Garmin GPSMAP 276C User Manual
GPSMAP® 276C
chartplotting receiver
owner’s manual
© Copyright 2004 Garmin Ltd. or its subsidiaries
Garmin International, Inc.
1200 East 151st Street, Olathe, Kansas 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 9DL, U.K.
Tel. 44/0870.8501241
Fax 44/0870.8501251
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 the express prior written consent of Garmin. Garmin hereby grants permission to download a single copy of this manual onto a hard drive
or other electronic storage medium to be viewed and to print one copy of this manual or of any revision hereto, provided that such electronic or printed copy of this manual
must contain the complete text of this copyright notice and provided further that any unauthorized commercial distribution of this manual or any revision hereto is strictly
prohibited.
Information in this document is subject to change without notice. Garmin reserves the right to change or improve its products and to make changes in the content without
obligation to notify any person or organization of such changes or improvements. Visit the Garmin Web site (
information concerning the use and operation of this and other Garmin products.
Garmin®, GPSMAP®, AutoLocate®, TracBack®, BlueChart®, City Select®, and MapSource® are registered trademarks of Garmin Ltd. or its subsidiaries and may not be
used without the express permission of Garmin.
December 2004 Part Number 190-00335-00 Rev. B Printed in Taiwan
www.garmin.com
) for current updates and supplemental
INTRODUCTION > PREFACE
INTRODUCTION
Preface
Thank you for choosing the Garmin® GPSMAP® 276C, which
utilizes the proven performance of Garmin GPS and full-featured
mapping to create an unsurpassed portable marine navigation
chartplotter and automobile navigation device. Take a moment to
compare the contents of this package with the packing list on the
outside of the box; if any pieces are missing, contact your Garmin
dealer immediately.
About This Manual
To get the most out of your new navigation system, take time to read
this manual and learn the operating procedures for your unit. This
manual is organized into the following eleven sections:
The Introduction contains the Table of Contents. The Getting
Started section provides an overview of the unit, how to turn the
unit on, and how to simulate navigation.
The Basic Operation in Marine Mode section provides you with
information about navigating with the GPSMAP 276C in Marine
Mode. The Marine Mode Pages and Features section reviews the
main pages and features in Marine Mode, such as using DSC and
Man OverBoard.
The Basic Operation in Automotive Mode section provides you
with information about navigating with the GPSMAP 276C in
Automotive Mode. The Automotive Mode Pages and Features
section reviews, in detail, the main pages and features in Automotive
Mode, such as the Trip Data page and creating waypoints.
The Additional Page and Features section describes pages and
features found in the Main Menu.
To learn how to change the settings of the GPSMAP 276C, read the
Customizing Your GPSMAP 276C
If you have a Garmin Sounder Module connected to you GPSMAP
276C, refer to the Setting Up and Using Sonar section.
The Appendix contains specifications, optional accessories,
maintenance information, and other product information. Read the
Safety Information for information about installing and using
your GPSMAP 276C safely and responsibly.
An Index is provided at the end of the manual for reference.
section.
GPSMAP 276C Owner’s Manual i
INTRODUCTION > TABLE OF CONTENTS
Table of Contents
Introduction ...........................................................................i
Preface ...................................................................................... i
About This Manual ..........................................................................i
Care Information .................................................................... vi
Cleaning the Unit ........................................................................... vi
Storing the GPSMAP 276C ........................................................... vi
Immersing the Unit in Water .........................................................vi
Getting Started .....................................................................1
Unit Overview .......................................................................... 1
Charging the GPSMAP 276C .................................................. 2
Information about Charge Mode ....................................................2
Turning On the GPSMAP 276C ............................................... 3
Adjusting the Backlight and Volume .............................................. 3
Getting Satellite Signals ......................................................... 4
Viewing GPS Status with the GPS page ......................................... 4
Receiver Status ............................................................................... 5
GPS Options ................................................................................... 6
GPS Tips ......................................................................................... 6
Learning about the Keypad .................................................... 7
Using the GPSMAP 276C ........................................................ 8
Understanding Features .................................................................. 8
Selecting Options and Entering Data .............................................. 9
Using the Databases ......................................................................10
Simulated Basic Navigation ................................................. 11
Activating Simulator Mode .......................................................... 11
ii GPSMAP 276C Owner’s Manual
Entering a New Location .............................................................. 11
Simulating Navigation .................................................................. 12
Basic Operation In Marine Mode ......................................14
Marine Mode Page Sequence ............................................... 14
Navigating in Marine Mode ................................................... 15
Initiating Navigation ..................................................................... 15
Man OverBoard (MOB) ...............................................................17
Finding an Item ...................................................................... 18
Using the Find From Feature ........................................................ 18
Recently Found Items ................................................................... 19
Viewing the Information Page ...................................................... 20
Find Menu Options ....................................................................... 20
Creating and Using Routes .................................................. 21
Creating a Route ........................................................................... 21
Navigating a Saved Route ............................................................22
Editing a Route ............................................................................. 23
Using the Route Tab Options ........................................................ 25
Manually Transitioning to the Next Waypoint ............................. 25
Creating and Using Waypoints ............................................ 26
Marking Your Present Position ..................................................... 26
Creating Waypoints Using the Map .............................................. 27
Creating a Waypoint by Entering Coordinates ............................. 28
Reviewing a Waypoint .................................................................. 29
Adding a Waypoint to a Route ......................................................30
Averaging the Waypoint’s Location .............................................30
Projecting a Waypoint ...................................................................31
Editing a Waypoint .......................................................................32
INTRODUCTION > TABLE OF CONTENTS
Organizing Waypoints into Categories ......................................... 33
Deleting Waypoints ...................................................................... 34
Proximity Points ........................................................................... 35
Managing Your Tracks .......................................................... 37
Setting up and Saving your Tracks ............................................... 37
Saved Tracks ................................................................................. 39
Navigating a Saved Track .............................................................40
TracBack Tips ............................................................................... 40
Following a Marine Route ..................................................... 41
See Your Route on the Map Page ................................................. 41
View Your Heading with the Compass Page ................................ 41
View Your Path on the Highway Page .......................................... 41
See Your Progress on the Active Route Page ..............................42
Watch Your Trip Data on the Position Data Page ......................... 42
Marine Mode Pages and Features ...................................43
Map Page ................................................................................ 43
Map Orientation ............................................................................ 43
Zooming In and Out of the Map ................................................... 44
Panning the Map ........................................................................... 45
Clearing Unwanted Details from the Map .................................... 46
Measuring Distance ...................................................................... 47
Compass Page ....................................................................... 48
Turning On the Compass Page ..................................................... 48
Compass Page Options ................................................................. 48
Using the Marine Timer ................................................................ 49
Highway Page ........................................................................ 50
Using the Highway Page ..............................................................50
GPSMAP 276C Owner’s Manual iii
Highway Page Options ................................................................. 51
Active Route Page ................................................................. 52
Active Route Page Options ........................................................... 52
Position Data Page ................................................................ 53
