Lowrance iFinder Explorer Operation Instructions
www.lowrance.com
Pub. 988-0148-831
iFINDER Explorer
Handheld Mapping GPS Receiver
Operation Instructions
Copyright © 2006 Lowrance Electronics, Inc.
All rights reserved.
No part of this manual may be copied, reproduced, republished,
transmitted or distributed for any purpose, without prior written
consent of Lowrance. Any unauthorized commercial distribution
of this manual is strictly prohibited.
IFINDER
Lowrance
Navionics
DURACELL
RAYOVAC
Energizer
Explorer is a trademark of Lowrance Electronics, Inc.
®
is a registered trademark of Lowrance Electronics, Inc.
is a registered trademark of Navionics, Inc.
is a registered trademark of Duracell, Inc.
is a registered trademark of Rayovac Corporation.
and e
2
are registered trademarks of Energizer Holdings, Inc.
Points of Interest Data in this unit are by infoUSA,
copyright 2001-2005, All Rights Reserved. infoUSA is a
trademark of infoUSA, Inc.
eXitSource Database, copyright 2001-2005 Zenrin Co.
Ltd. Exit Authority and eXitSource are trademarks of
Zenrin Co. Ltd.
Lowrance Electronics may find it necessary to change or end our
policies, regulations and special offers at any time. We reserve the right
to do so without notice. All features and specifications subject to change
without notice. All screens in this manual are simulated. This manual
written for software version 1.0.0.
For free owner's manuals and other information,
visit our web site:
www.lowrance.com
Lowrance Electronics Inc.
12000 E. Skelly Dr.
Tulsa, OK USA 74128-2486
Printed in USA.
Table of Contents
Section 1: Read Me First!......................................................... 1
Capabilities and Specifications: ................................................... 2
Introduction to GPS, WAAS and EGNOS ................................... 6
How to use this manual: typographical conventions .................. 8
Arrow Keys................................................................................ 8
Keyboard ................................................................................... 8
Menu Commands ...................................................................... 8
Instructions = Menu Sequences ............................................... 9
Section 2: Installation & Accessories..................................11
Power........................................................................................... 11
Batteries...................................................................................... 11
Battery Installation ................................................................ 12
Cigarette Lighter Power Adapter .............................................. 13
NMEA Cable Connections .......................................................... 13
MMC or SD Memory Card Installation ..................................... 14
Mapping Resources..................................................................... 15
External Antenna ....................................................................... 16
R-A-M
Other Accessories........................................................................ 18
Section 3: Easy Mode Operation .......................................... 19
Keypad......................................................................................... 19
Power/lights on and off ............................................................... 20
Main Menu .................................................................................. 20
Pages ........................................................................................... 21
Easy Mode Quick Reference ................................................. 28
Find Your Current Position........................................................ 29
Moving Around the Map: Zoom & Cursor Arrow Keys ............. 29
Selecting Any Map Item with the Cursor.................................. 30
Searching..................................................................................... 30
Set Home Waypoint .................................................................... 32
Set Man Overboard (MOB) Waypoint........................................ 33
Navigate to Cursor Position on Map.......................................... 34
Navigate to a Point of Interest................................................... 35
Creating and Saving a Trail....................................................... 36
Navigating or Backtracking a Trail ........................................... 36
Bracket Mounting Systems .......................................... 17
Satellite Status Page .............................................................. 21
Compass Page ......................................................................... 22
Navigation Page...................................................................... 23
Map Page................................................................................. 25
Go Home .................................................................................. 33
Navigate Back to MOB Waypoint .......................................... 33
Displaying a Saved Trail ........................................................ 36
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Visual Back Trailing ............................................................... 36
Navigate a Back Trail............................................................. 37
Clearing or Erasing a Trail .................................................... 38
Power Saving .............................................................................. 38
Transfer Custom Maps and GPS Data Files ............................. 39
Switch to Advanced Mode........................................................... 41
Section 4: Advanced Mode Operation................................. 43
Keypad......................................................................................... 43
Power/lights on and off ............................................................... 44
Main Menu .................................................................................. 44
Pages ........................................................................................... 45
Satellite Status Page .............................................................. 45
Status Menu ............................................................................ 46
Digital Data Page.................................................................... 46
Digital Data Menu .................................................................. 46
Navigation Page...................................................................... 47
Navigation Menu .................................................................... 47
Compass Page ......................................................................... 47
Compass Menu........................................................................ 48
Map Page................................................................................. 48
Map Menu ............................................................................... 49
Moving Around the Map: Zoom & Cursor Arrow Keys ............. 49
Find Distance to Another Location ............................................ 49
Find Distance from Point to Point ............................................. 50
Find Your Current Position........................................................ 50
Icons............................................................................................. 51
Create Icon on Map............................................................. 51
Create Icon at Current Position ......................................... 51
Delete an Icon ......................................................................... 51
Load GPS Data Files from an MMC .......................................... 52
Navigate ...................................................................................... 53
Navigate Back Home ..............................................................53
Navigate Back to Man Overboard Waypoint......................... 53
Cancel Navigation................................................................... 53
Navigate a Route..................................................................... 53
Navigate to Cursor Position on Map...................................... 53
Navigate to Point of Interest (POI) ........................................ 54
Navigate to a Waypoint .......................................................... 54
Navigate a Trail ...................................................................... 54
Routes.......................................................................................... 55
Create and Save a Route ........................................................55
PC-created Routes............................................................... 56
Routes Created in the iFINDER ........................................ 56
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Delete a Route ......................................................................... 57
Save GPS Data Files to an MMC............................................... 57
Searching..................................................................................... 58
Trails ........................................................................................... 60
Create and Save a Trail.......................................................... 60
