Jump to content

Magellan eXplorist gC


Cedarats

Recommended Posts

I purchased the Magellan eXplorist gc exclusively for Geocaching. After the first defective unit was replaced by Magellan, we still have not been able to get out there and explore. Several calls to Magellan with the average hold time being more than 30 mins, with this last time over an hour and 15 mins.. going past their closing time, we were told they were closed now and to call back during regular business hours. Needless to say if thats the after purchase service.... I recommend ANYTHING but Magellan. This unit will be returned and I will go to one recommended on this site. Cant wait to get started. Stay clear of Magellan! Remember.. its not the sale... it's the service after the sell that keeps ya coming back.

Link to comment

I own one of these units too. At first I had trouble loading caches on it until I realized you have to install the Magellan installer software on your computer. You should be able to do it when you try to load a cache from the official geocaching map to your device. No download problems after that. Unfortunately my eXplorist GC has quit working after about a year of moderate use. Comes on but never gets past the start-up screen. Have Googled "Magellan problems" and it appears this particular model has been trouble prone. Some have had satisfaction with customer support others not so much. I must admit that after buying it I started hating the little screen and small buttons and toggle. I have been using my 5.5 inch display smartphone with a few free geocaching apps and have had just as good luck getting close to caches as with the Magellan. I use the phone GPS for travel directions too and it works great as long as there is a data connection. I've learned to save screen shots from google maps in case I lose data service.

Edited by Chazbo1948
Link to comment

I apologize if this has already been covered, but have you selected your power options? I think you said the GPS keeps losing power. Just a guess on my part, maybe it will help.

Power Options

Set Suspend Timer

To help conserve battery life you can set a time duration that puts the receiver into suspend mode

automatically if no keys have been pressed. During suspend mode the receiver is in power save

mode but continues to log your track and compute your current position.

1. Access the Tools menu and select ‘Settings’.

2. Highlight ‘Power’ and press ENTER.

3. Highlight the ‘Active Suspend Timer’ field.

4. Use the joystick to select the desired time or ‘Never’.

5. Press BACK.

Set Power Off Timer

The Power Off Timer turns the receiver off if it hasn’t received any key presses within the time

selected.

1. Access the Tools menu and select ‘Settings’.

2. Highlight ‘Power’ and press ENTER.

3. Highlight the ‘Power OFF Timer’ field.

4. Use the joystick to select the desired time or ‘Never’.

5. Press BACK.

Select the Type of Batteries Used

1. Access the Tools menu and select ‘Settings’.

2. Highlight ‘Power’ and press ENTER.

3. Highlight the ‘Battery Type’ field.

4. Use the joystick to select the type of batteries being used.

5. Press BACK.

Link to comment

I bought the Magellan GC unit off of eBay. Plugged it into my computer to try and download some caches....but it just stays on the connecting to computer screen. Not sure of it's my computer or a bad unit. Any suggestions?

 

When connected to pc via usb, that is all you will see, "connect to pc" screen. It doesn't do anything else. However, when connected, you will see a Magellan drive now on your pc in "devices and drives". This is where you will see your activity as you add geocaches, pocket queries, waypoints, etc. Look in the geocaches and waypoints folders to confirm additions and deletions. I've had my Magellan for years now with no problems. I use is mostly simultaneously with smart phone geocaching app. for locating. Phone is better to see geocaches anywhere on the fly and to log finds immediately. Downside with Magellan is geocaches are uploaded, but it is then static data and not updated real-time. Example: You upload a recently published geocache and head out to be the FTF...it will not show that it was found as you were traveling to location, but phone apps will. Magellan is more accurate than phone app, bringing me within less than 4 ft consistently.(Depending on satellites, of course.)

Link to comment

Here's what I do:

  • Connect GC to computer via USB cable
  • Turn on GC
  • Select Connect to PC
  • Select Open folder to view files from the AutoPlay dialog/window
  • The GC is then mounted as a removable drive, and I can view folders via Windows Explorer

I manually my copy pocket queries into the GC using the above procedure, and it works great. If your GC isn't automatically presented/recognized as a removable drive once it's connected (and you have clicked Connect To PC), see if a volume named MAGELLAN shows up in Windows' Device Manager.

Link to comment

I noticed since upgrading the firmware from 1.7/8 to 2.15, the device is a LOT more power hungry. (drains batteries like they were sugar candy!) (such is the lifespan of ANY Win-CE, Android, or iOS device as of late.).. I think the company now owning Magellan has lost some of the customer satisfaction they used to have with the original company. I got my GC back about a year after they originally came out, and I think even back then, they were already starting to talk about discontinuing the device. (even though they're still on the shelves of retailers.) My only gripe, is the poor quality of rubber for the keypad.. The joy button has already worn through, and finding a replacement for the insert alone, is impossible without their wanting to replace the entire device. (I've run into the same with Garmin as well.. To say nothing of the outrageous price for the parts alone.. $15.00 (USD) for the joy button w/extension? $17.00 (USD) for the joy button rubber cap? You're looking at a 60% mark-up!)

I mostly use the GC now, as a paperless, and enter coordinates into my old, and trusty Vista.

Link to comment

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

Loading...
×
×
  • Create New...