Garmin Oregon 450, Oregon 450t User Manual

®

OREGON

450, 450t, 550, 550t

series

owner’s manual

© 2009 Garmin Ltd. or its subsidiaries

Garmin International, Inc.
1200 East 151st Street,
Olathe, Kansas 66062, USA
Tel. [phone] or
[phone]
Fax [phone]

Garmin (Europe) Ltd.
Liberty House
Hounsdown Business Park,
Southampton, Hampshire,
SO40 9LR UK
Tel. [phone] (outside the UK)
0808 2380000 (within the UK)

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

Fax [phone]

All rights reserved. Except as expressly provided herein, no part of this manual may be reproduced,
copied, transmitted, disseminated, downloaded or stored in any storage medium, for any purpose without
the express prior written consent of Garmin. Garmin hereby grants permission to download a single copy
of this manual onto a hard drive or other electronic storage medium to be viewed and to print one copy of
this manual or of any revision hereto, provided that such electronic or printed copy of this manual must
contain the complete text of this copyright notice and provided further that any unauthorized commercial
distribution of this manual or any revision hereto is strictly prohibited.

Information in this document is subject to change without notice. Garmin reserves the right to change
or improve its products and to make changes in the content without obligation to notify any person
or organization of such changes or improvements. Visit the Garmin Web site (www.garmin.com) for
current updates and supplemental information concerning the use and operation of this and other Garmin
products.

Garmin® , the Garmin logo, MapSource
subsidiaries, registered in the USA and other countries. Oregon® and myGarmin™ are trademarks of
Garmin Ltd. or its subsidiaries. These trademarks may not be used without the express permission of
Garmin.

The Geocaching 4-box logo and the Wherigo logo are registered trademarks of Groundspeak Inc., in the
United States and other countries. Used with permission.
The Wherigo application is covered by patent 6,691,032 and
US and foreign patents pending. Windows® is a registered
trademark of Microsoft Corporation in the United States
and/or other countries. Mac® OS is a registered trademark of
Apple Computer, Inc. microSD™ is a trademark of SanDisk

®,

and BlueChart® g2 are trademarks of Garmin Ltd. or its

or its subsidiaries.

Introduction

Introduction

WARNING



See the Important Safety and
Product Information guide in the

product box for product warnings
and other important information.

This manual provides instructions for
using the following products:

Oregon 450 and 450t

•

Oregon 550 and 550t

•

Tips and Shortcuts

Touch or to scroll and

•
see more choices.

Touch to return to the

•
previous screen.

Touch to return to the Main

•
menu.

Touch or on the Map

•
page to zoom in or zoom out.

Oregon Series Owner’s Manual i

Manual Conventions

When you are instructed to “touch”

something, use your nger to touch

that item on the screen.

The small arrows (>) used in the
text indicate that you should touch a
series of items in order. For example,
if you see, “Touch Where To?
> Tracks,” you should touch the

Where To? button on the screen, and

touch Tracks.

Product Registration

Help us better support you by
completing our online registration
today. Go to http://my.garmin.com.
Keep the original sales receipt, or a
photocopy, in a safe place.

Introduction

Contact Garmin

Contact Garmin Product Support if
you have any questions while using
your Oregon. In the USA, go to

www.garmin.com/support, or contact

Garmin USA by phone at (913)

397.8200 or [phone].

In the UK, contact Garmin (Europe)
Ltd. by phone at 0808 2380000.

In Europe, go to www.garmin.com

/support and click Contact Support

for in-country support information,
or contact Garmin (Europe) Ltd. by
phone at +44 (0) 870.8501241.

If needed, the serial number of your
Oregon is located in the battery
compartment. Remove batteries as
indicated on page 2.

ii Oregon Series Owner’s Manual

Optional Accessories

For a list of available accessories and
maps, refer to the Garmin Web site at

http://buy.garmin.com.

Caring for the Oregon

Cleaning the Case

Use a cloth dampened with a mild
detergent solution, and wipe it dry.
Avoid cleaners that may damage the
plastic components.

Cleaning the Screen

Use a soft, clean, lint-free cloth. Use
water, isopropyl alcohol, or eyeglass
lens cleaner. Apply the liquid to the
cloth, and gently wipe the screen
with the cloth.

Cleaning the Camera Lens

Clean the lens only when necessary.
Use a soft lens cloth. Apply lens

cleaning uid to the cloth and gently

wipe the lens with the cloth.

