Magellan GPS - Explorist 500le questions

Author

Explorist 500le questions

tarbay2000@yahoo.com

2006-12-17, 10:33 pm

Was going to buy one of these and have a few questions if someone could
be kind enough to answer them.

1. What is the largest SD card you can use (2gb?)

2. Can you load the entire mapsend directroute north american maps onto
a SD card and then enter a destination and have the gps calculate the
route or would you have to buy a automotive model?

3. How long does the battery last and do most have an extra battery?

thanks in advance...

Ron Hunter

2006-12-18, 4:33 am

tarbay2000@yahoo.com wrote:
> Was going to buy one of these and have a few questions if someone could
> be kind enough to answer them.
>
> 1. What is the largest SD card you can use (2gb?)
>
You can use 2GB (which is large enough to map all the US from
DirectRoute), and a 4GB would work, but would only see 2GB.

> 2. Can you load the entire mapsend directroute north american maps onto
> a SD card and then enter a destination and have the gps calculate the
> route or would you have to buy a automotive model?
>

That is exactly what I have done, but you need to do it by regions, and
you will need to load the new region when you move from one to the other
.. Some preplanning will eliminate this problem for longer trips.

> 3. How long does the battery last and do most have an extra battery?
>
No need for an extra battery for my purposes, do you drive more than 17
hours before stopping overnight? If so, a cheap dc/ac inverter will
allow you to use it in the car with the included recharger, or you can
plug it into a laptop USB jack, and run for weeks.

>
>
> thanks in advance...
>

Jack Erbes

2006-12-18, 10:33 am

tarbay2000@yahoo.com wrote:
> Was going to buy one of these and have a few questions if someone could
> be kind enough to answer them.
>
> 1. What is the largest SD card you can use (2gb?)

Yes, 2 GB.

> 2. Can you load the entire mapsend directroute north american maps onto
> a SD card and then enter a destination and have the gps calculate the
> route or would you have to buy a automotive model?

If you select all of DirectRoute NA V3 from MapSend on a PC it is about
1.4 GB in size. The size might be a little bit more when the map is
processed and sent to the GPS.

> 3. How long does the battery last and do most have an extra battery?
>

Don't know.

Jack

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

tarbay2000@yahoo.com

2006-12-18, 10:33 am

Thanks Ron for the informative update.

So in fact the Explorist 500le is capable of autorouting?

I wanted a unit for ski-doo, atv in topo mode and if the autoroute
works then this is indeed a very capable gps unit.

The part of having to load up regions is not a big deal...

thanks again going to go out and purchase one now...

one more quick question what type of 2gb sd card is the best?

Ron Hunter wrote:[color=darkred
]
> tarbay2000@yahoo.com wrote:
> You can use 2GB (which is large enough to map all the US from
> DirectRoute), and a 4GB would work, but would only see 2GB.
>
>
> That is exactly what I have done, but you need to do it by regions, and
> you will need to load the new region when you move from one to the other
> . Some preplanning will eliminate this problem for longer trips.
>
> No need for an extra battery for my purposes, do you drive more than 17
> hours before stopping overnight? If so, a cheap dc/ac inverter will
> allow you to use it in the car with the included recharger, or you can
> plug it into a laptop USB jack, and run for weeks.
>
>

Jack Erbes

2006-12-18, 12:33 pm

tarbay2000@yahoo.com wrote:

> Thanks Ron for the informative update.
>
> So in fact the Explorist 500le is capable of autorouting?
>

It will autoroute on a supplemental detail map from DirectRoute. It
will not autoroute on the roads on the basemap.

This summer I was looking at upgrading from Magellan Meridians (Marine
and Color) to an eXplorist XL. After comparing the features and prices
I bought a Garmin 76Cx instead. The eXplorist would have been more of a
downgrade than an upgrade when I realized that I was going to lose some
of my most liked features and have to replace most of my mapping packages.

The Garmin had much better hardware and software features. It has the
SiRF III chip set and that is arguably the fastest and most sensitive
handheld GPS available. The display is much better than the eXplorist's
and, although a tiny bit smaller than the XL's, actually displays more
detail. The Garmin will autoroute and do multiple destination routing
(i.e., give you full control of your routing) on the basemap roads. It
comes with a marine database that is much better than Magellans and that
includes tide points and tide table calculations. Garmin has optional
packages for street level, topo, and marine mapping that are comparable
to the offerings for the eXplorists.