Position Data Page Options .......................................................... 53
DSC ......................................................................................... 54
Understanding Distress Calls ........................................................ 54
Understanding Position Reports ................................................... 54
Receiving DSC Calls .................................................................... 55
DSC Call List .......................................................................... 55
DSC Log .................................................................................56
Receiving a Position Report or Distress Call ...............................56
DSC Directory ........................................................................ 56
Making a Distress Call ................................................................. 57
Setting up DSC ............................................................................. 57
Basic Operation In Automotive Mode ..............................58
Automotive Mode Page Sequence ....................................... 58
Navigating in Automotive Mode ........................................... 59
Initiating Navigation ..................................................................... 59
Following a Saved Route .............................................................. 61
Stopping and Resuming Navigation ............................................. 61
Editing Your Route ................................................................ 62
Entering Custom Avoids ............................................................... 62
Creating a Detour .......................................................................... 63
Adding and Editing Stops (Via Points) ......................................... 63
Following an Automotive Route ........................................... 64
Track your Progress with the Map Page ....................................... 64
INTRODUCTION > TABLE OF CONTENTS
Watch your Trip Data .................................................................... 64
See your Next Turn with the Current Route Page ........................ 64
Automotive Mode Pages and Features ...........................65
Map Page ................................................................................ 65
Current Route Page ............................................................... 66
Saving the Current Route ............................................................. 66
Trip Computer Page .............................................................. 67
Trip Computer Page Options Menu .............................................. 67
Additional Pages and Features ........................................68
Setting Alarms ....................................................................... 68
Navigation (Nav) Alarms ............................................................. 68
System Alarms .............................................................................. 69
Sonar Alarms ................................................................................ 69
Using the Calendar ................................................................ 70
Day View ......................................................................................70
Week View ....................................................................................70
Month View ..................................................................................70
Calendar Options .......................................................................... 70
Viewing Celestial Information .............................................. 71
Tide Tab ........................................................................................ 71
Sun & Moon Tab .......................................................................... 73
Hunt & Fish Tab ........................................................................... 74
Viewing Messages ................................................................. 75
Viewing the Temperature ...................................................... 76
Changing the Temperature Display ..............................................76
Reset the Temperature Graph ....................................................... 76
Customizing Your GPSMAP 276C ....................................77
Setting up the System ........................................................... 77
Adding a Welcome Message ......................................................... 77
Changing the Page Layout and Data Fields .................................. 78
Setting up the Map Page ............................................................... 78
Additional Map Data Displayed ................................................... 79
Changing the Display ...................................................................80
Changing the Sounds .................................................................... 81
Changing the System Settings ...................................................... 82
Setting the Timers ......................................................................... 83
Changing the Time ........................................................................ 83
Customizing the Units .................................................................. 84
Restoring Defaults ........................................................................ 84
Customizing the Routing and Guidance Settings .............. 85
Road Routing Settings .................................................................. 85
Guidance Settings ......................................................................... 86
Changing the Location Settings .......................................... 87
Changing the Location Format ..................................................... 87
Selecting a Different Map Datum ................................................. 87
Selecting a Different Heading Reference ..................................... 87
Changing the Data Format ................................................... 88
Advanced NMEA Output Setup ................................................... 90
Setting up and Using Sonar .............................................91
Showing Sonar on the Map Page ......................................... 91
Using the Sonar Page ........................................................... 92
Adjusting the Sonar Page ............................................................. 93
iv GPSMAP 276C Owner’s Manual
INTRODUCTION > TABLE OF CONTENTS
Adjustment Options ................................................................ 93
Resizing the Split Screen .............................................................. 95
Using the Pointer on the Sonar Page ............................................ 95
Setting up the Sonar ............................................................. 96
Calibrating the Water Speed ......................................................... 97
Setting up the Sonar Display ........................................................ 98
Understanding Sonar ............................................................ 99
Understanding the Sonar Display ................................................. 99
Transducer Coverage .................................................................. 100
Whiteline .................................................................................... 101
Thermoclines .............................................................................. 101
Appendix ..........................................................................102
Specifications ...................................................................... 102
Physical Specifications ............................................................... 102
Power .......................................................................................... 102
Performance ................................................................................ 102
Accuracy ...............................................................................102
Optional Accessories .......................................................... 103
Installation Information ....................................................... 104
Connecting the Power/Data Cable .............................................. 104
Connecting Your GPSMAP 276C to a Computer ....................... 105
Information about USB Drivers ............................................ 105
Using xImage for Customized Waypoint Icons .......................... 106
Installing and Removing Data Cards .......................................... 106
Interfacing ................................................................................... 107
Removing the Antenna ............................................................... 107
Learning about GPS ............................................................ 108
Common GPS Terms .................................................................. 108
What is Differential GPS (DGPS)? ............................................ 108
Differential Field ........................................................................108
What is WAAS? .......................................................................... 109
LORAN TD Setup ................................................................. 110
LORAN TD Feature ................................................................... 110
Using the LORAN TD Format ................................................... 110
Map Datums and Location Formats .................................. 112
What are a Map Datum and which should I use? ....................... 112
What is a Location Format and which should I use? .................. 112
Digital Selective Calling (DSC) ........................................... 113
What is a Maritime Mobile Service Identity (MMSI) number? . 113
How are MMSI assignments obtained? ...................................... 114
Non-Federal Users in the United States ............................... 114
Federal Users in the United States ....................................... 114
Users Outside the United States ............................................ 114
Users In Canada .................................................................... 114
How can Garmin help you with DSC? ....................................... 114
Messages ............................................................................. 115
Data Field Options ............................................................... 116
Safety and Product Information ......................................... 118
Index .................................................................................123
GPSMAP 276C Owner’s Manual v
INTRODUCTION > CARE INFORMATION
Care Information
To resolve problems that cannot be remedied using this guide,
contact Garmin Product Support in the U.S.A. at 800/800.1020 or
Garmin Europe at 44/0870.8501241.
