Magellan Meridian Water Resistant Hiking GPS

by Magellan

Product Details

Product Manual [6.90mb PDF]

• Item Weight: 2.9 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B00005OLY7
• Batteries: 2 AA batteries required.
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Discontinued by manufacturer: Yes

Product Description

Amazon.com Product Description

With 2 MB of built-in map data and a Secure Digital Memory Card slot, the Magellan Meridian Global Positioning System receiver allows you to access and store extensive location information. This rugged handheld GPS unit coordinates data from up to 12 satellites to pinpoint your location anywhere on the globe. The Meridian's 2 MB base map allows you to access worldwide political boundaries and major cities. Slide in a data card to get even more detail, or use a memory card to store waypoints and routes.

The Meridian 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'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's functionality.

The Meridian 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

39 of 41 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Educate yourself on the differences between models......, June 6, 2002

By 

M. Winschel (Richmond, VA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Magellan Meridian Water Resistant Hiking GPS (Electronics)

Ill try to make this one short and sweet. I just finished a several month process of evaluating magellan machines. I started with the companion for the handspring visor.....(which for the money is amazing for navigation but i have not found a good way to handle bodies of water...). This unit was stolen and I have been evaluating units on a buy and try basis since then and I think (god i hope so) that i may have found the one i wanted. Main use desired: Road navigation assistance, boating and fishing on rivers streams and the chesapeake.

I have purchased the meridian gold because the size and focus of the base map and the larger screen size. I have also purchased and used the marine, the base meridian unit, the 330x and the most recently the sportrac pro. My plus and minus list:

meridian (entry level unit) great capabilities, but base map is very lacking at 2 meg memory. I thought this would not be an issue with the SD memory cards but the uploaded detail doesnt show until you are at street level mapping in this unit (when zoomed out only main interstates show) you need to get down to around a .8 mile zoom to get state level roads which in the boonies can leave you scratching your head when you are trying to plot a course. If you dont need that capability this is a wonderful unit.

Meridian - nicer unit but the focus of detail is not as well oriented for those mostly landbound. and the marine aids shown werent of much use to a person with a 16 foot boat anyhow.

Map 330x - nice unit. Display is a little to small for navigation via vehicle (of course we know no one would ever do that to begin with...) 8 meg can be too little memory for installation of mapping. On that basis I would look at the sportrac if you like the size of the unit.

Sportrac Pro. - very nice unit especially given the capabilities of memory and the base map. The only downfall I didnt like was the screen size again. This screen is the same size as the 330 series. tough when you are driving a boat or car. (although the meridian screen is only slightly larger it to me is easier to use at a quick glance) There is a difference between display quality of the sportrac and meridian units also that is worth noting. Im just not sure which i like better. different under different conditions (compared them side by side for a while) and at different zoom levels. SportTract seems a bit crisper but the text is oversized when you are zoomed out.

I honed in on the gold unit because of the street oriented base map since driving through VA is mostly what I am using it for and the address search capability is wonderful.

One final beef with these units. the maps are based off of tiger maps. which as a rule have notoriously been inaccurate. Not too big of a deal for the main uses of this but it is notible when the unit is at times showing that you are as much as several 10ths of a mile off of where you are actually located. Again this is an accuracy issue with the maps and not the units from what I know. There have been times that I have been boating down the highway...... final lesson... always trust your eyes and another handy map to help you if in doubt....

In general these are all good units but make sure you take a good look at what is available and what you want out of the machines. Each unit seems to be tailered a little different and its tough to find details on what the differences are as they can only be found through trial and error and use of the machines. Good Luck Hunting........

24 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars nice unit, July 21, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Magellan Meridian Water Resistant Hiking GPS (Electronics)

I bought the Meridian a few months ago and find it to be a handy and fun device. It has quite a few different screens to give you plenty of data on your position, speed, bearing, etc. I use it quite a bit for work since I often need to go out into the field to pinpoint and find specific locations.

I also use a Garmin at work and personally I like the Magellan. The Garmin is smaller which may have benefits to some but, the Garmin screen is smaller and harder to read when you are either walking or driving in a car. I also find the buttons on the Magellan to be easier to use. Both provide more, or less, the same GPS data on their screens for my needs.

Negatives: The maps the Meridian, or Garmin equivalent, come loaded with are not very detailed. No dirt roads or smaller township roads are included. The Magellan and Garmin map CD's you can purchase for these units are better but still not a USGS 1:24,000 quadrangle which would really be nice for hiking, etc. As far as I know, the most detailed maps you can currently get on the Magellan or Garmin CD's are 1:100,000 scale. Ask a company rep how much memory you need to save the CD maps that you will be using in the unit. A color screen would also be nice for use with the topo maps but battery life is already quite short (if you are out all day you had better carry an extra set) so that may not be feasible.

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The GPS for everybody doing everything, February 5, 2002

By 

Robert D. Johnson Jr. (Willis, TX USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Magellan Meridian Water Resistant Hiking GPS (Electronics)

I believe in "worst part first" - the Meridian GPS is a little slow on PC to GPS software downloads; but, that really isn't much of a problem as long as you don't wait until the last minute to prepare the unit. And that's all of the "worst part".

The Meridian GPS comes as close to "being all things to all people" as I have ever seen. It is comfortable hiking, biking, driving, sailing or flying; while being used by anyone from a "pro" to a novice. Some reading and basic navigational ability is required (if you can get lost in a closet, this unit is not for you). Until GPS technology gets to "telepathic operation" you won't find a more user friendly, all purpose unit.