Table of Contents

Table of Contents

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

Tips and Shortcuts .......................i

Manual Conventions ....................i

Product Registration ....................i

Contact Garmin ..........................ii

Optional Accessories ..................ii

Caring for the Oregon .................ii

Getting Started .................... 1

Battery Information .................... 2

Turning On and Off the

Oregon .................................... 2

Adjusting the Backlight Level..... 3

Acquiring GPS Satellite

Signals .................................... 3

Locking the Screen .................... 3

Basic Navigation................. 4

Accessing Applications from the

Main menu .............................. 4

Creating Waypoints ................... 4

Navigating to a Destination........ 5

Oregon Series Owner’s Manual iii

Stop Navigating ......................... 7

Using the Map .......................... 7

Using the Compass ................... 9

Bearing and Course Pointers ...11

Managing Waypoints,

Routes, and Tracks........... 13

Modifying Waypoints ............... 13

Creating Routes....................... 14

Viewing Stored Routes ............ 14

Editing and Deleting Routes .... 14

Viewing the Active Route ......... 15

Managing Tracks ..................... 15

Additional Tools ................ 17

Elevation Plot........................... 17

Sharing Information

Wirelessly .............................. 18

Using the Camera.................... 19

Viewing Images ....................... 20

Calculating the Size of an

Area ...................................... 20

Trip Computer .......................... 21

Other Tools .............................. 21

Table of Contents

Monitoring Satellite

Reception .............................. 22

GPS Games ....................... 23

Geocaches .............................. 23

Wherigo™ ................................ 23

Customizing the Oregon .. 24

Changing the Prole ................ 24

Setting Up Proles ................... 24

Using System Setup ................ 25

Customizing the Display .......... 26

Map Setup ............................... 26

Tracks Setup ........................... 27

Customizing the Main Menu .... 28

Changing the Camera

Settings ................................. 29

Changing Marine Settings ....... 29

Changing Time Settings .......... 30

Changing Measurement

Units ...................................... 30

Position Format ....................... 31

Modifying the Compass ........... 31

Altimeter Setup ........................ 32

iv Oregon Series Owner’s Manual

Pairing the Oregon .................. 33

Reset ....................................... 34

Viewing Your Oregon

Information ............................ 34

Appendix ........................... 35

Specications .......................... 35

Using Demo Mode ................... 36

Connecting Your Oregon to a

Computer .............................. 37

Installing a microSD™ Card ...... 37

Transferring Tracks, Routes, or

Waypoints ............................. 38

Loading and Deleting Files ...... 39

Optimizing Battery Life ............ 39

Restoring Factory Default

Settings ................................. 40

Attaching the Carabiner ........... 41

Calibrating the Touchscreen .... 41

Software License Agreement... 42

Index .................................. 43

Getting Started

Getting Started

Power key

Touchscreen

Mini-USB connector
(under weather cap)

Oregon Series Owner’s Manual 1

Camera
lens (550
and 550t)

Battery
cover

Mounting
spine

Latch

Getting Started

Battery Information

The Oregon uses two AA batteries.
Use alkaline, NiMH, or lithium
batteries. Use precharged NiMH or
lithium batteries for the best results.
Standard alkaline batteries are not
recommended for Oregon 550 units
when using the camera feature.

To install the batteries:

1. Lift the latch, and remove the
battery cover.

Battery cover

Latch

To select the battery type:

1. Touch Setup > System > Battery

Type.

2. Touch

Alkaline, Lithium, or

Rechargeable NiMH.

Long-Term Storage

Remove the batteries when you do
not plan to use the Oregon for several
months. Stored data is not lost when
batteries are removed.

Turning the Oregon On
and Off

1. To turn on the Oregon, press .

2. To turn off the Oregon, press and
hold .

Weather cap

2. Insert the batteries, observing
polarity.

3. Replace the battery cover, and
push the latch down.

2 Oregon Series Owner’s Manual

Getting Started

Adjusting the Backlight Level

1. While the Oregon is on, press
and quickly release .

Acquiring GPS Satellite Signals

Before the Oregon can nd your

current location and navigate a route,
you must acquire GPS signals.

1. Go outdoors to an open area,
away from tall buildings and trees.

2. Turn on the Oregon. Acquiring
satellite signals can take a few
minutes.

The bars on the Main menu
indicate satellite strength. When
the bars are green, the Oregon has
acquired satellite signals.

2. Touch or to adjust the
brightness levels.

See (page 26) to change the
backlight timeout.

Oregon Series Owner’s Manual 3

Locking the Screen

Lock the screen to prevent
inadvertent screen touches.

1. Press and quickly release .

2. Touch

Lock Screen.

Basic Navigation

Basic Navigation

Creating Waypoints

Waypoints are locations you record

Accessing Applications from the Main Menu

You can access all Oregon
applications from the Main menu.

Main Menu

Touch or to access

additional applications.

4 Oregon Series Owner’s Manual

and store in the Oregon.