Clear a Trail ............................................................................ 60
Delete a Trail .......................................................................... 60
Edit a Trail Name ................................................................... 60
Edit a Trail Color .................................................................... 60
Edit a Trail Pattern ................................................................ 61
Transfer Custom Maps and GPS Data Files ............................. 61
Custom Maps:.......................................................................... 61
GPS Data files:........................................................................ 61
Utilities........................................................................................ 62
Sun/Moon Calculation............................................................. 62
Trip Calculator........................................................................ 62
Alarm Clock............................................................................. 62
Down Timer............................................................................. 62
Up Timer ................................................................................. 62
Trip Calculator............................................................................ 63
Trip Active............................................................................... 63
Reset Trip ................................................................................ 63
Speed Threshold...................................................................... 63
Calculated Data ...................................................................... 63
Weather Prediction (barometer) ................................................ 63
Interpreting Weather Information......................................... 64
Sleep Mode .............................................................................. 67
Waypoints.................................................................................... 67
Create a Waypoint .................................................................. 67
Create Waypoint on Map .................................................... 67
Create Waypoint at Current Position ................................ 68
Create a Man Overboard Waypoint ...................................68
Create a Waypoint by Average Position ............................ 68
Create a Waypoint by Projecting a Position ...................... 68
Select a Waypoint ................................................................... 69
Delete a Waypoint................................................................... 69
Edit a Waypoint ...................................................................... 69
Waypoint Name................................................................... 69
Waypoint Symbol ................................................................ 69
Waypoint Position ............................................................... 69
Waypoint Altitude............................................................... 70
Section 5: System & GPS Setup Options ............................ 71
Alarms ......................................................................................... 71
iii
Auto Satellite Search.................................................................. 72
Check MMC Files and Storage Space........................................ 73
Com Port Configuration ............................................................. 73
Configure NMEA ........................................................................ 74
Use WAAS/EGNOS..................................................................... 75
Coordinate System...................................................................... 75
Map Fix.................................................................................... 77
Customize Page Displays ........................................................... 78
External Passive Antenna ...................................................... 79
GPS Simulator ............................................................................ 80
Simulating Trail or Route Navigation ................................... 80
Map Auto Zoom........................................................................... 81
Scouting....................................................................................... 81
Map Data..................................................................................... 83
Popup Information .................................................................. 83
Draw Boundaries ....................................................................83
Fill Land with Gray ................................................................ 83
Map Overlays (Range Rings, Lat/Long Grid) ........................ 83
Map Datum Selection ................................................................. 84
Map Detail Category Selection................................................... 85
Map Orientation ......................................................................... 86
NauticPath USA Marine Charts............................................. 87
Nautical Chart Notes.............................................................. 87
Port Information .....................................................................88
Tidal Current Information ..................................................... 89
Tide Information ..................................................................... 91
Navionics
Charts....................................................................... 92
Pop-up Help................................................................................. 93
Reset Options .............................................................................. 94
Screen Contrast and Brightness ................................................ 94
Set Language .............................................................................. 96
Set Local Time ............................................................................ 96
Software Version Information.................................................... 97
Sounds and Alarm Sound Styles................................................ 98
Power Saving .............................................................................. 99
Track Smoothing....................................................................... 100
Trail Options ............................................................................. 100
General Trail Options ....................................................... 101
Update Trail Option.............................................................. 101
Flash Trails Option............................................................... 102
Update Trail Criteria............................................................ 102
Trail Update Rate ................................................................. 102
Specific Trail Options........................................................ 102
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Delete Trail ........................................................................... 102
New Trail............................................................................... 103
Trail Visible/Invisible and Other Trail Options .................. 103
Units of Measure....................................................................... 103
Section 6: Searching .............................................................105
Selected Item............................................................................. 106
Destination................................................................................ 106
Recent Finds ............................................................................. 107
Current Route ........................................................................... 107
Find Addresses.......................................................................... 108
Find Home Waypoint................................................................ 110
Find Interstate Highway Exits ................................................ 110
Find Map Places or Points of Interest (POI) ...........................111
Find Streets or Intersections.................................................... 113
Find Waypoints (Advanced Mode only) ................................... 116
Section 7: Supplemental Material .....................................119
v
A CAREFUL NAVIGATOR NEVER RELIES ON ONLY ONE METHOD
TO OBTAIN POSITION INFORMATION.
When showing navigation data to a position (waypoint), a GPS unit will show
the shortest, most direct path to the waypoint. It provides navigation data to the
waypoint regardless of obstructions. Therefore, the prudent navigator will not
only take advantage of all available navigation tools when traveling to a waypoint, but will also visually check to make sure a clear, safe path to the waypoint
is always available.
When a GPS unit is used in a vehicle, the vehicle operator is solely responsible for operating the vehicle in a safe manner. Vehicle operators
must maintain full surveillance of all pertinent driving, boating or flying conditions at all times. An accident or collision resulting in damage
to property, personal injury or death could occur if the operator of a
GPS-equipped vehicle fails to pay full attention to travel conditions and
vehicle operation while the vehicle is in motion.
WARNING!
