Magellan SporTrak Pro Handheld GPS
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Manufacturer: Magellan
Price at amazon.com: $234.99Usually ships in 24 hours
Used & new from $250.95
List price $299.99
- 12-channel GPS receiver; WAAS enabled for up to 3 meter accuracy
- 9 MB North American basemap of roads, waterways, parks, and more
- 23 MB memory for additional map downloads
- Large, easy-to-read display; 9-key keypad for quick access to software features
- Rugged, waterproof design; Quadifiler Helix antenna for superior tracking in harsh environments
Product Description:
The Magellan SporTrak Pro is a feature-rich, fun, and easy-to-use GPS receiver designed for the serious navigator. Its rugged, waterproof, and ergonomic design is perfect for the outdoorsperson needing a compact but powerful navigator. Included in SporTrak Pro is a 9 MB North American basemap of highways, major roads, parks, waterways, marine navaids, buoys, lighthouses, and more. An additional 23 MB of built-in memory is included for downloading detailed maps from Magellan's MapSend line of CD-ROMs. With Wide Area Augmentation System (WAAS) support, the SporTrak offers readings with up to a three-meter accuracy. The large display, along with a front facing 9-key keypad, makes it easy to use in any environment. SporTrak Pro software includes seven graphic navigation screens, storage for up to 500 waypoints and 20 routes, a best fish and game time calculator, and BackTrack for finding your way home after a long trip into the woods. The SporTrak Pro runs on two AA batteries for up to 14 hours. It's housed in rubber-armored, impact-resistant plastic that's waterproof and also floats. The WAAS difference 100 meters: Accuracy of the original GPS system, which was subject to accuracy degradation under the government-imposed Selective Availability (SA) program. 15 meters: Typical GPS position accuracy without SA. 3-5 meters: Typical differential GPS (DGPS) position accuracy. Less than 3 meters: Typical WAAS position accuracy. WAAS is a system of satellites and ground stations that provide GPS signal corrections, giving you even better position accuracy. How much better? Try an average of up to five times better. A WAAS-capable receiver can give you a position accuracy of better than three meters 95 percent of the time. And you don't have to purchase additional receiving equipment or pay service fees to utilize WAAS. How it Works WAAS consists of approximately 25 ground reference stations positioned across the United States that monitor GPS satellite data. Two master stations, located on either coast, collect data from the reference stations and create a GPS correction message. This correction accounts for GPS satellite orbit and clock drift plus signal delays caused by the atmosphere and ionosphere. The corrected differential message is then broadcast through one of two geostationary satellites, or satellites with a fixed position over the equator. The information is compatible with the basic GPS signal structure, which means any WAAS-enabled GPS receiver can read the signal. Who benefits from WAAS? Currently, WAAS satellite coverage is only available in North America. There are no ground reference stations in South America, so even though GPS users there can receive WAAS, the signal has not been corrected and thus would not improve the accuracy of their unit. For some users in the U.S., the position of the satellites over the equator makes it difficult to receive the signals when trees or mountains obstruct the view of the horizon. WAAS signal reception is ideal for open land and marine applications. WAAS provides extended coverage both inland and offshore compared to the land-based DGPS (differential GPS) system. Another benefit of WAAS is that it does not require additional receiving equipment, while DGPS does.
From J&R Music and Computer World Magellan SporTrak Pro GPS Receiver - Once the exclusive tool of the United States military, the GPS receiver has "trickled-down" to the rest of us. Providing us with a science-fiction-like ability to navigate our way around even the most remote of areas. The SporTrak Pro features a large backlit display for easy viewing, and a 9MB mapping database. 23MB of free memoryUses a super-sensitive quadifiler helix antenna that tracks up to 12 GPS satellites simultaneouslyAssisted by the U.S. Wide Area Augmentation System (WAAS), it is accurate to within 3 meters (roughly 9 feet)7 large customizable graphic navigation displays12 coordinate systems76 datumsStore up to 20 routers, 500 way points und 2,000 track-pointsSave Track-to-Route Satellite StatusRugged und WaterproofHelp DatabaseBuoyantSupports: English, French, German, Swedish, Finnish, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, und DutchIncludes: PC Cable, 2 AA Batteries, Wrist Strap, und Manual
Included in SporTrak Pro is a 9 MB North American basemap of highways, major roads, parks, waterways, marine navaids, buoys, lighthouses, and more. An additional 23 MB of built-in memory is included for downloading detailed maps from Magellan's MapSend line of CD-ROMs. With Wide Area Augmentation System (WAAS) support, the SporTrak offers readings with up to a three-meter accuracy.
