Magellan Sportrak Color Handheld GPS Receiver

Pros: Low cost, fully configurable, easy to use, accurate.
Cons: Extra cost for detailed map data, no expandable memory, hard to read in daylight.

I purchased the Magellan SporTrak Color GPS Receiver at Costco in December 2004 for $200. Not having owned a GPS unit before, I based my decision to purchase on cost, accuracy, screen resolution, and size. Nowhere was I able to find another color GPS ...

Pros: Good offroad reception, new lower price, lots of functionality
Cons: Poor accuracy, useless without MapSend upgrade, small memory not expandable

I chose the SporTrak color because it meets several needs in one. My primary interest is offroad biking and hiking. Secondarily I use the unit for street navigation. Reviews of various GPS units say that the SporTrack has the best reception in the ...

Pros: Great GPS satellite reception; broad set of features.
Cons: Poor screen viewing angle; usually requires backlight; keys unnecessarily hard to use.

I recently took the Magellan SporTrak Color for an extended test drive, comparing it with Magellan's line of grayscale SporTraks. The obvious advantage of the Color over the other SporTraks is its color screen. Unfortunately this advantage is also a ...

Pros: Easy to use, menu system is intuitive.
Cons: No rechargeable battery, screen scratches easily, computer cord hard to attach.

This unit works well. I like the color screen, and the built in maps. The buttons and menus are easy to use. I have big hands and fingers, yet the buttons don't give me any problems. Seems to be a very accurate unit. Uses two AA batteries. This ...

Pros: Lightweight Rugged construction Internal compass good hiking unit with topo reasonable battery drain
Cons: It the screen stupid!

This is my second stint as a GPS user. I owned a map 330 (also by magellan) about 5 years ago and I enjoyed it. Recently I have been getting into hiking and wanted a good GPS unit to help me in the back 40! I knew I wasnt going to be hiking all thetime ...

Pros: Looks good, compact and light. Can be customized. Lots of cool features. Great compass.
Cons: Pre-loaded maps are weak. Eats batteries quick. Screen hard to read in bright sunlight.

This is my first GPS unit. I did alot of research before making a purchase. I found this GPS unit to have all the features that I wanted and needed. The color screen is clear and bright, and I have to admit that this was the final deciding factor. This ...

Pros: It floats ??
Cons: Screen, Map software, slow serial connection - the whole unit.

I purchased this receiver at Costco because of the price. I shortly after purchased the Magellan Mapsend Direct Route. After loading the GPS memory full, which took almost 40 mins, I tried to locate some towns in the area I was planning to cycle that weekend. I found all of the roads were listed, but very few towns.

The menus layout and buttons just don't work. The menus are hard to find and difficult to understand.

I'll leave the worst for last - the screen. They may call it color, but you have to look pretty hard to see anything but different shades of grey. There is only one small angle where the screen is clear and I almost crashed my bike a few time trying to find that angle.

I returned the unit and software mostly because of the short comings of the maps.

My next purchase was the Garmin Legend C. I deceided to keep it. Just fantastic !

Pros: Signal reception and basic GPS position accuracy.
Cons: Mapping, tech support, button ergonomics, serial interface, and screen.

Satellite reception is pretty good. I can get a signal in my house, car, and in a Boeing 737. Basic GPS position data is good as well. Under good conditions I get an estimated position error of 7 ft. Field tests have confirmed less than 10 ft. error in returning to a marked position.

Yes the screen is an issue, but not a show stopper. You'll use the backlight often, but it's quite useable in all the conditions I've tried it. The arrow buttons are too tightly spaced for an average adult finger to use easily, a major oversight by Magellan. Serial interface is clumsy to attach and very slow even at max baud rate. The base map is quite limited and only shows major roads. Mapsend Direct Route adds missing details but the routing algorithm is very primitive. Destination address entry can be a huge task. Sometimes your position on the map is shown with a constant 50-100 ft. shift, even when your true lat / lon is dead on. The user's manual is lacking and oddly organized. Tech support is incredibly slow and not terribly helpful in answering questions.

Pros: EVERYTHING
Cons: SCREEN COULD BE LARGER

EASY TO READ AND FOLLOW.THE BEST GPS I'VE OWNED YET.IF YOUR A FISHERMAN THIS IS THE UNIT FOR YOU.VERY ACCURATE TO THE FOOT