Garmin GPS 17 installation guide

GPS 17

GPS receiver/antenna

installation guide

© 2005 Garmin Ltd. or its subsidiaries

Garmin International, Inc.
1200 East 151st Street,
Olathe, Kansas 66062, U.S.A.
Tel. [phone] or 800/800.1020
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 AutoLocate® are registered trademarks of Garmin Ltd. or its subsidiaries and may not be used without the express permission of
Garmin.

Note: Operation of this device is subject to the following conditions: (1) This device may not cause harmful interference, and (2) this device
must accept any interference received, including interference that may cause undesired operation.

July 2005 Part Number 190-00228-12 Rev. A Printed in Taiwan

Garmin (Europe) Ltd.
Unit 5, The Quadrangle, Abbey Park Industrial
Estate, Romsey, SO51 9DL, U.K.
Tel. [phone]
Fax [phone]

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

INTRODUCTION

INTRODUCTION

Use this area to record the serial number (8-digit number located on
the bottom of the antenna). Keep your original sales receipt in a safe
place or attach a photocopy.

Serial Number: ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____

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

Specifications ........................................................

1

Mounting the Receiver ..........................................2

Mounting Location Tips ..............................................3

Routing the Cable ....................................................... 5

Wiring the GPS 17 .................................................6

Contact Information

If you should encounter any difficulty while using your GPS 17, or
if you have any questions, in the U.S.A. contact Garmin
Support by phone: [phone] or 800/800.1020, Monday–Friday, 8
AM–5 PM Central Time; or by e-mail at [e-mail].

In Europe, contact Garmin (Europe) Ltd. at 44/0870.8501241.

Complete information concerning NMEA & RTCM formats and
sentences is available for purchase at:

National Marine Electronics Association (NMEA)
PO Box 3435, New Bern, NC 28564-3435, USA
Tel. [phone] Fax [phone] www.nmea.org

Radio Technical Commission For Maritime Services (RTCM)
1800 Diagonal Road, Suite 600, Alexandria, VA 22314-2480, USA
Info line 703/684.4481 Fax. [phone] www.rtcm.org

GPS 17 Installation Guide i

®

Product

Wire Color Code .........................................................6

Wiring Diagrams .........................................................7

Using the GPS 17 ................................................10

First Time Fix ............................................................ 10

Limited Warranty ...................................................... 11

This manual uses the term Warning to indicate a potentially
hazardous situation, which, if not avoided, could result in death or
serious injury.

This manual uses the term Caution to indicate a potentially
hazardous situation, which, if not avoided, may result in minor injury
or property damage. It may also be used without the symbol to alert
you to avoid unsafe practices.

INTRODUCTION

Warning

Failure to avoid the following potentially hazardous situations
could result in an accident or collision resulting in death or
serious injury.

When navigating, carefully compare information received from the
GPS 17 to all available navigation sources, including information
from street signs, visual sightings, and maps. For safety, always
resolve any discrepancies or questions before continuing
navigation.

WARNING: This product, its packaging, and its components contain chemicals known to the State of California to cause cancer, birth defects,
or reproductive harm. This Notice is being provided in accordance with California’s Proposition 65. If you have any questions or would like
additional information, please refer to our Web site at http://www.garmin.com/prop65.

Use an electronic chart in conjunction with the GPS 17 only to
facilitate, not to replace, the use of authorized government charts.
Official government charts and notices to mariners contain all
information needed to navigate safely.

Caution

Failure to avoid the following potentially hazardous situations
may result in injury or property damage.

Use the GPS 17 only as a navigational aid. Do not attempt to use
the GPS 17 for any purpose requiring precise measurement of
direction, distance, location, or topography. This product should
not be used to determine ground proximity for aircraft navigation.

ii GPS 17 Installation Guide

The Global Positioning System (GPS) is operated by the United
States government, which is solely responsible for its accuracy
and maintenance. The government’s system is subject to changes
which could affect the accuracy and performance of all GPS
equipment, including the GPS 17. Although the GPS 17 is a
precision navigation device, any navigation device can be misused
or misinterpreted and, therefore, become unsafe.

SPECIFICATIONS

SPECIFICATIONS

Physical Characteristics

Size: 3.58” (91.0 mm) diameter, 3.60” (91.5 mm) high

Weight

:

GPS 17 only: 7.1 oz (201 g)

With 30 foot cable: 16.8 oz (465 g)

With pole mount adapter & cable: 18.2 oz (516 grams)

Pole mount adapter alone: 1.4 oz (40 grams)

Cable alone: 9.7 oz (275 g)

Cable: White PVC-jacketed, 30 foot, foil-shielded,
8-conductor 28 AWG with JST connector termination

Color: White with blue logos

Case Material: Polycarbonate thermoplastic that is

waterproof to IEC 60529 IPX7 level (immersion in 1 meter
of water for 30 minutes).

