detail maps for Magellan Triton 400??

I am an experienced GPS user, and have created and uploaded detail maps
using Magellan MapSend, used several GPSs with my PC, etc.

Recently I went shopping for a GPS for my son for hiking/hunting. I stopped
at a local Eastern Mountain Sports (EMS) store, and looked at the Magellan
Triton series. I was particularly interested in the Triton 400 due to
SD-card compatibility, but this question would apply to the 300 and 500 as
well.

The Triton packaging states it is compatible with the Nation Geographic
STATE SERIES (emphasis mine) maps. There is only one problem. I live in
upstate NY, and our state series national geographic package is for NY and
NJ, and says right on the box that it will NOT upload detail, and can only
be used to send and receive waypoints, tracks, etc. from the GPS. We also
have a national Geographic topo for the Adirondack region, but it bears the
same message.

Anyone got a clue? What topo maps can be used in upsate NY to add topo
detail to a Triton 400. I suspect the answer might be "none."

Thanks, Pieter

Pieter wrote:

One of the reasons I went with a Garmin 76Cx is that Magellan units
don't support use of an external antenna. I have one and have found it
a significant help in steep sided valleys and/or heavy cover even with
the SIRF III chip. I'm in Canada and use Garmins Topo Canada. If their
Topo USA is as good, it should do the job. My 76Cx accepts micro SD
cards. I have a 2 GB one in mine.

Ted

Ted Edwards wrote:

What Ted said!

I shifted from Magellan Meridians to a Garmin 76Cx because Magellan was
falling badly behind on hardware, software, and support. And that
situation has not improved much, especially in the areas of optional
mapping software and support.

Look at the 60 and 76 series in the Cx and CSx models. The hardware,
displays, and software are identical in all of those models, they differ
only in case shape and button locations.

The CSx models have a built in flux gate compass and barometer so they
will give you compass heading when stationary and more accurate
elevations. All of them use microSD cards for external map storage and
you can get topo, marine charts, and street and highway mapping for them.

Also there is some level of practicality and/or third party mapping for
the Garmins and that is something that has not been done with the
Magellans.

For topo mapping look at the Garmin U.S. Topo mapping in Garmin's online
viewer to see if that meet your needs. U.S. Topo is 1:100,000 mapping
and is adequate for getting around most of the time. I would have a
1:24,000 paper map in hand for the more challenging places. There is
also a 24K Topo package with better detail but coverage is limited to
selected National Parks.

You can use the online viewers for each type of mapping to see what you
can expect to see from the various optional mapping packages:

http://www8.garmin.com/cartography/

The Garmin handhelds are very versatile and high performance, I don't
think Magellan can compete with them. And I'm not a brand loyalist,
Magellan is simply not keeping up with them.

Jack

--
Jack Erbes in Ellsworth, Maine, USA (jackerbes at roadrunner dot com)
(also receiving email at jacker at midmaine dot com)

I would recommend Triton 500 ( 3-axis compass, barometer ... ), or one of
the top models : Triton 1500 or 2000
In general,
Tritons outperforms all Garmin handhelds:
- better screen res - QVGA, smaller housing, VantagePoint viewer for PC, 3D
topo maps...
- T1500/2000 - touch-screen, digicam (2000), flashlight, voice capability,
video ...

For NG topo see
http://maps.nationalgeographic.com/category/TOPO%21%20for%20Magellan%20Triton%20GPS/?cid=183&tid=3
about compatibility.

D*

I had considered the Triton 500, but I think the compass and barometer are
fluff. I have an Explorist 600, and the compass is a battery 'ho and the
barometer of marginal value. Oh yes - the thermometer always reads wrong
because its next to the display backlight. Even re-calibrated it is way
wrong. I am buying for my son's gift. So I figure I'll just get him a good
GPS. He already knows how to use a compass and owns a good one, has a
thermometer on his jacket zipper, and doesn't care about barometric
pressure.


http://maps.nationalgeographic.com/category/TOPO%21%20for%20Magellan%20Triton%20GPS/?cid=183&tid=3