Immersing the Unit in Water
The GPSMAP 276C is waterproof to IEC Standard 60529 IPX7.
It can withstand immersion in 1 meter of water for 30 minutes.
Prolonged submersion can cause damage to the unit. After
submersion, wipe and air dry the unit before reuse or charging.
Cleaning the Unit
The GPSMAP 276C is constructed of high quality materials and
does not require user maintenance other than cleaning. Clean the
unit using a cloth dampened with a mild detergent solution. Avoid
chemical cleaners and solvents that may damage plastic components.
Wipe the unit dry with a dry cloth.
Storing the GPSMAP 276C
Do not store the GPSMAP 276C where prolonged exposure to
temperature extremes may occur (such as in the trunk of a car), as
permanent damage may result. User information, such as waypoints
and routes, is retained in the unit’s memory without the need for
external power. It is always a good practice to back up important
user data by manually recording it or downloading it to a PC
(transferring it to MapSource).
vi GPSMAP 276C Owner’s Manual
GETTING STARTED > UNIT OVERVIEW
GETTING STARTED
Unit Overview
The GPSMAP 276C is an all-in-one, versatile color chartplotter and automobile navigator—perfect for land or water. This portable GPS
navigator features a 256-color TFT display that is easy to read in bright sun, a built-in basemap, and auto routing to provide you with
automatically generated turn-by-turn directions.
Antenna
256-Color TFT display
with backlighting
Backlit keypad for easy nighttime operation
GPSMAP 276C Owner’s Manual 1
Detachable antenna
collapses for storage.
Be sure the antenna
is up (as shown here)
to receive satellite
signals. Refer to
the Appendix,
page 107, for
instructions on
removing the
antenna.
External power
connector under
weather cap
USB connector
under weather cap Slot for optional data card
Battery pack. Press tab down to
remove battery pack for replacement,
if necessary. See the
Information” on page 120 for more
information about the lithium-ion
battery pack.
“Safety
Serial number
2 GPSMAP 276C Owner’s Manual
GETTING STARTED > CHARGING THE GPSMAP 276C
Charging the GPSMAP 276C
Before using the unit, you may need to charge the battery in the
GPSMAP 276C. Simply plug the unit into an external power source
to charge. You can use the unit while it is charging.
If you do not want to use the unit, but you would like to charge the
battery, you can put the unit into Charge Mode. Connect the unit
to an external power supply. Press and hold the red POWER key.
Instead of completely turning off, the unit now goes into Charge
Mode, as shown below.
To charge the unit’s battery:
1. Lift the rubber weather cap to expose the power connector
on the back of the unit. Refer to the image on page 1 for
connector location.
2. Align the notches and push the plug into the connector until
fully seated.
3. Plug the 12 Volt adapter into an available AC outlet, or
cigarette lighter receptacle if you have a Cigarette Lighter
Adapter. Use care when routing the cable; be certain that it
does not interfere with vehicle operation.
The unit begins charging as soon as external power is applied.
NOTE: While in Charge Mode, the unit draws a small amount of
Placing the unit in Charge Mode, as discussed below, charges the
unit more quickly than when the unit is turned on and reduces draw
on the vessel/vehicle battery.
After using the unit a lot, you may notice that the lithium-ion battery
Information about Charge Mode
Applying external power to the GPSMAP 276C automatically turns
on the unit for full operation. If the battery is present and needs to be
charged, the external power source charges the battery while the unit
in the unit is not holding a charge any more. This is common for
lithium-ion batteries. Contact Garmin or your Garmin Dealer to
order a Battery Pack replacement if you are experiencing charging
issues with your battery.
is in use.
Charge Mode
current from the vessel/vehicle battery. To avoid discharging the
vehicle’s battery, disconnect the external power cable from the
GPSMAP 276C when not in use for several days.