CAUTION
WARNING!
vi
Section 1: Read Me First!
How this manual can get you out on the road, fast!
Welcome to the exciting world of GPS satellite navigation! We know
you're anxious to begin finding your way with this hand-held technology, but we have a favor to ask. Before you grab the batteries and head
outside, please give us a moment or two to explain how our manual can
help you get the best performance from this remarkable little GPS unit.
First, we want to thank you for buying an iFINDER
Whether you're a first-time user or a professional navigator, you'll discover that the iFINDER is a true pocket-sized, full-featured mapping
GPS receiver. When you team an iFINDER with one of our specialized
maps or our custom mapping software MapCreate 6, you have an incredible combination. No other consumer GPS mapping system on the
market offers so much information and so many features in one package.
Our goal for this book is to get you on the road or out to the woods and
water fast, with a minimum of fuss. Like you, we'd rather spend more
time traveling, and less time reading the manual!
So, we designed our book so that you don't have to read the whole thing
from front to back for the information you want. At the start (or end) of
each segment, we'll tell you what content is coming up next. If it's a
concept you're already familiar with, we'll show you how and where to
skip ahead for the next important topic. We've also made it easy to look
up any tips you may need from time to time. Here's how:
Explorer.
The manual is organized into seven sections. This first section is an
introduction to Lowrance GPS. It tells you the basics you need to know
before you can make the unit look around and tell you where you are.
Section 2 will help you get the batteries and MultiMedia Card (MMC)
correctly installed in your iFINDER. We'll also tell you about some of
the accessories available for your unit.
Section 3 is the heart of our book, Easy Mode Operation. It will introduce you to the basic GPS functions. We lead off this section with a onepage Easy Mode Quick Reference. (If you've already figured out
how to load the batteries yourself, and you just can't wait any
longer, turn to the Quick Reference on page 28 and head outside with your iFINDER!)
1
The rest of Section 3 contains short, easy-to-scan lessons that follow
one another in chronological order. They're all you'll need to know to
find your way on the water or in the wilderness quickly.
Easy Mode operation will meet the navigation needs of many users.
But, after you've learned the basics (or if you already have some GPS
experience), you may want to try out some of the iFINDER's many advanced navigation features. That brings us to Section 4, Advanced
Mode Operation. After we introduce the Advanced Mode menus and
submenus, this section contains the rest of the iFINDER's command
functions, organized in alphabetical order.
When you come to a GPS menu command on the iFINDER screen, you can
look it up in the manual by skimming over the table of contents or index,
just flipping through Section 3 or scanning through the command portion of
Section 4.
The iFINDER is ready to use right out of the box, but you can fine tune
and customize its operation with dozens of options. We describe how to
use general system options along with GPS options in Section 5, System
Setup and GPS Setup Options. This section covers both Easy Mode and
Advanced Mode options.
In Section 6, we go into more detail on one of the iFINDER's most remarkable capabilities — Searching. We'll introduce a couple of search
examples in both the Easy and Advanced mode sections, but there are
so many map items you can search for, we had to give this function its
own section in the manual! For example, did you know the iFINDER
can look up business phone numbers, functioning as a virtual Yellow
Pages? We’ll show you how in Section 6.
Finally, in Section 7, we offer Supplemental Material, including a list of
the GPS datums used, warranties, and customer service information.
Now, if you are into the fine details, glance over the next segment on
specifications to see how much GPS power you hold in your hand. It's
important to us (and our power users), but if you don't care how many
waypoints the iFINDER can store or how long the batteries last, skip
ahead to important information on how the iFINDER works, on page 4.
Capabilities and Specifications: iFINDER Explorer
General
Display:............................ 3" (7.62 cm) diagonal high contrast Film Su-
perTwist.
Resolution:...................... 240 pixel x 180 pixel resolution; 16-level
gray scale definition
2
Backlighting:.................. White LED screen backlighting for night and
low-light viewing.
Input power:......................3 volts DC (two 1.5v AA batteries); operates up
to 12 hours on batteries when using one-second
position updates (longer update rates further
extend battery life, but will reduce GPS accuracy). Cigarette lighter power adapter included.
Case size:......................... 5.6" H x 2.5" W x 0.9" D (142 x 65 x 25 mm);
water resistant to IPX-7 standards.
Weight:..................................8.48 ounces (242 grams) with alkaline batteries.
GPS
Receiver: ......................... Internal, 12 parallel channel
GPS+WAAS+EGNOS; external active or passive
antennas optional.
Active Antenna
Voltage:............................ 3 volts DC.
Recording: ...................... Removable MMC or SD memory cards for
recording GPS trip details, displaying custom maps, upgrading operating system software and transferring trip data to personal
computer without a slow serial connection.
MMC slots: ...................... One, inside battery compartment. Accepts
non-proprietary MMC or SD memory cards.
Background map:.......... Built-in custom, detailed Lowrance map.
Contains: low-detail maps of the whole world
(containing cities, major lakes, major rivers,
political boundaries); and medium-detail
maps of the United States (containing all incorporated cities; Interstate, U.S. and state
highways; Interstate highway exits and exit
services information; large- and mediumsized lakes and streams.)
Custom mapping: .......... Accepts custom, higher-detail MapCreate 6
mapping on memory cards, with searchable
Points-of Interest database of hotels, restaurants, shopping, services and more. NauticPath USA, Fishing HotSpots
FreedomMaps, LakeMaster
Navionics
charts are optional.
