Customer Reviews

Magellan eXplorist XL Water Resistant Hiking GPS

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Choosing the eXplorist XL was a tough choice for me. I was trying to decide between the Garmin GPSMap 76CS (the altimeter/barometer version of the of the color-display 76C) and one of the other Magellan eXplorist series units.

ALTIMETER/BAROMETER/THERMOMETER REQUIREMENT
One of the first strikes against the XL is that it lacks an altimeter and compass. This is fine as I use a supplemental analog compass for navigation while hiking, and the XL is able to determine direction based on movement when I'm driving. Evenso, the compass on the 76CS is finicky as it is a 2-axis compass (which means that it must be held level with the ground). I say it's finicky because other users have indicated that it doesn't show direction very well unless they're holding it perfectly level, and sometimes it's a crapshot as to whether or not they're holding it adequately level.

On the other hand, the 76CS has a good altimeter on it (much better than that of the eXplorist 600, the thermometer/barometer/altimeter of which is located too close the hot backlight and makes for some pretty erroneous readings). Still, GPS can estimate altitude well enough. The altitude accuracy tends to be 1.5 to 2 times further off than the horizontal readings (meaning that if you're getting a horizontal accuracy of 10 feet, the GPS altitude will only be accurate to within about 15-20 feet). A properly calibrated altimeter (calibrated every few hours) will provide accuracy of about 15 feet. To me, the increase in accuracy of going from GPS altitude calculations to altimeter calculations isn't significant. Even w/o the alt/bar/temp option, I'm okay. I use an analog thermometer if I need to know it, and use other techniques to determine the weather.

The XL does provide a compass but it isn't magnetic. Instead, like most units that do not include a seperate internal compass, the XL uses changes in GPS position to determine direction of travel. As long as you're moving, you'll be able to determine your direction (or, again, you can just bring an inexpensive analog compass with you if you're hiking). If you're driving, you'll be moving fast enough that the compass indications will be very precise.


WEIGHT
The unit is heavy. I believe that the 60C and 76C made by Garmin each weigh about 5.5 oz w/o batteries, and about 7.5 w/ batteries. By comparison, the 400/500/600 series by Magellan weigh about 5.5 oz WITH the battery in them (they utilize a rechargeable Li-Ion battery). The XL, on the other hand, weighs about 8 oz w/o batteries, and about 12 oz with the four batteries installed.


BATTERY LIFE
The four batteries can last about 15 hours, comparable to the Magellan 400 & 500 which also last about 15, but pall in comparison to the 60C & 76C, each lasting about 30 hours, and the 60CS & 76CS which last about 20 hours). While the power duration seems comparable to other eXplorist units, keep in mind that the XL uses four batteries at a time. This is inconsequential when driving or geocaching, but very problematic if you're doing long-distance hiking with the unit (in which case I'd recommend a ForeTrex or other lightweight unit). The 15 hours quoted is using the backlight on the "low" setting with occasional use at "high." With the backlight off, I've had the unit last around 25 hours before I changed the batteries just to be safe.

The battery indicator on the unit isn't very helpful. At best, it shows that my batteries are about 80% full when they're full charged (which is accurate -- I'm using NIMH rechargeable that are, technically, rated for 1.2V and at maximum charge will have about 1.4V). The problem is that the unit shuts off (after giving about 30 seconds warning) when the battery indicator shows that the batteries have about 40% remaining. Once you become aware of this, it's not a problem but on first use it's misleading.

No power cord, though will run off of the USB cable when connected to the computer. When connected to the computer (in any mode, not just power mode), you can change out the batteries while the unit is running with no problems or loss of power. I should mention that it will NOT charge batteries while using the USB power connection. I assumed this when I bought it but thought I'd pass the information along.


DISPLAY
The display is really nice. On Magellan's website, it indicates that the display is 220x176, which is low resolution for it's size. After finally getting through to someone in the know at Magellan (and this meant bypassing about three seemingly aloof technical support persons who insisted that the website is right) I found out that the resolution is actually 320x240. This is about 115 pixels per inch, which is a little less than the eXplorist 400/500/600 series, each of which are at about 125 ppi. (By comparison, the Garmin GPSMap 60C and 76C have a resolution of about 105 pixels per inch, though I should admit that I cannot distinguish the level of detail between 105 ppi and 125 ppi.)

One thing to consider about the display (and is often mis-advertised on many sites) is that the display is 16-color, as is the case for the Magellan eXplorist 500 & 600. For true usage, 16 color is more than ample. The 256-color display of the Garmin units is nice, but more posh than necessary. The only time I notice that the Magellan has only a 16-color display is on the startup screen (wherein it shows a fairly grainy depiction of Earth).

Backlight turns completely off (on a marginally sunny day, it is very readable though it is impossible to discern colors very well). This is better than the 400/500/600 series as they do not allow you to turn off the backlight but instead only turn it down. This is very problematic on the 600 as the backlight messes up the thermometer and altimeter readings.

The Garmin display has an advantage in that it allows the user to change the mode to "nighttime" wherein the background is dark and the colors are subdued such that the night time user (or in my case, night time driver) doesn't lose their night vision when glancing at it. The XL, on the other hand, does NOT have a "nighttime" mode and is pretty bright, even at the lower (readable) light level. It's fine for city and interstate driving but I have to turn the backlight off for low-light driving conditions on the backwoods roads of rural Mississippi (and this is easily done with the push of a button).

A workaround for nighttime driving is to change the GPS usage option from "land" to "marine." This is done by going into the menu, choosing "map setup" and selecting "Marine" as the primary usage. This changes the color of land from a blinding white to a more manageable dark yellow. Though I only use my on land, I always leave it in "Marine" mode.

