User manual LOWRANCE IFINDER H2O C

Pub. 988-0148-811 www.lowrance.com iFINDER H2Oc Handheld Mapping GPS Receiver Operation Instructions Copyright © 2005 Lowrance Electronics, Inc. All rights reserved. iFINDER H2Oc is a trademark of Lowrance Electronics, Inc. Lowrance® is a registered trademark of Lowrance Electronics, 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 2001-2004 Zenrin Co. Ltd. Exit Authority and eXitSource are trademarks of Zenrin Co. Ltd. Lowrance Electronics 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 other information, visit our web site: www.lowrance.com Lowrance Electronics Inc. 12000 E. Skelly Dr. Tulsa, OK USA 74128-2486 Printed in USA. Table of Contents Section 1: Read Me First! ......................................................... 1 Capabilities and Specifications: iFINDER H2Oc ...................... 2 How the iFINDER H2Oc Works .................................................. 4 Introduction to GPS, WAAS and EGNOS ................................... 6 How to use this manual: typographical conventions .................. 8 Arrow Keys ................................................................................ 8 Keyboard ................................................................................... 8 Menu Commands ...................................................................... 8 Instructions = Menu Sequences ............................................... 9 Section 2: Installation & Accessories.................................. 11 Power ........................................................................................... 11 Batteries ...................................................................................... 11 Battery Installation ................................................................ 12 Cigarette Lighter Power Adapter .............................................. 13 NMEA Cable Connections .......................................................... 14 MMC or SD Memory Card Installation ..................................... 14 To remove an MMC................................................................. 15 To add an MMC or SDC.......................................................... 15 FreedomMaps .......................................................................... 16 External Antenna ....................................................................... 16 R-A-M Bracket Mounting Systems .......................................... 17 Other Accessories........................................................................ 18 Section 3: Easy Mode Operation .......................................... 19 Keypad......................................................................................... 19 Power/lights on and off ............................................................... 20 Main Menu .................................................................................. 20 Pages ........................................................................................... 21 Satellite Status Page .............................................................. 21 Navigation Page ...................................................................... 22 Map Page................................................................................. 24 IFINDER H2Oc 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 Go Home .................................................................................. 32 Set Man Overboard (MOB) Waypoint........................................ 33 Navigate Back to MOB Waypoint .......................................... 33 Navigate to Cursor Position on Map.......................................... 33 Navigate to a Point of Interest................................................... 35 Creating and Saving a Trail....................................................... 35 i Displaying a Saved Trail ........................................................ 36 Navigating or Backtracking a Trail ........................................... 36 Visual Back Trailing ............................................................... 36 Navigate a Back Trail............................................................. 36 Clearing or Erasing a Trail .................................................... 37 Transfer Custom Maps and GPS Data Files ............................. 38 Custom Maps:.......................................................................... 38 GPS Data Files:....................................................................... 38 Switch to Advanced Mode........................................................... 40 Switch Back to Easy Mode from Advanced Mode ................. 40 Section 4: Advanced Mode Operation................................. 41 Keypad......................................................................................... 41 Power/lights on and off ............................................................... 42 Main Menu .................................................................................. 42 Pages ........................................................................................... 43 Satellite Status Page .............................................................. 43 Status Menu ............................................................................ 44 Digital Data Page.................................................................... 44 Digital Data Menu .................................................................. 45 Navigation Page ...................................................................... 45 Navigation Menu .................................................................... 46 Map Page................................................................................. 46 Map Menu ............................................................................... 47 Moving Around the Map: Zoom & Cursor Arrow Keys ............. 47 Find Distance to Another Location ............................................ 47 Find Distance from Point to Point ............................................. 48 Find Your Current Position........................................................ 48 Icons............................................................................................. 49 Create Icon on Map ............................................................. 49 Create Icon at Current Position ......................................... 