Cobra GPS 500 User manual

Quick Start Guide
GPS 500
GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM RECEIVER
Instructions to get you on your way!
Nothing comes close to a Cobra
®
ENGLISH

GPS 500
GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM
5
GPS Buttons
These buttons allow you to access all the features of
the GPS 500:
The POWER Button
• turns the unit on and off when you press and
hold for 2 seconds
• turns the backlight on and off when you press
and release
The PAGE Button
• lets you switch between main pages
• works as an “escape” key and returns
you to main page when in other pages,
options or menus
The ZOOM IN/OUT Button
• lets you zoom in or out of any map display
The ENTER Button
• use to accept any highlighted selection
• use to mark current location as waypoint
by pressing and holding for 2 seconds
The JOYSTICK
• lets you scroll through selections displayed on
any screen when you push the stick up or down
• lets you pan on the map
ZOOM OUT
button
ZOOM IN
button
External power
connector cover
Battery
Door
cover
Lanyard
connector
loop
ENTER button
Backlit display
screen
PAGE
button
POWER and
Backlight
button
D-Ring Battery
Door fastener
Lanyard
connector
loop
JOYSTICK
POWER and
Backlight
button

Installing Batteries  
The GPS 500 operates on 2 AA batteries (not
included). To install batteries, twist the D-ring
connector counterclockwise (anticlockwise) and
remove the battery compartment cover. Insert
two AA batteries, ensuring correct polarity
alignment. Replace the battery compartment
cover and twist the D-ring clockwise to lock.
As an optional power source, an Automotive
Power Adapter (not included, see “Optional
Accessories,” in the owner’s manual) can be used
with your GPS 500.
Getting Started
In order to navigate using your GPS 500, you first
must acquire a “fix” on your current position. To
do this, take your GPS 500 outside making sure
you have a clear view of the sky. Press and hold
the POWER button for 2 seconds . A start-up
screen appears , followed by a second screen
that shows you that your unit is attempting to lock
on to signals from GPS satellites. Once 3 satellite
signals have been acquired, the screen will
automatically switch to the Map page, and the unit
is ready to use.
NOTE: When you use the GPS 500 for
the first time, it will take approximately
50 seconds to lock on to the GPS satellites.
Turning on the Display Backlight
When the unit is turned on, pressing and releasing
the POWER button will turn on the display backlight.
The display will remain lit for 15 seconds as long
as no other buttons have been pressed.
1
BASIC OPERATION
 
POWER Button
Startup Screen

Everything you need to navigate using
your GPS 500 is found on five main
pages or screens. Once power is on, you
may switch among the five main pages
by pressing the PAGE button .
Map Page displays a map of your
current position and GoTo, track, or
route during navigation.
Gauges Page displays a compass
that shows your current travel
direction or next waypoint direction.
Trip Meter Page displays
selectable fields with information
about your current location or
navigation.
Nav Data Page enables you to
access waypoint, point of interest,
city, track, and route features such as
creating, deleting or navigating.
System Page enables you to
access the various settings and
formats.
Selecting Options
From any of the five main pages, press and
release the ENTER button to display that
page’s Option menu. Use the JOYSTICK to
scroll through the menu sections, then press
the ENTER button to go to the highlighted
option. Use the JOYSTICK again to highlight
your choice, then press the ENTER button to
select it. Press the PAGE button to return to
the main menu.
2
FIVE MAIN PAGES
Map Page
Gauges Page Trip Meter
Page
Nav Data
Page
System Page
PAGE Button