Elite,
ProMaps and
3
Mapping memory: ......... Up to 1 GB on one MMC (MultiMedia Card)
or SD (Secure Digital Card.)
Position updates: .......... Up to every second.
Position points: ............. 1,000 waypoints; 1,000 event marker icons.
Graphic symbols for
waypoints or event
marker icons: ................. 42.
Routes:............................. 100; up to 100 waypoints per route.
Plot Trails: ...................... 99 savable; up to 9,999 points per trail.
Man Overboard:............. MOB feature precisely marks man overboard
location with special icon, then automatically
displays navigation data to that position.
Audible alarms: ............. Arrival/off-course/destination passed/anchor.
Com Port: ........................ One serial communications port, NMEA 0183
version 2.0 compatible. Allows exchange of
position data with another device, such as an
autopilot or personal computer. Optional
combination serial/power cable available.
Zoom range:.................... 40 ranges; 0.02 to 4,000 miles.
NOTE:
The above memory capacities refer only to the iFINDER's on-board
memory. The amount of GPS data you can record and save for recall later is only limited by the number of MMC cards you have.
How the iFINDER Explorer Works
You'll navigate faster and easier if you understand how the iFINDER
scans the sky to tell you where you are on the earth — and, where
you're going. (But if you already have a working understanding of GPS
receivers and the GPS navigation system, skip on ahead to Section 2,
Installation & Accessories on page 11. If you're new to GPS, read on,
and you can later impress your friends with your new-found knowledge.)
Think of your iFINDER as a small but powerful computer. (But don't
worry — we made it easy to use, so you don't need to be a computer expert to find your way!) The iFINDER includes a keypad and a screen
with menus so you can tell it what to do. This pocket-sized unit also
contains an antenna and specialized scanning receiver, similar to a car
radio. But instead of your favorite dance tunes, this receiver tunes in a
couple of dozen GPS satellites circling the earth. The iFINDER listens
to signals from as many satellites as it can see above the horizon, elimi-
4
nates the weakest signals, then computes its location in relation to the
remaining satellites. Once the iFINDER figures its latitude and longitude, it plots that position on the moving map shown on the screen. While
the screen is updated once a second, your iFINDER is making these internal calculations and determining its position several times a second!
The performance doesn't stop there. Stored in the permanent memory of
each iFINDER is a basic background map of the entire world. We lock it in
at the factory — you can't change or close this map.
Another portion of the iFINDER's onboard memory is devoted to re-
cording GPS navigation information, which includes waypoints, event
marker icons, trails and routes. This lets you look back the way you
came. Think of this data storage like the hard drive memory in a computer or a tape in a cassette tape recorder. You can save several different GPS data files, erase 'em and record new ones, over and over and
over again. Like any computer file, these GPS Data Files (file format
*.usr) can be shared between iFINDERs, other Lowrance GPS and sonar/GPS combo units and even personal computers.
The iFINDER has one more thing in common with a personal computer. Just as computers have a floppy disk drive for storing and exchanging files, the iFINDER has a slot for an MMC (MultiMedia Card)
or SD (Secure Digital) Card flash memory card. These solid-state memory devices are about the size of a postage stamp, but can hold data
ranging from 8 MB to 1 GB. (Compare that to a floppy disk's 1.44 MB
capacity!) The iFINDER uses all that MMC space for two key purposes.
You can backup your onboard GPS Data Files by copying them to the
MMC. Since the MMC is removable (like a floppy disk or a cassette tape),
you can store these GPS Data Files on a personal computer equipped
with an MMC card reader. (Or store them on a pocketful of MMCs, if you
don't have a computer.) Our MapCreate mapping software can save, edit
and create its own GPS Data Files, which may be copied to the MMC and
then loaded from the MMC into the iFINDER's memory.
NOTE:
No matter where they come from, GPS Data Files must be loaded
from the MMC into memory before the iFINDER can use them.
The other key GPS use for MMCs is storage of special high-detail, custom maps, which can be produced on a computer with our MapCreate
software. These MapCreate custom maps contain much greater detail
than the basic background map.
Custom Map Files (file format *.lcm) can also be shared between
iFINDERs, other Lowrance GPS or sonar/GPS units and personal computers.
5
You make your own Custom Map Files with our MapCreate software,
but you don't have to. We also sell ready-to-use FreedomMaps. These
custom maps are pre-loaded on MMCs. (No computer work required!).
The iFINDER automatically reads Custom Map Files directly from the
MMC or SD Card. To use a custom map, all you need to do is slide an
MMC containing a map into the unit.
Introduction to GPS, WAAS and EGNOS
Well, now you know the basics of how the iFINDER does its work. You
might be ready to jump ahead to Section 2, Installation & Accessories,
on page 11, so you can install the batteries. Or you might want to see
how our text formatting makes the manual tutorials easy to skim. If
that's the case, move on to How to Use This Manual on page 8. But, if
you want to understand the current state of satellite navigation, look
over this segment describing how GPS and its new companions WAAS
and EGNOS work together to get you where you're going.
The Global Positioning System (GPS) was launched July 17, 1995 by
the United States Department of Defense. It was designed as a 24hour-a-day, 365-days-a-year, all-weather global navigation system for
the armed forces of the U.S. and its allies. Civilian use was also available at first, but it was less accurate because the military scrambled
the signal somewhat, using a process called Selective Availability (SA).
