MAGELLAN SPORTRAK TOPO GPS
GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM (GPS) RECEIVER
BY THALES NAVIGATION
magellan sportrak topo gps report review
MODEL # 980616-39 - TOPO MODEL AVAILABLE ONLY IN NORTH AMERICA

Long-Term Report - August 24, 2004

Navigation is about wayfinding, you can't treat it as separate because many other things run parallel with it. If you look at studies in wayfinding, everything from exhibit design to building the cathedrals, it's about creating a complete system. It's about looking at the whole. - Clement Mok

SPECIFICATIONS

The Magellan SporTrak Topo GPS unit (Model # 980616-39) is manufactured by: Thales Navigation.

WEB: www.thalesnavigation.com or www.magellangps.com

YEAR OF MANUFACTURE: 2003 (Date Code 4403 = Week Of November 5, 2003)
SOFTWARE: Rev. 5.00 Oct 3 2003 - BASEMAP: NA. Topo - 1.11 - Size: 113038288 bytes (110.39 MB)

LISTED WEIGHT:  6.1 oz (172.9 g)
TESTED WEIGHT: 6.1 oz (174 g)

A very detailed description and listing of specifications, as well as a Glossary of Terms, is provided in the Magellan SporTrak Topo Initial Report.

LONG-TERM TESTING - NOTES

FIELD TEST LOCATIONS

My Magellan SporTrak Topo GPS unit has seen a lot of use.  I've run at least 20 sets of batteries through it, and I have long since lost track of the amount of time I have run it on the car plug.  I have carried it through eight states (Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina) and collected over 7,000 miles (11,265 km) of telemetry using the unit.  I have used it for highway travel, trail walking, bushwhacking, mapmaking, boating, geocaching and to locate National Geodetic Survey Markers.  Weather and terrain was variable though a broad range of conditions, and specific conditions are referenced in the body of this report where appropriate.

OPENING NOTES

The basic operation was covered in the Initial Report, and advanced operation was covered in the Field Report.  I have done this rather exhaustively, and the reader might be relieved to know that this report focuses less on the technology and more on the usability of the unit.  I will reiterate something I said in the Field Report, and that is if I had to purchase a GPS unit for backpacking use tomorrow, I would likely purchase a Magellan SporTrak Topo.  The negative aspects of the unit are detailed for the sake of accuracy and honesty, but I have been very pleased with the unit overall and I would recommend it.

The unit has taken moderate abuse and continues to function without issue.  I have noticed that small cracks have begun to appear in the case at the screw points.  These cracks are very minor and don't seem to affect the waterproofness of the case.  Still, this is some cause for concern as early models of the SporTrak had problems with case cracks at the screw points.  These problems had been thought to have been resolved.  I intend to fill the cracks with superglue.

The case cracks are visible where the screw enters the case, as noted by the red arrow in the image to the right.  Of the six screws that hold the case together, cracks are evident only on two of the screw points.  So far, the integrity of the case has not been compromised.  These cracks have appeared gradually, and are not the result of any trauma to the unit.

DATA WEALTH & DATA HARMONY

In the Initial Report I talked about Data Harmony, Data Wealth, and Data Interface.  I posed the simple premise: "What is the purpose and function of a GPS unit? Simply stated, the purpose and function of a GPS unit is to provide the user with a position fix. A GPS unit is a servant that answers the question, "Where am I?" The evaluation of the SporTrak Topo, then, will be foremost an evaluation of how well the unit performs its basic function - location of position - under various conditions."

While I have already talked about this at some length in the other reports, I want to spend some time on a different aspect, and that is the human interface with the technology.  In other words, what's it good for?  What does all this Data Wealth do for a backpacker?  I intend to document all the uses I have put the SporTrak Topo to, and to elaborate on its usefulness in those contexts.

1. Fun.  I have to admit that the SporTrak has been a lot of fun.  Sometimes the information I get out of it is just plain useless, but it's fun.  One of the most fun things is that I can check how fast my wife is driving without leaning over to look at the speedometer...  Various other fun and enjoyable activities can be had with the SporTrak.  Geocaching, finding confluences, finding USGS survey markers, and GPS dancing are just a few examples.

2. Where am I?  This is the primary question that the SporTrak answers.  In open terrain, sometimes the answer to the question is obvious.  "I'm standing on the south slope of the mountain, overlooking a valley where I can see many landmarks."  That's all well and good, but that kind of observation isn't possible down here in the Cypress swamps where one bit of swamp looks much like another.  Landmarks aren't much use on moonless nights either.  The SporTrak is a safety device.  I think that this is primary, which ties in with #3 below.  

3. Lost?  There is a lot to cover under being lost with a GPS unit.  With the unit working properly, and a user who knows how to use it, it is in my estimation impossible to be lost.  This is a very strong benefit of the technology - and probably the best argument for owning and carrying one while backpacking.  Being lost for even one night can mean misery, cold, or even death in the wrong conditions.  There is, however, a downside to this - which is sort of a paradox.  Sometimes being lost is part of the fun.  Being lost lets me see things I might not see otherwise, and meet critters and creatures that I otherwise wouldn't meet.  I have discovered that the trick is to make the technology work for me in this regard rather than against me.  Once I discovered this, the SporTrak can actually help me get lost.  I just turn it off and stuff it into my pack.  Then I wander all over creation and have fun exploring places I have never been before.  When it's time to go home, I just turn the SporTrak on and find out where I am.  No guesswork.  That's pretty handy in my book.  Of course, there is some danger in this, and the SporTrak simply provides a safety net.  That safety net is only as good as my weakest skill in the event of an actual emergency, but should the SporTrak fail to function, I am capable of managing without it.  This getting lost on purpose is not recommended for beginners.

4. Here I am!  On the note of safety, if I do ever have the unfortunate luck to have an emergency, but manage to be lucky enough to be able to contact search and rescue, the first thing they will want to know is where I am.  Being able to tell them where I am to within three meters on the face of the planet might be a real life saver.  While I didn't actually experience this scenario during the test period, the usefulness of this ability is obvious.  I have also wondered what would happen if I were hiking with a partner, and either one of us were injured and the other had to go for help (or if I came upon an injured hiker).  Could I find the exact location of the injured partner upon my return?  With the SporTrak, it's easy enough to just set a waypoint, run off for help, and then the rescue folks can be told exactly where the injured hiker is.  If I am injured myself, I could simply set a GOTO back to the marked waypoint and give the unit to the rescue team while I receive medical attention. The unit will lead them back to the injured party.

5. Altitude.  For some people, knowing altitude is important.  Since there isn't much altitude in my area, I have little call for this.  As noted in the other reports, the SporTrak is accurate on the elevation to within about 100 feet (30 m).  

6. Flood and drainage.  Living, as I do, in a city that is below sea level in many cases, and which looks perfectly flat, it is useful to have a reference when looking at real estate to be able to estimate flooding and drainage.  I attempted to use the SporTrak for this purpose, but the elevation accuracy isn't good enough to provide useful data.

7. Precise time & date.  With the SporTrak, I no longer have to carry a timepiece.  I do wish that the SporTrak would function as a clock when it is turned off, but it is necessary to turn it on to get the time and date.  After I have been out for 24 hours, I frequently lose track of the date, so this is handy for reminding me which day I'm supposed to go home.

8. Are we there yet? When, daddy, when?  The 'are we there yet' question is one that I frequently answer with the SporTrak.  By setting waypoints ahead of time, the SporTrak will calculate time and distance to the destination.  While this is handy in the car, it is particularly handy on the trail.  Knowing that it's only two more miles to camp gives a tremendous psychological boost.  Knowing that it's too far to make camp before dark allows for alternatives to be selected.  

