User manual BRUNTON ATLAS-MNS

ATLASMNSTM Handheld Mapping GPS Receiver Operation Instructions Copyright © 2005 Brunton All rights reserved. No part of this manual may be copied, reproduced, republished, transmitted or distributed for any purpose, without prior written consent of Brunton. Any unauthorized commercial distribution of this manual is strictly prohibited. AtlasTM and Brunton® are registered trademarks of Brunton MapCreateTM, FreedomMapsTM and IMSTM are trademarks of LEI. Fishing Hot Spots® is a registered trademark of Fishing Hot Spots Inc. Navionics® is a registered trademark of Navionics, Inc. DURACELL® is a registered trademark of Duracell, Inc. RAYOVAC® is a registered trademark of Rayovac Corporation. Energizer® and e2® are registered trademarks of Energizer Holdings, Inc. Points of Interest Data in this unit are by infoUSA, copyright © 2001-2004, All Rights Reserved. infoUSA is a trademark of infoUSA, Inc. eXitSource Database, copyright © 2001-2003 Zenrin Co. Ltd. Exit AuthorityTM and eXitSourceTM are trademarks of Zenrin Co. Ltd. Brunton may find it necessary to change or end our policies, regulations and special offers at any time. We reserve the right to do so without notice. All features and specifications subject to change without notice. All screens in this manual are simulated. For free owner's manuals and the most current information on this product, its operation and accessories, visit our web site: www.brunton.com 620 East Monroe Riverton, WY 82501 307-856-6559 Table of Contents Section 1: Read Me First!............................................................. 1 Capabilities and Specifications: Atlas-MNSTM ................................. 2 How Atlas Works ............................................................................ 4 Introduction to GPS and WAAS...................................................... 5 How to use this manual: typographical conventions ...................... 7 Arrow Keys.................................................................................. 7 Keyboard..................................................................................... 7 Menu Commands ....................................................................... 7 Instructions = Menu Sequences ................................................. 8 Section 2: Installation & Accessories......................................... 9 Power.............................................................................................. 9 Batteries.......................................................................................... 9 Battery Installation .................................................................... 10 Cigarette Lighter Power Adapter .................................................. 10 NMEA Cable Connections ............................................................ 11 MMC or SD Memory Card Installation.......................................... 12 To remove an MMC .................................................................. 12 To add an MMC or SDC ........................................................... 13 InfoCardsTM .................................................................................... 14 External Antenna .......................................................................... 14 R-A-M® Bracket Mounting System ............................................... 15 Other Accessories ........................................................................ 16 Section 3: Easy Mode Operation............................................... 17 Keypad.......................................................................................... 17 Power/lights on and off ................................................................. 18 Main Menu .................................................................................... 18 Pages............................................................................................ 19 Satellite Status Page................................................................. 19 Navigation Page........................................................................ 20 Calibrate Compass ................................................................... 22 Compass Menu......................................................................... 24 Map Page.................................................................................. 24 Atlas-MNSTM Easy Mode Quick Reference .................................. 28 Find Your Current Position ........................................................... 29 Moving Around the Map: Zoom & Cursor Arrow Keys ................. 29 Selecting Any Map Item with the Cursor ...................................... 30 Searching...................................................................................... 30 Set Home Waypoint...................................................................... 32 Navigate to Cursor Position on Map............................................. 33 Navigate to a Point of Interest ...................................................... 34 Creating and Saving a Trail .......................................................... 34 Displaying a Saved Trail ........................................................... 35 i Navigating or Backtracking a Trail................................................ 36 Visual Back Trailing .................................................................. 36 Navigate a Back Trail................................................................ 36 Clearing or Erasing a Trail ........................................................ 38 Transfer Custom Maps and GPS Data Files ................................ 38 Custom Maps:........................................................................... 38 GPS Data Files: ........................................................................ 39 Switch to Advanced Mode ............................................................ 41 Switch Back to Easy Mode from Advanced Mode.................... 41 Section 4: Advanced Mode Operation...................................... 42 Keypad.......................................................................................... 42 Power/lights on and off ................................................................. 43 Main Menu .................................................................................... 43 Pages............................................................................................ 43 Satellite Status Page................................................................. 43 Status Menu.............................................................................. 44 Position Page / SLEEP Mode ................................................... 44 Position Menu ........................................................................... 45 Naviagion Page......................................................................... 46 Compass Menu......................................................................... 48 Map Page.................................................................................. 48 Map Menu ................................................................................. 49 Moving Around the Map: Zoom & Cursor Arrow Keys ................. 49 Find Distance From Current Position To Another Location.......... 50 Find Distance From Point to Point................................................ 50 Find Your Current Position ........................................................... 50 Icons ............................................................................................. 51 Create Icon on Map .............................................................. 51 Create Icon at Current Position ............................................ 51 Delete an Icon........................................................................... 52 Load GPS Data Files from an MMC ............................................. 52 Navigate........................................................................................ 53 Navigate Back Home ................................................................ 53 Navigate Back to Home Waypoint ............................................ 53 Cancel Navigation..................................................................... 53 In Easy Mode: ....................................................................... 53 In Advanced Mode ................................................................ 53 Navigate a Route ...................................................................... 53 Navigate to Cursor Position on Map......................................... 53 Navigate to an Icon ................................................................... 54 Navigate to Point of Interest (POI)............................................ 54 Navigate to a Waypoint............................................................. 54 Navigate a Trail......................................................................... 54 Backtrack a Trail ....................................................................... 55 ii Routes........................................................................................... 55 Create and Save a Route ......................................................... 55 PC-created Routes ............................................................... 56 Routes Created in Atlas ........................................................ 56 Delete a Route .......................................................................... 57 Save GPS Data Files to an MMC ................................................. 57 Searching...................................................................................... 58 Switch to Easy Mode .................................................................... 59 Switch Back to Advanced Mode from Easy Mode........................ 60 Trails ............................................................................................. 60 Create and Save a Trail............................................................ 60 Clear a Trail .............................................................................. 60 Delete a Trail............................................................................. 60 Edit a Trail Name ...................................................................... 61 Transfer Custom Maps and GPS Data Files ................................ 61 Custom Maps:........................................................................... 61 GPS Data files: ......................................................................... 