| Q.
Will My GARMIN unit have a "year 2000" or "Y2K" problem? |
A.
As we approach the end of the millennium, many customers have concerns regarding the year 2000-otherwise known as Y2K-and GPS products. We hope this information will answer all of your questions and help you plan for this event. This FAQ is a Year 2000 Readiness Disclosure as defined by the Federal Year 2000 Information and Readiness Disclosure Act.
GARMIN took Y2K considerations into account from the beginning of its product development. GARMIN GPS products should continue to operate after the year 2000. Products that display two digits for the year field will display 00 for the year 2000, 01 for the year 2001, and so on. If you are interfacing a GARMIN product to an NMEA device such as a plotter or moving map, you should check with the respective manufacturer to be certain that these products can properly receive the two-digit date in the NMEA data.
The information contained in this FAQ is based upon the results of testing and analysis performed by GARMIN using techniques intended to simulate reasonably anticipated Year 2000 (Y2K) events and circumstances, based on information available in advance of the actual Y2K events. Due to the inability of GARMIN to control or precisely simulate the manner in which GPS satellites may be operated and perform during the actual Y2K events, the information contained in this document may prove erroneous. In addition, a product's performance described in this FAQ may prove erroneous when the product is operated in conjunction with incompatible equipment, software, or data. The information in this FAQ is advisory only and does not constitute an express or implied representation, warranty, or other binding legal obligation or commitment by GARMIN. GARMIN's obligations regarding GARMIN products shall continue to be governed exclusively by the terms and conditions under which GARMIN products are sold.
Important Legal Information and Disclaimer:
THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS DOCUMENT IS PROVIDED TO CUSTOMERS FOR THE SOLE PURPOSE OF ASSISTING IN PLANNING FOR Y2K EVENTS AND DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTY OR REPRESENTATION OF ANY KIND WITH RESPECT TO ANY GARMIN PRODUCT. THIS DOCUMENT CONTAINS THE INFORMATION CURRENTLY AVAILABLE REGARDING THE COMPLIANCE OF GARMIN'S PRODUCTS TO THE STANDARDS SET FORTH HEREIN AND IS PROVIDED "AS IS." SALE AND WARRANTY OF GARMIN PRODUCTS ARE GOVERNED EXCLUSIVELY BY THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS UNDER WHICH SUCH PRODUCTS ARE SOLD AND THE WARRANTIES CONTAINED THEREIN. THIS DOCUMENT SHALL NOT MODIFY ANY TERM OR CONDITION OF SUCH SALES CONTRACT OR PRODUCT WARRANTY.
The GPS system is operated by the Government of the United States of America, which is solely responsible for its accuracy and maintenance including any GPS control segment and space segment issues associated with Y2K. The GPS system is subject to changes which can affect the accuracy and performance of all GPS receivers.
| Q.
How accurate is a GARMIN GPS? |
A. All GPS units from all manufacturers have a design positional accuracy of 15 meters.
The GPS satellites are owned and controlled by the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) and this agency has the prerogative to degrade the accuracy of the GPS signal available to non-military users for purposes of national defense. This is done by what is called "Selective Availability" (commonly known as "SA"). SA is normally turned "on."
SA allows the U.S. DOD to degrade the accuracy of non-military GPS system by as much as +/- 100 meters. At the present time the accuracy of all commercial GPS receivers can vary Between 15 to 100 meters depending on the level of degradation being imposed by the U.S. DOD.
SA introduces a positional error which changes over a period of time. It is not unusual for your unit to show fluctuations in position and speed. This is normal when SA is on.
| Q.
Why is the altitude on my GPS incorrect by several hundred feet? |
A. GARMIN GPS units have a potential position accuracy of 15 meters.
This is the same accuracy available in all commercially available GPS receivers.
The accuracy of the GPS units is not only dependent upon the GPS receiver design, but also by the U.S. DOD Selective Availability program (SA). Selective Availability, also known as SA, is a program that allows the U.S. DOD to degrade the accuracy of non-military GPS system by as much as +/- 100 meters. At the present time, the accuracy of all commercial GPS receivers can vary Between 15 to 100 meters depending on the level of degradation being imposed by the U.S. DOD.
Another factor that will effect the accuracy of the GPS receiver is the geometry of the satellites in view to the GPS receiver. A poor geometry situation can provide less accurate position readings, and this especially applies to GPS altitude measurements.
