Magellan SporTrak Pro Waterproof Hiking GPS Review

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(More customer reviews)I did a lot of research before purchasing a GPS receiver. The choice came down to Garmin's eTrex Vista and Magellan's SporTrak Pro. I purchased both with the intention of returning one. There was definitely a difference, not only in quality, but also in price. I am VERY pleased with the SporTrak Pro. Let's face it the two things that matter most in a receiver is 1) ability to pick up and hold satellite signals, and 2) accuracy. For this reason, I was VERY disappointed in Garmin's eTrex Vista (which I will be returning).
From my experience, the SporTrak Pro is far more accurate than the Vista and I rarely have problems holding satellite contact (even in our home). The Vista, on the other hand, kept losing my position even in minimal tree coverage. The SporTrak directed me right to the position I was searching for (within 1-5 feet). The Vista had me far off the mark and my position kept jumping around. When you do lose satellite contact with the Vista, it does not track your route. The SporTrak fills in those gaps if you lose contact.
The Vista is definitely "cooler" looking and a bit smaller, but smaller is not always better. Save yourself money and headaches and choose the SporTrak Pro.
NOTE: One reviewer noted that his SporTrak pro made a humming noise when the backlight was on. I have noticed that too, but it's not that loud and it does not bother me.

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The Magellan SporTrak Pro is a feature-rich, fun, and easy-to-use GPS receiver designed for the serious navigator. Its rugged, waterproof, and ergonomic design is perfect for the outdoorsperson needing a compact but powerful navigator.
Included in SporTrak Pro is a 9 MB North American basemap of highways, major roads, parks, waterways, marine navaids, buoys, lighthouses, and more. An additional 23 MB of built-in memory is included for downloading detailed maps from Magellan's MapSend line of CD-ROMs. With Wide Area Augmentation System (WAAS) support, the SporTrak offers readings with up to a three-meter accuracy.
The large display, along with a front facing 9-key keypad, makes it easy to use in any environment. SporTrak Pro software includes seven graphic navigation screens, storage for up to 500 waypoints and 20 routes, a best fish and game time calculator, and BackTrack for finding your way home after a long trip into the woods.
The SporTrak Pro runs on two AA batteries for up to 14 hours. It's housed in rubber-armored, impact-resistant plastic that's waterproof and also floats.
The WAAS differenceWAAS is a system of satellites and ground stations that provide GPS signal corrections, giving you even better position accuracy. How much better? Try an average of up to five times better. A WAAS-capable receiver can give you a position accuracy of better than three meters 95 percent of the time. And you don't have to purchase additional receiving equipment or pay service fees to utilize WAAS.
How it Works WAAS consists of approximately 25 ground reference stations positioned across the United States that monitor GPS satellite data. Two master stations, located on either coast, collect data from the reference stations and create a GPS correction message. This correction accounts for GPS satellite orbit and clock drift plus signal delays caused by the atmosphere and ionosphere. The corrected differential message is then broadcast through one of two geostationary satellites, or satellites with a fixed position over the equator. The information is compatible with the basic GPS signal structure, which means any WAAS-enabled GPS receiver can read the signal.
Who benefits from WAAS? Currently, WAAS satellite coverage is only available in North America. There are no ground reference stations in South America, so even though GPS users there can receive WAAS, the signal has not been corrected and thus would not improve the accuracy of their unit. For some users in the U.S., the position of the satellites over the equator makes it difficult to receive the signals when trees or mountains obstruct the view of the horizon. WAAS signal reception is ideal for open land and marine applications. WAAS provides extended coverage both inland and offshore compared to the land-based DGPS (differential GPS) system. Another benefit of WAAS is that it does not require additional receiving equipment, while DGPS does.

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