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I have used my MAP 330 in both the left lower and right lower corner of the windshield using the Magellan suction cup mount, and it performed just fine. I don't recommend the right side because it is over the passenger airbag - I just set it there to see if there was any difference in performance. The unit works fine held upright in the passenger's lap, but it may lose satellite lock if allowed to slip down to the seat cushion (when there is a passenger), or if it is placed on the center console. I think it's very important to keep the antenna in a place with a clear view of a window.
I _think_ the cup-holder in the dash would be ok to use, though the antenna doesn't have a very complete view out the windshield. The problem is that the power cradle might not fit there, so you would have to run off batteries, and that is unsatisfactory for any long distance, and you would have to fabricate some sort of padding to keep the unit from flopping around - it is a very loose fit. I have never tried using mine there because of these reasons.
I recommend the suction cup mount on the driver's side. It definitely looks non-factory, but it works great and is not in the way of any controls. (I added a double power receptacle at the bottom of the dash, near the hood release handle, so I don't have to route the power cord all the way across to the factory power receptacle.)
The problem with using _any_ small screen portable gps is that it's hard to read details on the screen with the unit three feet away - for serious navigation in a strange place, you have to remove the device from the cradle and hand it to your passenger to push buttons and study things. You should not be doing that anyway, as driver.
I keep the software upgraded continuously - it's easy with a pc and internet access. It is now WAAS enabled and it works fine here in Washington State. I'm not sure what the "D" symbol is - if I have ever had it, I don't recall noticing. I don't usually watch the info screen - I leave my unit on the map screen or the nav screen (which has 4 user programmable read-outs - mine is set to heading, speed, altitude and time).
I think if I were starting over I would buy a Meridian Gold, since it has a built in base map that is twice as big as the MAP 330, and the other memory is wayyyy bigger (up to 64 MB vs 8MB). If I were a back-packer, I would get the Platimum version which adds an electronic compass, so you can take bearings and see which way you are facing if you aren' moving, and a baraometer, which is useful for weather forcasting.
You can alter the memory biase in the MAP 330. As delivered, you get a little less than 8 MB for detail maps. By uploading the "small base map" that can be found at the following link, you can get room for up to 14 MB of detail loacl maps, at the expense of losing much of the built in details for the rest of the country.
Yahoo has discussion forums for the major gps models. Here is one for the MAP 330. It should be easy to find the ohers. Post you concerns and see what folks say - some seem very knowledgable and some seem clueless ;)
BTW, if this discussion continues we should do it by e-mail - we are getting WAY off topic.
Good luck.
posted by 64.38.1...
, Thu, 14 Feb 2002 16:21:07
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