Garmin 55 AVD User manual

GPS 55AVD
Personal NavigatorTM
OWNER'S MANUAL

© 1992 GARMIN, 9875 Widmer Road, Lenexa, KS 66215
Printed in Taiwan.
All rights reserved. No part of this manual may be reproduced or transmitted
in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying
and recording, for any purpose without the express written permission of
GARMIN.
Information in this document is subject to change without notice. GARMIN
reserves the right to change or improve their products and to make changes
in the content without obligation to notify any person or organization of such
changes or improvements.
October, 1992 190-00030-00 Rev. D

PREFACE
GARMIN thanks you for selecting our high performance, full featured
Personal NavigatorTM. The GPS 55 AVD represents our continued
commitment to provide you with a portable aviation unit that is versatile,
extremely accurate, and easy to use. We are confident you will enjoy using
your unit for many years to come.
The GPS 55 AVD's rugged construction and quality components offer the
reliability demanded by the harshest operating environments. When not
being used in an aircraft, it may be removed for use in marine and land
vehicles, as well as for hunting and hiking. The unit may be operated portably
using its own battery pack, or it may use a 5-40 volt DC external power source
for fixed mounted applications. You can even use a 115- or 230-volt battery
charger for planning trips at home.
This manual and accompanying quick reference guide provide complete
information on safely operating the GPS 55 AVD to its full potential. Two
exciting practice trips have been planned for you to practice your navigation
skills using the built-in simulator. Afterwards, try a trip of your own to realize
the value of the GPS 55 AVD as your Personal NavigatorTM. If you have any
questions or comments, our Customer Support Department is eager to serve
you. GARMIN is fully committed to your satisfaction as a customer.
GARMIN International, Inc.
9875 Widmer Road
Lenexa, KS 66215
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CAUTION
The GPS system is operated by the government of the United States which
is solely responsible for its accuracy and maintenance. The system is under
development and is subject to changes which could affect the accuracy and
performance of all GPS equipment. Although the GPS 55 AVD is a precision
electronic NAVigation AID (NAVAID), any NAVAID can be misused or
misinterpreted, and therefore become unsafe. Use the GPS 55 AVD at your
own risk. To reduce the risk, carefully review and understand all aspects of
this Owner's Manual and thoroughly practice operation using the simulator
mode prior to actual use. When in actual use, carefully compare indications
from the GPS 55 AVD to all available navigation sources including the
information from other NAVAIDs, visual sightings, charts, etc. For safety,
always resolve any discrepancies before continuing navigation.
The Jeppesen database incorporated in the GPS 55 AVD must be updated
regularly in order to ensure that its information is current. GARMIN issues
an update approximately every 28 days. Contact GARMIN or your local
GARMIN aviation dealer for more information on GPS 55 AVD database
updates. Pilots using an out-of-date database do so entirely at their own risk.
NOTE: This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC Rules. Operation is
subject to the following two conditions: (1) This device may not cause
harmful interference, and (2) this device must accept any interference
received, including interference that may cause undesired operation.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS
CHAPTER PAGE
BASIC FEATURES
1 INTRODUCING THE GARMIN GPS 55 AVD 1-1
1.1 Capabilities 1-1
1.2 Aviation Database 1-2
1.3 Operations 1-2
2 GETTING STARTED 2-1
2.1 Front Panel 2-1
2.2 Banners 2-1
2.3 Cursor and Fields 2-3
2.4 Keypad Operation 2-3
2.5 Entering Data 2-5
2.6 Viewing Messages 2-5
2.7 Operating Modes 2-6
3 BASIC OPERATION 3-1
3.1 Power On 3-1
3.2 Satellite Status 3-2
3.3 Present Position 3-3
3.4 AutoStoreTM 3-4
3.5 CDI and Navigation Summary 3-5
3.6 Waypoints 3-6
3.7 Nearest Waypoints 3-9
3.8 Navigate to a Waypoint 3-10
3.9 Proximity Alarm Waypoints 3-11
3.10 Sample Trip 3-12
4 UNIT CUSTOMIZATION 4-1
4.1 Setup Menu 4-1
4.2 Operating Mode 4-2
4.3 User Selectable Alarms 4-2
4.4 Backlighting Timeout 4-3
4.5 Audio Settings 4-4
4.6 Navigation Units 4-4
4.7 CDI Scale 4-5
4.8 Magnetic Variation 4-5
4.9 Filter Settings 4-6
4.10 Output 4-7

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4.11 Map Datum 4-7
ADVANCED FEATURES
5 NAVIGATION PLANNING 5-1
5.1 Navigation Menu 5-1
5.2 Date and Time 5-1
5.3 Event Timer 5-2
5.4 Trip Planning 5-4
5.5 Sunrise/Sunset 5-4
5.6 Alarm Clock 5-5
6 ROUTES 6-1
6.1 Navigating Using Routes 6-1
6.2 Route Catalog 6-2
6.3 Editing Routes 6-3
6.4 Activating Routes 6-5
6.5 Building Routes Using AutoStoreTM 6-7
7 SAMPLE SIMULATED TRIP 7-1
APPENDICES
A MESSAGES A-1
B NAVIGATION TERMS B-1
B.1 Definitions B-1
B.2 Course To Steer (CTS) B-3
C INSTALLATION AND MAINTENANCE C-1
C.1 Specifications C-1
C.2 Electrical Wiring C-3
C.3 Surface Mount Installation C-4
C.4 Portable Antenna Installation C-7
C.5 Battery Pack Operation C-8
C.6 Maintenance C-9
C.7 Customer Support C-9
D MAP DATUMS D-1
E ABBREVIATIONS FOR DATABASE REGIONS E-1
F AIRPORT IDENTIFIERS PREFIX CODES F-1
G INDEX G-1

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CHAPTER 1
INTRODUCING THE GARMIN GPS 55 AVD
1.1 CAPABILITIES
The GPS 55 AVD provides a host of powerful capabilities which were
previously found only in much larger systems:
·Performance: State-of-the-art MultiTracTM receiver tracks up to eight
satellites while providing high receiver sensitivity, fast first fix, and
continuous navigation updates.
·Portability: Goes where you go - on land, sea, or in the air. The built-
in simulator allows you to plan your next trip or hone your navigation
skills at home or in your office.
·Navigation: Illuminated keypad and display provide the navigation
information you need at a glance. Store up to 250 alphanumeric
waypoints and 10 reversible routes. The GOTO function sets an
instantaneous course to the waypoint of your choice. The AutoStoreTM
function helps you build routes as you go. A flashing Message
Annunciator and an audible message tone keep you fully informed of
your navigation status.
·Personalized: Configure your unit the way you like by selecting
nautical units, Course Deviation Indicator (CDI) sensitivity, keypad
and display features, map datums, and interface options.
· Low Power Consumption: Battery Saver operation, which draws
less than 1.1 watts, provides up to ten hours of continuous operation
with four AA size alkaline batteries.
·Trip Planning: Analyze distance and time requirements for your trip.
Compute the time of sunrise and sunset at your destination.
·Alarms: An alarm clock and timer allow the GPS 55 AVD to watch the
clock for you. Arrival, anchor drag, CDI, and proximity alerts help you
safely navigate your craft.
·Interfaces: Interface with graphics plotters as well as marine autopilots.
We encourage you to read through this manual and experiment using the
built-in simulator. This will help you quickly master the power of the GPS 55
AVD.

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1.2 AVIATION DATABASE
The GPS 55 AVD features a built-in Jeppesen NavData®database providing
direct access to worldwide airport (with a runway of 1,000 feet or greater) and
VOR locations. Two versions of the internal database are available to cover
the entire world:
·Americas: Includes North, Central and South America.
·International: Includes everywhere except North, Central or South
America.
This database may be updated by a GARMIN authorized service center on
a one-time basis or every 28 days by subscription service. Contact GARMIN
or your local GARMIN aviation dealer for more information on GPS 55 AVD
database updates. (NOTE: Programmed routes and proximity alarms which
contain database waypoints that are deleted or moved more than 0.33 arc
minutes due to a database update will be deleted.)
1.3 OPERATIONS
You may use your GPS 55 AVD for both portable and fixed operations. The
unit may be operated from external AC power using a battery charger,
external 5-40 volt DC power using the power/data cable or cigarette lighter
adapter, or using a battery pack.
Handheld Operation:
For handheld operation, the GPS 55 AVD is powered by a AA battery pack
which should be filled with four high quality alkaline batteries commonly
found at retail stores. (A rechargeable nicad battery pack is also available.)
In order to track GPS satellites, the unit must be situated with the antenna
pointed straight up and should not be blocked by objects or people (signal
reception through thin fabric such as canvas may be adequate but degraded).
A lanyard is provided to prevent accidental dropping of your GPS 55 AVD.
(Connect the lanyard to the eyelet on the back of the unit.)
Aircraft Operation:
A mounting bracket is supplied for fixed mount installation in an aircraft.
Additionally, six feet cable with a suction cup and hardware is provided for
remote mounting of the portable antenna The unit may be operated using
aircraft power through the power/data cable or it may be operated using the
battery pack. While using aircraft power, you may wish to leave the battery

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pack in the unit. In the event of aircraft power failure, the GPS 55 AVD will
automatically switch to battery power.
Marine/Land Operation:
A universal mount is available for swivel mount installation in a boat or land
vehicle. Additionally, a Marine/RV Remote Antenna is available for installations
which require an external antenna for an unobstructed view of the sky. This
weather-proof antenna includes 30 feet of low-loss antenna cable. The
remote antenna has been constructed to thread onto a standard 1" antenna
mount. Antenna mounts, commonly used to attach VHF radio antennas and
Loran-C couplers, are readily available from your local marine accessories
dealer.
A Magnetic Mount Antenna is also available for attaching a remote antenna
to a metallic surface. This weather-proof antenna includes 10 feet of low-loss
antenna cable. A cigarette lighter adapter cable may be used to power the
unit in vehicle applications.
In addition to supplying power to the unit, the power/data cable allows you to
interface your GPS 55 AVD with other electronic devices such as graphical
displays or marine autopilots.