MERIDIAN

Product Meridian Basic, Meridian Gold, Meridian Color, Meridian Marine, Meridian Platinum, Meridian Platinum Europe, Meridian marine Europe, Meridian Gold Europe, Meridian Color Europe Meridian Basic, Meridian Gold, Meridian Color, Meridian Marine, Meridian Platinum, Meridian Platinum Europe, Meridian marine Europe, Meridian Gold Europe, Meridian Color Europe Question Solution
Can I use a memory card larger than 64MB in Meridian GPS?
Yes, to utilize the entire size of the card, you will need a Secure Digital memory card reader/writer
Can I install BlueNav on another PC for Yes but only one GPS can be used or one memory card. Meridian GPS?
Meridian Basic, Meridian Gold, Meridian Color, Meridian Marine, Meridian Platinum, Meridian Platinum Europe, Meridian marine Europe, Meridian Gold Europe, Meridian Color Europe Meridian Basic, Meridian Gold, Meridian Color, Meridian Marine, Meridian Platinum, Meridian Platinum Europe, Meridian marine Europe, Meridian Gold Europe, Meridian Color Europe
I am using Meridian GPS with my MapSend product and it indicates "not enough memory." What is wrong?
You may not have a memory card in your unit. The built-in memory of the Meridian GPS cannot accept detailed maps from the MapSend products you must use a Secure Digital memory card to load the detailed maps. Or, if you are using a 128MB Secure Digital memory card or larger, the firmware version of your unit may need to be updated to a version higher than 3.12.
How often is the BlueNav CD updated and when is the next update?
The BlueNav CD is no longer manufactured. The Marine Charts that we now offer are in the form of an SD Memory card and are called Mapsend Blue Nav XL-3 Charts. They are only compatible with Meridian Marine, Meridian Color, Meridian Platinum and Meridian Gold. They are not compatible with any SporTrak Series.
Why does my program indicate "unsupported receiver" when I am trying to load a map in Meridian GPS?
First, ensure you are using a receiver that is supported by the MapSend application. Not all receivers in the Meridian and SporTrak series are supported by all MapSend products. Second, some older applications may have other applications on the CDs that are specific to older units, such as the original CDs for MapSend TOPO and MapSend Streets & Destinations which both had a program (MAGUP) to load updated firmware to the older model Map330 units. If you have a Meridian or SporTrak product, do NOT to use this firmware update on your unit, as it would try to load obsolete firmware that may render your unit useless.

How can I print my map?

If MapSend products that support printers, either left click on the printer icon on your product tool bar or select "FILE" then "PRINT". You can preview the map to be printed and turn features to be printed on & off by selecting "OPTIONS" and selecting or deselecting features as desired.
What is the advantage of using a card reader/writer?
There are multiple advantages. The primary one is speed. It is faster to load the files through the card reader than through the unit when loading to a memory card. A second advantage is that you can load multiple files.
Can I print out my waypoints?
Yes, but you will need to have a MapSend program that allows export to an Excel file. You will only be able to print from the exported Excel file.

Why am I having problems with my SD card in the unit?
The root of this problem is that an SD card formatted using Windows XP might not work in a Meridian GPS receiver. The solution is to use your Meridian to format the card. The card can be formatted from the Card Utilities menu. Note that formatting will completely erase the card. DO NOT do this while using the device in the outdoors, when you are dependent on full functionality. Note that the Meridian completely ignores the Lock switch on the SD card itself. Update This problem is fixed in the latest firmware updates, version 4.51 or later.
The direction on my compass is off by 180 degrees. What can be done?
Toggle the "Compass Orient" in the setup menu to "GPS Course" and then back to "Magnetic North."
Why is it not possible to use the U.S. cars CLAs in European cars?
The cars in the U.S. are positively grounded, while the ones in Europe are negatively grounded.
Can I get a Bluetooth adapter for my Meridian?
We do not support any such activities and the customer is at his own risk. The Magellan Meridian does not support Bluetooth.
What are the optimal com port settings for the Meridian GPS?
Bits per second: 4800,Data Bits: 8,Parity: NONE, Stop Bits: 1,Flow Control: Hardware
Is the Meridian compatible with IPAQ and xmap?
It has an NMEA 2.1 GSA output that the IPAQ would use but we do not make a cable to interface. Suggest: Technically, it is compatible, but Magellan does not make a cable to interface.
Can I load more than one chart from MapSend BlueNav to my authorized memory card?
No, the licensing for the program restricts the use of the program to a single chart loaded on a single Secure Digital memory card at any given time. If you need to load a second chart, you simply reprogram the card with the second chart once you are done using the first chart.
What accessories comes Your Meridian unit comes with preloaded background maps, PC cable, Reference Manual-CD ROM, and Quick with the Meridian GPS? Reference Guide.
What is the minimum and maximum operating temperature of the Meridian GPS?
Minimum Temperature -10*C ( 14*F ) Maximum Temperature 60*C ( 140*F ).
What is the maximum operating altimeter in the Meridian GPS?
Maximum operating altimeter 60,000 Ft/ 18,288 m.
How many routes I can create in my Meridian GPS?

You can create 20 routes in your Meridian GPS.
How many navigation screens does the Meridian GPS have?
The Meridian GPS has 8 navigation screens.
How many satellites are needed to obtain a At least three satellites are needed for a position fix. position fix ?
Can I connect the Meridian GPS to the USB port of my computer?
The Meridian unit can only be connected to the serial port of the PC and not to the USB port, to connect it to the USB, the user needs to use the serial to USB conversion cable.
Does my Meridian GPS comes with detailed street maps?
No, it has a basic highway map.
My backtrack readings are not accurate. How can I save get more accurate breadcrumb readings?
Adjust track interval to.01 and it should increase the resolution. NOTE: setting to.01 will limit the amount of track to be recorded.
How can I delete a Map in my Meridian GPS?
Press menu then select Card Utilities and there will be a delete file menu select the detailed img map file you want to delete
How can I clear memory in my Meridian GPS?
Press Menu. Select "setup," highlight "Clear Memory" and select "all." The clear all memory will clear All Track Logs, All POIs and Routes, All Multi-Leg Routes, All Track Logs, POIs and Routes.
How do I load waypoints and routes from a memory card to my Meridian GPS?
Select Menu > Select Card utilities > Select load waypoints/Route and press Enter > Highlight the desired filename and press enter.
What happens when the user exceeds 2000 track points?
Once the unit has recorded 2000 track points, it will continue to set additional track points. However, the oldest track points will be automatically deleted to make room for the new ones.
How often do I need to initialize the Meridian GPS?
Initializing the Meridian decreases the time it takes to get a position fix during cold start. What is meant by a cold start is that the Meridian has no reference to use as a guide to tell it what satellites should be overhead. Without a reference to start with, the Meridian will have to search the sky to find the satellites in view. This may take up to 10 minutes in severe conditions.

