Has anyone tried the Magellan Meridian Marine handheld GPS?

[Mr. Sandman]

I am looking for a back-up GPS for the boat and one that will double to hook into a laptop for live directions in the car using the delorean street software. I am about to pull the trigger and buy this unit...has anyone used this one? (or care to comment on the one they have?)

[gf2020]

I have one that I purchased exactly a year ago when they first came out and I'll confess I have not even used it. My plans to purchase a boat this past season did not pan out.

Contact me directly, I would be interested in selling it at a significant discount.

[Megabyte]

Just bought a Garmin GPSMAP76. Only had it a week.

Was told by several "salespeople" that the GPSMAP 76 and GPSMAP176 (a little pricey for my backup gps) can download map charts BlueChart maps & MapSource maps. It uses WAAS. Uses 2 AA batteries and has car adapter.

It's light. good size screen. Also has moons, tides, etc. builtin. Includes electronic compass. Has PC interface cable (serial, so I'm going to get a serial to USB adapter for it.

Haven't downloaded any maps yet.

[Van]

Sandman,

I am pretty sure that is the unit have as a back-up.

I bought quite a few years ago so it is not WAAS or DGPS.

But it will give the lat/lon if my chartplotter craps out in an emergency.

I have used it for navigation (GO TO waypoint, and it was fair) no comparison with the new chartplotter though.

Battery operated so it is good to keep onboard, I also keep a handheld VHF for the same reasons.

[Mr. Sandman]

Van, et al,
I ordered it after reading a lot of user reviews on the web. Found it on-lie for about 250 + shipping. It is a lot like the platium version but more waterproof, floats and has some basic bouy and nav stuff built in. You can also load a 64MB memory card and downlond quite a bit detailed Nav and or highway information. Also as a 12v cig power adaptor and nice dash mount. This is strickly a backup and something I will carry around when out with others (to target good fishing spots!) I will also take in the car as well. Want to couple it with some auto/nav/mapping software I use to check out the voice commands...("turn left NOW! kinda thing)

I was on a charter boat a year or so ago on a serious togging trip fishing off of some wreck and when the capt finally positioned the boat right on top of them (took two or three times to get it exactly where he wanted it)...all of the paying customers whipped out their handhelds and logged the spot. I felt under-gunned.

I like the way this one fits in my hand better then the garmin units. Both seem more-than fine for a backup.

[TheSpecialist]

I have the Garmin76map. I bought it when it came out. It also has nav aids built in for each location. You can get sun and moon rise, as well as tide info right off the unit. It is a WAAS unit. It has magor us roads and hiways built in, and they can be augmented by the cd rom.