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Magellan Triton 500 - GPS receiver - hiking | 
 enlarge | Brand: Magellan Navigation
Category: CE
Buy New: Too low to display
New (3)
Avg. Customer Rating:  2 reviews
Media: Electronics
Memorabilia: No
Native Resolution: 320 x 240
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.1
Dimensions (in): 8 x 6 x 2
MPN: 980-0003-001
Model: 500
UPC: 689076431590
EAN: 0689076431590
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Features:
| • | Basemap of North America shows major highways, city centers, parks, lakes and more | | • | See your direction of travel, distance and position of destination, heading, bearing, speed and more on the beautiful graphic compass | | • | SiRFstarIII chipset and integrated multidirectional antenna offer superior GPS accuracy using the Wide Area Augmentation System | | • | SD card compatibility enables you to add unlimited optional maps, tracks, waypoints, routes and geocaches | | • | Pre-programmed points of interest ; Electronic compass and barometer ; Rugged and waterproof (IPX-7) ; Includes VantagePoint software, quick reference guide and reference manual on CD-ROM |
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| Accessories:
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| Editorial Reviews:
Product Description
Advanced full-color navigation that's amazingly easy! 3-axis electronic compass and built-in barometer offer enhanced navigation capabilities. SD-card compatibility enables use of unlimited optional detailed maps and other user generated content. Rugged and waterproof to take you anywhere.
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| Customer Reviews:
"Seamless Convergence between Software & Hardware" (Windows Software!) January 14, 2008
11 out of 17 found this review helpful
The brochure for the new Triton GPS units says "Seamless Convergence between Software & Hardware". As a Mac user that sounded like a great deal: a GPS that works with no problems or crashes and is completely plug & play, drag and drop!
However the brochure was misleading. It IS a "Seamless Convergence between Software & Hardware" for those people still forced to use computers with inferior operating systems (Windows). That means it works just as poorly as Windows! In the first 15 minutes of setting up the 500, it gave me a "Fatal Error" message in a Windows looking window and froze up. So they even put in a Windows interface for when it crashes! What a drag. I guess that's because there aren't Mac "fatal error" interface messages. I guess if you're going to say your machine can't work properly you say it with a familiar screen for those people who are used to their equipment not working.
The brochure also says "I-Phone-like" menu and "Works like iTunes." Then on the page talking about National Geographic Maps it says "Compatibility - NG maps are MAC/IBM compatible". These claims are completely misleading and I'm going to file a formal complaint with the BBB. The machine does not have an "iPhone-like" menu any more than my LG cell phone. There's no way it "Works like iTunes" because iTunes works on Macs! Then to say "Compatibility - NG maps are MAC/IBM compatible" leads one to believe it's Mac compatible. All these things are designed to infer to the consumer that this product is Mac compatible which it isn't. Very misleading!
On a better side:
I've been an outdoors enthusiast for over 25 of my 35 years. Knowing how to use a compass and map, I'm a bit disappointed in this unit. They could have made it much more functional for experienced use. However, it lacks the ability to view important info on the map window which means you have to keep switching back and forth between info and map. Kind of a drag.
If you're like me you'll be better off with the 200 and a good map and compass.
If you don't know what you're doing, this unit will seem really cool for geocaching and could get you into a lot of trouble. I recommend taking a course from REI so you know a little about what you're doing before you head out. Always take a good map and compass with this unit.
On the Good side:
The unit looks great, handles great, and is fairly easy to use for a Windows machine. Don't expect to turn it on and go like an iPhone (there's a lot of hidden menus that you need to discover to even set the time zone) but it is easy to view everything, unlike the eXplorer models.
On the Great side:
It has great reception!!! I would bet my life on it's abilities if it weren't windows based (I need something I know won't crash). I'll use it for quick and easy navigation, but I won't head out without a good map and compass.
Now I have to find someone with a PC to upload my NG maps. If it weren't Windows based I'd expect it to be drag and drop, however after reading the instructions for upload I'm looking forward to a long annoying process: this menu, that menu, go back and set this selection then a new menu, change another setting, upload using a specific setting in the Windows only software which I have to "Install" to use.
