Industry leader, Magellan, offers an impressive contender in the race to create the perfect global positioning device. Considered the ultimate in a color GPS, this unit has all the bells and whistles that a serious navigator wants.
Although this handheld unit is similar to the Sportrak Pro, the case has been redesigned and the buttons streamlined. The addition of new features, such an electronic compass and barometer, make this GPS receiver slightly heavier than the previous model, yet it is still a very light 6.1 oz.
The case is rugged and waterproof, able to handle any travel conditions. Case dimensions are 5.6 x 2.2 x 1.2 inches, making it easy to stow away in most pockets or bags.
The SporTrak GPS uses a quadifiler helix antenna to track up to 12 GPS satellites simultaneously. Supported by WAAS, the SporTrak achieves accuracy to within 3 meters, even in difficult terrain or crowded cities. You’ll be able to store up to 20 routes, 500 waypoints, and 2,000 trackpoints.
The 9 customizable graphic navigation displays show you the map, compass, speedometer, and readouts of heading, bearing, speed, direction, ETA, etc.
Plenty of Maps & Space
This unit features an impressive 10 MB built-in map of North America, including a database of 11,000 world cities. U.K. users will find similar map and data content covering Europe. You can upload thousands of additional points of interest, using software such as Magellan’s MapSend Steets and Destinations, Topo USA, or Datasend. Naturally, a data cable comes with the unit for uploading these maps and any firmware upgrades offered by Magellan. Additional accessories are available at Magellan’s web site and at retail outlets carrying GPS products.Although at $499.99, the SporTrak Color may appear expensive, the fact that so many great features are packed into this portable color handheld unit makes it a great value.
The Pros
- Extra features - Probably the best features of this unit are the electronic compass and barometer. The compass, in particular, is by far the best in any handheld unit. Both are well-designed and easy to use.
- Display clarity - The full color (240 x 160 pixel) display screen on this unit is remarkably clear and bright.
- Maps - The base map for this unit is very good, including useful marine information.
- Battery life - The Sportrak uses 2 AA batteries and can usually get 14 hours of operation.
The Cons
- Display clarity - Though this unit does have a bright and clear display for most settings, when you’re in bright sunlight conditions, it can be difficult to read, requiring the user to adjust the viewing angle. The screen is also prone to scratching.
- Slow operation - On occasion, database searching can be slow.
- Memory - The memory is limited in this unit and no expansion is available.
- Antenna - No external antenna can be added to this unit.
- Battery life - Though 14 hours of operation can be obtained from 2 batteries, this amount reduces considerably if you’re using the backlighting a lot.
Using the Magellan Sportrak Color: Some Basic Facts
The Magellan Sportrak Color has a similar operating system to the Meridian Platinum; both the primary and secondary coordinates can be toggled for viewing and the navigation screens can be selected to display or not - depending on your needs.Like all Magellan receivers, a very informative User’s Manual is available for download as a PDF. You can find help for any questions you may have about the unit’s operation in this manual and many of the main operations are explain in help files found in the unit itself.
As mentioned earlier, the state-of-the-art special features make this unit stand out from the crowd and many online reviews will highlight these in detail. Here, I’ll mention just the key selling points of each.
The 3-axis compass retains accuracy with any tilt angle, unlike that of its chief competitor. The Sportrak Color is like having a portable weather station because it gives both barometer and temperature readings. The weather data are stored, so you can call up the high and low barometer readings for the last 48 hours.
One other thing: This unit is compatible with a wide range of software, not just the products produced by Magellen.
In short, considering the amazing accuracy, great selection of maps, and extremely helpful new features, the Sportrak Color is worth every cent you pay for it. You simply can’t go wrong with this purchase.
About the Author
Janette is a hobbyist writer who enjoys using her GPS devices and educating people about GPS maps & software, Magellan GPS receivers, and everything GPS!