The large display, along with a front facing 9-key keypad, makes it easy to use in any environment. SporTrak Pro software includes seven graphic navigation screens, storage for up to 500 waypoints and 20 routes, a best fish and game time calculator, and BackTrack for finding your way home after a long trip into the woods.
The SporTrak Pro runs on two AA batteries for up to 14 hours. It's housed in rubber-armored, impact-resistant plastic that's waterproof and also floats.
The WAAS difference
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How it Works
WAAS consists of approximately 25 ground reference stations positioned across the United States that monitor GPS satellite data. Two master stations, located on either coast, collect data from the reference stations and create a GPS correction message. This correction accounts for GPS satellite orbit and clock drift plus signal delays caused by the atmosphere and ionosphere. The corrected differential message is then broadcast through one of two geostationary satellites, or satellites with a fixed position over the equator. The information is compatible with the basic GPS signal structure, which means any WAAS-enabled GPS receiver can read the signal.
Who benefits from WAAS?
Currently, WAAS satellite coverage is only available in North America. There are no ground reference stations in South America, so even though GPS users there can receive WAAS, the signal has not been corrected and thus would not improve the accuracy of their unit. For some users in the U.S., the position of the satellites over the equator makes it difficult to receive the signals when trees or mountains obstruct the view of the horizon. WAAS signal reception is ideal for open land and marine applications. WAAS provides extended coverage both inland and offshore compared to the land-based DGPS (differential GPS) system. Another benefit of WAAS is that it does not require additional receiving equipment, while DGPS does.
Average Customer Rating: 
Comment: Amazing device Rating:
This is the second GPS receiver I've owned. I started out with a Magellan 315, which was perfectly good for most purposes. (I actually have no REALLY good reason to have a GPS receiver, but I've always loved orienteering and maps and related stuff ever since I was a Scout, many years ago.) However, lately I discovered geocaching, and the 315 just didn't seem to do the job, whether it was because of cloud cover or tree cover or my own inexperience, so I upgraded. I like this one very much. It feels "natural" in your hand, and the grip is secure (and it has a wrist loop, just in case). Under most conditions where I've used it, it's extremely accurate, particularly when it can set up WAAS averaging.
I gave it four stars. One, no Mac compatibility, although I understand there's a work-around. Two, I drive a principal highway regularly, and the track, compared with the base map, always shows me at least 50 feet off the highway. I left tracking on for a dozen trips, and my track was always about 50 feet off their base map. Fifty feet is quite a bit when the claim is accuracy within three meters. (And yes, I'm using Magellan's default map datum, so it should correspond with their base map.)
All that being said, I'm very pleased with the device. BTW, if you use it in the car, spring for the cigarette lighter external power cord. A data cable comes in the package, so PC users can download or upload waypoints, or even track their route on a laptop in the car, but I find the power cable more useful. There's a combination cable, too -- both data and external power.
Comment: Too cool. Rating:
I just received my Magellan SporTrak Pro GPS unit, and after about three hours of non-stop twiddling with it, I can safely say "WOW!" I powered up the unit for the first time INSIDE my house, and it started acquiring satellites. Pretty amazing.
Highlights:
- Easy to use
- Dead accurate
- Surprisingly detailed base map
- Well worth the money
The only Down Sides I've noted are:
- PC cable securing screw has a small, floppy D-ring-type handle on it, which makes securing the PC cable to the GPS somewhat finicky. The same type D-ring is used for the lanyard loop/battery compartment screw. It's OK, but nothing I'd design.
- Magellan doesn't make a carrying case for it, but a slightly modified Nokia 5160 leather case works very well!
- The backlight makes an annoying hum. It is barely noticeable at the Low setting, but on High, it sounds like a mosquito. Good thing I detest backlights to begin with.
If you want a GPS, go buy this unit. Don't mess with the "toy" GPS systems that only use "patch" antennas. The quad helix on the Magellan systems is FAR superior.
Comment: The most accurate GPS Rating:
The is the most accurate GPS I have ever tested.
It is a good overall unit.
Posted at November 11, 2003 05:26 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
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