> I wanted a unit for ski-doo, atv in topo mode and if the autoroute
> works then this is indeed a very capable gps unit.

It won't autoroute on roads shown on the topo maps but you can use point
to point routing of course.

With the uses you want it for, you might look at the 60Cx and CSx and
76Cx and CSx models too then. The CSx models have built in magnetic
compass and altimeter, the 60 and 76 are otherwise the same except for
the physical shape, button layouts, and a few other minor differences.

I use my 76Cx in the car, on my motorcycle, my ATV, on foot, and in
boats. It has detailed street and highway maps (City Navigator North
America), topo maps (U.S.A. Topo) and marine navigation (BlueChart) maps
preloaded to a microSD memory card and I can shift from one type of a
map to another on the fly.

The 76Cx still uses two AA cells for power and can also be externally
powered from the USB port or a 9-35 Volt DC source. It will not charge
batteries but I much prefer the AA's to Li-Ion internal batteries or
built in battery packs. Two to four AA cells will get you through very
long day with a lot of display backlighting time.

> The part of having to load up regions is not a big deal...
>
> thanks again going to go out and purchase one now...
>
> one more quick question what type of 2gb sd card is the best?

I prefer the SanDisk cards (SD and microSD) as I have never had a
problem with one and they come with a good no questions asked five year
warranty. I've used up to 2 GB cards in my Magellan Meridians and 1 GB
cards in the Garmin. The Garmins will take 2 GB cards too, I'm waiting
for them to become more widely available and cheaper.

I'm not badmouthing the Magellans, just comparing the realities of the
two brands. I still miss some of the features from my Meridians but,
overall, the 76Cx is doing all the things I did before and doing most of
them better and faster. The sensitivity and speed of the handhelds with
the SiRF III chipset simply has to be seen to be believed, it is that
much better.

Jack

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

Jim Townsend

2006-12-18, 12:33 pm

tarbay2000@yahoo.com wrote:

> Thanks Ron for the informative update.
>
> So in fact the Explorist 500le is capable of autorouting?

AFAIK none of the eXplorists can do autorouting. You can create
routes on your home computer with external software such as
'Magellan MapSend DirectRoute' and then upload them to the unit.

eXplorists will follow these routes showing segment distances, turn
indication etc..

John B. Coarsey, PE

2006-12-18, 10:33 pm

"Jim Townsend" <xjwt@mts.net> wrote in message
news:12odibgluhgem71
@news.supernews.com...
> tarbay2000@yahoo.com wrote:
>
>
> AFAIK none of the eXplorists can do autorouting. You can create
> routes on your home computer with external software such as
> 'Magellan MapSend DirectRoute' and then upload them to the unit.
>
> eXplorists will follow these routes showing segment distances, turn
> indication etc..
>
>
Actually you can create a route right on the GPS unit. I do it all the time
with my Explorist 600. Simply transfer the region to the GPS. In my case I
have them all on an SD card. You simply set up a goto on the active region.
After you are on the route if you deviate you can do a re-route from where
you are to the original destination.

Jim Townsend

2006-12-18, 10:33 pm

John B. Coarsey, PE wrote:

>
> "Jim Townsend" <xjwt@mts.net> wrote in message
> news:12odibgluhgem71
@news.supernews.com...
> Actually you can create a route right on the GPS unit. I do it all the time
> with my Explorist 600. Simply transfer the region to the GPS. In my case I
> have them all on an SD card. You simply set up a goto on the active region.
> After you are on the route if you deviate you can do a re-route from where
> you are to the original destination.

OK.. My take on autorouting is to be able to enter an address and then
have the GPS automatically find all the streets you have to take and when to
turn. The route through a city is drawn for you. No other input is required.

If the eXplorist 500le can do this, then I guess I was wrong :)

Ron Hunter

2006-12-19, 4:33 am

tarbay2000@yahoo.com wrote:
> Thanks Ron for the informative update.
>
> So in fact the Explorist 500le is capable of autorouting?
>
> I wanted a unit for ski-doo, atv in topo mode and if the autoroute
> works then this is indeed a very capable gps unit.
>
> The part of having to load up regions is not a big deal...
>
> thanks again going to go out and purchase one now...
>
> one more quick question what type of 2gb sd card is the best?
>

Whichever one is cheapest at the time. Faster ones cost more, but will
probably not buy you any time on this type of device. The processor
used in the eXplorist line is not very fast. Autorouting using Direct
Route really shows off the capability of the eXplorist 400,500, and 600
machines, and brings their usability to a new level. Too bad it wasn't
included in the purchase price as DirectRoute software is rather
expensive. Just wish I had gone for the 500 as I like color, and things
like lakes really don't show up well on the 400.

