Garmin GPS III Pilot User Manual

Owner’s Manual & Reference

Software Version 2.05 or above

GARMIN International, Inc., 1200 E. 151st Street, Olathe, Kansas 66062 USA Tel: 913-397-8200 Fax: 913-397-8282

GARMIN (Europe) Ltd., Unit 5, The Quadrangle, Abbey Park Industrial Estate, Romsey SO51 9AQ UK Tel: 011-44-1794-519944 Fax: 011-44-1794-519222

GARMIN (Asia) Corp., 3F, No.1, Lane 45, Pao-Hsing Road, Hsin Tien, Taipei, Taiwan R.O.C. Tel: 011-886-02-2917-3773 Fax: 011-886-02-2917-1758

Web Site Address: www.garmin.com

© 1997-1999 GARMIN Corporation All rights reserved. Except as expressly provided herin, no part of this manual may be reproduced, copied, transmitted, disseminated or stored in any storage medium, for any purpose without the express written permission of GARMIN. GARMIN Corporation hereby grants permission to download a single copy of this manual and of any revision to 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 or revision 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.

March 1999 Part # 190-00127-00 Rev. B Printed in Taiwan.

INTRODUCTION

Thank You!

Thank you for choosing the GARMIN GPS III Pilot —the smallest, easiest-to-use GPS navigator for today’s sophisticated aviator! The GPS III Pilot represents GARMIN’s continuing commitment to provide a quality airborne navigation system in a versatile and user-friendly flexible design you’ll enjoy for years. To get the most from your new GPS, take the time to read through this owner’s manual in order to understand the operating features of the GPS III Pilot. This manual is organized into three sections for your convenience:

Section One (Getting Started) introduces you to the basic features of the unit and provides a quick-start

orientation to the GPS III Pilot.

Section Two (Simulator Tour) provides a step-by-step lesson in how your new GPS III Pilot would oper-

ate in actual flight by utilizing the built-in simulator mode.

Section Three (Reference) provides details about the advanced features and operations of the GPS III Pilot

by topic.

Before getting started with your GPS, check to see that your GARMIN GPS III Pilot package includes the following items. If you are missing any parts, please contact your dealer immediately.

Standard Package:

• GPS III Pilot Unit with Detachable Antenna

• Wrist Strap

• GPS III Pilot Owner’s Manual

• Quick Reference Card

• Velcro™ Fasteners

• Mounting Bracket

About This Manual

INTRODUCTION

Cautions

CAUTION: The Global Positioning System (GPS) is operated by the government of the United States, which is solely responsible for its accuracy and maintenance. The system is subject to changes which could affect the accuracy and performance of all GPS equipment. Although the GPS III Pilot is a precision electronic NAVigation AID (NAVAID), any NAVAID can be misused or misinterpreted and, therefore, become unsafe.

WARNING: For vehicular applications, it’ s the sole responsibility of the owner/operator of the GPS III Pilot to secure the GPS unit so that it will not cause damage or personal injury in the event of an accident. For automotive use, do not mount the GPS III Pilot over airbag panels or in a place where the driver or passengers are likely to have an impact with it in an accident or collision. The mounting hardware provided by GARMIN is not warranted against collision damage or the consequences thereof.

WARNING: For vehicular operations, it is the sole responsibility of the operator of the vehicle to operate his or her vehicle in a safe manner, maintain full surveillance of all conditions at all times, and never become distracted by the GPS III Pilot to the exclusion of safe operating practices. It is unsafe to operate the GPS III Pilot while flying or driving. Failure by the operator of a vehicle equipped with a GPS III Pilot to pay full attention to operating the vehicle while the vehicle is in motion could result in an accident.

INTRODUCTION

FCC Compliance

This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC limits for Class B digital devices. This equipment generates, uses, and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in accordance with the instructions, may cause harmful interference to radio communications. Furthermore, there is no guarantee that interference will not occur in a particular installation.

If this equipment does cause harmful interference to other equipment, which can be determined by turning the affected equipment off and on, the user is encouraged to try and correct the interference by relocating the equipment or connecting the equipment to a different circuit than the affected equipment. Consult an authorized dealer or other qualified service technician for additional help if these remedies do not correct the problem.

Operation 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.

The GPS III Pilot does not contain any user-serviceable parts. Repairs should only be made by an authorized GARMIN service center. Unauthorized repairs or modifications could void your warranty and your authority to operate this device under Part 15 regulations.

iii

INTRODUCTION

Limited Warranty

GARMIN Corporation warrants this product to be free from defects in materials and workmanship for one year from the date of purchase. GARMIN will, at its sole option, repair or replace any components which fail in normal use. Such repairs or replacement will be made at no charge to the customer for parts or labor. The customer is, however, responsible for any transportation costs. 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 EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING ANY LIABILITY ARISING UNDER 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 RESULTINGFROM THEUSE, MISUSE ORINABILITY TOUSETHIS PRODUCT OR FROM DEFECTS IN THE PRODUCT. SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OF INCIDENTAL ORCONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, SOTHEABOVELIMITATIONSMAY NOT APPLYTOYOU.