GPSMAP 276C Owner’s Manual 3
GETTING STARTED > TURNING ON THE GPSMAP 276C
Turning On the GPSMAP 276C
The first time you turn on your new GPSMAP 276C, the receiver
must collect satellite data and establish its present position. To
ensure proper initialization, the GPSMAP 276C is shipped from
the factory in AutoLocate mode, which allows the receiver to “find
itself” anywhere in the world. Before you turn on the unit to start
initialization, be sure that the antenna is rotated up as shown on
3. To turn off the GPSMAP 276C, press and hold the red
POWER key again.
Adjusting the Backlight and Volume
You may want to adjust the backlight to see the display better. If
you are using the optional External Speaker with 12/24-Volt Adapter
Cable with the GPSMAP 276C, you may want to adjust the volume
level of the speaker.
page 1, and it has a clear and unobstructed view of the sky to receive
satellite signals.
To turn on and off the GPSMAP 276C:
1. Press and hold the red POWER key. When the unit powers
on, a tone sounds and the Warning page displays.
Warning Page
2. Read and be sure you understand the warning. If you have
external devices connected, they are listed here. Press
ENTER to continue.
To adjust the backlight level or volume:
1. Press and quickly release the POWER key.
2. Press the Rocker key Up to increase the brightness or Down
to decrease. Press Right to raise the volume or left to lower.
3. Press ENTER or QUIT to close the Backlight/Volume
adjustment window. Press MENU to view the options menu.
Battery Time Remaining and Power Source Indicator
Backlight
Adjustment Slider
Volume
Adjustment Slider
4 GPSMAP 276C Owner’s Manual
GETTING STARTED > GETTING SATELLITE SIGNALS
Getting Satellite Signals
After you turn on the GPSMAP 276C, the unit automatically begins
searching for satellites. The GPS page is displayed while the unit
is gathering satellite signals and acquiring a fix, which should take
only a few minutes. While the GPSMAP 276C is getting satellite
signals, the GPS page displays the status as “Acquiring Satellites.”
It may take a few minutes to acquire satellites and display your
current location on the map. Be patient as the unit acquires satellite
data. To get signals more quickly, be sure the antenna is raised to the
up position shown in the image on page 1.
Viewing GPS Status with the GPS page
The GPS page provides a visual reference of satellite acquisition,
receiver status, and accuracy. The sky view and signal strength bars
give an indication of what satellites are visible to the receiver and
whether they are being tracked.
As the receiver locks onto satellites, a signal strength bar appears
for each satellite in view, with the appropriate satellite number
underneath each bar. The numbers displayed below each bar
represent the particular satellite that is being received. Numbers
above 33 indicate WAAS satellites.
The sky view shows a birds-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 represents 45º
above the horizon, and the center point represents a position directly
overhead. You can also set the sky view to a Track Up configuration,
causing the top of the sky view to align along your current track
heading. Press MENU to change the configuration of the sky view.
GPS Page
A power source indicator shows the unit is operating off
power ( ), that the unit is charging ( ), or that an
NOTE: While acquiring satellites, the Map page may display the
wrong location, such as China. This does not mean your unit has
the wrong data loaded; it simply means you need to wait a few
more minutes to acquire satellites and find your current location.
external power source is in use ( ).
battery
GETTING STARTED > GETTING SATELLITE SIGNALS
Signal
Strength
Bars
Receiver
Status
Field
• Searching the Sky—the receiver is looking for satellites.
• AutoLocate—the receiver is looking for any satellite whose
almanac has been collected, which can take up to 5 minutes.
Sky view
Power
Source
Indicator
GPS Page
• Acquiring Satellites—the receiver is looking for and
collecting data from satellites visible at its last known or
initialized position, but has not acquired a fix.
• 2D GPS Location: At least three satellites have been acquired
and a two-dimensional position fix has been calculated.
“2D Differential” appears when you are receiving DGPS
The progress of satellite acquisition is shown in three stages:
• No signal strength bars—the receiver is looking for the
satellites indicated.
• White signal strength bars—the receiver has found the
satellite and is collecting data.
• Green signal strength bars—the receiver has collected the
necessary data from this satellite.
As soon as the GPSMAP 276C has collected the necessary data from
the best satellites in view to calculate a fix, the status field indicates
the status of the receiver. The unit then updates the position, date
and time.
corrections in 2D mode and a “D” appears on the strength bar
of satellites being corrected.
• 3D GPS Location: At least four satellites have been
acquired and a three-dimensional fix has been calculated.
“3D Differential” appears when you are receiving DGPS
corrections in 3D mode and a “D” appears on the strength bar
of satellites being corrected.
• Lost Satellite Reception—the receiver is no longer tracking
enough satellites for a 2D or 3D fix.
• Receiver Not Usable—the receiver is unusable, possibly due
to interference or abnormal satellite conditions. Turn the unit
off and back on to reset.
Receiver Status
The Receiver Status field displays one of the following conditions:
GPSMAP 276C Owner’s Manual 5
• Simulating GPS—the receiver is in simulator mode.
• GPS Off—the GPS receiver is turned off.
GETTING STARTED > GETTING SATELLITE SIGNALS
GPS Options
Press MENU two times to open the Main Menu. Use the Rocker
key to highlight GPS. Press MENU to open the options menu.
GPS Tips
While the receiver is gathering information, your location on
the map may display as different from where you actually are
located. Be patient; as soon as the receiver gathers enough satellite
information, your proper location is displayed on the map.
Any time you have traveled more than 600 miles with the GPS
receiver turned off, the receiver may take longer than normal to
initialize and find your location.
The GPS receiver can lose satellite signals due to interference from
such items as buildings, tunnels, and heavy tree cover. Monitoring
GPS Page Options Menu
Start/Stop Simulator—activates and deactivates simulator mode,
the GPS status is recommended.
To learn about GPS, refer to
which is particularly helpful when learning how to use your unit.
