Magellan Sportrak Pro USER comments

1)  Why you picked out the GPS you did.
   
I spent 3 months looking at data on the web, your site was most helpful. I have had some experience with the Garmin etrex receivers and didn't like the way signal was lost in trees (this was on flat land). I really had two main criteria's, #1, accuracy and good reception. Your review on the Sport Trac Pro sold me in the end.

2)  What you like about your choice.

    Easy to use. It didn't take me long to master the menu's. But as I am a techno nerdy kind of guy, others may not be as intuitive as I when it comes to these things. The manual explained what I needed to know just fine. I am able to upload/download map data, waypoints and routes easily.

Very accurate!

Great reception!

3)  What you do not like about your choice?

    So far I really haven't found anything not to like about the Sport Trac Pro. It works well, didn't take long to master the menu's, is accurate and reception is great! Battery life with good NiMH (1850ma) batteries is about 13 hours.

The one thing I didn't much care for was the Mapsend Topo USA mapping software I bought with the unit. It is rather limited in what you can do with it. For the most part the only good thing about it is uploading detailed data to the unit. However I bought and am using DeLorme Topo USA 4.0 and really like it. I can draw and add trails, roads, notes and though it took a little trial and error, was able to plan, upload routes to the unit and download the same to the computer.

I am currently looking at some other software. The DeLorme Topoquad 2.0 and Maptech's Terrain Navigator.

4)  Your experiences in using your GPS receiver.

I have had the unit for about 1 month now. I first used the Sport Trac Pro while on vacation in California in the Palm Springs area. I was very, very impress with the accuracy of the unit. In the car we rented, the MPH was always dead on to what the receiver reported. Posted elevation on one roadside place was within 3-4 feet! Tracks would always be right on or very close to roads and trails marked on the map. I bought the Mapsend Topo USA to upload details to the unit.  It worked well laying on the dash. Next year I'll buy the dash mount as road navigation was handy using the Sport Trac Pro.
  
 While hiking in the Indian Canyons near Palm Springs, CA, very narrow and steep canyons, reception was not a problem. I have yet to use the unit in heavy tree cover so I can't comment on that, but was amazed to find the unit would
even work inside a house!

Now I live in Alaska and my main use is for back country travel via .snow machine You can cover some distances on a ssnow machineand I have been turned around a couple of times. I felt having a good GPS was essential for this sport. I also hunt and fish. While on my machine, I keep my GPS in my dash bag. There it's protected and there is adequate padding to absorb vibrations. While in this dash bag the unit receives and tracks flawlessly.

5)  Does your GPS perform as you expected.

    Above and beyond!

6)  How is the manual?

    No complaints there.

7)  Other comments.

    I was able to download software upgrade 4.03 from Magellan's web site and install easily.

Russ Tanner
Palmer, Alaska
russ@tannersacre.com