Re: [Paddlewise] GPS & Mapping Software

I wasn't initially going to comment about my bad experience with Magellan, 
since I recognised that my single experience was "anecdotal" rather than a 
statistical evaluation of their performance. However... Fred's story has 
enouraged me. Perhaps we could form a "Magellan Survivors Support Group".
My first "portable" GPS was a Magellan, bought back in 1993 when GPSs were 
still the size of bricks. A few weeks into an Artic trip, the nominally 
waterproof unit flooded, crapped out, and became about as useful as a brick. 
After the trip, Magellan was not interested in helping me. They'll never see 
any of my money again.
To take the discussion from negative to positive, three reasons you might 
consider that you should buy a Garmin (I currently own the GPS12, and am 
very happy with it):
1. I find the prompts and screens on Garmins more intuitive and easier to 
use.
2. I also find the "typeface" and icon size on Garmins to be more 
substantial and easier to read in a variety of lighting conditions. 
(Magellan uses a thin, reedy font, at least in the models I've looked at.)
3. Good customer support: my email queries to Garmin regarding Y2K, the week 
"rollover" issue, and other matters have all been answered promptly and 
helpfully. Just last night I downloaded a free software upgrade for my unit 
from Garmin's website.

Good luck on your hunt!

Philip Torrens
N49°16' W123°06'(determined on a Garmin GPS)


>From: "Fred T, CA Kayaker" <cakayak_at_mindspring.com>

>Please consider my recent experience with Magellan.  I purchased a Magellan
>ColortTrak in January of this year.  I used it a few times and decided to
>take it with me while trying out a Necky Tesla.  Beautiful day and I was
>paddling at about 3.7 knts.  I looked down and it jumped to 12 knts then to
>25 and its last reading: a whopping 36 knts before it died.  Man can I
>paddle fast! I don't trust a GPS for long term navigation believing that
>the earth's magnetic field is much more reliable than a set of dead
>batteries.
>
>Here comes the good part.  If you try and call Magellan to get tech support
>or customer service - Forget it.  You get put on hold, get recordings that
>due to large call volumes that your wait time will be four minutes so you
>wait.  You then get a recording that asks you to leave a message and
>someone will call you back.  Don't hold your breath!  It won't happen
>anytime soon.   If at all.
>
>I would look at a comparable Garmin product.  Magellan tried to purchase
>Loran and the deal fell through.  Magellan's management had not planned or
>executed well and has in fact quit producing aviation GPS's when they
>initially owned that market segment.  I believe that Magellan will be
>problematic for some time to come.  Read:  Questionable quality and poor
>customer service!
>
>Sports Chalet, where I purchased the unit came through with a new
>one.  Thank you Sports Chalet!!!  Their manager said that they were having
>problems with Magellan customer service with other customers.
>
>Caveat Emptor!
>
>Fred Thomas
>California Kayaker
>
>At 11:54 PM 7/12/2000 -0400, MJAkayaker_at_aol.com wrote:
>>I have made a tenative decision to buy a Magellan 315 GPS and Chartview
>>
>>Am I missing anything I might want to consider before making this 
>>purchase.
>>I have tried to get information at a couple of GPS websites, but I just 
>>kind
>>of get overwhelmed with all the information they have.
>>
>>Thanks for your help.
>>
>>Mark J. Arnold
>>MJAkayaker_at_aol.com
>
>
>
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