I should also point out that the keys on the XL are backlit using a subtle red hue. This is invaluable as it allows a user to easily see the keys in low-light conditions.


ANTENNA RECEPTION
The eXplorist XL uses a microstrip patch antenna as opposed to the quadrifilar helix antenna utilized by most Garmins. Additionally, it uses 14 channels to collect data (most units use 12 channels). This slight advantage seems to provide greater accuracy. Outside, I typically get an accuracy of about 7-10 feet, which is outstanding for a handheld GPS unit. In my vehicle, I get accuracy of about 7-10 feet with the unit sitting anywhere in my vehicle (could only got 35 feet when using a eXplorist 500 for some strange reason). Inside my apartment, which doesn't allow for good reception at all, I get accuracy of 35-70 feet (which beats out the other units I've tried as I haven't been able to pick up signals in my apartment using other units).

Supposedly the Garmin GPSMap 60CSx models utilize SIRFIII technology to augment their accuracy, making them on par with the Magellans. The GPSMap 60, GPSMap 60C, nor GPSMap 60CS utilize this and require that the user hold the unit fairly upright for best reception.

When I'm hiking, I simply turn off the backlight to save energy, put the XL in a small carrying case (I use a camera case that fits it almost perfectly) and attach it to my belt. The accuracy when I do this is great. At the end of a days hiking, I can look at the unit and see everywhere that I've went (so long as I'm travelling in places that can receive the satellite signals).


DISPLAY PAGES AND USER FEATURES
There are four display pages. The main one is map display which can be set up to show north as up, course as up (meaning the direction you want to go), or track as up (meaning the direction you're actually moving). This page has two boxes at the bottom that display ancillary data at the user's discretion. I have it set up to display elevation and accuracy, though I could have chosen Bearing, Speed, Heading, Estimated Time of Arrival, Direction, Off Course, Distance to End, Time, Date, Max Speed, or Average Speed. On the main map page, you can move the cursor over a location or area and it will show you the location's name, how far to the location, and the direction to get there.

The next page is a compass page (uses GPS to determine direction, therefore you have to be moving) and has needle indicating true north (can be switched to magnetic north if desired, wherein the unit uses known magnetic offset from true to calculate magnetic north). It also shows the direction to the sun and moon, as well as to the waypoint (or Point of Interest, as Magellan calls them). Again, you can have two user fields displaying any combination of the information set as listed on the main map page.

The next page is an information page. It shows: location, elevation, accuracy, data/time (which is set to UTC as default, but you can manually set it to your location / time zone), trip odometer (quickly and easily reset to 0), and power condition (either external power, if connected to a computer, or battery power and charge level).

The last page shows how many satellites are being tracked and what their orbit is. The unit will show a satellite being tracked that has a "W" on it as opposed to a number -- this is for the WAAS satellites. Also, it will show strength of reception. If no number is associated with the reception, then that is the reception for the WAAS satellite -- I wish Magellan would have used "W" here again.

I use the main map page most. The Magellan zooms in and out easily. Each zoom level has a legend reference to indicate size. It can zoom out until you see all of North America, or zoom in such that the display legend indicates 100 feet (for a total screen size of 400' by 600').

You can record the unit's track and save those files to the unit for later display using MapsendTopo 3D (or NG TOPO! if you convert the file to a comma-delimited text file).

The XL also has advanced features for determining the best time to fish and hunt (which I haven't used). It allows you to "simulate" GPS usage (which is handy if you want to learn how to use it while sitting on your sofa). It also shows the sunrise/sunset times for the moon and sun based on either your current position or one selected from memory, and also shows the moon's phase. For the Sun/Moon selection, you could select any date you want, not just the current date.

The XL allows for area and perimeter calculation. I used it recently to determine acreage on a land tract. The GPS provided the area and perimeter and square miles and miles, respectively. I wish that there was an option for it to list the area in acres, or hectares, but as is the conversion is easy enough.

I read somewhere that the 500/600 doesn't allow the user to select MGRS as the coordinate system, which is something I frequently use. Again, I cannot verify this. The XL, however, does allow for use of the MGRS coordinate system.


MEMORY/SOFTWARE
The XL comes with 56mb of onboard memory. Half, or 28mb of this is taken up by the background basemap that comes standard with the unit. The standard background basemap displays all Interstate roads, many medium and large cities, as well as a fair number of highways.

The XL can accommodate SD cards of any size. This means that you can load custom basemaps that are produced using Magellans softward (the various iterations of MapSend). I should note that you CANNOT load files from the Garmin software, nor can you load the maps that come with National Geographics TOPO! (for that matter, you cannot load the maps from NG TOPO! on any handheld).

The two main programs that are available from Magellan are DirectRoute and Topo3D. With either of these programs you can create a custom basemap for loading onto an SD card in the eXplorist. Herein lies a caveat: DirectRoute will only allow you to export maps up to 56mb in size; Topo3D will allow you to load maps up to 246mb in size. (However, there is a workaround to this problem listed below.) To give you an idea of how big these are, 56mb easily encompasses Arkansas, Louisianna, & Mississippi. The 246mb file I currently have loaded covers New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Arkansas, Mississippi, Louisianna, & Alabama.

You can carry multiple basemaps on your eXplorist (i.e., I could carry the current basemap 256mb basemap as well as a few more 256mb basemaps to cover most of the US) however you can only activate one basemap at a time. This isn't problematic, as it takes only a few seconds to switch from basemap to basemap.