49 Delete an Icon ......................................................................... 49 Load GPS Data Files from an MMC .......................................... 50 Navigate ...................................................................................... 51 Navigate Back Home .............................................................. 51 Navigate Back to Man Overboard Waypoint......................... 51 Cancel Navigation................................................................... 51 Navigate a Route..................................................................... 51 Navigate to Cursor Position on Map...................................... 51 Navigate to an Icon ................................................................. 51 Navigate to Point of Interest (POI) ........................................ 51 Navigate to a Waypoint .......................................................... 52 Navigate a Trail ...................................................................... 52 Routes.......................................................................................... 53 ii Create and Save a Route ........................................................ 53 PC-created Routes............................................................... 53 Routes Created in the iFINDER ........................................ 54 Delete a Route ......................................................................... 55 Save GPS Data Files to an MMC ............................................... 55 Searching..................................................................................... 56 Trails ........................................................................................... 57 Create and Save a Trail.......................................................... 58 Clear a Trail ............................................................................ 58 Delete a Trail .......................................................................... 58 Edit a Trail Name ................................................................... 58 Edit a Trail Color .................................................................... 58 Edit a Trail Pattern ................................................................ 59 Transfer Custom Maps and GPS Data Files ............................. 59 Custom Maps:.......................................................................... 59 GPS Data files: ........................................................................ 59 Utilities........................................................................................ 60 Sun/Moon Rise & Set Calculator............................................ 60 Trip Calculator........................................................................ 60 Alarm Clock............................................................................. 60 Trip Down Timer..................................................................... 60 Trip Up Timer ......................................................................... 60 Waypoints.................................................................................... 61 Create a Waypoint .................................................................. 61 Create Waypoint on Map .................................................... 61 Create Waypoint at Current Position ................................ 61 Create a Man Overboard Waypoint ................................... 61 Create a Waypoint by Average Position ............................ 61 Create a Waypoint by Projecting a Position ...................... 62 Select a Waypoint ................................................................... 62 Delete a Waypoint................................................................... 62 Edit a Waypoint ...................................................................... 62 Waypoint Name................................................................... 62 Waypoint Symbol ................................................................ 62 Waypoint Position ............................................................... 63 Waypoint Altitude............................................................... 63 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 Use WAAS/EGNOS..................................................................... 68 iii Coordinate System...................................................................... 69 Map Fix.................................................................................... 70 Customize Page Displays ........................................................... 72 Customize Digital Data Page ................................................. 72 Customize Navigation Page ................................................... 72 Customize Map Page .............................................................. 72 External Passive Antenna.......................................................... 72 GPS Simulator ............................................................................ 73 Simulating Trail or Route Navigation ................................... 74 Map Auto Zoom ........................................................................... 75 Map Data..................................................................................... 75 To Show Map Data.................................................................. 75 Popup Map Information.......................................................... 75 Draw Map Boundaries............................................................ 76 Fill Water with White............................................................. 76 Map Overlays (Range Rings, Lat/Long Grid) ........................ 76 Map Datum Selection ................................................................. 76 Map Detail Category Selection................................................... 77 Map Orientation ......................................................................... 78 Navionics Charts....................................................................... 79 Pop-up Help................................................................................. 85 Reset Options .............................................................................. 85 In Advanced Mode............................................................... 85 In Easy Mode....................................................................... 85 Screen Contrast and Brightness ................................................ 