The altitude reading on the GPS unit can vary by +/- 450 ft. depending on the level of degradation being imposed under SA. It is not uncommon to see the altitude continuously drift up and down when SA is being imposed.
| Q.
Do I need to remove the batteries from my GARMIN handheld GPS unit when I connect the unit to the 12 vdc battery on my boat or car? |
A. No. When the unit detects that external power is available, the unit will automatically switch to the external source and not use the batteries in the unit. It is recommended that the batteries remain in the unit in the event that you have a loss of battery power. If the batteries remain in the unit, when external power is lost the unit will automatically switch to batteries and continue to function normally.
| Q.
How do I get local time displayed? What about daylight saving time? |
A. GPS units operate on UTC time. UTC is the Universal Coordinated Time or Greenwich Mean Time (GMT). You can input a local offset (or difference) from UTC so that the unit will display your local time. This option is located under the unit's operational setup. A chart is provided in the owner's manual to help you select the appropriate offset for your area.
| Q.
What is a map datum? Which map datum do I use? |
A. A datum is a mathematically defined reference surface which approximates the shape of the earth, and enables calculations such as position and area to be carried out in a consistent and accurate manner. The datum is physically represented by a framework of ground monuments (i.e., trig stations) whose positions have been accurately measured and calculated on this reference surface. Lines of latitude and longitude on a map or chart are referenced to a specific map datum. Every chart has a map datum reference. The map datum is usually listed in the title block of the chart.
If you are comparing the GPS coordinates to a chart or other reference, the map datum in the GPS unit should be selected to the same map datum that is listed as the datum used to generate the chart or other reference.
| Q.
What features are shown in the GPS III basemap? What is the difference between the Americas and International version of the GPSIII? |
A. Two separate versions of the GPS III are manufactured - the Americas and International. The following lists the details of the two basemap versions.
GPS III, AMERICAS
The GPS III, Americas version, includes the United States, Alaska, Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, and covers an area from W180 to W30 Longitude, S60 to N75 Latitude. Also included is a high-level worldwide map with political boundaries and major cities. The best zoom range on the GPS III Americas basemap is the 20nm scale. The internal basemap cannot be updated or upgraded. The standard map coverage for the Americas version includes:
1) Oceans, rivers and lakes (greater than 30 sq. miles)
2) Principal cities and a small amount of smaller cities and towns
3) Major interstates and principal highways
4) Political boundaries (state and international borders)
A. United States-In addition to the standard map coverage, it also includes:
1) Small lakes, major streams and rivers
2) Principal urban areas (including Alaska and Hawaii)
3) Railroads
4) National and State level roads, plus some local roads in or near urban areas
5) More detailed coastline
6) Small cities and towns
B. Alaska-In addition to the standard map coverage, it also includes:
1) National and State level roads, plus some local roads in or near urban areas
2) Lakes greater than 5 square miles
3) Small cities and towns
4) Railroads
C. Canada-In addition to the standard map coverage, it also includes:
1) Lakes greater than 5 square miles-Southern Canada
2) Lakes greater than 10 square miles-Central Canada
3) Railroads
D. Mexico, Central and South America:
1) Standard Map Coverage
GPS III, INTERNATIONAL
The GPS III, International version, includes Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia, and Oceania, and covers an area from W30 to E180 Longitude, S60 to N75 Latitude. Also included is a high-level worldwide map with political boundaries and major cities and a portion of the South Pacific. The best zoom range on the GPS III International basemap is the 20nm scale. The internal basemap cannot be updated or upgraded. The standard map coverage for the
International basemap includes:
1) Oceans, rivers and lakes (greater than 30 sq. miles)
2) Principal cities and a small amount of smaller cities and towns
3) Major motorways and/or interstates and principal highways
4) Political boundaries (state and international borders)
A. Western Europe, South Africa, Australia, and Oceania-In addition to the standard map
coverage, it also includes:
1) Small lakes, major streams and rivers
2) Urban areas
3) Railroads
4) Regional arterial roadways
5) Small cities and towns
B. Southeast Asia, China and Japan-In addition to the standard map coverage, it also includes:
1) Lakes greater than 10 square miles
2) Large urban areas
3) Small cities and towns
| Q.
Can I update the basemap, or load my own maps into my GPS III? |
A. Unfortunately, no. The basemap in the GPS III is permanent and cannot be updated or upgraded. Hardware provisions are not incorporated into the design to support additional data, and additional maps cannot be loaded into the unit. It is important to keep in mind that the map contained within the unit is intended to serve only as a general reference to surrounding features and should not be used as the sole means of navigation. Although we strive to provide the best product/features available, GARMIN does not guarantee the accuracy of the map data.
| Q.
