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Reviews > Navigation and Map Gear > GPS > Magellan SporTrak Color 2003 > Rebecca Sowards-Emmerd > Field Report
You
have brains in your head. Over the past two
months, the Magellan SporTrak Color GPS receiver (GPSr) and I have become
well acquainted. It has introduced me to the new and enjoyable hobby of geocaching, it
has led me to the top of a peak with breathtaking views of the Lake Tahoe region, it has
helped me route-find on unmarked trails through the snow, and it has boosted my confidence
in my ability to navigate in the backcountry. For such a small item a
GPS receiver is remarkably complex to write about. I have
chosen to break this report down into several sections, hopefully
presenting the information in an easy to understand outline. First I
outline the features found on the Magellan SporTrak Color GPS receiver,
then I discuss the accessories that I have found to be important for my
personal use. Next I have included a section of my general
observations about the SporTrak Color, and then I have a couple of
sections giving specific examples of the receiver's use while geocaching
and route finding. Features At the heart
of the SporTrak Color are nine different navigation screens that can
be customized to meet the user's needs. Because of the flexibility
provided by the ability to customize the screens I have found that I do
not use all nine, preferring certain screens over others. In
addition to the nine navigation screens there are endless underlying menus
and functions. When the unit is turned
on three different copyright and warning screens appear. In
order to get to the informational navigation screens I must press the
enter key several times to cycle through the warning screens. It is
rather annoying to have to do this each and every time I turn on the unit,
but it has become second nature at this point. Once cycled through
these initial screens the unit shows the last navigational screen I had it
on before it was turned off. In order to cycle through the nine
screens I can press the Navigation or Escape buttons - the Escape button
cancels the last action, or cycles through the Navigation screens in
reverse order. Since I usually flip between two screens (the
satellite screen and the map) I like this reverse order feature. It
means I do not have to cycle back through all nine screens to go back
and forth between the two. The Nine
Navigation Screens Satellite
Status Also on the Satellite
Status Screen is a battery life indicator. With the first set of
alkaline batteries that came with the GPSr I noticed the battery life
indicator jumped around a lot, not giving me a consistent battery life
reading. When that battery set was used up I switched to
rechargeable NiMH batteries and make sure to recharge them if the battery
life indicator drops below 1/3. Map
Screen There is also a Cursor
Mode for the map. When I switch to cursor mode (by pressing one of
the arrows) the position of the cursor is labeled. The cursor
can be moved with the arrows. If there is a formal name for the
location it will also be labeled (for example, a lake or a
park). Compass
Screen Large Data
Screen Position
Screens Road
Screen Data
Screen Speedometer
Screen Other
Features Behind these nine
screens there is a wealth of functionality. To describe everything
here would be the equivalent of writing a book, so I won't even try!
For each screen a press of the menu button will bring up several options,
both specific to the navigation screen and general to the unit. I
can access a database of waypoints, saved routes and tracks, vertical
profiles, weather information using the built in barometer, tide
information, help files, and more. The two primary
functions of the SporTrak Color are accessible by their own buttons - Mark
and GoTo. The Mark button allows me to input waypoints, and the GoTo
button allows me to pick a destination and go there. Mark will
record a current location if I have a lock, or I can choose to input my
own manually. GoTo provides a single leg "as the crow flies"
direction to any destination chosen from the SporTrak's memory.
Unfortunately, GoTos are not saved when the unit is turned off. I
have to set a new GoTo every time I turn it on. Multileg routes are
also available by adding together several GoTos together.
The SporTrak Color
tracks while it is on, and these tracks can be saved to routes.
These last two functions are very useful when incorporated with the
MapSend Topo software (discussed below). Belt Clip Carrying Case It is easy to operate
the buttons through the vinyl window, although it makes it a little more
difficult to operate the buttons when I am wearing gloves. The vinyl
window also creates more glare than the screen alone so on bright days it
can be difficult to see the screen at some angles. When the unit
gets wet, either by rain or snow, the inside of the vinyl window can fog
up, also making it difficult to see the screen. Data
Cable I really
dislike the data cable. On one end is a perfectly normal and
harmless serial connector. I usually keep this plugged into my
otherwise lonely and unused laptop serial port. The other end is
where I have issues. There are four spring-loaded contact points on
the cable that touch four metal discs on the back of the receiver for data
transfer. In order to secure the contact points to the discs there
is a small 'captive screw' that screws into a tiny hole in the middle of
the four metal discs, directly above the battery compartment.