61 Utilities .......................................................................................... 62 Alarm Clock............................................................................... 62 Sun/Moon Rise & Set Calculator .............................................. 62 Trip Calculator........................................................................... 62 Trip Down Timer ....................................................................... 62 Trip Up Timer ............................................................................ 62 Waypoints ..................................................................................... 62 Create a Waypoint .................................................................... 62 Create Waypoint on Map ...................................................... 62 Create Waypoint at Current Position .................................... 63 Create a Home Waypoint ..................................................... 63 Create a Waypoint by Average Position ............................... 63 Create a Waypoint by Projecting a Position ......................... 63 Select a Waypoint ..................................................................... 64 Delete a Waypoint..................................................................... 64 Edit a Waypoint......................................................................... 64 Waypoint Name .................................................................... 64 Waypoint Symbol .................................................................. 64 Waypoint Position ................................................................. 64 Waypoint Altitude .................................................................. 64 Section 5: System & GPS Setup Options................................. 65 Alarms........................................................................................... 65 Auto Satellite Search .................................................................... 66 Check MMC Files and Storage Space ......................................... 67 Com Port Configuration ................................................................ 67 Configure NMEA........................................................................... 68 Coordinate System Selection ....................................................... 68 iii Map Fix ..................................................................................... 70 Customize Page Displays............................................................. 71 Customize Position Page.......................................................... 71 Customize Navigation Page ..................................................... 71 Customize Map Page ............................................................... 71 External Passive Antenna............................................................. 72 GPS Simulator .............................................................................. 72 Simulating Trail or Route Navigation ........................................ 73 Map Auto Zoom ............................................................................ 74 Map Data ...................................................................................... 74 Show Map Data ........................................................................ 74 Popup Map Information ............................................................ 74 Draw Boundaries ...................................................................... 75 Fill Land With Gray ................................................................... 75 Map Overlays (Range Rings; Lat/Long Grid) ........................... 75 Map Datum Selection ................................................................... 75 Map Detail Category Selection ..................................................... 76 Map Orientation ............................................................................ 77 Navionics® Charts......................................................................... 78 To display a Navionics chart:.................................................... 78 Port Information ........................................................................ 79 To view Port Services information: ........................................... 79 Tidal Current Information .......................................................... 80 To view Tidal Current information:............................................ 81 Tide Information ........................................................................ 82 To view tide information:........................................................... 82 Pop-up Help .................................................................................. 83 Reset Options ............................................................................... 84 In Advanced Mode ................................................................ 84 In Easy Mode ........................................................................ 84 Screen Contrast and Brightness................................................... 84 Once in the Screen menu: .................................................... 85 Set Language ............................................................................... 86 Set Local Time .............................................................................. 86 Once in the Time Settings menu: ......................................... 87 Software Version Information ....................................................... 87 Sounds and Alarm Sound Styles.................................................. 88 Once in the Sounds menu: ................................................... 89 Track Smoothing........................................................................... 89 Trail Options ................................................................................. 90 General Trail Options............................................................ 90 Flash Trails on Screen Option .................................................. 90 Update Trail Option................................................................... 91 Update Trail Criteria (Auto, Time, Distance)............................. 91 iv Trail Update Rate (Time, Distance) .......................................... 92 Specific Trail Options ............................................................ 92 Delete Trail................................................................................ 92 New Trail................................................................................... 92 Trail Visible/Invisible and Other Trail Options........................... 93 Units of Measure........................................................................... 93 Section 6: Searching .................................................................. 95 Find Addresses............................................................................. 95 Find Any Item Selected by Map Cursor........................................ 97 Find Home Waypoint .................................................................... 98 Find Interstate Highway Exits ....................................................... 99 Find Map Places or Points of Interest (POI) ............................... 100 Find Streets or Intersections....................................................... 102 Find Waypoints (Advanced Mode only)...................................... 104 Section 7: Supplemental Material ........................................... 107 v WARNING! A CAREFUL NAVIGATOR NEVER RELIES ON ONLY ONE METHOD TO OBTAIN POSITION INFORMATION. CAUTION When showing navigation data to a position (waypoint), a GPS unit will show the shortest, most direct path to the waypoint. It provides navigation data to the waypoint regardless of obstructions. Therefore, the prudent navigator will not only take advantage of all available navigation tools when traveling to a waypoint, but will also visually check to make sure a clear, safe path to the waypoint is always available. WARNING! When a GPS unit is used in a vehicle, the vehicle operator is solely responsible for operating the vehicle in a safe manner. Vehicle operators must maintain full surveillance of all pertinent driving, boating or flying conditions at all times. An accident or collision resulting in damage to property, personal injury or death could occur if the operator of a GPS-equipped vehicle fails to pay full attention to travel conditions and vehicle operation while the vehicle is in motion. vi Section 1: Read Me First! How this GPS and manual can make you a better navigator. We know; the last thing you want to do after buying your new AtlasMNSTM is to look inside the manual. But before you grab the batteries and head outside, please give us a moment or two to explain how our manual and GPS can make you a better navigator. The manual is organized into eight sections. This first section is an introduction to Brunton GPS. It tells you the basics you need to know before you can make the unit look around and tell you where you are. Section 2 will help you get the batteries and MultiMedia Card (MMC) correctly installed in your Atlas. We'll also tell you about some of the accessories available for your unit. Section 3 is the heart of our book, Easy Mode Operation. It will introduce you to the basic GPS functions. This section includes a one-page Easy Mode Quick Reference. (If you've already figured out how to load the batteries yourself, and you just can't wait any longer, turn to the Quick Reference on page 28 and head outside with your Atlas!) The rest of Section 3 contains short, easy-to-scan lessons that follow one another in chronological order. They're all you'll need to know to find your way in the wilderness quickly. Easy Mode operation will meet the navigation needs of many users. But, after you've learned the basics (or if you already have some GPS experience), you may want to try out some of Atlas's many advanced navigation features. That brings us to Section 4, Advanced Mode Operation. After we introduce the Advanced Mode menus and submenus, this section contains the rest of Atlas's command functions, organized in alphabetical order. When you come to a GPS menu command on the Atlas screen, you can look it up in the manual by skimming over the table of contents or index, just flipping through Section 3 or scanning through the command portion of Section 4. Atlas is ready to use right out of the box, but you can fine tune and customize its operation with dozens