Ron Hunter

2006-12-19, 4:33 am

Jim Townsend wrote:
> tarbay2000@yahoo.com wrote:
>
>
> AFAIK none of the eXplorists can do autorouting. You can create
> routes on your home computer with external software such as
> 'Magellan MapSend DirectRoute' and then upload them to the unit.
>
> eXplorists will follow these routes showing segment distances, turn
> indication etc..
>
>
DEAD WRONG!
You select the region from the MapSend Direct Route database, and write
it to the eXplorist, then IT DOES THE AUTOROUTING! It isn't fast. A
fairly complex route for a 150 mile trip took 3-5 minutes, but produced
a route much better than that produced by Microsoft Streets and Trips
2006 to the same location. The only complaints I have about the routing
is that it will select the shortest route, which may send you where you
don't want to go (like through downtown Dallas), but you can ignore its
directions, and just press 'goto' twice to make it reroute. It will NOT
tell you that you missed a turn, or took a wrong turn, however. Someone
else really needs to be with you to monitor its directions as the beep
sound can't be adjusted, and I can't hear it most of the time.

Strangely, even without the DirectRoute data, it will tell you if you
missed a turn when on the basemap. Don't know why this capability was
left off DirectRoute (v2).

Ron Hunter

2006-12-19, 4:33 am

Jim Townsend wrote:
> John B. Coarsey, PE wrote:
>
>
> OK.. My take on autorouting is to be able to enter an address and then
> have the GPS automatically find all the streets you have to take and when to
> turn. The route through a city is drawn for you. No other input is required.
>
> If the eXplorist 500le can do this, then I guess I was wrong :)
>
>
>
>
>
You can import the data from the map, or you can get the coordinates
from another source (like a geocaching site), or you can select from
places you have been, and saved the routes. Obviously, the most
accurate will be the places you have been, and 'marked'. Using the
coordinate data from MS S&T, I was able to get within about 50 yards of
the correct house over a 155 mile route. I can live with that.

tarbay2000@yahoo.com

2006-12-19, 7:33 am

Thanks everyone for all the informative posts.

I mostly wanted a GPS for outdoor activities with the occasional road
trip by vehicle also.

The 3-5 minute window to map a route is not a big deal on a long road
trip.

Picked up an Explorist 500LE today for $199 plus tax $227 Canadian
total.

Deal or NO DEAL?

Ron Hunter wrote:
> Jim Townsend wrote:
> You can import the data from the map, or you can get the coordinates
> from another source (like a geocaching site), or you can select from
> places you have been, and saved the routes. Obviously, the most
> accurate will be the places you have been, and 'marked'. Using the
> coordinate data from MS S&T, I was able to get within about 50 yards of
> the correct house over a 155 mile route. I can live with that.

Ron Hunter

2006-12-20, 4:33 am

tarbay2000@yahoo.com wrote:
> Thanks everyone for all the informative posts.
>
> I mostly wanted a GPS for outdoor activities with the occasional road
> trip by vehicle also.
>
> The 3-5 minute window to map a route is not a big deal on a long road
> trip.
>
> Picked up an Explorist 500LE today for $199 plus tax $227 Canadian
> total.
>
> Deal or NO DEAL?
>

DEAL!
I believe when I bought the 400, the 500 was $350 (USD).

News

2006-12-22, 10:33 pm

No deal .. I picked up the 500 (non LE model) for the same price from
Wal-Mart .. complete with batt and charger. The LE model as sold by Crappy
Tire only has the adaptor for 3 AAA batts.

<tarbay2000@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:1166534398.847559.189750@t46g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...
> Thanks everyone for all the informative posts.
>
> I mostly wanted a GPS for outdoor activities with the occasional road
> trip by vehicle also.
>
> The 3-5 minute window to map a route is not a big deal on a long road
> trip.
>
> Picked up an Explorist 500LE today for $199 plus tax $227 Canadian
> total.
>
> Deal or NO DEAL?
>
>
> Ron Hunter wrote:
>

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