Getting this screw into the hole and secured is like performing
microscopic surgery. I can never get it to catch the first time I
try, and it usually takes several tries and
several annoyed grunts in order for it to attach. I
have no proof that the grunting helps, but it does relieve some stress on
my part. Every time I attach it I can't help but think there is a
better way for Magellan to design this connector, but at the same time I
think I can see why it is the way it is. The four discs and screw
hole are perfectly flush against the back of the unit. It looks like
this is a way to keep the unit waterproof and rugged - no ports for dirt
or water to get in, and no parts sticking out to break. If this was
a compromise in order to keep the SporTrak Color waterproof, I'm willing
to accept it. In the above picture it
is difficult to see the details of the connector, but the four metal discs
and screw hole are obvious on the back of the GPS. This picture also
shows the battery compartment access panel. MapSend
Topo in the US Software The software itself is
complex enough to warrant its own review so I won't go into too many
details in this report. What I wish to cover is the basic operation
of uploading and downloading waypoints and maps to the GPS receiver.
Uploading maps to the
receiver is a simple process. Once I open up the software I zoom
into the region I wish to upload. I use my mouse to draw a box
around the region, click, and a popup box asks me for a name. I give
it a name and save it. Then, in order to upload the map to the
receiver I select the checkbox next to the name I gave it and click the
transfer button. The unit has to be turned on and connected to
the computer with the data cable in order to receive maps. A pop up
box informs me of how much memory I have available on the receiver and how
much memory the map I want to upload uses. I can then continue the
transfer or cancel it. If I continue, the map region uploads to the
unit. When the
topo map is uploaded, I can easily see where I am in
relation to the terrain around me. In the backcountry this is
exactly the information I need, and often looking at my position on the
GPSr topo map is enough information to get me where I need to
be. It is also nice to be able to look at one thing and get my
position, instead of taking a reading from the GPSr and comparing it to a
printed topo map. Having a color 240 x
160 pixel screen on the SporTrak Color makes me want to put as much
information on that screen as possible - no reason to waste it with
empty blank space in the backcountry! Holding and using the
GPSr is easy with only one hand. I generally hold the SporTrak Color
in my right hand while in use (I am right handed). The feeling is hard to
describe in words, but the unit has a nice natural balance in my
hand. I can operate the buttons with my thumb and the position feels
very natural, kind of like dialing a phone. Unfortunately the arrow
buttons are small enough that I can't operate them easily this way with
gloves on. With gloves I have to use my left hand to directly
'punch' the button I am trying to press.
