GPS 50 PERSONAL NAVIGATORTM OWNER'S MANUAL GARMIN International, Inc. GPS 50 Personal NavigatorTM OWNER'S MANUAL (for Software Version 2.0 or above) © 1991-1992 GARMIN, 9875 Widmer Road, Lenexa, KS 66215 Printed in Taiwan. All rights reserved. No part of this manual may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and recording, for any purpose without the express written permission of GARMIN. Information in this document is subject to change without notice. GARMIN reserves the right to change or improve their products and to make changes in the content without obligation to notify any person or organization of such changes or improvements. October, 1992 190-00015-01 Rev. B PREFACE GARMIN thanks you for selecting our high performance, full featured Personal NavigatorTM. The GPS 50 represents our continued commitment to provide you with a portable navigation unit that is versatile, extremely accurate, and easy to use. We are confident you will enjoy using your unit for many years to come. The GPS 50's rugged construction and quality components offer the reliability demanded by the harshest operating environments. It may be used in marine and land vehicles, as well as by hunters, hikers, and military forces. The unit may be operated portably using its own battery pack, or it may use a 5-40 volt DC external power source for fixed mounted applications. You can even use a 115- or 230-volt battery charger for planning trips at home. This manual and accompanying quick reference card provide complete information on safely operating the GPS 50 to its full potential. Two exciting practice voyages have been planned for you to practice your navigation skills using the built-in simulator. Afterwards, try a trip of your own to realize the value of the GPS 50 as your Personal NavigatorTM. If you have any questions or comments, our Customer Support Department is eager to serve you. GARMIN is fully committed to your satisfaction as a customer. GARMIN International, Inc. 9875 Widmer Road Lenexa, KS 66215 i CAUTION The GPS system is operated by the government of the United States which is solely responsible for its accuracy and maintenance. The system is under development and is subject to changes which could affect the accuracy and performance of all GPS equipment. Although the GPS 50 is a precision electronic NAVigation AID (NAVAID), any NAVAID can be misused or misinterpreted, and therefore become unsafe. Use the GPS 50 at your own risk. To reduce the risk, carefully review and understand all aspects of this Owner's Manual and thoroughly practice operation using the simulator mode prior to actual use. When in actual use, carefully compare indications from the GPS 50 to all available navigation sources including the information from other NAVAIDs, visual sightings, charts, etc. For safety, always resolve any discrepancies before continuing navigation. NOTE: This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the following two conditions: (1) This device may not cause harmful interference, and (2) this device must accept any interference received, including interference that may cause undesired operation. ii TABLE OF CONTENTS CHAPTER PAGE BASIC FEATURES 1 INTRODUCING THE GARMIN GPS 50 1.1 Capabilities 1.2 Operations GETTING STARTED 2.1 Front Panel 2.2 Banners 2.3 Cursor and Fields 2.4 Keypad Operation 2.5 Entering Data 2.6 Viewing Messages 2.7 Operating Modes BASIC OPERATION 3.1 Power On 3.2 Satellite Status 3.3 Present Position 3.4 AutoStoreTM 3.5 CDI and Navigation Summary 3.6 Waypoints 3.7 Nearest Waypoints 3.8 Navigate to a Waypoint 3.9 Man Overboard 3.10 Sample Trip UNIT CUSTOMIZATION 4.1 Setup Menu 4.2 Operating Mode 4.3 User Selectable Alarms 4.4 Backlighting Timeout 4.5 Audio Settings 4.6 Navigation Units 4.7 CDI Scale 4.8 Magnetic Variation 1-1 1-1 1-2 2-1 2-1 2-1 2-3 2-3 2-5 2-5 2-6 3-1 3-1 3-1 3-2 3-4 3-4 3-5 3-7 3-8 3-9 3-9 4-1 4-1 4-2 4-2 4-3 4-4 4-4 4-5 4-5 2 3 4 iii 4.9 4.10 4.11 Filter Settings Output Map Datum 4-6 4-7 4-7 ADVANCED FEATURES 5 NAVIGATION PLANNING 5.1 Navigation Menu 5.2 Date and Time 5.3 Event Timer 5.4 Trip Planning 5.5 Sunrise/Sunset 5.6 Alarm Clock ROUTES 6.1 Navigating Using Routes 6.2 Route Catalog 6.3 Editing Routes 6.4 Activating Routes 6.5 Building Routes Using AutoStoreTM SAMPLE SIMULATED