To mark your current location as
a waypoint:

1. Touch Mark Waypoint.

2. Touch

3. Touch an attribute you want to

4. Touch letters, numbers, or

5. Touch

6. Touch

Save and Edit.

change.

symbols to make the changes.

(except when
changing a symbol). Change
other attributes, if necessary.

to discard the
changes.

To edit or delete a waypoint, see

page 13.

Navigating to a Destination

You can use Where To? or choose
a point on the map to navigate to a
destination with the Oregon.

To navigate to a destination
using Where To?:

1. Touch Where To?.

2. Touch a category.

3. Touch one of the following items:

Recent Finds

•
have recently found.

Waypoints—a list of

•

waypoints (page 4).

Photos—a list of geotagged

•

pictures (page 19).

Tracks—a list of tracks

•

(page 15).

Coordinates—enter the

•

coordinates of a location.

—items you

Basic Navigation

All POI (Points of Interest)—if

•

supported by the preloaded
or optional mapping, various
Points of Interest may be
listed.

Cities—a list of the 50 closest

•

cities to your current location.

Tides—a list of the closest

•

tide stations.

4. Touch

5. Touch

6. Use the compass to navigate to

Go. A colored line indicates

your course.

> Compass.

your destination.

Oregon Series Owner’s Manual 5

Basic Navigation

To nd a destination by spelling

the name:

1. On the Main menu, touch Where

To? > All POI.

2. Touch

.

3. Touch characters to spell a part of

To navigate to a point on the
map:

1. Touch Map.

2. Touch a point on the map.

3. Touch the information button at
the top of the screen.

the name of your destination.

4. Touch

5. Touch the destination.

6. Touch

.

Go. A colored line indicates

Information
button

your course.

7. Touch

> Compass.

8. Use the compass to navigate to
your destination as indicated on

page 9.

4. Touch

Go > > Compass.

5. Use the compass to navigate to
your destination as indicated on

page 9.

6 Oregon Series Owner’s Manual

Basic Navigation

To navigate to a destination near

a waypoint or a recent nd:

1. Touch Where To?.

5. Touch a category. Items are listed
in order of distance from the
location you selected.

6. Touch a destination.

7. Touch

8. Touch

9. Use the compass to navigate to

Go. A colored line indicates

your course.

> Compass.

your destination as indicated on

page 9.

Stopping Navigation

To stop navigating, touch Where

2. Touch .

3. Select from the following options:

A Recent Find

•

A Waypoint

•

My Current Location

•

A Map Point

•

4. Touch the location you want to
search near.

Oregon Series Owner’s Manual 7

To? > Stop Navigation.

Using the Map

To use the map:

1. Touch Map. Your current location
is indicated by a location
marker .

2. Touch

3. Touch and drag the screen to pan

or to zoom.

the map.

Basic Navigation

Zoom range

Information
button

Zoom buttons

Location marker

Map Page

To review detailed information
about a point on the map:

1. If necessary, pan to the location
you want to review.

2. Touch the location.

3. Touch the information button at
the top of the screen for additional
information.

8 Oregon Series Owner’s Manual

To show or hide data elds at
the top of the screen:

1. Touch Setup > Map > Data

Fields.

2. Select

0, 2, 4, or Custom.

To change the Map page data

elds:

1. On the Map page, touch one of

the data elds.

2. Select a data type.

Basic Navigation

To save a waypoint on the Map
page:

1. On the Map page, touch the point
you want to save.

2. Touch the information button at
the top of the screen.

It also provides navigation data such
as current speed, distance to the next
point on the route, and estimated
arrival time.

The electronic compass is similar
to a magnetic compass when you
are stationary or walking. If you
maintain a higher speed, such
as traveling in an automobile,
the compass uses GPS signals to
determine your direction. To turn the
electronic compass off, see page 31.
To ensure maximum accuracy, hold
the compass level when navigating.

To open the Compass page:

Touch Compass.

3. Touch to save the waypoint.

Using the Compass

The Compass page guides you to
your destination by displaying a
compass and a bearing pointer.

Oregon Series Owner’s Manual 9

Basic Navigation

Calibrating the Compass

Calibrate the electronic compass
outdoors. Do not stand near objects

that inuence magnetic elds, such

as cars, buildings, or overhead power
lines.

Calibrate the compass after moving
long distances, experiencing
temperature changes greater than
20°F (11°C), or changing the
batteries.

To calibrate the electronic
compass:

1. Touch Setup > Heading > Press

To Begin Compass Calibration.

OR
From the Compass page, touch
and hold the middle of the
compass.

2. Touch

Start and follow the on-

screen directions.

“Too Fast” or “Too Slow” may
appear, notifying you to adjust your
turning speed. If “Calibration Failed”
appears, touch OK, and repeat the
process.

10 Oregon Series Owner’s Manual