To obtain warranty service, call the GARMIN Customer Service department (913-397-8200) for a returned merchandise tracking number . The unit should be secur ely packaged with the tracking number clearly marked on the outside of the package, and sent freight prepaid and insured to a GARMIN warranty service station. A copy of the original sales receipt is required as the proof of purchase for warranty repairs. 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.

INTRODUCTION

Table of Contents

INTRODUCTION

About This Manual . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .i

Cautions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .ii

FCC Compliance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .iii

Limited Warranty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .iv

GETTING STARTED

Unit Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1

Keypad Usage / Display . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2

Battery Installation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3

What is GPS? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4

Initialization . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5

Main Page Sequence . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7

Satellite Status Page . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8

Position Page . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9

Map Page . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10

HSI Page . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11

Highway Page . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12

Main Menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13

Viewing Database Info . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14

Going to a Waypoint . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15

Cancel GOTO / Active Route . . . . . . . . . . . .16

SIMULATOR TOUR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17

REFERENCE

Satellite Status Page . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27

Position Page . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .32

Map Page . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .35

HSI Page . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .40

Vertical Navigation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .44

Highway Page . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .46

Waypoint Categories . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .48

Nearest Page . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .53

User Waypoints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .55

GOTO . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .61

TracBack . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .64

Routes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .66

Active Route Page . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .70

INTRODUCTION

Table of Contents

Main Menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .73

Setup Functions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .76

APPENDIX A: Mounting Instructions . . . . . . . .88

APPENDIX B: Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .90

APPENDIX C: Wiring/Interfacing . . . . . . . . . . .91

APPENDIX D: Antenna/Remote Mounting . . . . .92

APPENDIX E: Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .93

APPENDIX F: Map Datums . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .95

APPENDIX G: Navigation Terms . . . . . . . . . . . .98

APPENDIX H: Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .100

To change the screen orientation, press and hold the PAGE key.

GETTING STARTED

Unit Features

Antenna

(detachable)

Function Keys

Power/Backlight

Key (red)

Rocker Keypad

LCD Display

Battery Door

GETTING STARTED

Keypad Usage/Display

(POWER)— Red key turns the unit on and off, and controls three levels of screen backlighting intensity.

(PAGE)— Scrolls main pages in sequence and returns display from a menu/options page to a main page. Press and hold this key to change screen orientation.

(MENU)— Displays a menu of available options for the current page. Press twice to display the Main Menu.

(GOTO/

NRST

dow, allowing you to select the destination waypoint. Press and hold this key to display the nine nearest airports, airspaces, navaids, waypoints, etc.

(ENTER/

confirms menu options and data entry. Press and hold this key to mark present position as a waypoint.

(QUIT)— Returns the display to a previous page or restores a data field’s previous value.

(IN and OUT)— Allows you to zoom in/out through 23 scales on the Map Page. Also adjusts scale on the Highway and HSI pages.

(ROCKER KEYPAD)— Controls the movement of the cursor, is used to select options and positions, and to enter data.

)— Displays the GOTO waypoint win-

MARK

)— Activates highlighted fields and

CURSOR— A solid black bar which can be moved

up, down, left, and right with the keypad to select individual fields on the display (see above).

DEFAULT— A system-selected format, built into the operating software or the unit’s memory, that will be followed unless the user chooses a different setting.

FIELD— The location on a page (see above) where a group of characters or option is entered and displayed.

HIGHLIGHT— The act of using the cursor to select a field for the purpose of entering data.

SCROLL— The act of moving through characters or options from a selected field.

DATA ENTRY— Entering data, such as waypoint names, typically begins and ends with the ENTER/ MARK key. Use the rocker keypad to enter the actual data: UP/DOWN to change the highlighted character, RIGHT to move on to the next character.

Example of Cursor highlighting the ‘Mode’ Field

The GPS III Pilot operates on 4 AA batteries, which are installed at the base of the unit. These batteries provide up to 24 hours of continuous use. Rechargeable NiCad or lithium batteries may also be used.

NOTE: The on-screen battery level indicator is calibrated for alkaline batteries,

and will not be accurate when using NiCad or lithium batteries (see page 79).

To install the batteries:

1. Flip up the metal ring at the base of the unit, and turn the ring 90˚ counterclockwise.

2. Install the batteries and close the battery compartment door. When replacing the GPS III Pilot’s batteries, observe the polarity markings engraved in the plastic case.

