Magellan eXplorist TRX7 - Anyone have experience with it yet?

[superbuickguy]

what issue? that you're being a troll? a question was asked about why and an answer was given. Exception was taken by you and apparently you thought you were being attacked. As was clearly stated before, that wasn't the intent. Please do take this opportunity to continue to prove you're a tool.

 

[texascrane]

what issue? that you're being a troll? a question was asked about why and an answer was given. Exception was taken by you and apparently you thought you were being attacked. As was clearly stated before, that wasn't the intent. Please do take this opportunity to continue to prove you're a tool.

Don't get so bent out of shape that you made ridiculous assertions and got called out on them.

 

[andrewh]

Hema NEEEDS to bring their HN7 device states side and with NA maps. I would pay 600 for a street and offroad all in one unit.

 

[Butter]

Bump to ask if anyone has bought or ordered one. Mostly interested if someone has hands-on usage with it.
Saw it on Amazon so guess I need to start researching.
If I already had Gaia or something, I might not care, but for a possible all-in-one with social trail sharing, I'm at least curious.
Thanks.

 

[VinceAtReal4x4's]

It looks awesome but I'm not interested in a $600 dedicated device. I just struggle with the reasoning behind releasing a dedicated device that doesn't do anything that can't already be done with a smartphone or tablet. Now, if they released an android and iphone app for say $30 a year that did all of that? I'd buy it in a heartbeat. And it would probably be more profitable for them as well.

That's funny because I question anyone using a phone to do this with. I instinctively roll my eyes when I see some poser SUV with a big tablet or phone mounted to the dash with no real GPS. No phone or application will ever come close to what a real GPS can do. Not to mention having a mounted device is SO much easier and reliable to use in every way. I was just with a friend who thinks this way and he uses his new iPhone for all GPS needs and I swear he cusses at the top of his lungs an average of once every few hours as he gets lost, it drops out, screws up in some new, amazing way, etc.. Meanwhile I have a ton of features, maps, topo's, tons of other navigation info, 12v powered or battery, waterproof, etc etc, etc.. instead of worrying about a phone cable, having to take it with me and change screens, etc etc etc.

Get a GPS and you will quickly see how stupid the phone thing really is.

Anyway, I'm all for them trying to compete but nothing comes close to the Montana 650T or 680 overall.

 

[shane4x4]

So everyone who wants to explore should drop the $500+ on a stand alone device? I own 5 different Garmin devices and while they're good for on-road, and topo maps can be purchased (or created if you're technially savvy), I still prefer a 7" tablet + a decent app for less than 1/3 the price. The tablet gives me a bigger screen, the same reception, and more map choices. The ONLY issue is that I have to pre-download maps for the area I want to travel in, but a good app includes that option as part of the low (usually less than $20) price tag.

I've been using nav devices for OHV exploration for years, and completely disagree that stand-alone units are better 'for everyone'. Of course people have their preferences, but using a phone or tablet is definitely not....stupid.

=)

That's funny because I question anyone using a phone to do this with. I instinctively roll my eyes when I see some poser SUV with a big tablet or phone mounted to the dash with no real GPS. No phone or application will ever come close to what a real GPS can do. Not to mention having a mounted device is SO much easier and reliable to use in every way. I was just with a friend who thinks this way and he uses his new iPhone for all GPS needs and I swear he cusses at the top of his lungs an average of once every few hours as he gets lost, it drops out, screws up in some new, amazing way, etc.. Meanwhile I have a ton of features, maps, topo's, tons of other navigation info, 12v powered or battery, waterproof, etc etc, etc.. instead of worrying about a phone cable, having to take it with me and change screens, etc etc etc.

Get a GPS and you will quickly see how stupid the phone thing really is.

Anyway, I'm all for them trying to compete but nothing comes close to the Montana 650T or 680 overall.

 

[texascrane]

http://www.magellangps.com/Outdoor-Navigation/Magellan-eXplorist-TRX-App-Off-road-GPS-Navigation

Just downloaded and installed. Quick download from Google Play and then a 96.6mb download once I opened up the app. From what I can tell, it looks to be the app version of the TRX7.

They're doing a "Pioneer Days Promotion" for their first users. That mostly seems to mean they're not charging for the app right now. I've played around with it a little bit and I think it looks nice. I like that it shows POIs like gas stations, auto repair, restaurants, and medical on the maps.