I just turned on my GPS today and it will not acquire satellites. What should I do? |
A. If you have not successfully used your unit for several months, the Almanac Data for the Satellites may have become invalid. The unit is capable of recollecting this information on its own, but it is a lengthy process. You can help speed this process by performing the following function:
With Power off, perform the following sequence of keystrokes for the unit you have.
GPS II/II+/III/IIIPilot/12/12XL/38/40/45/48/89/90/120/120XL/126/128/130/135/175/180/185/195/230/235
Press and hold the PAGE key down and power the unit up, then release the PAGE key.
GPS 50/55/65/75/85/95/95XL
Press and hold the "0" (zero) key down and power the unit up, then release the "0" key.
GPSMAP 210/215/220/225
Press and hold the MARK key down and power the unit up, then release the MARK key.
After performing these key sequences you will need to take your unit outside where it has a clear view of the sky with no obstructions and allow it between 15 to 30 minutes to download and update its Almanac Data from the Satellites.
| Q.
How often are Jeppesen aviation database updates available? |
A. Jeppesen publishes revised electronic databases every 28 days.
| Q.
How do I update the database in my handheld GPS unit? |
A. All current GARMIN handheld aviation units' databases are updated via your PC. We distribute our Jeppesen database updates on 3.5" floppy diskettes. These diskettes also contain the transfer software which will enable you to download the database from the diskette into your GPS unit from an IBM-compatible PC. In addition to the update diskettes, you will also need a PC Interface cable to connect the GPS unit to the serial port of your PC.
| Q.
How do I update the database in my GARMIN Aviation panel mount GPS unit? |
A. The databases in our panel mount units are updated with a user-replaceable card in the front of the unit. Updates for this datacard can be purchased directly from Jeppesen by calling:
303/799.9090.
http://www.jeppesen.com/
| Q.
What do I need to update the Jeppesen database in my GARMIN hand-held aviation GPS unit, and how much will it cost? |
A. * note *
(Prices indicated are in US Dollar when ordered from GARMIN International in the USA, and do not include shipping charges are applicable sales taxes)
We distribute our Jeppesen database updates on 3.5" floppy diskettes. These diskettes also contain the transfer software which will download the database from the diskette into your GPS unit from an IBM Compatible PC.
Update options for the GPS 89, GPS 90, GPS 92, GPS 95(XL), GPSCOM 190, GPSMAP 195, & GPS III Pilot are as follows:
¡P One Time Update = $125.00
¡P Two scheduled updates in one year = $150.00
¡P Four scheduled updates in two years = $200.00
¡P Yearly Subscription (13 Consecutive Cycles) = $600.00
Please Note:
A PC Interface cable is required to connect your GPS unit to the serial port of your IBM compatible PC to facilitate the database update process.
The PC interface cable for the GPS 89, GPS 90, GPS 92, and GPS III Pilot is part #010-10141-00 and list price is $38.09.
The cable for the GPS 95(XL) is part #320-00017-00 and list price is $38.09.
The cable for the GPSCOM 190 is part #010-10124-00 and list price is $30.00.
The PC interface cable for the GPSMAP 195 is part #010-10135-02 and list price is $30.00.
These items may be ordered by contacting our Sales department at:
913/397.8200
800/800.1020
or you may contact your local GARMIN dealer.
| Q.
What areas do the Jeppesen databases for GARMIN handheld GPS units cover? |
A. Jeppesen Database updates for most (*) GARMIN handheld units are available in the following three regions:
The Americas database will cover all of North America, South American, and Central America including the Caribbean, Bahamas, Hawaii and Midway Island.
The Atlantic International database covers all of Europe, Africa, the Middle East and Asia.
The Pacific International database covers the Pacific, the South Pacific, Eastern Europe and Asia, the Middle East including Hawaii.
* The GPS 89 contains a worldwide Jeppesen Database of Airports and VOR's.
| Q.
How many times can I use my Jeppesen database diskette? |
A. The diskette can be used as many times as you like on the same unit, but the same diskette cannot be used on a different unit. Each unit must use its own diskette due to the license agreement for the database. Additionally, the unit will "key" itself to the update diskette so that the diskette can only be used on one GPS unit.
| Q.