3. Lock the door in the closed position by rotating the metal ring 90˚ clockwise.

Battery life varies due to a variety of factors, including temperature and backlighting. You may find that the battery life varies in different conditions and that lithium batteries provide longer life in colder conditions. An internal 10year lithium battery will retain your data while you’re changing batteries.

GETTING STARTED

Battery Installation

Polarity Markings

GETTING STARTED

What is GPS?

Hold the receiver at a comfortable height with the antenna pointing up.

When new (or if a position cannot be determined after 10 minutes), the GPS IIIPilot will prompt you to initialize the receiver. The unit needs a

starting position to determine

which satellites are in view.

The Global Positioning System (GPS) is a system of 24 satellites which circle the earth twice a day in a very precise orbit and transmit information to earth. The GPS III Pilot must continuously “see” at least three of these satellites to calculate your position and track your movement. At times, additional satellites may be needed to determine a position.

By using an almanac (a timetable of satellite numbers and their orbits) stored in the receiver’s memory, the GPS III Pilot can determine the distance and position of any GPS satellite and use this information to compute your position.

Your GPS receiver can only see satellites above the horizon, so it needs to know what satellites to look for at any given time. To use this almanac data, your GPS needs to either be told its general location (“initialized”) or given the opportunity to find itself. Once you initialize the unit to a position, it will typically compute a fix within a few minutes. We’ll show you how to initialize your new GPS III Pilot on page 5.

Initialization is only necessary under the following conditions:

• The first time you use your receiver (new from the factory).

• After the receiver has been moved over 500 miles (with the power off) from the last time you used it.

• If the receiver’s memory has been cleared and all internally stored data has been lost.

Because the GPS III Pilot relies on satellite signals to provide you with navigation guidance, the receiver needs to have an unobstructed, clear view of the sky for best performance. In a nutshell, the GPS receiver’s view of the sky will generally determine how fast you get a position fix—or if you get a fix at all. GPS signals are relatively weak and do not travel through rocks, buildings, people, metal, or heavy tree cover, so remember to keep a clear view of the sky at all times for best performance.

GETTING STARTED

Once the GPS III Pilot has calculated a position fix, you’ll usually have anywhere from five to twelve satellites in view. The receiver will then continuously select the best satellites in view to update your position. If some of the satellites in view get blocked or “shaded,” the receiver can simply use an alternate satellite to maintain the position fix. Although a GPS receiver needs four satellites to provide a three-dimensional (3D) fix, it can maintain a two-dimensional (2D) fix with only three satellites. A three-dimensional fix means the unit knows its latitude, longitude, and altitude, while a two-dimensional fix means the unit knows only its latitude and longitude.

Initializing Your GPS III Pilot

To initialize the GPS III Pilot, take the receiver outside and find an open area where the antenna has a clear view of the sky. You may either hold the receiver at a comfortable height with the antenna pointing up (see page 4), or mount the receiver on the dash of a vehicle, as described in Appendix A. (Likewise, when you use your GPS III Pilot in a vehicle, make sure the antenna is pointing up.)

To turn the GPS III Pilot on, press and hold the red power key.

The Welcome Page will be displayed while the unit conducts a self test. Once testing is complete, the Welcome Page is replaced by the Database Page (which shows the effective date for the Jeppesen database), followed by a warning page, then by the Satellite Status Page. A message will inform you to “select initialization method.” (If the initialization prompt has not automatically appeared, press MENU and select ‘Initialize Position’.)

To initialize your unit:

1. Press ENTER to acknowledge the message. A window will appear prompting you to select an initialization method.

2. Use the rocker keypad to highlight ‘Use Map’, and press ENTER.

3. Use the rocker keypad to point the map cursor to your approximate location (within at least 250 miles). You may also wish to use the IN and OUTzoom keys to make it easier to identify your approximate position.

4. Press ENTER to select the position and begin searching for satellites.

Initialization

Check the Satellite Status Page for ‘2D Navigation’ or ‘3D Navigation’ to verify a position fix.

The Welcome Page is displayed when the GPS III Pilot is first turned on. During this time the receiver is conducting a self-test.

GETTING STARTED

Initialization

To initialize the GPS III Pilot, designate your approximate location directly on the map display. Use the rocker keypad and IN/OUT zoom keys to position the cursor on the map.

Once the GPS III Pilot has a position fix, it will automatically transition from the Satellite Status Page to the Map Page.

This usually provides a position fix in one minute. You’ll know you have a fix when the unit automatically transitions from the Satellite Page to the Map Page (shown bottom left). Your receiver is now ready to use!

To turn the unit off:

1. Press and hold the red power key for one second.

Troubleshooting

If you have trouble initializing or getting a position fix, check the following:

• Does the receiver have a clear view of the sky?

