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Magellan Meridian FAQ – Version 2.0
Page 14 of 30
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 on to the next. If I miss a waypoint, the unit moves on to the next.
The whole time, of course, I’m 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 url’s to photos that I’ve
uploaded to the web, and then send the file to someone else who can see exactly where I’ve 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.
Editor’s 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.
24) 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 project’s 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/
25) What if I don’t use Windows?
If you don’t use Microsoft Windows, you are to be congratulated for making a wise decision. MapSend has been
reported to work well on a 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).
26) WAAS - What it is, do I need it, and can I turn it off?
WAAS stands for Wide Area Augmentation System. This system is still experimental. The Meridian can pick up
special WAAS satellites (shown by a “W” on the satellite screen) which transmit various correction factors. There
are several ground stations in the US which pick up the GP S signals and calculate these correction factors. If you
can pick up a WAAS signal, are relatively close to a ground station, and are in the open (no overhead obstructions),
then WAAS may improve accuracy. Sometimes WAAS has been known to decrease accuracy
To turn off WAAS, 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 "03" and then press ENTER. A few boxes should pop up. Press ENTER to
turn a "YES" to a "NO" (all boxes will change simultaneously). You may need to use the three-finger salute
(simultaneously GOTO, ESC, and ENTER) to get the unit to turn off. Then, when you turn it back on the WAAS
satellites should not be visible in the satellite screen. Note that the boot screen will still say "WAAS."