How can I overcome the error card not detected?
1) Check to ensure that the card utilities option is active. 2) If it is not, put the card in the card reader and check for any data available. 3) Check the firmware of the unit and try to update it if there is one available.
How can I check firmware update version, memory size of the base map, the total All this information is available in the "About" menu screen. memory size of detailed From any screen Press the MENU button, highlight maps and how much About" and press enter. free memory is available in my Meridian GPS?
What can be done if my battery life seems shorter than it should be?
1. Make sure that you are using two AA alkaline batteries. 2. Shorter life span of the batteries can be due to excessive use of the backlight. Turn the backlight off when not needed.
Why does my receiver turn off unexpectedly.
This is commonly is caused by excessive static electricity. Turn the receiver back on and it should operate normally. Move the receiver to a new location to avoid a similar occurrence.
Why is my Meridian GPS not turning on?
1. Check to see if the batteries are installed correctly.2. Replace with two new AA alkaline batteries
What can be done if my Meridian GPS is not getting a signal?
1. If there are any obstacles nearby or overhead, move to a new location. 2. Make sure that the antenna is pointing up, has a clear view of the sky and is a reasonable distance away from your body. 3. Check the Satellite Status screen to see where the satellites are and if the receiver is acquiring data. 4. If the receiver still does not get a position fix within 10 minutes, you can do clear memory and then you can initalize the GPS.
How do I know which route is active?
Press menu highlight routes and there you will see your list of routes you have created the route in bold font is the one currently active
How can I format an SD card using Meridian GPS?
You can use the card utilities to format the SD card that is in the GPS. Press MENU from any screen and highlight Card utilities. Press "Enter," select Format Card, and press "Enter" again.
Can I test an SD Memory card in Meridian GPS?
Yes. Press MENU from any screen and highlight Card utilities. Press "Enter," and select Test Card, then press enter. Please note that this scan can take a very long time. If you decide not to proceed with the scan, press ESC before beginning the scan. [what's "a very long time" -- up to 2 hours? up to 15 minutes?]

How can I delete a file from my memory card using the Meridian GPS itself?
Press MENU from any screen and highlight Card utilities. Press enter, select Delete file, and press "Enter." Here you can get the list of files, highlight the one that you want to delete and press "Enter."
I have loaded some tracks into my SD card. How can I access those tracks?
Press MENU from any screen and highlight Card utilities. Press "Enter," select Load Track, and press "Enter" again. The list of tracks will be displayed with the filename. Highlight the one you wish to select and press "Enter."
How can I change languages in my Meridian GPS?
Press MENU button from any screen, highlight Setup and press "Enter." Highlight Languages, press "Enter," select the language and press "Enter" again.
How can I change the baud rate in my Meridian GPS?
Press MENU button from any screen, highlight Setup and press "Enter." Highlight Baud Rate, press "Enter," select the baud rate, and press "Enter" again. Default is 4800 Baud.
Is it possible to set a backlight timer in my Meridian GPS?
Yes, you can set the backlight timer to turn off after 30 seconds, 1 minute, 2 minutes, 4 minutes, 10 minutes or you can shut the timer off. To set the timer, press MENU button from any screen, highlight Setup and press "Enter." Highlight Light Timer, press "Enter," select the time duration and press "Enter" again.
How can I change the daylight savings setting in Meridian GPS?
Press the MENU button from any screen. Highlight Setup and press "Enter." Highlight Daylight Savings and press "Enter." Select the region and press "Enter" again.
How can I change the navigation units on my meridian from Kilometers to Miles
Press the MENU button from any screen. Highlight Setup and press "Enter." Highlight Nav units, press "Enter," select Miles/hr and press "Enter" again.
How can I change the elevation mode from 2D to 3D in my Meridian GPS?
Press the MENU button from any screen. Highlight Setup and press "Enter." Highlight Elves mode , press "enter," select 3D and press "Enter" again. [does it really say "Elves mode"?)
How can I initialize the Meridian GPS?
Press the MENU button from any screen. Highlight Setup and press "Enter." Highlight Initialize then follow the on screen prompt by selecting your area and enter date and time.

What is a vertical profile?
Vertical Profile displays the elevation as a graphical display for the option you select. Only Track History is available for this function if MapSend Topo for the United States map data is not uploaded.
What Map Datum is the Meridian defaulted to?
The default map datum for Meridian will be WGS84.
How can I change the coordinate system from Lat/Lon to UTM?
Press the MENU button from any screen. Highlight Setup and press "Enter." Highlight Cord system and press "Enter." Select Primary or Secondary and press "Enter." Select UTM and press "Enter."
What will be the primary and the secondary coordinate system for Meridian by default?
The primary coordinate system is Lat/Lon Deg.Min.MMM. The secondary coordinate system is UTM.

What is datum?

Datum refers to the theoretical mathematical model of the earths sea level surface. Map makers may use a different model to chart their maps, so position coordinates will differ from one datum to another. The datum for the map you are using can be found in the legend of the map. If you are unsure of which datum to use, use WGS84
My tracks have the wrong time stamp?
This is actually normal, as the time stamps are all in Universal Time Clock (UTC). This is also known as Greenwich Mean Time (GMT).
How many map datums are in my Meridian
There are 76 Map datums in all Meridian units.
How can I change time format in my Meridian GPS?
Press the MENU button from any screen. Highlight Setup and press "Enter." Highlight Time format and press "Enter." Select "Format," and press "Enter." If Local time is selected (24 hr. or AM/PM) you will be prompted to enter your local time.
How can I view a route on the map screen?
Press the MENU button from any screen. Highlight Routesand press "Enter." Highlight Select Route and press "Menu." Highlight "Map View" and press "Enter."

Meridian Basic, Meridian Gold
What is the difference between the Meridian and Meridian Gold?
Meridian contains 2MB of internal memory for base maps,and the Meridian Gold contains 16MB of base maps.

Meridian Color

Which Meridian unit has a color display?

Meridian Color.

Meridian Platinum Meridian Platinum.
Which Meridian unit contains barometric pressure sensor? How can you create a projection in the Meridian Platinum?

Meridian Platinum.

On the position screen, press the "Menu" option and then "Projections."
List all the Meridian units available?
1) MERIDIAN Color (North America and Europe) 2) MERIDIAN Gold (North America and Europe) 3) MERIDIAN Platinum (Northa America and Europe) 4) MERIDIAN Marine (North America and Europe) 5) MERIDIAN Basic (North America only)
My Merdian will not show my current location, what can I do to fix this?
In some cases you may need to reset the meridian, Press Menu. Select "setup," highlight "Clear Memory" and select "all." NOTE: The clear all memory will clear All Track Logs, All POIs and Routes, All Multi-Leg Routes, All Track Logs, POIs and Routes.
Why does my Meridian GPS not make an audible beep when I have an alarm active?
Check your setup settings for the Beeper. If the selection is Off or Keys Only is selected, the Beeper will not sound for alarms.
Why do the position coordinates on Meridian GPS receiver not match the location on my map?
1. Make sure that your receiver is set up to use the same datum as your map. 2. Check your LAT/LON format. Make sure that the format selected in COORDINATE SYSTEM (DEG/MIN/SEC or DEG/MIN.MM) is in the same format as the map you are using.
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How can I delete a Route in my Meridian GPS?

