VisorCentral.com - Magellan GPS

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VisorCentral.com (http://discussion.visorcentral.com/vcforum/index.php)
- Springboard Modules (http://discussion.visorcentral.com/vcforum/forumdisplay.php?forumid=10)
-- Magellan GPS (http://discussion.visorcentral.com/vcforum/showthread.php?threadid=11332)

Posted by D ev R ay 4Real on 02-27-2001 04:39 AM:

WOW this topic is quite long, I didn't even notice it until now...

Posted by VTL on 02-27-2001 06:55 AM:

It is a long thread, and thank God for that. The (mostly) positive reviews helped me make the difficult decision to return my Geode and buy the Magellan instead. The helpful tips from other users helped me get it up and running in a snap.

Posted by DaveyDave on 02-27-2001 11:26 AM:

NMEA

If you're just looking for some software to run with the GPS, it already comes with one of the best mapping software programs I've seen before. I needed it for aviation, not driving, so I bought FlyingPilot. If you want to buy another one, any NMEA app is compatible with Magellan, and most GPS developers out there make their apps NMEA compatible (they would be stupid not to, it's the standard). Just look for "NMEA compatible" on the website of your favorite GPS company and you're set.

__________________
Yup.

Posted by hokiedoc on 02-27-2001 01:23 PM:

Looking for maps of Japan

I have the Magellan GPS and the included software is great, but I would like to get ahold of some Palm GPS maps of Japan (traveling there next month). Does anyone know of a third party manufacturer that sells maps of Japan that would work with the Magellan GPS companion?

Posted by tuffy on 02-27-2001 04:14 PM:

gps & nav comp. vs. solus & street atlas 8

I have been digging around for some 3rd party software which would allow me to use waypoints on my maps. I recently became aware of solus & street atlas by delorme. If anyone is using either of these products, could you post some feedback here on how they compare with the included apps you get with magellen gps companion. The delorme products look pretty good on paper, so I'm wondering if anyone's user experience bears this out, or if there is some better value in other programs like handmap etc...

__________________
tuffy

Posted by halldp on 02-28-2001 01:15 PM:

Delorme Solus Pro 2.0

Being a Magellan owner and wanting to use topographical maps I went ahead and
purchase Solus Pro 2.0 in anticipation of Delorme's release of Topo 3.0 in March. I did
this inspite of having purchased Solus Pro 1.5 which was an absolutely horrible mapping
program (2 levels of zoom and 1 city map was over 1 meg in memory in my Visor).

Solus Pro 2.0 is much better than their previous version but still not as good as
the MacroSoft program that comes with the Magellan. There is more zoom capability
in the Solus Pro 2.0 and the maps are in vector format versus the old raster format
making them much smaller. This version of Solus doesn't work with Street Atlas 6.0 or
Map and Go 5.0. The maps you can download off of their web site do not have the
same level of detail as either MarcoSoft or Mapopolis. The GPS interface is not as
informative nor as easy to use as Magellans. I also could not get it to work with my
Delorme Tripmate GPS and MarkSpace serial cable like I could with Solus Pro 1.5.
The Magellan GPS did work with the Solus program, however it didn't seem to maintain
a fix as well as the MacroSoft program as it would occasionally disconnect for no apparent
reason. The only feature that Solus Pro 2.0 had that the MarcoSoft program doesn't have, is
an indicator that the GPS fix has been lost when viewing a map. With the MarcoSoft
program the only indication that the GPS fix is lost is the lack of motion on the map. The
Delorme program uses a symbol to indicate when you have a fix or not. Overall, I don't think
this program is worth the $40.00 Delorme wants for it.

Posted by Beryl on 02-28-2001 04:35 PM:

Solus Pro 2.0

I agree with your evaluation of this product and I regret having purchased it. It disconnects too frequently.

I am making the best of it so I am appreciating the way provides decent guidance to a particular destination. It alarms at upcoming turns which gives me the feeling that I have a true "Magellan" GPS (too bad it doesn't talk). If they had the foresight to add this alarm feature, why couldn't they add a similar notification when it disconnects?

Posted by timpearson on 03-01-2001 03:50 AM:

I have also tried Solus Pro 2.0 with the Magellan GPS Companion and find its operation unacceptable. Any operation that is CPU intensive (zooming, scrolling, etc) causes Solus to lose communications with the GPS. The icon at the top goes from "3D" to "O-slash". I can go to the GPS menu and tap disconnect/connect and the connection will come back, but this behaviour is unacceptable. I'm not sure who is to blame Delorme/Solus or Magellan. I have been using Solus Pro with an external Earthmate and didn't notice this problem as much.

Posted by John Creighton on 03-03-2001 02:44 AM:

GPSPilot

GPS Pilot "Atlas" is mapping software that is supposed to work with the Magellan. In fact, it was listed on the sheet of compatible third-party software that was packed with my new Magellan.

Here's the website:
http://www.gpspilot.com/

There is a demo version of Atlas available for download at their site, and I can tell you that it looks pretty good. Their maps show state lines when you've zoomed out that far (cool for when your on an airplane), and they're available in color .

HERE'S THE BIG PROBLEM: This demo program totally crashes my Prism with a nasty fatal alert that requires a reset. I wrote to their tech support, and they informed me that they are aware of the issue, and are working on it,

Maybe it runs on other Visors, though.
Has anyone else tried it?

Posted by VTL on 03-03-2001 07:06 AM:

Jeez, I'm glad I checked the site. I'd just downloaded the thing last night, but hadn't had a chance to install it on my Prism. Now I'll hold off.

Posted by dougsbrat on 03-04-2001 08:57 PM:

Re: GPSPilot

quote:
Originally posted by John Creighton
GPS Pilot "Atlas" is mapping software that is supposed to work with the Magellan. In fact, it was listed on the sheet of compatible third-party software that was packed with my new Magellan.

HERE'S THE BIG PROBLEM: This demo program totally crashes my Prism with a nasty fatal alert that requires a reset.
Has anyone else tried it?

yes, I got the demo version and it runs fine on my Visor Platinum/Magellan, so well I registered it!

WOW what a difference with full screen (registered version).
There is one problem though, sometimes it can't communicate with the GPS.
I usually toggle the "no GPS" / "NMEA" a time or two and it wakes up and stays connected unless I do a lot of zooming.

Posted by VTL on 03-05-2001 02:23 AM:

So, how do you like it?

Posted by dougsbrat on 03-05-2001 05:06 AM:

GPS Atlas

quote:
Originally posted by VTL
So, how do you like it?

I like it and use it often but there are pros and cons.

pros.-
You can have a maps you create from scanned, or internet maps ( I use www.mapblast.com maps).
Most of the screen on the visor is used for the map (large map),Also displays heading & speed on the same screen.
Hard buttons are useful to zoom and place "landmarks" while unable to use the stylus.
Ability to calibrate the maps with actual landmarks, so its right on the money (unlike the "map companion" mine is always at least 1 block off ).
Ability to drag map to look around, which suspends the GPS update for a few seconds then updates position and recenters the map on your position.
When you move the positional star turns to a arrow in the direction you are traveling (45 deg increments).

con.-
Could do topo maps (like from www.topozone.com) ,but all topos I have found are not WGS-84 which is the only datum available on the companion GPS.
Will not do waypoints or bread crumbs ( "GPS Tracker" will 50.00)

Posted by sxpert on 03-05-2001 06:45 PM:

Re: Re: Accuracy Range

quote:
Originally posted by Jon Etkins

2m accuracy is available, but it ain't cheap. You won't find a hand-held GPS under a grand that'll give that sort of accuracy,let alone a Visor plugin. Search sci.geo.satellite-nav for regular appearances of this question.

oh yeah? check the geode at http://www.geodiscovery.com

Posted by VTL on 03-05-2001 08:32 PM:

In response to Doug - thanks, sounds interesting. I'll give it a try.

In response to sxpert - ynfortunately, at this point the Geode is mostly potential - the software is very buggy.

Posted by sxpert on 03-05-2001 08:45 PM:

quote:
Originally posted by VTL
In response to Doug - thanks, sounds interesting. I'll give it a try.

In response to sxpert - ynfortunately, at this point the Geode is mostly potential - the software is very buggy.

Posted by VTL on 03-06-2001 01:09 AM:

I am a beta tester, and I have downloaded a couple of the new betas. Better, but not there yet. I have both the Magellan and the Geode (I'm going to return one, not sure which yet), and right now the Magellan is overall more functional than the Geode. The Geode seems to have more potential, but right now that's largely all it is - potential.

Posted by domore on 03-07-2001 12:33 AM:

The problem I have with Map Companion is how to find what towns and streets are in what counties. Anyone know if there is a listing that tells this without going through a trial and error process? I also have Solus Pro 2.0 and while I like the route planning capability and the alarm warning, I am disappointed at how easily and for no apparent reason it loose the fix. And of course it is not easy to reset the fix, tab to another screen, disconnect, connect and then tab back. I also am sorry that I bought it.

__________________
DoMore

Posted by tuffy on 03-07-2001 04:17 AM:

comments from delorme

After reading so many negative comments about delorme solus pro, I sent an e-mail to their tech support:

I am interested in version 3 of your Solus program. I have a handspring visor prism with a magellan gps companion and I need software which will allow me to add waypoints on maps & download routes to my pda. I posted a question about solus on a visorcentral discussion board & comments made suggested that in solus 2 the gps lost it's fix often and had to be re-initialized repeatedly. I would like to know if this issue has be addressed in solus 3. If there are any other advantages that solus has over quo vadis please let me know. I will definitely purchase some additional mapping software in the near future, and any help you could give me would be greatly appreciated.

and got the following response:

Solus 2.0 repeatingly losing it's fix..???? That's new to me... There is no issue on loosing a fix. I use Solus 2 with my Palm Vll without problems. If the software does keep losing a fix.. we can most likely trouble shoot.. and correct the problem.. and ya that sometimes happens.. but again it's usually do to a possible corrupt file and easily can be fixed.. so no issue. Now, the only difference between Solus 2.0 and 3.0,other then the $10 price differences.. is that Solus 3.0 has wireless capabilities...

Best Regards

DeLorme Tech Support

I guess they should check out this thread!!!

__________________
tuffy

Posted by Nhatman on 03-07-2001 07:53 PM:

Re: comments from delorme

quote:
Originally posted by tuffy
I guess they should check out this thread!!!

or learn how to write... without using so... many periods....

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