Magellan eXplorist 500 Water Resistant Hiking GPS

by Magellan

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 2.1 x 4.6 x 1.3 inches ; 4.2 ounces
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B0007RPW2C
• Item model number: explorist 500
• Average Customer Review: 3.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (36 customer reviews)

Product Description

Amazon.com Product Description

Outfitted with a 16-color display, a high-speed USB data port, 8 MB of built-in maps, and an additional 8 MB of usable memory, the Magellan eXplorist 500 North America includes all the tools you need to navigate throughout the U.S. and Canada whether in the car or on foot. The device is rugged and lightweight, with a waterproof, impact-resistant plastic housing that stands up to almost every adventure, including whitewater rafting and hiking. At the same time, its pocket-sized chassis, which measures a mere 2.2 by 4.7 by 1.3 inches (W x H x D), is loaded with convenient features, such as detailed, built-in maps of North American roads, parks, waterways, and airports; the ability to save five track log files, 20 routes, and 500 points of interest; and an area calculator that determines the distance between saved points of interest--an ideal function when mapping out hiking trails. Other cool and convenient add-ons include a fish/hunt function that mentions the best fishing and hunting times for a specific coordinate and a similar tool that displays the rising and setting times for the sun and moon.

Should the built-in maps and extra memory prove insufficient, users can load additional map data onto Secure Digital (SD) memory cards using Magellan's MapSend software (sold separately), which is available via CD-ROM and, in some cases, online (your computer connects to the GPS through its USB port). There's no limit to the number of cards you can use, giving users access to everything from detailed street maps to topographical layouts to lake charts showing bottom features and boat ramps. Fun seekers will also delight in the Geocache Manager, which invites individuals and families to download geocache coordinates from specific Internet sites and use them on such adventures as treasure hunts and coordinated community projects. The manager employs a PC-style file system to keep geocache navigation easy.

Adding to the simplicity are the intuitive keypad and joystick controls, along with the one-button access for particularly important features. Unlike with many GPS systems, it doesn't take an expert to start navigating right away. The full-color display also helps first-time users, as it's easier to differentiate between different map features and data.

Additional features include multilingual communication (choose from English, French, German, Spanish, Italian, Swedish, Finnish, Portuguese, Dutch, or Norwegian); four navigation screens for viewing speed, direction, distance to destination, and more; and a rechargeable lithium ion battery pack that keeps the eXplorist 500 working for up to 17 hours. Conveniently, users needn't remove the battery to charge it; simply plug the charger directly into the receiver and it renews itself.

What's in the Box
eXplorist 500 GPS, rechargeable lithium ion battery pack, warranty card, user's manual.

Product Description

Navigate in color! The 16-color display of the Magellan eXplorist 500 enables you to see where you are in vivid color. With a high-speed USB data port and unlimited data storage capacity via secure digital (SD) card expandability, you can easily add detailed street maps, topo or lake maps from optional Magellan MapSend software. eXplorist 500 is lightweight and pocket-sized so you can take it with you everywhere. The Magellan Geocache Manager enables you to download caches directly to your eXplorist 500 and the PC-style file system helps you to easily manage all of your data. 8 MB of built-in maps and an intuitive interface make it easy to start navigating right out of the box. Save 5 track log files, 20 routes and 500 points of interest to the 8 MB of additional internal memory, but store as many as you want on optional SD cards. You get all this and more, plus color!

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

63 of 66 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A solid choice, May 26, 2005

By 

Earl P. Thayton (Kirkland, WA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Magellan eXplorist 500 Water Resistant Hiking GPS (Electronics)

I recently decided it was time to retire my trusty (but antiquated) handheld GPS, and I replaced it with a Magellan eXplorist 500. I don't yet have the optional detailed mapping software, so this is a review of just the base unit and the included software. I should also mention that this review is based on firmware 5.1.61, the latest available as of May 2005. Future firmware releases may add more features, but I advise all gadget buyers not to rely on such updates. Buy your toys for what they do today, not what they might do tomorrow!