How do I get waypoints to appear on my map screen?
To get waypoints Go to map screen > Press the "MENU" button>Select "Map Setup">Press enter highlight "Display" > Select Waypoints and press enter.
How do I turn the Track Go to map screen >Press the MENU button select>Map lines on or off? Setup" > Press enter highlight select Display press enter Select Track Lines" and press enter.
I loaded TOPO maps using Mapsend, how do I see the Topo lines?
You dont see the TOPO lines because the GPS may not be set to display TOPO info, Go to map screen>Press the MENU button select > Map Setup Press enter highlight select Display press enter Select TOPO Lines enter.
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I downloaded detail maps in the GPS using Mapsend, but how do I get points of interest?
Go to map screen> Press the MENU button select> Map Setup" >Press enter highlight select Display press enter select POI and enter.
How do I change map orientation to course up in my Meridian?
Go to map screen>Press the MENU button>Select Map Setup" Press enter > Highlight select Orientations Press enter> Select Course up and press enter
How do I change map orientation to Track up?
Go to map screen>Press the MENU button>Select Map Setup" Press enter>Highlight select Orientations press enter> Select Track up and press enter.
How many channels do Meridian receivers have?
Meridian is a 12-channel receiver.
How do I reset Trip Odometer?
From the Lat/lon position screen >Press Menu > Select Reset Trip > Press enter then >Select Yes and press enter.

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The PC shows that the Try pressing the GOTO, ESCAPE, and ENTER keys firmware has completed simultaneously. If the Meridian does not power down loading, but my remove the batteries Meridian is still on and I cant turn it off. What can I do? Can I transfer my No. The waypoints must be transferred to your Meridian waypoints from my PC first, and then transferred from there to the memory card. map program directly to the memory card?
I loaded my map, with the points of interest from MapSend. Why cant I see points of interest on the Meridian map screen?
When you upload a map to the GPS, the points of interest info goes with it, by default, but the points of interest icons are not displayed on the map screen. Its easy to display some or all points of interest. Press the MENU key on the Meridian, select Map Setup, and use the cursor key to arrow right to the Display tab. In this screen you can display all the points of interest, not display any overlay features (Clear All), or specify any particular points of interest categories you want to display. You can change your selection anytime. Also, even when points of interest are not set to display, you can still search them, view them, and use them as routing destinations.
Meridian Gold, Meridian Color, Meridian Marine, Meridian Platinum,
Can I use my DirectRoute compatible GPS receiver for street routing and for marine use with the BlueNavcharts?
Yes, but you have a GPS firmware decision to make. For most who want to use their GPS with DirectRoute and BlueNav, the right choice is the Standard receiver firmware. It will do street routing if a DirectRoute map is active, and it will do all functions except marine tides and currents when a BlueNav chart is active. Conversely, if you choose the Marine firmware load because you really need tides and currents, you can use DirectRoute maps, search points of interest, and so forth. However, you cant street route with that firmware. The one exception is SporTrak Color it has only one firmware load, and it can do both routing and tides/currents. Firmware Update CD 1.00e contains all the current firmware, Standard and Marine, and detailed instructions on their uses. Firmware for handhelds can also be downloaded from the Magellan website.
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What can be done if I am getting a Time Out error while copying the maps on to my Meridian from map send TOPO 3D or map send direct route?
Try formatting the SD card by pressing "menu", then select "card utilities", and then select format card
Yes. Go to: www.navicache.com Besides www.geocaching.com is there another Website that I can visit to download geocaches?
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Do Meridian products use Navteq information for the basemap?
No. Meridianbasemap does not use Navteq data.
Why do detail maps show me wrong road positioning information?
When you compare where you are with where the GPS thinks the road is, remember an actual road is often 100 feet wide. Typical GPS accuracy is at best 12 feet, and is often 30 feet or more. This means that an error of 50 feet is not only common, but to be expected.
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Can I use a multimedia card along with my Meridian?
You can use a multimedia card inside the Meridian. If you already have a multimedia card, try itt.If you purchase a new card, however, it is recommended that you purchase a SD card. We recommend SanDisk and Toshiba SD cards.
Meridian Gold, Meridian Color, Meridian Marine, Meridian Platinum, Meridian Gold, Meridian Color, Meridian Marine, Meridian Platinum,
The Meridian Marine is identical to the Meridian Gold. Why does the Meridian Marine cost more?
The Meridian Marine is very similar, though not identical to the Meridian Gold. The difference in price is that the slightly costlier Meridian Marine has a a pre-loaded marine buoy lighthouse database.
When should the magnetic compass be re-calibrated?
The compass should be re-calibrated whenever the batteries are changed to ensure best accuracy.
How can I deactivate the magnetic compass in the Meridian Platinum? (It shortens the battery life by approximately 25%).
Change the GPS heading in the compass setup screen from heading to COG. This will deactivates the compass on the compass display.Make certain that the Magnetic HDG up is NOT selected in the map screen
What does each IPX rating indicate?
IPX-0 No special protection IPX-1 Protected against falling water, equivalent to 35mm rainfall per minute for 10 minutes. Meridian is placed in its normal operating position. IPX-2 Protected against falling water when tilted up to 15 degrees. This is the same as IPX-1 but Meridian is tested in four fixed positions, tilted 15 degrees in each direction from normal operating position. IPX-3 Protected against spraying water, Water spraying up to 60 degrees from vertical at 10 liters/min at a pressure of 80-100kN/m2 for five minutes. IPX-4 Protected against splashing water. This is the same as IPX-3, but water is sprayed at all angles. IPX-5 Protected against water jets. Water projected at all angles through a 6.3mm nozzle at a flow rate of 12.5 liters/min at a pressure of 30kN/m2 for 3 minutes from a distance of 3 meters. IPX-6 Protected against heavy seas. Water projected at all angles through a 12.5mm nozzle at a flow rate of 100 liters/min at a pressure of 100kN/m2 for three minutes from a distance of three meters. IPX-7 Protected against water immersion. Immersion for 30 minutes at a depth of one meter. IPX-8 Protected against water submersion. The equipment is suitable for continual submersion in water under conditions, which are identified by the manufacturer

On which Websites can I do -- address to GPS co-ordinate conversion?
Check out www.geocoder.us or www.maporama.com Also http://www.melissadata.com/Lookups/addressverify.asp
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When doing NMEA output with the Meridian, what should the map datum on the unit be?
In north reference, what are mils true and mils magnetic?
mils means military angular unit. For an explanation of mils true and mils magnetic go to http://www.boomershoot.org/general/mils.htm
What is a backtrack route?
A backtrack route allows you to retrace your steps. As you are moving, the Meridian automatically creates and stores hidden waypoints in memory. These waypoints are the ones that the Meridian will use to retrace your steps. When you create a backtrack route, the Meridian converts these hidden waypoints into user Waypoints
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How do I convert from deg.min. to deg.dddd?
To convert to decimal degrees take the degrees plus the minutes/60. For example, to convert 46deg 30.00min in decimal degrees: 46 + 30/60 = 46.5 degrees. Likewise.5 degree =.5x60 = 30 minutes.
In MapSend products, The answer differs between MapSend products. The older how big can a region be products (like Streets and "Topo USA") allow you create to download to the unit? single map sets consisting of four rectangular regions. each of which can be up to 16MB.
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Is there any website where I can convert latlong to UTM and back?
http://www.jesseshunting.com
How many mils are contained in 1 degree?
Mils are the military version of degrees There are 6400 mils in 360 degrees or 17.777 mils per degree. Download a copy of the Armys FM 21-26 search for it in Google.