If there are large buildings or mountains, or if there is heavy tree cover, the receiv-

er may not be receiving enough satellite signals to calculate a fix. Also, if you’re

using the GPS III Pilot inside the cockpit, make sure the unit is placed so that it

has the clearest possible view of the sky. Your GPS will only be able to detect satel-

lites that it can “see” through your vehicle’s windshield. Depending on the slope

of glass or the overall surface area, it may be necessary to remote mount an anten-

na inside the cockpit or install an outside antenna. (Contact your local GARMIN

dealer and inquire about the GA 26 Remote Antenna, part number 010-10052-

02, or the GA 56 Low Profile Antenna, part number 010-10040-01.)

• Have you selected the right area when initializing?

Check for the correct approximate position on the Map Page (press PAGE until

the Map Page appears; see pages 7 and 10), or reselect your approximate

location to restart the initialization.

• Have you moved more than 500 miles from the last calculated position with the receiver off?

Reinitialize the receiver by selecting your approximate position on the map, or select ‘AutoLocate’ from the Satellite Status Page Options (see page 31).

GETTING STARTED

Main Page Sequence

Position PageSatellite Status Page

Press the PAGE key to move through each of the main pages in normal fashion.

Map PageActive Route Page

Highway Page

To turn the GPS III Pilot back on, press and hold the red power key.

The GPS III Pilot features six main pages which are linked together in a chain. You

HSI Page

Press the QUIT key to sequence through the main pages in reverse order.

can quickly scroll through the pages in either direction using the PAGE or QUIT keys. Let’s briefly tour each of these pages in order to give you some insight into how they help you navigate. We’ll go over all of them in more detail in the reference section.

GETTING STARTED

Satellite Status Page

The signal strength bars give you an indication of what satellites are visible to the receiver, whether or not they’re being used to calculate a position fix, and the signal quality.

Let’s start with the Satellite Status Page, which is the page you’ll view while your unit is getting a position fix. If you’re not already on this page, press PAGE or QUIT until it appears. The Satellite Status Page shows you status information that helps you understand what the receiver is doing at any given time, and it’s a page that you’ll want to occasionally refer back to as you use your unit. It features a sky view of available satellites, corresponding signal strength bars, the status of your current position fix (acquiring, 2D, 3D, etc.), and your estimated position error (EPE). You can also tell how much battery power is remaining, and you can adjust the screen contrast by pressing the rocker keypad.

Satellites are indicated on the sky view and the signal strength bars by their corresponding number, from 01 through 32. The sky view shows where it is looking in the sky for each satellite, by indicating the direction and elevation (angle above the horizon). The signal strength bars depict the relative strength of the signal from each satellite being received. The taller the bar, the stronger the signal.

If satellite reception is lost, or an insufficient number of satellites are available, you will be alerted with a ‘Poor Coverage’ receiver status and message.

Receiver Status

Battery Level

Indicator

Signal Strength Bar

Sky View

Satellite Status Page

GETTING STARTED

The Position Page shows you where you are, what direction you’re heading, and how fast you’re going—and it’s a page you may want to use when you don’t have a destination selected.

A graphic compass display at the top of the page shows your direction of travel (track) while you’re moving, while six user-selectable data fields below display your current speed, average speed, trip odometer, trip timer, and sunrise/sunset times at your current position. “User-selectable” means you can change them to display other navigation information. We’ll cover these fields more in the reference section.

Below the user-selectable data fields are additional data fields to display your current position, along with current time and date. The current position readout can be in latitude/longitude, UTM/UPS, Maidenhead or one of several regional grids. Current time and date can be in local time or UTC (Coordinated Universal Time, or “zulu” time).

Position Page showing current position in degrees, minutes and seconds.

Position Page

Track Compass

Current Position

Coordinates

Position Page

Trip Odometer

Current Time

and Date

The trip odometer, trip timer and average speed readings can all be reset from the ‘Trip Computer’ option on the Main Menu. See page 75.

GETTING STARTED

Map Page

With the map oriented to ‘Track Up’, the pointer always points up and the map rotates to your current direction of travel (track). Note the north indicator on the map.

The Map Page shows your movement using a real-time track log (an electronic breadcrumb trail that appears directly on the map as you’re traveling), and your present position as an airplane icon in the center of the map. The Map Page also shows any nearby airspace boundaries, lakes, rivers, highways and towns. The map scale is shown in the lower left-hand corner of the map. Use the zoom keys (IN and OUT) to adjust the map to the desired scale.

To change the map scale:

1. Press the IN zoom key to select a smaller scale and more detail for a smaller area.

2. Press the OUT zoom key to select a larger scale and display a larger area.

The map can be oriented with the top of the page always pointing north, oriented along your desired course, or it can automatically rotate to keep your current direction of travel (track) at the top of the screen. ‘North Up’ is the default setting.