of options. We describe how to use general system options along with GPS options in Section 5, System Setup and GPS Setup Options. This section covers all operation modes. In Section 6, we go into more detail on one of Atlas's most remarkable capabilities -- Searching. We'll introduce a couple of search examples in both the Easy and Advanced Mode sections, but there are so many map items you can search for, we had to give this function its own section in the manual! For example, did you know Atlas can look up business phone numbers, functioning as a virtual Yellow Pages? We'll show you how in 1 Section 6. Finally, in Section 7, we offer Supplemental Material, including a list of the GPS datums used, warranties, and customer service information. Now, if you're into the fine details, glance over the next segment on specifications to see just how much GPS power you hold in your hand. It's important to us (and our power users), but if you don't care how many waypoints Atlas can store or how long the batteries last, skip ahead to important information on how Atlas works, on page 4. Capabilities and Specifications: Atlas-MNSTM General Display:..............................3" (7.3 cm) diagonal high contrast Film SuperTwist. Resolution:........................240 pixel x 180 pixel resolution; 43,200 total pixels. Backlighting:.....................White LED screen backlighting for night and low-light viewing. Input power: ........................3 volts DC (two 1.5v AA batteries); operates up to 12 hours on batteries when using one-second position updates (longer update rates further extend battery life, but will reduce GPS accuracy). Case size:..........................5.6" H x 2.5" W x 0.9" D (142 x 65 x 25 mm); water resistant to IPX-2 standards. Weight: .................................. 8.48 ounces (242 grams) with alkaline batteries. GPS Receiver: ...........................Internal, 12 parallel channel GPS+WAAS; external active or passive antennas optional. Active Antenna Voltage: .............................3 volts DC. Recording: ........................Removable MMC or SD memory cards for recording GPS trip details, displaying custom maps, upgrading operating system software and transferring trip data to personal computer without a slow serial connection. MMC slots: ........................One, inside battery compartment. Accepts nonproprietary MMC or SD memory cards. 2 Background map:.............Built-in custom, detailed Brunton map. Contains: low-detail maps of the whole world (containing cities, major lakes, major rivers, political boundaries); and medium-detail maps of the United States (containing all incorporated cities; Interstate, U.S. and state highways; Interstate highway exits and exit services information; large- and medium-sized lakes and streams.) Custom mapping:.............Accepts custom, higher-detail MapCreateTM mapping on memory cards, with searchable Points-of Interest database of hotels, restaurants, shopping, services, topographic information, hunting areas and more. Navionics® charts on MMC cards optional. Mapping memory: ............Up to 512 MB on one MMC (MultiMedia Card) or SD (Secure Digital Card.) Position updates: .............Every one second. Position points: ................2,000 waypoints; 1,000 event marker icons. Graphic symbols for waypoints or event marker icons:....................42. Routes: ..............................100; up to 100 waypoints per route. Plot Trails:.........................99 savable; up to 9,999 points per trail. Scout Plots: ......................100 savable scout plots. Home: ................................HOME feature precisely marks Home location with special icon, then automatically displays navigation data to that position. Audible alarms: ................Arrival/off-course/destination passed/anchor. Com Port: ..........................One serial communications port, NMEA 0183 version 2.0 compatible. Allows exchange of position data with another device, such as an autopilot or personal computer. Optional combination serial/power cable available. Zoom range:......................40 ranges; 0.02 to 4,000 miles. NOTE: The above memory capacities refer only to Atlas's on-board memory. The amount of GPS data you can record and save for recall later is only limited by the number of MMC cards you have. 3 How Atlas Works You'll navigate faster and easier if you understand how Atlas scans the sky to tell you where you are on the earth -- and, where you're going. (But if you already have a working understanding of GPS receivers and the GPS navigation system, skip on ahead to Section 2, Installation & Accessories on page 9. If you're new to GPS, read on, and you can later impress your friends with your new-found knowledge.) First, think of your Atlas as a small but powerful computer. (But don't worry -- we made Atlas easy to use, so you don't need to be a computer expert to find your way!) The Atlas includes a keypad and a screen with menus so you can tell it what to do. The screen also lets Atlas show your location on a moving map, as well as point the way to your destination. This pocket-sized computer also contains an antenna and specialized scanning receiver, something like your car radio. But instead of your favorite dance tunes, this receiver tunes in to a couple of dozen GPS satellites circling the earth. (It will also listen in to the WAAS satellites in orbit, but more about that in the upcoming segment introducing you to GPS and WAAS.) Atlas listens to signals from as many satellites as it can "see" above the horizon, eliminates the weakest signals, then computes its location in relation to those satellites. Once Atlas figures its latitude and longitude, it plots that position on the moving map shown on the screen. While the screen is updated once a second, your Atlas is making these internal calculations and determining its position several times a second! The performance doesn't stop there. Stored in the permanent memory of each Atlas is a basic background map of the entire world. We lock it in here at the factory -- you can't change or erase this map. Another portion of Atlas's onboard memory is devoted to recording GPS navigation information, which includes waypoints, event marker icons, trails and routes. This lets you look back the way you came. Think of this data storage like the hard drive memory in a computer or a tape in a cassette tape recorder. You can save several different GPS data files, erase 'em and record new ones, over and over and over again. Like any computer file, these GPS Data Files (file format *.usr) can be shared between Atlas units, other Brunton GPS or sonar/GPS units, even personal computers. Atlas has one more thing in common with a personal computer. Just as computers have a floppy disk drive for storing and exchanging files, Atlas has a slot for an MMC (MultiMedia Card) or SD (Secure Digital) Card flash memory card. These solid-state memory devices are about the size of a postage stamp, but can hold data ranging from 8 MB to 512 MB in size. (Compare that to a floppy disk's 1.44 MB capacity!) Atlas uses all that 4 MMC space for two key purposes. First, you can backup your onboard GPS Data Files by copying them to the MMC. Since the MMC is removable (like a floppy disk or a cassette tape), you can store these GPS Data Files on a personal computer equipped with an MMC card reader. (Or store them on a pocketful of MMCs, if you don't have a computer.) Our MapCreate mapping software can save, edit or create its own GPS Data Files, which can be copied to the MMC and then loaded from the MMC into Atlas's memory. (NOTE: No matter where they come from, GPS Data Files must be loaded from the MMC into memory before Atlas can use them.) The other key GPS use for MMCs is storage of special high-detail, custom maps, which you can produce on your computer with our MapCreate software. These MapCreate custom maps contain much greater detail than the basic background map. These Custom Map Files (file format *.lcm) can also be shared between Atlas's, other Brunton GPS or sonar/GPS units and personal computers. You make your own Custom Map Files with our MapCreate software, but you don't have to. We also sell ready-to-use InfoCardsTM. These custom maps are pre-loaded on MMCs. (No computer work required!). Atlas automatically reads Custom Map Files directly from the MMC or SD Card. To use a custom map, all you need to do is slide an MMC containing a map into the unit. Introduction to GPS and WAAS Well, now you know the basics of how Atlas does its work. You might be ready to jump ahead to Section 2, Installation & Accessories, on page 9, so you can install the batteries. Or you might want to see how our text formatting makes the manual tutorials easy to skim. If that's the case, move on to "How to Use This Manual" on page 7. But, if you want to understand the current state of satellite navigation, look over this segment describing how GPS and its new companion WAAS work together to get you where you're going. The Global Positioning System (GPS) was launched July 17, 1995 by the United States Department of Defense. It was designed as a 24-hour-a-day, 365-days-a-year, all weather global navigation system for the armed forces of the U.S. and its allies. Civilian use was also available at first, but it was less accurate because the military scrambled the signal somewhat, using a process called Selective Availability (SA). GPS proved so useful for civilian navigation that the federal government discontinued SA on May 2, 2000, after the military developed other methods to deny GPS service to enemy forces. Reliable accuracy for civilian users jumped from 100 meters (330 feet) under SA to the present level of 10 to 20 meters (about 30 to 60 feet.) 5 Twenty-four satellites orbit 10,900 nautical miles above the Earth, passing overhead twice daily. A series of ground stations (with precisely surveyed locations) controls the satellites and monitors their exact locations in the sky. Each satellite broadcasts a low-power signal that identifies the satellite and its position above the earth. Three of these satellites are spares, unused until needed. The rest virtually guarantee that at least four satellites are in view nearly anywhere on Earth at all times. A minimum of three satellites are required to determine a 2D fix. The system requires signal reception from three satellites in order to determine a position. This is called a 2D fix. It takes four satellites to determine both position and elevation (your height above sea level -- also called altitude). This is called a 3D fix. Remember, the unit must have a clear view of the satellites in order to receive their signals. Unlike radio or television signals, GPS works at very high frequencies. These signals can be easily blocked by trees, buildings, an autoHomeile roof, even your body. Unlike most GPS receivers, the Atlas MNS has a digital compass built inside. This aids in navigation drastically as you will not need to be in motion to determine direction of travel. GPS alone is plenty accurate for route navigation, but the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration has special aircraft navigation needs that go beyond basic GPS. So, the FAA has developed a program to boost GPS performance with its Wide Area Augmentation System, or WAAS. The FAA commissioned the system on July 11, 2003. WAAS is designed to increase GPS accuracy to within 7.6 meters vertically and horizontally, but it consistently delivers accuracies within 1-2 meters horizontal and 2-3 meters vertical, according to the FAA. It does this by broadcasting correction signals on GPS frequencies. Your unit automatically receives both GPS and WAAS signals. 