I should point out that there is a workaround to the file size limitation. The file size constriction is set in the MAPSEND.INI file, which can be opened using any old text editor. Inside the file, there is a section with the following info:

[DEVICE_DEFAULTS]
Com_Port=3
Baud_rate=4800
Memory_Size=8000
Conv_Maximum_Number_of_Regions=9
Maximum_Number_of_Regions=1
Conv_Memory_Size=246784
Write_Export_Log=0
Write_GPS_Log=0
Write_upload_Log=0
UploadDevice=0
MMC_NAME=detail00.img
SDSpeed=410

The line Conv_Memory_Size=246784 indicates the maximum file size (on DirectRoute, the size is listed as 65636). You can change it to any number, though larger file sizes are increasingly more processor-intensive. It is advisible to make a backup of the file before modifying it.

Concerning DirectRoute, I haven't used this but I have heard that it does not provide great detail for backroads. Topo3D, on the other hand, covers topography as well as nearly every road out there (and Topo3D also shows gas stations, resteraunts, bars, etc.). The roads detailed on Topo3D seem to provide great coverage. I have yet to find a road in backwoods Mississippi that wasn't indicated on Topo3D. And I have done a lot of backwoods four-wheel driving, which indicates to me that Topo3D shows just about every road out there (and certainly every road I've seen when I compare Topo3D to the NG TOPO! program).

In terms of creating a basemap and sending it to the eXplorist, the files have to be converted for use in an eXplorist (a 256mb file takes about an hour on my P4, 2.8 GHz w/ 1000 mb RAM) and then take even more time to transfer to the unit via USB (about an hour to transfer a 256mb file). So that's about two hours to transfer one 256mb basemap (and the computer is fairly taxed when converting the file, meaning the computer is mostly unusable -- though during transfer there is no problem and you'd be free to use the computer without worry of computer slow down).

The advantage that DirectRoute would offer would be to provide turn-by-turn navigation. While this would be useful on very busy streets, I find that I don't need turn-by-turn navigation but rather a general sense of where I need to go. Topo3D does provide this. For instance, I was recently in Starkville, MS and wanted to find an obscure resteraunt named "Oby's." I went to the search function in the eXplorist, typed in "Oby's" and a page showing the address and phone number of Oby's appeared (again, this was information provided from the basemap from Topo3D). I then hit "GoTo" on the eXplorist and it told me the direction and distance to the place, as well as a line linking my position to that of Oby's. The actual location of Oby's was about 100 feet from where the GPS indicated, but if you think about it, that's incredibly close.

But... Topo3D does not provide turn by turn navigation... I had to determine which roads to take to get there, but again the line linking my current position to the desired location helped tremendously in "eyeballing" the route.


PC CONNECTIVITY
Again I use MapSend Topo 3D with the XL. MapSend isn't set up to handle USB but it is possible to use the XL with the software anyway. By setting the NMEA broadcast to "V2.1 GSA" and setting the MapSend to Serial Com Port 3, I'm able to have the GPS tracks appear on my laptop realtime. This isn't really necessary as the XL's screen is more than ample for displaying everything, however if you wanted to use it with a laptop, it is possible to do so.

One nice thing about using TOPO 3D (one really nice thing, to be exact) is that TOPO 3D has great street information for driving, as well as many gas station and restaurant listings. If you're using the unit for driving, you can quickly type in an obscure restaurant and the XL will display the street location as well as the address and telephone number. Sometimes the coordinates are off by a quarter mile (in rural towns this happens sometimes, though I've only had it happen twice) but usually it is precise to within a hundred yards (and often within 100 feet), which is more than adequate for driving you there.

National Geographic Topo! does NOT work with the XL (or the 400/500/600 series, for that matter) as of this writing. Even the newer Topo! packages that allow for USB communication with the Garmin 60 and 76 series GPS will not link up with the Magellan. I've contacted NG and they've said that they hope to have updates to their software for Magellan 400/500/600/XL compatibility by late-Spring, 2006.

Once NG TOPO! is set up to work, you will have the same functionality as TOPO! has with all GPS units, meaning that you will be able to draw routes and send them to the unit, or retrieve track histories from the unit and display them on the rasterized topographic charts of TOPO!. You will still be UNABLE to send the maps to the unit, though this is true with EVERY unit out there (the main limitation is that the files in TOPO! are huge bitmaps and would take up an extraordinary amount of space on a SD card, not to mention every long load times).


MANUAL & SUPPORT
The eXplorist XL manual should be downloaded from Magellan. The printed manual that comes with the XL is about 24 pages and only covers the most basic information. The unit ships with a PDF of the full manual, though I would advise going to Magellan's website and downloading the most recent manual as the one that ships is FULL of errors. If you order any of the eXplorists, it would help to download the latest manuals prior to receiving the unit as to help familiarize you with the basics (installing batteries, connecting to a computer, etc.).

Additionally, many users of the 400/500/600 series state that they hook the USB cord up to the unit incorrectly at first (basically, you hook it up such that the cord points downward, as indicated in the downloadable manual). The XL only allows for the USB cord to be connected one way -- easy enough.

The 400/500/600 series tend to have a problem wherein they lock up during USB communication. This was fixed through a recent firmware update. The only firmware update from Magellan didn't cover this issue for the XL, however I was surprised to find that the XL doesn't suffer from this same problem as the 400/500/600 series. My guess is that Magellan learned from the problems experienced with the 400/500/600 series and corrected the same problems in the XL before packaging the final product. If the unit does lock up, it can be turned off by holding the "Nav" key and the "Menu" key simultaneously and then hitting the "Power" button.

