Garmin GPSMAP 168 User Manual

GPSMAP 168 Sounder

chartplotting receiver & depth-ﬁ nder

owner’s manual and reference guide

Introduction

Software Version 2.50 or above Internal Database Version 2.00

GARMIN International, Inc., 1200 East 151st Street, Olathe, KS 66062, U.S.A. Tel. 913/397.8200 or 800/800.1020 Fax 913/397.8282

GARMIN (Europe) Ltd., Unit 5, The Quadrangle, Abbey Park Industrial Estate, Romsey SO51 9AQ, U.K. Tel. 44/1794.519944 Fax 44/1794.519222

GARMIN Corporation, No. 68, Jangshu 2nd Road, Shijr, Taipei County, Taiwan Tel. 886/2.2642.9199 Fax 886/2.2642.9099

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 or revision must contain the complete text of this copyright notice and provided further that any unauthorized commercial distribution of this manual is strictly prohibited.

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 website (www.garmin.com) for current updates and supplemental information concerning the use and operation of this and other GARMIN products.

January 2001 Part Number 190-00170-00 Rev. B Printed in Taiwan

Foreword

GARMIN®, Autolocate®, See-Thru®, DCG (Depth Control Gain)® and TracBack® are registered trademarks, and MapSourceTM is a trademark of GARMIN Corporation and may not be used without the express permission of GARMIN Corporation.

Introduction

Preface and

Registration

Preface

Congratulations on choosing one of the most advanced depth sounding and marine navigation systems available! The GARMIN GPSMAP 168 Sounder utilizes the proven performance of GARMIN GPS and full featured depth sounding and mapping to create an unsurpassed marine navigation chartplotter and ﬁ shﬁ nding package.

To get the most out of your new navigation and sounding system, take the time to go through this owner’s manual and learn the operating procedures for your unit. This manual is broken down into two parts for your convenience.

Part One introduces you to the GPSMAP 168 Sounder and provides a Getting Started tour so you may become more familiar with the unit. This section will provide you with a basic working knowledge necessary to use the unit to its fullest potential.

Part Two is divided into sections that provide detailed references to the advanced features and operations of the GPSMAP 168 Sounder. This allows you to concentrate on a speciﬁ c topic quickly and look up detailed information about the GPSMAP 168 Sounder.

Why should you register your GARMIN GPS unit:

• Notiﬁ cation of Product Updates

• Notiﬁ cation of New Products

• Lost or Stolen unit tracking

Customer Service Product Registration

Help us better support you by completing our on-line registration today! Have the serial number of your GPSMAP 168 Sounder handy and connect to our website (www.garmin.com). Look for the Product Registration link on the Home page. Also, be sure to record your serial number in the area provided on page iv of this manual.

NOTE: If you have previously registered a GARMIN product purchase using a mail-in

registration card, we invite you to re-register using our NEW on-line system. Many services provided by our new product registration system are now being automated. Re-registering your purchase ensures you the best possible support from GARMIN.

The GPS system is operated by the United States government, 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 GARMIN GPSMAP 168 Sounder is a precision electronic NAVigation AID (NAVAID), any NAVAID can be misused or misinterpreted and, therefore, become unsafe.

The electronic chart is an aid to navigation and is designed to facilitate the use of authorized government charts, not replace them. Only ofﬁ cial government charts and notices to mariners contain all information needed for safe navigation – and, as always, the user is responsible for their prudent use.

Use the GPSMAP 168 Sounder at your own risk. To reduce the risk of unsafe operation, carefully review and understand all aspects of this Owner’s Manual—and thoroughly practice operation using the simulator mode prior to actual use. When in actual use, carefully compare indications from the GPSMAP 168 Sounder to all available navigation sources, including the information from other NAVAIDs, visual sightings, charts, etc. For safety, always resolve any discrepancies before continuing navigation.

The GPSMAP 168 Sounder should not be used as a navigational aid or depth sounder to prevent collision, grounding, boat damage or personal injury. The digital depth displayed is the depth under the

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.

transducer and not necessarily the front of the boat. By the time a depth is displayed, most of your boat may have already passed over that area. We recommend that you operate the boat at a very slow speed if you suspect shallow water or submerged objects.

NOTE: 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. There is no guarantee that interference will not occur in a particular installation. If this equipment does cause harmful interference, the user is encouraged to try to correct the interference by relocating the equipment or connecting the equipment to a different circuit. Consult an authorized dealer or other qualiﬁ ed technician for additional help if these remedies do not correct the problem.

This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC limits for class B digital devices for home or ofﬁ ce use. Operation is subject to the following conditions: (1) This device may not cause harmful

CAUTION: IT IS THE USER’S RESPONSIBILITY TO USE THIS PRODUCT PRUDENTLY. THIS PRODUCT IS INTENDED TO BE USED ONLY AS A NAVIGATIONAL AID AND MUST NOT BE USED FOR ANY PURPOSE REQUIRING PRECISE MEASUREMENT OF DIRECTION, DISTANCE, LOCATION, OR TOPOGRAPHY.

interference, and (2) this device must accept any interference received, including interference that may cause undesired operation.

Introduction

Warnings and

Precautions

iii

Introduction

LIMITED WARRANTY

Warranty and

Serial Number

Use this area to record the serial number (8-digit number located on the bottom 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:

The GARMIN GPSMAP 168 Sounder has no user-serviceable parts. Should you ever encounter a problem with your unit, please contact your GARMIN dealer or GARMIN Customer Service department (913-397-8200) for repairs. The GPSMAP 168 Sounder is fastened shut with screws. Any attempt to open the case to change or modify the unit in any way will void your warranty and may result in permanent damage to the equipment.

for one year from the date of purchase. GARMIN will, at its sole option, repair or replace any components that fail in normal use. Such repairs or replacement will be made at no charge to the customer for parts or labor. 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.

OF ALL OTHER WARRANTIES EXPRESS OR IMPLIED OR STATUTORY, INCLUDING ANY LIABILITY ARISING UNDER ANY WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, STATUTORY OR OTHERWISE. THIS WARRANTY GIVES YOU SPECIFIC LEGAL RIGHTS, WHICH MAY VARY FROM STATE TO STATE.

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

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 BREACH OF WARRANTY.

