Garmin GPS III PLUS owner’s manual & reference guide

Owner’s

Manual &

Reference

GARMIN International, 1200 E. 151st Street, Olathe, Kansas 66062 USA
Tel: [phone] Fax: [phone]

GARMIN (Europe) Ltd., Unit 5, The Quadrangle, Abbey Park, Romsey, Hampshire SO51 9AQ UK
Tel: [phone] Fax: [phone]

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

Web Site Address: www.garmin.com

© 1999-2001 GARMIN Corporation. 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
prior written consent of GARMIN Corporation. GARMIN Corporation hereby grants permission to download a single
copy of this manual onto a hard drive or other electronic storage medium to be viewed for personal use, provided that
such electronic or printed copy of this manual contains the complete text of this copyright notice and provided further
that any unauthorized commercial distribution of this manual is strictly prohibited.

®

GARMIN

, Autolocate®, TracBack®, and Phasetrac 12® are registered trademarks and MapSource™ is a trademark of
GARMIN Corporation and may not be used without the express permission of GARMIN Corporation.
Information in this manual is subject to change without notice. GARMIN Corporation 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. 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.

January 2001 Part # 190-00162-00 Rev. B Printed in Taiwan.

INTRODUCTION

Thank You!

Thank you for choosing the GARMIN GPS III+ — an easy-to-use GPS navigator for marine, automotive
and outdoor use! The GPS III+ represents GARMIN’s continuing commitment to provide quality navigation
information 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 the owner’s manual in order to understand the operating features of
the GPS III+. 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+.

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

the real world by utilizing the built-in simulator mode.

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

III+ by topic.

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

Standard Package:

• GPS III+ Unit with Detachable Antenna

• Wrist Strap

• GPS III+ Owner’s Manual

• Quick Reference Card

• Velcro Mount

• PC Interface Cable

About This Manual

i

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+ 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+
to secure the GPS unit so that it will not cause damage or personal injury in the event of an accident. Do
not mount the GPS III+ 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 driving conditions at all times, and never
become distracted by the GPS III+ to the exclusion of safe operating practices. It is unsafe to operate the GPS
III+ while you are driving. Failure by the operator of a vehicle equipped with a GPS III+ to pay full attention
to operating the vehicle and road conditions while the vehicle is in motion could result in an accident or
collision with property damage and personal injury.

MAP DATA INFORMATION: One of the goals of GARMIN is to provide customers with the most
complete and accurate cartography that is available to us at a reasonable cost. We use a combination of
governmental and private data sources, which we identify as required in product literature and copyright
messages displayed to the consumer. Virtually all data sources contain inaccurate or incomplete data to some
degree. This is particularly true outside the United States, where complete and accurate digital data is either
not available or prohibitively expensive.

ii

I

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 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.

The GPS III+ 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 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 RESULTING FROM THE USE, MISUSE OR INABILITY TO
USE THIS PRODUCT OR FROM DEFECTS IN THE PRODUCT. SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW THE
EXCLUSIONS OF INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, SO THE ABOVE LIMITATIONS MAY
NOT APPLY TO YOU.

To obtain warranty service, call the GARMIN Customer Service department (913-397-8200) for a returned
merchandise tracking number. The unit should be securely 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

iv

BREACH OF WARRANTY.

INTRODUCTION

Registration

Customer Service Product Registration

Help us better support you by completing our on-line registration today! Have the serial number of your
GPS III+ handy and connect to our web site (www.garmin.com). Look for the Product Registration link on
the Home page. You can also find current user's manuals, updated unit operating software, FAQs and more
on the Support page. Also, be sure to record your serial number in the area provided below.

NOTE: If you have previously registered a GARMIN product purchase using a mail-in registration
card, we invite you to re-register using our on-line system. Many services provided by our new product
registration system are now being automated and re-registering your purchase ensures you the best
possible support from GARMIN.

Why should you register your GARMIN GPS unit:

• Notification of Product Updates

• Notification of New Products

• Lost or Stolen unit tracking

Serial Number

Use this area to record the serial number (8-digit number located on the back of the unit) in case
it is lost, stolen, or needs service. Be sure to keep your original sales receipt in a safe place or attach
a photocopy inside the manual.

