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Magellan Meridian FAQ
Version 2.0 – 10/31/2003
Version 1 by Kevin Harrelson
kevin@harrelson.com
Version 2 by Dan Surratt
skramblr@hotmail.com
Updated info provided by the Meridian group members
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Magellan_Meridian
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Table of Contents: 1) Introduction 4 2) Which model for me? 4 3) Various Models -- What's the Difference? 4 4) Difference between Magellan SporTrak and Meridian GPS receivers? 4 5) What does the compass and barometer on the Platinum do? 5 6) Memory and Maps – The Overview 5 7) Base Maps -- What's the deal? 6 8) Where do I find basemaps? 7 9) Memory Expansion (SD Card) -- How do I do it, and what's it for? 7 10) Memory Usage – How much memory is left? 8 11) Detailed Maps -- How do I
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55) Troubleshooting – My Battery Compartment Door does not fit right. 27 56) Troubleshooting – The contact area on my unit is missing its cover. 27 57) Troubleshooting -- Mapsend won’t read tracks/waypoints from SD card 27 58) Troubleshooting – SanDisk SD Card Incompatibility 28 59) Troubleshooting -- COM Port is ‘Busy’ 28 60) Troubleshooting -- Mapsend is taking forever to generate a map 28 61) Troubleshooting -- Topo Map Size 28 62) Troubleshooting -- 128MB and larger SD Cards 29 63)
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1) Introduction This document covers the most commonly asked questions about the Magellan Meridian line of mapping GPS receivers. At the time of the writing of this document, the most current firmware version was 5.12 for the Gold/Platinum/Marine, 4.05 for the Green/Yellow, and 5.12 for the Color. Some sections of this FAQ that discussed problems with firmware previous to 4.02 have been removed. If you have an earlier version, we strongly suggest that you upgrade. Most firmware upgrade
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however, is that the SporTrak has no SD card support, which means they are 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 (handy if you’re going on a long driving vacation and you don’t have a laptop along to reload your GPS. With the Meridian,
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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). C
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16MB version has many large roads and river details. The Worldwide basemap shows only a few more roads than the 2MB map, but does have contour lines. 8) Where do I find basemaps? Basemaps were provided by users and stored over on Navicache.com and an FTP server. In the summer of 2003, Magellan made a request that the base maps be removed from those sites. So, there is currently no permanent site for storage of the base maps. Some basemaps appear on Firmware Update CDs or on a Mapsend So
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10) 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. 11) 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
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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 Ameri
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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
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19) Combining Mapsend Products (Method 1 – Australia Mapsend Streets) The Australia MapSend Streets has separate versions for each state. Users may want to combine data from multiple states into a single directory, so they can create maps that span state lines. This procedure is from a mail posted by hedorr, Modifying MapSend to accept maps from other installations. When installing Mapsend from a CD the program is installed in its own folder. Subsequent installations are installed in sep
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21) What other software is available. There are many other programs available that can communicate with the Magellan Meridian. As stated before, none of them will allow detailed maps to be uploaded to the Meridian. However, other programs can provide a surprising amount of functionality. Most software will allow you to transfer tracks, waypoints, and routes between the PC and the Meridian. Many mapping programs that run in a PC, Mac, or PDA can obtain a position from the Meridian and
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little screen to see where it says I am, and then I look out the window of the car to see if we’re really driving in the Pacific Ocean,” which was what one user said when she took her new GPS to Hawaii. First, you have to understand the difference between routes and tracks. Routes A route is a trip you plan, shown by “waypoints” (specific points noted by longitude and latitude) connected by a solid line. There are three basic ways to lay out a route: • Lay out your route on the GPS itsel
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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 I’ll know how far I’ve 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 it’s o
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27) What are all of these secret menus? Magellan built a bunch of secret menus into the GPS. These are supposedly for testing and to try out new functionality. There are two ways to access the hidden menus: § If 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 of the menu that you want, and
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28) Secret Key Combinations Below is a list of secret key combinations. NOTE: Do NOT use any of these key combinations unless told to do so elsewhere in this document. Some of these may erase the memory of your unit or do other nasty things which will cause your unit to not work. They are included simply to make this FAQ a complete reference. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE do NOT use the following table unless you know exactly what you are doing. Secret Key Combinations KEYS TO PRESS EFFECT
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Save the file and start up Topo or S&D, mark your regions, save to disk and move to the memory card and start up your Magellan Meridian and you should see the new screen just before the "Lawyer" screen. Unlike the “Lawyer” screen modification, this one is simple and does not involve manipulating the firmware. It is 100% safe. Note: You cannot have blank lines or lines filled with spaces. I've had as many as 8 lines. More than that just won't show up on the Magellan's Screen. With 8 li
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MagUp software was designed to prevent this type of upgrading. The MagUp software is available with the latest firmware update package available from the Magellan web site. Setup of the Meridian 1. Connect the Meridian to the PC. 2. Switch the Meridian on to make sure that the battery life indicator is over 50%, modify the baud rate if you want to, and then switch off the Meridian. 3. Press NAV and GOTO simultaneously while switching on the Meridian. 4. A small rectangle appears, put i
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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 34) 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 ma
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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. Now connect to the Meridian (click on the Call icon) and type the following line into the window $PMGNCMD,FIL,FIRST,*6B 8. The unit will then respond with the name of the first file. This is usually the base map. On a Meridian with v