9. Where is the trailhead?  Where is the car?  I always note trailheads and parking spots with waypoints.  While this may seem silly in some kinds of terrain, it is vitally important in some of the areas where I hike.  One bit of Cypress swamp looks very much like the next.  I have personally been 'lost' within 50 yards (50 meters) of the car.

10. Points of Escape, aka Bail Points.  Knowing emergency escape and bail points can be critical, especially in an emergency or if bad weather rolls in unexpectedly.  Referring to the SporTrak's built-in map can provide options of which a backpacker may not otherwise be aware.  On a recent hike to Black Creek Wilderness in Mississippi, I happened upon three utility workers who were lost.  As far as I know, I am the only person who hikes Black Creek Wilderness in June or July.  The heat index is always over 100 F (37.8 C), and the humidity and bugs makes it pure torture for most people.  The utility workers were wearing hard hats, orange vests, and one of them was carrying a clip board. The patches on their shirts indicate that they're electric company employees.  The sight of them in the wilderness where no sane person is likely to be was startling.  They didn't look happy, either - all wearing long pants and their clothes soaked wet with sweat.  They walked from their truck into the woods in search of some power lines and promptly got lost due to the density of the undergrowth - three grown men! They had been out there for two and a half hours. The radio and the cell phone didn't work... They were in the wrong place to begin with because there are no power lines in Black Creek Wilderness. They stumbled upon the trail and figured that it would take them out of the woods, but didn't realize that the trail was taking them further from the truck.  After I had given them water and learned of their situation, I consulted the SporTrak, found the shortest route to the road, gave the workers my spare compass and gave them the exact bearing to the road.  (I marked it on the compass just in case...)  I then told them to follow the little mark straight to the road.  The distance was only about 800 yards (732 m) to the road.  With the SporTrak, I knew exactly where I was, where the road was, as well as how far, and in what direction they needed to move.  If I had only had paper maps, I would have had to guess, and I would probably have walked them out rather than risk their lives on my guess.  As it was, I felt pretty good that three grown men could make 800 yards (732 m) in a straight line with the compass I gave them, and I am pleased to report that they did make it out safely.

11. Point of no return.  Even for day hikes, knowing the point of no return can be very useful.  If my water bottle springs a leak, my shoe starts to give me blisters, or I suddenly feel ill, knowing whether to go back or press forward can be important.

12. Finding alternate routes.  This is especially useful when driving.  If traffic congestion is encountered, an alternate route can be instantly plotted with the SporTrak.  I did this several times during the test period, saving myself much time and aggravation.

13. Trip planning.  Using the basemaps and MapSend Topo software for trip planning is fun and easy.  Multiple copies of the itinerary can be printed, and this allows a paper map to be carried in case the GPS unit malfunctions or is lost.  The paper copy can also be left with friends or relatives as part of the itinerary.  If I have to be reported missing, such a map may make search efforts easier as well as save lives - mine included!

14. Resupply points and towns.  While I did no long distance hiking during the test period, the value of the SporTrak in noting and locating towns and resupply points is obvious.  In likewise fashion, the value of the SporTrak in finding caches is pretty plain.  While driving, it was always nice to know exactly how long it would take us to reach the restaurant we had picked for lunch.  "Just 20 more minutes to lunch!", is a kind of joyful anticipation.

15. Points of interest.  In similar fashion to #12 above, the SporTrak can be loaded with detailed data from the MapSend Topo software.  The detailed data contains points of interest - including malls which is handy for town stops.  These points of interest have led me several times to things that I would not otherwise see.

16. Water Sources.  In some areas water sources are few and far between.  In my area, water is everywhere, but not always easy to reach because of steep, slippery, or soft ground near streams and bayous.  With the SporTrak I am able to mark the best places to get water. I have also been able to track down water sources that I had previously not known about.

17. Mark special sites.  I have used the SporTrak to mark stealth campsites, places where I like to take a break, swimming holes, and even interesting trees that I would like to find again.  Doing this with the SporTrak is just as fast and easy as marking a paper map with a pen or pencil.