WAAS On—enables WAAS capability. Refer to page
109 of the
“Appendix” for more information about WAAS.
Track/
North Up—orients the sky view display on the GPS page to
north up or track up.
New Altitude
—allows you to manually enter your altitude.
New Location—allows you to enter a new location automatically or
using the map.
“Learning about GPS” on page 108.
6 GPSMAP 276C Owner’s Manual
GETTING STARTED > LEARNING ABOUT THE KEYPAD
Learning about the Keypad
Press the IN key to adjust the map scale to show a smaller
area with more detail (zoom in).
Press the OUT key to adjust the map scale to show a larger
area with less detail (zoom out).
Press the PAGE key to cycle through the main pages
in sequence and exit a submenu page. Press and hold to
switch between Marine and Automotive Modes.
Press QUIT to cycle the unit through the main pages in
reverse sequence, revert to the previous value in a data
entry field, or cancel an unintended function.
Press ENTER to select a highlighted option. When
entering data, it allows you to initiate entry and to accept
the selected value. Press and hold for more than one
second to mark your current location as a waypoint.
Press MENU to display a menu of available options for
the current page. Press MENU twice to display the Main
Menu.
Press the NAV/MOB (Navigate/Man OverBoard) key
to display the Navigation Menu. While in Marine Mode,
press and hold for more than one second to activate the
Man Overboard (MOB) function.
While in Automotive Mode, press and hold to display the
Next Turn page and announce the next turn when using the
external speaker.
Press the FIND key to quickly search for and access user
waypoints, cities, points of interest, services and other
items used for navigation.
Press and hold the POWER key for more than one second
to turn the unit on and off. Briefly press and release to
adjust the backlighting and external speaker volume.
Use the Rocker key to highlight options and to enter
data. Also use to pan the arrow on the Map page.
GPSMAP 276C Owner’s Manual 7
8 GPSMAP 276C Owner’s Manual
GETTING STARTED > USING THE GPSMAP 276C
Using the GPSMAP 276C
This section explains how to enter and select information with the
GPSMAP 276C.
Understanding Features
The GPSMAP 276C advanced keypad system is designed to allow
quick, convenient selection of navigation options and data entry.
As you progress through this Owner’s Manual, you will be directed
to press a specific key or highlight a field on the screen. When you
are directed to press a key, you should press and quickly release the
key. If the key needs to be held down for a period of time to activate
On-Screen Button—similar to “field.” Use the Rocker
highlight a button and press ENTER to select the button.
Scroll Bar
the screen, a scroll bar appears along the right side of the list.
The position of the scroll bar indicates which portion of the list is
currently displayed. To scroll through a list, press Up or Down on
the Rocker key.
Default—the factory setting saved in the unit’s memory. You can
change the settings as you like, but you can also revert to the factory
(default) settings when you select Restore Defaults.
a secondary function, the instructions will tell you to do so. When
a field is selected on the screen, it is highlighted in yellow. The
position of the highlight is controlled by the Rocker key.
The following terms are used throughout this manual:
Highlight—move the highlighted area on the screen Up, Down,
Left, or Right with the Rocker key to select individual fields.
Moving the highlight to a given location allows you to make a
selection, begin data entry, or scroll through a list.
Field—the location on a page where data or an option may be
entered and displayed. Select (highlight) a field using the Rocker
key to begin entering data or selecting options.
key to
—when viewing a list of items too long to display on
Field
Highlighted Field
On-screen buttons
GPSMAP 276C Owner’s Manual 9
GETTING STARTED > USING THE GPSMAP 276C
Selecting Options and Entering Data
To enter data and select options, use the Rocker key to highlight,
select, or choose an item in a list or a field on the screen. Use the
ENTER key and the Rocker key to select options, enter names and
numbers in data fields, and activate your selections.
To select and activate an option:
1. With any page displayed, press MENU. An options menu
appears with a list of optional features for that page.
2. Use the Rocker key to move the highlight Up, Down, Right,
or Left on the menu to your desired selection.
3. Press ENTER to activate the feature. Another window may
then appear with more options. If so, select the desired
option and press ENTER again.
To practice entering data, try marking a waypoint and customizing
one of the waypoint properties, such as the waypoint name.
To
ENTER/MARK until the New Waypoint page appears.
Selecting an option from an options menu
To exit a menu or return to the previous setting:
Press QUIT. The QUIT key moves backwards through your
steps. Press QUIT repeatedly to return to the starting page.
To select and activate an on-screen button:
1. On a page with on-screen buttons, use the Rocker key to
highlight the desired on-screen button.
2. Press ENTER.
On-Screen Button
mark your current location as a waypoint, press and hold
10 GPSMAP 276C Owner’s Manual
GETTING STARTED > USING THE GPSMAP 276C
To enter data in a data field:
1. Use the Rocker key to highlight the desired data field and
press ENTER to activate the field.
2. Press Up or Down on the Rocker key to select characters.
Press Right to move to the next character or press Left to
move back to the previous character. If there are two lines of
data, keep pressing Right to drop to the next line.
Entering data
TIP: To clear the entire data field, highlight the left-most
character field and press Left once more on the Rocker key.
3. After entering the desired data, press ENTER.
Not all fields are programmable. When you are on a page with fields
that are not selectable, the highlight skips over them.
Using the Databases
Optional Garmin Data Cards and MapSource CD-ROMs enhance
the versatility of your GPSMAP 276C. With optional MapSource
City Select data, you can view listings of nearby restaurants,
lodging, shopping centers, attractions and entertainment, and even
retrieve addresses and phone numbers for any listed location.
The included USB Interface Cable or an optional PC Interface Cable
(with a serial connector) is used to transfer MapSource CD-ROM
data to the optional Data Card.
