Customer Reviews
Entry Level--Not too durable
This Magellan GPS unit is a good entry level GPS device. It tells you where you are and keeps a track log. The reported accuracy never got to the 10 feet WAAS accuracy, but it was fair. There was a 45ft difference between the 1st and 2nd stories of my house when infact there is only 8ft.
Pros:
Good entry unit for the price
Shows you where you are
Cons:
Maps are pretty much useless, it shows you the interstates and highways as of 3-4 years ago. Don't count on it to find anything.
No PC interface -- spend a few dollars more
Not very rugged
I had this unit and in less than 12 hours, my screen was broken. There is a weak spot betwen the eXplorist 200 logo and the magellan name on the screen protector. The area there pushes on a weak spot on the LCD glass/screen on the inside. Too much pressure cracks the screen. I had it in my pocket just testing it out. I drove home and when I pulled it out, the screen was broken. No drops, bangs, or jarations; just maybe a slight pressure on that weak spot. The replacement price for the LCD screen is $60. Don't bother buying the amazon warranty because it doesn't cover anything like that.
Perfect starter and then some
The first thing that amazed me about this unit is it is so light weight, compact, and fits in the palm of your hand. I purchased a Magellan GPS unit back in 1997 and wanted to update and upgrade. GPS has come a long way since my first unit. This unit was easy to setup and navigate. The onscreen menu system is easy to understand, and the navigation buttons are easy enough to use with one hand. The screen was sharp and clear, and the backlight is more than enough for low light and dark areas. The built in maps of North America (while not side street detailed) are very detailed and accurate for major highways and throughways. It acquired a 4 or more satellite signal within about 1 minute after a cold boot up. It got signal inside my condo unit which is under another second story condo unit!! In the car it worked just as good laying on the seat next to me. I used the built in maps to navigate to another city perfectly. Overall I'm very pleased, recommend this unit, and I'm looking forward to using it for some Geocaching soon.
take you from point A to point B!!!
This is my first personal GPS. In the past back in 99' my first experience with GPS was when the security forces training introduced it to us in techschool. They were a little complicated then, but last year I started comparing these gadgets, reading reviews and prices, durability etc. I bought this one because it was not that expensive, the features are just what I need. I don't like the color, cuz I know I was going to be using it not just for the road but for other special operation and exercises we do in the military...so you know if they'd come out with a camouflage skin on this that's what i'd picked, i spray painted it anyway to cover it up for exercises we had out in the field. Another thing that's good on this badboy is lighting, it served me well for stealthy night ops situation.. the other ones with bright color like your computer monitor, lit up very well. I knew that because i spotted my buddy during war game exercises in a field he was in a humvee 1000m out, we couldn't find him. So, I called his cellphone whipped out the NVG night vission goggles and old boy compromised his position...but if i'm gon get one of those i'd have to just get filter screen for it. I've been using the Magellan Explorist 200 since i bought it last year, I used it when I drove from Wyoming to Florida when we PCS or change station. The battery was ok, it'd have been great if it came with rechargeble battery and a station like those portable handheld radios. Always have a map so if you were to run out of battery you got your back up. When I got to Florida, it was hurricane season and for Hurricane Dennis we had to evacuate. I was new florida so evacuating and going somewhere means more attention to maps and hotels and other stuff. This was our most difficult time and thanked to this explorist 200 we made it to our destination to Indiana quickly and safely. The day when everyone and their mother were out on the road conjesting the main highway; we were barely moving. So i started scrolling left and right on this GPS and I found a road possibly a back road which sits a mile from the main highway but runs the same direction where the main highway go...sure enough i took the next exit and shot an azymuth that way and when we got to that road it was like twilight zone there weren't any cars but tractors on the road, it was pretty much all mine. I kept on driving and sometimes when it's open field I see the main highway on my leftside which showed in my explorist 200, and witnessed all the motionlesss cars that constantly glowed brake lights. This when i started recommending this GPS to all my coworkers... I told them you gon need it someday...when a road is blocked and when you need to find another road they come very handy....this explorist right here can do that for you.