This may very well be the best GPS on the market, but "Seamless Convergence between Software & Hardware" takes on a whole new meaning now that I know it's Windows based!
DAY TWO...
I really doubt this is the best GPS on the market!
After a day of use it becomes painfully obvious that the "Base Map" is dangerously inadequate and that's an understatement. The base map is a blank brown screen with red interstate highways. That's it. No water masses, no rivers, no streets, nothing. In order to get the map you see on the box you need to have a PC and use the software.
I also noticed that the map doesn't rotate to show the direction I'm going even though I've set it to GPS orientation. So I called Magellan, got a helper after holding for 15 minutes. They helped me reset the unit and now the fancy Compass spins around like I"m in the Bermuda Triangle.
That's right, the compass spins around like it's possessed and the map won't orient itself correctly. Essentially this is a $250 paperweight!
The tech said it required a simple Firmware upgrade. Oh I forgot the firmware upgrade only works if you're on a PC. So I can't use the gps until I get to a PC so they can email me the info for the upgrade. This is a brand new product, why does it need an upgrade?
I would not buy this product again and I recommend against anyone else purchasing one. They're just plain dangerous because they're not reliable.
Did I mention that after the tech had me reset it the time is different from one screen to the other. It's 12:56PM here. The top of the screen shows 00:56 PM. The nav screen shows the time is 12:56am. You'd think that with that fancy GPS technology they could figure out what time it is. What a piece of junk!!! But it does have "Seamless Convergence between Software & Hardware" with every PC I've ever used.
If I could re-rate this product I'd give it a big 0.
DAY 3
I got a friends PC and installed Vantage Point and ran a Firmware upgrade. OK
I went to upgrade the base map from the solid brown with no water masses etc to the one they show on the product in all the advertising and on the front of the box. No luck. So I called customer support. They said that if I want to get the map that's shown on the box and in all the advertising for the unit I'd have to buy it. Are you freaking kidding me? Why not just advertise it with gold and diamond accents and a sherpa and rolls royce if you have to buy it separate after the fact. That is misleading advertising!!!
You do not get what is shown in the pictures. The background map in all the pictures of the Triton 500 is not what comes with the unit!!! You have to pay extra to get that or any map. Can you say Bait & Switch?
I was planning on purchasing NG topo maps anyway so I'm going to keep the unit if the compass stops spinning now that the firmware upgrade has been installed.
If this gives me any more trouble I'll be switching over to the Magellan Crossover which I know comes with a functional base map plus a much larger touch screen!
I'd now rate this unit -3 stars!!!
Caution! Not What It Claims! July 19, 2008
3 out of 5 found this review helpful
First off, I would recommend any hiking GPS system as a backup to a simply map and compass. That said, I want to clarify something about this particular model. This is a basic beginner's device to learn about Navigation, Waypoints, Trails, GeoCache and all the additional methods that go along with these. It also has a good "Best Fishing & Hunting Times for Current Location" menu as well as "Viewing Sunrise, Sunset Times" and "Lunar Information". The Triton has all these features and a USA map already included. I would highly suggest a class in GPS along with this.
The biggest problem with Magellan Triton products is they have had some problems with their software in the recent past. After contacting SUPPORT, they assured me that anything not up to date would be processed accordingly. Uh-huh. But, the biggest faux paus was to read, "compatibility with National Geographic TOPO! maps", stamped on the box cover and stated on-line, only to find out that it is not. Nor is the Triton 300 model. You are unable to download base map information to this device. I was able to download a trail (.gpx), but nothing else. The Triton Models 400 and above have an SD Card for this and they can upload map information, although I went through FOUR 400 models and could not get a 'connectivity' to my PC on any of them.
The overseas support for Magellan is terrible. I wasted over an hour with someone who knew nothing about the product. To make matters worse, not only did I pay for shipping, but when I returned the item, I had to pay for that as well, as it went through a third party. Not good business practices. I would try Garmin.
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