Manitoba Geocaching Association

TurdleEggs · Joined: 31 Jul 2005 Posts: 685 Location: Ste Genevieve

Magellan Unveils Geocaching GPS Device

Magellan unveiled a new GPS dedicated to geocaching. The Magellan eXplorist GC embeds 10,000 geocaches and all the software needed for paperless geocaching adventures.

The eXplorist GC will retail for $199.99 and will be available in April 2010.

angelcastaneda · Joined: 04 Jan 2010 Posts: 47

From their site:

Interesting. I wonder what will be used for data, and if it'll be available in Canada.

In completely unrelated news, my birthday is coming up in July.

ertyu · Joined: 25 Apr 2005 Posts: 546 Location: Winnipeg

Sounds like it will be a higher end Geomate Jr like device, probably the same data set.

angelcastaneda · Joined: 04 Jan 2010 Posts: 47

IIRC, the Geomate Jr. comes with some preloaded caches, and you need a cable to update new caches.
This one seems to have a data plan of some sort - I might be wrong though.

--

Edit: Very likely that I was wrong - It ships with a USB cable

MissionMode · Joined: 27 Nov 2009 Posts: 105

Their website

http://www.magellangps.com/exploristgc/index.asp#3

would appear to say that "Send to GPS" is coming to Magellan users, or at least those with this device.

A hands-on (but all desk based) review:
http://exploristforum.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=55%3Ascreenshots&catid=1%3Alatest-news&showall=1

Looks like a pretty good little unit actually.

Pilotmounders · Joined: 24 Aug 2009 Posts: 62

I didn't see it but does anyone know if this will support the Wherigo player or will that only be avaliable for higher end models? We're thinking of upgrading to a Garmin Oregon series from our Bushnell Onix200 so we can take part in those types of caches as well.

ertyu · Joined: 25 Apr 2005 Posts: 546 Location: Winnipeg

Highly doubtful an entry level machine would support WhereIGo at this point.

lizardo · Joined: 02 Sep 2005 Posts: 497 Location: Winnipeg

Last I read, the basemap included with this unit is a "modified" one. Personally, I hope modified means "added streets in Canada". My eXplorist 500 basemap is pathetic. Apparently Manitoba has about 5 roads. Each of these roads start suddenly in the middle of nowhere and, after a few dozen kilometres, stops. For the US, the basemap is quite good. But once you scroll over the border into Canada, nothing.

The press release seems to state that you can not load additional maps. Um, what? I can load 10,000(!) geocaches, but no maps? My eXplorist 500 allows me to load 200 geocaches (boo!), and all the maps I want (Yay!). It would seem that Magellan is a company of extremes. And, currently, MY Magellan is extremely BROKEN. So I may be a (brrr.) Garmin owner soon.