GPS 17 Installation Guide 1

Thread Specifications: Standard one-inch, 14 threads-per­inch

Electrical Characteristics

Input Voltage: 8.0 VDC to 40 VDC unregulated

Input Current: 60 mA @ 8 VDC; 40 mA @ 12 VDC; 15

mA @ 40 VDC

Standby Current

GPS Receiver Sensitivity: -165 dBW minimum

: <1.0 mA

Environmental Characteristics

Operating Temperature: -30°C to +80°C

Storage Temperature

For more specifications, refer to the GPS 16/17 Technical
Specifications located on the Garmin Web site.

: -40°C to +90°C

MOUNTING THE GPS 17

EMI

SS JA

YHA

WK

3'

Radar

ABOVE- O

K

BELOW- O

K

MOUNTING THE GPS 17

If you find a problem with interference, try moving the
antenna a few feet away from the source of interference

Thoroughly read and completely understand these
instructions before attempting the installation. When in

to solve the problem. When a you find a suitable location,
permanently install the GPS 17.

doubt, seek professional assistance.

Three common sources of interference for GPS units are

You can use an antenna mount to install the GPS 17. The
receiver base fits a standard 1-inch, 14 threads-per-inch

radar equipment, VHF radio antennas, and electromagnetic
interference from engine components.

marine mount. Check with your Garmin dealer or a marine
retailer for a suitable mount for the installation location.

Power to the receiver may be controlled by an on/off switch,
such as a switch on the control console. Check with your
Garmin dealer or a marine/electric retailer for this item.

Before permanently installing and wiring the GPS 17,

Radar

VHF Radio Antenna

temporarily place the unit in the desired location, connect
the wiring, and then check operation with potential
interfering equipment turned on and off. Examples of
sources of interference are other electronic equipment, fan
motors, engine ignition, alternators, generators, radars, and
VHF radio transmissions.

2 GPS 17 Installation Guide

EMI (Electromagnetic Interference) from engine components

MOUNTING THE GPS 17

Mounting Location Tips

• Position the receiver so that it has the clearest
possible view of the sky and horizon in all directions.

• Avoid mounting the antenna next to large areas of
conductive material (metal, aluminum, etc.) as this
may cause poor signal reception.

• Do not mount the GPS 17 high on a mast, as the top
of the mast travels more than the boat. The unit will
provide more stable readings if it is located near the
water level.

To flush mount the GPS 17:

1. Turn the GPS 17 upside down. To create a template,
punch a hole in the three mounting screw holes.

2. Use the template to mark the hole locations on the
mounting surface. The centers of the holes are 2.44”
(62 mm) apart. Use an 11/64” drill bit to drill a hole at
each marked location.

3. Align the GPS 17 over the three holes and fasten the
M4 screws. The threads are 8.10 mm deep: do not
use screws that will thread into the base any deeper,
as this may damage the GPS 17.

• When routing the wiring to the GPS 17, avoid routing
the cable near the vessel’s alternator or ignition
system components or parallel to other power lines.

Mounting

hole

• As a general rule, mount the receiver at least three
feet from all other antennas and the vessel’s electrical
system components (alternator/ignition system).

• The GPS 17 is supplied with a 30-foot power/data
cable. Be sure that the cable can be routed to the
necessary devices.

GPS 17 Installation Guide 3

Mounting hole

Figure 1: Bottom of GPS 17 Base

Mounting hole

MOUNTING THE GPS 17

To attach the enclosed pole to the base:

1. Thread the cable though the pole mount.

2. Align the tab on the pole to the notch on the base.

3. Use the enclosed screws to secure the pole to the

base.

To mount the GPS 17 with cable outside mount:

1. Place the cable in the vertical slot along the side of
the base of the unit.

2. Screw the GPS 17 onto the mount. Do not
overtighten: it is possible to tighten the unit to the
point that the cable may be cut in two.

3. Fill the remaining gap in the cable exit with marine
sealant.

Figure 2: Attaching the Pole Mount to the Base

Figure 3: Running the Cable Outside of the Mount

4 GPS 17 Installation Guide

MOUNTING THE GPS 17

To mount the GPS 17 with cable through mount:

1. Position the mount in the desire location and mark
the approximate center of the mount

2. Drill a hole large enough for the cable to pass
through at the marked location.

3. Slide the cable through the mount and screw the
GPS 17 onto the mount.

4. Fasten the mount to the boat.

Figure 4: Running the Cable Through the Mount

GPS 17 Installation Guide 5

Routing the Cable

You can shorten or coil excess cable and secure it in an
inconspicuous location. When routing the power/data cable,
try to avoid the following things:

• Sharp edges that can cut the cable.

• Routing the cable parallel to other power lines.