The SporTrak Color picks
up satellites extremely fast. It takes seconds rather than minutes
to lock on and give me a position, even in dense redwood forest or steep
mountainous terrain. I have found that it takes a little longer when
in a moving vehicle, but when I am outdoors and it counts I have never had
a problem locking on almost immediately. Once locked on the GPSr
seems to hold on to the signal for dear life and never lets go. The claims of
waterproofness seem to be accurate as I have had the unit out in the rain
and snow several times with no adverse effects. And yes, it has been
dropped in the snow more times than I care to admit! As I mentioned in my
Initial Report, the backlight is turned on by default when the unit is
turned on. I set it on the shortest turn-off time, which is 30
seconds from the last button-push. There was no 'no backlight'
setting to choose. I looked for one for a while, but never found
it. I'm surprised there was no 'no backlight' option. Turning
the backlight off manually every time the unit is turned on is an
annoyance I chose to not deal with, letting the light turn itself
off. Therefore the estimated battery life of 14 hours is
inaccurate. With the backlight on all of the time Magellan says the
battery life will be cut in half, and I estimate I get about 10 hours of
usable time on one battery charge. Since the backlight turns off 30
seconds after the last button push at least it is not sucking batteries
when I have it on and tracking. Because I use Energizer Rechargeable
NiMH batteries and my trips are usually 1-2 days in length, this hasn't
been quite the pain I had originally expected. Before heading out
for a day hike or weekend trip I pop the batteries in the hour charger and
I'm ready to go. This also means I usually do not drain the
batteries all the way - I just make sure they are fully charged when I
plan on using the GPSr. Geocaching When I first received
the SporTrak Color GPS receiver I decided that finding some caches would
be a good way to learn my way around the GPS unit. I should have
known that it would be addicting and now I have found over 20
caches. I have tried to find some out of the way caches to practice
route finding with the SporTrak Color as well as see how accurate a signal
I can get in different conditions. In the beginning I
searched for caches that had been found many times and had the coordinates
confirmed. My first cache hunt was for a cache hidden in a corner of
a local city park. Because of its easily accessible location it had
been found by hundreds of people over the past few years. Feeling
confident in the coordinates I headed out with my brand new SporTrak Color
GPSr. I entered the coordinates for the cache and hit the GoTo
button. From my parking spot I was less than 0.2 miles (0.3
km) from the cache, so I turned to the compass screen and followed my
bearing to where the cache was. Once I had zeroed in within about 30
ft (9 m) of the location I switched to the map screen.
The lower right corner told me how far I was from the cache - 23 ft(7 m) -
and the map showed my location and the path to the coordinates. I
headed in the direction that the map arrow pointed me and watched the
numbers count down, 20, 17, 15, 11. At 11 ft (3.4 m) I was in front
of two trees. I chose the one to my left and took a step.
10. Another step. 9. Now I was under the tree
canopy. I walked up to the trunk of the tree and saw the distance to
the coordinates was at 3 ft (0.9 m). In front of me, at waist level,
was an ammo box where the tree trunk branched. I set the GPSr on top
of the ammo box and it dropped to 2 ft (0.6 m). Close! First
of all, the cache coordinates given by the owner were quite accurate (and
had been confirmed several times). Secondly, I was impressed to get
a reading of 2 ft while under a tree. For the next two months
I continued caching and chose to look for caches in tricky locations or
under heavy tree cover. I spent a day in the redwood forests of the
west Santa Cruz mountains searching for caches under enormous trees.
The unit was able to quickly lock on to satellites even when under the
damp canopy of the coastal redwoods, and was still able to point me
to caches within <10 feet (3 m). I have found
that once I get within 20 ft (6 m) or so of a cache it is best
if I circle around and center in on a location. When
under tree cover the distance to the cache will bounce
around within ~10 ft (3 m) as the signal varies. There is less
variation when I am out in the open, such as in the grassy foothills or
above the treeline in the mountains. I passed a couple on
the trail while heading back from these caches, and they saw that I had a
GPSr in my hand. They thought I was silly to try and use a GPS
receiver under such tree cover - didn't I know it
would be impossible to lock on? Navigating to a cache
can be done in several ways using the nine navigation screens, but I
prefer to use the map screen. I upload the cache's waypoint and the
topo map of the area to the SporTrak, and then head out to the general
location of the cache. I'll hike toward the location, tracking my
progress on the map. The waypoint of the cache is labeled on the
map screen, so as I get close to it I will enter a GoTo. Then
I will have some more specific data such as distance, bearing, and heading
to the cache location. As I zero in on the location I will zoom down
to the 100 ft (32 m) scale on the map. I will then circle the
waypoint, watching the GPSr track my progress on the map, and center in on
the cache location. I can also use the compass or other data screens, but the visual
representation of the location on a topo map is by far the easiest for me
to follow. Winter Route
Finding The start of the
hike was very simple and required no route analysis. I turned
the SporTrak on at the parking area and bookmarked the truck's
location. Then we simply followed the unplowed road for half a
mile until reaching the base of Lower Echo Lake. From there,
it was another mile across the lake, a quick jump across a short
isthmus to the next lake, and then across the next lake, Upper Echo.
