Magellan Meridian Frequently Asked Questions Manual
Magellan meridian faq user manual
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Summary of Contents for Magellan Meridian
- Page 1 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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Page 2: Table Of Contents
Detailed Maps -- Why are they so bad? Detailed Maps -- How do I use more than 1 map file? Detailed Maps -- Can I use non-Magellan software or make my own maps? MapSend Topo -- How detailed is it? MapSend Topo -- Where do I find the 4.20 patch for my v3.xx Topo? - Page 3 Troubleshooting -- Mapsend is taking forever to generate a map Troubleshooting -- Topo Map Size Troubleshooting -- 128MB and larger SD Cards Where to go for more information Credits & Thanks Magellan Meridian FAQ – Version 2.0 Page 3 of 30...
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Page 4: Introduction
Marine can be placed in either the Platinum or the Gold. Furthermore, European and Australian base maps exist which can fit in the Gold, Platinum, or Marine. Note that Magellan does not condone the sharing of base maps on the internet, although they do occasionally send out copies of base maps on firmware update CDs or with Mapsend Products. -
Page 5: What Does The Compass And Barometer On The Platinum Do
(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... -
Page 6: Base Maps -- What's The Deal
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. -
Page 7: 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. -
Page 8: Memory Usage - How Much Memory Is Left
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. -
Page 9: Detailed Maps -- Why Are They So Bad
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. -
Page 10: Detailed Maps -- Can I Use Non-Magellan Software Or Make My Own Maps
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. -
Page 11: Combining Mapsend Products (Method 1 - Australia Mapsend Streets)
US basemap) will ONLY show when you zoom in quite close (0.4 mi?). You will be able to see the region rectangle on the display when zoomed out too far to see the detail map. Magellan Meridian FAQ – Version 2.0 Page 11 of 30... -
Page 12: What Other Software Is Available
(IE, Palm’s Hotsync). When using software OTHER than Magellan Mapsend, you MAY need to set your GPS to transmit one of the various types of NMEA data (from the setup menu). Just like a person might be able to speak English, French, or Spanish, your Magellan knows how to speak Magellan-ese (NMEA off) or one of the various NMEA dialects. - Page 13 Map Screen: Menu>Clear Track), and then record a new track. When you get home, you can download tracks from the Magellan to MapSend or to one of the other programs. Once again, there are two ways to download your tracks: Connect your Magellan to the PC and download via the serial cable.
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Page 14: Fun Things To Do With Your Gps
Macintosh with “Virtual PC” and a USB-serial converter. Linux users can reportedly use “VMWare” to run MapSend. And of coarse there are also non-Magellan GPS applications that can communicate with the Meridian (although they cannot upload maps). -
Page 15: What Are All Of These Secret Menus
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"... -
Page 16: Secret Key Combinations
Upgrading the "Lawyer" screen The Meridian contains a screen that basically states that it is not the fault of Magellan if using this GPS causes you to get killed. There is a way to modify the firmware of the Meridian so that, instead of the Lawyer screen, it will display your name, phone number, e-mail, and whatever else you want it to say. -
Page 17: Emergency Firmware Restoration
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 lines you should be able to place some advertising for Pepsi or Coca- Cola, except for the darn "Database Copyright Notices"... -
Page 18: Basemap Replacement (Green & Yellow)
Upload > OK > choose 'Base Map Only' > Check 'Upload File' Now uploading will start. With 115200 bps, this will take approximately 30 minutes. That's it! When the upload is finished you will again have your basemap in the Magellan. Your unit may need initialization. -
Page 19: Base Map Backup
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!) Magellan Meridian FAQ – Version 2.0 Page 19 of 30... -
Page 20: Build Your Own Trail Maps
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 “... - Page 21 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.
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Page 22: Change The Meridian Icons
Your firmware version doesn’t 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 user’s group. -
Page 23: Setting Up A User Grid
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. Magellan Meridian FAQ – Version 2.0 Page 23 of 30... -
Page 24: Troubleshooting -- My Gps Is Shutting Down Every Few Minutes
3. Use the standard Magellan software (MagUp) for uploading firmware fixes. Select Expert Upload (press no to the default question to upload firmware), select Meridian as your GPS unit and the port the GPS is connected to. Press save. 4. Choose Expert Upload and select Upload firmware and basemap. For basemap select the chart you have previously prepared with the WWBaseMap CD. -
Page 25: Troubleshooting -- Mymeridian Reports "Bad Data
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. -
Page 26: Troubleshooting - Sd Cards And Windows Xp
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. -
Page 27: 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). -
Page 28: Troubleshooting - Sandisk Sd Card Incompatibility
Mapsend says the port is busy. This sometimes occurs on systems with Windows XP, even though Magellan claims they are 100% compatible with XP and have been unable to duplicate this problem. Rebooting the system clears the problem, but for only one upload/download operation (then it’s ‘Busy’ again). The fix for this problem is to change the baud rate from the default 4800 to something higher. -
Page 29: Troubleshooting -- 128Mb And Larger Sd Cards
Remove the card and place it in your Meridian. You can use your Meridian as you would normally from here. 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. -
Page 30: 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.