Magellan Meridian Marine Waterproof Hiking GPS

by Magellan

Product Details

Product Manual [6.90mb PDF]

• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 6 x 3 inches ; 3 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B00005OLY9
• Item model number: 980598-04
• Batteries: 2 AA batteries required.
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #185,427 in Electronics (See Top 100 in Electronics)

Product Description

Amazon.com Product Description

Keep on course at all times with the Meridian Marine Global Positioning System receiver. This rugged handheld GPS unit coordinates data from up to 12 satellites to pinpoint your location anywhere on the globe, and it comes with a 16 MB base map that details U.S. marine navaids including fixed navaids, buoys, obstructions, wrecks, and lighthouses. The Meridian Marine's Secure Digital Memory Card slot allows you to slide in a data card to get even more detail, or use a memory card to store waypoints and routes.

The Meridian Marine is PC compatible and stores up to 500 waypoints and 20 reversible routes with up to 30 legs. It also comes with a quadrifilar helix antenna for optimal satellite signal reception and fast position fixes. WAAS and EGNOS capability adds to the versatility of this receiver, which can be operated in English, French, German, Dutch, Finnish, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, or Swedish.

See your exact position on the Meridian Marine's seven navigation screens and vertical-profile graphs that show elevations of the route traveled. The oversized grayscale display allows you to easily see location information and comes with a backlight and backlit keypad for use even in dim light. Waterproof rubber armoring and an ergonomic, compact design add to the Meridian Marine's functionality.

The Meridian Marine is compatible with Magellan's MapSend software, including MapSend Streets Europe and the recently released MapSend Topo for the United States. Vehicle, bike, and swivel mounts are sold separately.

Product Description

GPS 315 12 Parallel channel, hand held receiver with wrist strap and user guide.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

95 of 107 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A super GPS! The pick for mariners and roadies..., December 11, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Magellan Meridian Marine Waterproof Hiking GPS (Electronics)

Just got this unit. It's great! I think this will set the standard for handhelds for a while. The ability to add memory makes it fairly unbeatable right now. I've put down some thoughts of mine that might be helpful. The stats and whatnot are on the Magellan web site and Amazon so I won't go into those. Also go to the Magellan site for screen shots. They have a shot of each screen, it's helps to see them I think. Anyhoo, my thoughts, very random and probably not much help but....

- It's very easy on the hands. Fits nicely with all the buttons up front, no hidden or back buttons. Very nice. Also has dedicated zoom buttons for the maps, a great touch. Nothing's worse then one button for both. The rubber cover is very grippy so water will never be a problem. The battery compartment doesn't look very water tight, however the unit seems tight. I would guess water will never be problem.
- This unit come with the pc cable, although the blur above doesn't say this. So you won't need to buy that cable. Makes it easier really and saves a little money for other extries. You will only need the car cable, which is cheaper. The combo looks a little large and complicated, so I'll go for the straight cig lighter cable.
- The screen is very easy to see. It has 3 levels of backlighting, but I haven't needed that at all. The screen's large enough and bright enough for most folks. The detail is good, like any hand held it's somewhat limited but I have had no problems at all.
- The 16MB of info is really pretty good. The detail doesn't go beyond state, national, and some limited local roadways but that's to be expected. With the Mapsend CD-ROM I would think the detail is endless, especially with the add on memory. I haven't bought the CD-ROM yet (...). Can't wait to test that out! The marine points are good. Seems to have most of the local fixed navaids, including archaeological sites. I'm on east coast so marine points are plentiful and this seems to have most. Good enough most sailing and boating, especially since one doesn't navigate solely with a GPS anyway - I hope! I would think a future marine CD-ROM is in order though. I'm not sure if the gold or platinum has more road map detail or not. Probably, but they don't have the waterway points which is a neat feature. Also has lakes and rivers, for the fishers out there - has a fishers helper time-of-day screen.
- It's very easy to program and get going. I had it up and going in 15 minutes, including reading the manual. It's really easy. I'm a first time GPSer if that helps. No worries! Oh, it comes with batteries in the box. A nice touch. No running out looking for batteries when all you really want to do is play with the thing! A+ to Magellan on that one.
- It's very quick at getting the sats and giving your local. Since it's my first I cannot compare but I'm satisfied with the speed. It refreshes quickly and has a nifty compass. The drive screens are well thought out and uncomplicated.
- All of the prompts and menus are intuitive and easy to navigate, which seems logical for a navigation tool. But not always the case I guess. The learning curve is gentle, without losing the feeling that this is a seriously techno complicated piece of equipment.
- Extras. Includes a very neat sun/moon function. It will tell you rise and set times as well as phase of moon. The GPS lets you know your position to the sun and moon at all times as well.

I really like this GPS. It does everything I can think of and a little more. Heck it even has an elevation gain/loss recorder. Kinda cool after a major hike to see how far you climbed. Overall this is a must buy. If you're in the market for a GPS seriously look over this one. I think it's the top of the heap, and well worth the ticket price. Hope this helps! Now go and have an adventure.

23 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Rip off software by design 1 chart only 1 sd card only, March 25, 2004

By 

Matt "expert" (The Great lakes state Michigan) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Magellan Meridian Marine Waterproof Hiking GPS (Electronics)

The limits that are placed on you: 1 sd card and 1 chart -It does not matter how much memory or how many cards you have do not buy any thing more than 32 mb!
So if you use the blue nav software on your boat be sure to pack your computer. If you are going out of the imposed restricted zone placed upon you by Magellens"map send" fire up the generator get your computer going and then load the next chart you need. I guess this should not be a problem if you have an ocean liner - boy hope you do not have a smaller boat.
I would be happy with this gps if they let you register let's say 3 additional sd cards or if they did not limit you to one chart on the one registered sd card! what is the point of only one chart at a time? one chart! the charts are not that big some one needs to get on the ball at magellan and lift restrictions ASAP! or maybe Ill go back to Garmen! You dirty sons of bitches!

18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Great technology hamstrung by poor functionality, March 10, 2004

By 

Tri Guy (California) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Magellan Meridian Marine Waterproof Hiking GPS (Electronics)

Thinking it'd be great to get a GPS for your boat/ car/ hiking which will work for all three? Think again. The Magellan GPS MapSend software system makes it virtually impossible to use your GPS for more than one of these categories. Hard to believe, I know, I just got mine in the mail yesterday and I already feel duped. The killer is that the inability to crossover from the BlueNav charts to Topo or Streets is BY DESIGN. There is no software or memory restriction that would keep the unit from being able to use all three MapSend products. Plus... the waypoint managment is poor (can't load from PC to handheld or visa versa without erasing all of the waypoints stored on the receiving device), the file transfer is slow (unless you buy extra technology), the wrist strap screws in to the center of the mount area for external power/ computer communication cable/ external antenna so you always have to unscrew the wrist strap to attach anything else (I mean, come on!). I feel I've spent $500 for a nearly useless product. Avoid Magellan is my advice.