Serial Number:

v

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

Compass Page . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

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

vi

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

Marking Waypoint Positions . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

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

Active Route Page . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

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

REFERENCE

Satellite Status Page . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

Satellite Status Page Options . . . . . . . . . . . . 29

Position Page . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30

Position Page Options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31

Map Page . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33

Highway Exits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35

Map Page Options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36

Compass Page . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43

Compass Page Options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44

Highway Page . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45

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

Waypoints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47

Waypoint Options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52

Nearest Waypoints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53

GOTO . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55

GOTO Options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56

MOB . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57

TracBack . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58

Routes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59

Route Options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65

Active Route Page . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66

Active Route Page Options . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67

Main Menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69

Setup Menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74

APPENDIX A: Dashboard Mounting . . . . . . . . . 86

APPENDIX B: Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87

APPENDIX C: Wiring/Interfacing . . . . . . . . . . . 88

APPENDIX D: Antenna/Remote Mounting . . . . 89

APPENDIX E: Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90

APPENDIX F: Map Datums . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92

APPENDIX G: Navigation Terms . . . . . . . . . . . 95

APPENDIX H: Time Offsets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97

APPENDIX I : Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98

INTRODUCTION

Table of Contents

vii

REFERENCE

INTRODUCTION

Proximity Waypoints

"How To" Index

This list is provided to help you quickly find some of the more important procedures you will use on your

new GPS III+.

TO DO THIS: SEE PAGE(S):

Turn the unit on or off .............................................................. 5

Initialize the GPS receiver (first time use) ................................. 5

Adjust screen contrast or backlighting .................................... 25

Enter data and select options .................................................... 2

Learn how to operate the unit’s function keys........................... 2

Mark your present location as a waypoint.......................... 14,22

Goto a destination.............................................................. 15,55

Create and use a route ............................................................ 60

Learn about the map page ................................................. 10,33

Pan using the map arrow ................................................... 20,34

Zoom in or out on the Map page ....................................... 10,33

Reconfigure the Map Page display........................................... 36

Access the Main Menu ............................................................ 69

Change units of measure (statute, nautical, metric) ................ 78

Change the displayed time (zone)........................................... 80

Set alarms ............................................................................... 81

See current position, date and time...................................... 9,20

View a unit message................................................................ 90

viii

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

1

GETTING STARTED

Keypad Usage / Display

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

( P A G E ) — 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.

( G O T O ) — Displays the GOTO waypoint window,
allowing you to select the destination waypoint. Press
and hold this key to activate MOB feature.

(ENTER/MARK)— Activates highlighted fields and
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
24 scales on the Map Page. Also adjusts scale on the
Highway Page.

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

2

Pressing UP or DOWN on the ROCKER
KEYPAD changes numbers and letters.

Cursor

Pressing LEFT or RIGHT on the ROCKER
KEYPAD moves the cursor along the line
or to the next line.

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.

CURSOR— A solid black bar which can be moved
up, down, left, and right with the keypad to select
individual fields on the display.

FIELD— The location on a page 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.

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.

The GPS III+ operates on 4 AA batteries (not included), which are installed at the

base of the unit. These batteries provide up to 36 hours of continuous use (See page

87). Rechargeable NiCad or lithium batteries may also be used.

H

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 77).

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+’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, use of
an external antenna, 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 10-year lithium battery will retain your data while you’re
changing batteries.

GETTING STARTED

Battery Installation

Polarity
Markings

3

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 III+
will prompt you to initialize
the receiver. The unit needs a
starting position to determine

4

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+ 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. Visit the GARMIN web site for more information on GPS.

By using an almanac (a timetable of satellite numbers and their orbits) stored in
the receiver’s memory, the GPS III+ 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
few minutes. We’ll show you how to initialize your new GPS III+ 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+ 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, or metal, so remember to
keep a clear view of the sky at all times for best performance.

within a

Once the GPS III+ 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+

To initialize the GPS III+, 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 (Appendix A) or on a bike. (Likewise, when you use your GPS III+ in a
vehicle, make sure the antenna is pointing up.)

To turn the GPS III+ 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 will be replaced 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 highlight
‘Initialize Position’ and press ENTER.)

To initialize your unit:

1. Press ENTER to acknowledge the message and see a list of initialization options.

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 250
miles). You may also wish to use the IN and OUT zoom keys to make it easier to identify
your approximate position.

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

GETTING STARTED

Initialization

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

To initialize the GPS III+,
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.

5

GETTING STARTED

Initialization

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

If powering the III+ with
external power, and the exter­nal power is lost, the unit will
automatically turn off after 30
seconds.

6

This usually provides a position fix in 1 minute. You’ll know you have a fix when
the unit automatically transitions from the Satellite Page to the Map Page, unless you
have manually changed pages (shown left). Your receiver is now ready to use!