Nearby airports, VORs, NDBs, intersections and user waypoints are depicted on the map (each with its own unique symbol) with the identifier listed directly above the waypoint’s symbol. We’ll cover more about the GPSIII Pilot’s waypoint features and the Map Page in the reference section of this manual.

You can also select a fullscreen map from the Map Page Options. See page 37.

Nearby Navaid

(Intersection)

Present Position

Data Fields

Nearby Airport

Map Page

GETTING STARTED

The GPS III Pilot features two different navigation pages: HSI (horizontal situation indicator) and Highway. The HSI Page is first. The HSI Page provides graphic steering guidance to a destination waypoint and will likely become your primary navigation screen. (The Highway page also provides graphic steering guidance by displaying a three-dimensional perspective of your course and the surrounding area.) The HSI graphically depicts a mechanical HSI, showing the desired course using a ‘D-bar’ (course deviation bar; which is part of the course deviation indicator, or ‘CDI’) and course pointer. If you move off course, the D-bar will indicate off course distance and direction. To return to the desired course, simply steer in the direction of the D-bar until it returns to the center of the CDI. The CDI scale is adjustable, with the current scale indicated at the bottom of the page. The scale setting represents the distance from the center of the CDI to full left or right limits.

The HSI depicts your (ground) track heading using a rotating ‘compass card’. Don’t confuse this with the aircraft heading indicated on your panel. On a windy day these two figures can differ significantly!

The HSI page also provides a TO/FROM indication and vertical guidance, when using the unit’s vertical navigation (VNAV) features. Four user-selectable data fields indicate current speed, distance to destination, time en route and time of day.

Pointer

(Desired Course)

D-bar

(part of CDI)

Compass Card

(Track)

HSI Page

Current Speed

and Distance to

Waypoint

Time to Waypoint

If you move off course, steer in the direction of the D-bar until it returns to the center of the CDI.

The ‘Big Numbers’ option (available from the HSI Page Options) shows a smaller compass-type display and larger data field characters. See page 42.

HSI Page

GETTING STARTED

Highway Page

If you move off course, the highway display will move, indicating the direction you are off course. To stay on course, simply move toward the center of the highway.

The GPS III Pilot’s Highway Page also provides graphic steering guidance to a destination waypoint. As you head toward your destination, the middle of the screen provides visual guidance to your waypoint on a moving graphic “highway.” Your present position is at the bottom center of the highway display. The line down the middle of the highway represents your desired course. As you navigate toward a waypoint, the highway will actually move—indicating the direction you’re off course. To stay on course, simply move toward the center of the highway.

The top of the page indicates speed and distance to your destination (or the next waypoint in a route), along with a track compass showing current direction of travel. Directly below the distance reading is the time required to reach your destination (or the next waypoint in a route), in hours/minutes or minutes/seconds. The pointer at the bottom of the page also shows the bearing to your destination, relative to your current track. If the pointer points straight ahead, you’re heading directly to your destination!

As you approach your destination, the graphic highway will stop at the destination waypoint. You have arrived when the waypoint is at the bottom center of the display.

Track Compass

Highway Display

Highway Page

Distance to

Destination (or Next

Route Waypoint)

Pointer

(Bearing to

Destination)

GETTING STARTED

The GPS III Pilot’s Main Menu provides access to an additional set of pages that are used to create or edit waypoints, create routes, review track log or trip information, configure the vertical navigation features, perform E6B calculations or make changes to system settings. These seven menu items are divided into categories by function. The waypoint and route management features of the Main Menu are described in more detail in the Reference section of this manual. Let’s take a look at the Main Menu and one of its options.

To view the Main Menu:

1. Press the MENU key twice.

To select an item from the Main Menu:

1. Highlight the desired item using the rocker keypad, and press ENTER.

2. To return to the Main Menu, press QUIT.

The ‘Setup’ option provides a list of choices (presented as a series of ‘file tabs’) to perform various configuration settings including system settings, selection of position format and units of measure, time display, setting various alarms, enabling the built-in simulator feature and interface options with other equipment:

To change units of measure for distance and speed:

1. Select the ‘Setup’ option from the Main Menu (as described above), and press ENTER.

2. Highlight the ‘Units’ tab with the rocker keypad. The units settings are automatically displayed.

3. Highlight the ‘Distance & Speed’ field using the rocker keypad, and press ENTER. A pop-up menu appears showing the available options.

4. Select the desired option using the rocker keypad, and press ENTER.

Main Menu

The Main Menu provides access to additional pages, including database information, flight information and unit settings.

