Magellan MapSend TOPO in the U.S.

by Magellan

Product Description

Software for use with GPS receivers, Items 61106, 61107, & 61108. Download and view true 3-D topographic database, find elevation attributes and create vertical profiles. Call for system requirements.

Product Details

• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces
• ASIN: B00164EK2I
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #316,343 in Home Improvement (See Top 100 in Home Improvement)
  • #38 in Automotive > Interior Accessories > Compasses

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars TOPO usage, April 6, 2007

By 

Gerald Grenz (Lakeville, MN) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

I purchased the software for a trip to the Grand Canyon. The detail all the way to the bottom of the canyon and back up was great. My entire route from Minnesota to Arazona was covered.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Better than most, March 19, 2005

By 

Electronic and software fun (Georgia) - See all my reviews

I have a meridian platinum and this software is awesome. Especially compared to other topo software I have seen. It is very friendly with many useful shortcut keys (such as + and - keys can be used for zoom, etc). It gives a greater detail and geological features since most topo software tries to use scanned-in actual topo maps. You get all features with this software. I am very impressed. As for the other reviews, why would you attempt to download detail maps for a greater area than you were going to visit? Why would you want to download almost an entire region (4 whole states) topo to a receiver? Base maps on most receivers give you fairly good detail until you get to where you need topo detail. 64 m memory card can handle all you need, maybe download it in separate segments and you are set. I downloaded all of North Georgia, East Tennessee, and western North Carolina and it took less than 8 mb on my gps. It has excellent detail and even tells me where coves, GP's and road barricades exist.

1.0 out of 5 stars NOT GOOD ON THE MERIDIAN SERIES RECEIVERS, February 20, 2005

By 

W. Calvert "sdwest" (NW IL) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

I rated this software, "MapSend TOPO in the U.S." at 1 star, only because there is no "0 Star" rating. I would rate Magellan itself lower than that, if that were possible.

I spent more than $100 for this product. On the box it says "Now Supports Meridian series of GPS receivers". So I went and bought a larger "SD" memory card for my Meridian Gold, thinking I would be able to load a large area map, that would include several states, and therefore not have to change maps or memory cards when I was travelling.

What Magellan doesn't tell you on the outside of the box, is all written clearly on the inside in the skimpy instruction manual (located inside the sealed CD jewel case) - this software contains "bugs" (their own description), that limit map sizes to 4 maps for a total of 32MB, and no single map should be larger than 16MB on the Meridian Series. Apparently, if you try to use larger size maps the Meridian GPS receiver can quit working. Here I am with a 256MB SD card that cost me another $50, and can load a maximum of 32MB in maps. The state of Colorado takes almost 30MB by itself.

The manual also says that a software "update" that would fix this mess would be posted on their website soon as a download, so I was encouraged. I emailed Magellan to ask how I could obtain the bug fixes as an update, since it's been more than a couple of years since this software has been out.

Magellan's response was that the update was called MapSend Topo 3D, retail price $149, but I would be allowed a special price as a MapSend TOPO in the U.S. customer for ONLY $99! I was furious.

After several more exchanges, and Magellans' support person less than friendly or accommodating, I was told he could neither refund my purchase price for the software I bought, nor could he give me any break on the $99 upgrade. I told him that I would spend my next $100 towards a competitors' GPS receiver with fully supported software, and customer support.

My experience was with the Meridian Gold, but the bugs affect all the Meridian series receivers. Since Magellan is completely aware of the bugs in this program, and still advertises that it supports the Meridian series, my advice would be to stay clear of this software as a minimum. In my opinion this is "bait and switch", or sharp practice at least, and Magellan doesn't seem to care. For me, this $100 software was a total waste of my hard-earned money. But, of course, YMMV.

Still want MapSend Topo in the U.S.? Buy mine at half price! I'll be glad to get rid of this kluge.