It does appear that you need to go in and tell it to manually save a map area if you want offline access to it. You can do this from the map screen or you can add a trail to you "wish list" and it will do it automatically. You can upload gpx files through their web interface on http://www.mytrxjournal.com/.

 

[andrewh]

Nice find. Its worth noting however that most cell phones GPS actually need tower triangulation to work. There are very few models with dedicated GPS modules. Interesting to see how this performs.

-Andrew

 

[texascrane]

Nice find. Its worth noting however that most cell phones GPS actually need tower triangulation to work. There are very few models with dedicated GPS modules. Interesting to see how this performs.

-Andrew

Really? That has not been my experience. I regularly use GPS on my Android phone and tablet without a cell connection. The only devices that I've heard of these days that don't have a GPS chip in them are some wi-fi only tablets. The fact that most phones can augment their GPS with tower triangulation doesn't mean they will only work with a cell connection.

 

[andrewh]

Really? That has not been my experience. I regularly use GPS on my Android phone and tablet without a cell connection. The only devices that I've heard of these days that don't have a GPS chip in them are some wi-fi only tablets. The fact that most phones can augment their GPS with tower triangulation doesn't mean they will only work with a cell connection.

Easiest way to find out is to turn off wifi and cell data, if you cant get a gps signal, then you have a-gps. Also all gps modules have to spec out if they are GLONAS or just GPS or both. If you dont find this verbiage on the specs, its a-gps, probably ms assist or hybrid

A-GPS has four "options" or levels depending on hardware. What you want is standalone mode, no dependency on data network at all if it cant find one.

Bluetooth gps modules are common with both tablets and cells.

 

[texascrane]

Easiest way to find out is to turn off wifi and cell data, if you cant get a gps signal, then you have a-gps. Also all gps modules have to spec out if they are GLONAS or just GPS or both. If you dont find this verbiage on the specs, its a-gps, probably ms assist or hybrid

A-GPS has four "options" or levels depending on hardware. What you want is standalone mode, no dependency on data network at all if it cant find one.

Bluetooth gps modules are common with both tablets and cells.

I understand what the different modes of A-GPS are. Every phone these days has A-GPS, which by definition means they have a GPS chip. A-GPS is great. It's why you get a GPS lock on your phone instantly vs waiting around for 10 minutes. There were some phones years ago that said they had A-GPS when really what they had was some kind of cell triangulation with no GPS chip in the phone.

What I'm saying is that I haven't personally encountered a smartphone or tablet (except for wi-fi only ones) in years that doesn't have a GPS chip that works in standalone mode. As far as I know, the GPS in every iPhone (and I think cell-connected iPad too) will function standalone. Same goes for everything I've used from Samsung and Motorola. Even my cheapo LG tablet has standalone GPS.

I'm genuinely curious what phones and tablets (excluding wi-fi only) people have that won't use the GPS in "standalone" mode.

 

[andrewh]

I understand what the different modes of A-GPS are. Every phone these days has A-GPS, which by definition means they have a GPS chip. A-GPS is great. It's why you get a GPS lock on your phone instantly vs waiting around for 10 minutes. There were some phones years ago that said they had A-GPS when really what they had was some kind of cell triangulation with no GPS chip in the phone.

What I'm saying is that I haven't personally encountered a smartphone or tablet (except for wi-fi only ones) in years that doesn't have a GPS chip that works in standalone mode. As far as I know, the GPS in every iPhone (and I think cell-connected iPad too) will function standalone. Same goes for everything I've used from Samsung and Motorola. Even my cheapo LG tablet has standalone GPS.

I'm genuinely curious what phones and tablets (excluding wi-fi only) people have that won't use the GPS in "standalone" mode.

Maybe at this point, last i was looking to replace my garmin gps III plus, tablets and phones did not provide adequate off grid GPS

 

[Overlandchef]

Your tablet is not iP67 rated.

You're right, mine is IP68.
iPad in a lifeproof case, vastly superior to this Magellan gps. With a phone or tablet, you are not locked into one mapping software. What do you do with this Magellan when you want to visit Africa or South America?

The days of dedicated GPS units for 4x4s are over when you have so much power in a phone or tablet IMHO.

 

[dlh62c]

The days of dedicated GPS units for 4x4s are over when you have so much power in a phone or tablet IMHO.

Can't beat a device that shows you where your at, where your going and if you have tracking turned on and displayed, where you've been, all at the same time.

 

[Overlandchef]

Can't beat a device that shows you where your at, where your going and if you have tracking turned on and displayed, where you've been, all at the same time.

What type of device are you suggesting then?