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Cellular forums Home > Archive > Magellan GPS > March 2007 > Q's on Magellan Sportrak - Mapsend
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Q's on Magellan Sportrak - Mapsend
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| Mamba 2007-01-31, 10:33 pm |
| Just picked up a Sportrak Pro and after reading thru the manual I am fairly
stupid about it's use. Will be hoping to use it as an aid while hiking and
snowshoeing. Couple of questions to anybody with experience with this unit:
For the initialization, I have taken it into my back yard and waited for it
to get satellite locks. It seems to wink off before the process can finish,
but I don't have the powersaver feature set for a short time period. The
screen actually goes blank within about 30 seconds. The batteries show
about 1/3 power. Any ideas?
I'd like to get topo maps for Oregon and Washington, where the unit will be
used. Can I pick these up separately and at a reduced cost?
Tnx
Gary
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| Noweldrecumbent 2007-01-31, 10:33 pm |
| Some batteries, I know this sounds stupid but. Some are larger than others
for what reason I have no clue. I had recharge style batteries in mine and
the unit would kick on and off because the diameter was smaller. It could be
dirty contacts too. Otherwise it may be a defective unit. I love my Sportrak
unit, it's perfect for what I do.
Hope this helps
Dave
"Mamba" < gwood@integratelecom
.com> wrote in message
news:12s2a7tfc7s49a6
@corp.supernews.com...
> Just picked up a Sportrak Pro and after reading thru the manual I am
> fairly stupid about it's use. Will be hoping to use it as an aid while
> hiking and snowshoeing. Couple of questions to anybody with experience
> with this unit:
>
> For the initialization, I have taken it into my back yard and waited for
> it to get satellite locks. It seems to wink off before the process can
> finish, but I don't have the powersaver feature set for a short time
> period. The screen actually goes blank within about 30 seconds. The
> batteries show about 1/3 power. Any ideas?
>
> I'd like to get topo maps for Oregon and Washington, where the unit will
> be used. Can I pick these up separately and at a reduced cost?
>
> Tnx
> Gary
>
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| Dave S 2007-02-01, 4:33 am |
| I have a SporTrak which suddenly began to turn itself off whenever my
bicycle hit a bump. It wasn't the batteries. I sent it to Bill's
Electronics breuber@wightman.ca and he replaced it with a new (or
refurbished) one.
Dave S.
Noweldrecumbent wrote:
> Some batteries, I know this sounds stupid but. Some are larger than others
> for what reason I have no clue. I had recharge style batteries in mine and
> the unit would kick on and off because the diameter was smaller. It could be
> dirty contacts too. Otherwise it may be a defective unit. I love my Sportrak
> unit, it's perfect for what I do.
> Hope this helps
> Dave
>
> "Mamba" < gwood@integratelecom
.com> wrote in message
> news:12s2a7tfc7s49a6
@corp.supernews.com...
>
>
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| Jack Erbes 2007-02-01, 3:33 pm |
| Mamba wrote:
> Just picked up a Sportrak Pro and after reading thru the manual I am fairly
> stupid about it's use. Will be hoping to use it as an aid while hiking and
> snowshoeing. Couple of questions to anybody with experience with this unit:
>
> For the initialization, I have taken it into my back yard and waited for it
> to get satellite locks. It seems to wink off before the process can finish,
> but I don't have the powersaver feature set for a short time period. The
> screen actually goes blank within about 30 seconds. The batteries show
> about 1/3 power. Any ideas?
>
> I'd like to get topo maps for Oregon and Washington, where the unit will be
> used. Can I pick these up separately and at a reduced cost?
>
I used to use a Meridian and seem to remember that it had settings for
both screen blanking and also for automatic shutdown if a button was not
pressed occasionally.
If the screen blanks you should still be able to see the display in
sunlight, it just gets harder see.
Also, did you use the initialize menu to localize yourself for the first
fix? That speeds things up quite a bit. But it can still take 10-15
minutes.
Jack
--
Jack Erbes in Ellsworth, Maine, USA (jackerbes at adelphia dot net)
(also receiving email at jacker at midmaine dot com)
| |
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| "Jack Erbes" <jackerbes@adelphia.net> wrote in message
news:OaudnVLNCvTbzF_
YnZ2dnUVZ_v2nnZ2d@ad
elphia.com...
> Mamba wrote:
>
> Also, did you use the initialize menu to localize yourself for the first
> fix? That speeds things up quite a bit. But it can still take 10-15
> minutes.
>
> Jack
>
That's the process I was attempting to do when I noted the screen blanking.
I guess based on various posts I'll try new batteries and see if that helps.
I purchased the unit off eBay, so I guess a warranty replacement is not an
option.
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| Jack Erbes 2007-02-01, 10:33 pm |
| Mamba wrote:
> "Jack Erbes" <jackerbes@adelphia.net> wrote in message
> news:OaudnVLNCvTbzF_
YnZ2dnUVZ_v2nnZ2d@ad
elphia.com...
> That's the process I was attempting to do when I noted the screen blanking.
> I guess based on various posts I'll try new batteries and see if that helps.
>
> I purchased the unit off eBay, so I guess a warranty replacement is not an
> option.
>
Probably not. Here is a link to a review of that GPS by a guy that
really knows what he is talking about :
http://gpsinformation.net/mgoldrevi...ak-pro-rev.html
the home page from that link a a great place for GPS info.
The product page for the obsolete Magellans can be a little hard to
find, it is here:
http://www.magellangps.com/support/obsoleteProducts.asp
and the page for the SporTrak Pro is here:
http://www.magellangps.com/support/...t.asp?prodid=11
Magellan lost me to Garmin last year. Better hardware and more software
features. But I still have two Meridians and still have a warm spot in
my heart for them.
Jack
--
Jack Erbes in Ellsworth, Maine, USA (jackerbes at adelphia dot net)
(also receiving email at jacker at midmaine dot com)
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| Dave S 2007-02-02, 4:33 am |
| Jack Erbes wrote:
> Mamba wrote:
>
> Probably not. Here is a link to a review of that GPS by a guy that
> really knows what he is talking about :
>
> http://gpsinformation.net/mgoldrevi...ak-pro-rev.html
>
> the home page from that link a a great place for GPS info.
>
> The product page for the obsolete Magellans can be a little hard to
> find, it is here:
>
> http://www.magellangps.com/support/obsoleteProducts.asp
>
> and the page for the SporTrak Pro is here:
>
> http://www.magellangps.com/support/...t.asp?prodid=11
>
> Magellan lost me to Garmin last year. Better hardware and more software
> features. But I still have two Meridians and still have a warm spot in
> my heart for them.
>
> Jack
>
I think you're the one who talked me into doing the same thing, Jack.
My SporTrak works fine for hiking, but was becoming a pain to jam
between the dash and windshield of my car. I only have Canadian detailed
maps for it.
I love the 2610 I got on EBay. Beautiful color screen, and the
navigation works like a charm. I wouldn't mind if it also did
text-to-speech for the intersections, but I don't need any other stuff,
like mp3 player, or blue tooth.
I accidently left the remote in a rental car, and the people at that
agency claim to have not found it. Garmin wants $50, if I recall
correctly, for a replacement, so I'm going to do without, at least for now.
Anyway, thanks for the recommendation.
Dave S.
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| Jack Erbes 2007-02-02, 10:33 am |
| Dave S wrote:
<snip>
>
> I think you're the one who talked me into doing the same thing, Jack.
> My SporTrak works fine for hiking, but was becoming a pain to jam
> between the dash and windshield of my car. I only have Canadian detailed
> maps for it.
I'm glad you don't regret the decision. I have no regrets about
changing to the 76Cx from the Meridian. I've got the street, marine,
and topo mapping I wanted for it now and wont' have to buy any more
mapping for a few years or more. The Garmin policy of allowing their
locked mapping to be used on two receivers is really an incentive for
people to buy more than one Garmin receiver.
> I love the 2610 I got on EBay. Beautiful color screen, and the
> navigation works like a charm. I wouldn't mind if it also did
> text-to-speech for the intersections, but I don't need any other stuff,
> like mp3 player, or blue tooth.
After dragging my feet on it for some years, I finally bought a 2610 a
few weeks ago. I found a good deal on a refurbished unit on eBay. I'm
really enjoying that and it is meeting all my expectations.
> I accidently left the remote in a rental car, and the people at that
> agency claim to have not found it. Garmin wants $50, if I recall
> correctly, for a replacement, so I'm going to do without, at least for now.
That's too bad. I see those on eBay for less than that. Like maybe
half that price before you add shipping costs. I've used the remote
with mine some and it is really handy in the car. The IR receiver's
lens could have a little wider "eye", I have to hold the remote up well
aimed to make sure it will work.
But the touch screen is wonderful. That and the simple four button
control system make for quick and easy use. I've spent some time with
it in the house learning the menus and stuff, I did most of that with in
in my lap on the bean bag mount and using a PDA stylus.
> Anyway, thanks for the recommendation.
>
You're welcome! Hopefully, the next time we buy Magellan will have
caught up with and stayed abreast of Garmin on hardware and software
features and we'll be in a dog eat dog GPS price war that has driven the
prices way down.
Jack
--
Jack Erbes in Ellsworth, Maine, USA (jackerbes at adelphia dot net)
(also receiving email at jacker at midmaine dot com)
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"Mamba" < gwood@integratelecom
.com> wrote in message
news:12s2a7tfc7s49a6
@corp.supernews.com...
> Just picked up a Sportrak Pro and after reading thru the manual I am
> fairly stupid about it's use. Will be hoping to use it as an aid while
> hiking and snowshoeing. Couple of questions to anybody with experience
> with this unit:
>
> For the initialization, I have taken it into my back yard and waited for
> it to get satellite locks. It seems to wink off before the process can
> finish, but I don't have the powersaver feature set for a short time
> period. The screen actually goes blank within about 30 seconds. The
> batteries show about 1/3 power. Any ideas?
>
> I'd like to get topo maps for Oregon and Washington, where the unit will
> be used. Can I pick these up separately and at a reduced cost?
>
> Tnx
> Gary
>The first time you use a GPS, or the first time in a certain period of time
>(varies by unit) or if you've moved a long distance with it off (ie
>500miles in your luggage) the GPS needs to dowload the GPS almanac. This
>takes about 30 minutes by satelite and cannot be avoided unless you GPS has
>the ability to upload the almanac via the internet (My Sportrak color
>doesn't). Your batteries sound deadish. Alkaline batteries can recoup
>their load handling ability (not thier voltage tho) when not being used.
>If you do use alkaline batteries they are good down to about 1/4 to 1/3 on
>the meter. Rechargeables don't get as high a voltage but hover around the
>1/2 voltage for a long time then quickly die. They don't recoup like an
>acid battery can so once they die, they die. Change your batteries and
>then leave the GPS outside (or at least with good signal strength) for
>about 30 minutes the first time. Once it get the almanac it will
>constantly update it whenever it's on and you'll not notice it.
Cheers
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