Magellan GPS 310 1.5-Inch Portable GPS Navigator

by Magellan

Product Details

Product Manual [2.06mb PDF]

• Product Dimensions: 6.2 x 2.1 x 1.3 inches ; 4 ounces
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B000056SKB
• Item model number: GPS310
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #105,718 in Electronics (See Top 100 in Electronics)
• Discontinued by manufacturer: Yes

Product Description

Amazon.com Product Description

The Magellan GPS 310 is an affordable 12-channel global positioning system receiver with an NMEA 0183 output for downloading map data from optional CD-ROMs via your PC. This GPS unit's quadrifilar antenna locks on to satellites for accurate positioning in all kinds of terrain.

View your navigation information on any of three graphic screens with a powerful backlight for dim conditions. Other GPS features include 100 waypoints, one reversible route with 10 legs, and a resettable trip odometer that tells you how far you've traveled so you can estimate the time you need to start back. Distance, bearing, heading, direction, steering, speed, time to go, elevation, XTE, time, and satellite elevation are all displayed on the high-resolution LCD screen. Tough rubber armoring protects this unit in the field, and waterproofing allows it to float.

The GPS 310 runs on two AA alkaline batteries for up to 20 hours. It comes with a wrist strap and quick-reference guide. It is covered by a one-year warranty.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Low cost doesn't mean low performance, April 13, 2001

By 

Fan in Arizona (Kingman, AZ USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Magellan GPS 310 1.5-Inch Portable GPS Navigator (Electronics)

The Magellan 310 holds 100 waypoints in memory. Higher priced units hold 500, but since I am not a "world traveler" 100 is fine with me. The unit does not come with an NMEA cable to connect to a PC, but Magellan will send you one free if you pay the 5 dollar shipping charge. The owners manual explains all of the features of the unit in sufficient detail that even I can operate it.

The manual is overly pessimistic in regard to the time the unit takes to "fix" a location. The manual says 2 to 5 minutes for a location fix, but I get a "lock" in 30 to 50 seconds most of the time. Sitting on my sofa, in front of a window, the unit obtained a postion fix in 45 seconds with the venetian blinds only partially open. Venturing into a desert canyon the unit performed even faster. With most of the horizon blocked by the canyon walls the 310 locked in a postion fix in 30 seconds.

The 310 also performed well in a moving car, with the unit propped up on top of the dashboard. In the moving car the 310 maintained a lock on enough satellites to register speed of travel and a working "North" arrow.

It doesn't have the bells, whistles, moving maps, etc. of the higher priced units, but it does what I wanted it to do when I bought it.

35 of 41 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great, basic GPS..., September 25, 2001

By 

Steven Dennis (Reston, VA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Magellan GPS 310 1.5-Inch Portable GPS Navigator (Electronics)

If you want a GPS that will tell you where to turn left to get on the Turnpike, this isn't it. But if you want to know exactly where you are on the planet, the Magellan 310 and 315 do an excellent job of it, with full 12-channel satellite tracking, the highest available. The nobs are complicated at first, but most guys like learning that sort of thing. This is basically the perfect gift for geeky dads or hikers.

BTW, the screen on the 310 and 315 as well as the features are superior to the eTrex basic model, although that model is far more ergonomic.

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Good bargain for connecting to laptop computer, April 18, 2004

By 

Scott A. Miller (Central Iowa, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Magellan GPS 310 1.5-Inch Portable GPS Navigator (Electronics)

The Magellan 310 is an old, discontinued GPS receiver. I bought the Magellan 310 at $30 at a local chain department store. As I suspected, the unit displays the coordinates in only 4 digits of "minutes" (A.K.A. DD MM.MM format). Modern GPS receivers display 5 digits of minutes. Unfortunately this means the Magellan 310 can only display coordinates to within +/- 60 feet in each dimension (North/South and East/West).

When I hooked the Magellan 310 to a laptop computer with a serial cable, the 310 outputs up to 6 digits of Minutes - more than sufficient for any task. So if you're looking for a bargain priced GPS receiver for use with a laptop for something like NetStumbler or DeLorme Street Atlas, I think this is a good bargain if you can find it under $50. Be sure to budget for extra cost of a serial cable (about $20) as the cable is not included.

Unfortunately, you can't transfer saved waypoints between your computer and the 310 with the serial cable.

I also think this GPS receiver is perfectly suitable for situations where high precision isn't required. For example, finding your way back to your car after hiking in the woods doesn't really require 3 Meter precision like modern GPS receivers have - the Magellan 310 should get you within 20 Meters (about 65 feet). That should get you close enough to see your car.

One of the most popular reasons for buying a GPS receiver is for geocaching. Most people that want to try out geocaching look for a low-priced GPS receiver so they can try the sport and decide whether or not they like it. While it might be tempting to buy the Magellan 310, I strongly suggest spending a few more dollars on a GPS receiver with 5 digit minute precision like the Magellan 315 or the Magellan Sportrak. It is technically possible to geocache with the Magellan 310, but you'll have to manually adjust for the 4 digit minute precision. Explaining how this adjustment works is beyond the scope of this review, but trust me when I say you want something better than the Magellan 310 for geocaching.