6 However, there are some fringe areas of the U.S., including parts of Alaska, that do not yet receive robust WAAS coverage. Continued WAAS development is planned to extend WAAS coverage in the years to come. WAAS boosts the accuracy of land GPS navigation, but the system is designed for aircraft. The satellites are in a fixed orbit around the Equator, so they appear very low in the sky to someone on the ground in North America. Aircraft and vessels on open water can get consistently good WAAS reception, but terrain, foliage or even large man-made structures can sometimes block the WAAS signal from ground receivers. You'll find that using your GPS receiver is both easy and amazingly accurate. It's easily the most accurate method of electronic navigation available to the general public today. Remember, however, that this receiver is only a tool. Always have another method of navigation available, such as a map or chart and a compass. Also remember that this unit will always show navigation information in the shortest line from your present position to a waypoint, regardless of terrain! It only calculates position, it can't know what's between you and your destination, for example. It's up to you to safely navigate around obstacles, no matter how you're using this product. How to use this manual: typographical conventions Many instructions are listed as numbered steps. The keypad and arrow "keystrokes" appear as boldface type. So, if you're in a real hurry (or just need a reminder), you can skim the instructions and pick out what menu command to use by finding the boldface command text. The following paragraphs explain how to interpret the text formatting for those commands and other instructions: Arrow Keys The arrow keys control the movement of dotted cross-hair lines on your mapping screen called the cursor. The arrow keys also help you move around the Atlas menus so you can execute different commands. They are represented by symbols like these, which denote the down arrow key, the up arrow, the left arrow and the right arrow: . Keyboard The other keys perform a variety of functions. When the text refers to a key to press, the key is shown in bold, sans serif type. For example, the "Enter/Save" key is shown as ENT and the "Menu" key is shown as MENU. Menu Commands A menu command or a menu option will appear in small capital letters, in a bold sans serif type like this: ADVANCED MODE. These indicate that you are to select this command or option from a menu or take an action of some kind 7 with the menu item. Text that you may need to enter or file names you need to select are shown in italic type, such as trail name. Instructions = Menu Sequences Most functions you perform with Atlas are described as a sequence of key strokes and selecting menu commands. We've written them in a condensed manner for quick and easy reading. For example, instructions for backtracking a trail in Easy Mode would look like this: 1. Press MENU| to NAVIGATE TRAIL|ENT. 2. Now, begin moving and follow your Atlas. Translated into complete English, step 1 means: "Press the Menu key. Next, press the down arrow key to scroll down the menu and select (highlight) the Navigate Trail menu command. Finally, press the Enter key." Also note that throughout this text, we will refer to the Atlas MNS as Atlas, or simply as the unit. 8 Section 2: Installation & Accessories Power The Atlas operates from AA batteries or on 3 volts DC using an optional external power cable with a cigarette lighter adapter. When the power cable is used, the Atlas automatically switches to it if the external power is greater than the battery voltage. If the external power fails, the unit automatically switches to the batteries. Flash memory will keep your stored data safe and accessible for the life of the product -- after the unit is turned off, no battery or external power is needed to store your data. Batteries The unit requires two, 1.5 volt AA batteries. We recommend that you use alkaline batteries for the best trade-off between battery life and cost. We recommend DURACELL® brand, but other brands will work. If you're looking for an extended-life battery, the Duracell® ULTRA battery has performed well in our tests. You can also use rechargeable AA alkaline batteries, such as those made by RAYOVAC®, or rechargeable AA nickel metal hydride (NiMH) batteries. We do not recommend nickel cadmium (NiCd) rechargeable batteries because we tend to get poor battery life from them. Rechargeable alkaline batteries will not last as long as standard alkaline batteries. However, rechargeable NiMH batteries should give you suitable battery life. Lithium batteries are lighter than alkaline, and with some brands of lithium battery the Atlas MNS will float. We've tested the Atlas MNS using Energizer® e2® lithium batteries, and it remained afloat. NOTE: The battery gauge on the Satellite Status Page may not read accurately with some battery brands because discharge rates can vary significantly. This is especially true for rechargeables. This battery gauge was calibrated for alkaline batteries. Do not mix different battery types. Mixing battery types may cause leakage. (For example, don't use both alkaline and NiMH batteries at the same time, and don't use standard alkalines with rechargeable alkalines.) 9 Battery Installation Turn the unit over so that the back is facing you. With your thumb or nail, pull back on the small clip to release the battery cover latch as shown in the following images. Once the latch is released, pull the battery cover up out of the grooves in the bottom of the case. Remove Atlas battery cover. Install the batteries according to the embossed signs in the battery compartment, which shows the correct polarity. Point the positive pole of the upper battery to the left; point the positive pole of the bottom battery to the right. NOTE: Inside the battery compartment is a rotating MMC card lock. The grip on this lock must be turned parallel with the direction of the batteries for them to fit properly. Replace the battery compartment cover. First align the latch tabs at the bottom of the cover with the slots at the case's base. Press the cover into place, and then firmly push up on the clip at the top of the cover until it latches in place. There is usually an audible click when the latch engages. Replace battery compartment cover. Align tabs with slots in the base, left. Press latch firmly until it clicks, as shown right Cigarette Lighter Power Adapter To use external DC power: Plug the power cable's cigarette lighter adapter into a cigarette lighter receptacle. Next, pull aside the rubber cover on the 10 bottom of the unit and insert the other connector as shown in the following image. A small clip on the connector should hold the connector in place. Attach external power cable to Atlas. WARNING: Do not remove the cigarette lighter adapter and splice the exposed wires directly to a 12-volt power system. The cigarette lighter adapter contains in the plug a protective fuse and a voltage regulator to convert 12 volts down to about 3 volts. Without this regulator, connecting your unit to a 12-volt power source will destroy the unit. This damage will not be covered by your warranty. The Atlas can use two other optional external cables to supply a NMEA/serial data connection or a combination of power and data. These cables are discussed in the following segment on NMEA connections. NMEA Cable Connections NMEA is a standard communications format for marine electronic equipment. For example, an autopilot can connect to the NMEA interface on this unit and receive positioning information. The unit can exchange information with any device that transmits or receives NMEA 0183 data. To exchange NMEA data, Brunton offers an optional data only cable and a power/data combo cable: The AMNS-DC is a NMEA/serial communications cable. It has a standard female DB-9 connector on one end to attach your unit to a computer's serial communications port. The AMNS-PCDC combines a cigarette lighter power adapter with a DB-9 plug for a NMEA/serial com port connection to a laptop computer or other device. This is our favorite cable for connecting the Atlas MNS to a laptop computer in an RV or other vehicle. By transmitting NMEA data to the computer, you can get live position data for GPS-compatible mapping soft11 ware. You can also run one of our free Brunton GPS emulators on your laptop, and operate it with real-time position information. To use it, plug the power adapter into a cigarette lighter socket, plug the DB-9 connector into a serial port on the computer and attach the cable to the Atlas. Then see "Com Port Configuration" in Sec. 5. MMC or SD Memory Card Installation Your Atlas uses a MultiMedia Card to store information, such as custom maps, waypoints and other GPS data. The unit can also use Secure Digital Cards (SD cards) to store information. NOTE: Throughout this manual, we will use the term MMC, but just remember that your unit can use an MMC or SD card to store data. Both of these solid-state flash memory devices are about the size of a postage stamp. An SD card is slightly thicker than an MMC. As this manual went to press, MMCs were available in storage capacities of 8 MB, 16 MB, 32 MB, 64 MB and 128 MB. SD cards were available in capacities of 8 MB, 16 MB, 32 MB, 64 MB, 128 MB, 256 MB and up. We have successfully tested SD cards up to 512 MB. Additional MMC cards are available from Brunton; see ordering information inside the back cover of this manual. MMCs and SD cards are also available at many consumer electronics stores. The MMC slot is located in the battery compartment, beneath the batteries on the right side of the unit. The contact pins are springy, to make it easier to insert and remove the MMC card. To remove an MMC 1. Remove battery compartment cover. 