, and software are identical in all of those models, they differ
only in case shape and button locations.

The CSx models have a built in flux gate compass and barometer so they
will give you compass heading when stationary and more accurate
elevations. All of them use microSD cards for external map storage and
you can get topo, marine charts, and street and highway mapping for them.

Also there is some level of practicality and/or third party mapping for
the Garmins and that is something that has not been done with the
Magellans.

For topo mapping look at the Garmin U.S. Topo mapping in Garmin's online
viewer to see if that meet your needs. U.S. Topo is 1:100,000 mapping
and is adequate for getting around most of the time. I would have a
1:24,000 paper map in hand for the more challenging places. There is
also a 24K Topo package with better detail but coverage is limited to
selected National Parks.

You can use the online viewers for each type of mapping to see what you
can expect to see from the various optional mapping packages:

http://www8.garmin.com/cartography/

The Garmin handhelds are very versatile and high performance, I don't
think Magellan can compete with them. And I'm not a brand loyalist,
Magellan is simply not keeping up with them.

Jack

--
Jack Erbes in Ellsworth, Maine, USA (jackerbes at roadrunner dot com)
(also receiving email at jacker at midmaine dot com)

Dan Anderson

2007-12-12, 3:33 pm

Pieter wrote:
& #91;snip]
> The Triton packaging states it is compatible with the Nation Geographic
> STATE SERIES (emphasis mine) maps. There is only one problem. I live in
> upstate NY, and our state series national geographic package is for NY and
> NJ, and says right on the box that it will NOT upload detail, and can only
> be used to send and receive waypoints, tracks, etc. from the GPS. We also
> have a national Geographic topo for the Adirondack region, but it bears the
> same message.
>
> Anyone got a clue? What topo maps can be used in upsate NY to add topo
> detail to a Triton 400. I suspect the answer might be "none."

<http://maps.nationalgeographic.com/.../?cid=183&tid=3>

The box was printed before the Triton was created and is
otherwise true in general.

--
Dan
(Email: dan at domain below )
(www.gpsmap.net)

Pieter

2007-12-12, 3:33 pm

Thank you Dan - that was exactly the information I was seeking. Have a
happy holday season. Pieter

"Dan Anderson" <noEMail@noServer.net> wrote in message
news:DtGdnSo4JMG9s_3
anZ2dnUVZ_qelnZ2d@pg
hconnect.com...
> Pieter wrote:
> [snip]
>
>
> <http://maps.nationalgeographic.com/.../?cid=183&tid=3>
>
> The box was printed before the Triton was created and is
> otherwise true in general.
>
> --
> Dan
> (Email: dan at domain below )
> (www.gpsmap.net)

2007-12-12, 3:33 pm

I would recommend Triton 500 ( 3-axis compass, barometer ... ), or one of
the top models : Triton 1500 or 2000
In general,
Tritons outperforms all Garmin handhelds:
- better screen res - QVGA, smaller housing, VantagePoint viewer for PC, 3D
topo maps...
- T1500/2000 - touch-screen, digicam (2000), flashlight, voice capability,
video ...

For NG topo see
http://maps.nationalgeographic.com/.../?cid=183&tid=3
about compatibility.

D*

Pieter

2007-12-12, 10:33 pm

I had considered the Triton 500, but I think the compass and barometer are
fluff. I have an Explorist 600, and the compass is a battery 'ho and the
barometer of marginal value. Oh yes - the thermometer always reads wrong
because its next to the display backlight. Even re-calibrated it is way
wrong. I am buying for my son's gift. So I figure I'll just get him a good
GPS. He already knows how to use a compass and owns a good one, has a
thermometer on his jacket zipper, and doesn't care about barometric
pressure.

"DF" <infoMAKNI@topomap.hr> wrote in message
news:fjpelh$7pa$1@ss
408.t-com.hr...
>I would recommend Triton 500 ( 3-axis compass, barometer ... ), or one of
>the top models : Triton 1500 or 2000
> In general,
> Tritons outperforms all Garmin handhelds:
> - better screen res - QVGA, smaller housing, VantagePoint viewer for PC,
> 3D topo maps...
> - T1500/2000 - touch-screen, digicam (2000), flashlight, voice capability,
> video ...
>
> For NG topo see
> http://maps.nationalgeographic.com/.../?cid=183&tid=3
> about compatibility.
>
> D*
>

Larry G

2007-12-12, 10:33 pm

On Dec 12, 1:52 pm, Dan Anderson <noEM...@noServer.net> wrote:
> Pieter wrote:
>
> [snip]
>
>
>
> <http://maps.nationalgeographic.com/...
llan%...>
>
> The box was printed before the Triton was created and is
> otherwise true in general.
>
> --
> Dan
> (Email: dan at domain below )
> (www.gpsmap.net)

well it looks like it's graduated from "vapor ware". :-)

I'd be interested in hearing experiences ...

does anyone know of any reviews?