GARMIN Corporation warrants this product to be free from defects in materials and manufacture

THE WARRANTIES AND REMEDIES CONTAINED HEREIN ARE EXCLUSIVE AND IN LIEU

IN NO EVENT SHALL GARMIN BE LIABLE FOR ANY INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, INDIRECT OR

To obtain warranty service, contact your GARMIN dealer or call the GARMIN Customer Service

Designed for detailed electronic charting capability, the GARMIN GPSMAP 168 Sounder is a powerful navigation device that can give you the navigation information you need:

Precision Performance

• High-contrast, four-level gray, LCD screen with backlighting

• 12-channel parallel receiver tracks and uses up to 12 satellites for fast, accurate positioning

• Differential-Ready — just add an optional GARMIN beacon receiver for better than 5-meter accuracy

• Fully gasketed, high-impact plastic alloy case, waterproof to IEC 529-IPX-7

Advanced Navigating and Plotting

• 500 alphanumeric waypoints with selectable icons

• Built-in Americas basemap to 20 miles includes detailed ocean, river and lake coastlines, cities, interstates, US state highways and local thoroughfares

• 20 reversible routes with up to 30 waypoints each

• Uploadable maps up to 2.5 Megabytes of data using GARMIN’s MapSource PC products

• Coordinates: Lat/Lon, UTM/UPS, Loran TD, plus 9 grids, including Maidenhead

• TracBack route feature which allows you to quickly retrace your track log to a starting position

• Built-in simulator mode

Superior Fishﬁ nding Ability

• Whiteline feature provides a clear image of both bottom hardness and structure

• See-Thru technology which helps separate ﬁ sh returns from thermoclines and structure

• Four zoom levels with a moving view window

• Underwater waypoint marking

• Map/Sonar split screen combines navigation and ﬁ shﬁ nding information

• Fish and depth alarms

Introduction

Capabilities

Introduction

Packing List

GPSMAP 168 Sounder

Standard and Optional Transducers

Unit part numbers 010-00199-00 and 010-00202-00 include a 200 kHz, 20 degree, plastic, depth and temp, transom mount transducer (P/N 010-10118-00). For a complete list of optional transducers, see page 93.

Before installing and getting started with your unit, please check to see that your package includes

the following items. If any parts are missing, please contact your GARMIN dealer immediately.

Standard Package:

• GPSMAP 168 Sounder Unit

• GA 29 External Antenna and 30’ cable* (P/N 010-00174-00)

• Internal Antenna, Bail Mount** (P/N 010-10265-00)

• Power/Data Cable (P/N 010-10083-03)

• Owner’s Manual (P/N 190-00170-00)

• Quick Reference Card (P/N 0190-00170-01)

• Protective Cover (P/N 147-00008-00)

* Not included with part numbers 010-00202-00 or 010-00202-02 with internal antenna. ** Not included with part numbers 010-00199-00 or 010-00199-02 with external antenna.

Optional Accessories:

• US A/C PC Adapter (P/N 010-10276-00)

• EURO A/C PC Adapter (P/N 010-10276-01)

• UK A/C PC Adapter (P/N 010-10276-02)

• Cigarette Lighter Adapter (P/N 010-10208-00)

• MapSource CDs: US Waterways & Lights, US Topo, US Roads & Recreation, European Roads & Recreation, and WorldMap

• Beacon Receiver for differential corrections: GBR21 (E-Field Antenna, P/N 010-00068-00), GBR23 (H-Field Antenna, P/N 010-00151-00)

• 2nd Mounting Station (P/N 010-10196-01)

• Quick Release Flush Mounting Kit (P/N 010-10246-00)

• Marine Swivel Mount, 1” RAM® Mount (P/N 010-10256-00)

Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . i-viii

Foreword . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . i

Preface and Registration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .ii

Warnings and Precautions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . iii

Warranty and Serial Number . . . . . . . . . . . . . iv

Capabilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . v

Packing List . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . vi

“How To” Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . viii

Section One: Getting Started . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-19

Keypad Usage, Selecting Options, Entering

Data, Initializing the Receiver, Power On/Off, Contrast, Backlighting, Simulator, Description of Main Pages, Simulated Tour

Section Two: Reference . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20-79

Status Page and Options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20

Map Page and Options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24

Map Page Conﬁ guration . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29

Sonar Page and Options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .34

Sonar Page Conﬁ guration . . . . . . . . . . . . .38

Compass Page and Options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41

Highway Page and Options . . . . . . . . . . . . . .42

Waypoints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .44

Creating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .44

Reviewing and Editing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .46

Waypoint List . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .48

Nearest and Proximity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .50

Going to a Destination . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .52

TracBack . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .54

MOB . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56

Routes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57

Creating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .57

Reviewing and Editing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .60

Active Route Page . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .64

Main Menu Page . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .65

Track Tab . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .66

Trip, Time and Pages Tabs . . . . . . . . . . . .68

System Tab . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .69

Units Tab . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70

Communication Tab . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72

Alarm Tab . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .75

Celestial Tab . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .77

Tides Tab . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .78

Appendix A: Loran TD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .80

Appendix B: Time Offsets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .82

Appendix C: Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .83

Appendix D: Map Datums . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .85

Appendix E: Navigation Terms . . . . . . . . . . . . . .87

Appendix F: Speciﬁ cations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .89

Appendix G: Installation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .90

Appendix H: Understanding Sonar . . . . . . . . .100

Appendix I: Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .105

Introduction

Table of Contents

vii

Introduction

“How To” Index

The list to the right is provided to help you quickly ﬁ nd some of the more important procedures you will use on your new GPSMAP 168 Sounder.

viii

TO DO THIS: SEE PAGE(S):

Turn the unit on or off . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4, 6, 19

Initialize the GPS receiver (ﬁ rst time use) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-5

Adjust screen contrast or backlighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-7

Enter data and select options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-3

Learn how the operate the unit’s function keys . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

Mark your present location as a waypoint . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10, 44

Go to a destination . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11, 52-56

Create and use a route . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57-64

Learn about the Map page . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-9, 24-26

Pan using the map arrow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9, 25

Zoom in or out on the Map page . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9, 26

Reconﬁ gure the Map page display . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27-33

Access the Main Menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18, 65

Change units of measure (statute, nautical, metric) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70-71

Change the displayed time (zone) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68

Setup Loran TD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80-81

View tide information. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78-79

View celestial information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77

Set alarms. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75-76

See current position, date and time . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8, 20

View a unit message . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83

QUIT

The IN Key

The IN key adjusts the map scale to display a smaller area with more detail. (Zooms in)

The OUT Key

The OUT key adjusts the map scale to display a larger area with less detail. (Zooms out)

The PAGE Key

The PAGE key selects the main pages in sequence and returns display from a submenu page.

The ARROW KEYPAD

The ARROW KEYPAD is used to select (Highlight) menu options and enter data. It also controls cursor

OUT

ZOOM

movement on the Map Page.

The ENTER/MARK Key

The ENTER/MARK key selects a highlighted menu option. When entering data, it allows you to initiate entry, and then to accept the selected value(s). It also marks the current location as a waypoint when pressed and held for more than one second.

The QUIT Key

The QUIT key returns the display to the previous page and, when entering data, it restores the previous

ENTER

MARK

value (cancels data entry).

The MENU Key

The MENU key displays a menu of available options for the current page. Press twice to display the Main Menu.

The NAV/MOB Key

The NAV/MOB key displays the Go To and Follow navigation menu. It also activates the MOB (Man OverBoard) function when pressed and held for more than one second.

The POWER/BACKLIGHT/CONTRAST Key

The POWER/BACKLIGHT/CONTRAST key turns on/off the unit and display illumination.

Always press and release a key to perform its primary function. Pressing and holding the ENTER/MARK or NAV/MOB keys will activate their secondary function.

Getting Started

Keypad Usage

PAGE

Arrow Keypad

NAV

MOB

Power Key

Getting Started

Selecting Options

Options Menu with highlighted option.

Use the ARROW KEYPAD to highlight the next option. Press ENTER/MARK to activate.

How To Select Options and Enter Data

Before moving ahead into GPSMAP 168 Sounder features you will need to learn basic operation. You can select and activate options and enter data to customize the GPSMAP 168 Sounder to ﬁ t your requirements. You can use the ENTER/MARK key and ARROW KEYPAD to select options, enter names and numbers in data ﬁ elds, and activate your selections.

To select and activate an optional feature:

1. With any page displayed, press the MENU key to pop-up the options menu. The options menu will display a list of optional features which are speciﬁ c for that particular page. To select any feature on the list of options requires movement of the cursor, which is identiﬁ ed as highlighting, selecting or choosing an item in a list or a ﬁ eld (box) on a page.

2. Use the ARROW KEYPAD to move the cursor (highlight) up and down a list or up, down, and sideways on menus.

3. Once you have moved to the selection desired, press the ENTER/MARK key to either activate the feature or the MENU key to pop-up a sub-menu or list of yet more feature options. Just repeat this process to select an option from the list or press the QUIT key to return to the previous setting.

The QUIT key will move backwards through these steps or when pressed, back to the main page

you started on.

To select and activate a function button:

1. When moving about a page with function buttons, like the New Waypoint Page, you will observe functions such as ’OK’, ‘Go To’ and ‘Delete’. To activate the function, highlight the desired button and press the ENTER/MARK key.

Pop-up list of options for a highlighted ﬁ eld.

Naming a waypoint or placing any sort of data that has not been predeﬁ ned requires the use of

both the ARROW KEYPAD and the ENTER/MARK key.

To enter a name or number in a data ﬁ eld:

1. Once you have accessed a page with programmable data ﬁ elds (i.e. ‘ Waypoint Edit’) you can use the ARROW KEYPAD to move the cursor (highlight) to ﬁ elds on the page. Use the UP/DOWN arrows to move up or down and the LEFT/RIGHT arrows to move sideways.

2. Pressing the ENTER/MARK key with the ﬁ eld highlighted begins the process for entering data in the form of alphanumeric characters.

3. Use the ARROW KEYPAD UP/DOWN arrows to cycle through numbers 0 to 9, plus/minus symbols, blank space, and the alphabet. Pressing and releasing the keypad moves you character by character through the list. Pressing and holding the keypad moves you rapidly through the list.

4. Use the ARROW KEYPAD LEFT/RIGHT arrows to move to the next character on the line or backwards to edit characters. If there are more than two lines of data, keep pressing to the RIGHT to drop down to the next line.

5. When data entry is complete, press ENTER/MARK to accept data, then move to the next programmable ﬁ eld. Not all data ﬁ elds are programmable, like the date and time. When moving about a page with these type of ﬁ elds, the cursor will skip over them.

Every ﬁ eld and button on this page can be programmed or activated.

• A waypoint symbol can be selected from a list of symbols.

• The coordinates can be changed.

• The waypoint can be renamed.

• A depth can be entered.

• Option buttons can be activated.

Getting Started

Entering Data

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

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

Data Entry Field

Non-programable data ﬁ elds

Getting Started

Initializing the Receiver

GPSMAP 168 Sounder Self-Test Screen

GPSMAP 168 Sounder Warning Screen

The GPSMAP 168 Sounder’s advanced keypad system is designed to allow for fast, convenient selection of navigation options and data entry. The Getting Started Tour will introduce you to the keypad and provide a “hands-on” lesson in using the GPSMAP 168 Sounder. We strongly encourage you to take the Getting Started tour before using your unit for actual navigation.

The GPSMAP 168 Sounder Quick Reference Guide contains helpful tips on using the unit and performing various navigation tasks. It’s a good idea to keep the Quick Reference Guide nearby whenever you’re operating your new GPSMAP 168 Sounder.

Initializing the Receiver

The ﬁ rst time you power up your new GPSMAP 168 Sounder, the receiver must be given an opportunity to collect satellite data and establish its present position. To ensure proper initialization, the GPSMAP 168 Sounder is shipped from the factory in AutoLocate mode, which will allow the receiver to “ﬁ nd itself” anywhere in the world. To speed up the initialization process, we recommend using the graphic initialization process described on the next page, which will usually provide a position ﬁ x within a few minutes.

Before you initialize, make sure the GPSMAP 168 Sounder unit and antenna have been correctly installed on your vessel according to the instructions in Appendix G. The antenna needs to be in a clear and unobstructed view of the sky to receive satellite signals.