2. Remove batteries, if present. 3. Hold unit facedown in right hand. Use your thumb or index finger and press down on the center of the MMC label. 12 Remove an MMC Card. 4. Drag the MMC from the slot into the battery compartment. 5. Turn the Atlas face up and give it a shake to dump the MMC into your hand or onto a work surface. To add an MMC or SDC 1. Remove battery compartment cover. 2. Remove batteries, if present. 3. Hold unit facedown in right hand. Drop the MMC card into the slot, labelup, with the notched edge toward the right. 4. Press down on the center of the label and slide the card to the right. Add an MMC Card. 5. Turn the plastic rotating card lock until it holds the card firmly in place, with the grip parallel to the direction of the batteries. 6. Replace the batteries and battery cover. 13 InfoCardsTM InfoCards are pre-made custom maps that cover multiple states, provinces, countries or other geographic regions on a single memory card. They give you all the features found in our MapCreateTM mapping software, but without the necessity of using a computer. InfoCards are available for the United States, Canada and Europe. In 2004, TopoCards with topographic contours will become available for the United States and Canada. Like custom maps built in MapCreate, the custom map on a InfoCard contains all of these features: rivers/lakes/tributaries; more than 60,000 critical navigation aids; more than 10,000 wrecks/obstructions in coastal and Great Lakes waters; interstate/federal/state highways; interstate exit services; searchable Points-of-Interest (POI) database including: airports, hotels, restaurants, entertainment, emergency services; rural roads and city streets; cities and towns; railways; key landmarks; searchable street intersections and street addresses; national parks and forests with boundaries; wildlife preserves; and more! InfoCards come to you preloaded on a single 128 or 256 MB memory card. Simply insert the memory card into your Brunton GPS unit, and you're ready to go. InfoCards are available through Brunton. To order a card (or for a list of the areas available) see the ordering information in the back of this manual. External Antenna A GPS antenna requires a clear view of the sky for optimum operation. Inside a vehicle, your Atlas can sometimes maintain satellite lock while sitting on the seat beside you, but we don't recommend this for optimum performance. Since the "view" is restricted to what can be seen through the windows, this operating mode will reduce position accuracy and will increase the chance of losing satellite lock. Inside a vehicle, the unit operates best with an optional external antenna mounted on the windshield, on the dash or on the top of the vehicle. The optional external antenna can use a magnetic base that allows temporary mounting on any flat ferrous metal surface. A suction-cup mount allows you to attach the antenna to a windshield. The Atlas MNS can use the passive FA-8 antenna or the active RAA-3 antenna. The active antenna offers a further performance boost by amplifying the satellite signals it receives. This is especially helpful when operating in areas such as dense forests, which can obstruct GPS signals. Your unit will automatically switch between the active RAA-3 and its internal antenna (located in the top of the case). If you purchase the passive FA-8, you must use a menu check box to manually switch between it and the internal 14 antenna. See the topic "External Passive Antenna" in Sec. 5. Attach Atlas antenna to windshield bracket with two screws. You may achieve good results by simply placing the external antenna on the top of the dash, at the base of the windshield. A piece of the rubber non-skid shelf liner material available in recreational vehicle supply stores will also help hold the antenna in place. To use the antenna: Mount it in a location with an unobstructed view of the sky. Plug the connector into the unit's antenna socket, located on the back, in the upper left corner of the case. R-A-M® Bracket Mounting System Brunton has partnered with R-A-M® mounting brackets to provide a solid mounting system for your Atlas. This will work to make a permanent or temporary mount suitable for virtually any boat, aircraft or other vehicle, even motorcycle handlebars. R-A-M mounting system for your unit. The R-A-M even has suction cup bases for attachment to windscreens or fiberglass surfaces. This system is also compatible with other R-A-M mounting systems. 15 Other Accessories Other Atlas accessories include MMC cards, MMC card readers and MapCreateTM 6 custom mapping software for your computer. If these accessories are not available from your dealer, see the accessory ordering information on the inside back cover of this manual or check www.brunton.com MapCreateTM CD-ROM and MMC card reader for USB ports. 16 Section 3: Easy Mode Operation This section addresses Easy Mode operation for Atlas's main GPS functions. The principles are the same in both operating modes, so this discussion also serves as a good introduction to Advanced Mode work. Before you turn on Atlas and find where you are, it's a good idea to learn about the different keys, the three Page screens and how they all work together. BUT, if you just can't wait to get outside, grab the batteries and turn to the one-page Quick Reference on page 28. Keypad 2 3 4 7 6 1 8 9 5 Atlas MNS keypad. 1. PWR/LIGHT (Power & Light) ­ The PWR key turns the unit on and off and activates the backlight. 2. PAGES ­ Pressing this key switches the unit between the three different page screens in Easy Mode. (Satellite, Navigation and Map.) Each page represents one of the unit's major operation modes. Also use this key to directly access the compass when in sleep mode. 3. MENU ­ Press this key to show the menus, which allow you to select or adjust a feature from a list. 4. ARROW KEYS ­ These keys are used to navigate through the menus, make menu selections, move the map cursor and enter data. 5. ENT/SAVE (Enter & Save) ­ This key allows you to save data, accept values or execute menu commands. 17 6. EXIT ­ The Exit key lets you return to the previous screen, clear data or erase a menu. 7. FIND ­ The Find key launches the Atlas search menus and some navigation functions. 8. ZOUT ­ (Zoom Out) ­ This key lets you zoom the screen out to see a larger geographic are on the map. Less detail is seen as you zoom out. 9. ZIN ­ (Zoom In) ­ This key lets you zoom the screen in to see greater detail in a smaller geographic area on the map. Power/lights on and off To turn on the unit, press PWR. To turn on the backlight, press PWR again. Pressing PWR once again will turn off the backlight. (Press EXIT to clear any message or alarm displays.) Turn off the unit by pressing and holding the PWR key for 3 seconds. Main Menu Easy Mode has a single Main Menu, which contains some function commands and some setup option commands. The tutorial lessons in this section will deal only with functions, the basic commands that make Atlas do something. Atlas will work fine for these lessons right out of the box with the factory default settings. But, if you want to learn about the various options, see Sec. 5, System Setup and GPS Setup Options. Main Menu, Easy Mode. The Main Menu commands and their functions are: Go To Cursor command: navigates to the current cursor position on the map Cancel Navigation command: turns off the navigation command after you have reached the end of a back trail or your destination waypoint, Point of Interest or map cursor location. Screen command: changes the contrast or brightness of the display 18 screen and backlight delay. Sounds command: enables or disables the sounds for key strokes and alarms and sets the alarm style. Navigate Trail command: sets up navigation back to the start of the current trail. Clear Trail command: clears all the points stored in the plot trail. Sun/Moon command: finds the rising and setting time of the sun and the moon. Units of Measure command: changes the speed or distance units. Also used to change the heading, time and temperature formats. Set Local Time command: sets the time for your local time zone. Advanced Mode command: used to switch from Easy Mode to Advanced Mode. Easy Mode shows only the most commonly used features to simplify the interface and simplify operation. Transfer My Data command: load from or save to an MMC card GPS Data Files containing waypoints, routes, trails and event marker icons. Software Info command: shows the product name and software version of the unit's operating system software, as well as copyright notices. Pages Easy Mode has three Page displays that represent the three major operating modes. They are the Satellite Status Page, the Navigation Page and the Map Page. They are accessed by pressing the PAGES key. Pressing PAGES repeatedly scrolls among the three screens in an endless circular loop. Satellite Status Page This Page, shown in the following images, provides detailed information on the status of Atlas's satellite lock-on and position acquisition. To get to the Satellite Status Page: press PAGES repeatedly until the page you want appears. No matter what page you are on, a flashing current position indicator/question mark symbol and flashing GPS data displays indicate that satellite lock has been lost and there is no position confirmed. This page shows you the quality and accuracy of the current satellite lock-on and position calculation. WARNING: Do not begin navigating with this unit until the numbers have stopped flashing! 