Can I load one of the International Jeppesen databases into my GARMIN GPS unit if I currently have an Americas database? |
A. Yes. You can get a diskette for whichever database you want to download to the unit. It is important to realize that the old database will be erased, so if you want to restore the original database at a later time, you will also need an additional diskette in order to change back.
| Q.
Why can't I enter some of my Airport identifiers in my aviation GPS unit? |
A. The database uses the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) identifiers for airport names. Under the ICAO convention, all airports within the continental United States that utilize all letter identifiers (i.e., LAX) will be preceded with the letter K. For example LAX, STL, MCI would all be entered in the unit for the airport locations as KLAX, KSTL,KMCI. Any airports that use a numbering system such as 51K, H34, 7M5 would not have the K prefix and would be entered as the simple three character identifier (51K, H34, 7M5).
Many counties use a two-letter prefix under the ICAO standard. In this case, the original three letter identifier is abbreviated to two letters and the country code prefix is added to create the four-letter ICAO identifier. You can contact our technical support department for more information on these codes.
| Q.
I cannot get my Jeppesen Aviation database update to work with my GPS unit. What can I try? |
A. Make sure the GPS unit is set to GARMIN/GARMIN-host or Data Transfer-Slave mode depending on the unit.
Make sure the battery power is at 3/4 or higher.
Shut the GPS and computer off for 1 minute.
Turn the computer on. Do one of the following:
For MS-DOS 6x press F5 when you see "starting MS-DOS". You should then be at c:\prompt.
For Windows 95 press F8 when you see "starting Windows 95". At the menu, choose "safe mode command prompt only" (should be #6 or #7), You should then be at a c:\ prompt.
Turn on the GPS and put it into simulator mode.
Put the diskette is drive A, type "a:" and press enter. Type "updatedb" and press enter. The unit should update properly.
If you receive the message "Unable to Establish Communications with Unit" you may be experiencing one of the following:
1. Poor connection between GPS and computer.
2. Disabled or misconfigured com port.
3. Possible problem with GPS unit or cable.
If you continue to have problems, either try updating the GPS unit on another computer or call GARMIN technical support.
| Q.
I have a GPS 55AVD or GPS100AVD. How do I update the Jeppesen aviation database? |
A. Both of these units have the database contained in an internal ROM chip that has to be changed. This can be done either at the factory or by an authorized GARMIN dealer.
| Q.
What is Differential GPS (DGPS)? What is the GBR 21 Differential Beacon Receiver? |
A. The U.S. and Canadian governments are setting up Differential GPS (DGPS) stations to transmit correction signals. They are usually broadcast on existing marine beacon frequencies around 300 kHz. They are operational in many coastal areas and on the river systems.
In addition to compensating for errors in the position, these correction signals also correct for deliberate degradation of the accuracy of GPS by the U.S. Department of Defense under their Selective Availability (SA) program. Please refer to the US Coast Guard's web site:
http://www.navcen.uscg.mil/
for locations and status of their differential stations.
The GARMIN GBR 21 is an optional receiver designed to receive the US Coast Guard's broadcast differential signals and supply these signals to your GARMIN GPS unit.
When connected to your GARMIN GPS, the GBR 21 will increase its accuracy to under 10 meters when within receiving range of Differential Beacon stations.
| Q.
What is the warranty on GARMIN units? |
A. Every GARMIN product is warranted to be free from defects in materials or workmanship for one year from the date of purchase.
| Q.
Should I have received a Warranty Registration card with my GARMIN unit? |
A. We no longer include Warranty Registration cards with our handheld units. Please maintain a copy of your sales receipt. This will serve as proof of warranty should the need ever arise.
| Q.
How do I arrange to get my GARMIN unit repaired in the U.S.? |
A. If you need to send the unit in for servicing, please call our Technical Support Group at one of the following numbers:
tel. 800/800.1020 or 913/397.8200
fax. 913/397.0836
When you call the Technical Support Group, please have available the serial number of the unit, your return shipping address and a daytime telephone number. A Technical Support Specialist will provide you with a Return Material Authorization tracking number (RMA#) and shipping instructions.
Once you have received the RMA number, ship the unit (insured) to the following address:
GARMIN International
ATTN: RMA #
1200 E. 151st Street
Olathe, KS 66062 USA
| Q.
How do I arrange to get my GARMIN unit repaired in Europe? |
A. GARMIN has a Sales and Service Center in the United Kingdom:
GARMIN (Europe) LTD
Unit 5, The Quadrangle
Abbey Park Industrial Estate
Romsey
SO51 9AQ U.K.
tel. 44 1794 519944
fax. 44 1794 519222
| Q.
What is the MOB function? |
A. The Man Over Board (MOB) function is a common feature for marine GPS units. If a person falls overboard, the skipper uses this function to immediately mark the current location. The GPS goes into a "Goto" mode and directs the skipper back to the point where the button was pressed.
A. Waypoints are locations or landmarks worth recording and storing in your GPS. These are locations you may later want to return to. They may be check points on a route or significant ground features. (e.g., camp, the truck, a fork in a trail, where Charlie buried his treasure,).
Waypoints may be defined and stored in the unit manually, by taking coordinates for the waypoint from a map or other reference. This can be done before ever leaving home. Or more usually, waypoints may be entered directly by taking a reading with the unit at the location itself, giving it a name, and then saving the point.
Waypoints may also be put into the unit by referencing another waypoint already stored, giving the reference waypoint, and entering the distance and compass bearing to the new waypoint.
A. A route is a series of waypoints entered in the order that you want to navigate them.
A. The track log in a GARMIN unit are points automatically stored when you are moving. These points will be shown strung together on the map page of your unit so you can see where you have been.
A. TracBack is a feature which allows you to return along a traveled path or route without marking any waypoints. The GPS unit will drop a tracklog or "electronic breadcrumb trail" as you travel. When you are ready to return to where you started, the GPS unit will look at the hundreds or thousands of tracklog points and take the 30 most significant and turn them into a route to lead you back to your starting place.
| Q.
How do I scroll through my waypoints when entering waypoints into a route? |
A. If you have multiple waypoints with the same first character(s) you will have to move the cursor to the second digit and continue to spell the waypoint identifier in order to continue to scroll through the list.
| Q.
How do I set the correct time? |
A. The satellites report current time in universal time (Greenwich Mean Time). Your local time is behind or ahead of Universal time depending on where you are in relation to Greenwich, England. All GARMIN GPS units display universal time on the System Setup Page. Subtract (if you are west of Greenwich, England) or add (if your are east of Greenwich, England) the amount of hours difference between your local time and Universal Time, and enter that amount into the appropriate field on the set up page labeled "Local Offset". A chart is provided in your user's manual to assist you in determining the appropriate value for local offset in your area.
| Q.
What does the message "NO RTCM INPUT" mean? |
A. Your GPS has been set to accept differential corrections from an external DGPS receiver and the unit is not receiving valid data. Go to the input/output or Interface Setup Page in the unit's main menu and select something other than RTCM in/NMEA out.
If your unit has a built in differential or if you are using an external differential receiver, this message indicates that you need to tune in the frequency and bit rate of the closest Coast Guard station. For a list of frequencies and coverage areas, please see www.navcen.uscg.mil.
| Q.
Can I order the connector plug separately without the cable attached for my GARMIN GPS? |
A. The plug and cable are molded into one complete unit in order to create a strong, reliable component. The cables are custom designed and manufactured as complete assemblies by GARMIN for GARMIN products and are not commercially available.
| Q.
Do I have to subscribe to a service to use my GPS? |
A. No, the GPS satellites are owned by the United States Department of Defense and have been funded by U.S. taxpayer's dollars. Reception of satellites signals is free to anyone.
| Q.
Do you have a retail store at your factory in the U.S.A. where I can buy accessories or see your products demonstrated? |
A. GARMIN's corporate headquarters in Olathe, KS does not offer any type of retail sales or product demonstrations at the facility. However, we do sell accessories direct and can ship them to you. You can order with a credit card by calling 1-800-800-1020 (913-397-8200).
| Q.
What kind of detail cartridges are available for the GPSMAP 195? |
A. * note *
(Prices indicated are in U.S. Dollars when ordered from GARMIN International in the U.S.A., and do not include shipping charges or applicable sales taxes)
Cartridges are available for the GPSMAP 195 for some areas that are not covered in as much detail as the continental United States. We currently offer detail cartridges for:
Alaska ($295)
Canada East cartridge ($295)
Canada West cartridge ($295)
Americas or International basemap on a cartridge. ($495.)
| Q.
Do you have a flush mount for your fixed-mount marine units? Can they be mounted from a ceiling? |
A. The GPSMAP 210, 220, 215, and 225 have a flush mount kit that can be purchased separately. The GPS120XL, 125, 126, 128, 130, and 135 can be flush mounted using the gimbal mounting bracket that comes with the unit. Instructions for this applicatio are in your owner's manual. The GPSMAP 230 and GPSMAP 235 Sounder can be flush mounted by removing the attached flange mount that comes with the units. Instructions are contained in the manual. The GPSMAP 210, 220, 215, 225, 230, and 235 can be mounted overhead.
| Q.