To turn the GPSMAP 168 Sounder on:

1. Press and hold the POWER key until the power tone sounds and the display comes on, then release the POWER key.

The Welcome Page will appear while the unit conducts a self-test. Once the internal test is complete, a warning page will appear, asking you to read and acknowledge important information regarding the proper use of the unit.

To acknowledge the warning:

1. After reading the warning, press the ENTER/MARK key if you agree.

To graphically initialize the GPSMAP 168 Sounder:

1. From the Satellite Page, press the MENU key. The Satellite Page options menu window will appear.

2. Using the ARROW KEYPAD, highlight ‘Initialize Position’ and press ENTER/MARK to initialize the receiver from the built-in worldwide map. The Initialize Position Page will appear, prompting you to select your approximate location with the map cursor.

3. Use the ARROW KEYPAD to move the map cursor and point to your approximate location within 100 miles. If you have difﬁ culty identifying your position, press and release the IN key to zoom in to see the next lower map scale.

4. Once you have determined your approximate location on the map, press the ENTER/MARK key.

This does not “calibrate” the unit in any way, but rather helps to speed up the initial

satellite acquisition. If the unit switches to the Map Page or displays ‘2D’ or ‘3D Navigation’ during this process, it is not necessary to initialize the unit.

The GPSMAP 168 Sounder will now begin searching for the appropriate satellites for your region and should acquire a ﬁ x within a few minutes. A signal strength bar for each satellite in view will appear on the top middle of the page, with the appropriate satellite number under each bar. The progress of satellite acquisition is shown in three stages:

• No signal strength bars— the receiver is looking for the satellites indicated.

• Hollow signal strength bars— the receiver has found the indicated satellite(s) and is collecting data.

• Solid signal strength bars— the receiver has collected the necessary data and the satellite(s) are ready for use.

Once the receiver has collected information from at least three satellites, the top of the screen will

display either ‘2D’ or ‘3D Navigation’, and the GPSMAP 168 Sounder is ready for use.

Getting Started

Initializing the Receiver

Point to your approximate location and press ENTER/MARK.

A satellite’s strength bars will turn black when it’s ready for use.

Getting Started

Power On/Screen Contrast

To adjust the screen contrast, press LEFT or RIGHT on the ARROW KEYPAD to move the contrast slider.

GPSMAP 168 Sounder Getting Started Tour

The GARMIN GPSMAP 168 Sounder is a powerful electronic navigation and depth sounding system that provides detailed map coverage and convenient control of many advanced features right from the screen display. This tour is designed to take you through the basic pages and functions of the system using the simulator mode. Once you’re familiar with the main pages and functions of the unit, refer to the reference section for instructions on performing speciﬁ c tasks and functions.

The Getting Started tour assumes that the receiver has been properly installed and initialized, and you have not changed any of the default unit settings. If you have changed any settings (position formats, units of measure, etc.), the descriptions and pictures in the tour may not match your conﬁ guration.

To turn the GPSMAP 168 Sounder on:

1. Press and hold the POWER key until the power tone sounds, then release the POWER key. The Welcome Page will appear while the unit conducts a self-test.

2. Once the self-test is complete, press the ENTER/MARK key, if you agree, to acknowledge the warning.

The Status Page will appear as the receiver begins acquiring satellites. From the Status Page or any

other page, you may also adjust the screen contrast and backlighting.

To adjust the screen contrast:

1. Press POWER to activate the Light and Contrast window.

2. To decrease or increase the screen contrast, press LEFT or RIGHT on the ARROW KEYPAD.

3. Press the ENTER/MARK key to ﬁ nish.

The GPSMAP 168 Sounder’s adjustable screen backlighting is controlled with the POWER key, and may be adjusted at any time from any page. The backlight can cycle through off, user-deﬁ ned, and maximum backlight levels by repeatedly pressing the POWER key.

To turn on and adjust the backlighting:

1. Press POWER to activate the Light and Contrast window.

2. Press POWER again and the user-deﬁ ned level of backlighting will activate. You may adjust this level by pressing UP or DOWN on the ARROW KEYPAD. If you press POWER one more time, the backlighting will be at the maximum setting.

3. Press ENTER/MARK or QUIT when done.

Getting Started

The backlight will now cycle through off, the user-deﬁ ned, and maximum backlight levels by

repeatedly pressing the POWER key.

The GPSMAP 168 Sounder’s Status Page provides a visual reference of satellite acquisition, receiver status, date, time and position coordinates. Each page of the GPSMAP 168 Sounder’s system also features an options page, which gives you access to other functions and features that relate to the speciﬁ c page you are viewing. To get a feel for how the options pages work, let’s put the GPSMAP 168 Sounder into simulator mode.

To place the GPSMAP 168 Sounder in simulator mode:

1. From the Status Page, press the MENU key. The options page will appear, displaying a menu of options and functions for the Status Page.

2. Use the UP or DOWN arrow of the ARROW KEYPAD to highlight the ‘Start Simulator’ option and press ENTER/MARK.

3. Press the ENTER/MARK key to conﬁ rm the ‘Running Simulator’ message that appears at the bottom of the display.

Once the simulator has been started, the status ﬁ eld at the top of the page will display a ‘Simulating

Navigation’ status. Now you’re ready to continue the rest of the simulated tour. Keep in mind that

the GPSMAP 168 Sounder does not track satellites or show actual sounding data in simulator mode, and this mode should never be used for actual navigation or depth sounding. All the

waypoint and route planning done in simulator mode will still be retained in memory for future use.

When the unit is in simulator mode, an ‘S’ will appear in the lower left corner of every screen and the Satellite Page will show “Simulating Navigation.”

Backlighting/

Simulator Mode

Press UP or DOWN on the ARROW KEYPAD to move the backlighting slider up for brighter or down for dimmer backlighting.

Satellite Information

Getting Started

Status Page/

Map Page

The Status Page is one of six main pages used in the GPSMAP 168 Sounder’s system. The six main pages are the Status Page, Map Page, Sonar Page, Compass Page, Highway Page and Active Route Page. All six pages are linked together in a simple chain, which allows you to scroll through the pages in either direction using the PAGE and QUIT keys.