Refer to the Garmin Web site at
cartography/ for compatible MapSource products.
http://www.garmin.com/
GPSMAP 276C Owner’s Manual 11
GETTING STARTED > SIMULATED BASIC NAVIGATION
Simulated Basic Navigation
To help you get to know your GPSMAP 276C, you can use the unit
in Simulator Mode. Simulator Mode is also helpful for practicing
with the unit indoors or when no satellite signals are available. All
waypoints and routes created in Simulator Mode are retained in
memory for future use. The following section describes how to use
simulator mode and walks you through some basic navigation using
the simulator.
Activating Simulator Mode
You can activate Simulator Mode from the Setup tab or the GPS tab
of the Main Menu.
Setup tab of Main Menu
System tab
To put the unit into Simulator Mode using the GPS tab:
1. Press MENU twice to display the Main Menu.
2. Highlight GPS from the vertical menu.
3. Press MENU to open the GPS tab options menu.
4. Highlight Start Simulator and press ENTER.
Entering a New Location
From the GPS options menu you can also enter a New Location to
simulate from.
To enter a New Location using the map:
1. Press MENU twice and highlight GPS from the vertical menu.
2. Press MENU to open the options menu.
3. Highlight New Location and press ENTER.
4. Highlight Use Map and press ENTER.
5. Use the Rocker key to move the panning arrow to the
NOTE: Do not attempt to navigate using Simulator Mode. When
the unit is set to Simulator Mode, the GPS receiver is turned off.
Any Satellite Signal Strength Bars displayed are only simulations
and do not represent the strength of actual satellite signals.
desired location on the map and press ENTER.
12 GPSMAP 276C Owner’s Manual
GETTING STARTED > SIMULATED BASIC NAVIGATION
Simulating Navigation
The main purpose of using a GPS receiver is for navigating to a
known position. To get a feel for navigating with the GPSMAP
276C, it is a good idea to practice navigation in Simulator Mode. For
this simulation we have set our location to the San Diego coast.
To find a marine destination:
1. Be sure the GPSMAP 276C is set to Simulator Mode (see
“Activating Simulator Mode” on the previous page).
2. Press the FIND key.
3. Highlight Tide Stations and press ENTER.
4. Use the Rocker key to select a nearby Tide Station and
press ENTER. For our example, we selected Point Loma.
5. With Go To highlighted on the Tide Station Information Page,
press ENTER.
To simulate navigation to the marine destination:
1. Follow the previous steps to find a destination. The GPSMAP
276C switches to the Map page. A magenta line shows the
direct route from your current location to your destination. If
desired, press IN or OUT to adjust the zoom level.
2. Press the PAGE key twice to display the Compass page.
3. Press Up on the
(which is the desired speed setting). Press the Rocker key
Right or Left to simulate steering.
4. Press QUIT to return to the Map Page. Press IN to adjust the
zoom level. Observe the movement of the position marker
(triangle) as the unit simulates navigation.
5. If desired, press PAGE or QUIT to view the simulated
navigation on the other main pages.
Simulated navigation displayed on the Map Page (Marine Mode)
Rocker key to increase the speed to 40 kt.
GPSMAP 276C Owner’s Manual 13
GETTING STARTED > SIMULATED BASIC NAVIGATION
Now we will simulate navigation in the Automotive Mode. To
switch between Marine and Automotive Mode, press and hold the
PAGE key. Use the Rocker key to select Automotive and press
ENTER.
To find a land destination:
1. Be sure the GPSMAP 276C is set to Simulator Mode (see
“Activating Simulator Mode”).
2. Press the FIND key.
3. Highlight Cities and press ENTER.
4. Use the Rocker key to select a nearby city and press
ENTER. For our example, we selected National City, CA.
5. With Go To highlighted, press ENTER.
Simulated navigation displayed on the Map Page (Automotive Mode)
To simulate navigation to the Automotive destination:
1. Follow the previous steps to find a destination city. The
GPSMAP 276C switches to the Map page. A magenta line
shows the turn-by-turn route from your current location to
your destination.
2. The GPSMAP 276C automatically adjusts your speed to
“move” you along your route. Observe the movement of the
position marker (triangle) as the unit simulates navigation. If
desired, press IN or OUT to zoom.
3. If desired, press PAGE or QUIT to view the simulated
navigation on the other main pages.
Simulated Current Route Page (Automotive Mode)
When you are ready to navigate on your own, turn the Simulator off.
TIP: You can activate and deactivate the Simulator through the
Setup tab or GPS tab options menu of the Main Menu.
14 GPSMAP 276C Owner’s Manual
BASIC OPERATION IN MARINE MODE > MARINE MODE PAGE SEQUENCE
BASIC OPERATION IN MARINE MODE
This section explains some of the more common operations you will perform with your GPSMAP 276C, such as navigating to a destination.
To
switch usage modes:
1. Press and hold the PAGE button.
2. Use the Rocker key to select either Automotive or Marine and press ENTER.
Marine Mode Page Sequence
The GPSMAP 276C offers two usage modes, Marine Mode (default) and Automotive Mode. The main pages are linked together in a series
that you can cycle through by pressing the PAGE key to move forward and the QUIT key to reverse. Each page also has an options menu
that allows you to customize each page to your preferences and/or select features. To view the options menu, press the MENU key.
Marine Mode features five main pages: the Map, Compass, Highway, Active Route, and Position Data pages. The following examples show
the main pages in Marine Mode with optional MapSource BlueChart detailed maps. The Marine Mode is the default mode for the GPSMAP
276C. This manual first addresses the page, such as the Map Page, as displayed in the Marine Mode. The manual then describes the page as
shown in Automotive Mode.