When I've had questions, I've found it difficult to get in touch with Magellan technical support. Sometimes I get through to an operator, sometimes I have to leave a voice message. Basically, if you try to contact them and you're put on hold, choose to leave a message... I cannot remember but you may have to be on hold for a couple minutes before you're given this option. At any rate, Magellan has always called me back. Their technical support has been helpful sometimes, while other times I've felt like I had a much better understanding of GPS technology than they did. They allow for email support though it can take a week or two to receive a response.

By comparison, I called and emailed Garmin to see how their tech support compared. I've had an easier time getting through to their technical support and they seem fairly knowledgeable. If you're anticipating calling technical support often, Garmin might be a better bet. I consider myself to be somewhat technically-savvy and only plan on really needing technical support should my unit buy the farm (in which case, I've heard that Magellan is fairly good about helping customers with broken units, even after warranty, a huge plus in my opinion).

On the plus side, Magellan does seem to be proactive about taking user's advice to heart in updating the firmware. The reason that Magellan went with the more-expensive rechargeable Li-Ion batteries for the 400/500/600 series in the first place was because of user input asking that this be implemented. I've seen where some of the geocaching forums actually compile lists of user complaints/recommendations and forward them to Magellan, and to Magellan's credit they seem to implement these changes when they can.

When Magellan does make changes via firmware updates, I've found that the updates are pretty easy. The instructions on their site look daunting at first but they're really thorough and easy to do.



Overall, it was a very hard choice in choosing the eXplorist over the 76CS (comparably-priced at the time of this writing). Garmin has better technical support and their units seem to be more robust and user-friendly. Ultimately, I liked the fact that the XL has a huge, nice display. I'm not trying to discourage anyone from getting a Garmin, as there are many things that I really like about the Garmin, however after I weighed my options, I felt that the XL was the better choice. Here are the pros and cons of the XL:

PROS
-price ($350 from Office Depot, compared to $410 for the GPSMap 76CS and $290 for the eXplorist 600)
-battery type (AA, great if you've got lots of rechargeable)
-battery life (great, unless you consider that it drains four AA's)
-display size (2.8" x 2.1", or 3.5" diagonal)
-display resolution (320x240, or 115 ppi)
-color (again, only 16 colors but that's more than enough)
-menus and submenus (once you get used to it, it's pretty fast, I think)
-unit reception/accuracy (compared to other receivers, I've found this one to get a satellite lock fast AND in moderate coverage -- this is a huge plus)

CONS
-weight (3/4 lbs is a lot if you're hiking with it)
-hard to find a carrying case for this thing
-customer support (could use more knowledgeable support, not to mention easier to get in touch with)
-power cord (none, means I might have to change batteries on long road trips)
-computer connectivity (easy once you get used to it, but it can be confusing if you're new to it or haven't read the instructions)
-using Magellan software (it works, but it takes some know-how on the part of the user. But again, once you've read the instructions and figured it out, it's fairly easy)
-very little software support from 3rd parties (like Nat'l Geo's Topo!, though this end up in the "pros" column once NG updates their software later this year)



Ultimately the XL received 5 stars because it's met every expectation I've had. If I had expected something different or thought that there were superior products out there, I would have gladly given it a 3 or 4. Everything listed in the "cons" column was expected, and the problems with software are overcome if you're technically proficient and updates later this year will make for better interface with 3rd party software.

I recently upgraded my GPS by purchasing a Magellan Explorist XL handheld unit. It replaced the first GPS unit I purchased a few years ago ... a Magellan Meridian Gold. In this review, consequently, improvements, comparisons and features of the new Explorist XL are frequently compared to the older Magellan model.

The Hardware
Out of the box, the first thing you notice is the size and weight of the Explorist XL. At 7.5 cm (2.9) wide, 16 cm (6.3 in) long and 3.4 cm (1.33 in) thick and weighing 340 gms (0.75 lb) with four AA batteries installed, the XL Explorist is a good handful. It is a nice design, with a rubberized, waterproof, impact-resistant casing and the unit feels solid. The frequently-used control buttons are at the lower front of the unit, well-located, like on the older Meridian Gold.

There are eight control buttons, including two for map zoom, one for selecting navigation screens, a menu button, a "goto" button, a "mark" button plus a combined joystick/enter button and an "escape" button that reverses button commands. On the XL unit, these control buttons are illuminated when the backlight is on.

There is a separate lug on the case to attach a lanyard. This is an improvement over the screw-on lanyard of the Meridian Gold series; however no lanyard is included with the Explorist XL.

The cover for the four AA batteries is on the back of the unit. It is secured with a quarter-turn thumb-screw. The compartment cover fits very tightly with obvious attention to waterproofing. With the Meridian Gold, the slide-latches securing the battery cover did not provide much confidence. The XL cover is a big improvement.

The location of the power on/off button is on the upper right side of the XL unit. The button is imbedded in the rubberized covering. It requires considerable effort to activate this button. The location and stiff action is an improvement over the Meridian. In this location, the power button is not likely to be accidentally pushed. (Therefore, there is no need for a "power-protect" menu selection on the XL, as with the Meridian Gold.)

On the left side of the XL case, is a similar imbedded button for the display backlight. The backlight control on Magellan Meridian models was to hold down the power key. Having a dedicated backlight button has is a much better arrangement; however there are only two levels of illumination and "off". One lower illumination level for night driving would be desirable.