TRIP 5-1 5-1 5-1 5-2 5-4 5-4 5-5 6-1 6-1 6-2 6-3 6-5 6-7 7-1 6 7 APPENDICES A B MESSAGES NAVIGATION TERMS B.1 Definitions B.2 Course To Steer (CTS) INSTALLATION AND MAINTENANCE C.1 Specifications C.2 Electrical Wiring C.3 Universal Mount Installation C.4 Universal Mount Operation C.5 Battery Pack Operation C.6 Maintenance C.7 Customer Support MAP DATUMS INDEX A-1 B-1 B-1 B-3 C-1 C-1 C-3 C-4 C-7 C-9 C-10 C-11 D-1 E-1 C D E iv CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCING THE GARMIN GPS 50 1.1 CAPABILITIES The GPS 50 provides a host of powerful capabilities which were previously found only in much larger systems: · Performance: State-of-the-art MultiTracTM receiver tracks up to eight satellites while providing high receiver sensitivity, fast first fix, and continuous navigation updates. · Portability: Goes where you go - on sea or land. The built-in simulator allows you to plan your next trip or hone your navigation skills at home or in your office. · Navigation: Illuminated keypad and display provide the navigation information you need at a glance. Store up to 250 alphanumeric waypoints and 10 reversible routes. The GOTO function sets an instantaneous course to the waypoint of your choice. The AutoStoreTM function helps you build routes as you go. A flashing Message Annunciator and an audible message tone keep you fully informed of your navigation status. · Personalized: Configure your unit the way you like by selecting nautical units, Course Deviation Indicator (CDI) sensitivity, keypad and display features, map datums, and interface options. · Low Power Consumption: Battery Saver operation, which draws less than 1.1 watts, provides up to ten hours of continuous operation with four AA size alkaline batteries. · Man Overboard: The Man Overboard function sets an instantaneous course to the captured position, providing rapid response to an emergency situation. · Trip Planning: Analyze distance and time requirements for your trip. Compute the time of sunrise and sunset at your destination. · Alarms: An alarm clock and timer allow the GPS 50 to watch the clock for you. Arrival, anchor drag, and CDI alerts help you safely navigate your craft. · Interfaces: Interface with marine autopilots and graphical plotters. 1-1 We encourage you to read through this manual and experiment using the built-in simulator. This will help you quickly master the power of the GPS 50. 1.2 OPERATIONS You may use your GPS 50 for both portable and fixed operations. The unit may be operated from external AC power using a battery charger, external 5-40 volt DC power using the power/data cable or cigarette lighter adapter, or using a battery pack. Handheld Operation: For handheld operation, the GPS 50 is powered by a AA battery pack which should be filled with four high quality alkaline batteries commonly found at retail stores. A rechargeable nicad battery pack is also available for handheld operation. In order to track GPS satellites, the unit must be situated with the antenna pointed straight up and should not be blocked by objects or people (signal reception through thin fabric such as canvas may be adequate but degraded). A lanyard is provided to prevent accidental dropping of your GPS 50. (Connect the lanyard to the eyelet on the back of the unit.) Fixed Mount Operation: A universal mount is supplied for swivel or surface mount installation in a boat. The unit may be operated using vehicle power through the power/data cable or it may be operated using the battery pack. While using vehicle power, you may wish to leave the battery pack in the unit. In the event of vehicle power failure, the GPS 50 will automatically switch to battery power. In addition to supplying power to the unit, the power/data cable allows you to interface your GPS 50 with other marine electronic devices such as plotters or autopilots. A Marine/RV Remote Antenna is available for installations which require an external antenna for an unobstructed view of the sky. This weather-proof antenna includes 30 feet of low-loss antenna cable. The remote antenna has been constructed to thread onto a standard 1" antenna mount. Antenna mounts, commonly used to attach VHF radio antennas and Loran-C couplers, are readily available from your local marine accessories dealer. A Magnetic Mount Antenna is also available for attaching a remote antenna to a metallic surface. This weather-proof antenna includes 10 feet of low-loss antenna cable. A cigarette lighter adapter cable may be used to power the unit in vehicle applications. 