GPS proved so useful for civilian navigation that the federal government discontinued SA on May 2, 2000, after the military developed
other methods to deny GPS service to enemy forces. Reliable accuracy
for civilian users jumped from 100 meters (330 feet) under SA to the
present level of 10 to 20 meters (about 30 to 60 feet.)
Twenty-four satellites orbit 10,900 nautical miles above the Earth,
passing overhead twice daily. A series of ground stations (with precisely
surveyed locations) controls the satellites and monitors their exact locations in the sky. Each satellite broadcasts a low-power signal that identifies the satellite and its position above the earth. Three of these satellites
are spares, unused until needed. The rest virtually guarantee that at
least four satellites are in view nearly anywhere on Earth at all times.
6
A minimum of three satellites are required to determine a 2D fix.
The system requires signal reception from three satellites in order to
determine a position. This is called a 2D fix. It takes four satellites to
determine both position and elevation (your height above sea level —
also called altitude). This is called a 3D fix.
Remember, the unit must have a clear view of the satellites in order to
receive their signals. Unlike radio or television signals, GPS works at
very high frequencies. These signals can be easily blocked by trees,
buildings, an automobile roof and even your body.
Like most GPS receivers, the iFINDER doesn’t have a compass or any
other navigation aid built inside. It relies solely on the signals from the
satellites to calculate a position. Speed, direction of travel, and distance
all are calculated from position information. Therefore, in order for the
iFINDER to determine direction of travel, you must be moving and the
faster, the better. This is not to say that it won’t work at walking or
trolling speeds — it will. There will be more "wandering" of the data
shown on the display.
GPS alone is plenty accurate for route navigation, but the U.S. Federal
Aviation Administration has special aircraft navigation needs that go
beyond basic GPS. Consequently, the FAA has developed a program to
boost GPS performance with its Wide Area Augmentation System
(WAAS). The FAA commissioned the system on July 11, 2003. EGNOS
(European Geostationary Navigation Overlay Service) is the European
equivalent of WAAS. Like WAAS, it was created to make GPS position
calculation more accurate.
WAAS is designed to increase GPS accuracy to within 7.6 meters vertically
and horizontally, but according to the FAA, it consistently comes within 1-2
meters horizontal and 2-3 meters vertical. It does this by broadcasting correction signals on GPS frequencies. Your unit automatically receives both
GPS and WAAS signals.
7
There, however, are some fringe areas of the U.S., including parts of
Alaska, that do not yet receive robust WAAS coverage. Continued WAAS
development is planned to extend WAAS coverage in the years to come.
WAAS boosts the accuracy of land GPS navigation, but the system is
designed for aircraft. The satellites are in a fixed orbit around the
Equator, so they appear very low in the sky to someone on the ground
in North America. Aircraft and vessels on open water can get consistently good WAAS reception, but terrain, foliage or even large man-made
structures can sometimes block the WAAS signal from ground receivers.
You'll find that using your GPS receiver is both easy and amazingly
accurate. It’s easily the most accurate method of electronic navigation
available to the general public today. Remember that this receiver is
only a tool. Always have another method of navigation available, such
as a map or chart and a compass.
Also remember this unit will always show navigation information in
the shortest line from your present position to a waypoint, regardless of
terrain! It only calculates position. It can’t know what’s between you
and your destination. It’s up to you to safely navigate around obstacles,
no matter how you’re using this product.
How to use this manual: typographical conventions
Many instructions are listed as numbered steps. The keypad and arrow
"keystrokes" appear as boldface type. So, if you're in a real hurry (or
just need a reminder), you can skim the instructions and pick out what
menu command to use by finding the boldface command text. The following paragraphs explain how to interpret text formatting for those
commands and other instructions:
Arrow Keys
The arrow keys control the movement of dotted crosshairs lines (the
cursor) on your mapping screen. The arrow keys also help you move
around the iFINDER menus so you can execute different commands.
They are represented by symbols like these, which denote the down ar-
row key, the up arrow, the left arrow and the right arrow: ↓ ↑ ← →.
Keyboard
The other keys perform a variety of functions. When the text refers to a
key to press, the key is shown in bold, sans serif type. For example, the
"Enter/Save" key is shown as
Menu Commands
A menu command or a menu option will appear in small capital letters,
in a bold sans serif type like this:
are to select this command or option from a menu or take an action of
ENT and the "Menu" key is shown as MENU.
ADVANCED MODE. These indicate that you
8
some kind with the menu item. Text that you may need to enter or file
names you need to select are shown in italic type, such as trail name.
Instructions = Menu Sequences
Most functions you perform with the iFINDER are described as a sequence of keystrokes and selecting menu commands. We've written
them in a condensed manner for quick and easy reading.
For example, instructions for backtracking a trail in Easy Mode would
look like this:
1. Press
MENU|↓ to NAVIGATE TRAIL|ENT.
2. Now, let the iFINDER guide you.
Translated into complete English, step 1 means: "Press the Menu key. Use
the down arrow key to scroll down and select (highlight) the Navigate Trail
command. Press the Enter key."
Also note that throughout this text, we will refer to the iFINDER Explorer as the iFINDER or as the unit.
9
Notes
10
Section 2:
Installation & Accessories
Power
The iFINDER operates from AA batteries or on 3 volts DC using an
optional external power cable with a cigarette lighter adapter. When
the power cable is used, the iFINDER automatically switches to external power. If the external power fails, the unit will switch to battery
power.