86 Set Language .............................................................................. 87 Set Local Time ............................................................................ 87 Software Version Information.................................................... 88 Sounds and Alarm Sound Styles................................................ 89 Track Smoothing......................................................................... 90 Trail Options ............................................................................... 91 General Trail Options ......................................................... 91 Update Active Trail Option .................................................... 91 Update Active Trail Criteria (Auto, Time, Distance) ............ 92 Trail Update Rate (Time, Distance)....................................... 92 Specific Trail Options.......................................................... 93 Delete Trail ............................................................................. 93 New Trail................................................................................. 93 Trail Visible/Invisible and Other Trail Options .................... 93 Units of Measure......................................................................... 94 Section 6: Searching ............................................................... 95 Selected Item............................................................................... 96 Destination.................................................................................. 96 iv Recent Finds ............................................................................... 97 Current Route ............................................................................. 97 Find Addresses............................................................................ 98 Find Any Item Selected by Map Cursor .................................. 100 Find Home Waypoint................................................................ 101 Find Interstate Highway Exits ................................................ 101 Find Map Places or Points of Interest (POI) ........................... 102 Find Streets or Intersections.................................................... 104 Find Waypoints (Advanced Mode only) ................................... 107 Section 7: Supplemental Material ..................................... 109 Index......................................................................................... 115 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 manual can get you out on the road, fast! Welcome to the exciting world of GPS satellite navigation! We know you're anxious to begin finding your way with this hand-held technology, but we have a favor to ask. Before you grab the batteries and head outside, please give us a moment or two to explain how our manual can help you get the best performance from this remarkable little GPS unit. First, we want to thank you for buying an iFINDER H2OC. Whether you're a first-time user or a professional navigator, you'll discover that the iFINDER is a true pocket-sized, full-featured mapping GPS receiver. When you team an iFINDER with one of our specialized maps or our custom mapping software MapCreate 6, you have an incredible combination. No other consumer GPS mapping system on the market offers so much information and so many features in one package. Our goal for this book is to get you on the road or out to the woods and water fast, with a minimum of fuss. Like you, we'd rather spend more time traveling, and less time reading the manual! So, we designed our book so that you don't have to read the whole thing from front to back for the information you want. At the start (or end) of each segment, we'll tell you what content is coming up next. If it's a concept you're already familiar with, we'll show you how and where to skip ahead for the next important topic. We've also made it easy to look up any tips you may need from time to time. Here's how: The manual is organized into seven sections. This first section is an introduction to Lowrance 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 iFINDER. 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. We lead off this section with a onepage 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 iFINDER!) 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 on the water or in the wilderness quickly. 1 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 the iFINDER'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 the iFINDER's command functions, organized in alphabetical order. When you come to a GPS menu command on the iFINDER 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. The iFINDER 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 both Easy Mode and Advanced Mode options. In Section 6, we go into more detail on one of the iFINDER'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 the iFINDER can look up business phone numbers, functioning as a virtual Yellow Pages? We'll show you how in 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 the iFINDER can store or how long the batteries last, skip ahead to important information on how the iFINDER works, on page 4. Capabilities and Specifications: iFINDER H2Oc General Display:............................ 2.83" (7.1 cm) diagonal color high contrast Film SuperTwist. Resolution:...................... 320 pixel x 240 pixel resolution; 256-color TFT display. Backlighting:.................. White LED screen backlighting for night and low-light viewing. 2 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). Cigarette lighter power adapter included. 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, 16 parallel channel GPS+WAAS+EGNOS; 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 non-proprietary MMC or SD memory cards. Background map:.......... Built-in custom, detailed Lowrance 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 mediumsized lakes and streams.) Custom mapping: .......... Accepts custom, higher-detail MapCreate 6 mapping on memory cards, with searchable Points-of Interest database of hotels, restaurants, shopping, services and more. Navionics charts on MMC cards optional. Mapping memory: ......... Up to 1 GB on one MMC (MultiMedia Card) or SD (Secure Digital Card.) Position updates: .......... Up to every second. 