The connection of the USB cable (supplied) is similar to the cable attachment system on the Meridian Gold. The cable connection is made via a six-contact shoe that is held in place with a quarter-turn screw. The quarter-turn is better than the screw-system used on Meridian models, but nevertheless, it takes some effort to attach the XL USB cable. Some improvements in design could be made here.

It is worth mentioning that external power to the XL unit is automatically provided while the GPS unit is attached to your computer via the USB cable. No longer do you have to worry about batteries running down when transferring files between computer and GPS unit. Curiously, there are no external power connection terminals on the GPS except through the USB cable connection. So for now, if you purchase a cable to provide external power to the XL Explorist (for example, from the lighter in your automobile) the USB cable must be attached to the XL unit and the power cable from the cigarette lighter plugs into a socket on the USB cable. This is a quirky, messy arrangement, but it works. It appears the XL was rushed to market before Magellan could offer mounts and accessory cables for the XL. I am confident Magellan will provide better one-cable external power solutions in the future.

A neat feature of the XL case design is access to the SD memory card. This is located on the right-hand side of the unit. No longer do you have to remove the batteries (like on the Meridian) to remove or install the memory card. The SD memory slot is located under a waterproof rubberized flap. The card is very easy to install and remove.

Installation of four AA standard or rechargeable AA batteries (not included) in the XL unit is straight-forward. Magellan wisely reverted to the use of AA batteries in the Explorist XL unit following negative reaction to the line-up of Explorist models with built-in rechargeable battery packs (an impractical idea for campers, back-backers and others with no means to recharge the unit or change batteries.) Good to see Magellan reacted quickly and reverted to standard batteries with the XL design.

With four AA batteries, the XL unit is advertised to last 19 hours, however, I found 12 hours with four rechargeable NiMH batteries rated 2300 mAh each was a reasonable expectation, but the discharge rate varies with use of the backlight. You can set up the XL so the backlight automatically goes off in 30 sec., 1, 2, 4, 10 min. or never.

The XL has a huge screen measuring a full 5.2 x 7.1 cm (2 x 2.8 in) This was one of the main reasons for buying this unit, and it is a fantastic feature. The 16-color screen is beautiful, well back-lit and easy to see under all lighting conditions. It is much easier to see than the B & W screen of the Meridian Gold and with color, it is much easier to distinguish between geographical features such as roads versus rivers. As mentioned, a lower illumination setting for the back-light would be desirable.

Software
Before operation, the first thing to do is register your XL unit with Magellan at their internet website. This is important later on, when it comes to purchasing and activating detail maps.

The Explorist XL unit comes with an installation wizard CD. This contains the XL USB driver, Mapsend file conversion software and Magellan Geocaching software.

The unit also came with a Mapsend DVD that contains a program called Mapsend Manager, plus several detail map software programs including Mapsend Direct Route NA, Mapsend Topo 3D Canada and Mapsend Topo 3D USA. If you pre-pay for one of these programs, an unlock code is supplied. Mapsend Manager will take you through the steps required to install the software and then to enter the code to unlock it. As mentioned previously, an internet connection and prior internet registration of the XL unit is necessary.

If you did not pay for software, Mapsend Manager software takes you to the Magellan site where you can purchase and unlock the selected software on-line.

Mapsend Manager finds all Mapsend software on your computer and provides an easy interface to access any of your Mapsend programs, plus file conversions, file transfers etc. The Mapsend Manager is also available free from the Magellan website.

There have been a lot of reviews complaining about Magellan Mapsend software. To the contrary, my experience has been good. I have had no problems. I admit Magellan's system to "unlock" software over the internet is a bit cumbersome, however, many software companies seem to be doing this now, starting with Microsoft.

A big advantage of this system is that once the software is "unlocked" there is no requirement to insert the original CD or DVD in the drive to use the Mapsend programs. Some Mapsend software with this onerous protection feature was a huge pain and impractical.

Once the Mapsend software is loaded on the computer and unlocked, the process of compiling detailed map region files for use on the XL Explorist is easy. A big improvement in the software is there are no longer limits to the size of regions that can be compiled. I have compiled huge regions over 100 meg with no problems. After selecting and naming a desired detail map region, use the command "upload to GPS". A requester will open and ask if you want to transfer the file to the GPS or the computer's hard drive. It is best to direct the program to write the file onto your hard drive. Thus saved, the file can then be easily copied to the SD card or internal memory of the GPS. Hint: to transfer the relatively large map files to the SD card, it is much faster to use a card reader.

One neat feature of the Mapsend software is that it automatically creates all the necessary directories on the SD card and internal memory with intuitive names including "detail maps", "background maps", "geocaches", "my POIs" (points of interest), "track logs" etc. This makes it very easy to manage and transfer GPS files.

With a USB connection, one sees the GPS as a connected hard drive which makes it an order of magnitude easier to perform file transfers compared to the old serial port (COM1) connection of the Meridian Gold. My only complaint is that you must manually switch the XL Explorist to access either the SD memory card or the 30 meg internal memory. It would be more convenient to access both GPS memories without switching, but perhaps this is technically impossible through one USB port.

Operation

The Magellan Explorist XL manual is comprehensive. It is included on the CD and can also be downloaded free from the Magellan site. Anyone contemplating the Explorist XL should download and peruse the manual before committing to purchase.

The XL model starts up fast. All the introductory warning screens of the Meridian are gone ... thank you Magellan!) and the XL immediately attempts to locate satellites with the built-in "patch" antenna. The XL is designed to track and compute 14 satellites. Specifications for the unit say it finds and computes a fix from "cold" status in less than two minutes and from "warm" status in less than one minute. The unit actually locks in faster than those times and holds the signal much better than a Meridian Gold. The XL does not work indoors (as reported by some other reviewers) however; it does work in proximity to a window facing the right direction and is able to pick up signals where the Meridian Gold will not.