3
WAYPOINTS
Hiker Icons
GoTo
POI
Navigating with Waypoints
The Nav Data page gives you access to
navigational features. From this page, you
can create and store up to 500 waypoints
(a specific location that you can mark and
recall), view the "GoTo" direction to any
waypoint  , edit information about a
waypoint, delete a waypoint, preview a
waypoint on the map, or sort or search a
list of waypoints. For each waypoint, you
can choose a name and assign a symbol.
NOTE: Whenever navigation is in progress, a
"hiker" icon will appear next to the
corresponding selection on the main Nav Data
page and at the lower right hand corner
of Map page and Gauges page  .
New Waypoint
Enter Manually
1. Highlight and select WAYPOINTS .
2. Highlight and select ENTER MANUAL .
3. Edit or except the default name and
symbol. Enter the new waypoint's
location and elevation . (Elevation
does not need to be entered to save a
manual waypoint.)
4. Highlight and select SAVE .
Mark Current
1. Highlight and select WAYPOINTS .
2. Highlight and select MARK CURRENT .
3. Edit or accept the default name and
symbol .
4. Highlight and select SAVE .
Waypoint Shortcut: To mark a new
waypoint using your current location, press
and hold the ENTER button for 2 seconds.
A confirmation window will pop up.
Nav Data Page Hiker Icons
 “GoTo” on
Map Page
 “GoTo” on
Gauges Page
 Add New
Waypoint
 Waypoint
Info Screen
GoTo
City/Town
Navigate
Route
Navigate
Track
GoTo
Waypoint

About Tracks and Routes
You can select two or more points
to create a route . Your GPS 500
will show you the way to follow the
route accurately.
You can also create and store up to
10 tracks . Your GPS 500 automatically
keeps a record of your progress as you
travel and gives you a graphic representation
of the track you have taken. You can also
make the unit guide you in the reverse
direction along the same track.
Clearing the Track Log
The GPS 500 has 2000 active track log
points available to you. Once the track log is
full, no additional tracks can be stored until
the log is cleared. To clear the track log:
1. From the Nav Data page, highlight using
the JOYSTICK and select TRACKS by
pressing the ENTER button to display the
Tracks screen .
2. Highlight and select CLEAR   to
clear the log of all travel that has been
recorded. The unit automatically restarts
recording your travel.
3. Press the PAGE button  to return to
the main page.
4
TRACKS & ROUTES
TracksRoutes
Clear Log
Select Clear
PAGE Button

5
NAVIGATING TRACKS & ROUTES 5
Navigating a Selected Track
To make the map show the navigational
path along a selected track:
1. From the Nav Data page, highlight and
select TRACKS.
2. Highlight and select the track you
want to navigate .
3. Highlight and select NAVIGATE .
Highlight and select FORWARD to
navigate from the beginning to the
end of the selected track .
Highlight and select REVERSE to
navigate from the end to the
beginning of the selected track .
4. This will bring up the Map page with
the track path shown.
Navigating a Selected Route
To make the map show the navigational
path along the route:
1. From the Nav Data page, highlight and
select ROUTES.
2. Highlight and select the route you
want to navigate .
3. Highlight and select NAVIGATE .
Highlight and select the point you
want to START AT or begin your
navigation .
4. This will bring up the Map page with
the route path shown.
 Track Preview
and Options
 Tracks
 Directions  Routes
 Route Preview
and Options
 Directions

6
Stopping Navigation
To stop current navigation (GoTo, Route, or Track),
highlight and select STOP NAV . Highlight and
select YES to stop. Highlight and select NO to
make current navigation continue. Press the PAGE
button to return to the main page .
Gauges Page
The Gauges page is a visual “pointer” that
indicates the direction of travel to follow to reach
your next waypoint , and shows you with
arrows whether you are on or off (to left or right
of)   course. The display also shows you
how far (feet, miles, meters or kilometers) off
course you are currently.
Satellite Connection Lost or Off
Whenever satellite lock is lost or GPS is turned Off,
certain animation icons (below) appear on screen
and continue until GPS is On and/or satellite lock
is re-acquired.
Animation sequence that appears when satellite
lock is lost
Animation sequence that appears when GPS is
turned Off
On Course
Stopping Nav
Right of
Course
Left Of
Course
PAGE Button
STOPPING NAVIGATION
GAUGES PAGE

