My magellan SUCKS

[rick]

OK after 13 months my explorist 400 takes a crap. Called Magellan and they say oh it's 13 months old no warranty. Costs $129.00 to fix plus shipping cost.
At least I think that is what she said, Iv'e heard 1 year olds that speak better english than her.
She had me try to clear memory by pushing nav, menu and power all at the same time but I get same message.
The problem is when I turn it on It reads press enter to configure NAND
press esc to cancel. When I push either all I get is a blank screen. It doesn't turn off just goes blank.
Iv'e probably used this thing 5 times in the last year and 3 times it stopped working as soon as I got in the woods. On those occasions i took out battery and put it back in and that fixed problem.
Anyhow I am officialy on record saying don't buy anything Magellan.
Any one with gps knowledge have any ideas what I can do to fix this thing.
Can't see paying 140.00 to fix it when I paid 200.00 for it new.
Thanks,
Rick

[hitechman]

Try these sites for an answer--the code 95 menu option has worked for most, but it erases the basemap (which can be downloaded free from Magellans website. Seems to be quite a problem for Magellans. You'll have to join groundspeak (www.geocaching.com) with a free membership to be able to read the forums (#2 below)..............and you might even fing geocaching a lot of fun in the process.

You might want to invest in a Garmin or Lowrance unit...both get good reviews in this and other forums. "Anyhow I am officialy on record saying don't buy anything Magellan." I agree!!!!

1) http://www.gpsfaqs.org/faqs/magellan/explorist/exploristxl/issues.html

2) http://forums.groundspeak.com/GC/lofiversion/index.php?t154254.html

3) http://home.comcast.net/~fabienroyer/MeridianHiddenMenus.pdf#search=%22%2Bmagellan%20%2 Bhidden%20%2Bmenu%22

Hope this helps.

Steve

[rick]

Thanks hightechman. I was able to get rid of nand problem but so far have been unable to reload basemap or anything else to unit. I haven't given up yet though and think I will get it eventually. I do have acess to menu now so that's a start. When I try to upload to gps I get gps can't be found?
I will let go know how it turns out
thanks again.

[hitechman]

site. They may have updated USB drivers (I know Garmin does) that you will have to download so your computer will find your GPS. Or call Magellan again. tell them what you did to get it working, and what the problem is. Most base maps are junk anyhow--I have mine turned off in my Garmins.

Glad you got it working. As you may have seen on the web pages, this seems to be a common problem with the Magellans.

Steve

[tdejong302]

Ironic that you need help someone on this forum to fix your problem. Customer service sucks today. I'm surprised companies haven't learned from the past that service keeps consumers instead of driving them away.

Good luck with your unit.

[rick]

Finally all is well in gps world. Groundspeak people did the trick.
I still think magellans customer service sucks. They refused to walk me through the steps to get it up and running and I was ready to send it in for repair and finally was able to figure it out with the help of the members of groundspeak.
Thanks hitechman for the link and the menu commands. It got me back where magellan could have easilly gotten me and saved me $140.00 bucks. I owe ya one.

[hitechman]

got your problems fixed. I was glad to be of help, but you did all the footwork.

Steve

[sfw1960]

got your problems fixed. I was glad to be of help, but you did all the footwork.

Steve
Yeah - I'm not too sure about that Steve , if it wasn't for guys like you - that have a little better understanding of these techY devices (like yourself) the less experienced folks would have to be at the mercy of the companies poor practices.
Looks like ya saved Rick over a hunerT buX from where I'm standin' !
Thanks for being here and being helpful!
:D
Robert
:D

[rick]

Yeah - I'm not too sure about that Steve , if it wasn't for guys like you - that have a little better understanding of these techY devices (like yourself) the less experienced folks would have to be at the mercy of the companies poor practices.
Looks like ya saved Rick over a hunerT buX from where I'm standin' !
Thanks for being here and being helpful!
:D
Robert
:D

Well put: These guys don't have to take time out of there day to help people they don't even know but they do. Believe me, alot won't and it so most appreciated. I put on the forum at groundspeak that I just didn't have the skills to fix this thing and I was sending it in and they would'nt here of it, said they would walk me thru it and they did.
Hope I can do the same when it comes to my speciallty witch is; woops forgot what that is!
Anyhow thanks again.

[M1Garand]

got your problems fixed. I was glad to be of help, but you did all the footwork.

Steve

Steve I'll just say you're a class act! ;)

[sfw1960]

Steve I'll just say you're a class act! ;)

Hey!!
You're a pretty good egg yourself there M1......


Now where did all my bird seed go??.....

:evilsmile

hey Rick , I'm kinda a sonar/gps frEEk of sorts - but Steve must use his to find the BED at night!!!!

:yikes:
:lol: :lol:

[hitechman]

You've got me :one_eye: blushing. I'm glad to help when I can, just like many on MS have helped me when I've asked.

Over the years, I've treated my GPSr's like others treat their American Express card--never leave home without it. Give me some coords and I'll get there--to heck with the directions. I wish more businesses would publish their location (coords) on their website and in the phone book.

I owned a Magellan once, but had similar problems as discussed above. Went to Garmin and, so far, no problems. I have no idea about their (Magellan) quality/customer service today, and am unable to provide specific directions for them as I just don't know. Same for Lowrance--DanP has brough me up to date on them and they seem like great units as well--but I know very little about their operation as well.

I think I've owned every Garmin ever made (well, most of them anyhow). Garmins maps leave a little bit to be desired--wish the maps by all manufactures were "one size fits all".

My wife used to complain because she has a very poor sense of direction, but now, when she's on the road, she has a GPS with her--even got her and my grandson into geocaching (a fun little sport I partake in when there is nothing else to do--gets me off my **** when I would otherwise be a couch potato.

You guys should check out the new Bushnell's that an aerial photograph can be loaded into--I can definitely see an Onix-400 in my future.

Take care all--now to fire up my GPS so I can find the bed for a nap!!:lol:

Steve

[M1Garand]

Hey!!
You're a pretty good egg yourself there M1......


Now where did all my bird seed go??.....

:evilsmile



Thanks sfw1960...I gotta go fill my feeders..:evil: