Garmin 900T User Manual

owner’s manual

nüvi® 900 series

GPS navigator with digital TV

© 2008 Garmin Ltd. or its subsidiaries

Garmin International, Inc.
1200 East 151st Street,
Olathe, Kansas 66062, USA
Tel. [phone] or
[phone]
Fax [phone]

All rights reserved. Except as expressly provided herein, no part of this manual may be reproduced, copied,
transmitted, disseminated, downloaded or stored in any storage medium, for any purpose without the express prior
written consent of Garmin. Garmin hereby grants permission to download a single copy of this manual onto a hard
drive or other electronic storage medium to be viewed and to print one copy of this manual or of any revision hereto,
provided that such electronic or printed copy of this manual must contain the complete text of this copyright notice
and provided further that any unauthorized commercial distribution of this manual or any revision hereto is strictly
prohibited.

Information in this document is subject to change without notice. Garmin reserves the right to change or improve its
products and to make changes in the content without obligation to notify any person or organization of such changes
or improvements. Visit the Garmin Web site (www.garmin.com) for current updates and supplemental information
concerning the use and operation of this and other Garmin products.

Garmin® and nüvi® are trademarks of Garmin Ltd. or its subsidiaries, registered in the USA and other countries.
Garmin Lock™ and myGarmin™ are trademarks of Garmin Ltd. or its subsidiaries. These trademarks may not be used
without the express permission of Garmin.

The Bluetooth® word mark and logos are owned by the Bluetooth SIG, Inc., and any use of such name by Garmin is
under license. Windows is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries.
Mac® is a registered trademark of Apple Computer, Inc. Linux® is the registered trademark of Linus Torvalds in the
U.S. and other countries. Audible.com® and AudibleManager® are registered trademarks of Audible, Inc. © Audible,
Inc. 1997–2008. DVB is a registered trademark of the DVB Project. The “3” logo is a registered trademark of
Hutchison Whampoa Ltd.

Garmin (Europe) Ltd.
Liberty House
Hounsdown Business Park,
Southampton, Hampshire, SO40 9RB UK
Tel. [phone] (outside the UK)
0808 2390000 (within the UK)
Fax [phone]

Garmin Corporation
No. 68, Jangshu 2nd Road,
Shijr, Taipei County,
Taiwan
Tel. [phone]
Fax [phone]

September 2008 Part Number 190-00878-00 Rev. A Printed in Taiwan

Introduction

Introduction

Manual Conventions

When you are instructed to “touch”

something, use your nger to touch an

item on the screen.

The small arrows (>) used in the text
indicate that you should touch a series
of items. For example, if you see “touch

Where to? > Favorites” you should

touch Where to?, and then touch

Favorites.

myGarmin™

Go to http://my.garmin.com to access the
latest services for your Garmin products:

•

•

•

nüvi® Tips and Shortcuts

To quickly return to the Menu page,

•
touch and hold Back.

Touch and to see more

•
choices. Touch and hold these buttons
to scroll faster.

Register your Garmin unit.

Subscribe to online services for safety
camera information (see page 54).

Unlock optional maps.

Contact Garmin

Contact Garmin Product Support if
you have any questions while using
your nüvi:

On the Internet at www.garmin.it

•

By e-mail at [e-mail]

•

For digital television questions,
contact La3TV:

On the Internet at www.la3tv.it

•

By phone at ([phone]

•

nüvi 900 Series Owner’s Manual i

Introduction

Table of Contents

Introduction .....................................i

Manual Conventions .......................... i

nüvi® Tips and Shortcuts....................i

myGarmin™ ........................................i

Contact Garmin .................................i

Getting Started ...............................1

Your nüvi Unit ...................................1

Step 1: Install the TvCard .................2

Step 2: Activate the TV Service ........2

Step 3: Install the Battery .................3

Step 4: Mount the nüvi .....................3

Step 5: Congure the nüvi ................4

Step 6: Acquire Satellites .................4

Understanding the Menu Page .........5

Finding Your Destination ..................6

Following Your Route .......................6

Adjusting the Volume ........................7

Locking the Screen ...........................7

Where to? .......................................8

Finding an Address ...........................8

Go! Page Options .............................8

Finding a Place by Spelling

the Name .........................................9

Setting a Home Location ..................9

Finding Recently-Found Places .....10

Favorites .........................................10

Creating and Editing Routes ..........12

Finding a Place Using the Map ......14

Entering Coordinates ......................14

Searching Near Another Location ..15

Navigating Off Road .......................15

Walking to a Destination .................15

Using the Main Pages .................16

Map Page .......................................16

Turn List Page ................................17

Next Turn Page ..............................17

Trip Computer Page .......................17

Making Hands-Free Phone

Calls ..............................................18

Pairing Your Phone .........................18

Receiving a Call ............................19

In a Call .........................................19

Phone Menu ...................................20

Using the Media Players .............24

Watching Digital TV ........................24

Playing Music .................................26

Listening to Audible Books .............28

ii nüvi 900 Series Owner’s Manual

Introduction

Managing Files .............................30

Supported File Types......................30

Loading Files ..................................30

Deleting Files .................................31

Using the Tools ............................ 32

Settings ..........................................32

Where Am I? ...................................32

Routes ............................................32

Help ................................................32

Music Player ...................................32

Audible Player ................................32

Picture Viewer ................................33

Trafc ..............................................33

Games ............................................33

Calculator ......................................34

Currency Converter ........................34

Unit Converter ...............................36

World Clock ...................................36

Alarm Clock ....................................37

My Data ..........................................37

Using FM Trafc ...........................38

LED Blink Codes ............................38

Trafc in Your Area .........................39

Trafc on Your Road .......................39

Trafc on Your Route ......................39

Trafc Icons ....................................40

Severity Color Code .......................40

Trafc Subscriptions .......................40

Customizing the nüvi .................. 41

Changing the System Settings .......41

Changing the Navigation Settings ..42

Adding Security Settings ................42

Updating the Time Settings ............43

Adjusting the Display Settings ........43

Changing the Map Settings ............44

Using the Bluetooth Technology

Settings ..........................................45

Customizing the Language

Settings ..........................................45

Viewing Trafc Subscription

Information .....................................46

Changing the Proximity Points

Settings ..........................................47

Restoring All Settings .....................47

Appendix ......................................48

Caring for Your nüvi .......................48

Calibrating the Screen ....................49

Locking Your nüvi ...........................49

Resetting the nüvi ...........................50

nüvi 900 Series Owner’s Manual iii

Introduction

Updating the Software ....................50

Clearing User Data .........................50

Battery Information ........................50

Changing the Fuse .........................52

Removing the nüvi and Mount ........52

Mounting on Your Dashboard .........53

Additional Maps ..............................53

Extras and Optional Accessories ....54

About GPS Satellite Signals ...........56

Software License Agreement .........56

Video License Agreement...............57

Declaration of Conformity ...............57

Specications .................................58

Troubleshooting ..............................59

Index .............................................62

iv nüvi 900 Series Owner’s Manual

Getting Started

Getting Started

See the Important Safety and Product Information guide in the product box for product warnings and
other important information.

Your nüvi Unit

TV Antenna

Battery cover

slide to the left to turn the unit on/off;

slide to the right to lock the screen

GPS antenna

Headphone/

audio-out

jack

Power key:

new

SD card slot

Mini-USB

TvCard slot

under battery

Check local trafc laws before mounting. Currently, some laws prohibit drivers from using suction

mounts or other devices on their windshields that could obstruct the driver’s vision while operating
motor vehicles. Other Garmin dashboard or friction mounting options should be used.

nüvi 900 Series Owner’s Manual 1

External

TV antenna

connector

External

GPS antenna

connector

connector

Microphone

Speaker

Getting Started

Step 1: Install the TvCard

1. Locate the TvCard in the TvCard
envelope included in the product box.

2. Remove the TvCard from the holder
following the instructions included in
the TvCard envelope.

2. Slide the battery cover off the back of
the nüvi.

Battery
compartment

TvCard

Card holder

3. Slide the TvCard into the card holder
in the battery compartment. The logo
on the TvCard should face up.

Step 2: Activate the TV Service

1. Call (+ 39) 800 179 777 and follow
the instructions.

2. Locate the TvCard number on the
label on the TvCard envelope. The
TvCard number begins with +39.

3. Enter the TvCard number (do not
enter +39).

4. Locate and enter the PIN, which is
printed on the TvCard holder.

Your 6-month free trial begins the rst

time you watch TV using the nüvi 900.
For additional information about the
TvCard, call (+ 39) 800 179 779.

2 nüvi 900 Series Owner’s Manual

Getting Started

Step 3: Install the Battery

WARNING: This product contains a lithium­ion battery. To prevent damage, remove the
unit from the vehicle or store it out of direct
sunlight.

1. Locate the rectangular lithium-ion

Step 4: Mount the nüvi

1. Clean and dry your windshield with

2. Plug the vehicle power cable (with

battery included in the product box.

2. Locate the metal contacts on the end
of the lithium-ion battery.

3. Insert the battery so that the metal
contacts on the battery match up with
the metal contacts inside the battery
compartment.

Metal contacts

Battery

3. Snap the cradle onto the suction cup

4. Press the battery down into place.

5. Slide the battery cover back on until it
clicks into place.

a lint-free cloth. Remove the clear
plastic from the suction cup, and
clean it with a lint-free cloth.

integrated trafc receiver) into the

power connector on the cradle.

Cradle

Power cable

arm.

Suction cup

mount

nüvi 900 Series Owner’s Manual 3

Getting Started

4. Place the suction cup on the
windshield.

5. Flip the lever back, toward the
windshield.

6. Fit the bottom of your nüvi into the
cradle.

7. Tilt the nüvi back until it snaps into
place.

8. Plug the other end of the vehicle
power cable into a power outlet in
your vehicle. Your unit should turn on
automatically if it is plugged in and
your vehicle is running.

Antenna (suction

cups not shown)

Step 5: Congure the

nüvi

To turn on your nüvi, slide the Power
key to the left. Follow the on-screen
instructions.

Step 6: Acquire Satellites

1. Go outdoors to an open area, out of

2. Stop your vehicle, and turn on the

The bars indicate GPS satellite
strength. When at least one bar is green,
the nüvi has acquired satellite signals.

To power outlet
in vehicle

To power connector

on nüvi cradle

9. Secure the antenna to the windshield
using the suction cups.

Now you can select a destination and
navigate to it. For more information
about GPS, go to www.garmin.com/

aboutGPS.

garages, and away from tall buildings.

nüvi. Acquiring satellite signals can
take a few minutes.

4 nüvi 900 Series Owner’s Manual

Understanding the Menu Page

➊ ➋ ➌ ➍

➎ ➏

➐ ➑ ➒ ➓

➊

GPS satellite strength.

➋

Bluetooth® technology status.

➌

Battery status.

➍

Current time. Touch to change the time.

➎

Touch to nd a destination.

➏

Touch to open the map.

➐

Touch to make a call when connected to a compatible mobile phone.

➑

Touch to watch digital television.

Getting Started

➒

Touch to adjust the volume.

➓

Touch to use tools such as media players, settings, and Help.

nüvi 900 Series Owner’s Manual 5

Getting Started

Finding Your Destination

The Where to? menu provides several
different categories for you to use when
searching for addresses, cities, and other
locations. The detailed maps loaded in
your nüvi contain millions of points of
interest, such as restaurants, hotels, and
auto services.

1. Touch Where to?.

2. Select a category.

3. Select a subcategory.

4. Select a destination to open the Go!
page.

5. Touch Go! or select another option.

Following Your Route

Your route is marked with a magenta
line. As you travel, your nüvi guides you
to your destination with voice prompts,
arrows on the map, and directions at the
top of the map. If you depart from the
original route, your nüvi recalculates the
route and provides new directions.

6 nüvi 900 Series Owner’s Manual

Getting Started

Adding a Stop

You can add a stop (called a Via Point)
to your route. The nüvi gives you

Stopping the Route

1. With a route active, touch Menu.

2. Touch Stop.

directions to the Via Point and then to

your nal destination.

1. With a route active, touch Menu >

Where to?.

2. Search for the extra stop.

3. Touch Go!.

4. Touch Add as Via Point to add this
stop before your destination. Touch

Set as new Destination to make this

your new nal destination.

Taking a Detour

1. With a route active, touch Menu.

2. Touch Detour.

The nüvi attempts to get you back
on your original route as quickly as
possible. If the route you are currently
taking is the only reasonable option, the

Adjusting the Volume

From the Menu page, touch Volume.
Touch and to adjust the master
volume. Touch the box next to Mute to
mute all audio.

To adjust the volume levels for the voice
prompts, the media players, and the
phone, touch Mixer. Adjust the levels
as needed. Touch Restore to return the
volume settings to the original levels.

Locking the Screen

To prevent accidental screen touches,
slide the Power key to the right ( ). To
unlock the screen, slide the Power key
to the center position.

nüvi might not calculate a detour.

nüvi 900 Series Owner’s Manual 7

Where to?

Where to?

The Where to? menu provides
several different categories you can use
to search for locations. To learn how to
perform a simple search, see page 6.

TIP: Touch Near… to change the

search area. See page 15.

Finding an Address

NOTE: The steps to nd an address

may vary with the maps that are
loaded on your nüvi.

1. Touch Where to? > Address.

2. Touch Change Country, if
necessary.

3. Touch Search All. Or, touch Spell

City or Postal Code, enter the city/

postal code, and touch Done. Select
the city/postal code in the list.

4. Enter the street name, and touch

Done. Select the correct street in the

list, if necessary.

5. Enter the number of the address, and

touch Done.

6. Touch the address, if necessary.

Go! Page Options

Touch an item in the search results list to
view the Go! page.

Touch Go! to create a turn-by-turn route
to this location.

If a mobile phone with Bluetooth
wireless technology is connected, touch

to call this location.

Touch Show Map to view this location
on the map.

Touch Save to save this location. See

page 10.

8 nüvi 900 Series Owner’s Manual

Where to?

Finding a Place by Spelling the Name

If you know the name of the location you
are looking for, you can spell it using the
on-screen keyboard. You can also enter
letters contained in the name to narrow
the search.

1. Touch Where to? > Points of

Interest > Spell Name.

2. Using the on-screen keyboard, enter
letters in the name. Touch Done.

Using the On-Screen
Keyboard

When an on-screen keyboard appears,
touch a letter or number to enter it.

Touch to add a space. Touch
and to move the cursor. Touch to
delete a character. Touch and hold to
delete the entire entry.

Touch Mode to select the keyboard
language mode. Touch &?% to enter
special characters, such as punctuation
marks.

Setting a Home Location

You can set a home location for the place
you return to most often.

1. Touch Where to? > Go Home.

2. Select an option.

Going Home

After you set your home location, you
can route to it at any time by touching

Where to? > Go Home.

nüvi 900 Series Owner’s Manual 9

Where to?

Changing Your Home
Location

To change your home location, you must
rst delete it from Favorites.

1. Touch Where to? > Favorites.

2. Touch Home > Edit > Delete > Yes.

After you delete your home location,
reset it by following the steps on page 9.

NOTE: When you touch Clear, all

items from the list are removed. This
process does not delete the actual place
from your nüvi.

Favorites

You can save places in your Favorites

so you can quickly nd them and create

routes to them. Your home location is
also stored in Favorites.

Finding Recently-Found Places

Your nüvi stores the last 50 of your

recent nds in the Recently Found list.

Saving Your Current Location

From the Map page, touch . Touch

Save Location to save your current

location.

The most recently viewed places appear
at the top of the list. Touch Where to? >

Recently Found to view your recently

found items.

Deleting Recently Found
Places

To remove all places from the Recently
Found list, touch Clear > Yes.

10 nüvi 900 Series Owner’s Manual

Saving Places You Find

1. After you have found a place you

want to save, touch Save.

2. Touch OK. The place is saved in

Favorites.

Finding Saved Places

1. Touch Where to?.

2. Touch Favorites. Your saved

locations are listed.

Where to?

Finding Your Last Position

4. Touch an item to edit:

Each time you remove the nüvi from the
cradle before you turn off the nüvi, your

Last Position is automatically saved.

To navigate to your last position, touch

Where to? > Favorites > Last Position.

The Last Position point is overwritten
each time you remove the nüvi from the
cradle before you turn off the nüvi.

Editing Saved Places

1. Touch Where to? > Favorites.

2. Touch the location you want to edit.

3. Touch Edit.

Change Name—enter a new

•

name, and touch Done.

Attach Photo—select a picture

•
to assign to the location. To load

les to your nüvi or SD card, see

pages 30 and 31.

Change Map Symbol— touch

•

a new symbol used to mark this
location on the map.

Change Phone Number— enter

•

a phone number, and touch Done.

Change Categories—select

•

another category for the location.

Delete—removes this item from

•
the Favorites list. Touch Yes.

nüvi 900 Series Owner’s Manual 11

Where to?

Using Photo Navigation

Panoramio™ provides pictures that
include location information. You can
load these pictures on your nüvi or on
an SD card and create routes to them.
Visit http://connect.garmin.com/photos
to download pictures with location
information.

To navigate to a photo:

1. Touch Where to? > Favorites >

Panoramio Photos. Pictures with

location information are listed.

2. Touch a picture.

3. Touch Go! to navigate to the location.

Creating and Editing Routes

Touch Where to? > Routes. Select the
route you want to take and touch Go!.

Creating a Saved Route

Use your nüvi to create and save routes
before your next trip. You can save up to
ten routes.

1. Touch Where to? (or Tools) >

Routes > New.

2. Touch Add New Start Point.

3. Find a location as your starting point,

and touch Select.

4. Touch Add New End Point.

5. Find a location as your ending point,

and touch Select.

12 nüvi 900 Series Owner’s Manual

6. Touch to add another location
to your route. Touch to remove a
location.

7. Touch Next to calculate your route
and view it on the map.

8. Touch Save to save the route and
exit.

Editing Routes

1. Touch Where to? (or Tools) >

Routes.

2. Select the route you want to edit.

3. Touch Edit.

Where to?

4. Touch an item to edit:

Change Name—enter a new

•

name, and touch Done.

Add/Remove Points—add or

•

remove points from the route.

Manually Reorder Points—

•

change the order of points along
your route.

Optimally Reorder Points—

•

automatically order the points.

Recalculate—change the route

•

preference to calculate by faster
time, shorter distance, or off road.

Delete—remove this route.

•

NOTE: Your changes are

automatically saved when you exit any
of the route edit pages.

nüvi 900 Series Owner’s Manual 13

Where to?

Finding a Place Using the Map

Touch Where to? > Browse Map to
view different parts of the map.

Tips for Browsing the Map

Touch the map, and drag to view

•
different parts of the map.

Touch and to zoom out and in.

•

Touch any object on the map. An

•
arrow appears pointing at the object.

Touch Save to save this location.

•

Touch Go! to navigate to the location.

•

If the GPS mode is off, touch Set

•

Location to set your location to the

selected location. (See page 41.)

Entering Coordinates

If you know the geographic coordinates
of your destination, you can use your
nüvi to navigate to your destination
using the latitude and longitude
coordinates. This can be especially
helpful when geocaching.

1. Touch Where to? > Coordinates.

2. Touch Format to select the correct

coordinate format for the type of map
you are using.

3. Enter the coordinates, and touch

Done.

14 nüvi 900 Series Owner’s Manual

Where to?

Searching Near Another Location

NOTE: Your nüvi automatically

searches for places near your current
location.

1. Touch Where to? > Near….

2. Select an option:

Where I Am Now—search near

•

your current location.

A Different City—search near the

•

city you enter.

My Current Route—search along

•

your active route.

My Destination—search near

•

your current destination.

Navigating Off Road

If you are not following roadways as
you navigate, use off road mode. Touch

Tools > Settings > Navigation > Route
Preference > Off Road > OK. Select a

destination and touch Go! to navigate off
road to the destination.

Walking to a Destination

If you are walking to your destination,
use pedestrian mode to optimize your
route for walking. Touch Tools >

Settings > System > Usage Mode >
Pedestrian > OK.

nüvi 900 Series Owner’s Manual 15

Using the Main Pages

Using the Main Pages

Map Page

Touch View map to open the Map page. The vehicle icon shows your current
location. A speed limit icon could appear as you travel on major roadways.

Touch and drag the map to view a different area of the map (see page 14). Touch to
zoom in, and touch to zoom out. Touch Menu to return to the Menu page.

➊

Touch to view the Turn

List page.

➊

➋

Touch to view the

Where Am I? page.
See page 32.

➋

➍➌

➍

➌

Touch to view the
Trip Computer page.

16 nüvi 900 Series Owner’s Manual

Touch to view the
Next Turn page.

Using the Main Pages

Turn List Page

When you are navigating a route, the
Turn List page displays turn-by-turn
instructions for your entire route and the
distance between turns.

Touch the text bar on the top of the Map
page to open the Turn List page. Touch
a turn on the list to view the Next Turn
page for that turn. Touch Show Map to
view the entire route on the map.

Next Turn Page

When you are navigating a route, the
Next Turn page shows the turn on the
map and the distance and time left before
you reach the turn.

To view an upcoming turn on the map,
touch the Turn In eld on the Map page,
or touch any turn from the Turn List
page.

Trip Computer Page

The Trip Computer page displays your
current speed and provides helpful
statistics about your trip.

To view the Trip Computer page, touch
the Speed or Arrival eld on the Map
page.

If you make frequent stops, leave the
nüvi turned on so it can accurately
measure elapsed time during the trip.

Resetting Trip Computer

If you want accurate trip information,
reset the trip computer before beginning
a trip. Touch Reset Trip to reset the
information on the Trip Computer page.
Touch Reset Max to reset the maximum
speed.

nüvi 900 Series Owner’s Manual 17

Making Hands-Free Phone Calls

Making Hands-Free

Phone Calls

Using Bluetooth wireless technology,
your nüvi can connect to your mobile
phone to become a hands-free device. To
determine whether your mobile phone
with Bluetooth technology is compatible
with the nüvi, visit www.garmin.com/

bluetooth.

Bluetooth wireless technology
establishes a wireless link between
devices, such as a mobile phone and the

nüvi. The rst time you use two devices

together you must “pair” them by
establishing a relationship using a PIN/
passkey. After the initial pairing, the two
devices can connect automatically each
time you turn them on.

Pairing Your Phone

To pair and connect, your phone and
your nüvi must be turned on and be
within 10 meters of each other.

Initiate pairing from your nüvi or
from your phone. Refer to your phone
instructions.

To pair using your phone settings:

1. Enable the Bluetooth component

2. Initiate a search for Bluetooth

3. Select the nüvi from the list of

4. Enter the nüvi Bluetooth PIN (1234)

NOTE: You might have to set your

mobile phone to connect to the nüvi
automatically when it is turned on.

on your phone. This might be in a
menu called Settings, Bluetooth,
Connections, or Hands-free.

devices.

devices.

into your phone.

18 nüvi 900 Series Owner’s Manual

Making Hands-Free Phone Calls

To pair using the nüvi settings:

1. From the Menu page, touch Tools >

Settings > Bluetooth > Add.

2. Enable the Bluetooth component on
your phone and enable Find Me/
Discoverable/Visible mode. These
settings might be in a Bluetooth,
Connections, or Hands-free menu.

3. Touch OK on the nüvi.

4. Select your phone, and touch OK.

5. Enter the nüvi Bluetooth PIN (1234)
in your phone.

When your phone is connected to your

The internal microphone is in the front
of the nüvi; speak normally.

In a Call

During a call, the In Call icon
appears. Touch > End Call to hang
up. Touch > Call Options for the
following options:

•

•

nüvi, you are ready to make phone calls.

When you turn on the nüvi, it tries to
connect to the last phone to which it was
connected.

•

Receiving a Call

When you get a call, the Incoming Call
window opens. Touch Answer to answer
the call. Touch Ignore to ignore the call
and stop your phone from ringing.

Touch Tones—displays a keypad
page so that you can use automated
systems, such as voice mail.

Transfer Audio To Phone—

this is
helpful if you want to turn off the
nüvi, but remain on the call or if you
need privacy. To switch back, touch

Transfer Audio To Device.

Mute Microphone.

nüvi 900 Series Owner’s Manual 19

Making Hands-Free Phone Calls

Using Call Waiting

When you are on a call and you receive
a second call (call waiting), the nüvi
displays the Incoming Call window.
Touch Answer to answer the call. The

rst call is placed on hold.

To switch between calls:

1. Touch > Switch To.

2. Touch End Call to hang up. This

does not disconnect the call on hold.

Phone Menu

From the Menu page, touch Phone to
open the hands-free phone menu.

NOTE: Not all phones support all

features of the nüvi hands-free phone
menu.

Using Your Phone Book

Each time your phone connects with the
nüvi, the phone book is automatically
loaded into the nüvi. It could take a
few minutes for the phone book to be
available. Phone book transfer is not
available on all phones.

1. Touch Phone > Phone Book.

2. Touch the phone book entry (contact)
you want to call.

3. Touch Dial to call the contact, or
touch Compose to send an SMS/text
message.

Dialing a Point of Interest

1. Touch Phone > POI Dial.

2. Search for the point of interest you
want to call.

3. Touch

Dial or .

20 nüvi 900 Series Owner’s Manual

Making Hands-Free Phone Calls

Dialing a Number

1. Touch Phone > Dial.

2. Enter the number, and touch Dial.

To enter your phone number:

1. Touch Phone > Call Home.

2. Touch Enter Phone Number to use

Viewing Your Call History

Each time your phone connects to the
nüvi, your call history is automatically

3. Touch Done > Yes. The nüvi dials

transferred to the nüvi. It can take a few
minutes to transfer this data to the nüvi.

1. Touch Phone > Call History.

2. Touch a category to view those calls.
The calls are listed in chronological
order. The most recent calls are at
the top of the list.

3. Touch an entry, and touch Dial.

To call home:

1. Touch Phone > Call Home.

2. The nüvi dials your home phone

Calling Home

Enter a phone number for your home
location so you can quickly call home.

the keypad page or Select From

Phonebook (only available if your

phone supports phone book transfer).

your home phone number.

NOTE: To edit your home location

or phone number, touch Where to? >

Favorites > Home > Edit.

number.

nüvi 900 Series Owner’s Manual 21

Making Hands-Free Phone Calls

Placing Calls Using Voice Dial

If you phone supports voice dialing, you
can place calls by speaking the contact’s
name.

1. Touch Phone > Voice Dial.

2. Speak the contact name.

NOTE: You might need to “train”

your phone to recognize your voice
dial commands. Refer to your phone
instructions.

Phone Status

Touch Phone > Phone Status to check
the battery level and signal strength of

To review an incoming text
message:

When you get a text message, the
Incoming Message window opens.
Touch Review to open your inbox, or
touch Ignore to close the window.

To send a text message:

1. Touch Phone > Text Message >

2. Select an option to choose the text

3. Touch Keyboard Input.

4. Enter the message, and touch Done.

5. If you want to attach a POI to the

your phone.

SMS/Text Messaging

If your phone supports SMS/text

6. Touch Send or Send as Location

messaging using Bluetooth technology,
you can send and receive text messages
on the nüvi.

Compose.

message recipient.

message, touch Add Point, and
search for a POI.

Message, if applicable, to send the

message.

22 nüvi 900 Series Owner’s Manual

Making Hands-Free Phone Calls

NOTE: Messages sent from your nüvi

do not appear in the outbox on your
phone.

To send a location message:

Location messages contain text and GPS

To view your messages:

1. Touch Phone > Text Message.

2. Touch Inbox, Outbox, or Drafts.

3. Touch a message.

4. Select an option.

information that other nüvi users can
view. Non-nüvi users receive a plain
text message with latitude/longitude
coordinates.

1. Touch Phone > Text Message >

Compose.

2. Select an option to choose the text
message recipient.

3. Select a type of message to send,
such as Meet me at… or Go to….

4. Select a location, and then touch

Send as Location Message.

5. Select Modify to edit the message, if
necessary.

6. Select Send to send the message.

Speak—listen to the message.

•

(You must select a voice that
speaks street names to listen to
SMS/text messages; see page

45.)

Forward—send this message to

•

another recipient or touch Reply
to reply to this contact.

nüvi 900 Series Owner’s Manual 23

Using Media Players

Using the Media

Players

Watching Digital TV

Before you can watch digital TV, you

must rst install the TvCard and activate

the TV service. See page 2 for more
information.

NOTE: To watch digital mobile

television, the nüvi must be in a “3”
DVB-H (Digital Video Broadcasting
for Handheld devices) coverage area.
Coverage is guaranteed for outdoor
use only. For detailed coverage
information, see www.la3tv.it.

Your 6-month free trial begins the rst

time you watch TV using the nüvi 900.
For information on requesting your PPC
(PIN for Parental Control), subscribing
to additional channels, and renewing TV
packages, see the instructions included
in the TvCard envelope and see

www.la3tv.it.

1. Extend (pull out) the TV antenna.

2. Verify that you are in a “3” DVB-H

3. From the Menu page, touch TV.

•

•

•

Do not attempt to view the television function
or other video input while driving. Failure
to pay full attention to the operation of your
vehicle could result in death, serious injury, or
property damage.

coverage area. See www.la3tv.it.

Touch ▲ and ▼ to select a channel.

Touch + and – to adjust the volume.

DVB-H signal strength and system
messages are displayed in the status
bar in the lower-right corner of the
screen. If the signal is weak or absent,
move to a different location in the “3”
DVB-H coverage area.

24 nüvi 900 Series Owner’s Manual

Using Media Players

NOTE: Not all channels are available

with the 6-month trial service.

Now On TV

1. Touch TV > Options > Now on TV to
open a list of programs currently on
TV.

Touch the channel icon on the left

•

to view the program schedule for
that channel.

The Lock symbol on the right

•

indicates if you have access to
view this program. Contact your
television service provider to
subscribe to and access more
channels.

2. Touch a program in the list to view
detailed program information.

3. Touch Watch to view the program.

Channel Guide

1. Touch TV > Options > Channel

Guide to view the programming

schedule for the channel you are
currently watching.

2. Touch a program name to view
detailed program information.

Program Information

Touch TV > Options > On-air Program

Information to view details about the

current program.

nüvi 900 Series Owner’s Manual 25

Using Media Players

Parental Control

The PPC (PIN for Parental Control)
allows you to unlock adult channels. To
request the PPC for your TvCard, see the
instructions in the TvCard envelope.

The PPC will be sent by mail to you.
After you have received the PPC, follow
the steps below to unlock the channels.

1. Touch TV > Options > Parental

Control.

2. Enter a 4-digit PPC (PIN Parental

Control), and touch Done.

3. Touch a restriction level and touch

OK.

Playing Music

Load music les to the internal memory

or SD card. See page 30.

1. Touch Tools > Music Player.

2. Touch Browse.

3. Touch a category.

4. To play the entire category from the

Subscription Information

To view subscription information, touch

TV > Options > Subscription Info. To

renew or add a subscription, contact your
service provider.

Song status bar

•

•

beginning of the list, touch the rst
song listed. To play a specic song,

touch the title.

Album artCurrent song

Touch to adjust the volume.

Touch to play the current song
from the beginning; touch again to
play the previous song on the playlist.
Touch and hold to rewind through the
current song.

26 nüvi 900 Series Owner’s Manual

Using Media Players

Touch to skip to the next song.

•
Touch and hold to fast-forward
through the current song.

Touch to pause the song.

•

Touch Repeat to repeat the current

•
playlist.

Touch Shufe to play songs in

•

Creating and Listening to
Playlists

Using your nüvi, you can listen to
playlists created on your computer. You
can also save playlists using your nüvi.

To save your current playlist:

1. While listening to music, touch

random order.

Touch the album art to view details

•

about the music le.

Touch a point on the status bar to

•
rewind or skip to that point in the
song. You can also touch and drag the

status bar to a specic place in the

song.

Supported File Types

The nüvi supports MP3 and FLAC

2. Enter a name for the playlist, and

To create a new playlist:

1. In the Music Player, touch Browse >

2. Select a song from a category, and

3. Enter a name, and touch Done.

4. To add more songs to your new

music les, and M3U and M3U8 playlist
les.

Browse > Playlists > Current
Playlist > Save.

touch Done.

Playlists > New.

touch Save.

playlist, touch Edit > Add Songs.

nüvi 900 Series Owner’s Manual 27

Using Media Players

To create a playlist on a computer:

1. Using your computer and an audio
program, create a playlist of music

les. Save the playlist as an M3U or
M3U8 le.

NOTE: You might need to edit the

playlist le with a text editor, such as

Notepad, to remove the path (link) to

the music le. The playlist le should
only list the music le names. Refer to
the Help le for the audio program.

2. Transfer the playlist and the music

les to the nüvi or the SD drive (see

page 30). The playlist le must be in

the same location as the music les.

To play a playlist:

1. In the Music Player, touch Browse
> Playlists. All available playlists
appear.

2. Touch a playlist, and touch Play.

To edit a playlist:

1. In the Music Player, touch Browse >

Playlists.

2. Select the playlist you want to edit,

and touch Edit.

3. Select an option to edit the playlist.

Listening to Audible Books

To purchase books from Audible.com®,
go to http://garmin.audible.com.

Listening to a Book

1. Touch Tools > Audible Player >

Browse.

2. Touch a category, and then touch a
book title.

Book cover

art

28 nüvi 900 Series Owner’s Manual

Using Media Players

Touch to adjust the volume.

•

Touch to skip a section and

•
to jump back. Press and hold to move
forward or backward.

Touch to pause the book.

•

Touch the book cover art to view

•
more detailed information.

Using Bookmarks

To create a bookmark:

1. On the Audible Player, touch Create.

2. Touch Save.

3. Enter a name for the bookmark.

4. Touch Done.

5. Touch Edit to change the bookmark
name or delete the bookmark.

To play a bookmark:

1. On the Audible Player, touch View.

2. Touch a bookmark.

3. Touch Play to listen to the book from

the bookmark.

Loading Audible Books

1. Create an Audible.com account at

http://garmin.audible.com.

2. Download AudibleManager®.

3. Open AudibleManager. Follow the on­screen instructions to activate your
nüvi (one-time process).

4. Purchase a book at http://garmin.

audible.com, and download the book

to your computer.

5. Use AudibleManager to transfer the
book to your nüvi or SD card.

TIP: Refer to the AudibleManager

Help le for detailed instructions.

Touch Help > Help.

nüvi 900 Series Owner’s Manual 29

Managing Files

Managing Files

You can store les, such as MP3s and
JPEG image les, in the internal memory

on the nüvi or on an SD card.

NOTE: The nüvi is not compatible

with Windows® 95, 98, Me, or
Windows NT®. It is also not
compatible with Mac® OS 10.3 and
earlier. This is a common limitation of
most USB mass storage devices.

Supported File Types

MP3 and FLAC music les:

•
see page 32

M3U and M3U8 music playlist les:

•
see page 27

AA audio book les: see page 28

•

JPEG, JPG, PNG, BMP, and GIF

•

image les: see page 33

GPX maps, routes, and waypoints

•

les from MapSource®: see page 53

GPI custom POI les from the

•
Garmin POI Loader: see page 54

Loading Files

Step 1: Insert an SD Card
(Optional)

To insert or remove the card, press it in
until it clicks.

Step 2: Connect the USB
Cable

Connect the mini-USB connector to the
side of the nüvi. Connect the larger end
of the cable to an available USB port on
your computer.

Your nüvi and SD card appear as
removable drives in My Computer on
Windows computers and as mounted
volumes on Mac computers.

30 nüvi 900 Series Owner’s Manual

Managing Files

NOTE: Some operating systems or

computers with multiple network
drives can not display the nuvi drives.

See your operating system Help le to

learn how to map the drives.

Step 4: Eject and Unplug the
USB Cable

When you are nished transferring les,

click the Eject icon in your system
tray, or drag the volume icon to the

Step 3: Transfer Files to Your
nüvi

Trash on Mac computers. Unplug

your nüvi from your computer.

Copy and paste les from your computer

into the nüvi drives/volumes.

1. Browse your computer for the le you

want to copy.

2. Highlight the le, and touch Edit >

Copy.

3. Open the “Garmin” or SD card drive/
volume.

4. Touch Edit > Paste. The le appears

in the list of les in the nüvi memory

or on the SD card.

Deleting Files

Connect the nüvi to your computer, and
open the nüvi or SD card drive/volume.

Highlight the le you want to delete, and

press the Delete key on the computer
keyboard.



CAUTION: If you do not know the

purpose of a le, do not delete it.
Your nüvi memory contains important

system les that should not be deleted.

nüvi 900 Series Owner’s Manual 31

Using the Tools

Using the Tools

The Tools menu provides many features
that are helpful when you are traveling.
From the Menu page, touch Tools to
access the Tools menu.

Settings

For information about the settings, see

pages 41–47.

Where Am I?

The Where Am I? feature is helpful if
you need to tell emergency personnel
your location.

1. Touch Tools > Where Am I? to view
current location information.

2. Touch a button on the right to view
the nearest locations in that category.

Touch Save Location to save your

current location.

Routes

For information about routes, see page

12.

Help

Touch Tools > Help to get information
about using your nüvi.

Music Player

For information about the Music Player,
see pages 26–27.

Audible Player

For information about the Audible
Player, see page 28.

32 nüvi 900 Series Owner’s Manual

Using the Tools

Picture Viewer

Use the Picture Viewer to view pictures
that you have stored on your nüvi or on
an SD card.

1. Touch Tools > Picture Viewer.

2. Touch a picture to view a larger
image of it.

3. Touch the arrows to view all the
images.

Viewing a Slide Show

Touch Slide Show to start a slide show,
which displays each image for a few
moments and then displays the next
image. Touch anywhere on the screen to
stop the slide show.

Navigating to a Picture

If a picture has location information, you
can navigate to that picture.

1. Touch Tools > Picture Viewer.

2. Touch a picture that has location
information.

3. Touch Info > Go!.

Trafc

You can only access the trafc

information if the nüvi is connected

to an FM trafc receiver. For more

information, see pages 38–40 and

www.garmin.com/trafc.

Games

Touch Tools > Games to access multiple
games available for your nüvi. Some of
the games are trial versions. For game
instructions and purchasing information,
see www.garmin.com/games.

nüvi 900 Series Owner’s Manual 33

Using the Tools

Calculator

1. Touch Tools > Calculator.

2. Enter the rst number of your

calculation.

3. Touch an operator (÷, x, -, or +).

Touch . to add a decimal.

•

Touch ± to make the number

•
negative or positive.

Touch % to make the number a

•
percent (0.01).

Touch C to clear the entry.

•

4. Enter the second number of your
calculation.

5. Touch =.

6. Touch C to perform a new calculation.

Currency Converter

1. Touch Tools > Currency Converter.

2. Touch a currency button to change
the currency.

3. Select a currency, and touch OK.

4. Touch the blank rectangle under the
currency you want to convert.

5. Enter the number. Touch Done.

6. Touch Clear to convert a different
value.

TIP: Touch and hold to delete the

entire entry.

34 nüvi 900 Series Owner’s Manual

Using the Tools

Updating Conversion Rates

Update the currency conversion rates to
always use the most current rates.

1. Touch Tools > Currency Converter
> Update.

2. Touch the rate you want to update.

3. Touch to delete the current rate.
Enter a new rate, and touch Done.

4. Touch Save to nish.

TIP: Touch Restore to use the original

rate.

Changing the Base Currency

You can change the base currency, the
currency to which all other currencies
are converted.

1. Touch Tools > Currency Converter

2. Touch the button next to New Base

3. Select a currency as your new base

4. Touch OK > Change to nish.

> Update > Change Base.

Currency.

currency.

nüvi 900 Series Owner’s Manual 35

Using the Tools

Unit Converter

1. Touch Tools > Unit Converter.

2. Touch the button below Convert,
select a type of measurement, and
touch OK.

3. Touch a unit of measure that you
want to change.

4. Select a unit of measure, and touch

OK. Repeat if necessary.

5. Touch the blank rectangle to enter a
value.

6. Enter a value, and touch Done. The
unit is converted.

7. Touch Clear to perform another
conversion.

World Clock

1. Touch Tools > World Clock.

2. Touch World Map to view a map.

Nighttime hours are shown in the
shaded area.

3. Touch World Clock to view the
clocks again, or touch Back to exit.

Selecting a New City

1. Touch Tools > World Clock.

2. To change a listed city, touch the city.

3. Touch Change Country.

4. Touch Change Continent, and use
the arrows to select a new continent.
Touch OK.

4. Touch the arrows to select a new
country. Touch OK.

5. Touch the arrows to select a new city.
Touch OK. The new city is now listed
in the World Clock.

36 nüvi 900 Series Owner’s Manual

Using the Tools

Alarm Clock

You can set an alarm to sound at an
appointed time.

Setting the Alarm

1. Touch Tools > Alarm Clock.

2. Touch + and - to adjust the alarm

time.

3. Touch Alarm Enabled to turn on the

alarm.

Using the Alarm Clock

If the nüvi is not turned on at the alarm
time, it will turn itself on and sound the
alarm.

Touch Snooze to turn the alarm off for
10 minutes. Touch OK to turn the alarm
off until tomorrow.

My Data

Use this tool to manage and delete your
saved data, such as your Favorites.
If you have transferred a route from
MapSource, touch Import Route from

File to use that route in your nüvi.

nüvi 900 Series Owner’s Manual 37

Using FM Trafc

Using FM Trafc

The trafc receiver is included in some
nüvi packages. The FM trafc receiver is

integrated in the vehicle power cable.

Use an FM TMC (Trafc Message
Channel) trafc receiver to receive
trafc information that is broadcast over

the FM Radio Data System.

For information about FM trafc

receivers and coverage areas, see

www.garmin.com/trafc.

NOTE: Garmin is not responsible for

the accuracy of the trafc information.
The FM trafc receiver receives
signals from the trafc service

provider and displays that information
on your nüvi.

NOTE: The FM trafc receiver and

the nüvi must be in data range of an
FM station transmitting TMC data to

receive trafc information.

Power

LED Blink Codes

The green Power LED lights when
connected to external power. The Status
LED indicates the signal reception:

•

•

•

•

To power outlet

in vehicle

LED

Status

LED

To power connector

on nüvi cradle

Antenna

(suction cups

not shown)

Yellow dot-dash ashes—
determining which country you are
currently in.

Yellow solid—searching for signal.

Red solid

Green solid

—momentary sync loss.

—normal trafc data.

38 nüvi 900 Series Owner’s Manual

Using FM Trafc

NOTE: Heated, metallized windows

could degrade the performance of the

trafc receiver.

Trafc on Your Route

When calculating your route, the

nüvi examines the current trafc and

automatically optimizes the route for the

Trafc in Your Area

Touch Tools > Trafc to display trafc
incidents in your area. Touch View by

Road to see the incidents on each road in

the area. If there is trafc on your route,

shortest time. You might still be routed

through trafc if no alternative roads
exist. If a severe trafc delay occurs on

your route while you are navigating, the
nüvi automatically recalculates the route.

touch On My Route to view details.

The Map page displays when there is

Trafc on Your Road

When you are not navigating a route and

there is trafc on your road, the Map
page displays a trafc icon, such as

. Touch the icon to view information

about the trafc delay.

trafc on your route. The number in the

icon represents the number of minutes

the trafc has added to your route, which

has been automatically calculated into
the arrival time shown on the map.

To avoid trafc on your route:

1. On the Map page, touch .

2. Touch to view trafc delays.

3. Touch Avoid.

nüvi 900 Series Owner’s Manual 39

Using FM Trafc

Trafc Icons

Meaning Symbol

Road Condition

Road Construction

Road Closed

Slow Trafc

Accident

Incident

Travel Information

Severity Color Code

Green = Low severity—trafc is

owing normally.

Yellow = Medium severity—trafc is

a bit congested.

Red = High severity—trafc is

heavily congested or stopped.

Trafc Subscriptions

See page 46 for information about

adding a trafc subscription. For more
information about trafc subscriptions,

go to www.garmin.com/fmtrafc.

NOTE: You do not need to activate

the subscription included with your

FM trafc receiver. The subscription

activates automatically after your
nüvi acquires satellite signals while

receiving trafc signals from the pay-

service provider.

40 nüvi 900 Series Owner’s Manual

Customizing the nüvi

Customizing the nüvi

1. Touch Tools > Settings.

2. Touch the setting you want to change.

3. Touch the button beside the setting
name to change it.

Changing the System Settings

Touch Tools > Settings > System.

GPS

Simulator—turn on the simulator

to turn off the GPS mode and simulate
navigation and/or to save battery power.

Usage Mode—specify how you will
be navigating to optimize routes:

Automobile, Bicycle, or Pedestrian.

Units—change units of measure to

Kilometers or Miles.

Keyboard—select QWERTY for a

layout similar to a computer keyboard,
or select ABC for an alphabetical layout.

Reset Channel Guide

contents of the channel guide.

About

—display the nüvi software
version number, the unit ID number, and
the audio version number. You need this
information when you update the system
software or purchase additional map data
(see page 53).

Restore

—restore the system settings.

—clear the

nüvi 900 Series Owner’s Manual 41

Customizing the nüvi

Changing the Navigation Settings

Touch Tools > Settings > Navigation.

Route Preference

for calculating your route:

Faster Time—to calculate routes that

•

are faster to drive but can be longer in
distance.

Shorter Distance—to calculate

•

routes that are shorter in distance but
can take more time to drive.

•

Off Road

point routes (without roads).

Avoidances

want to avoid on your routes. Enable

Custom Avoids to avoid a specic area

or road. Follow the prompts.

—select a preference

—to calculate point-to-

—select the road types you

Prompted Detour—turn on to select

a specic distance or a particular road

when you touch Detour with a route
active.

Restore

settings.

—restore the original navigation

Adding Security Settings

Touch Tools > Settings > Security.

Safe Mode—turn on or off safe mode.
When your vehicle is moving, safe
mode disables all functions that require

signicant operator attention and could

become a distraction while driving.

Garmin Lock

to lock your nüvi. Enter a 4-digit PIN,
and set a security location. For more
information, see page 49.

—turn on Garmin Lock™

42 nüvi 900 Series Owner’s Manual

Customizing the nüvi

Restore—restore the original security
settings. Note that restoring the security
settings will not clear your Garmin Lock
PIN or Security Location.

Updating the Time Settings

Touch Tools > Settings > Time.

Time Format—select a 12-hour,
24-hour, or UTC time format.

Time Zone—select a continent, a
country, and a region. Touch Change

Continent and Change Country to

select new search areas. Use the arrows
to scroll through your options.

Restore

settings.

—restore the original time

Adjusting the Display Settings

Touch Tools > Settings > Display.

Backlight Timeout—select the length
of time the backlight stays on when the
nüvi is not connected to external power.

Adjust Brightness

brightness level. Reducing the backlight
brightness increases your battery life.

Color Mode—select Day for a
light background, Night for a dark
background, or Auto to automatically
switch between the two.

Screen Shot—turn on screen shot
mode. Touch to take a screen shot.

The picture bitmap le is saved in the

screenshots folder on the nüvi drive.

Restore

settings.

—adjust the backlight

—restore the original display

nüvi 900 Series Owner’s Manual 43

Customizing the nüvi

Changing the Map Settings

Touch Tools > Settings > Map.

Map Detail—adjust the amount of detail
shown on the map. Showing more detail
can cause the map to redraw slower.

Map View—select a map perspective.

Track Up—display the map in two

•
dimensions (2D) with your direction
of travel at the top.

•

North Up

with North at the top.

3D View—display the map in three

•

dimensions (3D) in Track Up.

Vehicle—touch Change to change the
icon used to display your position on
the map. Touch the icon you want to
use, and then touch OK. Download
additional vehicle icons at

www.garmin.com/vehicles.

—display the map in 2D

Auto Zoom—turn on auto zoom mode
to automatically adjust the zoom setting
based on your current speed and road
type.

Show POIs—show or hide points of
interest (POIs) on the map.

Trip Log—show or hide the log of your
travels. To clear your trip log, touch

Tools > My Data > Clear Trip Log.

Map Info

version of each map loaded on your
nüvi. Touch a map to enable (check
mark) or disable (no check mark) that
map.

Restore

settings.

—view the maps and the

—restore the original map

44 nüvi 900 Series Owner’s Manual

Customizing the nüvi

Using the Bluetooth Technology Settings

Touch Tools > Settings > Bluetooth.

Bluetooth—turn on and off the
Bluetooth component. The Bluetooth
icon appears on the Menu page if the
Bluetooth component is turned on. To
prevent a phone from automatically
connecting, select Disabled.

Phone—select Add > OK to pair with
a phone that has Bluetooth wireless
technology. See page 18. Select Change
to connect with a different phone.

Drop—select the phone you want to

•

disconnect, and touch Yes.

Delete—select the phone you want

•
to delete from the nüvi memory, and
touch Yes.

Phone Help—scroll through the list
containing compatible devices. If
your phone is not in this list, go to

www.garmin.com/bluetooth for more

information.

Friendly Name

that identies your nüvi on devices with

Bluetooth technology. Touch Done.

Restore

settings. This does not clear the pairing
information.

—enter a friendly name

—restore the original Bluetooth

Customizing the Language Settings

Touch Tools > Settings > Language.

Text Language—change all on-screen
text to the selected language. Changing
the text language does not change the
language of user-entered data or map
data, such as street names.

nüvi 900 Series Owner’s Manual 45

Customizing the nüvi

Voice Personality—change the language
for voice prompts.

Keyboard—select the keyboard for
your language. You can also change
the keyboard language mode from any
keyboard by touching the Mode button.

Viewing Trafc
Subscription Information

Touch Tools > Settings > Trafc.

Auto

—select which provider to use.

Select Auto to use the best provider for

the area, or select a specic provider to

use.

Search—search for additional TMC

trafc providers. To increase the search

time, touch Yes to clear the provider
table.

Subscriptions—view your FM trafc

subscriptions and expiration dates. Touch

Add to add a subscription.

Adding a Subscription

You can purchase additional
subscriptions or a renewal if your
subscription expires. Go to

www.garmin.com/fmtrafc.

1. From the Menu page, touch Tools >

Settings > Trafc.

2. Touch Subscriptions > Add.

3. Write down the FM trafc receiver

unit ID.

4. Go to www.garmin.com/fmtrafc to
purchase a subscription and get a
25-character code.

5. Touch Next on the nüvi, enter the
code, and touch Done.

The trafc subscription code cannot be

reused. You must obtain a new code each
time you renew your service. If you own

multiple FM trafc receivers, you must

obtain a new code for each receiver.

46 nüvi 900 Series Owner’s Manual

Customizing the nüvi

Changing the Proximity Points Settings

You must have proximity points (such as
custom POIs, a safety camera database,
or a TourGuide®) loaded to adjust the
proximity points settings. See page 54.
Touch Tools > Settings > Proximity

Points.

Proximity Alerts—turn on or off the

alerts when you approach custom POIs
or safety cameras.

TourGuide

audio for TourGuide to be activated.
Select Auto Play to hear the complete
tour as programmed; Prompted to show
the speaker icon on the map when
tour information is available during your
route; or Off.

Restore

settings.

—set how you want the

—restore the proximity points

Restoring All Settings

1. Touch Tools > Settings.

2. Touch Restore.

3. Touch Yes.

nüvi 900 Series Owner’s Manual 47

Appendix

Appendix

Caring for Your nüvi

Your nüvi contains sensitive electronic
components that can be permanently
damaged if exposed to excessive shock
or vibration. To minimize the risk of
damage to your nüvi, avoid dropping
your unit and operating it in high-shock
and high-vibration environments.

Cleaning the Touch Screen

Clean the touch screen with a soft, clean,
lint-free cloth. Use water, isopropyl
alcohol, or eyeglass cleaner, if needed.
Apply the liquid to the cloth, and then
gently wipe the touch screen.

Protecting Your nüvi

•

Cleaning the Unit

The nüvi is constructed of high-quality
materials and does not require user
maintenance other than cleaning. Clean
the outer casing of the unit (not the
touch screen) using a cloth dampened
with a mild detergent solution, and
then wipe dry. Avoid chemical cleaners
and solvents that can damage plastic
components.

•

•

Do not store the nüvi where
prolonged exposure to extreme
temperatures can occur, because it
can cause permanent damage.

Do not expose the nüvi to water.
Contact with water can cause this unit
to malfunction.

Although a PDA stylus can be used
to operate the touch screen, never
attempt this while operating a vehicle.
Never use a hard or sharp object to
operate the touch screen because
damage might result.

48 nüvi 900 Series Owner’s Manual

Appendix

Avoiding Theft

To avoid theft, remove the unit

•
and mount from sight when not in
use. Remove the residue left on the
windshield by the suction cup.

Do not keep your unit in the glove

•
compartment.

Register your product at

•

http://my.garmin.com.

Use the Garmin Lock feature.

•

Calibrating the Screen

If the touch screen is not responding
properly, calibrate the touch screen.
Slide the Power key to the left and hold
it for 8 seconds. Release the Power

key, and press your nger to the screen.

Locking Your nüvi

Garmin Lock™ is a theft-deterrent system
that locks your nüvi. Each time you turn
on the nüvi, enter the PIN or drive to the
security location.

1. Touch Tools > Settings > Security.

2. Touch the button below Garmin

3. Enter a 4-digit PIN and drive to a

What is a Security Location?

Your security location should be a
location you return to often, such as your
home. If the nüvi has satellite signals
and you are at the security location, you
do not need to enter the PIN.

Hold your nger on the screen for about

30 seconds until the calibration screen
appears (white screen with “Press dot”).

Lock.

security location.

NOTE: If you forget your PIN and

your security location, you must send
your nüvi to Garmin to get it unlocked.
You must also send a valid product
registration or proof of purchase.

nüvi 900 Series Owner’s Manual 49

Appendix

Resetting the nüvi

Clearing User Data

If the nüvi stops functioning, turn it off
and on again. If the problem persists,
slide the Power key to the left and hold
it there for a minimum of 8 seconds. The
nüvi should operate normally.

1. Remove and then replace the battery.

2. As the unit is turning on, press your

You can also remove and then reinstall
the battery to reset the nüvi.

Updating the Software

1. Go to www.garmin.com/products/

webupdater and download

WebUpdater to your computer.

2. Connect the nüvi to your computer
using the mini-USB cable.

3. Run WebUpdater, and follow the on­screen instructions.

After conrming that you want to

perform an update, WebUpdater

3. Keep your nger pressed until the

4. Touch Yes to clear all user data.

All original settings are restored. Any
items that you have saved are deleted.

Battery Information

Your nüvi contains a user-replaceable,
lithium-ion battery. To maximize the
lifetime of the battery, do not leave
your nüvi in direct sunlight, and avoid
prolonged exposure to excessive heat.

automatically downloads the update and
installs it on your nüvi.



CAUTION: This deletes all user­entered information.

nger on the lower-right corner of the

screen.

prompt appears.

50 nüvi 900 Series Owner’s Manual

Appendix

The battery icon in the corner of
the Menu page indicates the status of the

Removing the Battery

1. Slide the battery cover off the back of

nüvi battery. To increase the accuracy
of the battery gauge, fully discharge the

2. Using your nger, gently lift the

battery and then fully charge it. Do not
unplug the nüvi until it is totally charged.

When you turn off the nüvi, it still uses
a some of the battery. To stop the nüvi
from using the battery, remove the
battery.

Charging Your nüvi

Use the vehicle power cable.

•

Use the USB cable.

•

Use the AC adapter cable.

•

Replacing the Battery

If you need to replace the battery in the
nüvi, use a Garmin lithium-ion battery
010-10987-03. Purchase a replacement
battery at http://buy.garmin.com.

Disposing of the Battery

Contact your local waste disposal
department to properly recycle the
battery. Do not dispose of the battery as
municipal waste.

the nüvi.

battery up and out of the battery
compartment.

Battery



CAUTION: Do not use a sharp object
to remove the battery. A sharp object
may puncture the battery which may

present a risk of re, chemical burn,

electrolyte leak, and/or injury.

nüvi 900 Series Owner’s Manual 51

Appendix

End

piece

Silver tip

Fuse

End

piece

Silver tip

Fuse

Changing the Fuse



CAUTION: When replacing the fuse,
do not lose any of the small pieces
and make sure they are put back in the
proper place.

If your unit will not charge in your
vehicle, you might need to replace the
fuse located at the tip of the vehicle
adapter.

1. Unscrew the black,
round end piece, and
remove it.

2. Remove the fuse
(glass and silver
cylinder), and
replace it with a 3 A
fast-blow fuse.

3. Ensure that the silver tip is placed in
the black end piece. Screw on the
black end piece.

52 nüvi 900 Series Owner’s Manual

Removing the nüvi and Mount

To remove the nüvi from the cradle,
press the button on the bottom of the
cradle up, and tilt the nüvi forward.

To remove the cradle from the mount,
turn the cradle to the right or left. Apply
pressure in that direction until the cradle
snaps off the mount.

To remove the suction cup mount from

the windshield, ip the lever toward you.

Pull the tab on the suction cup toward
you.

Appendix

Mounting on Your Dashboard

Use the enclosed mounting disk to
mount your unit to the dashboard and
comply with certain state regulations.



CAUTION: The permanent
mounting adhesive is extremely

difcult to remove after it is installed.

1. Clean and dry the dashboard where
you are placing the disk.

2. Remove the backing from the
adhesive on the bottom of the disk.

3. Place the disk on the dashboard.

4. Remove the clear plastic cover from
the top of the disk.

5. Place the suction cup mount on top of
the disk. Flip the lever down (toward
the disk).

Additional Maps

You can purchase additional MapSource
map data from Garmin and load the
maps in your nüvi internal memory or on
an optional SD card.

To determine the versions of the maps
that are loaded on your nüvi, open the
Menu page. Touch Tools > Settings
> Map > Map Info. Check

www.garmin.com/unlock/update.jsp to

see if an update for your map software
is available. To enable additional maps,
you need your unit ID (see page 41) and
serial number (located under the battery).

To load maps, routes, or waypoints in
your nüvi memory or on your SD card,
select the name for your nüvi drive or
SD card drive. Refer to the MapSource

Help le for more information.

nüvi 900 Series Owner’s Manual 53

Appendix

Extras and Optional Accessories

For more information about optional
accessories, go to http://buy.garmin.com
or www.garmin.com/extras, or contact
your Garmin dealer.

Safety Cameras

Check your local laws and regulations before
using these features. Garmin is not responsible
for the accuracy of, or the consequences of
using, a custom POI or safety camera database.

You can purchase a new region or extend
an existing subscription at any time.
Each region that you purchase has a

specic expiration date.

Custom Points of Interest

Use the POI Loader to load custom
points of interest (POIs) onto your nüvi.
POI databases are available from various
companies on the Internet. Some custom
databases contain alert information
for points, such as safety cameras and
school zones.

Safety camera information is available
in some locations. For availability,
check http://my.garmin.com. For these
locations, the nüvi includes the locations
of hundreds of safety cameras. Your nüvi
alerts you when you are approaching a
safety camera and can warn you if you
are driving too fast. The data is updated
at least weekly. To load the most recent
information, go to http://my.garmin.com.

Go to www.garmin.com/extras, and
click POI Loader to install the POI
Loader onto your computer. For more
information, refer to the POI Loader

Help le. Press F1 to open the Help le.

To view your Custom POIs, touch

Where to? > Extras > Custom POIs.

To change the proximity alert settings,
touch Tools > Settings > Proximity

Points > Proximity Alerts.

54 nüvi 900 Series Owner’s Manual

Appendix

To delete the Custom POIs from
your nüvi, connect your nüvi to your
computer. Open the Garmin\poi folder
in the nüvi drive or the SD card drive.
Delete the le titled poi.gpi.

TourGuide

The TourGuide allows your nüvi to play
third-party, GPS-guided audio tours.
These audio tours can take you on a
route while playing interesting facts
about historical sites along the way. For
more information, go to www.garmin

.com/extras, and click POI Loader.

To view your TourGuide les, touch

Where to? > Extras > Custom POIs.

To change the TourGuide settings, touch

Tools > Settings > Proximity Points >
TourGuide.

Garmin Travel Guide

Much like a paper travel guide, the
Garmin Travel Guide provides detailed
information about places, such as
restaurants and hotels. To purchase an
accessory, go to http://buy.garmin.com
or contact your Garmin dealer.

To use the Travel Guide, insert the SD
card into your nüvi. Touch Where to? >

Extras. Touch the name of your Travel

Guide to open it.

nüvi 900 Series Owner’s Manual 55

Appendix

About GPS Satellite Signals

Your nüvi must acquire GPS (Global
Positioning System) satellite signals in
order to navigate. If you are indoors,
near tall buildings or trees, or in a
parking garage, your nüvi cannot acquire
satellites. Go outside to an area free from
tall obstructions to use your nüvi.

When your nüvi has acquired satellite
signals, the signal strength bars on the
Menu page are green . When it
loses satellite signals, the bars turn red or
clear .

For more information about GPS, go to

www.garmin.com/aboutGPS.

Software License Agreement

BY USING THE nüvi, YOU AGREE
TO BE BOUND BY THE TERMS AND
CONDITIONS OF THE FOLLOWING
SOFTWARE LICENSE AGREEMENT.
PLEASE READ THIS AGREEMENT
CAREFULLY.

Garmin grants you a limited license to
use the software embedded in this device
(the “Software”) in binary executable
form in the normal operation of the
product. Title, ownership rights, and
intellectual property rights in and to the
Software remain in Garmin.

You acknowledge that the Software
is the property of Garmin and is
protected under the United States
of America copyright laws and
international copyright treaties. You
further acknowledge that the structure,
organization, and code of the Software
are valuable trade secrets of Garmin

56 nüvi 900 Series Owner’s Manual

Appendix

and that the Software in source code
form remains a valuable trade secret of
Garmin. You agree not to decompile,
disassemble, modify, reverse assemble,
reverse engineer, or reduce to human
readable form the Software or any part
thereof or create any derivative works
based on the Software. You agree not to
export or re-export the Software to any
country in violation of the export control
laws of the United States of America.

use. Additional information may be
obtained from MPEG LA, L.L.C. See

www.mpegla.com.

Declaration of Conformity

Hereby, Garmin declares that this
nüvi product is in compliance with the
essential requirements and other relevant
provisions of Directive 1999/5/EC. To
view the full Declaration of Conformity,
visit the Web site for your Garmin
product at www.garmin.com.

Video License Agreement

This product is licensed under the AVC
Patent Portfolio license for the personal
and non-commercial use of a consumer
to (i) encode video in compliance with
the AVC standard (“AVC video) and/or
(ii) decode AVC video that was encoded
by a consumer engaged in a personal
and non-commercial activity and/or was
obtained from a video provider licensed
to provide AVC video. No license is
granted or shall be implied for any other

nüvi 900 Series Owner’s Manual 57

Appendix

Specications

Physical size (W × H × D): 4.97 × 3.1 ×

0.85 inches (126 × 79 × 21.7 mm)

Weight: 6.4 oz. (191.72 g) with battery

Display: 4.3 inches diagonal, 480 ×

272 pixels; 64K colors; bright
WQVGA TFT landscape display;
white backlight; touch screen

Case: Not waterproof (IPXO)

Operating temperature range:

32°F–140°F (0°C–60°C)

Charging temperature range:

32°F–113°F (0°C–45°C)

Data storage: Internal memory and

optional removable SD card. Data

stored indenitely.

Computer interface: USB 2.0 high

speed (480 Mbit) mass storage,
plug-and-play

Headphone jack: Standard 3.5 mm

Power input: Vehicle power using

included vehicle power cable or AC
power using an optional accessory

Usage: 10 W maximum

Charge time: Approximately 4 hours

Battery life: Up to 4 hours

Battery type: User-replaceable,

rechargeable lithium-ion battery

Replacement battery: Garmin lithium-

ion battery 010-10987-03

GPS receiver: High-sensitivity,

WAAS-enabled

Acquisition times*:

Warm: <1 second
Cold: <38 seconds
Factory Reset: <45 seconds

*Average acquisition times for a
stationary receiver with a clear view of
the sky.

58 nüvi 900 Series Owner’s Manual

Troubleshooting

Problem/Question Solution/Answer

My nüvi never gets
satellite signals.

The suction cup will not
stay on my windshield.

My nüvi does not
charge in my vehicle.

My battery does not
stay charged for very
long.

My battery gauge does
not seem accurate.

How do I clear all my
user data?

The nüvi is locked
up/frozen.

Take your nüvi out of parking garages and away from tall buildings
and trees. Remain stationary for several minutes.

Clean the suction cup and windshield with rubbing alcohol. Dry with
a clean, dry cloth. Mount the suction cup as described on page 3.

Check the fuse in the vehicle power cable.
Ensure the vehicle is turned on and is supplying power to the power

outlet.
Your nüvi can only charge between 32°F and 113°F (0°C and 45°C).

If the nüvi is placed in direct sunlight or in a hot environment, it
cannot charge.

To maximize the time between charges, turn down the backlight.
Touch Tools > Settings > Display > Adjust Brightness.

To avoid draining the battery, remove the battery when your nüvi is
not in use.

Allow the unit to fully discharge, and then fully charge it (without
interrupting the charge cycle).

Hold your nger on the lower-right corner of the nüvi screen while it
is turning on. Keep your nger pressed until the message appears.

Touch Yes to clear all user data.

If the nüvi screen stops functioning, turn the nüvi off and on again.
If this does not help, slide the Power key to the left and hold it for 8
seconds. Turn the nüvi back on. The nüvi should operate normally.

Appendix

nüvi 900 Series Owner’s Manual 59

Appendix

Problem/Question Solution/Answer

The touch screen is
not responding to my
touches properly.

I cannot get trafc

information.

My phone will not
connect to the nüvi.

How do I know my nüvi
is in USB mass storage
mode?

My computer never
senses that the nüvi is
connected.

Slide the Power key to the left and hold it for 8 seconds. Release
the Power key, and press your nger to the screen. Hold your nger
on the screen for about 30 seconds until the calibration screen
appears (white screen with “Press dot”).

Verify that you are in a coverage area. You must be in a coverage

area to get the trafc information for that area.
Verify that the FM TMC Trafc receiver is connected to the power

connector on the cradle and also connected to a power outlet

in your vehicle. (The trafc receiver is included in some nüvi

packages.)

Touch Tools > Settings > Bluetooth. Verify that the Bluetooth eld
is set to Enabled.

Make sure your phone is turned on and is less than 10 meters
(about 33 feet) away from your nüvi.

See www.garmin.com/bluetooth for more help.

When your nüvi is in USB mass storage mode, a picture of a nüvi
connected to a computer is shown. Also, you should see two new
removable disk drives listed in My Computer.

1. Unplug the USB cable from your computer.

2. Turn the nüvi off.

3. Plug the USB cable into a USB port on your computer and into
your nüvi. The nüvi automatically turns on and goes into USB
mass storage mode.

Ensure your nüvi is connected to a USB port and not a USB hub.

60 nüvi 900 Series Owner’s Manual

Problem/Question Solution/Answer

I cannot see any new
removable drives in my
list of drives.

How can I nd

restaurants near the
hotel I will be staying at
in the future?

How can I nd my car

in a parking lot?

If you have several network drives mapped on your computer,
Windows can have trouble assigning drive letters to your nüvi

drives. See your operating system Help le to learn how to map or

assign drive letters.

1. Touch

2. Find the hotel and touch Go!.

3. Touch Menu > Where to? > Near… > My Destination.

4. Search for a restaurant. Restaurants nearest your hotel are

You can also use the GPS Simulator (Tools > Settings > System).

Touch Tools > Settings > Navigation > Route Preference > Off

Road > OK to put the nüvi in off road mode. Touch Where to? >
Favorites > Last Position > Go!. Navigate to your car!

Where to? > Near… > Different City (and enter your

vacation destination).

listed rst.

Appendix

nüvi 900 Series Owner’s Manual 61

Index

Index

Symbols

2-D, 3-D map view 44

A

accessories 54
acquiring satellites 4
additional maps 53
alarm clock 37
alerts

proximity 47

safety camera 54
anti-theft feature 42, 49
attaching a photo to a

location 11
audible books 28
audio output 1
audio version 41
avoiding

road types 42

theft 49

trafc 39, 40

B

background color 43
battery 50

charging 51

disposing of 51

removing 51

62 nüvi 900 Series Owner’s Manual

replacing 51
bicycle navigation 41
Bluetooth technology 18–23

deleting a phone 45

pairing with phone 18

settings 45
bookmarks 29
books 28
brightness 43
browsing the map 14

C

calculator 34
call

answering 19

call waiting 20

hanging up 19

history 21

home 21

muting 19
caring for your nüvi 48
channel guide 25
charging your nüvi 51, 59
clock for the world 36
computer connection 30
converting

currency 34

units 36
coordinates 14
cradle 3

currency, converting 34
current location, save 10
custom avoids 42
customizing the nüvi 41–47
custom POIs 54

D

dashboard disk 53
Declaration of Conformity 57
deleting

all user data
bookmark 29
character 9
custom POIs 55
Favorites 11, 13

les 31
recent nds list 10

route 13
detail maps 44
detour 7
diacritical characters 9
display settings 43
driving directions 17
DTV 24
DVB-H 24

50

E

Extras 54, 54–56

Index

F

Favorites 10

les 30–31

deleting 31
managing 30–31
supported types 30
transferring 30–31

nding places 6

by address 8
by name 9
near another location 15
recent selections 10
saved places (Favorites) 10
using photos 12–13

FM trafc receiver 38–40

fuse, changing 52

G

Garmin Lock 42, 49
geocaching 14
Go! page options 8
go home 9
GPS 4, 5

about GPS 56
off/on 41

H

hands-free phone features 18–23
headphone jack 1, 58
Help 32

nüvi 900 Series Owner’s Manual 63

home

location 9
phone number 21

I

incoming call 19

K

keyboard 9

language mode 9, 46
layout 41

kilometers 41

L

Last Position 11, 61
lithium-ion battery 50, 58
location message 23
locking

screen 1, 7
the nüvi 49

M

M3U playlist format 28
map

adding 53
browsing 14
customizing 44
detail level 44
enabling detail maps 44
Map Info button 44
moving 14

updating 53

version 44

viewing 44

zooming 14
MapSource 53
max speed, reset 17
measurements, converting 36
media player 24–29
Menu page 5
miles 41
mini-USB connector 1
mounting 3

on dashboard 53

removing from mount 52

MP3 music les

loading 30

playing 26
music 26
mute

audio 7

phone call 19
My Data 37
myGarmin i

N

navigation 6

mode 41

settings 42
Next Turn page 17

Index

O

off road, routing 13, 15, 42
on-screen keyboard 9
on-unit Help 32
output, audio 7

headphone jack 1, 58

P

pairing a mobile phone 18, 19
Panoramio pictures 12
parental control 26
pedestrian navigation mode 15,

41

phone book 20
photo navigation 12–13
pictures 33
PIN

Bluetooth 18

Garmin Lock 49
playlist 27

creating 27

editing 28

from a computer 28

playing 28

saving current 27
Points of Interest (POIs)

viewing 44
position icon 44
Power key 1
PPC 26

prompted detour 42
proximity alerts 47

Q

QWERTY keyboard 41

R

recently found locations 10
recycle the battery 51
registering 49
removing the mount 52
resetting

the max speed 17
the trip data 17
your nüvi 50

routes 12–15

adding a stop 7
following 6
importing 37
mode 41
off road 42
preferences 42
simulating 41
stopping 7

S

safe mode 42
safety camera database 54
satellite signals 4, 56

saving

places you nd 8, 10

your current location 10,

14, 32

school zone database 54
screen

brightness 43
lock 1, 7
screen shots 43

SD card 30, 58

slot 1
search area 15
security location 49
security settings 42
settings 41–47

restoring 47
setting your location 14
simulating a route 41
SMS 22
software license agreement 56
software update 50
software version 41

specications 58

speed limit icon 16
storing the nüvi 48
suction cup mount 3

supported le types 30

system settings 41

64 nüvi 900 Series Owner’s Manual

Index

T

text language 46
text message 22
time settings 43
Tools 32–37
touch screen

calibrating 49, 60
cleaning 48

settings 43
TourGuide 47, 55
track up 44

trafc 38–40

adding trafc

subscriptions 46
avoiding 39
incidents 39

transferring les 30–31

Travel Guide 54
Trip Computer page 17
trip data, reset 17
trip log 44
troubleshooting 59
turn-by-turn directions 17
TvCard 2
TV subscription 26

U

unit ID 41
units, convert 36

updating

maps 53

software 49
usage mode 41
USB 30

eject 31

mass storage mode 30–31

troubleshooting 59
user data, delete 50

V

vehicle icon 16, 44
via point, adding 7
voice dial 22
voice language 46
voice mail 19
volume 7

W

walking route 15, 41
WebUpdater 50
Where Am I? 32
Where to? 8–15; See nding

places
world clock 36

Z

zoom 14, 44

nüvi 900 Series Owner’s Manual 65

For the latest free software updates (excluding map data) throughout the

life of your Garmin products, visit the Garmin Web site at

www.garmin.com.

© 2008 Garmin Ltd. or its subsidiaries

Garmin International, Inc.

1200 East 151st Street, Olathe, Kansas 66062, USA

Garmin (Europe) Ltd.

Liberty House, Hounsdown Business Park, Southampton, Hampshire, SO40 9RB, UK

Garmin Corporation

No. 68, Jangshu 2nd Road, Shijr, Taipei County, Taiwan

www.garmin.com

Part Number 190-00878-00 Rev. A