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How to activate the different detail maps on my Meridianunit?
If you have the version 3.12 firmware or above, you can hit the MENU button and select CARD UTILITIES. Select CHANGE MAP, and change the entry in Detail Map
Will DataSend work with Meridian?
The DataSend line of products is intended for the Magellan 315 line. They will NOT work with Meridian. It is available in an American and European version.
Can I find how much memory has been used in my Meridian?
When using your Meridian, eventually you will run into memory limits. You can check the percentage of free space remaining for Maps (SD card space), Routes, Waypoints, and Track History. To do this, simply press Menu, then select About
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What is the major difference between Magellan SporTrak and Meridian?
The SporTrak and Meridian series are very similar in function. The SporTrak units replaced the M300/M320/M330 series, providing a non-mapping base unit and the others are mapping units like the Meridian. The SporTrak series is smaller in overall size, with a smaller screen that is slightly brighter. The main difference between the two units however, is that the SporTrak has no SD card support, which means it is limited to internal memory for storing detailed maps. With a SporTrak, only one detailed map can be uploaded at a time, and it is not possible to save waypoint or track files to an SD card. With a Meridian, you can upload multiple map files to the SD card and change between the files on the unit. With the Meridian you can also save waypoint and track files to an SD card. NOTE: An SD card is usually purchased separately, although some units may include the card as part of a software/hardware bundle.

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What is the base map capacity of the Meridian? What is the memory capacity of the Meridian Gold? Can I purchase a hard copy of the Meridian User Manual?
2MB of internal built-in memory for base maps.
16MB basemap with SD card expansion No. You can download the Meridian User Manual at no charge and print the pages that you need.

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What is differential GPS (DGPS)?
Differential GPS (DGPS) allows a user to overcome the effect of SA interference, correct for other GPS errors, and increase the overall accuracy of the GPS receiver. With DGPS, one GPS receiver is placed at a known location and the position information from that receiver is used to calculate corrections in the position data transmitted by the satellites. This corrected information is then transmitted to other GPS receivers in the area. The resulting real-time accuracy is in the 10-meter range. Sub-meter accuracy can be obtained by using DGPS and post-processing calculations in static positioning. A separate DGPS receiver is required.
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Why does the There could be many factors, including tire inflation. speedometer of the GPS differ from the speedometer on a car?
Do the Meridian screens have LED backlighting?
No. The backlighting is actually electroluminescent

Memory and Maps The Overview
This is an overview of memory organization and where the various maps are located. Internal FLASH Memory Firmware The software code that runs internally in the unit is called the firmware. This tells the electronics (hardware) in the unit what to do and how to do it (like displaying screens and menus). The firmware is stored in the internal memory and can be flashed (upgraded) to a different version. Updates
Magellan Meridian FAQ Version 2.0 Page 5 of 30
typically come from the Magellan Support website, Firmware update CDs, or the occasional tech support email response. Standard Base Map This memory size is 2MB in the yellow/green models and 16MB in all other models. It can hold a standard base map only (no detailed maps). This map comes in North American, European, and Australian version with both standard and marine flavors available. A majority of the road detail is deleted and it has a limited number of points-of-interest (POI). Cities removed from this database do no appear in the city list, even if a detailed map is uploaded. SD Card Memory Detailed Maps These maps are created by programs like Magellan MapSend Streets, Streets & Destinations, Topo, DiscoverAus Streets and Tracks software or DirectRoute, and contain street-level detail and points -of-interest (POI) data. For more information see Section Detailed Maps -- What software is available? BlueNav Map This contains detailed marine information and charts, and comes from the BlueNav product. WorldWide Basemap This is a replacement for the standard base map. It is created by the WorldWide Basemap product, and cannot be loaded into the internal FLASH memory. Note on standard Basemap files can I put them on SD card? In general, the Basemap files cannot be used like detailed maps, by having multiple files placed on the SD card and activated as needed. They can only function from the internal memory.
Base Maps -- What's the deal?
Each Meridian unit ships with a base map. This base map includes the following: political boundaries of all countries in the world, all major cities in the world, and most major lakes of the world. The 16MB US version of the base map (not for the Meridian Green) contains the following: boundaries of all US states, almost all US cities and towns, the entire US interstate system, most major state highways, all medium -sized lakes in the US, US National parks. The European base map adds city and major street data for most Eastern European countries, with very little detail for most Western European countries. An Australian base map is also available with good city and major street detail. There are also marine versions of all of the base maps. These add details about marine navigational aids such as buoys and lighthouses. This marine data does NOT include data for inland water such as lakes and rivers. The Meridian green/yellow comes with a 2MB base map which lacks most of the detail of its bigger 16M B brother. 2MB maps are not available in a marine version. Even if a detailed map is loaded, it is the base map that that is seen when the map screen is zoomed out the base map gives you the birds eye view. If you have a detailed map loaded, but have poor base map coverage, then it is possible to see the streets of a city and not be able to see the name of the city itself. The cost of your Meridian includes one base map. Although the Meridian Marine is exactly the same GPS as the Gold, it costs more because Magellan had to license the marine POI database. It is possible to upgrade a Gold or Platinum with the marine base map. Although you cannot swap between multiple base maps using an SD card, you can have a single basemap saved on the SD card as basemap.img. Then by using the hidden menu command 86, the file will be uploaded into the internal memory (replacing the current basemap). Note that the current basemap will not be stored elsewhere and you cannot go back to that original basemap (unless you repeat this update process with the original basemap file). This procedure can be handy when traveling to another continent. Magellan has a product out called the Mapsend WorldWide Basemap. The software features a base map of the entire world. Individual regions can be selected and download to an SD card. While loaded, it replaces the internal base map. Its detail is slightly less than the 16MB maps, and far better than the 2MB maps. Once installed, this product is tied to a specific Meridian based on the serial number. Maps created by the program will only function when used on a GPS with a matching serial number. This effectively prevents sharing of the map files. Below is a picture showing the level of USA detail between the Gold basemap, Worldwide Basemap, & Green Basemap. One can see that the Greens 2MB basemap only shows a highway in the upper right corner. The Golds

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Memory Usage How much memory is left?
When using your unit, eventually you will run into memory limits. You can check the percentage of free space remaining for Maps (SD card space), Routes, Waypoints and Track History. To do this, simply press Menu, then select About.
Detailed Maps -- How do I do it?
Detailed maps can provide a lot more detail than the built-in base map. The base map is shown when zoomed out, but the data in the detailed map begins to display when the unit is zoomed it. The detailed map will have every road for an area. The Topo map will also include rough contour lines with elevations (topographical map). The Streets & Destination map will feature POI (Points Of Interest) data which includes restaurants, hotels, golf courses, marinas, tourist attractions, art galleries, museums, gardens, and the like. The first thing that you need is mapping software (described later). You will also need a place to put the maps - the SD card (see above). A SD card writer would also be well worth the nominal investment. After you buy the software, go to the Magellan web site (www.magellangps.com) and check for updates or special instructions for the mapping software. Now youre in business. Using the MapSend software, create up to four different rectangular regions for upload to the GPS. When the regions are uploaded, they will be combined into one file on your SD card. The details will differ depending upon whether you are using a SD writer or the serial port, and on which map software that you have.
Detailed Maps -- What if I dont have a base map?
Sometimes people who own Meridians travel to different continents. It may happen that a person has a North American Meridian, but uses the MapSend European Streets program during a vacation. Conversely, a person with a European base map may travel to America and use the American version of Streets. Unfortunately, problems have been reported in these cases. When the map is zoomed out, you dont see any detail because the base map doesnt contain it. In order to see any roads at all, the map must be zoomed in, which prevents you from getting a birds eye view of the area. Furthermore, the names of the cities and towns are not ever shown, because this data is kept only in the base map. Unfortunately, the only thing you can do to remedy this situation is to upload a different base map to the unit or use the WorldWide base map product.