The ‘Setup’ option provides a list of menu choices to perform various configuration settings, such as changing units of measure for distance and speed.

plans (routes), trip

GETTING STARTED

Viewing Database Info

To view database information directly from the map, place the panning cursor on the desired item and press ENTER.

To view database information by manually entering the identifier, name or city, select the ‘Waypoints’ option from the Main Menu.

One of the most important features of the GPS III Pilot is the built-in Jeppesen database, which includes information on airports, runways, communication frequencies, VORs, NDBs, intersections and airspace boundaries. This information is readily available directly from the map, or from the ‘Waypoints’ option on the Main Menu.

To view the database information from the Map Page:

1. With the Map Page displayed, use the rocker keypad to place the panning cursor over the desired facility on the map. When the cursor is directly over the desired item, the identifier for that item is highlighted. (For airspace information, place the cursor over any open area within the boundary of the desired airspace.)

2. Press ENTER to view the database information for the selected facility/airspace. If an airport was selected, use the rocker keypad to select the ‘Airport’, ‘Runway’ or ‘Comm’ information pages for that airport.

To view the database information by entering the identifier, name or city

for the desired facility:

1. Press MENU twice to display the Main Menu.

2. Highlight ‘Waypoints’ and press ENTER. A series of tabs appear for each category of waypoint information: airports, runways, comm frequencies, VORs, NDBs, intersections, user-entered waypoints. Select the desired category using the rocker keypad.

3. To view information by identifier, highlight the identifier field and press ENTER. Enter the identifier, using the rocker keypad, and press ENTER to display the information.

4. To view information by facility name or city (only applicable to the ‘Airport’, ‘VORs’, and ‘NDBs’ information pages), highlight the appropriate field and press ENTER. name/city using the rocker keypad, and press ENTER to display the information.

Enter the

GETTING STARTED

The GPS III Pilot’s GOTO feature allows you to quickly and easily navigate to any airport, navaid or user-entered waypoint stored in memory. A GOTO is really nothing more than a straight-line course from your present position to the destination you’ve selected. A GOTO can be performed several ways: by specifying the destination from the GOTO Page, graphically from the map display or by highlighting the waypoint name on any page (such as the Nearest Page).

To select a GOTO destination from the GOTO Page:

1. Press GOTO/NRST. This captures your current position as the starting point for your trip.

2. Highlight the identifier field at the top of the page and press ENTER. This allows you to enter the identifier for any waypoint position stored in memory.

3. Use the rocker keypad to enter the identifier for the desired waypoint and press ENTER.

To select a GOTO destination from the Map Page:

1. With the Map Page displayed, use the rocker keypad to place the cursor over the desired destination waypoint. (If no waypoint exists at the destination location, the GPS III Pilot will automatically create one, named ‘MAP’ in the step below.)

2. Press GOTO/NRST, and then ENTER to navigate to the selected location.

To GOTO a listed waypoint on the Nearest Page:

1. Press and hold the GOTO/NRST key to display the Nearest Page.

2. Use the rocker keypad to select a tab for the desired waypoint category (e.g. ‘Airport’).

3. Use the rocker keypad to highlight the desired waypoint, press GOTO/NRST and ENTER.

Once the GOTO destination is selected, use the Map Page, HSI Page and/or

Highway Page to keep track of your progress as you head toward your destination.

To select the GOTO destination from a list of all user waypoints or from a list of recently used waypoints, select the ‘User’ or ‘Recent’ tabs.

To GOTO one of the listed ‘Nearest Waypoints’, highlight the desired waypoint, press GOTO/NRST and then ENTER.

Going to a Waypoint

GETTING STARTED

Cancel GOTO/Active Route

To cancel the current GOTO destination, select ‘Cancel GOTO’ from the GOTO Options Page.

To cancel the current GOTO destination, simply select another destination. If no destination is currently desired, or you want to resume a previously selected route, the GOTO operation may be cancelled from the GOTO Options Page.

To cancel the current GOTO destination:

1. Press GOTO.

2. Press MENU.

3. Highlight ‘Cancel GOTO’ and press ENTER.

Active Route Page

The last of the six main pages is the Active Route Page. This page shows the GOTO waypoint or each waypoint of a route, with waypoint name and the course along each leg (segment) of the route. When using a route, the current destination is marked with an arrow on the left-hand side of the screen. If no destination has been specified using the GOTO key or a route, no waypoints will be listed on

the page.

(For more information on using routes, see page 66 in the Reference section.)

Use the LEFT/RIGHT keys on the rocker keypad to select the desired data item. Available items include course, distance, fuel, and sunrise/sunset times.