Like most good GPS's these days, the eXplorist 500 includes basic street map data for the US and Canada. It probably won't include the street you live on, but it should have your freeways, highways, major surface streets, and points of interest such as airports. This basic map data takes up about half of the eXplorist's 16MB of built-in memory. The remaining memory can be used for your waypoints, routes, and tracks. If you happen to have Magellan's MapSend software, you can also download detailed street-level or topo maps. (But as I mentioned, I don't have this yet, so I can't review what it adds to the eXplorist 500.)

The approximately 8MB of free memory in the eXplorist 500 will hold a huge amount of waypoints, routes, and tracks. If all you care about is simple waypoint storage and navigation, you won't need anything else. However, the available memory is pretty meager for adding detailed map data. Don't panic, though: you can add a standard, inexpensive Secure Digital card to your eXplorist 500. No proprietary memory cards to worry about!

You can even attach the eXplorist to your computer's USB port and browse the built-in memory and SD card just like a USB storage device. This is very nice, though I should mention that you need to install a driver to connect to the unit, and you must use the included charge/USB cable. This strange cable actually screws on to the GPS--the eXplorist is water-resistant, so they could not put standard mini USB or power ports on it.

On to the physical features... The first thing you notice is the size. The eXplorist 500 is small, though thicker than you might expect. That's OK though, it fits your hand well, and it holds a battery with a claimed 17 hour life. My own informal test got me about 15 hours with the backlight on minimum, which I'd call close enough.

The next thing you notice is the screen. I haven't found the actual pixel dimensions listed in any of the specs; I would estimate it at 240x320. Whatever the value is, it is adequate. The screen is very bright and sharp, though limited to 16 colors. Compare that figure to a PDA and it sounds bad, but in practice I have found that it's enough to present a clear and readable map, which is what counts. You aren't looking at photos on this thing.

The controls are a joystick with built-in button, a surrounding array of 7 smaller buttons, and power and lighting controls on the sides. The buttons feel sturdy and work fine--they are all you could ask for.

The GPS receiver is definitely a cut above the one I bought a few years ago. It can pick up a signal in my house, where my older GPS could not. Thick trees can still confuse it though, but I'd expect that from any GPS.

As for the software: the first thing I'll comment on is the speed of map scrolling and redraw. I'll call it adequate, but not impressive. The map display itself is pretty standard, though highly legible. As you'd expect, you can move the cursor around to select points of interest or create waypoints.

The map can be full screen, or you can display two data fields with it: choose from bearing, distance to next waypoint, speed, heading, ETA, time to next waypoint, time to end of route, off course warning, direction, elevation, time, date, accuracy, average speed, and maximum speed. (The off course and destination events have an optional audible alarm.)

Besides the map, you have a fairly ordinary GPS status screen, trip computer (no customizable data fields), and bearing display (with 2 customizable fields, same as the map).

The included software provides for only the most basic data management. You can move waypoints, tracks, and routes in or out of the GPS. If you have some detailed map data, perhaps from a web purchase, you can add that to the unit too. (I presume that if you purchase Magellan MapSend software, it will have its own interface for adding a chunk of map data to the unit, or creating waypoints and routes.)

Magellan has also included GPS features and desktop software specifically for those interested in geocaching. The bottom line is that these features are useful, but could use improvement.

(...)

On the eXplorist, geocaches are filed in their own points of interest category, so you can choose not to display them. There is a special info screen for caches, showing data from the .LOC file: cache ID, owner, type, location, date placed, date last found, difficulty, hint, and terrain. (Note that the free .LOC downloads from geocaching.com do not contain all of this information. You need to be a paid member there to get more than just the basic data on a cache.) This information is nice to have, but long text runs off the right side of the screen, an unfortunate bug.

Hopefully future software updates will improve the geocaching features, but this is a good start. Overall the eXplorist 500 is a very nice unit, with the battery life and bright screen continuing to be impressive.

32 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Better then reviewers are giving it!!!, December 1, 2006

By 

Devon S. Singer - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Magellan eXplorist 500 Water Resistant Hiking GPS (Electronics)

Ok i am going to start off by saying that i was looking at this unit and also the garmin etrex legend cx unit. I found both to be close how ever the magellan out performed it greatly. But first i would just like to say people who are having troubles with shipping and stuff like that is not important to put in a review and take stars off.