18. Mark trails.  Marking trails is always handy - but especially handy for unmarked side trails or even useful animal trails.  Walking any trail with the SporTrak turned on and tracking set to an appropriate level will automatically create an electronic map of the trail that can be followed again.

19. Mark hazards.  The SporTrak can be used to mark dangerous or confusing areas.  This is especially handy in the dark.  There are several spots like this in Clear Springs where I regularly hike.  The trail makes hard turns that are poorly marked and easily missed in the dark.  There are also some washouts that pose a real danger.  While I don't have cliffs or ledges, I can certainly see the utility in marking these as well.  

20. Bushwhacking and night travel.  The SporTrak very frequently pulled bushwhacking and night travel duty with me.  I elaborate on this in the body of this report.

21. Map rivers, streams, and bayous while paddling.  Around here the 'right or left fork?' question can be vital.  The bayous and streams form a natural maze, and I've spent more than one unexpected night on some small island surrounded by alligators when I chose the wrong water path before I got the SporTrak.  The usefulness of marking landing sites and water hazards for reference in fog or bad weather is clear.

22. Share map data with others.  Waypoints, tracks, and routes - being stored electronically - can be shared with others.  This can provide every member of a party with identical data sets allowing for statements like, "Meet me at waypoint 7."

23. Astronomical data.  Knowing sunrise, sunset, moonrise, and moonset times has been very handy for me.  Especially to answer the question, "How much daylight do I have left?"  This allows me to predict when I should set camp, and gives me an idea of how fast I need to move, or how much time I have to waste until I need to arrive at the campsite.  On the other side of daybreak, knowing what time the sun will rise is helpful for getting up in time to setup some sunrise photography.  I do wish that the unit would tell me not just when, but where the sun will rise so that I could be perfectly ready.

24. Compass.  I have frequently used the compass screen.  While the unit must be in motion for the compass to register, the fact that the positions of the sun and/or moon are represented on the outer edge of the compass dial is handy for orientation.

25. Training functions.  For people who are serious about their exercise, the SporTrak can be used to track physical training.  I suppose that if I found a way to attach it to my body in some way that I could even take it swimming and keep track of that.  Things like distance covered, average speed, peak speed, and several other things can all be analyzed after every workout. I don't actually workout in that way, but I did find it useful to analyze the paths I travel on my daily walks.

26. Speed.  I have found that the speed functions of the SporTrak aren't very good at slow speeds - as when walking.  Driving speeds seem to be noted very accurately, and it is possible to use the SporTrak to calibrate a speedometer. It can also be used as a speedometer if the vehicle's is missing or broken.  This has been especially fun in a boat.  While I don't cycle anymore, I wish that the SporTrak had been available to me in my cycling days.  I'd have attached it to my bike and used it as a speedometer among other things.

27. Odometer.  The SporTrak has an odometer, but it has proven so inaccurate that it is useless.  Downloading the stored track after any trip will reveal the correct distance.

28. Trip analysis after the fact.  This has been covered in some detail in the other reviews.  I really like the ability to analyze the trip telemetry because I find it helps me plan future trips.  It also gives me a good idea of my personal limitations and style.  

29. Impress women.  Ok, so I didn't impress any women except my wife.  Being a geek with a geek toy, however, gives me reason to think about it, so there.

30. Learning tool for navigation.  This appeals to me even more than impressing women.  Because the feature set of the SporTrak is so rich, it provides an opportunity to learn about navigation on many levels.  It's important to learn how to navigate without the high tech tools, but having the high tech tool can make that learning process easier.  As a teaching aid for kids, the SporTrak is excellent.  It provides immediate visual feedback for motion and direction.  Every kid loves electronic gadgets, and if they learn something while learning how to use the gadget, then I consider that a positive benefit.

31. Open Water.  On open water, out of sight of land, the 'Where am I?' question can quickly turn into the 'Where the hell am I?' question.  This is especially true if unknown currents are moving the vessel.  By using the SporTrak on a fishing trip, I was able to note the rate and direction of drift on the chart.  