Detailed Maps -- What software is available?
This section details software listed on the Magellan web site. These detailed mapping packages can be used with any basemap but please note the comments in 11) above. DataSend The DataSend line of products is intended for the Magellan 315 line. They will not work with a Meridian. Do not even try. It is available in an American and European version. MapSend Streets Street maps and limited POI. This is available for the US, and Australia. The Australian version charges a fee for each state purchased. When commenting on the European version, "Skramblr" reported, Maybe Magellan should rename the program to: Mapsend Western Europe, except Ireland, Norway, and Finland. MapSend Streets & Destinations This uses a slightly updated road database that fixes some errors, and is available in US and Canadian versions. It also offers a fairly comprehensive database of POI data, which includes all of the sorts of things that a tourist might be interested in. This version of software is commonly referred to as MapSend S&D. MapSend Topo For the US. Same as MapSend S&D, but adds topographical data. Note that this is rough data, and will not show every little ravine. Apparently, the topographic data has approximately 90M horizontal resolution. If you are planning to do some serious hiking or mountain climbing, don't forget the paper map! MapSend DirectRoute As of this writing, this product is just becoming available. It provides auto-routing with turn-by-turn guidance, will use more accurate NavTech map data, and cover both Canada and the USA. Another
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version is also reported to be coming out for Europe. Note that maps generated with this product are limited to a single GPS serial number. DiscoverAus Streets & Tracks This recently released software package (summer 2003) replaces the older Australian Mapsend products. The older product had to be purchased for the separate states. This new package is more up to date and covers the entire country. Mapsend BlueNav Charts This provides detailed nautical charts, and is available in American and European versions. This is available as a CD which requires a registration and will be usable on only one GPS, and as a SD card, which is copy-protected. Note that SD cards used with this product are restricted to having only a single BlueNav chart loaded. You cannot have any other detailed maps on the card. MapSend WorldWide Basemap This replaces the built-in base map, and is the only way to improve the detail of the base map in the green & yellow models. It is also locked to one GPS. Mapsend Version Note All of the Mapsend software above (except Streets) is available in version 4.xx. Earlier versions cannot download directly to SD cards and are missing some key features (like the track control center). Other Known MapSend Versions Mapsend Streets & Destinations Suomi/Finland, more info at: http://www.magellangps.info/ Copy Protection Note Magellan is actively trying to prevent unauthorized copying of their software products and the maps generated from their products. Unfortunately, this means you cannot backup the CD for the newer software products and you must have the CD in the computer when you start the software. When installed, the GPS also asks for the serial number of your GPS. Maps generated from the product will only load on the GPS with the specified serial number.

the file name is eight characters or less, and that the file name still ends with ".img". If you do not see the ".img" ending, then do not worry because your Windows Explorer settings won't let you change the ending. Once you have done this, use the MapSend software to send another map to the card. Then change the name of this new map also. When you are done, you will have two or more maps on the card, each with a different name. Activating Different Basemaps: If you have the version 3.12 firmware or above, you can hit the MENU button and select CARD UTILITIES. Select CHANGE MAP, and change the entry in Detail Map If you have the version 3.08 firmware (or below), with the Meridian turned off, hold down GOTO and NAV and tap the PWR button. In a couple of seconds you should see a box pop up with "00" inside of it. At this point, release GOTO and NAV. Use the direction pad to change the "00" to a "92" and then press ENTER. A box should pop up with the names of all of the ".img" files on the card. Choose the desired map and press ENTER. After a few seconds, you should have the new map loaded up. It would be worth your time to upgrade to the 3.12 firmware or later.
Detailed Maps -- Can I use non-Magellan software or make my own maps?
No. Not possible in any way, shape or form. It can't be done. It won't work. Don't even ask. Never. Pigs will fly first. Do you get the point now? Actually, the Mobile Mapper version of the Meridian does come with software that will allow you to generate custom maps. The drawback is that the package is not sold separately and the Mobile Mapper is priced out of reach for most customers.
MapSend Topo -- How detailed is it?
MapSend Topo uses a different technique than Garmin when it comes to how the data is stored. In the Garmin topo offering, the topographic lines are stored as actual lines, similar to how roads and rivers are stored. This means that the Garmin topographical data is fixed as how it is presented. Magellan, on the other hand, overlays a grid over the whole country. The height is known at every point on the grid. Because of the way that the data is organized, it can be stored quite compactly, probably using techniques borrowed from image compression. This means that a lot of topo data can fit into a relatively small space. This also allows the Meridian to do such tricks as showing the elevation along a route, and to change contour lines from meter to feet. Conventional paper topographical maps have a stated VERTICAL resolution, where each line represents a change in elevation of a certain amount. Magellan Topo, however, has a HORIZONTAL resolution of 90 meters. This means that the grid that Magellan uses has approximately 90 meters between points. If the elevation changes by 2 or 2000 feet in 90 meters, this will be known to the GPS. The disadvantage of this is that details smaller than 90 meters cannot be seen. An improved version of the Topo software was reportedly to be available around April, 2003. Instead, the interface was updated to version 4.20 and the map data remains the same. A complete review of MapSend Topo can be found at http://www.gpsinformation.net/exe/maptech/mag-topo.html