Current Position

Status Page

Map Page

Date & Time

Coordinates

Data Window

Status Page

Map Page

PAGE

Sonar Page

Compass Page

Active Route PageHighway Page

QUIT

To continue the tour, let’s move on to the next page, the Map Page.

To scroll to the next page in sequence:

1. Press the PAGE key.

The GPSMAP 168 Sounder’s Map Page combines digital chartplotting with a user-selectable display of navigation data and a built-in worldwide database to 20 mi. It will also be the page you use most to create and edit waypoints and routes. Before we take off on our practice route, let’s take a brief look at its various features and displays.

The map display shows your “boat” as a triangle marker on an electronically generated chart. Geographic names, roads, markers and buoys that are provided by the optional MapSource data are also shown. It also displays your track, routes and nearby waypoints. An on-screen cursor lets you pan to other map areas, determine the range and bearing to a position, and perform various waypoint and route functions.

The data window, located at the top of the page, provides a user-selectable display of various navigation data, including course, speed over ground, and bearing and distance to the cursor or a particular waypoint. The current map scale setting is located at the bottom right of the page.

Using the Map Cursor

Working from the Map Page is a simple process that centers around the use of the cursor.

Controlled by the ARROW KEYPAD, the cursor is an important tool that can be used to pan to other map locations, mark and edit waypoints and routes, and review position data of on-screen map items and waypoints.

To get a feel for using the Map Page and using the cursor, try the following exercise:

1. Use the IN/OUT keys to set the map scale to the 50 nm setting. Your boat should be near the center of the map, at the receiver’s last known position. (If your boat isn’t where it should be, make sure that you have initialized the receiver and acquired a position as described on pages 1-2.)

2. Use the ARROW KEYPAD to move the cursor. Notice how another data ﬁ eld appears at the top of the page, showing the bearing and distance from your boat to the cursor, along with the latitude/longitude of the cursor.

3. Press the QUIT key to remove the cursor and re-center your boat on the map display.

As you become more familiar with the cursor, you’ll see that the map display actively scrolls or ‘pans’, letting you explore areas around the world and create waypoints and routes. Wherever you move the cursor, you’ll always be just one QUIT keystroke away from returning the map to your present position.

Now that you’ve seen how the Status and Map Pages can be used to monitor satellite acquisition and your present location, let’s take a minute to learn how to mark and store your present position as a waypoint. (Since you’re in simulator mode, the present position displayed will be the last position calculated by the receiver, which should be the spot where you’ve initialized the unit.) This will also give you an opportunity to see how the GPSMAP 168 Sounder’s keypad and ENTER/MARK key are used for data entry and changing the waypoint name and symbol.

Distance

Bearing

Getting Started

Map Cursor

Current position

Map Cursor

Map Scale

Cursor Coordinates

Getting Started

Marking Waypoints

Press ENTER/MARK after entering the name.

You can choose from a list of 38 useful symbols.

To mark your present position:

1. Hold down the ENTER/MARK key until the New Waypoint Page appears then release the key. The window will show a default three-digit waypoint name/number (001), symbol (dot), and position. You can leave the name as the auto-assigned number, but for this exercise, lets change the name to ‘DOCK’.

2. Use the ARROW KEYPAD to highlight the waypoint name ﬁ eld (001) and press ENTER/MARK. You will see that just the ﬁ rst ‘0’ is now highlighted.

3. Press LEFT on the ARROW KEYPAD to clear the name ﬁ eld.

4. Press the UP or DOWN arrow of the ARROW KEYPAD until the letter ‘D’ appears, and then press the RIGHT arrow key to go to the next space to the right, then UP or DOWN again until ‘O’ appears. Repeat this until you have entered the name ‘DOCK’. If you make a mistake and select an incorrect character, simply use the LEFT arrow key of the ARROW KEYPAD to backspace the cursor and then UP or DOWN to correct the entry. (If you accidentally press ENTER/MARK before you are done, simply press ENTER/MARK again and move the highlight to where you left off.)

5. After you have entered all the letters, press ENTER/MARK to conﬁ rm the name.

6. To access the waypoint symbol menu, highlight the waypoint symbol ﬁ eld which is to the left of the waypoint’s name and press ENTER/MARK. Note: The default symbol is a dot.

7. You will see an alphabetical list of available waypoint symbols to choose from. Press the ARROW KEYPAD UP or DOWN until you highlight the ‘Anchor’ symbol. You will see a scroll bar on the right of the window indicating your current position on the entire list of symbols.

8. Press ENTER/MARK to conﬁ rm the ‘Anchor’ symbol.

9. Highlight ‘OK’ at the bottom of the window and press ENTER/MARK again to conﬁ rm the ‘OK’ prompt and save the waypoint. You may also press QUIT to not save the waypoint.

The waypoint is now stored in memory. Note that waypoints may also be created graphically from the map display or by manually entering position coordinates. Each of these techniques is described in the reference section of the manual and/or on your GPSMAP 168 Sounder Quick Reference Guide.

Going to a Destination

GPS is all about marking positions as waypoints and navigating to them using the receiver’s steering guidance and map displays. We’ve already seen how to use the ENTER/MARK key to store our present position, so it’s time to move on to the fun part—going to a destination.

The NAV/MOB key is the primary tool used to select a destination waypoint, TracBack, or a route to navigate. The NAV/MOB key can be used in three primary ways:

• Pressing NAV/MOB once displays a list of options from which you can select ‘Go To Waypoint’,

‘Follow Route’, ‘Follow Track’, or ‘Stop Navigation’.

• Holding down or pressing twice on the NAV/MOB key activates the MOB (Man OverBoard) feature. This marks the point at which the MOB was activated as a waypoint named “MOB” and also establishes it as an active “Go To” point.

• Highlighting an on-screen waypoint or map item as a destination directly from the Map Page and pressing NAV/MOB allows you to graphically select points to “Go To”.

For our simulated trip, you’re going to select a pre-programmed tour route using the ﬁ rst method. This will also show how the MENU key is used throughout the GPSMAP 168 Sounder system to provide tab style options and functions. Let’s start by changing the position to where the practice route is located.