19 Satellite Page. Left view indicates unit has not locked on to any satellites and does not have a fix on its position. Center view shows satellites being scanned. Right view shows satellite lock-on with a 3D position acquired (latitude, longitude and altitude.) This screen shows a graphical view of the satellites that are in view. Each satellite is shown on the circular chart relative to your position. The point in the center of the chart is directly overhead. The small inner ring represents 45° above the horizon and the large ring represents the horizon. North is at the top of the screen. You can use this to see which satellites are obstructed by obstacles in your immediate area if you hold the unit facing north. The GPS receiver is tracking satellites that are in bold type. The receiver hasn't locked onto a satellite if the number is grayed out, therefore it isn't being used to solve the position. Beneath the circular graph are the bar graphs, one for each satellite in view. Since the unit has twelve channels, it can dedicate one channel per visible satellite. The taller the bar on the graph, the better the unit is receiving the signals from the satellite. The "Estimated Position Error" (horizontal position error) shown in the upper right corner of the screen is the expected error from a benchmark location. In other words, if the EPE shows 50 feet, then the position shown by the unit is estimated to be within 50 feet of the actual location. This also gives you an indicator of the fix quality the unit currently has. The smaller the position error number, the better (and more accurate) the fix is. If the position error flashes dashes, then the unit hasn't locked onto the satellites, and the number shown isn't valid. Navigation Page This Page has a compass rose. It shows your facing direction and the direction to a selected destination. The navigation screen looks like the one in the following image when you're not navigating to a waypoint or other destination. No graphic course information is displayed. Your facing direction is shown by an arrow on the edge of the compass rose. 20 You can choose how to display the Compass's orientation. The options are "North Up," "Heading Up," and "Bearing Up." With North Up, North the unit always places North at top of the screen. As you turn and change your facing direction (your heading), the heading indicator arrow will move along the edge of the compass rose. When using Heading Up, the unit keeps your heading indicator arrow at the top of the screen, so no matter which was you turn, the arrow stays up, but the compass rotates under it to tell your facing. When you're navigating to a waypoint or any other destination, you can turn on Bearing Up, which keeps the direction to your destination at the top of the screen while your heading indicator swings around the compass rose. That way, all you have to do to navigate to your destination is keep turning so that your arrow points closer and closer to the top of the screen. Track or compass heading indicator, showing facing direction Compass rose Navigation information data boxes Battery power indicator Navigation Page, recording a trail, traveling east. Page looks like this when Atlas is not navigating to a waypoint, following a route, or backtracking a trail. When navigating to a waypoint or following a route, the Navigation screen looks like the one shown in the following image. Customizable data boxes on this screen can show information such as your ground speed, track, distance and bearing to destination. 21 Current track or heading, shown in degrees In Bearing Up mode (shown), the direction of your destination is shown at the top of the compass Navigation information data boxes Compass bearing to destination Track or compass heading indicator, showing facing direction Battery power indicator Navigation Page, going to an address. The compass is in Bearing Up mode, so you can see that the destination is to your west. Your current facing is north (a 294º heading) toward an address 355º (bearing) away. If you were navigating to a waypoint, the waypoint's icon would appear on the edge of the compass rose, indicating the proper direction. An information box on this screen indicates the destination is 0.67 miles away. Instant-On Compass When the Atlas MNS is in Sleep Mode (See page 44), you can still quickly check your compass bearing by pressing and holding the PAGES key. This activates the screen and shows the current Compass display, including your current heading and any information you are displaying in the customizable data boxes. As soon as you release the PAGES key the Atlas MNS will return to SLEEP MODE. Calibrate Compass To find your heading, the Atlas uses a sensor that detects the magnetic field in the area. This field can be affected by any large object, particularly by metallic items such as your car or the barrel of your rifle. Over time, all these variations gradually interfere with the Atlas's measurements, and will result in poor performance by the compass. In order to keep your Atlas reporting accurate compass headings, all you have to do is calibrate it when you begin to notice this deterioration. To do this, use the CALIBRATE COMPASS command on the Compass Page menu. 1. From the Compass Page, press MENU| to CALIBRATE COMPASS|ENT. 22 Compass Page menu with Calibrate Compass selected. A new screen will appear showing a simple drawing of a circle with a line pointing from the center to a point on the edge. At the top of the screen, the START CALIBRATION button is selected. The Calibrate Compass page, with Start Calibration selected. 2. Choose a reference point. The reference point is for you alone, the Atlas doesn't need to know anything about it. But choose a reference point nearby such as a tree, your car, or even use your own body. NOTE: While calibrating, hold the Atlas as parallel to the ground as possible. Tilting the Atlas makes compass measurements more difficult for the unit. 3. Now press ENT to start calibration. You'll notice the line moving slowly around the circle. Turn the Atlas so that the line is pointing from the center of the circle directly to your reference point. As the line continues moving around the circle, rotate the Atlas to keep the line pointing at your reference point. Remember to keep the Atlas level as you rotate it, so that the 23 back of the unit is parallel to the ground. 4. The line will travel all the way around the circle at least once, and may go twice around the circle. Continue rotating your Atlas in time with the movement of the line until the words "Calibration is Done" appear at the top of the screen. When you see this, you're finished! Your Atlas should now report accurate compass headings. Compass Menu The Compass Menu allows you to set the compass orientation, as well as calibrating the compass (described in Sec. 3). Map Page The map screens show your course and track from a "bird's-eye" view. By default, this unit shows the map with north always at the top of the screen. (This can be changed using options in Advanced Mode. See the topic Map Orientation, in Sec. 5.) If you're navigating to a waypoint, the map also shows your starting location, present position, course line and destination. NOTE: When our text says, "navigating to a waypoint," we really mean navigation to any selected item, whether it is a waypoint you made, a map feature or an item (like a restaurant) from the POI database. Using the map is as simple as pressing the PAGES key. A screen similar to those in following images appears. The arrow flashing in the center of the screen is your present position. It points in the direction you're traveling. The solid line extending from the arrow is your plot trail, or path you've taken. (Remember, a flashing question mark on the arrow symbol or flashing text displays means Atlas has not yet calculated a position.) The map zoom range is the distance across the screen. This number shows in the lower left corner of the screen. In the first example below left, the range is 4,000 miles from the left edge of the map to the right edge of the map. The Zoom In and Zoom Out keys zoom the map to enlarge or reduce its coverage area and the amount of mapping detail shown. There are 39 available map zoom ranges, from 0.02 miles to 4,000 miles. 24 Far left, Map Page opening screen.. Center, zoomed to 100 miles and right, zoomed to 6 miles. Over Zoomed means you have reached the detail limits in an area covered only by the basic background map. Zooming in any closer will reveal no more map details because a high-detail custom map has not been loaded on the MMC for this area. If you're using only the factory-loaded background map, the maximum zoom range for showing additional map detail is 8 miles. You can continue to zoom in closer, but the map will simply be enlarged without revealing more map content (except for a few major city streets). Load your own high-detail custom map made with MapCreate, and you can zoom in to 0.05 miles with massive amounts of accurate map detail. Map Pages with high-detail map of an urban area loaded on the MMC. At left, arterial streets appear at the 4 mile zoom range, with a few Point of Interest icons visible. Center, numerous dots representing Points of Interest become visible at the 3 mile range. Right, at the 0.4 mile zoom, you can see an interstate highway with an exit, major and minor streets as well as Point of Interest icons. Background map vs. MapCreate map content The background map includes: low-detail maps of the whole world (containing cities, major lakes, major rivers, political boundaries); and mediumdetail maps of the United States. The medium-detail U.S. maps contain: all incorporated cities; shaded metropolitan areas; county boundaries; shaded public lands (such as national forests and parks); some major city streets; Interstate, U.S. and state highways; Interstate highway exits and exit services information; large- and 25 medium-sized lakes and streams; and more than 60,000 navigation aids and 10,000 wrecks and obstructions in U.S. coastal and Great Lakes waters MapCreate custom maps include massive amounts of information not found in the background map. MapCreate comes in a hunting topo and non-topo version, and the non-topo program contains: the searchable Points of Interest database, all the minor roads and streets, all the landmark features (such as summits, schools, radio towers, etc.); more rivers, streams, smaller lakes and ponds and their names. What's more important is the large scale map detail that allows your GPS unit to show a higher level of position accuracy. For example, the background map would show you the general outline and approximate shape of a coastline or water body, but the higher detail in MapCreate shows the shoreline completely and accurately (finer detail). Many smaller islands would not be included in the background map, but are, of course, in MapCreate. Interstate Major Street Cursor line Restaurant POI POI Markers POI Pop-up School POI Zoom Range When the map is zoomed out far enough, most POIs appear as square dots. As you zoom in closer, the symbols become readable icons. In the 0.3 mile zoom example at right, the cursor has selected the Cholita's Mexican Restaurant POI, which triggers a pop-up box with the POI name. This pop-up box works on POIs at any zoom range. Position, distance and bearing data Tip: In some urban areas, businesses are so close to one another that their POI icons crowd each other on the screen. In the preceding figure, you can see a packed string of POIs all along the west half of 11th. You can reduce screen clutter and make streets and other map features easier to see by simply turning off the display of POIs you're not 26 watching for. (To see how, check the text on Map Detail Category Selection, in Sec. 5. It shows how to use the Map Categories Drawn menu to turn individual POI displays off and on.) Even though their display is turned off, you can still search for POIs and their icons will pop-up when your unit finds them for you. The following page contains a 12-step quick reference for Easy Mode operation. If you don't want to carry the manual with you as you practice with Atlas, you might consider photocopying this quick reference page and tucking it into your pocket. 