If you save tracks on your PC, you can upload them back to the GPS next time you want to hike or paddle or drive the same route. Tracks have a 2000 waypoint limitation before it will start writing over the oldest track points. One users trip recipe First, I check out the area using the aerial and topo maps from QuakeMap. I tried using MapSend, but the maps arent all that accurate, and the process is incredibly cumbersome. The only real use for MapSend IMHO is to load detail maps to the Meridian GPS, which no other software can do. Then I create a route that I think might be interesting by clicking on the map. I upload the route using the serial connection and specifying a baud rate of 57600.
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When I arrive at the starting point, I clear all the tracks out of the internal memory of the Meridian (Map Screen: Menu>Clear Tracks, or from other screens, Menu>Setup>Clear Memory>Tracks), so that my route will start fresh. I also reset the trip odometer (Position screen>Menu>Reset Trip), so Ill know how far Ive traveled. Then I hike or paddle or drive keeping an eye out for the next waypoint. The MeriPlat beeps when I get close to a waypoint (tap Enter to make it stop) and then its on to the next. If I miss a waypoint, the unit moves on to the next. The whole time, of course, Im recording a track. When I get home, I download the track into QuakeMap, which immediately zooms me in to see my trip on an aerial photo or topo map. I can annotate waypoints and print it. I can even annotate waypoints with urls to photos that Ive uploaded to the web, and then send the file to someone else who can see exactly where Ive gone (the map) and what it looked like (the photos). If I want to keep the track for later uploading and future trips, I can also download it to MapSend and save it. Editors Note on Mapsend DirectRoute: This new software package will create turn-by-turn, shortest distance street routing. The process detailed above will still be useful for off-road adventures and custom street routes.
Fun things to do with your GPS
Try geocaching! Find hidden treasure with your GPS. Using the coordinates and clues provided, find the hidden container. Once found, sign the book, leave a prize, and take a prize. It is that simple. There are t wo main geocaching sites. http://www.geocaching.com is the first, and the largest. It will likely have a cache in your area. http://www.navicache.com is newer and smaller, but has a friendly laid -back atmosphere. Being the smaller one, it needs your support (monopolies are bad things). For something different try GeoDashing! No boxes, no prizes. Just seeing who gets there first for points. Each game, which lasts a month, consists of a computer randomly generating coordinates. The sooner that you get to a Dash point, the more points you get. Team play is also offered. Check it out at http://geodashing.org/ MinuteWar is a strategic game where the earth is the playing field. There are four teams, and teams attempt to go to random locations similar to GeoDashing. However, going to locations allows your team to control those squares. You may find more information at http://minutewar.org/ The degree confluence projects goal is to get a picture at every point on Earth where the location is described by integer degrees. More information is at http://www.confluence.org/ A good link to many GPS games can be found at http://gpsgames.org/ Note: the GeoDashing and Minute War websites are now hosted at the GPS games site - http://gpsgames.org/

That's it! When the upload is finished you will again have your basemap in the Magellan. Your unit may need initialization.
Basemap Replacement (Green & Yellow)
This is the procedure that works for uploading a different basemap in a Meridian GPS (Green or Yellow) as provided by toine_stokbroekx. I've tried several ways and combinations without success until I did it this way. Thanks to Jon for providing a crucial hint. What I used: - firmware 4.03 - MAGUP 1.20 - eu_b100.img (basemap) - serial data cable step 1: clear memory Very important. Turn on the unit and clear memory by pressing MENU from any screen, select `Setup', `Clear Memory', then select `All' and `Yes'. The unit will turn off automatically. step 2: Get to upload menu 98. When your Meridian is turned off, hold down GOTO and NAV and tap the PWR button. In a couple of seconds you should see a box pop up with "00" inside of it. At this point, release GOTO and NAV. Use the direction pad to change the "00" to the number 98. Press enter. step 3: Select basemap upload. step 4: start MAGUP
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Select no when asked for software upload. In Expert menu: - Select expert mode on - Select Meridian GPS In the file menu: - Select Database file option and then the base map file to upload Select Upload Select "basemap only" Select "upload basemap" Step 5: Reinitialize

Base Map Backup

Here are the instructions on how to back up the base map in your Gold/Marine/Platinum/Color. This has been tested with v3.08 and v4.02 firmware. Note that it is not possible to backup the base map in a Green or Yellow. Also, all commands must be in ALL CAPITAL LETTERS. Setup of the Meridian 1. 2. 3. 4. It might be easier to find the right file if you remove the SD card. Connect the Meridian to the PC. Switch the Meridian on, make sure that the battery life indicator is over 50%, and turn off the NMEA output (Menu > Setup > NMEA > Off). Set the baud rate to the desired value (any value will do, but remember that the PC should be set at the same baud rate, see below). If too many errors occur, the baud rate can be reduced, but then it takes much more time to download (with 115200 bps it takes about 15 minutes).
Setup of the PC 1. 2. 3. 4. Start Hyperterminal: Start > Programs > Accessories > Communications > Hyperterminal. Make a new connection (or open the saved connection from a previous session and go to step 8). Connect Using: Direct to Com1 (or Com2, whatever Com port your MAP330 is connected to). Click OK. Port settings: Bits per second: equal to Meridian setting Data bits: 8 Parity: None Stop bits: 1 Flow control: None On the advanced button you can adjust the receive and transmit buffer (putting both buffers on Low should be fine). Click OK. Now click the Disconnect icon to stop the communication between Hyperterminal and the meridian at this point, as we first need to check some other communication settings. Some of these settings may not be relevant at all, others are very relevant. Anyway, the settings below have proven to work and so are listed here. In Hyperterminal, click the Properties icon and choose the Setting Tab. Keys act as: Windows-keys backspace key sends: CTRL+H Emulation: Autodetect Telnet terminal: ANSII Backscroll buffer lines: 500 Next, Click ASCII: Check 'Send line ends with line feeds' (this one is very relevant!)

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Check 'Echo typed characters locally' Set both delays to 0 milliseconds Check 'Append line feeds to incoming line ends' Uncheck 'Force incoming data to 7-bit ASCII' Check 'Wrap lines that exceed terminal width' Click OK twice to close the two windows 7. 8. Now connect to the Meridian (click on the Call icon) and type the following line into the window

$PMGNCMD,FIL,FIRST,*6B

The unit will then respond with the name of the first file. This is usually the base map. On a Meridian with v4.02 firmware and the American Marine map v1.03, the response should be:
$PMGNFIL,FIRST,OK,1,BASEMAP.IMG,013124.00,09,05,102,10000,15406836*32
In the above example, the filename is BASEMAP.IMG. 9. If you wish, you can enter in a line repeatedly to get an entire listing of the memory contents. This listing will include the contents of the SD card. The line to enter is:

$PMGNCMD,FIL,NEXT*1A

When you get a response of $PMGNCMD,END*3D then you have a listing of all files and there are no more to be displayed. 10. The next step is to download the base map. If the basemap is called BASEMAP.IMG, then the line to enter is:
$PMGNCMD,FIL,DOWNLOAD,BASEMAP.IMG*01
If the basemap is NOT called BASEMAP.IMG, you will have to construct your own line, and compute the checksum (the checksum is the last field in the line; e.g. 01 in the example above. At the Magellan Meridian Yahoo Group (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Magellan_Meridian/files), you will find Hex Checksum.zip. Download this and follow the instructions in order to get the correct line checksum. 11. Go to Transfer > Receive File, and select the 1K Xmodem protocol. After that, name the basemap file that you will be receiving (I recommend using the same suffix as Magellan uses:.img) 12. The file transfer should start now, and progress can be monitored (with a baud rate of 115200, it takes about 30 minutes), but I have found in noisy environments that a baud rate of 4800 may be required to get through without errors. That's it! When the download is finished you will have a basemap file that can be uploaded to the unit, using magup.exe. It should be noted that ANY serial terminal program that supports Xmodem can be used.
Build your own Trail Maps
The following section was original contributed by jelf_gps and contains some minor edits. It expands on the subject matter of How do I actually use the GPS? with detailed procedures for turning tracks into trail maps. This post will show you how to make your own maps that can be displayed on the Meridian's screen. This technique is based on editing the GPS track file on your PC. By editing the track file you can easily build a map of your favorite trail system. Also, this technique will show you how to eliminate the straight line that the GPS often draws between two different tracks. This procedure assumes you have a memory card and a card reader and you are running firmware 3.12 or later. Step 1 - Data collection Go to where you want to begin creating your map. Display the map screen and clear the track (menu - clear track). Travel along the trail you want to include in your map. Save the track you recorded (menu - card utilities - save track). You will be asked to enter a file name. The track you just recorded will be saved on the memory card and given the file name that you enter.

