Topo USA by AccuTerra is a comprehensive detail map package for Magellan Triton 400 and higher, and Explorist GPS receivers. It was developed by Intermap Technologies exclusively for Magellan. It is not only a highly detailed map package that includes street-level maps and numerous other features, but a huge searchable database of millions of points-of-interest, which show up on the GPS display as icons representing ATM's, restaurants, motels, parks, bodies of water, and many other types. It also displays elevation contour lines and altitudes markings on the screen at the highest available magnification.

Topo USA by AccuTerra downloads to your Magellan GPS as a detail map which covers a large region of the United States. There are eight separate regions available, and each region costs $59.00. A single package is available containg the entire United States, which runs about $150.00. In order to purchase it, you have to register the serial number of your GPS online. Then, the region of choice, or the full package. The map is encrypted for your specific machine, and delivered electronically. After you download a copy to your computer hard drive, you then transfer it to your GPS using the USB data cable and VantagePoint, or you can load it on an SD-RAM card. The download is a self-extracting archive, which includes your regional map and an instruction file. The download takes a bit of time, which varies by the region you are requesting. Transferring the map to your unit is very quick, as is copying to the SD-RAM.

This is a very exciting product for Triton owners. It provides an exhaustive collection of detailed street maps, trail data, and reference information for outdoor recreation enthusiasts, including trailheads, campgrounds, water sources, and lots of other neat stuff. It addresses a deficiency in Triton GPS units that other recreation devices from Garmin and DeLorme already enjoy, which is street mapping and locating Points of Interest by distance and type.

AccuTerra displays maps up to the highest available zoom level. Topographical contour lines, streets, and POI markers are all visible. POI's can be searched by type or distance. Routing is provided, but is rudimentary at best, giving a direction indicator and a straight line to the selected point on the map. Voice prompting, sreet directions and turn-by-turn routing are not available. In the field, it works very well. The street names and points of interest seem to be very complete, although some landmarks may be referred to as Lake or River. As you scroll the pointer around, it identifies each place with a popup text block, even specific businesses in many places.

As mentioned previously, this product is exclusive for the select Magellan devices. It eliminates a major objection to purchasing a Triton GPS for recreational uses. You will need to buy the 400 or higher, since the 200 and 300 lack memory expansion or onboard memory capacity for such a massive program. This product really makes a Triton GPS valuable, and it should be standard on all compatible units.

If you buy or already own a Triton 400 or higher, and you don't plan to use National Geographic TOPO, Nerds in the Wood highly recommends this product. Without on-screen maps, a GPS loses much of its usefulness, although knowing your location and eeping a record of your trail can be handy. Topo USA by Accuterra is also easier to use than TOPO! by National Geographic, since you load it at one time, it is always available, you can search for landmarks directly on the unit, and it provides graduated contour lines. TOPO USA by Accuterra is a very useful add-on that will tremendously expand te usefuleness of your compatible GPS.