27 Atlas MNSTM Easy Mode Quick Reference Start outdoors, with a clear view of the open sky. As you practice, try navigating to a location a few blocks away. Navigation in too small a space, like a backyard, will constantly trigger arrival alarms. 1. Install two AA batteries and an MMC card in the battery compartment on back of case. (See installation details beginning on page 9.) 2. To turn on Atlas, press and release PWR key. 3. Opening screen displays map of North America at the 4,000 mile zoom range. Rotate through the three main Page screens (Map Page, Satellite Status Page, Navigation Page) by repeatedly pressing PAGES key; switch Pages to display Satellite Status Page. 4. Wait while unit locates satellites and calculates current position. Process is visible on Satellite page. This takes an average of 1 minute or less under clear sky conditions (unobstructed by terrain or structures.) When the unit acquires position, a tone sounds and a position acquired message appears. 5. With position acquired, press PAGES key to display Map Page, which shows a bird's eye view of the earth. You can move around the map by: Zoom in closer to see greater detail: press ZIN (zoom in key.) Zoom out to see more area, less detail: press ZOUT (zoom out key.) Scroll map north, south, east or west using arrow keys . To stop scrolling and return to current position on map, press EXIT key. 6. Set Home waypoint at your current position so you can navigate back here: press ENT|ENT. 7. Zoom/scroll map to find a nearby object or location. Use arrow keys to center cursor cross-hair over the map object or location. 8. To navigate to the selected location: press MENU|ENT|EXIT. Follow steering arrow on Map Page or compass bearing arrow on Navigation Page. 9. At destination, Arrival Alarm goes off; to clear it, press EXIT. Cancel navigation: press MENU| to CANCEL NAVIGATION|ENT| to YES|ENT. 10. Navigate back Home by Go To Home or Navigate Trail. Go Home: press FIND|ENT; follow navigation arrows. Trail: press MENU| to NAVIGATE TRAIL|ENT. Wait while route is calculated, then follow arrows. 11. Back Home, Arrival Alarm goes off; press EXIT. Cancel navigation: press MENU| to CANCEL NAVIGATION|ENT| to YES|ENT. 12. To turn off Atlas, press and hold PWR key for three seconds. 28 Find Your Current Position Finding your current position is as simple as turning Atlas on. Under clear sky conditions, the unit automatically searches for satellites and calculates its position in approximately one minute or less. NOTE: "Clear sky" means open sky, unobstructed by terrain, dense foliage or structures. Clouds do not restrict GPS signal reception. If for some reason satellite acquisition takes longer, you may be inside a structure or vehicle or in terrain that is blocking signal reception. To correct this, be sure you are positioned so that the unit has as clear a view of the sky as possible, then turn the unit off and back on again. Moving Around the Map: Zoom & Cursor Arrow Keys The map is presented from a bird's eye view perspective. The current zoom range shows in the lower left corner of the screen. 1. Press the ZIN key (zoom in) to move in closer and see greater detail in a smaller geographic area. 2. Press the ZOUT key (zoom out) to move farther away and see less map detail, but a larger geographic area. When you are walking or riding in a vehicle, the map will automatically move as you move. This keeps your current location roughly centered on the screen. You can manually pan or scroll the map northward, southward, eastward or westward by using the arrow keys, which launches the cross-hair map cursor. This allows you to look at map places other than your current position. To clear the cursor, press EXIT, which jumps the map back to the current position or the last known position. Cursor line Selected airport Cursor line Distance measured by cursor The selected airport to the northwest is 4.2 miles away. Tip: 29 Use the cursor to determine the distance from your current position (or last known position, when working indoors) to any map object or location. Simply use the arrow keys to position the cursor over the object or place. The distance, measured in a straight line, appears in the data box at the bottom of the map. Press EXIT to clear the cursor. Selecting Any Map Item with the Cursor 1. Use the zoom keys and the arrow keys to move around the map and find the item you wish to select. 2. Use the arrow keys and center the cursor cross-hair on the desired object. On most items, a pop-up box will give the name of the selected item. You will also notice a black ring surrounds the item as it becomes selected. Once that happens, if you press FIND the Find Menu will pop up with an extra option at the top of the list: SELECTED ITEM. Press ENT to see the Waypoint Information screen for the selected item. Searching Now that you've seen how Atlas can find where you are, let's search for something somewhere else. Searching is one of the most powerful features in the Brunton GPS product line. In this example, we'll look for the nearest fast-food restaurant. For more information on different types of searches, refer to Sec. 6, Searching. NOTE: This example requires the Point of Interest (POI) database included on InfoCards or a high-detail MapCreate custom map. After Atlas has acquired a position: 1. Press FIND| to MAP PLACES|ENT| to POI-RESTAURANTS. 2. You could search the entire restaurant category, but in this example we will narrow our search. Press to FAST FOOD CHAINS|ENT|ENT. Find Map Places Menu, left; Category Selection menu, center; and list of the nearest restaurants, right. 3. Atlas says it is calculating, then a list of restaurants appears, with the closest at the top of the list, and the farthest at the bottom of the list. The 30 nearest is highlighted. 4. If you wanted, you could scroll or here to select another restaurant, but for now we will just accept the nearest one. Press ENT. 5. The POI's Waypoint Information screen appears. (This is how you can use Atlas as a business phone directory!) If you wanted to navigate there, you could press Enter, since the Go To command is highlighted. But we just want to see it on the map, so press to FIND ON MAP|ENT. POI information screen on fast food restaurant nearest this position. Screen shows name, street address, phone number, latitude/longitude, distance to the restaurant and its compass bearing. Figure at left shows Go To command; right figure shows Find On Map command. 6. Atlas's map appears, with the cross-hair cursor highlighting the restaurant's POI symbol. A pop-up name box identifies the POI. A data box at the bottom of the screen continues to display the location's latitude and longitude, distance and bearing. Map screen showing Finding Waypoint, the result of a restaurant search. 7. To clear the search and return to the last page displayed, press EXIT|EXIT|EXIT. (Before you completely exited out of the Search menus, you could have gone looking for another place.) 31 NOTE: Search works from mapping and POI data loaded in Atlas. If you do not have a high-detailed custom map (containing POI data) for the area you are searching loaded on the MMC, you may not find anything. Set Home Waypoint A waypoint is simply an electronic "address," based on the latitude and longitude of a position on the earth. Easy Mode allows you to save one waypoint - Home. To save a Home Waypoint: 1. Press and release ENT. 2. The SAVE AS HOME WAYPOINT? menu appears, with YES highlighted. To accept yes, press ENT. The waypoint appears on the map as an X, named "Home." Pop-up box Save Home Waypoint menu, left. At right, Home waypoint, with X symbol and name. When selected by the cursor, the pop-up box appears. The example shows waypoint set at the cursor location. If cursor was not active, the point would be placed at the current position. Caution: Saving a new "Home" waypoint will overwrite and erase the previous "Home" waypoint. Find your way back to the Home with the Navigation Page or Map Page. When Home is stored andactivated, the Navigation Page automatically shows the compass rose with its bearing arrow pointing toward the Home position, and the destination name says "Going To Home." The Map Page displays a Home waypoint, represented by an X, and the steering arrow points where to steer to reach that position. The Home position is also stored in the waypoint table for future reference. It can be edited the same as any other waypoint in Advanced Mode. This prevents the inadvertent loss of the Home position. To cancel navigation to HOME, press MENU| to CANCEL NAVIGATION|ENT| to YES|ENT. Atlas stops showing navigation information. 32 Navigate to Cursor Position on Map The Go To Cursor command navigates to the current cursor position on the map. It's a quick and handy way to navigate to anything you can see on the map display. 1. Use the cursor (controlled by the arrow keys) with the zoom in and zoom out keys to maneuver around the map until you find a location you want to go to. 2. Center the cursor over the location to select it. See the example below. (Many map items such as waypoints, Points of Interest, towns, etc. can be "selected," and appear "highlighted" with a pop-up box. Other features, such as a river or a street intersection will not appear "highlighted," but the cursor will take you to those locations just the same.) Navigate to cursor. In this example, the cursor has selected the town of Oologah, Oklahoma. 