What is the difference between the 12 and 12XL? |
A. The GPS 12XL has a port for hooking up an external antenna. It also features an audible alert that sounds when you approach waypoints (this can be deactivated) and a wider voltage range (10-40 Vdc) than the GPS 12 (5-8Vdc). They both feature PhaseTrac12 receivers and similar operating software.
| Q.
Are the cartridges for the StreetPilot compatible with other GARMIN units? |
A. The StreetPilot cartridges are a different physical format and contain a different type of data format compared to our traditional G-charts. They will not be compatible with other units that accept G-charts.
| Q.
Does GARMIN offer an International version of the StreetPilot or MetroGuide cartridges? |
A. At the present time, GARMIN only offers the StreetPilot and MetroGuide cartridges for areas within the United States. We have not planned to create international MetroGuide cartridges because we have not acquired a suitable data source that has complete mapping coverage to residential street-level detail, for International metro areas. The United States government provides very detailed, accurate digital data for free. Other countries, if they have this information available at all, charge an enormous amount of money for this type of data. Therefore, we must rely on third-party vendors for our mapping sources.
Please keep checking back with us because we continually try to acquire new data sources and we're always developing new products.
| Q.
How do I connect my GPS to my computer? |
A. GARMIN offers a software and cable kit to connect your GPS to your PC. The software is a DOS-based program that allows you to upload, download, and modify your route waypoint and tracklog information. This will provide you with a graphic presentation of this information but does not contain any maps. You can also interface GARMIN GPS units with other companies' mapping software such as Delorme's Map-n-Go and StreetAtlas. In this case, the only thing needed from GARMIN is an interface cable. The standard interface for GARMIN units is NMEA 0183.
| Q.
What GARMIN units feature Military Grid Reference System (MGRS)? |
A. The GPS 12, GPS 12XL, and GPS 48 support the MGRS coordinate system.
| Q.
Can I order directly from GARMIN? |
A. GARMIN sells of its GPS units through GARMIN dealers. You can find the dealer nearest to you on our website's Dealer Locator. We do sell accessories direct at the suggested retail price. These can be ordered with a credit card by calling 1-800-800-1020 (913-397-8200).
| Q.
How do I get my G-chart upgraded/updated? |
A. G-chart updates and upgrades must be done directly with GARMIN. Please call 1-800-800-1020 for assistance. An "update" refers to a new issue date of a chart. The cartridge number, size, and coverage area must remain the same. The G-chart buyer protection policy entitles the buyer to return the chart for a free "update" within 90 days of purchase if one occurs. After 90 days a G-chart "update" will be 50% of the new purchase price. An "upgrade" occurs when a new chart with a new part number is introduced for an area. GARMIN will accept any old chart as a trade-in for 25% off the price of a new chart. Only one trade-in per chart is allowed.
| Q.
How do I care for my G-chart? |
A. G-charts should be kept dry and not exposed to extreme temperatures. The best place for storage is in the static bag that they come in when they are not in use.
| Q.
Does GARMIN make a video for my GPS unit? |
A. GARMIN does not offer any videos at this time. Several companies do produce videos about specific GARMIN products, and these videos can usually be found at GARMIN dealer locations. Consult the Dealer Locator for the location nearest you.
| Q.
Why am I not receiving fish information from my sounder around obscured places like rises and ravines which are on the bottom of the lake? |
A. If your transducer has a greater cone angle, then the diameter of coverage is increased so the user can see more fish. However the down side of a wide cone angle is that the detail of bottom features are reduced and fish are obscured around bottom structures such as rises and ravines.
| Q.
Why is placement of transducers so important? |
A. Mounting location is very important in maximizing your transducers capabilities. Acoustic noise -- which is always present -- and these sound waves can interfere with the operation of the transducer. While ambient noise cannot be controlled, carefully selecting the transducer mounting location can minimize the effect of vessel-generated noise. The lower the noise level the higher you can set the echosounder gain setting.
Ambient noise sources:
waves and air bubbles, fish and mammals, rain and hail, other vessels, and shores.
Vessel generated noise sources:
aerated and turbulence from water flowing across the hull, propellers, propeller shaft vibration, machinery such as engines, generators, gears, and pumps, as well as interference from other echosounders.
| Q.
Where is the best place to place my thru-hull depth transducer? |
A. Choose a location where the water is smoothest with a minimum of turbulence and bubbles (especially at high speeds). The transducer needs to be continuously immersed in water and the sounder beam unobstructed by the keel or propeller shaft. Make sure that there is adequate headroom and there is a minimum deadrise angle.
NEVER mount the transducer near water intake or discharge openings or behind strakes, struts, fittings, or hull irregularities. Also, water near the keel can be quite turbulent which will negatively effect performance.
| Q.
My boat has a large displacement-hull. Where should I place the transducer? |
A. For large displacement-hull powerboats, Locate the transducer 1/3 aft LWL and 15-30 cm (6-12) off the centerline of the boat on the side of the hull where the propeller is moving downward.
For small displacement hull and planing-hull powerboats, mount the transducer well after and near the centerline of the boat to ensure that is in contact with the water at high speeds. Mount the transducer on the side of the hull where the propeller is moving downward.
a - inboards mount well ahead of the propeller(s) and shaft(s).
b - I/Os and outboards mount close to the engine(s).
c - On fin keel sailboats the transducer is best located to the side of the keel and forward of the fin keel 30-60 cm (1-2').
| Q.
Can I post-process the data collected with my GARMIN GPS unit to obtain greater accuracy? |
A. Unfortunately not. GARMIN GPS units and other handheld consumer-grade units do not internally store the raw pseudorange data from the satellites required to post-process differential corrections. This type of capability is only found in survey-grade GPS equipment.
| Q.
Can I upgrade my older GARMIN unit to a newer GARMIN unit? |
A. The answer to this question is almost always no. Many of our units look very similar to each other due to similar case styles. This is normally where the similarity ends. The circuitry inside is quite different from one unit to the next, and changing the entire circuitry inside a unit to convert it into another unit would simply be cost prohibitive.
| Q.
Do you take trade-ins? |
A. Unfortunately not. GARMIN is a new equipment manufacturer and we sell our equipment exclusively through our distribution network. As we do not sell equipment directly, we also have no market for used equipment taken in on trade.
| Q.
How is the checksum calculated in NMEA 0183? |
A. The checksum is the 8-bit exclusive OR (no start or stop bits) of all characters in the sentence, including the "," delimiters, between -- but not including -- the "$" and "*" delimiters.
The hexadecimal value of the most significant and least significant 4 bits of the result are converted to two ASCII characters (0-9, A-F) for transmission. The most significant character is transmitted first.
| Q.
How can I use the PCX5 program in Windows 95/98? |
A. The PCX5 program is a DOS program, but it will run under Windows 95.
To Install :
1. Click on START, then PROGRAMS, then MS-DOS Prompt
2. Insert the disk and type A: in the DOS window, Then press the 'enter' key
3. Type INSTALL c:\[path] at the A:\> prompt, then press the 'enter' key - where [path] is the directory you want the PCX 5 program installed (e.g., install c:\pcx5)
4. The program will now install itself to the directory specified. When finished, close the DOS window by clicking on the X in the top right-hand corner.
To Print :
As PCX 5 is a DOS program it is using the DOS 'GRAPHICS' command to control its printing - see section 4.7 (page 4-6) of the manual - unfortunately Windows 95 does not incorporate this command, and so using the PCX 5 print function results in a black page.
The procedure to follow is:
1. With the image you want on the screen, press the 'Print Screen' key on your keyboard - This copies the current screen image to the Windows clipboard
2. Exit the PCX 5 program.
3. Start a program capable of displaying pictures, such as a word processor or drawing program (i.e. Word, Ami-pro, Paint, Paint Shop Pro).
4. Click on the EDIT function at the top of the screen, and click on the 'paste' or 'paste as a new image' function - which will already be available.
5. Resize/crop the image as required and print.
Although this is not as quick as a single click, it uses Windows to control the printing and, thereby, gives you the ability of printing in color.
| Q.
The PCX5 program indicates that the Product software ID code is not recognized. What can I do? |
A. GARMIN is continually developing GPS products, and the software profiles of these new products will need to be added to the current version of the PC program.
This procedure only needs to be done once and adds the software profile details of a new unit to the PCX5 unit.dat file. You must have PCX5 version 2.09 or PCX5AVD 2.08 for this to work. If you have an earlier version of PCX5, please contact our Technical Support Department to receive an update to the program.
Please note: PCX5/PCX5AVD will not work with the StreetPilot or Color StreetPilot
These instructions are for correcting the following error message when using newer GPS units with PCX5/PCX5AVD:
"This software is unable to communicate with this model GARMIN unit.
This unit identification that was transmitted is:
GPS <unit> Software Version <ver>
Please contact GARMIN Product Support."
Steps:
- Close PCX5/PCX5AVD.
- Open an MS-DOS Prompt window. One way to do this is as follows: For Windows 95/98/NT systems, click START->RUN. Type in COMMAND and press ENTER. For Win 3.x systems, exit Windows. You will now be at an MS-DOS prompt (for example, c:\windows).
- Type cd\ and press ENTER.
- Type cd and press ENTER.
For example: cd garmin and press ENTER.
- Type the appropriate PCX5 -ut command from the list below and press ENTER.
For example:pcx5 -ut0962030050003 and press ENTER. Be sure to use zeros, not the letter 'O' and to put a space between PCX5 and the -ut.
Please Note: - This only needs to be run once. The program will start and should be run normally from there.
- It's a good idea to write this in the manual in case the program needs to be reloaded.
- If you get an "Error: Supplied unit data not valid! Software will not terminate" the code was not entered properly. Re-enter the correct code.
- If you enter the code, but still get the message, make sure you have the proper code for your unit.
- If the code will still not work, from the program directory type: attrib -r unit.dat and press ENTER then type the code in again.
GPS |
SW Ver |
PCX5 -ut code |
| 12/12XL |
3.62
3.70
4.00
4.01
4.02
4.51
4.51
4.52
4.53 |
PCX5 -ut0962030050003
PCX5 -ut0872030050003
PCX5 -ut0962030050003
PCX5 -ut0872030050003
PCX5 -ut0962030050003
PCX5 -ut0872030050003
PCX5 -ut0962030050003
PCX5 -ut0962030050003
PCX5 -ut0872030050003 |
| 12CX |
2.00 |
PCX5 -ut1162030100003 |
| II Plus |
2.11
3.00
3.01
3.02 |
PCX5 -ut0972030050003
PCX5 -ut0972030050003
PCX5 -ut0972030050003
PCX5 -ut0972030050003 |
| III Plus |
All |
PCX5 -ut1192030050003 |
| 48 |
All |
PCX5 -ut0962030050003 |
| 92 |
All |
PCX5AVD -ut1122030050009 |
| 126/128 |
All |
PCX5 -ut0952030050003 |
| 180/185 |
All |
PCX5 -ut0892030050003 |
| 215/225 |
All |
PCX5 -ut0882050100002 |
| Q.
What interface setting do I use for my GPS when I connect it to a computer, chartplotter, AutoHelm, Differential Beacon Receiver, or another GARMIN GPS? |
A. Use the following table as a general guide when setting up your GPS unit to interface with another device. The interface setting can be found under the main or auxillary menu on your GPS and then under interface or I/O setup.
Device Type |
Interface Setting |
Transfer Mode or Baud |
| Autohelm/Radar |
None/NMEA |
4800 |
| Manual-Tune Differential/GBR21 |
RTCM/NMEA |
4800, Beacon Freq, BPS |
| Auto-Tune Differential |
RTCM/None |
4800 |
Plotter/Yeoman Chartplotter
-or- other Chartplotter
with waypoint transfer |
NMEA/NMEA |
4800 |
| Computer - Real-Time Plotting |
None/NMEA |
4800 |
Computer - Transfer Waypoints
*Note: Some programs allow
real time plotting in this mode |
Grmn/Grmn
Garmin
Data Transfer
Garmin Data Transfer |
Host or Slave mode |
| GARMIN Unit to GARMIN Unit |
Grmn/Grmn
Garmin
Data Transfer
Garmin Data Transfer |
GPS #1 - Host or Slave mode
GPS #2 - Send or receive data
ex: "SEND WPT"
or "Request RTE" |
Notes: - Garmin GPS's can output to a maximum of 3 devices simultaneously.
- Garmin GPS's can listen to only 1 device at a time.
- Garmin GBR21 can output to a maximum of 3 devices simultaneously.
- Garmin GBR21 can listen to only 1 device at a time.
- Set as follows when interfacing multiple GPS's with a GBR21:
- GPS #1 RTCM/NMEA (tunes GBR21)
- GPS #2 RTCM/None
- GPS #3 RTCM/None
