Magellan Meridian Platinum GPS

by Julie Hawrishok

Those of us who are directionally-challenged understand the hassles involved in exploring new ground. We sheepishly stop at rural gas stations to ask which way is south and if that is actually the direction we want to travel. We visit foreign areas, squinting at miniscule street signs as they go by, trying to determine where our exit is. The prospect of venturing into dense forest or on to high mountaintops seems risky unless we have large light beacons strapped on our backs. It's obvious: we need help.

With global positioning systems (GPS) gaining in popularity, it seems like the ideal solution. However, it's difficult to determine which units are for the amateurs and which are for serious navigators.

The Magellan Meridian Platinum is for the more seasoned adventurers or those in dire need of directional assistance. Everything a basic GPS receiver does, the Meridian Platinum does better. Features you only wish your GPS receiver has are standard on this unit.

Finally, you can explore the world and not get lost.

One of the highlights on this GPS unit is the three-axis electronic compass. Traditional compasses tend to be finicky. If you are not holding it properly, it won't point you in the right direction. The electronic compass on the Meridian Platinum will give you your bearings regardless of how you hold the unit or whether you're moving or stationary. The three-axis system allows you to hold the receiver at any angle and still get a reading. As a result, you can tilt the unit and track up to 12 satellites simultaneously. These same 12 satellites that are employed also make the Meridian Platinum one of the most accurate GPS units on the market, with a boastful accuracy of three meters or less.

Built-in sensors give the Meridian Platinum another feature not standard on most GPS units: a barometer. This feature, previously popular with only meteorologists, proves handy for those who spend time outside. If you're hiking in the middle of a forest, it's a good idea to know what the weather plans on doing. It's like your own private weather station, but one small enough to fit into the palm of your hand. The barometer also keeps a 24 hour record, so you can look back at the weather trends in certain areas.

As mapping technology is improving, the use of it with GPS units is increasingly appealing. The Meridian Platinum comes stocked with a built-in mapping database of North America, including highways, interstates, waterways, airports and city locations. If you find yourself needing more detailed city maps, an optional memory card can store street-level maps of cities across the world. Once you've figured out your route from point A to point B or anything in between, you can store the route on the system itself for future use.

This GPS unit features intuitive interface and a large display. There are seven customizable graphic displays, each showing a map, compass and speedometer. From there, you can customize the display to read your heading, bearing, speed, direction, estimated time of arrival, latitude and longitude and several map referencing systems.

This unit runs on two AA batteries; average battery life is between 12-14 hours.

It's rugged. It's solid. It floats if dropped in water. Mount one to your car's dashboard or toss one in your pocket before your next outdoor retreat and you can rest assured you'll get to your destination with no unscheduled detours.