3 Position points: ............. 1,000 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. Man Overboard:............. MOB feature precisely marks man overboard 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 the iFINDER'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. How the iFINDER H2Oc Works You'll navigate faster and easier if you understand how the iFINDER 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 11. If you're new to GPS, read on, and you can later impress your friends with your new-found knowledge.) First, think of your iFINDER as a small but powerful computer. (But don't worry -- we made the iFINDER easy to use, so you don't need to be a computer expert to find your way!) The iFINDER includes a keypad and a screen with menus so you can tell it what to do. The screen also lets the iFINDER 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 and satellites in orbit, but more about that in the upcoming segment introducing you to GPS and WAAS.) 4 The iFINDER 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 the remaining satellites. Once the iFINDER 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 iFINDER 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 iFINDER is a basic background map of the entire world. We lock it in here at the factory -- you can't change or close this map. Another portion of the iFINDER'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 iFINDERs, other Lowrance GPS units, sonar/GPS units and even personal computers. The iFINDER has one more thing in common with a personal computer. Just as computers have a floppy disk drive for storing and exchanging files, the iFINDER 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 1 GB in size. (Compare that to a floppy disk's 1.44 MB capacity!) The iFINDER uses all that 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 the iFINDER's memory. NOTE: No matter where they come from, GPS Data Files must be loaded from the MMC into memory before the iFINDER 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 MapCre5 ate 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 iFINDERs, other Lowrance 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 FreedomMaps. These custom maps are pre-loaded on MMCs. (No computer work required!). The iFINDER 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, WAAS and EGNOS Well, now you know the basics of how the iFINDER does its work. You might be ready to jump ahead to Section 2, Installation & Accessories, on page 11, 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 8. But, if you want to understand the current state of satellite navigation, look over this segment describing how GPS and its new companions WAAS and EGNOS 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 24hour-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.) 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. 6 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 automobile roof and even your body. Like most GPS receivers, the iFINDER doesn't have a compass or any other navigation aid built inside. It relies solely on the signals from the satellites to calculate a position. Speed, direction of travel, and distance all are calculated from position information. Therefore, in order for the iFINDER to determine direction of travel, you must be moving and the faster, the better. This is not to say that it won't work at walking or trolling speeds -- it will. There will be more "wandering" of the data shown on the display. 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. Consequently, the FAA has developed a program to boost GPS performance with its Wide Area Augmentation System (WAAS). The FAA commissioned the system on July 11, 2003. EGNOS (European Geostationary Navigation Overlay Service) is the European equivalent of WAAS. Like WAAS, it was created to make GPS position calculation more accurate. WAAS is designed to increase GPS accuracy to within 7.6 meters vertically and horizontally, but according to the FAA, it consistently comes within 1-2 meters horizontal and 2-3 meters vertical. It does this by broadcasting correction signals on GPS frequencies. Your unit automatically receives both GPS and WAAS signals. 7 There, however, 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 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 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. 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 text formatting for those commands and other instructions: Arrow Keys The arrow keys control the movement of dotted crosshairs lines (the cursor) on your mapping screen. The arrow keys also help you move around the iFINDER 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 8 some kind 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 the iFINDER 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 iFINDER. 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 iFINDER H2OC as iFINDER, or as the unit. 9 Notes 10 Section 2: Installation & Accessories Power The iFINDER 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 iFINDER automatically switches to external power. If the external power fails, the unit will switch to battery power. 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 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. Rechargeable NiMH batteries, however, should give you suitable battery life. Lithium batteries are lighter than alkaline, and with some brands of lithium batteries, the iFINDER H2OC will float. We've tested the iFINDER H2OC 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. 11 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.) 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 out of the grooves in the bottom of the case. Remove the iFINDER battery cover. Install the batteries according to the embossed signs in the battery compartment. They show 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, 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. 12 Replace battery compartment cover. Align tabs with slots in the base (left). Press latch firmly until it clicks (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 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 the iFINDER. 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 iFINDER 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. 