After losing an older Meridian Marine, I decided to make use of my software and buy this unit since I LOVED the previous model for a few years. When I received this model it seemed to be working fine when I initialized it. It came with antique version 4.02 firmware, marked from 2002. The unit refused all my software (specifically uploading REGIONS off the Topo, Nav, and World Basemap discs) until I upgraded the firmware to anything above v.5. When I tried to install v5.34 from the CD or v. 5.40 which I downloaded, it kept freezing and wouldn't accept the firmware. I then called tech support (NOT open 24/7!...just California time 6am-5:30pm, weekdays). I spent a total of 3 hours on hold during my 4 phonecalls!!!! The obviously outsourced "tech experts" (trained British accents, probably in Pakistan) then repeatedly walked me thru the same steps to fix the problem as though they were encountering them for the first time! I even got the same guy twice. One said I'd get a callback the next day at 7:30 PM New York time. It never happened. After giving up, one of them transferred me to a "senior-technician" who did no better. After even she gave up, she said she had to look up something and would call me back within 30 minutes. Guess what....It never happened (again)! No matter how great the unit might be, I will never do business again with a sleazy excuse for a professional Company named Magellan (Thales Communications). Even the "worldwide basemap", which I bought the unit for, only gave me an OUTLINE of Panama...no roads, no nothing!! In all my 58 years, with all my toys (boats/radar/stereos,medical electronics, cameras, etc,etc, etc), this is the single WORST response I've ever had to asking for HELP, especially on a BRAND-NEW product!
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