To change the GPSMAP 168 Sounder position in simulator mode:

1. From the Status Page, press the MENU key. A pop-up window will appear, displaying a list of options and functions for the Status Page.

2. Press UP or DOWN on the ARROW KEYPAD to highlight the ‘Initialize Position’ option and press ENTER/MARK.

3. From the Initialize Position Page, press the MENU key. You will see ‘Enter As Text’ highlighted, then press ENTER/MARK.

4. On the Enter Position window, press ENTER/MARK then use the ARROW KEYPAD to enter N34°56.800’, W076°24.066’ and press ENTER/MARK when done.

Getting Started

Using the NAV/MOB Key

Text entry for simulator position.

For future practice, you may skip steps 3 and 4 and point to a location from the Initialize Position page.

Getting Started

Simulated Tour

You can also Invert a route to follow it in reverse.

The ‘Set Position’, ‘Track Control’, ‘Track’ and ‘Speed’ ﬁ elds only show while in simulator mode.

Let’s give it a try by activating the practice route stored in memory for navigation:

1. Press NAV/MOB. The options list will appear. (If we were selecting a single waypoint to navigate to rather than a route, we could highlight the waypoint on the map, press NAV/MOB and then press ENTER/MARK.)

2. Use the ARROW KEYPAD to highlight the ‘Follow Route’ option. Press ENTER/MARK to conﬁ rm.

3. The Select Route page will appear, with the ‘GPSMAP TOUR’ route highlighted.

4. Press ENTER/MARK then highlight ‘Activate’ and press ENTER/MARK again.

To get a better view of what’s going on, zoom in to a closer map scale:

1. Repeatedly press the IN key until you select the 3 nm scale.

Note: You may also hold the IN or OUT keys down to quickly scroll through the map scales. The Map Page should now display ﬁ ve waypoints chained together in a simple route, with your boat at the ﬁ rst route waypoint.

A data ﬁ eld at the top of the page will now display the speed, distance to the second route waypoint, and a pointer which shows you which way to go. To get started, let’s enter a speed for our vessel, which we can do from the Main Menu Page.

To enter a boat speed:

1. Press the MENU key twice to display the Main Menu Page.

2. Use the ARROW KEYPAD to highlight the ‘Systm’ tab, then press RIGHT then DOWN until the ﬁ eld below the word ‘Speed’ is highlighted and press ENTER/MARK.

3. Use the ARROW KEYPAD to enter a speed of 60 knots.

4. Press ENTER/MARK to ﬁ nish, and QUIT until you return to the Map Page.

Once a speed has been entered, you’ll notice that the map will automatically begin to move slowly, keeping your boat centered on the display. The direction of movement, also called ‘track’, will be controlled by the simulator.

You’ll now have a clearer picture of the route you are navigating. Keep in mind that whenever you do exceed the usable range of the built-in database or the optional MapSource data in use, the range ﬁ eld will display ‘overzoom’ or ‘NO MAP’ to indicate that you should exercise extreme caution using the map data. Press the IN key to zoom into the 2 nm scale. Now that you’ve zoomed in a little closer to your route, you can pan ahead of your vessel with the cursor to review map items and create on-screen waypoints. Try moving the cursor to highlight the ‘TOUR3’ waypoint— just use the ARROW KEYPAD to move the cursor as close as possible to the waypoint. (To move the cursor in small increments, try a series of short key presses.)

Once the cursor is over the TOUR3 waypoint, you’ll notice that the waypoint symbol and name will become highlighted. The data ﬁ eld at the top of the page will display the waypoint name, the range and bearing from your present position, and the coordinates for the waypoint.

To review the waypoint page for a selected waypoint:

1. Press the ENTER/MARK key.

2. To return to the Map Page, press ENTER/MARK again or press QUIT.

The cursor can also be used to create new waypoints right from the map display.

To create a new waypoint using the cursor:

1. Use the ARROW KEYPAD to move the cursor as close as possible to the following position: N35º 02.151’; W 076º 26.084’ (Use the data window to verify the cursor position.)

2. Press the ENTER/MARK key to capture the cursor position.

3. Use the ARROW KEYPAD to highlight the waypoint symbol ﬁ eld to the left of the waypoint name/number.

4. Press ENTER/MARK to access the symbol list.

5. Press UP or DOWN on the ARROW KEYPAD to select the ‘Shipwreck’ symbol and press ENTER/ MARK to conﬁ rm.

6. Highlight ‘OK’ at the bottom and ENTER/MARK again to ﬁ nish.

Getting Started

Reviewing/Creating

Map Waypoints

The waypoint will ‘highlight’ when the cursor is moved over it.

Waypoint numbering will start with 001 and continually count up, even if the waypoint name has been deleted.

Adjustment Bar

Fish Arch

Bottom

Whiteline

Thermocline

Current Setting

Getting Started

Sonar Page

Depth Range Adjustment

Data Fields

Depth Line

Depth Scale

Flasher

The Sonar Page lets you use the GPSMAP 168 Sounder as a ﬁ shﬁ nder. The top of the screen contains any of 27 selectable data ﬁ eld options, while the middle of the page contains a right-to-left moving sonar image of the water beneath your boat. (Note: Items appear on the screen as they pass under your transducer. Those objects appearing on the right side of the screen are closer to you than those on the left.) Fish are displayed as a darkened arch or a ﬁ sh icon in three different sizes. Thermoclines (layers of water separating warmer water above from cooler water below) are shown as shades of gray.

The area of strongest sonar return (or whiteline) is displayed as solid gray. Typically, the bottom will be the primary source of the whiteline. A thin whiteline indicates a softer bottom while a thick whiteline shows a harder bottom. A black line is used to show the point where water meets the whiteline. This black line will follow the bottom contour, along with any signiﬁ cant objects lying on the bottom. Along the right side of the screen is an adjustable scale which reﬂ ects the depth of the area being displayed. If the unit does not detect a transducer attached to the unit, a “Sonar Turned Off” message will appear across the top of the Sonar Page. More on the Sonar Page may be found on pages 34-40.

The GPSMAP 168 Sounder uses two range modes: auto and manual. Auto mode displays the most information possible while continuously showing the bottom. Manual mode lets you select the displayed depth. These and other Sonar Page functions are controlled from the adjustment bar.