32. Photography documentation and planning.  The SporTrak allows me to mark exactly where I took a photograph.  If you aren't a photography geek, this may not seem important to you.  Photography geeks like me will appreciate knowing exactly where a picture was taken.  If it doesn't come out, you can get back and take it again.  Sometimes I recognize a spot that would make an incredible image, but the sun isn't right, or the time of year isn't right, or some other aspect of the image is missing.  To use one example, there is a large Magnolia tree in Black Creek Wilderness that is not on the trail.  The tree leans out over Beaver Dam Creek and makes a large 'Y'.  I discovered it on my recent visit, and it is a perfect place to take a series of images.  The image will be particularly spectacular in two situations, one, in deep winter when all the green is gone.  The image may also be particularly poignant at sunset.  The second time the image will be spectacular is when the Magnolia tree is in full bloom.  I have noted this in my photography log, with the coordinates and the shot setup.  I can plan a trip around images like this at the appropriate times of the year.

33. Backlight as emergency flashlight.  The backlight is bright enough to provide some small assistance for digging a fresh set of batteries out of my pack and putting them into a dead headlamp.

34. Assistance for the visually impaired.  While I am slightly myopic, my vision isn't bad enough to require correction.  I have two friends, however, who are legally blind, but can manage well enough in life with correction.  In speaking to them about it, I came to realize that the SporTrak could be a tremendous tool of freedom for people with such visual impairments.  Even in terrain that persons with normal sight would consider easy, persons with poor sight cannot recognize landmarks at a distance.  The SporTrak's mapping feature could allow visually impaired persons the freedom to backpack solo. 

35. Other imagined uses.  Having used the SporTrak for six months, I can imagine many place where it would be handy.  I have compiled a short list of activities and places where I would carry the SporTrak.  These include aircraft, cycling, motorcycling, golfing, skiing, jogging, boating of all kinds, fishing, ballooning, astronomy, ice skating, rollerblading, and skydiving.  

IN THE FIELD - DESCRIPTIONS OF USE

I have decided to detail my last trip with the SporTrak, which is typical of the use I normally put it to while backpacking.  This was a trip to Black Creek Wilderness in DeSoto National Forest near Wiggins, Mississippi.  I left late Friday night, plugging the SporTrak into the dashboard holder that provides external power from the cigarette lighter. I set a GOTO point for the parking lot at the trailhead so that I would know exactly how much distance I had left to cover as I traveled.  The parking lot entrance is a gravel exit on a winding country road and is difficult to find in the dark.  The SporTrak lets me know when I am approaching the parking lot entrance so that I can slow down and turn safely.  

When I arrived at the parking lot, I took the SporTrak out of the dashboard holder and clipped it into the modified holder I created for my backpack.  This is pictured in the Initial Report.  This setup is handy, even if it makes me look like a Gargoyle out of a Neal Stephenson novel.  As I left the car, three things were readily apparent: 1) it was totally dark, 2) it was raining, and 3) on my way out of the house I had grabbed the wrong headlamp.  The batteries in the one I grabbed were nearly dead.  I had a full set of spares somewhere in the middle of my pack, inside the dry bag, but to be honest, I was too lazy to fish out the fresh batteries.  So, in moderately heavy rain, in the pitch black, with a dim headlamp I made almost a mile (1.6 km) on a trail in fair condition - but then I had to make a nearly half mile (.8 km) bushwhack in heavy brush.  Without the SporTrak I wouldn't have even attempted such a thing, and in fact I always had to follow one of the two rivers when making this hike at night, which increased the distance significantly.  With the SporTrak, however, I was able to bushwhack blind.  