Map Page
Compass Page
Highway Page
Active Route Page
Position Data Page
Navigating in Marine Mode
GPSMAP 276C Owner’s Manual 15
BASIC OPERATION IN MARINE MODE > NAVIGATING IN MARINE MODE
There are several ways to begin navigating to a point:
• Select a point on the map and press the NAV key.
• Press the NAV
Menu, or activate a saved route or track.
• Press the
a route to it.
Marine Mode and Automotive Mode are very similar. Most of the
features discussed here also apply to Automotive Mode.
Once you are actively navigating, you will see a magenta line that
always runs from your current location to the destination on the Map
page. You can use the Map page, Compass page, Highway page, and
Position Data page to help navigate to your destination.
Initiating Navigation
There are several different ways to initiate navigation. Press the
NAV key to open the Navigate Menu. Using one of the navigation
options, you can quickly create a route to your destination. In
Marine Mode, you can initiate Man OverBoard (MOB) navigation,
which places a waypoint in the location and then navigates you back
to that location. You can also initiate navigation through the Find
Menu.
key to activate a new route using the Find
FIND key to search for a particular item and create
Press the NAV key to open the Navigate Menu:
Go To Point—
from the Find Menu to navigate to.
Navigate Route—allows you to select a route to navigate. You can
also activate a saved route through the Routes tab of the Main Menu.
For information about routes, refer to page 21.
Navigate Track (TracBack)—
navigate. You can also activate a saved track through the Track tab
of the Main Menu. For information about tracks, refer to page 37.
MOB (Man OverBoard)—creates a Man OverBoard waypoint and
navigates to that location.
Navigate Menu in Marine Mode
Accessed by pressing NAV/MOB key
allows you to select a waypoint or point of interest
allows you to select a saved track to
16 GPSMAP 276C Owner’s Manual
BASIC OPERATION IN MARINE MODE > NAVIGATING IN MARINE MODE
To go to a highlighted map item:
1. Use the Rocker key to highlight the item you would like to
navigate to on the Map page.
2. Press NAV. Go To <point name> appears in the list of
options and is automatically highlighted. If you have selected
an area of the map that is not a map feature, Go To MAP
Point is listed. Select Go To <point name> or Go To MAP
Point and press ENTER.
Navigate Menu
with Map Feature highlighted
3. Follow the magenta route created on the Map page. Follow
the turn-by-turn route (auto-route) by using the Next Turns
page and Current Route page. If you are using the external
speaker, follow the voice prompts.
To activate new route using the Find Menu:
1. Press the NAV key to open the Navigate Menu.
2. Highlight New Route (or Go To Point when in Marine Mode)
and press ENTER to open the Find Menu.
3. From the Find Menu, highlight Waypoints and press ENTER.
(You may also choose to go to other points, such as Cities or
Tide Stations from this list. The steps vary only slightly from
those listed for Waypoints.)
4. Select a waypoint from the list then press ENTER to display
the Waypoint page.
Waypoint Review Page
Activating a Go To using the Find Menu
5. The Waypoint page automatically opens. With the Go To
button highlighted, press ENTER to begin navigation.
GPSMAP 276C Owner’s Manual 17
BASIC OPERATION IN MARINE MODE > NAVIGATING IN MARINE MODE
To search for an item and route to it:
1. Press FIND to open the Find Menu.
2. Using the Rocker key, highlight the desired category, such
as Cities, and press ENTER.
3. Press ENTER and use the Rocker key to begin entering the
letters contained in the item name. The list begins to sort by
the items which contain the letters you are entering. Press
ENTER when finished.
Man OverBoard (MOB)
The Man OverBoard function (MOB) lets you simultaneously mark
your present position and create a direct route back to that position
for quick response to emergency situations.
Once an MOB has been activated, an MOB waypoint with an
international MOB symbol is created, and the unit begins actively
navigating to that point. Use any of the Navigation Pages to guide
you back to the MOB point. The MOB waypoint is stored in the
waypoint list and may be deleted like any other waypoint.
Finding an item using the Containing field: The unit searches for items
containing the letter combination you enter and displays them in the list.
3. Highlight the desired item from the list and press
4. Press ENTER when the Go To button is highlighted.
ENTER.
For complete information about finding an item, refer to the
“Finding an Item” section.
To activate the MOB function:
1. Press and hold the NAV/MOB key, or press the NAV/MOB
key twice.
2. Press ENTER to confirm and begin navigating to the MOB
position.
18 GPSMAP 276C Owner’s Manual
BASIC OPERATION IN MARINE MODE > FINDING AN ITEM
Finding an Item
The Find Menu allows you to easily search the stored waypoints and
points of interest. To open the Find Menu, press the FIND key.
The Find Menu is comprised of several default categories:
Waypoints, Cities, Exits, Transportation, and Tide Stations.
Additional categories are displayed depending on the optional
BlueChart or MapSource data card in the unit.
Using the Find From Feature
The Find option also supports a “find from” feature that allows you
to center your search around an item that you have just found. For
example, you search for Restricted Areas and the search shows an
“Anchoring Prohibited” search result. If you press FIND again, you
will see “From Anchoring Prohibited” as the new search from point.
You may also use the Find feature to center your search from any
waypoint, route list entry, map item, or tide station. Highlight the
item you want to find from and press the FIND key.
To find an item from another
1 Open the Map page. Use the Rocker key to pan the arrow
2. The Find Menu opens, displaying “From Map Pointer.” The
Find Menu
Shown without additional BlueChart or MapSource maps installed
3. Using the Rocker key, highlight the desired item from the list
Follow the directions on page 17 to search for an item near your
current location and then route to it.
location on the map:
(pointer) to the desired location and press FIND.
list of items is sorted to display items nearest the selected
location. Using the Rocker key, highlight the desired
category from the list and press ENTER.
and press ENTER. The item’s information page automatically
opens, allowing you to save the item as a waypoint, show the
item on the map, or automatically create a route to (Go To)
the item.
