Magellan Explorer XL

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I was looking for a normal $500 - $600 Sat Nav however the local 4x4 recommended the Magellan as I am about to take the wife and three kids around Australia.

With the Explorer Upgrade we can apparently get topographical maps as well as points of interest etc.

Can be used for bushwalking as well up to 19 hrs battery use?

Any advice would be appreciated.

[Sim Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Sim]

They can be used for bushwalking - but I think you'll find the XL is designed more for in-car use due to the size and weight.

Have you actually seen an XL ? I suggest you find a store with them in stock and have a look - they are pretty big compared to the other handheld models.

If you don't mind lugging something that big around in your pack, the large screen and high detail would be great.

I don't think they do voice directions or auto-routing for car navigation though ? Could be wrong there.

[Chuck Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Chuck]

I have an XL it does auto routing with a series of beeps rather that voice prompts. You do need to buy a separate card though. (approx $300).

Mine came with the marine charts and have found it to be excellent.

The distance is not accurate when auto routing as it seems to calculate on the most direct route and not on the roads.

It has found all of the streets that I require so I am willing to over look the distance thing.

I wanted some thing that performed several functions so I have to say that the XL fits the bill. 8)

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Cheers Guys.

[jeff s Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close jeff s]

We use the XL also.

We use it for 4X4 days--- keeps tracks and way points.
Use it for the boat --- same as above.
Comes with PC software where you can plan routes etc and upload them to the GPS and follow them. As chuck said , it just beeps at you when approaching the waypoint or (POI)(point of interest). So you mainly put them (and name them) at POI's like intersections, watering holes, natural springs or camp grounds etc.

Used it on our trip across OZ with great success.
I had done most of the trip on the PC at home and up loaded the next days route to the GPS from the laptop each night after down loading the days track to the laptop.
Another thing with the laptop/ PC software is that you can watch the trip back in real time( if you wanted to) with a little dot moving along your route showing speed and altitude.
And as you are aware the thing comes with topographic maps. So you can see if a track 100Ks away goes up or down and by how much.

Its big so easy to see. 3 back light settings.
*Bright for day, *mid for night, *off for the times you want to conserve batteries ( like bush-walking).
When plugged into 12V the batteries last forever. had ours for almost a year before replacing batteries. when you plug into your PC or laptop it uses the external power to run, saving more battery power.

Has an absolute shitload of internal info on POIs loaded in the soft ware.
When in town can be a bit overwhelming and cluttered, But you can disable any category you don't want. Like churches, cemeteries, hotels, police stations blah blah blah.

Top unit.
But its the only unit we have had so can't compare with any others on the market. Although I would recommend it.

[Sim Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Sim]

Does anyone have experience with loading custom maps onto their Magellan GPS unit (or other handheld GPS for that matter - eg Garmin) ?

I'm looking at buying a small handheld GPS for an extended OS trip next year (before I'm allowed to buy the Prado !!!), we will be travelling through areas that typically don't have good mapping already available for most handheld GPS units, so I was looking at scanning my own maps in.

The alternative is a Windows based PDA running OziExplorerCE - but I'd prefer a more rugged and dedicated unit if possible.

Suggestions ?

[Drew Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Drew]

Good question Sim,

Firstly I can sympathise about not having the vehicle yet. I wanted a 4WD for years but I wasn't in a position to do anything about it - now that I've finally got my dream truck (albeit a poverty pack) it has made the wait worth it. Keep your eyes on the prize (and the bank balance!). :lol:

I have been fiddling with GPSs for years. My primary instrument at the moment is a O2 XDAIIi PDA running a Bluetooth GPSR and OziExplorer and my own collection of maps that I've bought (or stolen). :lol:

I find this a great solution - it allows me to use a very wide variety of maps, I can download the tracks to my laptop and see where I've been on the big screen (I guess any GPS can do this) and most of all, I got the PDA through work salary sacrifice, so it was GST free and came out of my pre-tax pay (not that it makes much difference on my sub-average wage! :roll

The XDAIIi isn't a bad bit of kit - I've got a rubber shroud and a screen protector for it that helps make it more robust. It needs the odd re-boot but other than that it's a very capable unit. I'm in the process of shopping around for a replacement and the new O2 XDA Flame looks very nice.

All in all, I wouldn't buy another brand name GPS unless it made use of my vast map collection. Most of them require you to purchase their (expensive) brand name maps. I'd be interested to hear if there are any units that do allow you to load your own raster maps.

Cheers and good luck with your decision,

Drew.

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I don't have an XL but have seen them, nice looking units and such, features seem really great. One thing tho I have read is about compatibility with vista , seems to be some problems there, just thought You all would like to know

Robb