If you're into serious navigation, you'll want to check out the Magellan Meridian Platinum GPS receiver. It adds an electronic compass for continual direction guidance and a barometer to keep you abreast of weather changes. Combine these features with an easy-to-use interface and you have a very versatile tool.

As long as you're moving, GPS can indicate your direction, but when you stop, it can't tell you what way you're facing. A mechanical compass can always show your direction and is worth having. But the electronic compass built into the Magellan Meridian Platinum is more convenient. Since it's electronic, it's insensitive to movement or vibrations and unlike its mechanical brother, you can hold it at any angle and still get an accurate reading.

Knowing the direction you're heading isn't the only information you need when navigating. And the Meridian Platinum provides further help with a 16 MB North American basemap. The map data is sufficient to get you from town to town or out of town to a park or recreation area. For driving around town, you'll need to get street-level maps which can be loaded on an optional Magellan Secure Digital (SD) memory card. You can store up to 128 MB of data with these cards and because they're replaceable, it gives you access to unlimited number of maps.

Using the Magellan Meridian Platinum is made easy with its simple layout. The two keys closest to the display control the zoom function so you can see more or less map detail. The next key, going clockwise, is the Enter key which confirms data entry or menu selection. The Menu key accesses menus and route functions. Next is the power switch which also controls the display backlight. The GOTO key is used to create a direct route to any waypoint and to mark a position. The Nav key is used to select the navigation screens. The last small key is used to cancel an operation. Controlling the cursor for selecting menu items and marking the map, is the large key in the center.

To ensure maximum position accuracy, the Meridian Platinum is Wide Area Augmentation System (WAAS) enabled and Differential GPS (DGPS) ready. Use of DGPS requires a separate beacon receiver, but WAAS is ready to go. When WAAS is used, the position error is less than three meters for at least 95% of the time. Even without using WAAS, the 12-parallel channel receiver is accurate to within seven meters.

You have a choice of customizable navigation screens with the Magellan Meridian Platinum. The most often used, is the Map Screen. This displays your position on the map and a dotted line showing your path since the track history was last cleared. This screen, like others, has two data fields that can show your choice of 13 kinds of trip data. In addition to the Map Screen, there are screens for directional readings, screens showing your speed, odometer and position information, a screen with a road ahead view, and a GPS satellite signal status screen. You also have a choice of 12 map coordinate systems, 76 datums, and even which of 9 languages the text is displayed in.