GPSMAP 276C Owner’s Manual 19
BASIC OPERATION IN MARINE MODE > FINDING AN ITEM
To find an item from another location:
1. From any page, press the FIND key.
2. Using the Rocker key, highlight the desired category from
the list and press ENTER.
3. Press the MENU key to open the options menu.
Find From Options Menu
4. Highlight Near Other and press ENTER. If you are actively
following a route, you may also choose one of the other
options listed in the Find From list, as shown below.
5. Select a reference position on the map and press ENTER.
The list displays items nearest to the new map position.
To find an item near another item:
1. Press the FIND key.
2. From the Find Menu, highlight the item you want to Find
From. For this example, we chose Coronado, CA.
3. Press the FIND key with the item highlighted. The Find Menu
opens again with items near the previously-selected item,
Coronado, CA in this example. Search for the desired item.
Recently Found Items
The Recently Found page displays a list of the items you have
searched for or gone to recently.
To view recently found items:
1. Press the FIND key. The Find Menu opens.
2. Use the Rocker key to highlight Recently Found. Press
ENTER. The Recently Found page opens.
Press MENU to display the options menu:
Show Find History—allows you to toggle between displaying the
items you have searched for recently (Find History) and the items
you have recently created a Go To for (Go To History).
Remove Point—removes the point that is highlighted in the list.
20 GPSMAP 276C Owner’s Manual
BASIC OPERATION IN MARINE MODE > FINDING AN ITEM
Viewing the Information Page
Each item on the map and each item listed in the Find Menu results
list has an information page.
To view
1. Highlight the desired point on the map or in the search
An Information page appears with details about the item in
details about an item:
results list and press ENTER.
a tabbed format. Depending on the type of item, additional
options are available for viewing the item on the Map,
viewing a tide chart, viewing the list of maps on your data
card, and viewing the next item in the search results list.
Find Menu Options
To view additional options for the Find Menu, press the FIND key
and then press MENU. The following options are displayed:
Enable Auto Arrange—automatically arranges the Find Menu.
Disable Auto Arrange and Restore Default options appear when
you select Enable Auto Arrange.
Near Other
compile the Find items lists. Using the Rocker key, move the map
arrow to the desired location and press ENTER.
Map Information—shows information about the detailed map data
—allows you to select a new location from which to
stored on the data card and allows you to select which maps are
displayed on the Map page.
Additional selections are included in the options menu when you are
navigating:
Near Next
—compiles the Find items lists based upon the next turn
in the route.
Map Feature Information Page
Select Save to save feature as a waypoint
Near Destination
route destination.
Near Current Route
2. Press PAGE
also highlight one of the on-screen buttons and press ENTER
to perform that operation.
or QUIT to exit the information page. You can
active route.
—compiles the Find items lists based upon the
—compiles the Find items lists based upon the
GPSMAP 276C Owner’s Manual 21
BASIC OPERATION IN MARINE MODE > CREATING AND USING ROUTES
Creating and Using Routes
The GPSMAP 276C lets you create and store up to 50 reversible
routes, with up to 300 points each.
To create a route using the Find Menu:
1. Press MENU twice to display the Main Menu.
2. Use the Rocker key to highlight the Route tab.
3. Press MENU to display the Route options menu. Select New
Creating a Route
Use the Route tab of the Main Menu to create routes. Routes can
be created in two ways. The first way is to select waypoints from
the Find Menu, allowing you to see a list of the route points as you
create the route. The second way is by selecting waypoints or map
items from the Map page, allowing you to see each route point
graphically on-screen as you create the route.
Route Tab Displaying the Route List
4. The Route Review page automatically opens, displaying a
5. The Find Menu opens. Using the methods discussed in the
Route and press ENTER. Or, highlight the first available
blank route slot and press ENTER.
blank route. Press ENTER to find items to add to the route.
“Finding an Item” section beginning on page 18, select a
point to add to your route. When you find an item, highlight
OK and press ENTER to add the point to the route. Repeat
until you have added all of the points to the route.
Creating a new route on Route Review page
22 GPSMAP 276C Owner’s Manual
BASIC OPERATION IN MARINE MODE > CREATING AND USING ROUTES
To create a route graphically:
1. Press MENU twice to display the Main Menu. Use the
Rocker key to highlight the Route tab.
2. Press MENU to display the Route options menu. Select New
Route and press ENTER.
3. Highlight the first blank slot in the Route List page and press
MENU. Use the Rocker key to highlight Edit on Map and
press ENTER.
4. Use the Rocker key to highlight the location you want to add
and press ENTER.
If you have selected an area of the map that is not a feature
or waypoint, a new waypoint is created for that location.
Press ENTER on the New Waypoint page to save the
location as a waypoint and continue adding points to your
route. You can edit the properties of this waypoint as you can
with any waypoint.
5. Repeat until you have added all points to the route.
6. When finished, press
Navigating a Saved Route
The Navigate Route option allows you to easily select and activate a
saved route.
To navigate a saved route:
1. In Automotive Mode, press the NAV key.
2. Use the Rocker key to highlight Navigate Route and press
3. Highlight the desired route and press ENTER.
Select desired
route from list
QUIT twice to return to the Route
Review page. Or, press MENU, highlight Edit as Text, and
press ENTER to view the Route Review page.
ENTER.
Select the route you want to take
Creating a new route on the map
Loading...