13 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, Lowrance offers an optional data only cable and a power/data combo cable: The PC-DI7 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 PC-DI8 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 iFINDER H2OC to a laptop computer in a RV or other vehicle. By transmitting NMEA data to the computer, you can get live position data for GPScompatible mapping software. You can also run one of our free Lowrance 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 iFINDER. Then see "Com Port Configuration" in Sec. 5. MMC or SD Memory Card Installation Your iFINDER 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 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. A SD card is slightly thicker than an MMC. As this manual went to press, MMC and SD cards were available in storage capacities of up to 1 GB. Additional MMC cards are available from LEI Extras. 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 a MMC card. 14 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. Remove an MMC Card. 4. Drag the MMC from the slot into the battery compartment. 5. Turn the iFINDER 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, label-up, 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. 15 FreedomMaps FreedomMaps 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. FreedomMaps are available for the United States, Canada and Europe. In 2004, FreedomMaps with topographic contours became available for the United States and Canada. Like custom maps built in MapCreate, the custom map on a FreedomMap card 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! FreedomMaps come to you preloaded on a single 128 or 256 MB memory card. Insert the memory card into your Lowrance GPS unit, and you're ready to go. FreedomMaps are available through LEI-Extras. To order a card (or for list of areas available) see 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 iFINDER 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 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 iFINDER H2OC 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 like dense forests, which can obstruct GPS 16 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 antenna. See the topic "External Passive Antenna" in Sec. 5. Attach the iFINDER antenna to windshield bracket with two screws. You may achieve good results by placing the external antenna on the top of the dash, at the base of the windshield. A piece of the rubber nonskid 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 Systems Several R-A-M mounting brackets are available for your iFINDER. There are permanent mounts and temporary mounts suitable for virtually any boat, aircraft, vehicle, even motorcycle handlebars. Two R-A-M mounting systems for your unit. 17 One model has a mounting arm and cradle attached to a swivel ball plate that can be screwed or bolted to a supporting surface. Another has a moldable, weighted, rubber foot and gooseneck for support virtually anywhere without screws or adhesives. R-A-M even has suction cup bases for attachment to windscreens or fiberglass surfaces. See your Lowrance dealer or visit the LEI web site for the latest options. Accessory ordering information is on the inside back cover of this manual. For a complete look at the many mounting options, visit the R-A-M web site at www.ram-mount.com. Other Accessories Other iFINDER accessories include MMC cards, MMC card readers and MapCreateTM 6 custom mapping software for your computer. (The iFINDER H2OC Plus model ships with the GPS Accessory Pack, which is composed of the MapCreate CDs, the card reader and one memory card.) If these accessories are not available from your dealer, see the accessory ordering information on the inside back cover of this manual. MapCreateTM 6 CD-ROM and MMC card reader for USB ports. 18 Section 3: Easy Mode Operation This section addresses Easy Mode operation for the iFINDER'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 the iFINDER, 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 iFINDER H2OC 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. 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 (Enter) ­ This key allows you to save data, accept values or execute menu commands. 19 6. EXIT ­ The Exit key lets you return to the previous screen, clear data or close a menu. 7. FIND ­ The Find key launches the iFINDER 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 function commands and setup option commands. The tutorial lessons in this section will deal only with functions -- the basic commands that make the iFINDER do something. The iFINDER 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: navigates to the current cursor position on the map Cancel Navigation: turns off the navigation command after you have reached your destination. Screen: changes the contrast or brightness of the display screen and backlight delay. 20 Sounds: enables or disables the sounds for key strokes and alarms and sets the alarm style. Navigate Trail: sets up navigation back to the start of the current trail. Clear Trail: clears all the points stored in the plot trail. Sun/Moon: finds the rising and setting time of the sun and the moon. Units of Measure: changes the speed or distance units. Also used to change the heading, time and temperature formats. Set Local Time: sets the time for your local time zone. Advanced Mode: 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: load or save GPS Data Files containing waypoints, routes, trails and event marker icons. Software Information: 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. The pages are accessed by pressing the PAGES key. Pressing PAGES repeatedly scrolls among the three screens in an endless loop. Satellite Status Page This Page, shown in the following images, provides detailed information on the status of the iFINDER's satellite lock-on and position acquisition. To get to the Satellite Status Page, press PAGES repeatedly until it appears on the screen. No matter what page you are on, a flashing current position indicator/question mark symbol and flashing GPS data displays indicate 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! 21 Satellite lock-on with a 3D position acquired. 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. If you hold the unit facing north, you can use it to see which satellites are obstructed by obstacles in your immediate area. 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, which means it isn't being used to resolve the position. Beneath the circular graph are the bar graphs, one for each satellite in view. Since the unit has 16 channels, it can dedicate one channel per visible satellite. The taller the bar on the graph, the better the unit is receiving signals from the satellite. The Estimated Position Error (EPE), shown above the bar graphs, 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 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 direction of travel and the direction to a recalled waypoint. When you're not navigating to a waypoint or destination, the navigation screen looks like the one in the following image. No graphic course information is displayed. Your position is shown by an arrow in the center of the screen. Your trail history, or path you've taken, is illustrated by a line extending from the arrow. The arrow pointing down at the top of the compass rose indicates the current track (direction of travel) you are taking. 22 Track or compass heading indicator, showing direction of travel Present position arrow Compass rose Trail line Navigation information data boxes Navigation Page, recording a trail, traveling east. Page looks like this when the iFINDER 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 next image. Your ground speed, track, distance, course and bearing to waypoint, are all shown digitally on this screen. The current cross track error is shown in the XTK box. This is the distance you are off-course to the side of the desired course line. The course line is an imaginary line drawn from your position when you started navigating to the destination waypoint. It's shown on the navigation page as a vertical dotted line. Lines on either side of the present position show the current cross track error range. The default for the cross track error range is 0.20 mile. For example, if the present position symbol touches the right cross track error line, then you are 0.20 mile to the right of the desired course. You need to steer left to return to the desired course. You can use the ZIN or ZOUT keys to change the cross track error range. A circular symbol illustrating your destination (waypoint) appears on the screen as you approach the waypoint. Travel Time is the time that it will take to reach your destination at your present closing speed. Arrival Time is the local time it will be when you arrive at the destination, based upon your present closing speed and track. 23 Waypoint symbol Bearing arrow Trail line Cross track error range (off course indicator) Destination name Navigation information data boxes Navigation Page, going to cursor. Driver is headed east (a 68º track) toward a cursor location 68º (bearing) away. The cross track error range (white corridor) is 0.20 miles either side of the course. The driver is headed toward the cursor location, which is 0.17 miles away. The vehicle is basically on course (off course only 1 foot). Traveling at 34 mph. The driver will arrive at the waypoint in 18 seconds. 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/arrow symbol or flashing text displays means the iFINDER has not yet calculated a position. The zoom range is the distance across the map. This number is shown in the lower left corner of the screen. In the first example below, the range is 4,000 miles from one side of the map to the other. The Zoom In and Zoom Out keys zoom the map to enlarge or reduce its coverage area. There are 40 zoom ranges, from 0.02 miles to 4,000 miles. 24 Map Page opening screen (left); Map zoomed to 100 miles (center); Map zoomed to 6 miles (right). 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 highdetail custom map for this area has not been loaded on the MMC. If you're using 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 be enlarged without revealing more map content (except for a few major city streets). Load your own highdetail custom map made with MapCreate and you can zoom in to 0.02 miles with massive amounts of accurate map detail. Map Pages with high-detail map of an urban area loaded on the MMC. Arterial streets appear at the 4-mile zoom range (left), with a few Point icons visible. Numerous dots representing Points of Interest become visible at the 3-mile range (center). At the 0.4-mile zoom (right), 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 medium-detail maps of the United States. 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 25 highways; Interstate highway exits and exit services information; large- and 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 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 in MapCreate. Interstate Major Street Cursor line Restaurant POI POI Markers POI Pop-up School POI Position, distance and bearing data Zoom Range When the map is zoomed out far enough, most POIs appear as square dots (left). As you zoom in closer, the symbols become readable icons. In the 0.3-mile zoom example (right), the cursor has selected 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. Tip: In some urban areas, businesses are so close to one another 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 Street. You can reduce screen clutter and make streets and other map features easier to see by turning off POIs you're not watching for. To see how, check the text on Map Detail Category Selection, in 26 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 popup 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 the iFINDER, you might consider photocopying this quick reference page and tucking it into your pocket. 27 IFINDER H2Oc 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 11.) 2. To turn on the iFINDER, press 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 zooming out, zooming in or scrolling. 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 crosshairs 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 HOME or NAVIGATE TRAIL. To Go Home: press FIND|ENT and follow navigation arrows. To Navigate 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 the iFINDER, press and hold PWR key for three seconds. 28 Find Your Current Position Finding your current position is as simple as turning on the iFINDER. The unit automatically searches for satellites and under a clear sky, 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, a vehicle or in terrain that is blocking signal reception. To correct this, be sure you are positioned so 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. 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 in 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 scroll the map northward, southward, eastward or westward by using the arrow keys, which will launch the cursor crosshairs. This allows you to look anywhere on the map. To clear the cursor, press EXIT and the map will revert to the current or last known position. Cursor line Selected airport Cursor line Distance measured by cursor The selected airport to the northwest is 4.2 miles away. 29 Tip: Use the cursor to determine the distance from your current position (or last known position, when working indoors) to any map object or location. 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 any item you wish to select. 2. Use the arrow keys and center the cursor crosshairs on the desired object. On most items, a pop-up box will give the name of the selected item. You will also notice a red halo surrounds the item when it is selected. Once that happens and you press FIND, the Find Menu will pop up with SELECTED ITEM listed at the top of the menu. Press ENT to see the Waypoint Information screen for the selected item. Searching Now that you've seen how the iFINDER can find where you are, let's search for something else. Searching is one of the most powerful features in the Lowrance 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 with a high-detail MapCreate 6 custom map. After the iFINDER 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) with list of the nearest restaurants (right). 30 3. A list of restaurants will appear with the closest at the top of the list and the one furthest from you at the bottom of the list. The nearest is highlighted. 4. If you wanted, you could scroll or 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 the iFINDER 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 for fast food restaurant nearest this position. Screen shows name, street address, phone number, latitude/longitude, distance to the restaurant and its compass bearing. Screen shows Go To command (left). The Find On Map command is selected (right). 6. The iFINDER's map appears, with the cursor crosshairs highlighting the restaurant's POI symbol. A pop-up name box identifies the POI. A data box at the bottom of the screen displays the location's latitude, longitude, distance and bearing. Map screen showing Finding Waypoint, the result of a restaurant search. 31 7. To clear the search and return to the last page displayed, press EXIT repeatedly. Before you completely exited out of the Search menus, you could have gone looking for another place. NOTE: Search works from mapping and POI data loaded in the unit. If you have not loaded a high-detailed custom map covering the desired search area, you may not find much. Set Home Waypoint A waypoint is an electronic address, based on the latitude and longitude of a position on the earth. Easy Mode allows you to save two waypoints (Home and Man Overboard). To save a Home Waypoint: 1. Press and release ENT. 2. A message appears asking if you want to save as home waypoint. Select YES and press ENT. The waypoint appears on the map as an X, named Home. Pop-up box Save Home Waypoint menu (left). Home waypoint with X symbol and name (right). When selected by the cursor, the pop-up box appears. The example shows the home waypoint set at the cursor location. If the 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. Go Home This command will automatically take you back to the Home waypoint you created. 1. Make sure you have cleared the cursor, then press FIND|ENT and follow navigation arrows on the Map Page or the compass rose on the Navigation Page. 32 To cancel navigation, press MENU| to CANCEL NAVIGATION|ENT| to YES|ENT. The iFINDER stops showing navigation information. Set Man Overboard (MOB) Waypoint One of boating's most terrifying events is having a friend or family member fall overboard. This unit has a man overboard feature that shows navigation data to the location where the feature was activated. To activate it, press the ZOUT and ZIN keys at the same time. Your position at the time these keys are pressed is used as the man overboard position. Caution: Saving a new Man Overboard waypoint will overwrite and erase the previous Man Overboard waypoint. Navigate Back to MOB Waypoint Find your way back to the position with the Navigation Page or Map Page. When MOB is activated, the Navigation Page automatically shows the compass rose with its bearing arrow pointing toward the man overboard position. The destination name says Going To Man Overboard and the Map Page displays a Man Overboard waypoint, represented by a human figure. The steering arrow points where to steer to reach that position. The man overboard position is 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 current Man Overboard position. Tip: You don't need to have an emergency to use the MOB waypoint. In Easy Mode, it is the only way you can set an additional waypoint other than the Home waypoint. When you set the MOB point, cancel navigation and use it like a regular waypoint. (Remember, you can set 1,000 waypoints in Advanced Mode.) To cancel navigation to MOB, press MENU| to CANCEL NAVIGAto YES|ENT. The iFINDER stops showing navigation information. TION|ENT| 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 with the zoom in and zoom out keys to maneuver around the map until you find a location you would like to visit. 33 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 items, like 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 crosshairs are centered on Oologah, Oklahoma. 3. Press MENU|ENT and the iFINDER will begin navigating to the cursor location. The Map Page will display a course 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 (left) shows the 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. The iFINDER stops showing navigation information. 