• Excessively twisting, straining or bending the cable.

WIRING THE GPS 17

14

7

25

13

123

1

4

6789

2

3

5

WIRING THE GPS 17

Garmin recommends that you install a 1A fuse on the power
(+) line of the receiving device.

After mounting the GPS 17 in the desired location, connect
the wiring. Connect the GPS 17’s Port 1 Data In, Data Out,
Remote On/Off, and Ground (Return) lines to your NMEA

Wire Color Code

Red: Power (+) 8–40 VDC.

device or PC. Port 2 is used for RTCM input only.

Black: Ground (Power (-) and Data Signal Return)

For reliable communication, it is essential that the GPS
17 and the receiving device share the same ground. This
ground connection acts as the (signal) Return line. Wire

Yellow: Remote power On/Off

Blue: Port 1 NMEA Data Input

the unit to its own circuit to avoid interference from other
electronics.

You need a DB-9 or DB-25 serial connector (normally
female) if you are connecting the GPS 17 to a PC. Check

White: Port 1 NMEA Data Output

Gray: Pulse Per Second Output

Green: Port 2 RTCM Data Input

with a PC or electronics supplier for these items.

Violet: Port 2 RTCM Data Output (Not Used)

DB-9 Female

Serial Connector

6 GPS 17 Installation Guide

DB-25 Female

Serial Connector

Wiring Diagrams

Black (Ground)

Yellow (On/Off)

Red (Power)

Blue (Data In)

Ground

Power

Data Out

Data In

White (Data Out)

>

>

>

>

GPS 17

Host

Application

NMEA Device

Power Source
8–40 Volts DC

Fuse

1 A

GPS 17

Black (Ground)

Yellow (On/Off)

Red (Power)

Power Source
8–40 Volts DC

Switch

Closed = On

Open = Off

Fuse

1 A

WIRING THE GPS 17

Figure 5: NMEA and GPS 17 Wiring

GPS 17 Installation Guide 7

Figure 6: GPS 17 Switch Wiring

WIRING THE GPS 17

GPS 17

Black: Ground

Brown: Data In

Blue: Data Out

Black (Ground)

Yellow (On/Off)

Red (Power)

White (Port 1 Data Out)

Green (Port 2 Data In)

Power Source
8–40 Volts DC

Fuse

1 A







Red: Power

White: Remote On/Off

GPS 17

Pin 5: Ground

Pin 3: Data Out

Pin 2: Data In

Black (Ground)

Yellow (On/Off)

Red (Power)

Blue (Data In)

White (Data Out)

Power Source
8–40 Volts DC

>

>

>

>

* Note: DB-9 connectors normally have pin numbers printed next to each pin.

DB-9 Serial

PC Connector*

1

4

6
7
8
9

2
3

5

End View

Fuse

1 A

Figure 7: DGPS GBR 21/23 and GPS 17 Wiring

8 GPS 17 Installation Guide

Figure 8: DB-9 and GPS 17 Wiring

WIRING THE GPS 17

To wire the GPS 17 to a NMEA Device or PC
Connector:

1. Connect the White (Port 1 Data Out) wire from the
GPS 17’s power/data cable to the DATA INPUT line
of the NMEA device or to pin 2 on a DB-9 (pin 3 on
DB-25).

2. Connect the Blue (Port 1 Data In) wire to the DATA
OUTPUT line of the NMEA device or pin 3 on the
DB-9 (pin 2 on DB-25).

3. Connect the Black (-) wire to the GROUND wire of
the NMEA device and/or pin 5 on the DB-9 (pin 7
on DB-25). If connecting to a PC, the Black (-) wire
must also be run to a ground.

If the Black wire is connected to the same ground

terminal as the NMEA device, no additional
connection is required, unless a separate data return
line is required by the NMEA device.

4. Connect the Red (+) wire from the power/data cable
to a 8–40 VDC power source.

GPS 17 Installation Guide 9

5. If the receiver is being wired to a circuit that is
already switched, (with the NMEA device for
example) connect the Yellow wire to the same place
as the Black wire. When the Black and Yellow wires
are combined, the GPS 17 will turn on/off when
power is applied/removed to the Red (+) wire.

If a remote power switch is being installed, refer to

Figure 6 on page 7. This will allow the GPS 17 to
remain connected to a power source but manually
powered on (pull down to less than 0.5 volts) and off
(open).

Some non-Garmin devices may have a separate data line
labeled RETURN, DATA GROUND, or DATA -. If one of
these lines exist, connect the Black wire from the power/
data cable to it.

You may output data to up to three NMEA devices. The
number of devices is determined by the total amount of
impedance from all devices.