1-2 CHAPTER 2 GETTING STARTED 2.1 FRONT PANEL The front panel consists of a 20-key keypad and a LCD display which includes three lines of information and various banners. Both the display and keypad are illuminated for operating in darkness. 2.2 BANNERS Information displayed on the LCD is commonly referred to as a " page" A . page consists of alphanumeric information and banners. Banners, illustrated below, are used to indicate the type of page, navigation units, and data displayed (see Appendix B). They also indicate navigation fix type, satellite tracking, and provide user prompting. 2-1 2-2 2.3 CURSOR AND FIELDS Alphanumeric Field Cursor on Confirmation Field Numeric Field Cursor on Cyclic Field The area of the page which is underlined is called thecursor. The cursor may be moved to locations on the page calledfields which allow you to enter data. You will encounter four types of fields. · Numeric fields accept numbers. For example, you will enter a waypoint's latitude in a numeric field. · Alphanumeric fields accept numbers as well as letters. For example, you will enter a waypoint's name in an alphanumeric field. · Cyclic fields allow you to select from one of several available options. For example, you may select between DTK (desired track), BRG (bearing to waypoint), or CTS (course to steer) using a cyclic field. Cyclic fields are indicated on the display by the " MORE"banner. · Confirmation fields allow you to indicate your approval. For example, you will be asked to confirm that you want to delete a waypoint. Confirmation fields always end with a " character. ?" 2.4 KEYPAD OPERATION The PWR/BRT key is a dual function key that controls unit power and panel backlighting. When the unit is on, pressing the PWR/BRT key will turn on the panel backlighting. Pressing the PWR/BRT key again will turn off the backlighting. To turn the unit off, press and hold the PWR/BRT key for three seconds until the display is blank. 2-3 Pressing the MSG/SET key allows you to view new messages when the "MSG" banner is flashing. (See Section 2.6 and Appendix A.) Pressing the MSG/SET key also selects the Setup Pages which allow you to view satellite tracking status and customize the unit as you like. (See Section 3.2 and Chapter 4.) Pressing the GOTO/MOB key once allows you to initiate the GOTO function, which will set an instantaneous course to any waypoint. (See Section 3.8.) Pressing the GOTO/MOB key twice in succession allows you to initiate the Man Overboard function, which will set an instantaneous course to the captured position. (See Section 3.9.) Pressing the NAV key selects the Navigation Pages which allow you to view navigation information and perform planning functions. (See Sections 3.3 and 3.5 and Chapter 5.) Pressing the WPT key selects the Waypoint Pages which allow you to create, edit, delete, and rename waypoints. In addition, you may view your nearest waypoints. (See Sections 3.6 and 3.7.) Pressing the RTE key selects the Route Pages which allow you to edit, review, activate, and delete routes. (See Chapter 6.) Pressing either of the arrow keys allows you to move the cursor, scroll through information lists, and enter letters of the alphabet. The alphanumeric keys allow you to enter letters and numbers into the GPS 50. If you want to enter a number in a numeric field, for instance " , simply press the 1 key. If you want to enter a letter in 1" an alphanumeric field, for example " , press the 1 key to A" display B, then press the left arrow key once to select " A" (you may also press the right arrow key three times to display the " ). A" Pressing the CLR/MORE key erases information in the cursor field. If the cursor is over a cyclic field, pressing the CLR/ MORE key will toggle through several available options. Pressing the ENT key completes the process of data entry. If the cursor is over a confirmation field, pressing the ENT key indicates your approval. 2-4 2.5 ENTERING DATA To enter data you must first move the cursor under the desired field by pressing the right or left arrow ...