The Explorist XL toggles through four primary screens. One is the "satellite tracking screen" and three are "navigation screens". The first navigation screen is the "map screen" where the zoom controls allow you to zoom in/out through an incredible scale range from 2700 kilometers (1600 miles) to 35 meters (100 ft). The zooming computations, with a detailed map, are not as fast as I would like, but adequate.

The principal map screen can be configured in many different ways. You can set the map orientation to always north, or oriented per a selected course, or oriented by the direction (track) you are following. The orientation "by track" is handy for driving navigation, but the computations to orient the map are complex and map redraw is relatively slow, especially when using in an automobile. In this respect, the XL has similar performance to the Meridian Gold.

The map screen can be set to "land use" or "marine use". With the marine setting, water is shown blue and land is shown yellow. In land use, water is blue and land is shown white.

The base map supplied on the Explorist XL unit is very sparse in details. It is highly recommended, therefore, that you purchase an SD memory card and one of Magellan's "Mapsend" detailed maps to fully utilize the XL's detailed mapping capability.

A cautionary note here!! Previously purchased Mapsend software (Such as the Streets and Destinations series for USA and Canada) does not work with Magellan Explorist models ... including the XL. If, like me, you had a considerable investment in older Mapsend software, you will be disappointed that you have to purchase new GPS software. However, there are a lot of improvements in the newer software versions, so the investment is worth it.

I purchased Mapsend Direct Route for North America for $130. I also purchased a 256 meg SD card. I now wish I had purchased a larger capacity card. Gigabyte SDs are available at reasonable cost these days and the Explorist XL can use this gigantic memory to your advantage, making huge detailed maps portable and available at all times.

The second navigation screen on the XL is the "compass" screen. This screen shows a graphical compass face with an electronically calculated north, a pointer showing the set course; the direction of a destination waypoint (if one is set); and the direction of the sun and the moon. Unfortunately, the XL electronic compass is not one that will point north when you are stationary. You have to be moving at least 0.3 km/hour (0.5 mph) for it to work. The technology is available, so I wish Magellan had included the type that continues to work when stationary. If you have Mapsend routing software, and set a street route, this compass screen will transform into a sequential list of turn instructions.

The third screen is called the "position screen." This contains information such as longitude, latitude, elevation, location accuracy, date, time, and trip odometer and battery condition.

In addition to the navigation screens, several secondary screens are also available from the Advanced Features menu. There is a Fish/Hunt screen, an Area Calculation screen, a Sun/Moon screen, a Vertical Profile screen. On the Meridian Gold, most of these screens were primary screens yielding a total of eight screens to toggle. Magellan was wise to relegate the less important screens to the background on the Explorist XL ... they are available if needed, but out of the way of the important screens used to navigate.

Each of the three navigation screens have optional inset information boxes and these can be customized from a list of 16 map information options; speed, distance, bearing, ETA etc. The Meridian Gold also had this feature.

Having two banks of memory with the installation of an SD card, adds the complication that you have to decide where to store files. The XL's menu gives you a choice of SD card or internal memory. There is substantial 30 meg internal memory built into the XL, however this is too small for large detailed map files. My preference is to store detail map files on the SD memory card and smaller files such as points of interest (POI) files, geocache files in internal memory. (A note on GPS terminology; Magellan has, in their wisdom, decided that points of interest (POIs) are the same as waypoints. Therefore on the XL, all waypoints are considered to be POIs.)

Magellan had the wisdom to include conversion software for converting waypoint, route and track files created with older Mapsend software to the new format required for the XL. Unfortunately, as mentioned, the conversion software doesn't convert (*.img) detailed map files created from older Mapsend software.

One piece of supplied software that I found to be difficult and confusing was the Magellan Geocache Manager version 1.09. The software allows drag and drop of downloaded geocache ".loc" files, but when a file-save is attempted, the program says it will be saved as a Magellan "*.geo" file. This doesn't happen. No *.geo files are created. The file is stored as the original *.loc file. Happily, the Magellan Geocache software adequately converts and transfers *.loc files into another file format (*.gs files) and transfers these to the geocache directory of the XL unit. Again, a decision must be made whether to store geocache files in SD memory or internal memory.

The XL has a PC-like file system with directories, subdirectories and files. This is very intuitive for any computer-user and much easier than the endless lists that one had to scroll through on older Meridian Gold models.

The Explorist XL GPS operates exactly as expected. It is accurate. It has tracking and back tracking. Waypoints (points of interest), marks and tracks can be created with the GPS unit or via the Mapsend Maps on computer and transferred as files. A big improvement is that waypoints (POIs) can now be named with up to 20 characters (versus 8 on the Meridian), allowing meaningful names.

You can set up routes and with Mapsend Routing Software,you have the choice of turn-by-turn instructions for driving, or route navigation using waypoints, or simple "goto" "point of interest" navigation. The unit also has a Geocache database which remains to be tested.

Some Deficiencies

My summary list of deficiencies for the Explorist XL is relatively short:

*Change design so rechargeable AA batteries recharge when unit is connected via the USB cable.
*One additional lower backlight illumination level is required.
*Improved cable connector for external power supply should be provided (so USB cable does not have to be used.)
*The connection of USB cable to back of GPS can be improved.
*A lanyard should be supplied.
*Stationary electronic compass should be standard.
*Provision for an external antenna should be made.
*Faster screen redraws would be desirable.
*Old Mapsend software is not compatible and cannot be converted for use with Explorist XL. Magellan should at least have offered their loyal customers an upgrade discount.
*At this writing, there are few choices in brackets or mountings for the XL unit.