To turn the unit off:

1. Press and hold the red power key for 1 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 receiver

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

the GPS III+ on a car dash, 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 satellites that it can

“see” through your vehicle’s windshield. Depending on the slope of your dash or

the overall surface area of the window, it may be necessary to mount an external

antenna on your vehicle’s roof or trunk in order to give the unit a better view of the

sky. (Contact your local GARMIN dealer or GARMIN Sales and inquire about the

GA 26C low-profile remote antenna, part number 010-10052-04.)

• 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 29).

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

Compass Page

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

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

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

7

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/backlighting 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.

8

Receiver Status

Battery Level

Indicator

Signal Strength Bar

Sky View

Satellite Status Page

The Position Page shows you where you are, what direction you’re heading, and
how fast you’re going—and it’s the page you’ll 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
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, Loran TD, MGRS, Maidenhead or one of several
regional grids. Current time and date can be in local time or UTC (Coordinated
Universal Time).

GETTING STARTED

Position Page

Position Page showing UTM
coordinates for use with
USGS topographic maps, etc.

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 74.

9

GETTING STARTED

Map Page

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 a pointer icon in the center of the map. The Map Page also
shows any nearby lakes, rivers, highways and towns. 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.

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.

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

10

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. The default setting is
‘North Up’, which keeps the top of the page always pointing north.

Nearby waypoints are depicted on the map with any one of over 70 different
symbols, with the waypoint name shown directly above the symbol. We’ll cover
more about the GPS III+’s waypoint features and the Map Page in the reference
section of this manual.

Data Fields

Present Position

Nearby Waypoint

Map Page

The GPS III+ features two different navigation pages: Compass and Highway. The
Compass Page is first. This page provides graphic steering guidance to a destination
waypoint, with an emphasis on the bearing to your destination and current direction
of travel. (The Highway Page places greater emphasis on the straight-line desired
course and the distance and direction you are off course.) The middle of the page
features a rotating ‘compass ring’ that shows your course over ground (track) while
you’re moving, and a bearing pointer that indicates the direction of the destination
(bearing) relative to the course over ground. The compass ring and pointer arrow
work independently to show—at a glance—the direction of your movement and the
direction to your destination. For instance, if the arrow points up, you are going
directly to the waypoint. If the arrow points any direction other than up, turn toward
the arrow until it points up—then continue in that direction.

The current speed and distance to the destination waypoint are displayed at
the top of the screen. The bottom of the page displays the time to the destination
waypoint and the current time. This page provides better steering guidance than
the Highway Page when travelling at slower speeds and/or when making frequent
directional changes.

GETTING STARTED

Compass Page

If the bearing pointer points
up, your are going directly
to your destination. If not,
turn toward the arrow until
it points up, then continue in
that direction.

Pointer

(Bearing to

Destination)

Compass Ring

Compass Page

Current Speed

and Distance to

Waypoint

Time to Waypoint
and Current Time

The ‘Big Numbers’ option
(available from the Compass
Page Options) shows a much
smaller compass display and
larger data field characters.
See page 44.

11

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+’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!

Use the Highway Page as your primary navigation page (in lieu of the Compass
Page) when your main concern is following a defined course.

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.

12

Track Compass

Highway Display

Highway Page

Distance to

Destination (or Next

Route Waypoint)

Pointer

(Bearing to

Destination)

The GPS III+’s Main Menu provides access to additional pages (submenus) that
are used to create or edit waypoints, create routes, list nearby waypoints, review
trip information and timers or make changes to system settings. These six pages 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 quick look at the Main Menu and one of its submenu items.

To view the Main Menu:

GETTING STARTED

Main Menu

1. Press the MENU key twice.

To select a submenu 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 Main Menu provides
access to seven additional
(submenu) pages.

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.

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

13

GETTING STARTED

Marking Waypoint Positions

Each waypoint stored in
memory is identified by a
unique name, up to six char­acters long (letters and/or
numbers).

Each waypoint may also be
assigned a custom waypoint
symbol, making it easy to
identify the waypoint on the
Map Page.

GPS is really about marking and going to places called ‘waypoints’. Before we
can use the GPS III+ to guide us somewhere, we have to mark a position as a
waypoint. Your GPS III+

can hold up to 500 waypoints.

To mark your present position:

1. Press and hold the ENTER/MARK key. The Mark Waypoint Page will appear, with a
default three-digit name for the new waypoint in the upper-left portion of the page.

To rename the waypoint:

1. Use the keypad to highlight the name field, and press ENTER.

2. Enter the new waypoint name using the rocker keypad, and press ENTER.

Each waypoint may also be assigned a custom waypoint symbol for easy

waypoint recognition on the Map Page.

