Magellan Explorist 500 LE Plus SD card for maps..$130 after tax

[Levi Garrett]

Well figured I would pass it on..
Magellan explorist 500 LE ($99) @ C tire
2G SD Card($15) Walmart
Maps Topo , merged with streets (Magic map) Free , not full coverage coast to coast , but not bad, and you can order custom maps..

Now this ct has 23 units, deal I guess on these limited edition units...
Anyway it was easy , download firmware to PC, upload new version firmware from Magic map, then its just a matter of using the SD card like another drive, and load the maps, very fast to switch maps .
Now this is a 16 color screen, and 14 channel unit.
Here is why the $99 not $300 , reviews suck, but not cause of the unit, the software support sucks, reason for Magic map taking over , and supporting the 500 mand 600
Anyway for someone without a GPS, its a heck of a package for the price..
ps , topo maps are spot on, elevation on contour lines, great color and way better than Magellan maps

 

[northwoodslivin]

10/4 on that deal.

In September Walmart had an amazing deal on the Explorist 500 with wall charger,car charger,car cradle to hold it, rechargable battery pack. For that price. I wasn't even aware of the sale, just happened to catch it out of the corner of my eye when I was buying some ammo

Their great GPS's!

 

[Levi Garrett]

10/4 on that deal.

In September Walmart had an amazing deal on the Explorist 500 with wall charger,car charger,car cradle to hold it, rechargable battery pack. For that price. I wasn't even aware of the sale, just happened to catch it out of the corner of my eye when I was buying some ammo

Their great GPS's!

Magic map has excellent topo map downloads, and version 2.57 firmware which you want to upload, it gives extra pages, and mods to existing pages.
very easy to do. And you don't loose the base map as it shows up as you scale out.

 

[northwoodslivin]

Ya. I've got the latest firmware. I ended up wining an auction on ebay for the mapsend topo canada disk "a MUST have" I am very pleased with the unit. I actually like it better then the Garmin I had prior!

 

[44fordy]

I have one. It's a POS as far as I'm concerned. Yes, the mapping works good. The interface with the PC is CRAP. The tech support is a phucking joke.

Just my opinion, I will NOT buy another one of these, nor will I recommend it to anyone. Sorry to rain on the parade.

PS : The 500LE is an old model, so whatever they have left is it. If you want accessories for it, better start looking on ebay.

 

[Levi Garrett]

I have one. It's a POS as far as I'm concerned. Yes, the mapping works good. The interface with the PC is CRAP. The tech support is a phucking joke.

Just my opinion, I will NOT buy another one of these, nor will I recommend it to anyone. Sorry to rain on the parade.

PS : The 500LE is an old model, so whatever they have left is it. If you want accessories for it, better start looking on ebay.

Get OziExplorer mapping, supports many units, excellent software. Reads BSB marine charts , topo maps, and if their geo referenced already its awesome.Just pick your info off the map , waypoints, any features not on your unit you can use the manual track function and upload it to your unit.

 

[44fordy]

Get OziExplorer mapping, supports many units, excellent software. Reads BSB marine charts , topo maps, and if their geo referenced already its awesome.Just pick your info off the map , waypoints, any features not on your unit you can use the manual track function and upload it to your unit.

Ok Levi, I'm willing to try anything at this point.

Thanks!

 

[northwoodslivin]

I have one. It's a POS as far as I'm concerned. Yes, the mapping works good. The interface with the PC is CRAP. The tech support is a phucking joke.

Just my opinion, I will NOT buy another one of these, nor will I recommend it to anyone. Sorry to rain on the parade.

PS : The 500LE is an old model, so whatever they have left is it. If you want accessories for it, better start looking on ebay.

you probably had the cable hooked up to the unit upside down. happens to the best of us

As for your rant, I call BS. I have never ever had a problem with mine, completely trouble free.

I recommend a GOOD set of rechargables or their battery pack "makes batt life MUCH longer"

And I dont know what your talking about, the 500 is one of their best models. And yes, from what I've read the customer service SUCKS, but who cares? It is a GREAT GPS, very accurate, very detailed maps!

 

[northwoodslivin]

Also, 44.. If you dont have it yet. Get the Mapsend TOPO Canada Software. Highly detailed maps for all of Canada, even picks up little streams and danger spots "such as old mining sights etc etc"

 

[asphalt599]

I like my 500. The interface with the computer is crap though. If you buy Magellan maps they are only good for the one GPS unit. Once you install it on one GPS thats the only one it will work on. I was trying to install it on a second unit and couldn't so I called Magellan and they told me it couldn't be done.

 

[billyc]

I went to Crappy Tire today and looked at this model. It was $224 bucks. I asked them about the special and they said that was the deal $70 off the regular price. I guess it's not on sale in my part of the world. On the other hand they had a Garmin HCX on sale for $170 which came home with me

 

[northwoodslivin]

I hate to sound like a meanie. but I would take that garmin back, the etrex line up sucks and is their cheapest production model. I never liked the one I used for work at all. Always used the garmin 60csx "much more expensive but worth it if you MUST have a Garmin"

Only thing good about the deal you got is that Garmin has MUCH better customer support then Magellan.

Also, go to walmart, they have the 500 on sale last time I checked as well. Believe me the 500 is a beautiful GPS, I have used my share of high end models "work in the Geo field"