Conclusion
In spite of the preceding minor complaints, the Magellan Explorist XL handheld GPS is an excellent unit. It seems that Magellan listens to their GPS customers and critics, keeping the best and most desirable Magellan features, while eliminating many of the poorer features. The result is the Explorist XL model. In just a few years, the improvements made from the Meridian Gold model to the Explorist XL model are very impressive. Substantial improvements in Mapsend software are also apparent.

The price of the XL unit is very competitive compared to other handheld GPS units with comparable or lesser features. At this time, the HUGE XL color screen and SD memory capability cannot be matched in any other handheld GPS at any price. The Magellan Explorist XL is highly recommended,

- Magellan released the eXplorist XL before they were really ready
-- The available software (Direct Route and Topo) is about 2 years old, so you have to jump through hoops to get it to install to your machine ... it doesn't easily recognize your USB port.
-- As of January 2005, there are NO ACCESSORIES available, not even an AC charger ... not a mount, nothing
- The software is very difficult to install. Most of the disks they provided are not recognized by my computer.
- To log on to their web site you have to go to your browser Privacy settings and ACCEPT ALL COOKIES. This is presumably because their site has none of the registered MS compatible certificates.
- The wait for customer service if you call (and ever get through) is way too long...a possible indication of all the problems people are having.
- The FAQs on the web site are a joke ... way out of date.
- Only about 10% of the web site says anything about the XL.
- You can put a 2GB SD card in the machine, but the unit will not take maps more than 64MB. That makes it hard to be seamless on a drive across the country

That being said. I still like Magellan better than Garmin. Once you get all the details ironed out ... the very painful details, the system is pretty amazing. Large color screen is easy to see in direct sunlight.

All i can say is this is not as big as some people make it out to be, and it's not heavy either. I bought this after owning a garmin 60cs (with an antenna) that kept flaking out, i.e. loosing signal in some relatively open forests. The XL HAS NEVER lost reception since I've had it (compared to the garmin, that lost reception under the first tree I walked under as i started to enter a forest). I work in both a montane rainforest and a lowland moist forest, and XL works exceptionally well in both, under heavy canopy and dense cloud cover, day or night. The only time it could not pick up anything was when i turned it off! Battery life is better than advertised, I got 20+ hrs of use on the 4 AA batteries. After getting use to this screen it's hard to go back to anything else. The joystick is a welcomed addition; it makes saving multiple waypoints (or POI as it is referred to on the GPS unit) a breeze. The directory system on the GPS is very intuitive; there is no need to be search endlessly for any features. Most importantly, with the SD card, my Mac recognizes the GPS.
There are some cons however, the issue with the maps. You have to purchase them separately and this can be a headache on the Magellan website, and unfortunately the base map does not have any level of detail. I only wish that it allows you to upload scanned files, with the SD card on board, this would have been great. Also the software that is provided for downloading waypoints etc, could be much better. As it stands it's not such a great or intuitive product and it's a bit light weight to be honest. And one last gripe was the accuracy; it took a bit long to get accuracies of 10 meters or less under heavy canopy etc. I guess that's expected, but accessories like an external antenna would have been great. Also an issue that someone raised, the main usb cable has to be hooked up to the in car adapter, which is a bummer. It just means that you have to remember to take it out of the car when downloading points, and on road trips when you need external power, you need to remember to take it with you.
Overall it is a very good product. If like me you just need something that dosen't ever loose a signal under thick or very dense cover, with the added benefit of a large screen, fast acquisition of satellites, the ability to add an unlimited number of maps, waterproof (should i go on?), then this is an above average product. My experience with Garmins is that while the XL maybe a no frills gps, it's certainly way more reliable and better than the 60 cs i also have for field use. The 60 cs, is nice to drive around with, but when it comes to trekking in the forest and the field, the xl is a better option by far.

This is by far the most incredible piece of equipment. I purchased it because I travel and sometimes need assistance in other cities, I wasn't disappointed. This thing will lock on to enough satellites to give an accurate fix on location EVEN INSIDE A CAR. And I don't mean keeping it on the dash I mean it will stay fixed while I'm holding it or even if it's on the passanger seat!! and that's without an external antennea. It will even fix on enough satellites inside an airplane, I have to hold it to the window to get the fix but after that it will hold the fix while sitting on the food tray. INCREDIBLE. It's very interesting to see where the plane is, the altitude, and the speed of the plane. Personnally I prefer electronic equipment that uses off the shelf batteries instead of rechargeables and that's one reason I chose this model. The battery life is good BUT I swapped out regular batteries for Lithiums and WOW .. they last a long time..the extra price is worth it. This thing also has a very bright screen that I can see in sunlight and on the brighest setting it's bright enough to light my way at night...it's that bright. I always step it down to save batteries and it's still legible. The only down side I can report is Magellans lack of reponse when I ordered the North America maps from them. They said it was back ordered and when I inquired by email why their own software would be back ordered they never replied. I cancelled my order and found it from a third party on ebay. Brand new never opened and half the price Magellan wanted. The maps are OK nothing special and since they're on disk I've found some to be outdated BUT acceptable. The other reason I chose the XL is because it can use a secure digital card to load maps. I use a 1GB card and I can keep several maps on it. The other disappointment with the software is, for some reason, only 64mb of map can be downloaded at a time, I can deal with that, but it would be nice if they didn't give a limitation. The transfer rate from PC to SD card is extremely slow but the XL is so remarkable that I can deal with it.