To change the waypoint symbol:

1. Highlight the waypoint symbol field (immediately to the left of the waypoint name
field) and press ENTER.

2. Select the desired symbol, and press ENTER.

3. Move the cursor to the ‘DONE?’ prompt, and press ENTER.

The Mark Position Page will be replaced with the page displayed before you
pressed ENTER/MARK to mark your position. The new waypoint is now stored
in the GPS III+’s memory.

14

Once you’ve stored a waypoint in memory, you can use the GPS III+ to guide you
to it by using the GOTO feature. 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 from one the 'Nearest' lists).

To select a GOTO destination from the GOTO Page:

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

2. Highlight the ‘All’ tab, using the rocker keypad, to list all waypoints currently stored

in memory.

3. Highlight the desired waypoint, using the rocker keypad, 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+ will automatically create one, named ‘MAP’ in the step below.)

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

To GOTO a listed point on the Nearest Waypoints, Nearest Cities, Nearest
Exits, or Nearest Geo Points Lists:

1. With the Nearest Waypoints, Cities, Exits, or Geo Points tab highlighted (see pages 53

and 55), use the rocker keypad to highlight the desired point.

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

Once the GOTO destination is selected, use the Map Page, Compass Page and/or
Highway Page to keep track of your progress as you head toward your destination.

GETTING STARTED

Going to a Waypoint

To select a destination from
all waypoints stored in memo­ry, highlight the ‘All’ tab, then
select the desired waypoint and
press ENTER.

To GOTO one of the listed
‘Nearest’ cities, highlight the
desired city, press GOTO and
then ENTER. A new waypoint
will be created using the city
name. Cities with names lon­ger than six characters will
be abbreviated.

15

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 60 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.

16

Route Name

Field

Waypoint Name

Selectable Field,

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

Active Route Page

SIMULATOR TOUR

The GPS III+ 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+ 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+, 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+. For now, let’s get
started on the Simulator Tour!

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

To turn the GPS III+ 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 a warning page, then 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 III+ is first turned
on. After a brief self-test, it is
replaced by a warning page for
about 10 seconds. To acknowl­edge this page, press ENTER.

I

WARNING: Keep in mind that the GPS III+ does not track satellites in simulator
mode and should never be used for actual navigation. The GPS III+ 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+
to acquire satellites.

17

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 III+ is not
actually tracking satellites.

18

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 again to acknowledge the simulator 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+.

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+ would automatically sequence from
Satellite Status Page to Map Page once enough satellites were received to determine
your position. At that point the receiver is ready to use for navigation. Since
we’re in simulator 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, create a destination and explore the navigation
features of the GPS III+.

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

The GPS III+’s Map Page combines digital charting 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.

Nearby Waypoints

SIMULATOR TOUR

Using the Map Page

Background Roads

and Railways

Present Position

The map display shows your present position using a pointer icon in the center
of the screen. The Map Page also shows any nearby lakes, rivers, highways and towns.
Use the zoom keys (IN and OUT) to adjust 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’).

Nearby waypoints are depicted on the map with any one of over 70 different
symbols, with the waypoint name displayed directly above the symbol. Let’s create
a waypoint directly on the map display to see how that process works, then we’ll
navigate to this new waypoint.

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.

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

19

SIMULATOR TOUR

Creating a Waypoint

Use the rocker keypad to pan
to other areas on the map
display. When panning an
on-screen arrow appears for
reference, along with a data
field above the map.

Place the panning arrow over
an on-screen item to display a
descriptive name.

20

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

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

1. Using the rocker keypad to move the arrow, try following a highway (or other fea-

ture) 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 arrow’s position.

2. Using the rocker keypad, move the arrow in any direction until you find a nearby city

or town. Once you find a nearby city or town, place the pointer on it to highlight the
location. Now, press ENTER to create a waypoint at the arrow location and display
the New Map Waypoint Page.

Waypoint

Waypoint

Symbol Field

3. If the name of the city or town is longer than six characters, the GPS III+ will

abbreviate the name when it creates the waypoint. (If you select an open location
on the map, where no city, town or other feature is located, a three-digit number is
pre-assigned to the new waypoint created at the panning arrow location. To change
the name, highlight the waypoint name field, press ENTER and use the rocker keypad
to enter a new name – UP/DOWN to change the first character, RIGHT to move to the
next character, and repeat. Once the new name is spelled out, press ENTER.)

Name Field

Waypoint Position