34 Navigate to a Point of Interest For POIs that are in view on the map, you can use the Navigate to Cursor command above. Use the cursor to select the POI. Another method involves searching for POIs by pressing the FIND key and selecting MAP PLACES. (See the searching example earlier in this section, or turn to Sec. 6, Searching, for detailed instructions on POI searches.) After you have selected MAP PLACES and pressed ENT, a list of map categories will appear. Use to highlight a category and press ENTER. The FIND BY MENU will appear with two options from which to choose: NAME and NEAREST. Select NEAREST and press ENT. A list of locations will appear with the one nearest you highlighted at the top. Press ENT, then press to make sure the GO TO command is highlighted at the bottom of the screen. Now press ENT. The iFINDER begins showing navigation information to the item. To cancel navigation, press MENU| to CANCEL NAVIGATION|ENT| to YES|ENT. The iFINDER 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. With the default auto setting, the iFINDER 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. The trail is saved in memory when the unit is turned off. The iFINDER continues recording the same trail until you clear the trail, which erases the old trail and starts creation of a new trail. NOTE: The iFINDER 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 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 off when you switch modes, you 35 will not be able to take advantage of 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. 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. The other requires only three keystrokes 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 footpath. At faster speeds, like on a highway or water, the Navigate Trail command is handy. Visual Back Trailing 1. On the Map Page, zoom (ZIN or ZOUT) so your trail is visible. 2. Begin moving and watch the Map. Walk or steer so your current position arrow follows the trail you just made. Navigate a Back Trail 1. Press MENU| to NAVIGATE TRAIL|ENT. 2. Now, begin moving and follow your iFINDER. 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. Navigate Trail On the map, your original trail is visible as a 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. As you travel, the arrival alarm will go off when you near a waypoint, and the steer arrow (on the map) and bearing arrow (on the compass rose) will swing around and point to the next waypoint on the trail. Press EXIT to clear the alarm. 36 North Back trail dotted line Trail point Present position arrow Steer arrow Navigate trail, map views: Driver is southbound heading straight toward trail point 6 (left). The steer arrow tells the driver to go straight. Southbound driver (right) has reached point 6 and must turn east to follow trail. The steer arrow swings around to the left (east), toward the next trail waypoint (arrival alarm message turned off for clarity.) Track or compass heading indicator Present position Trail waypoint symbol Trail line Cross track error range (off course indicator) Navigate trail, navigation page (compass rose) views: Driver is eastbound heading straight toward trail point 5 (left). The bearing arrow shows the trail point is due east (straight ahead.) Driver (right) has reached trail point 5 and must turn south to follow the trail. Arrival alarm goes off and bearing arrow swings around to right (south), toward the next waypoint, trail point 6. The iFINDER now shows navigation information to point 6, which is 2.07 miles away. Bearing arrow Compass rose 3. When you reach your destination, be sure to cancel your navigation: press MENU| to CANCEL NAVIGATION|ENT. The iFINDER 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. 37 WARNING: Clearing a trail will erase the trail from the iFINDER's memory. You will not be able to backtrack the trail, if the it 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. The iFINDER asks if you're sure. Press |ENT. 2. Press EXIT| EXIT to get back to the main page display. 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, the iFINDER 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 6 software. For instructions on inserting an MMC into the iFINDER, see Sec. 2, Installation/Accessories. 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 6 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 iFINDER'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. 38 The Transfer My Data submenu asks if you want to save data to the MMC or load data from the MMC into the iFINDER'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 insert a card into the iFINDER to activate the Load or Save commands. To transfer data from the iFINDER to the MMC, press ENT. To transfer data from the MMC to iFINDER, press to LOAD|ENT. 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. These figures (from left to right) show the menu sequence for naming and saving a GPS Data File from an MMC to the iFINDER'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. 39 These figures (left to right) show the menu sequence for loading a GPS Data File from an MMC into the iFINDER's memory. Switch to Advanced Mode To leave Easy Mode and switch to Advanced Mode: 1. Press MENU| to ADVANCED MODE|ENT. 2. The unit asks if you are 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. The unit asks if you are sure you want to turn on Easy Mode. 3. Press |ENT and the unit switches to Easy Mode. 40 Section 4: Advanced Mode Operation Keypad 2 4 3 7 6 1 8 9 5 iFINDER H2Oc 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 four different page screens in Advanced Mode. (Satellite, Position, 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 close a menu. 7. FIND ­ The Find key launches the iFINDER 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. 41 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 Advanced Mode has a single Main Menu, which contains some function commands and some setup option commands. The instructions in this section will deal only with functions, the basic commands that make the iFINDER do something. The iFINDER will work fine for these instructions 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. 1. To get to the main menu from any page: press MENU|MENU. To clear the menu screen and return to the page display, press EXIT. Main Menu, Advanced Mode. The Main Menu commands and their functions are: Screen: changes the contrast or brightness of the display screen and backlight delay. Sounds: enables or disables the sounds for key strokes and alarms and sets the alarm style. Transparency: adjusts the level of transparency for menus. Alarms: changes alarm thresholds and allows users to turn on or off GPS alarms. Route Planning: allows you to plan, view or navigate routes. My Trails command: used to show, create, edit or delete trails. Cancel Navigation: turns off the navigation command after you have reached your destination. 42