I've owned a Magellan Meridian Gold GPS receiver for 3 1/2 years. It worked great until last week when it got wet and stopped working. It is supposed to be waterproof and sealed to IEC-529 IPX7 standards - but apparently it isn't. Magellan charged me $126 to have it repaired.

I ordered the Explorist XL as an upgrade and for use as my primary unit with the intention of keeping the Meridian Gold as a backup. But I returned the Explorist after learning how difficult it is to use with the MapSend Direct Route map software. Also, the map software will only work with one Magellan GPS receiver at a time. So, you either have to completely uninstall and reinstall it each time you want to use a different GPS unit - or you have to buy another copy of the software and install it on a different computer. I don't mind paying for a second copy of the software, but who wants to buy another computer!

Until Magellan addresses these issues, I recommend buying something else.

The GPS is pretty impressive, but it needs work on its user interface and needs to have more flexibility. For example the audio alarms are not adjustable and all sound the same. Tech support has not responded in over a month to tell me what the power input requirements are for the external connector, so that I can use an external battery pack. The device drinks AAs. You can not get tech support on the phone and the replies they eventual give via e-mail are very incomplete. When I asked what the specs are for the external power input (note not give in the manual) they did not supply the spec, they just said buy a car adapter (not much use for hiking is that). I guess I would say wait until the device has been on the market longer so you can get third party help. Also, Topo MapSend does not contain trails, again not very good for a hikers GPS. Plus there is the annoyance that you have to have the CD in the PC in order to use it. Why they can not load the access key into the Secure Digital card on the device so you have the option of not having to find the CD is beyond me. It is a very powerful and accurate GPS but I don't think it is ready for prime time yet.

There are some very good Amazon reviewers here doing a fine job detailing the pro's and cons of this item, so I'm not going to waste your time detailing the unit. I own this and two other previous generations of magellan higher end color GPSs, so I think I'm pretty qualified to offer an opinion to my fellow GPS users. I have no axe to grind, don't work for a GPS company and just want to save my fellow explorers headache & stress.

GPS units rely heavily upon firmware, techincal support, map software and map software updates. No mater how feature rich, ergonomic or well priced a GPS unit appears (all of which has drawn me to Magellen GPSs), without the back-end software tools & support, the product is a failure. Magellan (Thales) has failed miserably providing quality in any of these areas over three generations and 4 years of products. I have spent nearly 100 hours troubleshooting their firmware update failures, searching for correct firmware, talking to them about promised map updates that never came, waiting months for warranty returned products that fail withing minutes of return, customizing PC data interfaces to insure reliability, talking to useless call centers in India ...the list goes on and on. If I wasn't a skilled and experenced network engineer/pc geek, I would have shot myself years ago due to the troubles I've run into with Magellan GPS products. I would go out of my way to insure a friend would never buy a Magellan product, and would even go so far as insuring that my boss avoided one (and I don't like him all that much!). Look to the other GPS company for nearly trouble free products and support, becuase you will find neither with Magellan! Nuff said?

Bought this from Amazon for 300$ shipped. Was looking for a GPS that I can use in the car as well as outdoors and globally. It is bulky yes, but I don't see it as to much of a prob. Locks on to GPS sattelites rather quickly if there are no obstructions in front of the round globe like antenna. I read other reviews, some good and others not. Went to local FRY's and tried out unit, found it would work for me, had all the features I wanted. Did not care for high res screen or 256 colors. Its bright enough to read in sunlight and works well.

I got the Direct route software for US and Europe.. they wheren't cheap but Ebay has them listed also. Transfering maps over can be a PIA if you aren't careful. Took me a few tries to get it right. WHen you run Direct Route software you have to register the GPS on the software in order for the file output to work properly, even then the mapsend conversin software is needed to translate the file into an .imi file for the GPS to load. But once its loaded it works pretty good.

I haven't bought the TOPO yet, maybe later in the year, but so far I have the maps I need, and direct route software built into the unit works great. If I get the TOPO on the SD card and switch between them both I will write another review.

If you want something Easy to use, look at Garmin. The XL works great for those willing to spend time in reading the instruction manual. I like the rugged case. Will buying the RAM mount for it later this month so I can properly mount it in the car, can't mount it on windshield in CA. Risking getting a ticket, but seen others do it. I will be looking to also purchse the DC adapter cord for it also. The extra's weren't out untill mid '05..

Pros for me
Works, does what I need it to
Screen is big and bright
SD slot allows me to update GPS and upload any MAP

Cons for me
software to upload maps PIA, untill you figure out how it actually works. then its not a prob.
Better Tech support from Magellan

On a recent trip to Lake Powell where I had intended to use my Magellan eXplorist XL as a backup for navigation onm the lake, some geocaching. I am glad that this was not our primary navigation unit ir we could have had some problems. The unit would operate for a couple of hours then lock up and not operate until I had removed the batteries for an hour or so then reinstalled them. New batteries did not help. After seeing the comments about the slothful service support of Magellen I have returned the unit and will try something else.

Overall the unit was pretty good and navigation to a benchmark was right on. However, the map registration for the region of Utah that I was in was up to 200 feet off in some cases from the actual position. This included a benchmark on a high point that the map showed to be under water. Road and highway map registration appears to be accurate.

Bottom line, if you feel comfortable with taking a new GPS to the field that may have reliability problems, or other users experience is different than mine, go for it. Otherwise I would try another product or manufacturer at this time.