Flash memory will keep your stored data safe and accessible for the life
of the product. After the unit is turned off, no battery or external power
is needed to store your data.
Batteries
The unit requires two, 1.5-volt AA batteries. We recommend you use
alkaline batteries for the best trade-off between battery life and cost.
We recommend DURACELL
you're looking for an extended-life battery, the Duracell
tery has performed well in our tests.
You can also use rechargeable AA alkaline batteries, such as those
made by RAYOVAC
, or rechargeable AA nickel metal hydride (NiMH)
batteries. We do not recommend nickel cadmium (NiCd) rechargeable
batteries because we tend to get poor battery life from them.
Rechargeable alkaline batteries will not last as long as standard alkaline batteries. Rechargeable NiMH batteries, however, should give you
suitable battery life.
Lithium batteries are lighter than alkaline, and with some brands of
lithium batteries, the iFINDER Explorer will float. We've tested the
iFINDER Explorer using Energizer
mained afloat.
NOTE:
The battery gauge on the Satellite Status Page may not read accurately with some battery brands because discharge rates can vary
significantly. This is especially true for rechargeables. This battery
gauge was calibrated for alkaline batteries.
Do not mix different battery types. Mixing battery types may cause leakage. (For example, don’t use both alkaline and NiMH batteries at the
same time, and don't use standard alkalines with rechargeable alkalines.)
brand, but other brands will work. If
2
e
lithium batteries, and it re-
ULTRA bat-
11
Battery Installation
Turn the unit over so that the back is facing you. With your thumb or
nail, pull back on the small clip to release the battery cover latch as
shown in the following images. Once the latch is released, pull the battery cover out of the grooves in the bottom of the case.
Remove the iFINDER battery cover.
Install the batteries according to the embossed signs in the battery compartment. They show the correct polarity. Point the positive pole of the
upper battery to the left; point the positive pole of the bottom battery to
the right.
NOTE:
Inside the battery compartment is a rotating MMC card lock. The
grip on this lock must be turned parallel with the direction of the
batteries for them to fit properly.
Replace the battery compartment cover. First, align the latch tabs at the
bottom of the cover with the slots at the case's base. Press the cover into
place, then firmly push up on the clip at the top of the cover until it
latches in place. There is usually an audible click when the latch engages.
Replace battery compartment cover. Align tabs with slots
in the base (left). Press latch firmly until it clicks (right).
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Cigarette Lighter Power Adapter
To use external DC power, plug the power cable's cigarette lighter
adapter into a cigarette lighter receptacle. Next, pull aside the rubber
cover on the bottom of the unit and insert the other connector as shown
in the following image. A small clip on the connector should hold the
connector in place.
Attach external power cable to the iFINDER.
WARNING:
Do not remove the cigarette lighter adapter and splice
the exposed wires directly to a 12-volt power system. The
cigarette lighter adapter contains in the plug a protective fuse and a voltage regulator to convert 12 volts
down to about 3 volts. Without this regulator, connecting
your unit to a 12-volt power source will destroy the unit.
This damage will not be covered by your warranty.
The iFINDER can use two other optional external cables to supply a
NMEA/serial data connection or a combination of power and data. These
cables are discussed in the following segment on NMEA connections.
NMEA Cable Connections
NMEA is a standard communications format for marine electronic
equipment. For example, an autopilot can connect to the NMEA interface
on this unit and receive positioning information. The unit can exchange
information with any device that transmits or receives NMEA 0183 data.
To exchange NMEA data, Lowrance offers an optional data only cable
and a power/data combo cable:
The PC-DI7 is a NMEA/serial communications cable. It has a standard
female DB-9 connector on one end to attach your unit to a computer's
serial communications port.
The PC-DI8 combines a cigarette lighter power adapter with a DB-9
plug for a NMEA/serial com port connection to a laptop computer or
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other device. This is our favorite cable for connecting the iFINDER Explorer to a laptop computer in a RV or other vehicle. By transmitting
NMEA data to the computer, you can get live position data for GPScompatible mapping software.
You can also run one of our free Lowrance GPS emulators on your laptop and operate it with real-time position information.
To use it, plug the power adapter into a cigarette lighter socket, plug
the DB-9 connector into a serial port on the computer and attach the
cable to the iFINDER. Then see "Com Port Configuration" in Sec. 5.
MMC or SD Memory Card Installation
Your iFINDER uses a MultiMedia Card to store information, such as
custom maps, waypoints and other GPS data. The unit can also use Secure Digital Cards (SD cards) to store information.
NOTE:
Throughout this manual, we will use the term MMC, but just remember your unit can use an MMC or SD card to store data.
Both of these solid-state flash memory devices are about the size of a
postage stamp. A SD card is slightly thicker than an MMC. As this
manual went to press, MMC and SD cards were available in storage
capacities of up to 1 GB.
Additional MMC cards are available from LEI Extras. See ordering information inside the back cover of this manual. MMCs and SD cards
are also available at many consumer electronics stores.
The MMC slot is located in the battery compartment, beneath the batteries on the right side of the unit. The contact pins are springy, to
make it easier to insert and remove a MMC card.
To remove an MMC
1. Remove battery compartment cover.
2. Remove batteries, if present.
3. Hold unit facedown in right hand. Use your thumb or index finger
and press down on the center of the MMC label.
