MagellanSporTrak Map Waterproof Hiking GPS

I have had this unit for a month and am amazed by the satellite sensitivity. I can pick up 2-3 in my house no where near a window. As the owner of three previous GPS units for use with a laptop, I can tell you that this one has replaced them all. It works by itself of course, and with so much information it provides, it does take a Masters degree to really know how to use all the features. The ONLY disappoint was with the built in map... mine only shows the US and major cities, but even zooming in all the way with highest detail, there are no highways or anything else. I purchased an older version of Map Send from the web for $18 and that has made all the difference... now I actually have roads and the GPS follows them perfectly. I have driven with the unit, taken it on walks and on bike rides and I can say that it is a great value for the price. I do think that the latest MapSend software should be bundled with it, however. I love maps and I love GPS and this is a great combo in a small package. By the way, the screen in full sunlight is super... no problem at all in the harshest sunlight or the heaviest overcast or tree cover. I am amazed by the sensitivity of the receiver!UPDATE...I called Thanes, the maker, and they informed me that I had gotten a unit with an EU base map. To make a long story short, they replaced the base map and returned it within a week... and included batteries and a carry case. This company, unlike so many these days, gets four thumbs up from me! Outstanding product, outstanding support, great price.

The only problem with this item was the cable. The computer end did not fit my Dell laptop or desktop. I ordered from another provider a cable with a USB computer jack that works, but was $25 additional cost.

On receipt it was inoperative. The battery compartment closure door was broken. There was NO quality control of this unit before it was sent. They neglected to allow return postage.

I bought this in April 2019, and it quit working in March 2020. It was replacing one of the same make and model that had lasted 9 years.From the start, the battery compartment would not stay shut without a piece of duct tape securing it. But the price was entirely reasonable; unlike other sellers.However, last month it simply stopped working, even when new batteries were installed. Once again, I have no way to retrieve coordinates stored within it and nowhere else. I am disappointed, but cannot afford anything else- so I give it three stars... just be sure to keep the coordinates written somewhere in a notebook.

Back in March/2004, I was looking for a cheap/quality GPS that used alkaline batteries, a monochrome display, and could be used out of the box, without connecting the unit to a PC. Well this GPS was my answer! It took me sometime to find it, but the wait was well worth it! I remember stopping by Fry's, Best Buy and a number of other electronic stores and being told that I would not be sold a GPS that did not offer a monochrome display, and worst of all would not be sold a GPS under $400! I do not understand why so many people using electronics feel they need a Bazooka to kill a rabbit. Shouldn't sales people understand that not everyone needs a powerful device, and some people just need a simple unit? Well I only needed a pistol for the job and found it at Radio Shack. Well the Magellan SporTrak Map GPS has 2MB of built in maps, which entails interstates, freeways, and highways, not to disclude airports and other points of interest. For me, I do not expect a GPS to replace a regular map, but just to be a strong add on, which will tell me my exact location when I'm traveling. This GPS unit has 6MB of free memory for detailed street maps, but the only catch is the price of the MapSend CD-ROM, which is highly overpriced. So, I do not expect to add on any detailed maps to my GPS anytime soon. I recommend this GPS to all users wanting a simple monochrome GPS unit with great battery life (15+ hours) and only need a GPS for freeway, interstate, and highway navigation. Oh one more thing for the best battery life use the Energizer Titanium cells.