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Step 2 - More data collection Go to the start of another trail you want to include on your map. Display the map screen and clear the track. Travel along the trail. Save the track giving it a different file name. Step 3 - Edit the data you collected to make the map The 2 track files you created on your memory card are DOS text files. In this step you will combine those two files into one file to begin making your map. You can keep adding to this file (and thus refining your map) as you travel on and collect data on more trails. Pop the memory card out of your GPS and slip it into your card reader. Fire up your favorite ASCII text editing software. Microsoft's notepad will work fine. (I would tell you that I used WordPerfect Office 2002 as my ASCII editor to figure all this out but at least half of you would ROFL). Create 1 file that contains both of your track files. This is the start of the file that contains the map you are building. Tip #1 The first line in this file must be a valid line from one of your track files. Tip #2 Any line other than the first line can be a comment line. Since the Magellan track file complies with the NMEA standards, any line that begins with a single apostrophe is a comment line. You might want to separate each trail segment you add to this file (your map file) first with a blank line and then with a line giving the name of the following trail segment. The blank line and the trail name line must begin with a single apostrophe. Find the first line of the second track you added to this file. Copy that line so it appears twice in this file, one right after the other. Now edit the first occurrence of that line by (1) changing the time of day so it is at least 4 hours later than the last line of the previous track in this file and (2) changing the lat/long to anything. (Editors note: This is done to prevent the drawing of a line between the last trackpoint of the previous track and the first trackpoint of the next track.) Recalculate the checksum for the line you just changed. The files section of this forum has a utility that will do this. Download and unzip the file Hex Checksum.zip Run this program and follow the instructions. Edit the line you changed so the checksum is correct. (Editors note: Ive found that this procedure appears to work fine without modifying the Checksum). Save your edits and copy this new file onto your memory card and give it a name. The name must be a DOS 8.3 name. (I'm not sure if lowercase letters are allowed, maybe not.) Tip #3: Here is the record layout for the lines in a track file. This info is from the file mag-proto-2-7.zip which is posted in the files section of this forum. Example line: $PMGNTRK,4536.571,N,12320.804,W,00491,M,213631.17,A,,021102*65 The first data field in this message is the Latitude, followed by N or S. The next field is the Longitude followed by E or W. The next field is the altitude followed by "F" for feet or "M" for meters. The next field is the UTC time of the fix. The next field consists of a status letter of "A" to indicate that the data is valid, or "V" to indicate that the data is not valid. The last character field is the name of the track, for those units that support named tracks. The last field contains the UTC date of the fix. Tip #4: Doing the edits described above will cause the Meridian to NOT draw a line on the GPS screen connecting the two tracks. Step 4 - Load the map onto your GPS Pop the memory card into your GPS and fire it up. Clear current track and use the card utilities to Load Track. Load the file you created which combined the two tracks you collected. Your map is now displayed on the screen. Step 5 - Add to your map Whenever you want to add to your map, go to where you want to start recording a new trail. Clear track Travel the trail. Save the track you just created onto the memory card.

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Repeat step 3 to add this new trail segment onto your map. Have fun with this and be sure to let the rest of us know if you figure out any improvements/enhancements to this technique.
Change the Meridian icons.
Do you wish you had geocaching icons? Maybe you dont have a use for wineries and would like to make a symbol for your favorite brew pub? There is a utility to change the icons stored in the Meridian. In the files section of the Meridian group is a utility called Meridicon. This utility will display and allow you to edit the icons in the Meridian firmware files. Note that you must use the tool with the appropriate CSV file for your firmware version. Your firmware version doesnt have a CSV file? The author has also provided a tool that allows you to search a new firmware file and locate the correct addresses for the icons. This tool is called iconfinder. More detail can be found by downloading these programs from the files section of the Magellan Meridian users group.
How do I measure the distance between two points?
This method was offered by Wyatt: 1. On the map screen hit menu and scroll down to vertical profile. Hit enter. 2. Scroll down to "path check" and hit enter. This will take you back to the map screen. 3. Move to where you want it to start measuring and hit the goto button once (for less than 2 seconds). 4. When you move the cursor you can see the distance to where you just hit the goto button.
Can I use rechargeable batteries?
Not only will Meridians operate from rechargeable batteries, but it is highly recommended. Rechargeable batteries (Nimh or NiCad) will save lots of money, as youll not burn thru boxes of disposable alkalines. Look for charge ratings in the 1800 mah or higher for best results. One side effect will be a very short low battery warning. The time between the unit signaling the alarm for low battery and the unit shutting itself down will be very short. So when that alarm goes off, you have less time to replace the batteries than you will with alkalines. This is due to rechargeable batteries maintaining a relative constant charge until depleted. Another is the charge meter will never show a full charge. This is due to the lower operating voltage of rechargeables (1.25v vs. 1.5v). Jacek M. Holeczek offered up these links for some tests and opinions on rechargeables: http://www.imaging-resource.com/ACCS/BATTS/BATTS.HTM http://www.imaging-resource.com/ACC1.HTM http://www.steves-digicams.com/nimh_batteries.html http://www.steves-digicams.com/digi_accessories.html

What is the Simulate function for?
The simulate feature is used for demonstration purposes and to help in checking software communication. When activated, your GPS acts as if it is receiving satellite signals and moving. When connected to software, you can verify the GPS functionality with the software without having to get an actual satellite lock. This is very helpful when inside buildings. There is a process to create your own routes for the simulator. Jelf_gps provided these instructions: This post will show you how to use the simulate feature together with your own route. Here are some simple steps you can perform to experiment with this feature: Step 1 Create a waypoint at the location cursor or hourglass. Create a few other nearby waypoints for use in your route. Tip - To quickly create these waypoints use the arrow keys to steer the crosshair somewhere and then hold GOTO
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down. Tip - do not name these waypoints SIM001, SIM002, etc Step 2 Use these newly created waypoints to build a route. This must be done as route #20. Menu>Routes>up-arrow will get you to route #20. First delete any route currently in route #20. Begin your route with the waypoint you took at the present cursor or hourglass location. Add your other waypoints to the route and then save the route. Step 3 Start the simulation. Menu-Setup-Simulate-Auto Your waypoints and route should appear on the screen. After a short pause the cursor should start moving along your route. Step 4 (Credit for this step goes to jvavrus2000) Start the simulation. Menu-Setup-Simulate-Auto Once in simulate do the following: Menu->Setup->Initialize->Enter Coord Enter the coordinates you wrote down for the first waypoint in your route. Use ENTER to go through all the other fields (altitude, time, date). The unit will now be in simulate mode at the location you specified for initialization and moving toward your first waypoint.