To switch from auto to manual mode:

1. With the ‘Range’ ﬁ eld highlighted, press the ARROW KEYPAD UP or DOWN until the desired depth range is displayed on the adjustment bar or shows on the depth scale in the lower right side of the page.

2. Press ENTER/MARK or press LEFT or RIGHT on the ARROW KEYPAD to conﬁ rm the selected range.

To switch from manual to auto mode:

1. With the ‘Range’ ﬁ eld highlighted, press the ARROW KEYPAD UP or DOWN until the selection arrow points to ‘Auto’ or ‘Auto’ is displayed on the adjustment bar.

2. Press ENTER/MARK or press LEFT or RIGHT on the ARROW KEYPAD.

Another useful feature of the GPSMAP 168 Sounder is the sonar zoom, which allows you to instantly “zoom in” to look at a speciﬁ c portion of the sounder display by using the either the IN or OUT key. The Zoom function is divided into four display levels:

• 2X Split––Shows two reduced-size sonar pictures at the same time. The right half of the display screen shows the complete sonar picture at its original scale. The left half shows a portion of the original picture at 1/2 depth scale.

• 2X Zoom––Displays the 2X zoomed picture on the full GPSMAP 168 Sounder screen and does not show the original scale picture.

• 4X Split––Shows two reduced pictures, with one at the original depth scale and one at 1/4 the original depth scale.

• 4X Zoom––Displays only the 4X zoomed picture on the full GPSMAP 168 Sounder screen.

Once activated, the zoomed picture becomes the Sonar Page display. Note: The Zoom function

can be deactivated by pressing the OUT key until the ‘No Zoom’ setting appears.

Once in Zoom mode, you can control the view of the left side of the split. When the unit is set to one of the Zoom settings, and additional optional named ‘View’ will appear on the adjustment bar. The View function operates in either ‘Auto View’ or ‘Fixed View’. Auto View will follow the bottom contour while Fixed View will display the selected depth.

To access the Sonar Zoom function:

1. While viewing the Sonar Page, press IN once. The 2X split screen will appear.

2. Continue to press IN to advance to further zoom screen levels.

3. To deactivate the Zoom function, press OUT until the original scale (No Zoom) appears.

4. Press ENTER/MARK or press LEFT or RIGHT on the ARROW KEYPAD.

For more on the Zoom, View and other Sonar Page functions, see pages 34-40.

To learn more about how sonar works, see Appendix H.

2X Zoom View

Getting Started

Sonar Page

Normal View

Sonar 2X Split Screen (shown with Depth Line and Flasher)

Bar represents area shown on 2X View

Sonar Zoom Adjustment

Getting Started

Compass/Highway

Navigation Pages

Data Fields

Compass Ring

Pointer Arrow

Current Destination

Now that we’re navigating to an actual destination, let’s move on to the GPSMAP 168 Sounder

navigation pages by pressing the PAGE key.

The GPSMAP 168 Sounder features two different navigation pages: Compass and Highway. The Compass Page is ﬁ rst. 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 next waypoint as well as the time to the next waypoint are displayed at the top of the screen. This page provides better steering guidance than the Highway Page when travelling at slower speeds and/or when making frequent directional changes. When you are not navigating to a waypoint, the compass will show your direction of travel as you move but the arrow will not appear. Note: Due to Selective Availability error, it is possible for the compass to point in the wrong direction when stationary or at very low speeds.

Let’s move on to the Highway Page by pressing the PAG E key.

The GPSMAP 168 Sounder’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 steer toward the center of the highway or “keep it on the road.” The six default data ﬁ elds at the top of the page indicate Speed, Distance To your destination (or the next waypoint in a route), ‘To Course’ (which shows the bearing to get you back on course), the distance you are ‘Off Course’, Time To the Next waypoint, and the compass Track you are heading. Use the Highway Page as your primary navigation page (in lieu of the Compass Page) when your main concern is following a deﬁ ned course.

When the GPSMAP 168 Sounder is in simulator mode, you can also adjust your speed and course from the Highway Page using the ARROW KEYPAD. As you head toward each waypoint in the tour route, try adjusting your boat speed and course to get a feel for how the highway works.

To adjust the simulated boat speed from the Highway Page:

1. Press the UP arrow of the ARROW KEYPAD to increase the speed in 10 knot/kph/mph increments. Press the DOWN arrow to decrease the speed in the same increments.

To steer the boat:

1. Press the LEFT and RIGHT arrows of the ARROW KEYPAD.

Notice that as you get off course, the highway will move to give you graphic guidance to get back on course. You can zoom in or out on the highway display for a smaller or larger view. Five available settings range from 1X to 16X, with a default setting of 8X. The current scale will appear in the bottom right of the display.

To zoom in or out on the highway display:

1. Press either the IN or OUT key to increase or decrease the zoom scale.

Getting Started

Highway Page

Data Fields

Desired Course

Zoom Scale

Present Position

Current Waypoint

Getting Started

Data Fields/Active Route Page/

Main Menu Page

You may choose from 27 different types of data.

Submenu Tabs

Menu Tabs

The main pages’ (except the Status and Active Route Pages) data ﬁ elds may also be conﬁ gured to display any of 27 different information categories (see page 32 for the complete list). On the Highway Page, let’s change the ‘TO COURSE’ ﬁ eld to ‘TURN’.

To change a data ﬁ eld:

1. Press the MENU key to display the Highway Page options.

2. Press DOWN on the ARROW KEYPAD, highlight ‘Change Data Fields’ and press ENTER/MARK.

3. Once the menu window disappears, use the ARROW KEYPAD and highlight ‘TO COURSE’, then press ENTER/MARK.

4. On the alphabetical list of options, press the ARROW KEYPAD UP or DOWN until you highlight ‘TURN’ and press ENTER/MARK. You will see a scroll bar on the right side of the window indicating your current position on the entire list of options.

5. Press QUIT when done.

Press PAGE to see the last page appearing in the main sequence, which is the Active Route Page. Whenever you have activated a route or TracBack, this page will show each waypoint name along with useful data for each point. As you navigate the route, the information will automatically update to indicate the next point along the route, which is denoted by an arrow on the left-hand side of the screen. For more detailed information on the Active Route Page, see page 64.