From the top of Upper Echo Lake we caught the ridge and followed it up to
the peak. Before the hike I had
created a route to follow up the peak using the MapSend software, making
sure it went up the correct ridge. That route is shown on the above
map. This route was then uploaded to the GPSr along with the topo
map. On the trail I kept the GPSr turned on and set to the Map
Screen. The black arrow indicated my position and the direction in
which I was headed. Basically, as I hiked I made sure that I traced
the route already uploaded to the unit. It was extremely
straightforward - I didn't even have to check a compass, use a GoTo route,
or use headings and bearings. It was extremely convenient to be
holding what was basically a map with my exact location pinpointed on
it. There was no guessing based on compass readings and surroundings
- it was all right there in front of me. On the peak I happily
enjoyed the views and took a waypoint my location from the
highest rock. Not once did the SporTrak lose a satellite signal,
even during the brief time spent in the trees while heading up the
ridge. I do not know if the
error is in the MapSend software, the GPS software, or the satellites just
had a bad day. Luckily, just last weekend I was back at the same
trailhead parking area. I took another waypoint with the truck
parked within a spot or two of where it had been parked before. This
time when I upload the waypoint I see that it is at the true
location, CAR2. Why was it off so much on that first
day? I believe that the mapping software is somehow
'off'. Notice that the triangle marking the Echo Peak summit (coded
in the software) is also not on the actual summit of Echo Peak.
In fact, it is offset even farther than my recorded waypoint.
Many locations are labeled with a similar offset. Forest
Lake - Lassen National Park
In only two months I
have become very comfortable with the operation of the basics of this GPS
receiver, and in the remaining four months of this test period I intend to
explore the multitude of remaining features. I have not yet played
with the barometer or tide features, nor have I used the base maps to
navigate on roads. It has been a pleasure to test the Magellan
SporTrak Color GPS receiver, and I look forward to continuing the
adventure during the long term test period. Read more reviews of Magellan gear Read more gear reviews by Rebecca Sowards-Emmerd Reviews > Navigation and Map Gear > GPS > Magellan SporTrak Color 2003 > Rebecca Sowards-Emmerd > Field Report | |||||||||||||||
The carrying case, though not necessary, is a somewhat useful
item. It is a neoprene pocket with a clear vinyl window and plastic
360 degree belt clip. The pocket opens at the top to insert the GPSr
and fastens with a small Velcro patch. There is a hole in the
bottom about the size of a US quarter. Presumably this is for
battery compartment access on the other SporTrak units (the carrying case
is generic to the SporTrak line), but does not expose the battery
compartment on the Color specifically. The GPSr must be removed from
the case in order to do data transfer or change the batteries. I
have carried the SporTrak Color exclusively with the carrying case and
neither the receiver or the carrying case show any signs of wear and tear
(even after being accidentally dropped several times onto many surfaces,
including pavement. I did not intentionally drop the unit to test
this - I'm just a klutz).
I don't use the carrying case for additional protection from the
elements and accidental drops. I feel that the unit has proven
itself rugged and waterproof enough to survive my unintentional tossing
around and dropping in the snow that it is not necessary. However, I
very much enjoy being able to clip the SporTrak Color to my belt, pack
straps, or pockets with the belt clip. It means that while I am
hiking I have the unit easily accessible without having to carry it in my
hand all of the time. 
When I returned home from this trip I
decided to upload the two waypoints I had taken (the parking area and
the summit) to the MapSend software. I was quite surprised when I
noticed how off the waypoints were from my real locations. Notice
waypoint CAR1 on the map to the left and ECHO on the map to the
right. These are the points I recorded when I was there.
Then, look for waypoint CAR2 and RECH. I manually added
these two waypoints to the places on the map that CAR1 and
ECHO should be. The CAR1 waypoint is very off,
and has our truck parked off of what is actually a granite cliff!
The ECHO waypoint is actually down the steep side of the peak -
a place I never was. Upon examining the map on the GPSr, which I
hadn't done carefully after taking the waypoints, I see the same
offset. The distance between CAR1 and CAR2 is 0.67 miles (1 km), and
between RECH and ECHO it is 0.13 miles (.2 km)!