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Remove an MMC Card.
4. Drag the MMC from the slot into the battery compartment.
5. Turn the iFINDER face up and give it a shake to dump the MMC
into your hand or onto a work surface.
To add an MMC or SDC
1. Remove battery compartment cover.
2. Remove batteries, if present.
3. Hold unit facedown in right hand. Drop the MMC card into the slot,
label-up, with the notched edge toward the right.
4. Press down on the center of the label and slide the card to the right.
Add an MMC Card.
5. Turn the plastic rotating card lock until it holds the card firmly in
place with the grip parallel to the direction of the batteries.
6. Replace the batteries and battery cover.
Mapping Resources
The iFINDER Explorer works with FreedomMaps, NauticPath USA,
Fishing Hot Spots
FreedomMaps are pre-made custom maps that cover multiple states,
provinces, countries or other geographic regions on a single memory
card. They give you all the features found in our MapCreate™ mapping
Elite, LakeMaster ProMaps and Navionics charts.
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software, but without the necessity of using a computer. FreedomMaps
are available for the United States, Canada and Europe.
Like custom maps built in MapCreate, the custom map on a FreedomMap
card contains all of these features: rivers/lakes/tributaries; more than
60,000 critical navigation aids; more than 10,000 wrecks/obstructions in
coastal and Great Lakes waters; interstate/federal/state highways; interstate exit services; searchable Points-of-Interest (POI) database including:
airports, hotels, restaurants, entertainment, emergency services; rural
roads and city streets; cities and towns; railways; key landmarks; searchable street intersections and street addresses; national parks and forests
with boundaries; wildlife preserves; and more!
NauticPath charts offer the highest level of offshore/coastal navigation
detail and information pre-loaded on a digital mapping card. NauticPath has electronic charts covering the East and West coasts, Hawaii, the Gulf Coast, Alaska, the Bahamas, Puerto Rico and US Virgin
Islands — all on one memory card!
Fishing Hot Spots Elite provides superb coverage of more than 2,000 of
America's premier inland fishing lakes. The mapping detail, which includes depth contour lines and excellent shoreline detail, is preloaded
onto one of four digital mapping cards.
LakeMaster ProMaps are high definition maps loaded on plug-and-play
digital media cards. The cards cover Minnesota and Wisconsin.
FreedomMaps, NauticPath charts, Fishing Hot Spots Elite and
LakeMaster ProMaps are available through LEI-Extras. To order a
card (or for list of areas available) see ordering information in the back
of this manual or visit the LEI web site at www.lei-extras.com. The
iFINDER also supports Navionics charts, which may be ordered at the
Navionics web site.
External Antenna
A GPS antenna requires a clear view of the sky for optimum operation.
Inside a vehicle, your iFINDER can sometimes maintain satellite lock
while sitting on the seat beside you, but we don't recommend this for
optimum performance.
Since the view is restricted to what can be seen through the windows,
this operating mode will reduce position accuracy and will increase the
chance of losing satellite lock. Inside a vehicle, the unit operates best
with an optional external antenna mounted on the windshield, on the
dash or on top of the vehicle.
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The optional external antenna can use a magnetic base that allows
temporary mounting on any flat ferrous metal surface. A suction-cup
mount allows you to attach the antenna to a windshield.
The iFINDER Explorer can use the passive FA-8 antenna or the active
RAA-3 antenna. The active antenna offers a further performance boost
by amplifying the satellite signals it receives. This is especially helpful
when operating in areas like dense forests, which can obstruct GPS
signals. Your unit will automatically switch between the active RAA-3
and its internal antenna (located in the top of the case). If you purchase
the passive FA-8, you must use a menu check box to manually switch
between it and the internal antenna. See the topic "External Passive
Antenna" in Sec. 5.
Attach the iFINDER antenna to windshield bracket with two screws.
You may achieve good results by placing the external antenna on the
top of the dash, at the base of the windshield. A piece of the rubber nonskid shelf liner material available in recreational vehicle supply stores
will also help hold the antenna in place.
To use the antenna: Mount it in a location with an unobstructed view of
the sky. Plug the connector into the unit's antenna socket, located on
the back, in the upper left corner of the case.
R-A-M Bracket Mounting Systems
Several R-A-M mounting brackets are available for your iFINDER.
There are permanent mounts and temporary mounts suitable for virtually any boat, aircraft, vehicle, even motorcycle handlebars.
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Two R-A-M mounting systems for your unit.
One model has a mounting arm and cradle attached to a swivel ball
plate that can be screwed or bolted to a supporting surface. Another has
a moldable, weighted, rubber foot and gooseneck for support virtually
anywhere without screws or adhesives. R-A-M even has suction cup
bases for attachment to windscreens or fiberglass surfaces. See your
Lowrance dealer or visit the LEI web site for the latest options. Accessory ordering information is on the inside back cover of this manual.
For a complete look at the many mounting options, visit the R-A-M web
site at www.ram-mount.com.
Other Accessories
Other iFINDER accessories include MMC cards, MMC card readers and
MapCreate™ 6 custom mapping software for your computer. (The
iFINDER Explorer Plus model ships with the GPS Accessory Pack,
which is composed of the MapCreate CDs, the card reader and one memory card.)
If these accessories are not available from your dealer, see the accessory ordering information on the inside back cover of this manual.
MapCreate™ 6 CD-ROM and MMC card reader for USB ports.