USING THE GPS 17

USING THE GPS 17

25 ground reference stations positioned across the United
States that monitor GPS satellite data. Two master stations,

First Time Fix

The first time you turn on your GPS 17, the receiver must be
given an opportunity to collect satellite data and determine
its present position. To ensure proper initialization, the GPS

®

17 is shipped from the factory in AutoLocate

mode, which

allows the receiver to “find itself” anywhere in the world.

When turned on, the GPS 17 searches for satellites. After
it has calculated an initial position fix, the GPS 17 outputs
navigation data. For more information about the data
output by the GPS 17, refer to the GPS 16/17 Technical
Specifications located on the Garmin Web site.

WAAS Capability

The GPS 17 can receive WAAS (Wide Area Augmentation
System) satellite signals. WAAS is an FAA-funded project
to improve the overall integrity of the GPS signal and
increase position accuracy for users in North America.

located on either coast, collect data from the reference
stations and create a GPS data correction message. Initial
reception of the WAAS signal may take up to 20 minutes.

According to the FAA’s Web site, testing in September 2002
of WAAS confirmed an accuracy performance of 1–2 meters
horizontal and 2–3 meters vertical throughout the majority
of the continental United States and portions of Alaska. For
more information, go to http://gps.faa.gov/Programs

/WAAS/waas.htm.

WAAS is just one service provider that adheres to the
minimum operational performance standard for global
Satellite Based Augmentation Systems (SBAS). Eventually,
there will be several services of worldwide geostationary
communication satellites and ground reference stations.
All SBAS systems use the same receiver frequency and are
capable of providing your GPS unit with increased accuracy
at any location in the world.

The system is made up of satellites and approximately

10 GPS 17 Installation Guide

Limited Warranty

This Garmin® product is warranted to be free from defects in materials
or workmanship for one year from the date of purchase. Within this
period, Garmin will at its sole option repair or replace any components
that fail in normal use. Such repairs or replacement will be made at no
charge to the customer for parts or labor, provided that the customer
shall be responsible for any transportation cost. This warranty does not
cover failures due to abuse, misuse, accident or unauthorized alteration
or repairs.

THE WARRANTIES AND REMEDIES CONTAINED HEREIN
ARE EXCLUSIVE AND IN LIEU OF ALL OTHER WARRANTIES
EXPRESS OR IMPLIED OR STATUTORY, INCLUDING
ANY LIABILITY ARISING UNDER ANY WARRANTY OF
MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR
PURPOSE, STATUTORY OR OTHERWISE. THIS WARRANTY
GIVES YOU SPECIFIC LEGAL RIGHTS, WHICH MAY VARY
FROM STATE TO STATE.

IN NO EVENT SHALL GARMIN BE LIABLE FOR ANY
INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, INDIRECT OR CONSEQUENTIAL
DAMAGES, WHETHER RESULTING FROM THE USE, MISUSE,
OR INABILITY TO USE THIS PRODUCT OR FROM DEFECTS IN
THE PRODUCT. Some states do not allow the exclusion of incidental or
consequential damages, so the above limitations may not apply to you.

Garmin retains the exclusive right to repair or replace the unit or
software or offer a full refund of the purchase price at its sole discretion.
SUCH REMEDY SHALL BE YOUR SOLE AND EXCLUSIVE
REMEDY FOR ANY BREACH OF WARRANTY.

GPS 17 Installation Guide 11

To obtain warranty service, contact your local Garmin authorized dealer
or call Garmin Product Support for shipping instructions and an RMA
tracking number. The unit should be securely packed with the tracking
number clearly written on the outside of the package. The unit should
then be sent, freight charges prepaid, to any Garmin warranty service
station. A copy of the original sales receipt is required as the proof of
purchase for warranty repairs.

Garmin International, Inc. Tel. [phone] Fax. [phone]

Garmin (Europe) Ltd. Tel. [phone] Fax [phone]

Online Auction Purchases: Products sold through online auctions
are not eligible for rebates or other special offers from Garmin. Online
auction confirmations are not accepted for warranty verification. To
obtain warranty service, an original or copy of the sales receipt from
the original retailer is required. Garmin will not replace missing
components from any package purchased through an online auction.

International Purchases: A separate warranty is provided by
international distributors for units purchased outside the United States.
This warranty is provided by the local in-country distributor and this
distributor provides local service for your unit. Distributor warranties
are only valid in the area of intended distribution. Units purchased in
the United States or Canada must be returned to the Garmin service
center in the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, or Taiwan for
service.

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.

© Copyright 2005 Garmin Ltd. or its subsidiaries

Garmin International, Inc.

1200 East 151st Street, Olathe, Kansas 66062, U.S.A.

Garmin (Europe) Ltd.

Unit 5, The Quadrangle, Abbey Park Industrial Estate, Romsey, SO51 9DL, U.K.

Garmin Corporation

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

www.garmin.com

Part Number 190-00228-12 Rev.

A