Jack Erbes - what is your opinion?

Klatch

2007-12-12, 10:33 pm

"Pieter" <pvcl@*nospam*plitch.com> wrote in message
news:47601075$0$8840
$4c368faf@roadrunner
.com...
>I am an experienced GPS user, and have created and uploaded detail maps
>using Magellan MapSend, used several GPSs with my PC, etc.
>
> Recently I went shopping for a GPS for my son for hiking/hunting. I
> stopped at a local Eastern Mountain Sports (EMS) store, and looked at the
> Magellan Triton series. I was particularly interested in the Triton 400
> due to SD-card compatibility, but this question would apply to the 300 and
> 500 as well.
>
> The Triton packaging states it is compatible with the Nation Geographic
> STATE SERIES (emphasis mine) maps. There is only one problem. I live in
> upstate NY, and our state series national geographic package is for NY and
> NJ, and says right on the box that it will NOT upload detail, and can only
> be used to send and receive waypoints, tracks, etc. from the GPS. We also
> have a national Geographic topo for the Adirondack region, but it bears
> the same message.
>
> Anyone got a clue? What topo maps can be used in upsate NY to add topo
> detail to a Triton 400. I suspect the answer might be "none."
>
> Thanks, Pieter
Take a look at this:
http://forums.groundspeak.com/GC/in...howtopic=170441
Lots of dissatisfaction with Magellan, but the Tritons DO make use of
National Geographic State Series maps. National Geographic and Magellan
have partnered in this effort. You will need to download the latest version
of TOPO! to take advantage of the feature. This from a long time Garmin
user, so I won't have any other information or advice about the Tritons,
just what I have read.

Jack Erbes

2007-12-13, 12:33 pm

Larry G wrote:
<snip>
> well it looks like it's graduated from "vapor ware". :-)
>
> I'd be interested in hearing experiences ...
>
> does anyone know of any reviews?
>
> Jack Erbes - what is your opinion?

I've not used a Triton or any Magellan newer than the Meridian Color and
Marine that I used happily for several years.

I think the Garmins are a better choice right now as far as the wants
and needs discussed in this thread. It does not contribute to the
question in this thread, but this explains why I changed from Magellan
to Garmin handhelds.

When the eXplorist line came out I looked at upgrading to an eXplorist
XL primarily because I figured I was due for an upgrade and thought I
would like the larger display.

As I looked at the details I found the eXplorist XL had a larger display
but that the display was only larger, not of better quality. Also, the
eXplorists were dumbed down on the navigation features and pages. And
finally, only one of the three software packages I owned and used would
be able to migrate from the Meridians to the eXplorist.

Because Magellan had decided to discontinue selling BlueNav charts on
CD-ROM, and because I was also going have to buy a new topo mapping
software, it was going to be very expensive to move up to an eXplorist
XL. The bottom line was that I was going to have to spend quite a bit
of money and would wind up with a less capable GPS receiver.

So I looked at the then new Garmin 60/76 "x" series models and moved on
to the 76Cx. The bottom line there was that I wound up with both better
hardware and software . I am very happy with the 76Cx and cannot
imagine what Garmin could to do improve it enough to get me to upgrade
to a newer model anytime in the next year or two. Maybe longer.

In the meantime, Magellan has been releasing some newer models. I've
looked at those briefly but I've not studied them closely or used any of
them. I see nothing dramatically better than the 76Cx in terms of
hardware or supplemental mapping software.

I keep reading and hearing details that tell me that Magellan is not
working real hard at updating their optional software packages and that
their support has probably gotten worse, not better.

So the bottom line to me is that the Garmin handhelds are a better
choice right now when you look them from a hardware, software, and
support viewpoint.

I am not a brand loyalist. But I'm not going to change brands again
until I see that doing it will bring me a significant improvement in
hardware and software. And I'd also want to be able to look forward to
spreading the cost of changing brands over several years of use.

Hope that helps,

Jack

--
Jack Erbes in Ellsworth, Maine, USA (jackerbes at roadrunner dot com)
(also receiving email at jacker at midmaine dot com)

LinkBot