As you’ve seen, the primary pages provide status, map, and navigation information. The tour’s last page is the Main Menu Page, which allows access to the GPSMAP 168 Sounder’s waypoint, route and planning functions, various operational and navigation setup features, and celestial and tide data.

The Main Menu is available from any page, and is accessed through the MENU key.

To access the Main Menu Page:

1. Press the MENU key twice.

The Main Menu Page lists 14 menu ‘tabs’ that are divided into categories by function. You can view a particular menu by simply highlighting the desired tab, which will then show any secondary submenu tabs and options for that tab.

To get a feel for how the Main Menu Page works, let’s clear out the track log you created during the simulated tour. This will ensure that you have a clean slate once you start navigating in your home waters.

To select the Track submenu tab:

1. Use the ARROW KEYPAD to highlight the ‘Track’ menu tab. You will see the options for the Track tab appear to the right of the Main Menu list.

2. Press to the right one time on the ARROW KEYPAD and you will see ‘Active’ highlighted.

The Track Log Page allows you to specify whether to record a track plot, deﬁ ne how it is recorded and save your current track log. It also provides both an indicator of the percentage of total memory used and the individual options to save or clear the active track log.

To clear the active track log:

1. Highlight the ‘Clear’ option and press ENTER/MARK. A conﬁ rmation page will appear.

2. Highlight the ‘OK’ prompt and press ENTER/MARK to conﬁ rm.

3. Press PAGE or QUIT to return to any of the main pages.

Congratulations! You’ve now gone through the basic operation of the GARMIN GPSMAP 168 Sounder. Your new digital chartplotter is a powerful tool with many advanced features not covered in the Getting Started tour. For detailed instructions on using these features or performing a speciﬁ c task, please refer to the Quick Reference Guide or the appropriate reference section of this manual.

To turn the GPSMAP 168 Sounder off:

1. Press and hold the POWER key for about 2 seconds, until the screen is blank.

2. When the screen is blank, release the POWER key.

The next section of the manual describes the pages and functions of the GPSMAP 168 Sounder in detail. If you are unable to locate a speciﬁ c option or function, please refer to the index on pages 105-107. Thank you for choosing the GARMIN GPSMAP 168 Sounder navigation unit. We hope it will be a useful and fun tool for you wherever you go!

Getting Started

Deleting Track Logs/

Powering Off Unit

Submenu Tabs

Submenu Options

Receiver Status

Sky View

Date

Collecting data

Reference

Status Page

Position Coordinates

Ready for use

Searching for signal

Signal Strength Bars

Accuracy

DOP

DGPS Status

Time

Status Page

The GPSMAP 168 Sounder Status Page provides a visual reference of satellite acquisition, receiver status, date, time and position coordinates. The status information will give you an idea of what the receiver is doing at any given moment. The sky view and signal strength bars give you an indication of what satellites are visible to the receiver and whether or not they are being tracked. The signal strength is shown on a bar graph for each satellite, with the satellite number below. As the receiver locks onto satellites, a signal strength bar will appear for each satellite in view, with the appropriate satellite number (01-32) underneath each bar. The progress of satellite acquisition is shown in three stages:

• No signal strength bars— the receiver is looking for the satellites indicated.

• Light signal strength bars— the receiver has found the satellite(s) and is collecting data.

• Dark signal strength bars— the receiver has collected the necessary data and the satellite(s) are ready for use.

Each satellite has a data transmission that must be collected (light bar status) before that satellite may be used for navigation (dark bar status). When the receiver is looking for a particular satellite, the corresponding signal strength bar will be blank and the sky view indicator will not be highlighted. Once the receiver has found the satellite, a light signal strength bar will appear, indicating that the satellite has been found. When the receiver has collected data from the satellite and locked on, the number in the sky view will appear highlighted and the status bar will become dark.

As soon as the GPSMAP 168 Sounder has collected the necessary data from the best satellites in view to calculate a ﬁ x, the status ﬁ eld will indicate a 2D or 3D status. The unit will then update the position, date and time.

You can use the sky view to help determine if any satellites are being blocked, and whether you have a current position ﬁ x (indicated by a ‘2D Navigation’ or ‘3D Navigation’ in the status ﬁ eld). The sky view shows a bird’s-eye view of the position of each satellite relative to the receiver’s last known position. The outer circle represents the horizon (north up), the inner circle 45º above the horizon, and the center point a position directly overhead. You can also set the sky view to a ‘Track Up’ conﬁ guration, causing the top of the sky view to align along your current track heading.

Receiver Status, Accuracy and DOP

Receiver status is indicated at the top ﬁ eld of the page, with the current Accuracy and Dilution Of Precision (DOP) to the right of the sky view. DOP is an indication of satellite geometry quality measured on a scale of one to ten (lowest numbers the best, highest numbers the poorest). Accuracy uses DOP and other factors to calculate horizontal position accuracy in feet or meters. The status ﬁ eld will show one of the following conditions:

• Looking For Satellites— the receiver is looking for any satellites.

• AutoLocate— the receiver is looking for any satellite whose almanac has been collected. This process can take up to ﬁ ve minutes.

• Acquiring Satellites— the receiver is looking for and collecting data from satellites visible at its last known or initialized position, but has not collected enough data to calculate a ﬁ x.

• 2D Navigation— at least three satellites with good geometry have been acquired and a 2 dimensional position ﬁ x (latitude and longitude) is being calculated. ‘2D Differential Navigation’ will appear when you are receiving DGPS corrections in 2D mode and a ‘D’ will show on the strength bar of satellites being corrected.

• 3D Navigation— at least four satellites with good geometry have been acquired and your position is now being calculated in latitude, longitude and altitude. ‘3D Differential Navigation’ will appear when you are receiving DGPS corrections in 3D mode and a ‘D’ will show on the strength bar of satellites being corrected.

• Poor GPS Coverage— the receiver is no longer tracking enough satellites for a 2D or 3D ﬁ x.

• Receiver Not Usable— the receiver is unusable, possibly due to interference or abnormal satellite conditions. Turn the unit off and back on to reset.

• Simulating Navigation— the receiver is in simulator mode.

Reference

Status Page

+ 88 hidden pages