- Average user rating: 2.5 stars out of 56 reviews Back to product review
- My rating: 0 stars
Full user review
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17 out of 20 people found this review helpful
1.5 stars
"Terrible! Returned it after 2 days"
Pros: Bright screen, Accurate
Cons: Touch screen works intermitantly, Poor PC interface
Summary: Although this thing was supposed to work right out of the box, that is not quite the case. The only way to activate the GPS is to input a route or a destination. You can't display your GPS position on a map unless you do this. The map view is aerial view only. My Palm OS GPS had FAR more flexibility and function for 1/3rd the price. The touch screen works when it feels like it. The directional scroll pad on the keypad worked intermittantly as well. The detailed map of the Midatlantic region omitted Philadelphia as a named city. You have to get authorization from the Magellan website to use an SD card if it's not made by Magellan and some SD cards don't work at all. I uploaded a map created with the Magellan PC software to the SD card, but when I tried to use it on the Roadmate it said the map wasn't authorized. There is nothing in the manual about authorizing maps.
- 6 replies to this review
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Right from the start this thing was trouble.
First I had to send it back because it developed a high pitch whistle when the audio came on.
Second, it would get several destinations on the wrong side of the road. i.e. destionation on right, when it's actually on the left. Also it favored the car pool exits on the freeway. I drive alone most of the time.
Third, after puchasing several of thier pre-loaded cards, and having to switch them as we traveled from Atlanta to Dallas, I bought the contiguous U.S. card.
It's still putting stuff on the wrong side of the road.
If I ever get some extra cash, this thing is gone, and I'll try Garmin or Tom Tom. -
The Magellan 300 is my second GPS unit, compared to my first, this model is extremely user friendly powered the unit on and within minutes was able to have the unit follow me, I was amazed with the accuracy of this unit, and the turn by turn directions, not only does it beeps, you also receive an audible warning just before you have to turn and ample warning on the highway when approaching you exit point. The only negative is the lack of information, and the fact you must request authorization to upload maps to the SD card, bared none this is a great product.
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The device showed starting point out in California and i couldn't change it to Las Vegas. The device didn't talk to me, so i returned it to the store. Waste of money!
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This guy must be smoking dope or talking about something else. I've had mine for almost a year, with an SD card in it and have had no problems at all. It is true that in order to get directions you have to prepare a "route" on it. Duhhh... isn't that the way any gps is? If you just it the "map" button it'll just show up and follow you wherever you go. Like I said the only time you need to program it is when you want to program a destination.
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I am planning on buying a unit tomorrow and this opinion gave me reservations so I did further research. I found this opinion to be inaccurate on every fact I checked. I looked up the manual available from Magellan here: http://www.magellangps.com/assets/manuals/newprod/manual_MRM300_NA_EN.pdf
Opinion: "The only way to activate the GPS is to input a route or a destination. You can't display your GPS position on a map unless you do this."
Manual pg 124: The Map "screen can be accessed when you have no route by selecting the Map button on the Select Destination screen or by pressing the View or Cancel key
while viewing the Select Destination screen."
Opinion: "The map view is aerial view only."
The unit actually provides a "TruView" screen to show you from the driver's perspective what the next turn is (Manual p.124).
Opinion: "There is nothing in the manual about authorizing maps."
Pages 7-11 explain in detail and with pictures how to authorize an SD card through the internet or by calling their customer service number. I am not sure why this is necessary (the manual claims it is to prevent poorly made cards from damaging the system), but it doesn't seem to be very difficult.
Given the suspect nature of so many of these comments, I can not give creedence to any other points in the review. I did not find this review helpful. -
I like the flexibility and portability of the unit. When working it reminds me of Hertz's Neverlost. Input from the display is difficult- the screen is touchy. I have trouble finding street names that are common in my community. The SD map was way too big and not usable for the local/city trips that i want to set up. I have to set my trip up on my computer then take it to the car. Poor design. Price on ebay $360.00
Magellan RoadMate 300:
