Magellan meridian User Manual
User ManualUser Manual
User Manual
User ManualUser Manual
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WARNINGS
FOR SAFETY REASONS, THE DRIVER SHOULD NOT USE THIS DEVICE IN A
VEHICLE WHILE IN MOTION TO ASSIST THE DRIVER TO NAVIGATE.
Please do not try and change any settings on the Meridian while driving. Come
to a complete stop or have your passenger make any changes. Taking your eyes
off the road is dangerous and can result in an accident in which you or others
could be injured.
USE GOOD JUDGEMENT
This product is an excellent navigation aid, but does not replace the need for
careful orienteering and good judgement. Never rely solely on one device for
navigating.
USE CARE
The Global Positioning System (GPS) is operated by the U.S. Government, which
is solely responsible for the accuracy and maintenance of GPS.
The accuracy of position fixes can be affected by the periodic adjustments to GPS
satellites made by the U.S. Government and is subject to change in accordance
with the Department of Defense civil GPS user policy and the Federal
Radionavigation Plan. Accuracy can also be affected by poor satellite geometry.
USE PROPER ACCESSORIES
Use only Magellan cables and antennas; the use of non-Magellan cables and
antennas may severely degrade performance or damage the receiver, and will
void the warranty.
LICENSE AGREEMENT
Thales Navigation grants you, the purchaser, the right to use the software
supplied in and with Thales Navigation GPS products (the "SOFTWARE") in the
normal operation of the equipment. You may make copies only for your own
personal use and for use within your organization.
The SOFTWARE is the property of Thales Navigation and/or its suppliers and is
protected by United States copyright laws and international treaty provisions;
therefore, you must treat this SOFTWARE like any other copyright material.
You may not use, copy, modify, reverse engineer or transfer this SOFTWARE
except as expressly provided in this license. All rights not expressly granted are
reserved by Thales Navigation and/or its suppliers.
* * *
No part of this guide may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any
means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and recording, for any
purpose other than the purchaser's personal use without the prior written
permission of Thales Navigation.
© 2002 by Thales Navigation. All rights reserved. Magellan and MapSend are
registered trademarks of Thales Navigation, Inc. Meridian is a trademark of
Thales Navigation.
Introduction
About This User Manual ......................................................................... 1
Setting Up the Meridian
Installing the Batteries ............................................................................. 3
Initialization for First Time Use .............................................................. 4
Optional Setup Functions .............................................................................. 7
Basic Operation
Meridian GPS Receiver ........................................................................... 8
Turning Power On/Off .................................................................................. 9
Turning the Backlight On/Off ....................................................................... 9
Adjusting the Contrast ................................................................................. 10
Getting a Position Fix .................................................................................. 10
Navigational Screens ............................................................................. 10
Map Screen .................................................................................................. 11
Compass Screen ........................................................................................... 11
Large Data Screen ........................................................................................ 11
Position Screens ........................................................................................... 12
Road Screen ................................................................................................. 12
Data Screen ................................................................................................. 12
Speedometer Screen ..................................................................................... 12
Satellite Status Screen................................................................................... 12
Accessing the Navigation Screens .......................................................... 13
Saving a Waypoint ................................................................................ 13
Using GOTO Routes ............................................................................ 16
Creating a GOTO Route ............................................................................. 16
Navigating on a GOTO Route .................................................................... 19
Magellan Meridian GPS Receiver i
Reference
Power/Backlight/Contrast ..................................................................... 20
Turn the Meridian On ................................................................................. 20
Turn the Meridian Off ................................................................................. 20
Alternate Turn On/Off ................................................................................ 20
Using the Display Backlight ......................................................................... 21
Adjusting the Display Contrast .................................................................... 21
Selecting NAV Screens ................................................................................. 22
Returning to Last Viewed NAV Screen ........................................................ 22
Map Screen ........................................................................................... 22
Setting the Map Detail................................................................................. 25
Customizing the Map Display ..................................................................... 25
Selecting Map Items .............................................................................. 25
Turning On/Off Display Waypoints ...................................................... 25
Turning On/Off Track Lines .................................................................. 25
Turning On/Off Topographic Lines ....................................................... 26
Turning On/Off Displayed POI’s .......................................................... 26
Globally Turning Map Items On/Off ..................................................... 26
Setting Up Map Data Fields ......................................................................... 27
Setting up Map Data Fields ................................................................... 27
Turning Map Info On/Off................................................................. 27
Selecting the Map Information .......................................................... 27
Two Data Fields Description .............................................................. 27
Changing the Data Fields .............................................................. 29
Street Information Description .......................................................... 29
Horizontal Profile Description ........................................................... 29
Terrain Projection Description ........................................................... 31
Changing the Map Orientation ................................................................... 32
Selecting Primary Usage ............................................................................... 32
Selecting Track Mode ................................................................................... 32
Auto vs. Auto Detailed ........................................................................... 33
Compass Screen .................................................................................... 34
Customizing the Data Fields ........................................................................ 35
Large Data Screen ................................................................................. 35
Customizing the Data Fields ........................................................................ 36
ii Magellan Meridian GPS Receiver
Position Screen ...................................................................................... 36
GPS Status Messages.................................................................................... 37
Selecting the Position Screen........................................................................ 37
Resetting the Trip Odometer........................................................................ 38
Customizing the Data Fields ........................................................................ 38
Selecting Coordinate System, Map Datum and Elevation Mode .................. 38
Road Screen .......................................................................................... 39
Customizing the Data Fields ........................................................................ 39
Data Screen........................................................................................... 40
Customizing the Data Fields ........................................................................ 40
Speed Screen ......................................................................................... 41
Customizing the Data Fields ........................................................................ 41
Satellite Status Screen ............................................................................ 42
Waypoints / Database ........................................................................... 43
Accessing Waypoints in the Database ........................................................... 43
Selecting User Waypoints (Alphabetic) ......................................................... 45
Selecting Preloaded Waypoints (Alphabetic) ................................................. 45
Selecting Uploaded Waypoints (Alphabetic) ................................................. 45
Selecting User Waypoints (Nearest to Position) ............................................ 45
Selecting Preloaded Waypoints (Nearest to Position) .................................... 45
Selecting Uploaded Waypoints (Nearest to Position) .................................... 45
Selecting Waypoints (Nearest to Other Categories) ...................................... 46
Saving Present Position as a Waypoint.......................................................... 47
Creating New Waypoint Manually ............................................................... 47
Creating New Waypoint with Map Cursor .................................................. 48
Deleting a User Waypoint ............................................................................ 48
Editing a User Waypoint .............................................................................. 48
Viewing a Map Object on the Map .............................................................. 49
Viewing a User Waypoint on the Map ......................................................... 49
Saving a Map Object as a User Waypoint..................................................... 49
Searching for a Street Address ...................................................................... 50
Magellan Meridian GPS Receiver iii
Routes ................................................................................................... 51
Creating a GOTO Route ............................................................................. 51
Creating a Backtrack Route.......................................................................... 51
Creating a Multileg Route............................................................................ 52
Activating/Deactivating a Route .................................................................. 53
Viewing a Route .......................................................................................... 54
Editing a Route ............................................................................................ 54
Inserting a Leg ......................................................................................... 54
Deleting a Leg ......................................................................................... 55
Replacing a Leg ........................................................................................ 55
Appending a Leg ...................................................................................... 55
Appending a Newly Created Waypoint to a Route ....................................... 55
Reversing a Route ........................................................................................ 56
Deleting a Route .......................................................................................... 56
Viewing a Route on the Map Screen ............................................................ 56
Creating a Route using Track History .......................................................... 56
Using Vertical Profile ............................................................................ 57
Selecting Vertical Profile............................................................................... 57
Track History Description ........................................................................... 58
Highlighted Road Vertical Profile Description ............................................. 58
Route Vertical Profile Description ................................................................ 58
Path Check Description ............................................................................... 58
Setup .................................................................................................... 59
Initializing the Meridian .............................................................................. 59
Turning the NAV Screens On/Off ............................................................... 59
Selecting the Coordinate System .................................................................. 60
Selecting a Map Datum ............................................................................... 60
Selecting the Elevation Mode ....................................................................... 61
Selecting the Time Format ........................................................................... 61
Selecting NAV Units .................................................................................... 61
Selecting the North Reference ...................................................................... 62
Selecting Daylight Savings ........................................................................... 62
Power Off Timer .......................................................................................... 63
Setting the Backlight Timer ......................................................................... 63
Turning the Beeper On/Off ......................................................................... 64
Selecting NMEA Message ............................................................................ 64
Selecting the Baud Rate ............................................................................... 64
iv Magellan Meridian GPS Receiver
Changing the Power Key Settings ................................................................ 65
Selecting Languages ..................................................................................... 65
Clearing Memory .................................................................................. 66
Clearing Track History ............................................................................. 66
Clearing Wpts/Routes.............................................................................. 66
Clearing All Routes .................................................................................. 66
Resetting Meridian to Factory Defaults .................................................... 66
Clearing All Memory in the Meridian ...................................................... 66
Sun/Moon Display................................................................................ 67
Accessing the Sun/Moon Screen................................................................... 67
Changing the Sun/Moon Date..................................................................... 67
Changing the Sun/Moon Position................................................................ 67
Fish/Hunt Times Display ...................................................................... 68
Accessing the Fish/Hunt Screen ................................................................... 68
Changing the Fish/Hunt Date ..................................................................... 68
Changing the Fish/Hunt Position ................................................................ 68
Alarms .................................................................................................. 69
Setting the Arrival Alarm ............................................................................. 69
Setting the Anchor Alarm ............................................................................ 69
Setting the XTE Alarm ................................................................................ 69
Setting the GPS Fix Alarm ........................................................................... 69
Using the Simulator .............................................................................. 70
Turning on the Simulator - Auto Mode ....................................................... 70
Turning on the Simulator - User Mode ........................................................ 70
Turning the Simulator Off ........................................................................... 70
Using the Card Utilities ........................................................................ 71
Save Waypoints and Routes to Memory Card .............................................. 71
Save Track .................................................................................................... 71
Loading Waypoints and Routes from Memory Card .................................... 71
Loading Track from Memory Card .............................................................. 72
Deleting Files from Memory Card ............................................................... 72
Testing the Memory Card ............................................................................ 72
Changing the Detailed Map......................................................................... 73
Formating the Memory Card ....................................................................... 73
Magellan Meridian GPS Receiver v
About Screen......................................................................................... 73
Help Screen .......................................................................................... 73
Frequently Asked Questions
General ................................................................................................. 74
Waypoints/Database ............................................................................. 75
Navigation Screens ................................................................................ 76
Routes ................................................................................................... 76
Alarms .................................................................................................. 77
Output Data ......................................................................................... 77
Appendix
Tr oubleshooting .................................................................................... 78
Waypoint Icons ..................................................................................... 79
Contacting Magellan............................................................................. 80
Updating Your Meridian ....................................................................... 81
Specifications ........................................................................................ 82
Accessories ............................................................................................ 83
MapSend® Streets ................................................................................ 84
Using MapSend® ................................................................................. 85
Installing Memory Card ........................................................................ 88
Connecting to External Devices ............................................................ 89
WAAS ................................................................................................... 91
Glossary ................................................................................................ 92
vi Magellan Meridian GPS Receiver
Welcome and congratulations on your purchase of the Magellan Meridian GPS
receiver. The Meridian has all the features that a sailor, fisherman, hiker, hunter,
or any person involved with outdoor recreational activities has come to expect
from a Magellan GPS receiver. In addition to these features, the Meridian offers
the ability to display your location on detailed city maps providing you with a
complete navigation tool that will last you for years to come.
Magellan has been a leader in the hand-held GPS market since introducing the
world’s first commercial, hand-held GPS receiver in 1989. Since that time
Magellan has continued to equip the outdoorsman and consumer markets with
navigational receivers, all the way from the first GPS receiver for under $100 to
automotive receivers with turn-by-turn routing capabilities.
Before you begin, make sure that your package includes all of the items listed on
the side panel of the box. If any of these items are missing or damaged, please
contact Magellan at (866) 737-8604 for replacement items.
Magellan is a registered trademark name of Thales Navigation.
This User Manual is divided into six chapters; Introduction, Setting Up the
Meridian, Basic Operation, Reference Guide, Frequently Asked Questions, and
Appendix. Each of these chapters will be explained briefly so you can tell which
ones are right for you.
Setting Up the Meridian: This chapter will show you how to prepare the
Meridian for use. Instructions will include how to install the batteries
and how to set up the Meridian for first time use.
Basic Operation: This chapter provides you with step-by-step instructions for
using the basic functions of the Meridian. This chapter will explain
getting a position fix, viewing the Map screen, saving a waypoint and
using a GOTO. Knowing these four basic steps will enable you to
use the Meridian for most things you will want to do.
Magellan Meridian GPS Receiver 1
Reference Guide: Here you will find step-by-step instructions for all of the
features found in the Meridian. This chapter is set up in a way that
you can quickly and easily find the feature you are looking for.
Frequently Asked Questions: This chapter is aimed at answering some of the
more basic questions that you may have about your Meridian, the
global positioning system (GPS) and using the Meridian to its fullest.
Experienced GPS users will probably not find any new information in
this chapter but new GPS users may find many of their questions
answered here.
Appendix: Sections containing information about connecting your Meridian to
external devices, accessories, troubleshooting and specifications can be
found in the Appendix.
Glossary: A glossary is provided explaining some of the terms and abbreviations
found in the Meridian and this manual that may not be familiar to all
users.
It’s time to begin using your Meridian. Don’t be overwhelmed with the size of
the manual as we have tried to give enough information for the beginning user as
well as provide the experienced users with the specifications and features that they
are looking for.
The most important thing to us is to be sure that you are completely satisfied
with your Meridian and the accompanying documentation. If you have any
ideas, suggestions or even a complaint, please pass them along to us through our
web site (www.magellangps.com) or by mail.
2 Magellan Meridian GPS Receiver
Setting up the Meridian is a simple two-step process: installing the batteries
and initializing the Meridian.
The Magellan Meridian uses two AA batteries that are installed from the
back through the battery cover. You can expect to get up to 14 hours of
usage on two AA batteries with the backlight turned off. Using the
backlight will shorten the battery life
significantly. With the backlight on
continuously, you can expect to get
approximately 6 hours of usage from two AA
batteries.
To remove the battery cover, push the two
buttons on the cover fully to the left and lift
the battery cover away from the receiver.
Insert the new batteries as shown, making
sure that the batteries are installed with the correct
polarity.
Replace the cover and push the two buttons fully to the right. Verify that
the cover is locked in place.
How much time do I have to replace the batteries? Any
waypoints or routes you have created are stored in permanent
memory. Present position and time data is not stored in permanent
memory but will be held in memory for at least 12 hours without
batteries installed.
Always turn the Meridian off before removing the batteries
or turning off external power. Failure to do so can cause loss
or corruption of data.
3Magellan Meridian GPS Receiver
The Meridian will walk you through the process of setting up the receiver
for first time use. This procedure is commonly referred to as “Initializing
the Receiver.” The purpose of this initializaion is to provide the Meridian
with a general knowledge of its approximate location.
This may seem a little confusing at first as why does a device that is used to
compute its position need to know where it’s at? The Meridian uses
information from the GPS satellites that orbit the earth and if the Meridian
has an approximate idea as to its location, it will refer to the almanac it has
in memory to select what satellites are overhead. From this information,
the Meridian can then select the satellites that will give it the best
information for computing its location. Under normal use, the Meridian
will save the last position it calculated and use that position the next time it
is turned on. However, when the Meridian is new (or when memory has
been completely erased), the Meridian has no last position information.
Thus, it can either start polling the satellites to see which ones are overhead
or you can provide it with your approximate location allowing the Meridian
to begin computing the initial position, known as “first fix.”
Note: You can skip the initialization process by pressing the [NAV] key
anytime after selecting the language you want the Meridian to use and
agreeing to the Warning Page. If the Meridian is able to collect satellite
data (i.e., have a clear view of the sky) it will begin to self-initialize.
This could take anywhere from 3 to 8 minutes to compute its initial
position.
Follow these instructions to initialize the Meridian.
Step 1: Turn the Meridian On
Press [PWR]
The Meridian turns on and displays the start-up
screen, followed by the language selection
screen.
4 Magellan Meridian GPS Receiver
Step 2: Select Language
Use the Up/Down arrows to move the highlight to the
language that you want the screens to be displayed in.
With the desire language highlighted, press [ENTER].
Step 3: Accept Warnings and Begin Initialization
The Warning Screen is displayed. This screen will be
displayed for 10 seconds and if the ENTER key has not
been pressed, the Meridian will shut off.
If you understand and agree to the warning presented,
press [ENTER].
The Meridian displays a message box indicating that
the receiver needs to be initialized.
Press [ENTER]
Step 4: Select Your Region and Area
Use the Up/Down arrows to highlight your general
region.
Press [ENTER]
Use the Up/Down arrows to highlight your area.
Press [ENTER]
5Magellan Meridian GPS Receiver
Step 5: Enter the Time and Date
Entering Data. When entering data in the Meridian, you sometimes
need to use the arrow keys to enter the values. The following diagram
explains how the arrow keys are used.
Editing
moves the cursor block left or right
Pressing right arrow
results in:
increments the value up or down.
Pressing up arrow
results in:
Enter Local Time. The cursor appears in the time
field, waiting for you to input your local time. Set your
local time using the arrow keys. Be sure that you set
the AM/PM indicator.
When the time is correct, press [ENTER].
Enter Date. The last piece of information needed is
the date. Using the arrow keys, enter the present date.
Press [ENTER].
All the information that the Meridian needs to speed
up the process of computing its first fix has been
entered and the Done button is highlighted.
To complete the initialization process, press [ENTER].
6 Magellan Meridian GPS Receiver
Step 6: Compute First Fix
The Satellite Status screen is displayed and the
Meridian begins acquiring the data from the satellites.
Once the first position fix has been computed you can
begin using all of the functions found in your
Meridian GPS receiver
Optional Setup Functions
There are two additional options that you may want to set up prior to
using your Meridian GPS receiver: Contrast and NAV Units.
Contrast. To set the contrast, press [MENU]. Use the Up/Down
arrows to highlight “Contrast” and press [ENTER].
Use the Left/Right arrows to change the contrast
to a level that provides the best display of the four
bars displayed below the slider bar. When you are
satisfied with the contrast, press [ESC].
NAV Units. You can select the units of measure that Meridian will
use; Miles/Yards/MPH, Miles/Feet/MPH (default), Nautical Miles/
Feet/Knots or Kilometers/Kilometers per hour.
To change the Nav Units of Measure press [MENU]. Use the Up/
Down arrows to highlight “Setup” and press [ENTER]. Use the
Up/Down Arrows to highlight “NAV Units” and
press [ENTER].
Use the Up/Down arrows to highlight the unit of
measure that you want and press [ENTER].
Press [ESC] to return to the last screen viewed.
This completes the set up for your Meridian GPS receiver. The next
chapter will describe the basic operation and use of the Meridian as a
navigation tool.
7Magellan Meridian GPS Receiver
For many of you this will be your first introduction into using a GPS
receiver as a navigational tool. With all of the features and functions
provided with the Meridian, it may seem a bit intimidating at first. Don’t
worry. There are only a few things you need to know to use the Meridian.
They will be discussed here in detail. Other features and functions can be
found in the Reference Section of the User Manual.
Quadrifilar Antenna
OUT - Zooms out
IN - Zooms in the
display of the Map
screen. (Press once
to zoom in one
level, press and hold
to quickly move
through the zoom
levels.)
the display of the
Map screen.
(Press once to
zoom out one
level, press and
hold to quickly
move through the
zoom levels.)
ESC- Cancels the
operation of the last
button pressed.
Also scrolls through
the NAV screens in
reverse order.
NAV - Accesses the
various navigation
screens.
GOT O (dual
function key) -
GOTO is used to
create a direct route
to any waypoint
stored in memory.
This key is also used
to MARK a position.
8 Magellan Meridian GPS Receiver
ENTER -
Confirms data
entries or menu
selections.
MENU -
Accesses menus
for displayed
screens. Also
provides access
to waypoint,
route and setup
functions.
PWR- Turns the
Meridian on/off. Also
used to turn the display
backlight on/off.
Tuning the Meridian On
PWR
ENTER
You have 10
seconds to press
ENTER accepting
the warning or the
Meridian will shut
off.
After accepting the warning information, the last navigation screen you
were viewing will be displayed. If the last navigation screen view was
the Map screen, the last zoom scale setting will be used.
Tu r n i ng the Meridian Off
PWR
Pressing the POWER
button again will turn off
the Meridian immediately.
Pressing ESC will cancel
the power down
sequence.
The display backlight can be set to one of three levels (low, high or
off).
Press and
hold for 2
seconds
PWR
Display
backlight
illuminates
(low)
Press and
hold for 2
seconds
PWR
Display
backlight
illuminates
(high)
Press and
hold for 2
seconds
PWR
Display
backlight
turns off
The backlight causes severe drain on the batteries in the
Meridian. To prevent accidently turning the backlight on and
leaving it on, the Meridian will turn the backlight off when
there have been no buttons pressed for 4 minutes. Pressing
any button will turn the backlight back on in this instance. You can
change the time delay for the backlight in Setup.
9Magellan Meridian GPS Receiver
from any
screen
MENU
Use up/down
arrows to
highlight
Contrast
The menu display may
differ slightly
depending upon which
screen it was
accessed from.
Use left/right
arrows to
adjust the
contrast.
ENTER
Because the Meridian attains information it needs
from satellites orbiting the earth, the antenna needs to
have a relatively unobstructed view of the sky. This
allows the Meridian to choose from all satellites
currently available.
If the view of the sky is poor due to large cliffs or buildings, heavy
foliage or other obstructions, the satellite signals can be blocked and
the receiver may take longer to compute a position fix.
You can observe the signal strength and the
satellites being used on the Satellite Status screen
(described in the next section).
Holding the Meridian. The receiver is designed
to fit comfortably in your hand. Hold the
Meridian in the palm of your hand with the
antenna pointing towards the sky.
The Meridian has nine navigation screens: Map screen, Compass screen,
Large Data screen, two Position screens, Road screen, Data screen and
Speedometer screen. There is also Sat Status screen which enables you to
view how well the Meridian is receiving satellite information. They will be
described briefly here. More detailed information on the different screens
can be found in the Reference chapter of the User Manual.
10 Magellan Meridian GPS Receiver
Map Screen The Map screen has two modes,
position or cursor. In the position mode, your present
position is indicated by the large arrow icon in the
center of the display. If you are moving, the arrow will
point in the direction that you are heading. At the
bottom of the screen is the scale for the map displayed
and two data fields that can be customized, or turned
off, depending upon your needs.
The present position icon will change to an hourglass
when the Meridian is unable to compute a position fix
due to poor signal reception.
In the Cursor Mode, you are provided with a cursor that
can be moved on the map. At the bottom of the display
is the information for the position of the cursor relative
to your present position. Also any points of interest that
the cursor is over will be shown.
To access the Cursor Mode, press any arrow on the keypad. A crosshair
appears that can be moved with the arrow keys.
To return to the Position Mode, press [ESC]. The cursor will disappear and
the present position icon will appear centered on the map.
Compass Screen. This is a handy screen to have at
your fingertips while you are navigating. It is totally
customizable to display the information that is useful to
you. The lower portion of the Compass screen not only
displays your heading in a graphical manner, but also
displays the relationship of the sun, moon and your
destination (if navigating on a route) to your heading.
Large Data Screen. The Large Data screen is similar
to the Compass screen but here the compass has been
removed to allow for large display of the navigation
data. Ideal for when you have your Meridian mounted
on the dashboard of a boat using the optional swivel
mounting bracket. Even from a distance the
customizable information can be read with ease.
11Magellan Meridian GPS Receiver
Position Screens. The Position screens 1 and 2 display
your present position using the coordinate systems that you
have selected in Setup. This screen shows all of the basic
position, time and satellite information. Additionally,
current navigation information is shown in the bottom half
of the screen.
Road Screen. The Road screen presents your route as if
you were travelling on a road. When you need to make
a turn, the road will graphically display the turn and the
direction. Waypoint and destination icons will be
displayed relative to your position as they come into
view. Above the road is a compass that displays your
heading and above that are four customizable data fields.
Data Screen. When you need to see a lot of information
in one place then you’ll appreciate the Data screen. The
Data screen provides you with six data fields and an active
compass that is the same as the one used on the road
screen. You have the option of customizing this screen by
selecting what data is displayed in the upper six fields.
Speedometer Screen. The Speedometer screen displays
your speed in a familiar graphical format. There are
four additional data fields at the top of the display that
can be customized to display the data that you need.
The bottom of the screen contains a trip odometer that
will record the distance travelled since the last time the
odometer was reset.
Satellite Status Screen. The Sat Status screen provides
you with a graphical display of the satellites in view and
which ones are being used to compute the navigation
data. The bar graph shows you the relative signal strength
being received for each satellite. At the bottom of the
display is an indication of the battery life remaining.
When you are using external power, it will be indicated
here as well.
12 Magellan Meridian GPS Receiver
The NAV key and the ESC key are used to step through the various
navigation screens. If you are viewing one of the NAV screens, pressing
NAV will take you to the next NAV screen in the list and pressing ESC will
take you to the previous NAV screen. If you are not viewing one of the
NAV screens, pressing NAV will return you to the last NAV screen viewed.
NOTE: If you are inputting data, pressing NAV will return you to the
last navigation screen but your inputs will not be saved.
First, a few simple definitions. A waypoint is any position on the globe that
you have saved into memory. The act of saving the waypoint is commonly
called “Marking.” So when references are made to marking a waypoint, that
simply means to save a position on the globe into memory.
The Meridian has a number of ways to perform this, but the most common
are saving your present position, entering the coordinates of a position or
saving the position of the cursor while viewing the Map screen. These
waypoints can then later be used to create routes or as the destination of a
GOTO. (A GOTO is a single leg route that is defined as a route from your
present position to any waypoint. I am here and I want to GOTO there.)
Saving Your Present Position as a Waypoint
From any screen, press and hold [GOTO] for 2 seconds and the Mark
screen is displayed.
The “Save” button is highlighted and you can press
[ENTER] to save the waypoint using the default
name and icon.
This will save your present position using a default
name (WPTxxx) into memory.
Saving a Your Present Position as a Waypoint with a Custom Icon
and Name
The above method is fine if you want to just save your position
quickly, but it will be difficult to figure out later which waypoint this is
13Magellan Meridian GPS Receiver
from a list of waypoints named WPT001, WPT002, etc. For that
reason, you may want to change the default name to one of your
choosing. You can also select a different icon that will help you find
the waypoint when you are using the map screen.
To do this, press and hold [GOTO] for 2 seconds just like you did
before. Use the UP/DOWN arrows and notice that the highlight
moves from field to field and then back to “Save.”
Highlight the Icon field using the UP/DOWN arrows and press
[ENTER].
The Icon Select window is displayed. Use the arrow
keypad to move from one icon to another with the
name of the icon displayed at the top. As a reference
tool, all of the icons and their names are listed in the
Reference Chapter of the User Manual. When you
have highlighted the icon you want to use, press
[ENTER].
The cursor is now highlighting the Waypoint Name field. With the
Name field highlighted, press [ENTER]. The input keyboard is
displayed. The very top of the keyboard window shows you what field
you are changing, in this case the Name field.
You can now use the arrow keypad to select the character you wish to
enter. With the character highlighted, press [ENTER] and the
character is appended to the name you are entering and displayed in
the field above the keys. (Note: waypoint names can be up to 8
characters in length.)
Arrow keys – Moves the highlight from one key to the next.
Shifts from upper
case to lower case or
from lower case to
upper case
Backspace – Moves the
cursor back one space,
erasing the last character
entered.
characters.
Clears the entire name.
Accepts the name and
returns to the Mark
screen.
14 Magellan Meridian GPS Receiver
When you have the name the way you want it, highlight “OK” and
press [ENTER]. You are returned to the Mark screen with the new
name displayed.
Adding a Message to a Waypoint
You can also add a message to waypoints you are creating. There is a
memory limit however. You can save up to 500 user-entered waypoints
in your Meridian but only 200 waypoint of those can have a message
assigned to it.
Adding a message to a waypoint can assist you in identifying the
waypoint. If this was a waypoint for a friend’s house or business, you
could add a phone number or any other information that you find
useful.
To add a message to a waypoint you are creating, highlight the
Message field using the Up/Down arrows and press [ENTER].
The same keyboard that was used in entering a name is presented
allowing you to enter a message. Using the same technique, you
can enter a message up to 30 characters in length.
Is there a limit to the number of waypoints I can store in the
Meridian? Yes, the Meridian will store up to 500 user waypoints in
memory. If you should ever get that many and need to input more,
you will have to delete ones that you no longer need to make room.
PRACTICE
Using the techniques described, go outside of your house and turn your
Meridian on. If the Meridian has been previously initialized, you will soon
be computing position fixes. Press the NAV key until you are viewing the
Map screen. When the cursor icon changes from an hourglass to an arrow,
the Meridian is computing position fixes. When the icon changes to an
arrow, press and hold the [GOTO] button until the Mark screen is displayed. Change the waypoint name to “Home” and save the waypoint. We
will use this waypoint in the next discussion on GOTO routes.
15Magellan Meridian GPS Receiver
A GOTO route is simply a route with a start point (your present position)
and a single destination point (a waypoint you select). All that is required
to create a GOTO route is having the destination waypoint saved in
memory. This waypoint can be one that you have saved earlier (which is
stored in your User Waypoint List) or any of the landmarks that come with
the Meridian in its built-in database.
In the previous section, you created a waypoint named “Home”. Now
suppose you had gone some place else and you wanted your Meridian to
guide you back. All you need do is to create a GOTO route and the
Meridian will do the rest.
The uses for a GOTO route are endless. You could mark the position of
your campsite and always find your way back. Or you could mark the
location of a hot fishing spot you found, and next season come back to the
exact same spot. Even mark the location of your car in a large parking lot
and never have to worry about roaming endlessly looking for your car.
Step 1: Accessing GOTO.
Press GOTO. The first thing that has to be done is
to select the destination waypoint. This is done by
accessing the waypoint database. The first screen
is used to select the category of the database that
the waypoint is in and how it will be found,
alphabetically or nearest to your position, a city or
other waypoints.
Step 2: Select Category of Waypoints.
Use the Up/Down arrows to move the highlight through the list of
waypoint categories. The first category in the list is “User” and these
are all of the waypoints that you have entered into your Meridian
receiver. The remaining categories are ones that have waypoints
which have been preloaded into your Meridian and are stored in
permanent memory. If you have the Meridian Marine, you will
notice your list is considerably longer then the one shown here as
you have additional marine waypoints preloaded into your Meridian.
(For this example, select the “User” category.)
16 Magellan Meridian GPS Receiver
Step 3: Select Find By.
There are two options of “Find By”: Alphabetical and Nearest To.
Selecting Alphabetical will display all the waypoints in the category
you select in alphabetic order. Nearest To will display a list of the 20
waypoints nearest to your position or waypoint you select in order of
their distance away. This could be used to display the waypoints that
are closest to your present position or display the airports that are
closest to any city you select. For the purpose of this basic operation, only Alphabetical will be used. For details on Nearest To, see
the Reference chapter in the User Manual.
Use the Left/Right arrow until “Alphabetical” is displayed in the
Find By field.
Step 4: Select GOTO Destination Waypoint from the User Category.
With “User” highlighted and “Alphabetical” in
the Find By field, press [ENTER]. A list of all
the waypoints you have entered is displayed.
Use the Up/Down arrows to highlight the
desired destination, in this case “Home”, and
press [ENTER].
You are returned to the last NAV screen viewed
with some noticeable changes. If you are
viewing the Map screen, you will now notice a
thick line which is a graphical plot of the
GOTO you just created. Other NAV screens, have changed the
header bar to indicate that you are navigating to a destination. Press
the NAV key until you are viewing the Compass screen. The header
bar now displays “To: Home”. Now all of the navigational information displayed is to provide you with the necessary details to get you
to your destination, in this case “Home”.
Alternate Step 4: Select GOTO Destination Waypoint from Other
Categories.
As mentioned earlier, a GOTO can be to any waypoint in memory,
either ones you have created or ones that have been loaded into the
Meridian. When selecting waypoints other then “User”, you are first
presented with the keyboard display. The reason for this is there can
be thousands of waypoints in the list and using the conventional
“scrolling” could take quite a bit of time. By using the keyboard,
you will be able to shorten the time by going to a specific point in
the list.
17Magellan Meridian GPS Receiver
(If you have been performing the keypresses as you are reading this,
then you are probably viewing one of the NAV screens. In which
case, you need to press [GOTO] to continue following along with
the text. The first thing you will notice is an alert pop-up asking you
if you want to clear the GOTO that is active. With “Yes” highlighted, press [ENTER] to continue.)
With “Cities” highlighted and “Alphabetical” in
the Find By field, press [ENTER]. This is a
slight variation of the keyboard you have already
used. This time the “shift” and “backspace” keys
have been replaced with “<-” (move cursor left)
and “->” (move cursor right). What you want to
do here is to begin typing the name of the city
you are looking for.
For example, suppose your destination was to be Los Angeles. Use
the keypad to highlight the letter “L” and press [ENTER]. Notice
how the name is changed to the first city stored in the Meridian’s
memory that begins with the letter “L” and that the cursor has
moved to the next letter in the city name. (You can move the cursor
back if you made a mistake by highlighting the “<-” button on the
keyboard and press [ENTER].)
Since we are looking for Los Angeles, we need to highlight the “O”
next and press [ENTER]. Then the “S” and press [ENTER].
To add a space, highlight the “space bar” and press [ENTER]. (Also,
you can use the “->” button to move the cursor to the right if you
want to skip the letter the cursor is indicating.)
You don’t need to spell out the entire word. The attempt here is to
get close to the name so you won’t need to scroll very far during the
next step. As a guide, entering the first five letters should be
sufficient. When you are satisfied with what you have entered,
highlight “OK” and press [ENTER].
Tip: There is a hidden shortcut that replaces highlighting “OK”
and pressing [ENTER]. When you are satisfied that you have
narrowed the search down and want to proceed to the list, press
the [IN] key.
The list of all the waypoints for the category you selected, in this
case cities, is displayed with the waypoint that was previously
selected at the top of the list. Now just use the Up/Down arrows to
highlight the waypoint you are looking for and press [ENTER].
18 Magellan Meridian GPS Receiver
For this example, you would highlight Los Angeles, CA and press
[ENTER]. The last viewed NAV screen is displayed and the
Meridian will begin computing all of the necessary information
needed to get you to your destination.
The Meridian has the ability to provide you with the tools you’ll need to
navigate to your destination. You have the choice of three customizable
screens that display the information that you need in the layout that you
desire. Hikers may find the compass screen perfect for them while boaters
may prefer the Large Data or Map screen. For you, the Map screen may
have all the information you’ll ever require.
Press [NAV] until the navigation screen you want is displayed.
If you selected the Map screen, you will see your position icon in the center
of the screen with a line drawn for you on the map, graphically displaying
the GOTO route.
Note that this route is line of sight (LOS) or “as the crow flies.”
The Meridian does not compute the route using streets and
highways providing a turn-by-turn routing. You’ll find very
quickly that you can easily use the roads and highways displayed
on the Map screen and compare them to the displayed route
and get to your destination quickly.
GOTO routes are NOT saved in memory when the
Meridian is turned off. If you are navigating on a GOTO
route and you need to turn the Meridian off, you will need
to reset the GOTO. Routes, however, are stored in
memory. If you need to make a GOTO but expect to turn
the Meridian off before arriving, you might consider
making a 1-leg route using the route menu.
This concludes the basic operation of the Magellan Meridian, but there is
so much more. More detail on the mentioned functions, and information
on the functions not mentioned can be found in the Reference chapter of
the User Manual.
19Magellan Meridian GPS Receiver
Reference
Tu r n t he Meridian On — Applies power to the Meridian and displays last
NAV screen viewed. During power-up the first screen shows the
software and map database versions currently loaded in the Meridian.
The second screen gives a warning that must be read. After reading the
warning press [ENTER] to proceed. (If you do not press [ENTER], the
Meridian will shut off after 10 seconds.)
PWR
ENTER
You have 10
seconds to press
ENTER accepting
the warning or the
Meridian will shut
off.
Tu r n t h e Meridian Off — Shuts down the Meridian.
Press ESC key to abor t
PWR
before 5 seconds has
elapsed.
During the 5 second countdown, pressing the [PWR] key again will
shut the Meridian off immediately.
Alternate Power On/Off — If you carry your Meridan in your pocket or
other places where the [PWR] button can be accidently pressed, you
may want to consider putting your Meridian in the Alternate On/Off
mode.
Tu rning the Meridian On (Alternate) – You must press and hold the
[PWR] button down until the first start-up screen is displayed. After
the screen is displayed, the Meridian operates normally.
Tu rning the Meridian Off (Alternate) – To turn the Meridian off, press
[PWR]. The countdown sequence will begin and you must press
[ENTER] before the sequence ends. If you do not press [ENTER]
before the sequence ends, the Meridian returns to the last screen
displayed.
20 Magellan Meridian GPS Receiver
Selecting Alternate Power On/Off
Reference
From
any
Screen
MENU
Highlight
Setup
Use U/D arrows to
select “No protection”
(normal) or “On/Off
protected” (alternate)
ENTER ENTER
Highlight
Power key
ENTER
Using the Display Backlight — Illuminates the display for easier viewing
in dark surroundings. Use only as needed as the backlight causes a large
drain on the batteries. An automatic timer will turn the backlight off
when a button has not been pressed for a selected duration. (See “Setup”
to change the settings for the automatic timer.)
PWR
Press and hold for
2 seconds
Button Sequence
1st Pr ess L ight On (low)
2nd Press Light On (high)
3rd Press Light Off
Adjusting the Display Contrast — Sets the contrast of the display for easy
viewing in most lighting conditions.
From
Any
Screen
MENU
Highlight
Contrast
ENTER ENTER
Adjust
Contrast Level
21Magellan Meridian GPS Receiver
Reference
Selecting NAV Screens — The [NAV] button provides a means of
accessing the navigation screens. (Note: the sequence displayed is when
all eight navigation screens are turned on. Screens turned off in Setup
will not be displayed.)
Navigation Screen Sequence
NAV
Position Screen 1 Position Screen 2
Map Screen
Compass Screen
Large Data Screen
Road Screen
Data Screen
Speed Screen
Sat Status Screen
ESC
Returning to Last Viewed NAV Screen — Pressing the [NAV] button
returns the Meridian to the last NAV Screen viewed.
NAV
(Note: if the NAV screen is pressed from a screen where data is being
input, the data will not be saved.)
The Map screen is the very heart of the Meridian. The Map screen has two
modes: Position and Cursor.
In the Position Mode, the map is centered around your present position with an
arrow cursor indicating your position and points in the direction you are
heading. A customizable area is presented at the bottom of the display.
In the Cursor Mode, you are provided with a cursor that can be moved on the
map. At the bottom of the display is the information for the position of the
cursor relative to your present position. Also any points of interest that the
cursor is over will be shown.
To access the Cursor Mode, press any arrow on the keypad. A crosshair appears
that can be moved with the arrow keys.
To return to the Position Mode, press [ESC]. The cursor will disappear and the
present position icon will appear centered on the map.
22 Magellan Meridian GPS Receiver
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