Product Description
- Unlimited SD Card Expandability - Your eXplorist 400 features SD card compatibility for unlimited memory expansion.
- USB data port - Transfer map data from your PC to your eXplorist 400 with the high-speed USB data port.
- TrueFix GPS technology takes advantage of 14 parallel channels, supported by WAAS and EGNOS Satellite-Based Augmentaion Systems for fast signal acquisition, minimal signal loss and reliable accuracy to within 3 meters.
- Built-in mapping - With 8 MB of built-in North American or European maps it's easy to navigate around roads, parks, waterways and to find airports and other points of interest.
- Easy-to-use - One-button access takes you directly to all of the most important features. Intuitive operation with keypad and joystick control adds even more fun to GPS navigation. First-time user can easily navigate with the eXplorist 400.
Get the powerful, expandable mapping pocket-sized GPS. The Magellan eXplorist 400 features mapping capabilities and unlimited storage via optional secure digital (SD) cards so you can take as many maps with you as you want to. Add detailed street maps, topo or lake maps using optional Magellan MapSend software. The high-speed USB data port makes downloading information easy and the Geocache Manager software enables you to download caches directly to your eXplorist 400. eXplorist 400 has 8 MB of built-in maps and 8 MB of internal memory to save 5 track log files, 20 routes and 500 points of interest, but you can save as many as you need to optional SD cards.Slip your compact (2.2 in x 4.7 in) eXplorist 400 into your pocket and let it guide you on every outdoor adventure. Magellan TrueFix technology provides superior accuracy and reliability, giving you the freedom to explore without concern of getting lost..
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Explore your world with an excellent value GPS
The Magellan eXplorist 400 is a feature packed Global Positioning Satellite receiver that should be seriously considered before any other if you want accessories such as memory expandability and PC connectivity to upload topographic and/or street maps to your GPS -- all at a value price point.
While this model can be used for car travel, the eXplorist 400 is a compact, handheld unit that's intended for hiking, orienteering and other fun in the great outdoors. It weighs about six ounces with a backlit B&W screen that's the size of a closed paper matchbook. Backlight is red and settings are low, high and off; the display is easy to see and use in the dark, but it does run the battery down quickly. According to the Magellan website, a fully charged battery will last up to 8 hours using the full backlight. With the backlight off, the battery will last up to 17 hours of continuous use; that's about three hours longer than the usual rating of about 14 hours for a pair of AA alkaline batteries.
The eXplorist 400 model provides virtually unlimited memory expansion with the Secure Digital (SD) memory card slot (an SD card is about the size of a postage stamp); it's located inside the unit under the rechargeable Lithium Ion battery. The method for charging the battery is to attach the PC USB connection cable to the GPS unit and then plug either the AC adapter or DC car charger into the cable; proper orientation of the PC cable to the back of the unit is not covered in the paper Basic User Manual that comes in the box, but it is in the Reference Manual that's on the installation CD. Included software comes with a MapSend Manager and Conversion program that is only compatible with Windows 2000 and above so you can use MapSend, Magellan's topographic and street mapping/routing software that pre-dates the eXplorist series. It comes on CD-ROM that runs on your PC, and you need the above noted utilities to upload maps to your GPS.
The unit is a lot of fun to use while the action buttons, menus and display are fairly intuitive; there's a lot to cover regarding usage so you will want to spend some time experimenting with it before venturing too far afield. Once you do, however, you will find it to be accurate and confidence inspiring. While the packaging says the unit is waterproof to IPX7 rating (a European test specification), it only covers accidental immersion in just over three feet of water for about thirty minutes. The battery compartment lid doesn't look watertight enough to meet this specification even though there's a gasket under the lid around the opening for the battery/SD memory slot, so just be careful with it around water.
GPS units generally have a fairly high learning curve, and the more you want to do with them the more complicated they become. Magellan models have a quality feel to them, but the documentation and website you need to use leaves something to be desired because they have a lot of gaps.
As always, appreciate the beauty of life in the outdoors while staying safe!