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Section 3:
2
Easy Mode Operation
This section addresses Easy Mode operation for the iFINDER's main
GPS functions. The principles are the same in both operating modes, so
this discussion also serves as a good introduction to Advanced Mode
work.
Before you turn on the iFINDER, it's a good idea to learn about the different keys, the three Page screens and how they all work together.
BUT, if you just can't wait to get outside, grab the batteries and turn to
the one-page Quick Reference on page 28.
Keypad
7
3
1
iFINDER Explorer keypad.
1. PWR/LIGHT – The PWR key turns the unit on and off and activates
the backlight.
2. PAGES – Pressing this key switches the unit between four page
screens in Easy Mode. (Satellite, Navigation, Compass and Map.) Each
page represents one of the unit's major operation modes.
3. MENU – Press this key to show the menus, which allow you to select
or adjust a feature from a list.
4. ARROW KEYS – These keys are used to navigate through the
menus, make menu selections, move the map cursor and enter data.
5. ENT – The enter key allows you to save data, accept values or execute menu commands.
4
8
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9
6
5
6. EXIT – The Exit key lets you return to the previous screen, clear
data or close a menu.
7. FIND – The Find key launches the iFINDER search menus and
some navigation functions.
8. ZOUT – (Zoom Out) – This key lets you zoom out the screen to see a
larger geographic are on the map. Less detail is seen as you zoom out.
9. ZIN – (Zoom In) – This key lets you zoom in the screen to see greater
detail in a smaller geographic area on the map.
Power/lights on and off
To turn on the unit, press PWR. To turn on the backlight, press PWR
again. Pressing PWR again will turn off the backlight. Press EXIT to
message or alarm displays.
Turn off the unit by pressing and holding the
PWR key for 3 seconds.
Main Menu
Easy Mode has a single Main Menu, which contains function and setup
option commands. The lessons in this section will deal only with functions
— the basic commands that make the iFINDER do something. The
iFINDER will work fine for these lessons with the factory default settings.
But, if you want to learn about the various options, see Sec. 5, System
Setup and GPS Setup Options.
Main Menu, Easy Mode.
The Main Menu commands and their functions are:
Go To Cursor: navigates to the current cursor position on the map
Cancel Navigation: turns off the navigation command after you have
reached your destination.
Screen: changes the contrast or brightness of the display screen and
backlight delay.
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Sounds: enables or disables the sounds for key strokes and alarms and
sets the alarm style.
Power Saving: power saving mode helps extend battery life.
Navigate Trail: sets up navigation back to the start of the current
trail.
Clear Trail: clears all the points stored in the plot trail.
Sun/Moon: finds the rising and setting time of the sun and the moon.
Units of Measure: allows users to change units for Speed/Distance,
Time, Date, Heading, Altitude, Depth and Pressure.
Set Local Time: sets the time for your local time zone.
Advanced Mode: used to switch from Easy Mode to Advanced Mode.
Easy Mode shows only the most commonly used features to simplify the
interface and simplify operation.
Transfer My Data: load or save GPS Data Files containing waypoints,
routes, trails and event marker icons.
Software Information: shows the product name and software version
of the unit's operating system software, as well as copyright notices.
Pages
Easy Mode has a page display for each of the four major operating
modes. They are the Satellite Status Page, the Compass Page, the
Navigation Page and the Map Page. The pages are accessed by pressing
the
PAGES key. Pressing PAGES repeatedly scrolls through the three
screens in an endless loop.
Satellite Status Page
The Satellite Status page, shown in the following images, provides detailed information on the status of the iFINDER's satellite lock-on and
position acquisition. To get to the Satellite Status Page, press
repeatedly until it appears on the screen.
No matter what page you are on, a flashing current position indicator/question mark symbol and flashing GPS data displays indicate satellite lock has been lost and there is no position confirmed. This page
shows you the quality and accuracy of the current satellite lock-on and
position calculation.
WARNING:
Do not begin navigating with this unit until the numbers
have stopped flashing!
PAGES
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Satellite Status Page.
This screen shows a graphical view of the satellites that are in view.
Each satellite is shown on the circular chart relative to your position.
The point in the center of the chart is directly overhead. The small inner ring represents 45° above the horizon and the large ring represents
the horizon. North is at the top of the screen. If you hold the unit facing
north, you can use it to see which satellites are obstructed by obstacles
in your immediate area. The GPS receiver is tracking satellites that are
in bold type. The receiver hasn't locked onto a satellite if the number is
grayed out, which means it isn't being used to resolve the position.
Beneath the circular graph are the bar graphs, one for each satellite in
view. Since the unit has 16 channels, it can dedicate one channel per
visible satellite. The taller the bar on the graph, the better the unit is
receiving signals from the satellite.
The Estimated Position Error (EPE), shown above the bar graphs, is
the expected error from a benchmark location. In other words, if the
EPE shows 50 feet, then the position shown by the unit is estimated to
be within 50 feet of the actual location. This also gives you an indicator
of the fix quality the unit currently has. The smaller the position error
number, the more accurate the fix. If the position error flashes dashes,
then the unit hasn't locked onto the satellites and the number shown
isn't valid.
Compass Page
This Page has a compass rose. It shows the direction you are facing and
the direction to a selected destination. When you're not navigating to a
waypoint or other destination, the navigation screen looks like the one
in the image below. No graphic course information is displayed. An arrow on the edge of the compass represents your facing direction.
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