Route Name

Field

Current Destination

Waypoint Name

Selectable Field,

showing Course to this Waypoint from Previous Waypoint (or start of GOTO)

Active Route Page

SIMULATOR TOUR

The GPS III Pilot is a powerful navigation system providing detailed mapping information in a convenient, compact package. This simulator tour is designed to show you the basic features of your new GPS III Pilot during a simulated trip. The simulator tour assumes that the receiver has been properly initialized as outlined in the Getting Started section of this manual, and that you have not changed any of the factory default settings. If you have changed any settings (position formats, units of measure, etc.), the descriptions and pictures in the tour may not match your configuration.

Once you’re familiar with the primary functions of the GPS III Pilot, you’ll be ready to use your new receiver on a real trip to a destination of your choice. The Reference section of this manual may be consulted for any additional questions you may have, or to learn about the more advanced features of the GPS III Pilot. For now, let’s get started on the Simulator Tour!

If the GPS III Pilot is currently off, you’ll need to start by turning it on.

To turn the GPS III Pilot on, press and hold the red power key.

The Welcome Page will be displayed while the unit conducts a self test. Once testing is complete, the Welcome Page is replaced by the Database Page, then by a warning page, and finally by the Satellite Status Page. Since we’ll be using the simulator mode, we don’t need to wait for the receiver to acquire satellites.

Selecting Simulator Mode

The Welcome Page is displayed when the GPS IIIPilot is tur ned on. After a brief self-test, it is replaced by database and warning pages. To skip these pages, press ENTER.

WARNING: Keep in mind that the GPS III Pilot does not track satellites in

simulator mode and this mode should never be used for actual navigation. The GPS III Pilot cannot be turned on in simulator mode. If you forget to change back to normal operation before shutting the receiver off, it will automatically return to normal mode the next time you use the receiver.

The Satellite Status Page appears next. For simulator mode operations, there’s no need to wait for the GPS III Pilot to acquire satellites.

SIMULATOR TOUR

Selecting Simulator Mode

Select ‘Start Simulator’ from the Satellite Status Page Options to enable the built-in simulator.

The simulator imitates satellite reception and shows that information on the Satellite Status Page. Remember, in this mode the GPS IIIis not actually tracking satellites.

To select the simulator mode:

1. Press MENU to list the options for the Satellite Status Page.

2. Highlight ‘Start Simulator’ with the rocker keypad, and press ENTER.

3. Press ENTER to acknowledge the warning message.

Let’s look at the sequence of pages again. The PAGE and QUIT keys are used to

find your way around on the GPS III Pilot.

To cycle through the main pages:

1. Press PAGE to move through each of the main pages in normal fashion.

2. Press QUIT to sequence through the main pages in reverse order.

In normal mode operation, the GPS III Pilot would automatically sequence from Satellite Status Page to Map Page once enough satellites where received to determine your position. At that point the receiver is ready to use for navigation. Since we’re in simulator mode we won’t see that automatic sequence of steps, but as you cycle through the main pages, notice that the simulator imitates satellite reception and shows that information on the Satellite Status Page.

The Position Page will show the last known position as a starting location. If you’ve already initialized the receiver, as outlined in the Getting Started section, the starting location should be very close to your current position! We’ll use this starting location from which to begin our simulated trip. Let’s move on to the Map Page to see where we are, select a GOTO destination and explore the navigation features of the GPS III Pilot.

To select the Map Page, press PAGE repeatedly until it appears.

The GPS III Pilot’s Map Page combines digital charts and Jeppesen data with a number of user-selectable features. Before we select our destination and begin navigating toward it, let’s take a look at some of those features.

SIMULATOR TOUR

Using the Map Page

Background Cities,

Roads and Lakes

Current Scale

Setting

The map display shows your present position using an airplane icon in the center of the screen. The Map Page also shows any nearby airports, navaids, airspace boundaries, lakes, rivers, highways and towns. Use the zoom keys (IN and OUT) to adjust

Present Position

Nearby Airport

In the ‘Track Up’ orientation, the map is automatically rotated to keep your current direction of travel at the top of the screen. Note the north indicator in upper-left corner.

the map to the desired scale. The current scale is indicated in the lower-left corner.

To change the map scale:

1. Press the IN zoom key to select a smaller scale and display a smaller geographic area.

2. Press the OUT zoom key to select a larger scale and display a larger geographic area.

The map can be oriented with the top of the page always pointing north (‘North Up’), oriented along your desired course (‘Course Up’), or it can automatically rotate to keep your current direction of travel at the top of the screen (‘Track Up’).

Let’s try panning around on the map display to see how that process works, and then we’ll find a nearby airport, VOR, NDB or intersection and navigate to it. First we will need to select an appropriate map scale to begin our search.

Use the IN/OUT zoom keys to change the map scale. The current scale appears in the lower-left corner of the map display.

Select a five nautical mile scale by pressing zoom IN or OUT repeatedly.