Setting up a User Grid

The meridian has several pre-programmed coordinate systems. It also has the option to specify a User Grid. This allows you to setup the GPS coordinates to match maps built on different coordinate systems. The user manual is severely lacking in a description on how to use this feature. Assistance on State Plane Coordinate systems can be found here: http://gpsinformation.net/state-plane-mag.html. Additional grids here: http://gpsinformation.net/main/usr-grd1.htm
Use Mapsend WW Basemap with BlueNav Charts
Sportfishingshop offers this solution: Many international users, especially those that want to use the BlueNav marine charts, are facing the problem of the internal basemap not having any, or very little, information for their country of use. This is the case for Greece, and as far as I know some European northern countries. One possible walk around is to purchase the WWBaseMap CD and upload a detailed chart to an extra SD memory card. If you put aside the cost of purchasing the SD chart, this solution is satisfactory only if you dont plan to use any marine charts. The BlueNav charts require a dedicated SD card that comes along with the BlueNav CD kit. So in order to use the marine charts, you have to remove the SD card with the detailed WWBaseMap chart of your country. If you remove the SD card with the detailed WWBaseMap chart, using the marine charts is a nightmare. For example at zoom levels over 3-5 miles whole islands are missing from the screen, only to appear suddenly when the zoom level is less than 2-3 miles! What a great way to navigate, thinking that nothing lies ahead only to discover that a whole island was actually in the way! I have found a solution that allows me to use the WWBaseMap detailed chart as my unit's internal base map. In this way when using the marine charts information is displayed correctly, with islands appearing at higher zoom levels where they should be. The required steps (not necessarily carved in stone since this was my first attempt and it seemed to work) 1. Use WWBaseMap CD and prepare a chart area of your choice. Choose to upload the chart to your local hard disk and not to the GPS. 2. Using windows explorer rename this chart to something meaningful for you, leaving the.img ending unchanged of course.

Troubleshooting -- Topo, Streets and SD Cards
The Topo and Streets products were originally released before the Meridian was designed. This means that earlier versions of these products do not know that maps can go on a SD card writer. Magellan has posted a document that describes how to fix this.
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Copying Files to an SD Card Reader Manually from MapSend 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. Without connecting your Meridian to a PC create your regions and begin the map download process. When the map compilation part of the download process is done, MapSend will display a message that it cannot find your GPS receiver to perform the download. Stop the process here by selecting "Cancel". Using Windows Explorer, go to Program Files/Magellan/MapSend/Export and locate the file called "maps.img". Copy this file to the SD card using USB card reader. Do not create any folders within the SD card where you place this file. Your Meridian will always looks at the top, or "Root", level within the card. Rename the file to "DETAIL00.img" Remove the card and place it in your Meridian. You can use your Meridian as you would normally from here.
Troubleshooting SD Cards and Windows XP
The root of this problem is that any SD card formatted using Windows XP will NOT work in a Meridian GPS receiver. The solution is to use your Meridian to format the card. The card can be formatted from the Card Utilities menu. Note that formatting will completely erase the card. This is not something that you want to do in the middle of the woods! Note that the Meridian completely ignores the Lock switch on the SD card itself! Update This problem is reported to be fixed in the latest firmware updates, version 4.51 or later.
Troubleshooting Map Size Limits
Thanks to "jvavrus2000" With the 3.08 version of the Meridian firmware, size restrictions on the size of map files have been removed. However, the existing MapSend software does not know this, and will try to restrict the size of maps unless told otherwise. First, using Windows Explorer, navigate to the MapSend installation directory. This should be under C:\ Program Files\Magellan. Open the MAPSEND.INI file using your favorite text editor. Inside this file, there is a parameter called "Conv_Memory_Size" which is the maximum region size in bytes. Multiply this number by four, and you should be able to have much larger regions. If this line does not exist, then add the following line (case sensitive) under the [Device Defaults] section:

Conv_Memory_Size=65536

Note that the larger the region is, the longer your computer will take to process this region. Processing a 64MB region is likely to take a very long time. You are much better off making smaller maps, and loading multiple map files on your SD card, as described in question 13. Large maps do have some side effect. The larger the map, the more likely the map is to suffer from corruption. Maps larger than 30MB are prone to corruption and very large maps can result in slow screen updates (Topo seems to be more sensitive to this than S&D). To minimize the chance of corruption during map generation, run the Mapsend software to create the maps and do not run any other programs, surf the net, check your email nothing, nada, nil. Dont even think about touching your computer.

Troubleshooting Meridian Green or Yellow Loss of Waypoints and Routes
There is a Troubleshooting that affects only the base 2MB Meridian (Green or Yellow) model. If any waypoint, route, or track data is added or edited, this data will be lost if the Meridian does not have a proper power down (for example, having the batteries die). This means that if you add a waypoint, and then your batteries die before turning the unit off, then your waypoint will be lost. The fix is to turn your unit off and then back on after adding any waypoints or routes. This is due to the type of memory used in the 2MB model, and does not affect the Gold, Platinum, or Marine models. The latest firmware updates are supposed to have reduced this effect somewhat, but the best security for your data is to save your data to the SD card. That way, if you should lose this information you can still restore the data from the SD card.
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Troubleshooting Screen Spots
Some users have reported that the backlight on their Meridian began to develop dark discolored spots. These spots are only visible when the backlight is turned on. Magellan has apparently fixed the problem that caused this to happen with new units, and has promised to fix the problem under warranty for existing units (even if the unit is no longer under warranty). Contact Magellan if this happens, and arrange for the problem to be fixed.
Troubleshooting -- My Platinums Compass Doesnt Calibrate
Sometimes you can calibrate your compass on the Meridian Platinum and it still point the wrong direction often 180 degrees the wrong direction. Also, when you try to calibrate the compass it may be very difficult to get the bubble in the right location at the beginning of the calibration process. A quick fix when direction is off by 180 degrees is to toggle the Compass Orient in the setup menu to GPS Course and then back to Magnetic North. These issues can also be resolved by performing the additional calibration procedure as detailed in the supplemental manual for the Platinum (pages 7 10). You can force the GPS to initiate this process by using hidden menu 21. To execute the steps it is important to have the printout of these pages at sight, because while doing the 9 steps of the procedure you cannot see the commands on the screen in all the necessary positions. - edmaurer2002

If you absolutely insist on using the serial port to download map data to your Magellan & 128MB SD card, then there may be a way. Using a SD card writer, copy a junk file to the 128MB card large enough to reduce the free space to around 90MB or so. Then, a serial download should work. This may be useful for people who have an old laptop without a USB port, but still want to download fresh maps away from home.
Where to go for more information
If you have other questions about your Magellan Meridian, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Magellan_Meridian/ The best source on the internet for general GPS information is: http://gpsinformation.net/
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Credits & Thanks

Some parts of this document were based on data and assistance provided by the following people. If you feel that you should be included in this "Credits" section, please e-mail me. Members can be found at the Magellan Meridian Yahoo Group. bradleymsuter ClayJar Daniel de Wildt edmaurer2002 Fred Merchant geo_alexm georockers gmcaddon hedoor hedorr Jacek M. Holeczek Jack Yaezel jelf_gps jvavrus2000 luis_scsc mgmatt2001 Randy Tippetts Reitgruppe Robert Lipe Skramblr Sportfishingshop toine_stokbroekx Wyatt
Special thanks to Linda Day, for her Tech Writer skills in reviewing this document (for defunked grammer some uf us kant writ so good)
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