Manufacturer | Garmin | Magellan |
Models Available and Prices |
etrex 10 sells for approximately $105 etrex 20 sells for approximately $169 etrex 30 sells for approximately $249 |
eXplorist 110 sells for approximately $115 eXplorist 210 sells for approximately $129 eXplorist 310 sells for approximately $149 eXplorist 510 sells for approximately $179 eXplorist 610 sells for approximately $249 eXplorist 710 sells for approximately $359 |
Model Purchased and Tested |
etrex 30 etrex - cost $249 Garmin's Most Expensive GPS Receiver It does have a slot for a microSD memory card |
eXplorist 310 - cost $149 Magellan's Mid-Priced GPS Receiver It does not have a slot for a mircoSD memory card |
Memory | 1.7 GB | 2.0 GB |
Screen Size | 2.2 inch color | 2.2 inch color |
Batteries Required |
2 AA Batteries - May Use Alkaline, Lithium, or Rechargeable Batteries |
2 AA Batteries - May Use Alkaline, Lithium, or Rechargeable Batteries |
Customer Service |
Outstanding | Very Poor |
Product Quality |
Marginal | Outstanding |
Ergonomic Design |
Poor - It can be held comfortably in one hand, such as the left hand. If you only need to access the joystick control with your right hand then it is easy to do and your right hand does not block the display. However, if you are left handed and you are holding the unit in your right hand then your left hand will partially cover the display. The two zoom buttons are on the top left side of the unit and you have to rotate the unit in your hand to push either zoom button. The menu button is below the zoom buttons and it has the same shortcomings as the zoom buttons. The back button is on the top right of the unit and you have to rotate the unit in your hand so you can access the back button. |
Superior - It can be held very comfortably in either the left hand or the right hand. Then the index finger on the other hand can easily access the 4 buttons and the joystick on the bottom of the unit below the display screen. Since the controls are below the display screen you can still clearly see the display screen on the top of the unit as you manipulate any of the four buttons or the joystick. You do not have to rotate the unit in your hand to access any of the buttons or the joystick. This unit was ergonomically designed so that a left-handed or a right-handed person could easily use the unit and the person could clearly see what is happening on the display screen when any of the four buttons are activated, or when the joystick is used. |
Initial Calibration |
3 Manual Sequences - Requires 3 different calibration sequences while you rotate the unit in your hand. |
Self-Calibrating - When you first install the batteries and turn the unit on, it takes the unit several minutes to automatically calibrate its position in relation to several space satellites. |
Installed Map |
Low Quality United States Map - Sold and shipped with a low quality map of the United States highway system already installed in the unit. The map had all the major highways and interstates and most of the major secondary roads. But it did not have any of the minor secondary roads or other smaller roads, such as dirt or gravel roads. In other words, it shows the type of detail you would see on a map of an entire state and nothing more. The dirt road that I live on was not on the map. The paved roads near my home were not on the map. The forest roads in a nearby major national forest were not on the map. |
Remarkably Accurate World Map - Sold and shipped with a World Map already installed in the unit. When you first turn it on it automatically finds exactly where you are located on the world map in just a few minutes. The United States Edition of the World Map includes all the roads in the United States, Canada, Western Europe, and Australia. It also includes all the major roads throughout the rest of the world. The installed world map shows all the primary roads and interstates in the United States, plus all the secondary roads, and all the other minor roads including forest roads that are open to the public. I was able to verify the accuracy of all the minor roads in my area because I have lived here for more than ten years and there were no map errors in the area in which I live. There are only two houses on the dirt road that I live on, but my dirt road was clearly visible on the map and my dirt road was accurately labeled. |
Optional Other Maps |
Average Quality - The 100K map of the United States did not meet my expectations. It had several errors related to the roads in the area where I live. After I installed the map memory card, the Garmin receiver would not let me to look at the original preloaded U.S. map. I had to manually remove the map memory card before the Garmin receiver would allow me access to the preloaded United States map that was still in its memory. |
Extraordinary Quality - The 24K map of the southeast United States is outstanding. It showed elevations and forest trails and every stream and creek in my area. It does not show all the tiny 10 inch wide side springs that lead to a spring head but it does show the streams that are at least 2 feet wide. The Magellan receiver allows you to switch back and forth between the original preloaded World Map and the local area map by simply selecting the map you wish to view. |
Map Details |
The roads are shown in gray. All water is shown in blue. The ground is beige. As you zoom out the map details merge together and they are hard to interpret. |
The roads are shown in white. All water is shown in light blue. The ground is light green. As you zoom out the map details adjust to each view and they are easy to recognize. |
Map Coordinates |
The coordinates are not shown anywhere in the display when you stop moving the pointer. I could not get the coordinates to display on the screen when the map was being displayed. | The map coordinates are automatically shown on the map screen when you stop moving the pointer. When you press straight down on the joystick the coordinates disappear so you can see all the details on the map. |
Map Position Marker |
Unacceptable Quality - On the unit I purchased the position marker appears approximately 800 feet west of my true position. This means I have to mentally estimate approximately where I am whenever I look at the display. This is not how a unit like this should work. |
Extraordinary Quality - When you are on a two lane road the marker appears at your exact location on the same side of the road that you are traveling. When you are at the intersection of two roads the marker appears at your exact location at the intersection of the two roads. |
On/Off Button |
The on/off button protrudes out the left side of the unit and it could be accidentally activated unintentionally. The on/off button is also the display brightness button. | The on/off button is recessed in the top of the unit and it cannot be accidentally activated. Neither the package instructions nor the online manual tell you where the On/Off button is. The On/Off button is a small round button that is mounted flush on the top right of the unit. If you look carefully you will find it. If you simply look for a button that is protruding, or something of a distinctive color, then you probably won't see it. Push the button and hold it in for a few seconds and the unit will turn on. Turn the unit off by holding the same button in for a few seconds. |
Button Labels |
The buttons are identified on the face of the unit above the location of the button. The button name is engraved in very small lower case letters into the surface of the unit and the color of the engraving is the same as the surrounding unit. Therefore you must look very carefully at the face of the unit above each button to determine what that button is. After you have used the unit for a long time you would not need to read the button labels but when you first start using the unit this increases the time it takes to learn how to operate the unit. | All the buttons are always visible on the front of the unit directly below the display screen. The function of each button is clearly printed in white on the surface of the button in capital letters that are easy to see and read. This makes it very easy to learn how to operate the unit. |
Zoom Buttons |
The two zoom buttons are on the top left side of the unit and you have to adjust the unit in your hand to use your left thumb to push the buttons and this generally involves rotating the unit sideways so you can't see the display while you are pushing the buttons. | The two zoom buttons are below the display screen and you can watch the details change on the display screen when you push either of the two zoom buttons. |
Menu Button |
The menu button is below the zoom buttons and you have to rotate the unit in your hand to press the menu button. | The menu button is below the display screen and you can easily read the information on the display screen each time you press the menu button. |
Back Button |
The back button is on the top right of the unit and you have to shift the unit in your left hand to use your left index finger to activate the button or you have to rotate the unit in your left hand so your right index finger can access the button. | The back button is below the display screen and you can easily read the information on the display screen each time you press the back button. |
Joystick Controller |
The joystick is too sensitive. When I did my very best to push straight down on the joystick to select a function, about half the time the joystick would barely contact the side of the slot and the unit would switch functions instead of selecting the function I desired. Sometimes I had to scroll back to the function I wanted several times before the unit would recognize that I was pushing straight down on the joystick so I could access that function. |
The joystick allows you to easily highlight any function you desire and when you press straight down on the joystick the unit activates that function the way it should. |