Garmin GPS III A Owner's Manual

Also see for GPS III: Declaration of conformity Quick guide Owner's manual Owner's manual

Garmin GPS III A Owner's Manual Manual pdf 13 page image

Once the GPS III has calculated a position fix, you’ll usually have anywhere fromfive to twelve satellites in view. The receiver will then continuously select the bestsatellites in view to update your position. If some of the satellites in view get blockedor “shaded,” the receiver can simply use an alternate satellite to maintain the positionfix. Although a GPS receiver needs four satellites to provide a three-dimensional(3D) fix, it can maintain a two-dimensional (2D) fix with only three satellites. Athree-dimensional fix means the unit knows its latitude, longitude, and altitude, whilea two-dimensional fix means the unit knows only its latitude and longitude.Initializing Your GPS IIITo initialize the GPS III, take the receiver outside and find an open area where theantenna has a clear view of the sky. You may either hold the receiver at a comfortableheight with the antenna pointing up (see page 4), or mount the receiver on the dash ofa vehicle (Appendix A) or on a bike. (Likewise, when you use your GPS III in avehicle, make sure the antenna is pointing up.)To turn the GPS III on, press and hold the red power key.The Welcome Page will be displayed while the unit conducts a self test. Oncetesting is complete, the Welcome Page will be replaced by a warning page, then by theSatellite Status Page. A message will inform you to “select initialization method”. (If theinitialization prompt has not automatically appeared, press MENU and highlight‘Initialize Position’.)To initialize your unit:1. Press ENTER to acknowledge the message and see a list of initialization options.2. Use the rocker keypad to highlight ‘Use Map’, and press ENTER.3. Use the rocker keypad to point the map cursor to your approximate location (within 250miles). You may also wish to use the IN and OUT zoom keys to make it easier to identifyyour approximate position.4. Press ENTER to select the position and begin searching for satellites.Check the Satellite StatusPage for ‘2D Navigation’ or‘3D Navigation’ to verify aposition fix.The Welcome Page isdisplayed when the GPS III isfirst turned on. During thistime the receiver is conductinga self test.5GETTING STARTEDInitialization