The unit has a wonderful screen with a much clearer and brighter display. When i stand out side i usually get atleast 4 gps satalites within the first 10 or 15 seconds. Also it works better in the car and such then most units. you can zoom in like crazy on this thing if only you could see houses and such i might be able to see my self walking to the car.

Know for the people who are complaining about lets say the mapping software you have to purchase or the rechargable battery. If they actually paid attention to things instead of the complained they would relize, 1) the rechargable battery is great but it also comes with a black battery peice designed to hold 3 AAA batterys inacase of the loss of the rechargable one 2) the mapping software which is 149.99 retail is given to buyers for 9 dollars after the coupon code that is located on the front of the box in a orange sticker.

The geocaching software is cool. You dont have to convert anything it sets everything up for you and uploads it instantly. I do how ever recomend you get a memory card because the maps that you can download can be quite big depending on how much you want to see. I hav enot had a problem with accuracy at all infact it usually will be accurate up to about 10-20 feet or so. Plus the big one that helped me is that the garmin etrex units are designed for only left handers which is so annoying. I do not feel comfortable doing this which is why i love the magellan.

and the usb connector/charger is a screw in on the back which people complain about but you konw what i enjoy the complete waterproofing that gives instead of a dinky rubber plug like the garmins!!!

If you are looking for a good unit with great reception and easy to read display then this is it and belive me you will love it!!!

27 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good at everything, Great at nothing, July 3, 2006

By 

Steve B. (Brooklyn, NY) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Magellan eXplorist 500 Water Resistant Hiking GPS (Electronics)

First of all this is my first GPS so everything I say is based on my expectations rather than actual experience. Secondly, there are several excellent reviews here and elsewhere (just google for them), so I won't get into great detail here. I think this is a great overall unit and there aren't many units that can offer the same features, especially at this price, but if you're looking for 1 do-it-all unit expect to make compromises.

I wanted one GPS to fit all my needs: car, motorcycle, hiking. I don't need very precise position or compass info, I also don't care for a good geocache tool. I need it to tell me what street I'm on, show me the surroundings, and live on batteries for 8+ hours. I also wanted it to keep track of the trails I've hiked. Surprisingly there aren't many GPS units to fit this bill...most are made for cars (bulky and no battery), others (Garmin) don't offer the same level of expandability for extra maps and are more expensive.

Happy with:

- small, light, and rugged. fits perfectly in your hand.

- good screen. Good size, color, and brightness.

- great battery life. Although I haven't tested it myself, others' tests seem pretty accurate -- 4-17 hours depending backlight usage.

- Very expandable. I got a 1gb SD card and it can fit more than enough maps on it. 60 mile radius around NYC fit on one map of 120 mb (mapsend has a limit of 128 mb per map). I was also able to fit NYC, Phili, Washington DC, and Richmond, VA and everything in between on one map.

Many minor gripes:

- slow scrolling and zoom. This is particularly true in urban areas. Scrolling around the NYC area is a chore...it take a good 10-15 seconds for it to redraw the screen. Address entry is also slow.

- unintuitive interface. I'm a techie guy and I was puzzled for several days. Don't expect you passengers to be able to easily use it as you drive.

- maps are expensive...and you can't just download them (wink, wink) since Thales (magellan) knows how to protect their products.

- Map routing with MapSend North America v. 3 is pretty bad. It seems to plot a direct path with little regard for speeds. Apparently it thinks that 10 miles in heavy NYC traffic is better than 20 miles of highway driving. My friends' built-in car GPS's have no trouble with this. Always double-check its directions, there's probably a better way!

- annoying beeps alert you of route changes. These are usually not needed. It sometimes beeps to tell you to NOT take an exit.

- in-car reception is often weak, especially on local streets surrounded by trees/buildings. I usually get 3-5 satellites which is good enough to put you on the right street. Open highway or hiking usage gives you much better reception.

- car charger requires USB cable. They're just too lazy to create a dedicated charger with the correct plug. Oh yeah, and the plug is really funky.

- Address entry on Mapsend is bad. It uses townships instead of town names in NJ (maybe other states too). This is a royal pain since I can never find the right place.

- data transfer from PC may be slow if you do it through the unit (vs. plugging the SD card in a reader). No big deal though since you won't be transferring large maps often.