SIMULATOR TOUR

Viewing Waypoint Info

Use the rocker keypad to pan to other areas on the map display. When panning, an on-screen cursor appears for reference.

Working from the Map Page is a simple process that centers around the use of the cursor. Controlled by the rocker keypad, the cursor is an important tool allowing you to pan to other areas on the map display, view waypoint information, create waypoints, specify a GOTO target and create routes. To get a feel for using the Map Page and the cursor, try the following exercise:

1. Using the rocker keypad to move the cursor, try following a highway (or other feature) near your position. Simply press and hold one side of the rocker keypad to move more quickly. Notice how a data field appears above the map, showing the bearing and distance from present position to the cursor, along with the latitude/ longitude of the cursor.

2. Using the rocker keypad, continue moving the cursor in any direction until you find an airport or navaid. Once you find one, place the cursor over that waypoint so that its identifier is highlighted.

3. Press ENTER to view the database information for the selected waypoint. If an airport is selected, use the LEFT/RIGHT keys on the rocker keypad to select between ‘Airport’, ‘Runway’ and ‘Comm’ information pages.

Place the cursor over an onscreen airport or navaid to highlight the item, then press ENTER to view database information for the selected

item.

‘File Tabs’ for

other info types

Waypoint

Identifier Field

4. When finished reviewing the information press QUIT to return to the Map Page. (Pressing QUIT a second time will end the panning operation and return the map to your present position. For now, we’ll stay in panning mode and leave the selected waypoint highlighted on the map.)

Waypoint

Symbol Field

Waypoint Position

SIMULATOR TOUR

Now that we’ve seen how to find waypoints on the map and view information about them, let’s see how the GPS III Pilot is used to navigate to the waypoint we just selected. (Keep in mind that the cursor can also be used to GOTO any point on the map–even without a waypoint already at that location–by simply panning to a location and pressing GOTO/NRST. A waypoint named ‘MAP’ is automatically created. We won’t try that here, but you might want to experiment with this procedure at the end of the Simulator Tour.)

To select the highlighted waypoint as a GOTO destination, press GOTO/ NRST and ENTER.

Notice that a course line appears on the map display showing the way to our destination, panning mode is automatically cancelled and the map re-centers itself around your present position. Now that we have our destination selected, it’s about time we get started—so let’s plug a speed into this simulator to animate the displays!

To enter a simulated speed and animate the displays:

1. Press PAGE repeatedly until the HSI Page appears (see page 22).

2. Enter a simulated speed of ‘100’ (knots) using the rocker keypad. (Press UP on the rocker keypad repeatedly to select ‘100’. The speed readout is on the upper-right corner of the HSI Page.)

3. Press PAGE (or QUIT)repeatedly to return to the Map Page.

Notice the information on the map display is slowly moving? That’s how it would look in actual use as well. The background map information, airports, navaids and airspace boundaries will move across the screen, while your current position remains fixed in the center.

Going to the Waypoint

To select a GOTO destination from the map, highlight the desired waypoint, press GOTO/NRST and then ENTER.

Once the GOTO destination is selected, a course line appears on the map display and the map re-centers itself around your current position.

SIMULATOR TOUR

HSI Page

The other primary navigation screens are the HSI and Highway pages, with the

HSI Page appearing first in the sequence of main pages.

To view the HSI Page, press PAGE.

TO/FROM Indicator

From the HSI Page, you can increase/decrease the simulated speed using the UP/DOWN keys on the rocker keypad.

To move off course in simulator mode, use the LEFT/ RIGHT rocker keypad keys.

Pointer

(Desired Course)

Compass Card

(Track)

Bug Indicator

D-bar and

CDI Scale

The HSI Page provides graphic steering guidance to your destination waypoint. The page features a graphic HSI (horizontal situation indicator), including a rotating ‘compass card’ that shows your course over ground (track) while you’re moving, a course pointer and CDI (course deviation indicator) which indicate the desired course to your destination. The compass card, pointer arrow and CDI work independently to show—at a glance—the direction you’re travelling, the desired course and whether or not you are off course.

At the center of the CDI is a ‘D-bar’, or course deviation bar. If you move off course, the D-bar will indicate how far off course you are and in what direction. The scale for the CDI is indicated at the bottom of the page. The scale represents the distance from the center of the CDI to full left or right limits.

As you approach the waypoint, a TO/FROM indicator will signal waypoint crossing. The current speed, distance to the next waypoint, time to the next waypoint and vertical speed to target are all displayed to the right of the graphic HSI. To see how all this works on our simulated trip, let’s head off course and watch the displays change.

To move off course/on course in simulator mode, use the LEFT/RIGHT

keys on the rocker keypad.

+ 82 hidden pages

Garmin GPS III Pilot User Manual

Specifications and Main Features

Frequently Asked Questions

User Manual