Before leaving for the trip, I had set a series of waypoints and connected them in a route.  I activated the route at the trailhead and followed the trail to the jump off point.  (The waypoint for that being named, "JUMP", appropriately.)  At the JUMP point, I keyed the compass screen and followed it into the woods to the first waypoint.  As I passed it, the next waypoint in the route became the next target automatically.  All I had to do was follow the compass screen to the pre-programmed waypoint.  This sounds a lot easier than it actually is.  It is impossible to travel in a straight line in almost any terrain.  The SporTrak becomes a kind of pillar of fire that can only be vaguely followed.  Finding the next waypoint in the dark is like chasing a ghost.  Whenever I think I'm traveling in a more or less straight line, the SporTrak tells me that I'm drifting.  From previous experience, I have learned to trust instruments rather than my instincts when flying blind, and the SporTrak did indeed lead me to within about 30 feet (9 m) of the place where I needed to cross the river.  Unfortunately, the river has a very steep bank, and is obscured by thick brush of various kinds, and I spent about ten minutes looking at the SporTrak telling me that I had arrived, and looking at the wall of brush that was obviously not where I needed to be.  By taking a bearing with the compass screen, I sidestepped north for a few yards (few meters) and eventually found the spot - which is hard enough to find in broad daylight, much less with a headlamp that is rapidly fading.  

Crossing the river is not a straight shot.  In order to do it, I have to wade out into Black Creek for a number of yards (number of meters) and then cross the estuary of Beaver Dam Creek to a tiny patch of gravel on the far bank.  I had previously set waypoints for this crossing during daylight hours, and I checked the waypoints.  With the headlamp dying, I could see about ten feet (3 m) in front of me.  I could not see the opposite bank of the river.  I entered Black Creek and felt my way along the sandbar with my hiking poles.  By pacing the distance, I knew that I had found the place I needed to cross from - but the SporTrak said that I was still 20 feet (6 m) away from the right place.  I took a bearing on the waypoint that represented the landing point on the opposite side of the river, but it felt wrong.  I had previously made this crossing several times, and I have the crossing paced out exactly.  I crossed by instinct rather than trust the SporTrak, and I was proven right.  The waypoints I had previously set weren't exactly where I had set them.  The waypoint on the far bank was about 10 feet (3 m) off.

Despite the small drift at the points around the river, the SporTrak obviously allowed me to do something that would have been very difficult, if not impossible, without it - namely bushwhack a more or less straight line in the dark with a dim headlamp through heavy brush.

As with any electronic device, I still do not entirely trust it in the field.  The SporTrak provides a safety net in some ways, but that safety net is only as good as the durability of the electronics and the life of the batteries.  Should the SporTrak ever fail, that safety net is only as good as my weakest survival skill in the event of an actual emergency.  Should the SporTrak fail to function, I am quite capable of managing without it.  I would not recommend that anyone rely on the SporTrak as their sole method of navigation in unfamiliar territory.

My normal method of use in unfamiliar territory is to use the SporTrak as a tool for marking a paper map.  Should the SporTrak ever fail, I will have a good map and my compass, and I will still be able to navigate with these - if not as precisely as with the SporTrak.

NOW THAT THE TEST IS OVER...

I admit to be enamored with the SporTrak.  I will continue to use it regularly, and my prior reluctance to accept the technology has dissolved.  The SporTrak has proven very useful to me in many ways, and I would recommend it - and I have recommended it.

SUMMARY

I am really very happy with the Magellan SporTrak Topo unit, even though the 'new toy' novelty has worn off.  I find it to be a very useful navigational aid.

THINGS I LIKE

1.  Light
2.  Data Wealth
3.  Magic Map
4.  Holds a signal quite nicely just about anywhere.
5.  Allows me to do things and go places that would be difficult without it.

THINGS I DON'T LIKE

1. Map errors.
2. Road screen doesn't work well.
3. Odometer useless.
4. Case cracks.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

I have prepared a list of additional resources for those wishing to learn more about Global Positioning Technology (GPS) and other fun stuff to do with GPS units that is beyond the scope of this report.  This is hosted on my own hiking website and are not a part of this report.

***

Thank you for your time.

Shane Steinkamp
shane@theplacewithnoname.com  
www.theplacewithnoname.com/hiking