Figure 8: Magellan Maestro 3100, Left

Figure 9: Magellan Maestro 3100, Back

Maestro has a single internal speaker, located at the rear of the unit. This Magellan is quite a bite louder than previous devices; the speaker is loud enough that the unit can be easily heard (distortion-free), even when traveling at highway speeds.

Figure 10: Magellan Maestro 3100, Right

The power button, USB connector, headphone (3.5mm mini jack) jack, and power input are located on the right side of the Maestro 3100.

Figure 11: Magellan Maestro 3100, Top

Magellan's logo adorns the top of the Maestro.

5. GPS Signal Strength: The Mighty SiRF

All three Magellan Maestro models (4000, 4040, and 4050) use SiRF's high performance SiRF Star III 20-channel GPS receiver. This chipset is extremely sensitive and able to maintain solid signal reception even when driving in challenging situations, such as dense urban environments (behind tall buildings), bridges, and canyons. In fact, in my testing I was able to get a strong signal even indoors. The integration of SiRF's chipsets into the latest generation of in-car navigation systems has been a watershed event for GPS manufacturers and made GPS navigation significantly more reliable.

Prior to SiRF, line-of-sight to the sky was required to receive GPS signals, resulting in less than optimal GPS performance in many situations. SiRF's chipset has ushered in a new era of GPS performance, allowing signals to be acquired quickly and maintained while driving. Make sure to check that any new GPS you buy uses SiRF's chipset. I'm always amazed that people continue to buy GPS devices that are old and outdated and sometimes even cost more than the newer devices with SiRF chipsets -- even from the same manufacturer.

Despite the enormous success of SiRF's chips, there has been a recent shift away from SiRF, as manufacturers continue to search for ways to cut costs. I'm pleased to see Magellan has used the more expensive (and highly effective) SiRF StarIII GPS receiver on the Maestro.

6. Mounting the Maestro 4040 in the Car

Figure 12: Magellan's Windshield Mount, Attached to Windshield

Mounting the Maestro in the car is a simple process. First, locate an area on the windshield where you'll be able to see the Maestro but will not obstruct your view of the road.

At the base of the mount is a lever that is used to tighten the suction cup to the glass, creating a solid connection. To properly attach the windshield mount, clean the area of the glass that you will be connecting the mount to, then hold the mount so that the suction cup is flat against the mounting area and push the lever down to lock it into place.

Figure 13: 12v Cigarette Lighter Power Adapter, Plugged In

The 12v adapter widens slightly at the base, so in my car I had to turn it upside down to clear the ash-tray lip.