magellan gps accessories

Does anyone know how you get more detailed maps in the Magellan eXplorist XL GPS?

I want to get my son a handheld GPS for Christmas so he will have maps when he travels in the Military but the unit I am testing only has my region loaded in it. It won't help him one bit to have Oregon maps if he's stationed somewhere else (which he will be). I don't know anything about adding maps into the units. I am sure it's as easy as hooking up a cable but: Where do you get the maps to begin with? Is there a download site? Do you have to buy the maps? Where would you buy them? How much would they cost? Would they have detailed maps of countries such as Iraq (because I know he will end up there eventually)? Thanks

Public Comments

1. I've looked at eXplorists before and was not impressed with their apparent inability to connect to a computer (at least on the base model). I have an older Magellan Meridian that uses a SD memory card, so it can be loaded from a PC using a SD card reader. The Meridian has a problem with the stainless steel wires it uses as battery contacts disconnecting from the circuit board, which causes the whole unit to go dead. It can be fixed by bending the wires with long-nose pliers, but it's inconvenient. Maps can be added to some GPS units, but the maps generally have to be purchased. I got a deal on the topo maps for my GPS, as they only cost $25 after a $75 rebate for buying the $100 maps along with the GPS. However, my maps cover only the United States. I looked for maps of other countries but couldn't find much available in a format that is compatible with my GPS. As the use of the technology becomes more widespread, maps of more parts of the earth should become available, but I'm not sure about Iraq. Even without detailed maps, it is usually possible to enter enough waypoints to have important locations appear on the GPS display.