7
Cities/Towns and
Points of Interest
With optional computer software and
interface cable, you can connect your
GPS 500 to a computer mapping database
to access the coordinates for points of
interest. Once stored in memory, these
points of interest can be used as waypoints
for navigation.
To show the navigational path to a
city/town or POI:
1. From the Nav Data page , highlight
and select CITIES or POI to display the
CITIES or POI screen.
2. Highlight and select SELECT. Highlight
and select the city/town or POI 
you want to GoTo. Details for the
selected city/town or POI 
appears.
3. Highlight and select GOTO to navigate
to your selected city/town or POI.
4. This will bring up the Map page showing
you the direction of travel to the
selected city/town or POI .
Highlight
City
Nav Data
Page
Select GOTO
City
Highlight
POI
Navigation On
Map Page
Select GOTO
POI
CITIES / TOWNS
POINTS OF INTEREST

8
Panning and Special Accessing
Features
Whenever you are viewing the Map page, you can
“pan” to see any portion of a map image that is
beyond the left, right, top, or bottom edge of the
screen. You can also access Nav Data functions
directly from the Map page.
To pan:
1. From the Map page push the JOYSTICK in any
direction to enter panning mode. An arrow-
shaped cursor will appear.
2. Move the cursor in any direction by pushing the
JOYSTICK left, right, up or down. When the
cursor reaches an edge of the map image, the
image will "pan" in that direction.
3. Press the PAGE button to exit panning mode.
To access Nav Data functions from the Map page:
1. Enter panning mode as described in 1 and 2
above.
2. Move the cursor in any direction by pushing the
JOYSTICK left, right, up or down to highlight an
item.
3. Press the ENTER button for detail information
on cities/towns, waypoints or POIs.
Refer to your GPS 500 User’s Manual for detailed
directions on accessing and exiting waypoint, track,
route, point of interest, or city data.
Access Nav Data
Stop Navigation
Panning Mode
Joystick
PANNING and ACCESSING

9
TEST WALK
Go for a Test Walk
Test your knowledge of GPS 500 basics by taking a walk around the block.
1. Load batteries per instructions and take your GPS 500 outdoors. Be sure you have
a clear, unobstructed view of the sky. Turn your unit on by pressing and holding
the POWER button for 2 seconds. Allow time for your GPS 500 to acquire satellite
lock and a “fix” of your current location. When ready the unit will automatically
switch to the Map page. (Remember, you can toggle among the 5 main pages by
pressing the PAGE button.)
2. From the Map page, experiment by selecting options per instructions. For example,
you may want to mark your current location as your first waypoint, and then walk
around your neighborhood marking various points along your path from start point
to end point. (See diagram below.) Then navigate back to your start point by
accessing the Nav Data page, and selecting NAVIGATE and REVERSE to lead you back
the way you came.
Note: When navigating back to your original start point, intentionally walk off
course to familiarize yourself with how the unit shows you where you are relative
to the route or track as shown on the Gauges page.
Keep practicing until you are comfortable using the many features of your GPS 500.
Always refer to your GPS 500 User’s Manual for more detailed instructions.

Printed in China
Part No. 480-043-P
revise 8.03
©2002 Cobra® Electronics Corporation
6500 West Cortland Street
Chicago, IL 60707 USA
Important Note
The Quick Start Guide is intended only as a handy reference to review the basics of
operating your GPS 500. For a full understanding of how to use your GPS 500 properly,
please consult the GPS 500 User’s Manual. Read it carefully to become familiar with your
unit’s numerous features. You will be amazed at its capabilities.
The Cobra®line of quality products includes:
CB radios
microTALK®radios
Radar/Laser Detectors
GPS
Safety Alert®
Traffic Warning Systems
Accessories
HighGear®Accessories
VHF Marine Radios
Power Inverters
For more information or to order any of our products,
please visit our website:
www.cobra.com
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