33 3. Press MENU|ENT and Atlas will begin navigating to the cursor location. The Map Page will display a dotted line from your current position to the cursor position. The Navigation Page displays a compass rose showing navigation information to your destination. See the following examples. The 15-mile zoom figure at left clearly shows the dotted course line connecting your current position to your destination. The 60-mile zoom, center, shows both current position and destination on screen. The Navigation Page, right, will also show navigation information. To stop navigating to the cursor, use the Cancel Navigation command: press MENU| to CANCEL NAVIGATION|ENT| to YES|ENT. Atlas stops showing navigation information. Navigate to a Point of Interest For POIs that are in view on the map, you can easily use the Navigate to Cursor command above; just use the cursor to select the POI. Another method involves searching for POIs with the Find Map Places command, launched with the FIND key. (See the searching example earlier in this section, or turn to Sec. 6, Searching, for detailed instructions on POI searches.) After you have looked up an item with the Find Map Places command, use the to make sure the GO TO command is highlighted at the bottom of the screen, then press ENT. Atlas begins showing navigation information to the item. To cancel navigation, press MENU| to CANCEL NAVIGATION|ENT| to YES|ENT. Atlas stops showing navigation information. Creating and Saving a Trail A trail, or plot trail, is a history of the path you have taken. On the screen, trails are represented by a solid line extending from the back of the current position arrow. By default, the trail flashes once a second, making it easier to see against 34 the background map. With the default auto setting, Atlas creates a trail by placing a dot (trail point) on the screen every time you change directions. (The method used for creating a trail and the trail update rate can both be adjusted in Advanced Mode. See Sec. 5 for Trail Options.) In Easy Mode, this unit automatically creates a plot trail when turned on, and this trail is automatically saved in memory when the unit is turned off. Atlas continues recording the same trail until you "clear the trail," which erases the old trail and starts creation of a new trail. NOTE: Atlas can record up to 9,999 points per trail, which can be adjusted in Advanced Mode. The default setting is a maximum of 2,000 points. When trail length exceeds the maximum setting, the unit begins recording the trail over itself. In Advanced Mode, you can save and recall up to 10 different plot trails, which can also be copied to your MMC for archiving. Caution: You also have the option of turning off trail recording in Advance Mode. If the option is left turned off, it will cancel the automatic trail creation feature in Easy Mode. Displaying a Saved Trail The trail is automatically displayed in Easy Mode by default. Trail display can be selectively turned off and on only in Advanced Mode. 35 Navigating or Backtracking a Trail There are two methods for following your back trail. The simplest requires no menu commands at all, but provides no navigation information during the trip, such as the time to your destination. The other requires only three key strokes and provides a full range of navigation data. Try both methods and see which you prefer. When hiking at walking speed, we often just use visual back trailing because it is better at following each little turn on a foot path. At faster speeds, such as the highway or on the water, the Navigate Trail command is handy. Visual Back Trailing 1. On the Map Page, zoom (ZIN or ZOUT) so your flashing trail is visible. 2. Begin moving and watch the Map Page (or Navigation Page, if you prefer). Simply walk or steer so that your current position arrow traces along the trail you have just made. Navigate a Back Trail 1. Press MENU| to NAVIGATE TRAIL|ENT. 2. Now, begin moving and follow your Atlas. NOTE: If you are already located at or near the beginning of your back trail, the arrival alarm will go off as soon as you hit Enter. Just press EXIT to clear the alarm and proceed. On the map, your original trail is visible as a flashing solid line, along with a roughly parallel dotted line indicating the back trail to follow. The map contains a steer arrow in the lower right corner. This arrow shows you where to steer to reach the next waypoint on your back trail. The Navigation Page will also show the trail line and a bearing arrow, which points to the next waypoint on the trail. Navigate Trail menu. 36 As you travel, the arrival alarm will go off when you near a trail waypoint, and the steer arrow (on the map) and bearing arrow (on the compass rose) will swing around and point to the next trail waypoint. Press EXIT to clear the alarm. North Back trail dotted line Trail point Present position arrow Steer arrow Navigate trail, map views: at left driver is southbound heading straight toward trail point 6; steer arrow says steer straight. At right, southbound driver has reached point 6 and must turn east to follow trail. Steer arrow swings around to say turn left (east), toward the next trail waypoint (arrival alarm message turned off for clarity.) Track or compass heading indicator Bearing arrow Compass rose Trail waypoint symbol Cross track error range (off course indicator) Navigate trail, navigation page (compass rose) views: at left, driver is eastbound heading straight toward trail point 5; bearing arrow shows the trail point is due east (straight ahead.) At right, driver has reached trail point 5 and must turn south to follow the trail. Arrival alarm goes off and bearing arrow swings around to say turn right (south), toward the next waypoint, trail point 6. 37 3. When you reach your destination, be sure to cancel your navigation: press MENU| to CANCEL NAVIGATION|ENT. Atlas asks if you're sure; press |ENT. Clearing or Erasing a Trail You can erase the current trail and automatically begin recording a new one by using the Clear Trail command. WARNING: Clearing a trail will erase the trail from Atlas's memory. You will not be able to backtrack to that trail head if the trail is erased. If you need to preserve the trail, switch to Advanced Mode and use the instructions in Sec. 4 for Creating and Saving a Trail. 1. Press MENU| to CLEAR TRAIL|ENT. Atlas asks if you're sure; press |ENT. 2. Return to the page by pressing EXIT. Transfer Custom Maps and GPS Data Files Custom Maps: Custom maps work only from the MMC card or SD card. When a card containing a Custom Map File is loaded into the unit, Atlas automatically loads the map into memory when the unit is turned on. Instructions for copying Custom Map Files to an MMC are contained in the instruction manual for your MMC card reader and MapCreate software. For instructions on inserting an MMC into Atlas, see Sec. 2, Installation/Accessories. 38 GPS Data Files: GPS Data files contain waypoints, routes, trails and event marker icons. Instructions for copying GPS Data Files between your computer and an MMC are contained in the instruction manual for your MMC card reader and MapCreate software. GPS data automatically recorded in the unit's internal memory must be saved to the MMC (as a GPS Data File) in order to store it on your personal computer. GPS Data Files stored on an MMC must be copied from the card to the Atlas's internal memory before the unit can read them. Here's how: 1. Insert the MMC into your unit. Press MENU| to TRANSFER MY DATA|ENT and the screen below appears. The Transfer My Data submenu asks if you want to save data to the MMC or load data from the MMC into Atlas's memory. 2. The Transfer My Data menu includes a message which tells you if an MMC is present or not. If no MMC is present, you must first insert a card into Atlas in order to activate the Load or Save commands. To transfer data from Atlas to the MMC: press ENT (for SAVE.) To transfer data from the MMC to Atlas: press to LOAD|ENT. 39 3. Saving: To accept the default name "Data" for the GPS Data File, press to SAVE|ENT. If you wish to rename the file (as in the example below), press ENT to activate the selection box. Press or to change the first character, then press to the next character and repeat until the name is correct. Then, press ENT| to SAVE|ENT. The unit will display first a progress then a completion message when the data transfer is finished. To return to the Page view, press EXIT|EXIT. From left to right, these figures show the menu sequence for naming and saving a GPS Data File from an MMC into Atlas's memory. 4. Loading: There may be more than one GPS Data File (*.USR) on the card. To select a file, press ENT to activate the selection box, use or to highlight the file, then press ENT to accept the selection. Next, press to LOAD|ENT. The unit will display a completion message when the data transfer is finished. To return to the Page view, press EXIT|EXIT. From left to right, these figures show the menu sequence for loading a GPS Data File from an MMC into Atlas's memory. 40 Switch to Advanced Mode To leave Easy Mode and switch to Advanced Mode: 1. Press MENU| to ADVANCED MODE|ENT. 2. Unit asks "Are you sure you want to enter Advanced Mode?" 3. Press |ENT and the unit switches to Advanced Mode. Switch Back to Easy Mode from Advanced Mode To leave Advanced Mode and switch back to Easy Mode: 1. Press MENU|MENU| to EASY MODE|ENT. 2. Unit asks "Are you sure you want to turn on Easy Mode?" 3. Press |ENT and the unit switches to Easy Mode. 41 Section 4: Advanced Mode Operation Keypad 2 3 4 7 6 1 8 9 5 Atlas MNS keypad. 1. PWR/LIGHT (Power & Light) ­ The PWR key turns the unit on and off and activates the backlight. 2. PAGES ­ Pressing this key switches the unit between the five different page screens in Land Mode. (Satellite, Position, Compass, Navigation and Map.) Each page represents one of the unit's major operation modes. 3. MENU ­ Press this key to show the menus, which allow you to select or adjust a feature from a list. 4. ARROW KEYS ­ These keys are used to navigate through the menus, make menu selections, move the chart cursor and enter data. 5. ENT/SAVE (Enter & Save) ­ This key allows you to save data, accept values or execute menu commands. 6. EXIT ­ The Exit key lets you return to the previous screen, clear data or erase a menu. 7. FIND ­ The Find key launches the Atlas search menus and some navigation functions. 8. ZOUT ­ (Zoom Out) ­ This key lets you zoom the screen out to see a larger geographic are on the map. Less detail is seen as you zoom out. 9. ZIN ­ (Zoom In) ­ This key lets you zoom the screen in to see greater detail in a smaller geographic area on the map. 42