Garmin aera 500 Instruction manual

aera 500 series quick start manual 1
automotive
quick start manual
models: 500, 510, 550, 560
™

2 aera 500 series quick start manual
Your aera
Memory card
slot
Mini-USB
connector
Release key:
Slide and release to
open the battery cover
Battery
contacts
Serial number
(under the battery)
Speaker
GPS antenna
Headphone/
audio-out jack
(under weather cap)
Microphone
Power button:
Press and hold to turn the aera on/off.
Press quickly to adjust the volume and the backlight brightness.
External antenna
connector
(under weather cap)
See the Important Safety and Product Information guide in the product box
for product warnings and other important information.
NOTE: Your aera has both automotive and aviation usage modes.
This quick start manual explains the automotive functions of your
aera.

aera 500 series quick start manual 3
Installing the Battery
1. Locate the lithium‑ion battery that came in
the product box.
2. Slide the release key until the battery
cover on the back of the aera pops up.
3. Remove the battery cover.
4. Locate the metal contacts on the end of
the lithium‑ion battery.
5. Insert the battery so that the metal
contacts on the battery match with
the metal contacts inside the battery
compartment.
6. Replace the battery cover.
WARNING: This product contains a lithium-ion
battery. To prevent injury or damage, remove the unit
from the vehicle when exiting or store it out of direct
sunlight.
Charging Your aera
Charge your aera for at least 4 hours before
using on battery power.
Connect the vehicle power cable.
Connect the USB cable to the mini-USB
connector located under the battery cover.
Connect an AC adapter (if included).
Use a battery charger (optional accessory).
NOTE: Do not connect the USB cable or AC
adapter to the mini-USB connector on the
cradle.
Mounting Your aera in an
Automobile
1. Plug the vehicle power cable into the
power connector on the right side of the
cradle.
•
•
•
•
Release button
Cradle Vehicle power
cable
2. Remove the clear plastic from the bottom
of the friction mount.
3. Place the friction mount on your
dashboard so it is easily accessible.
4. Lift and push the friction mount arm
toward the windshield.
Friction
mount
arm
5. Snap the cradle onto the friction mount
arm.
6. Fit the bottom of your aera into the cradle.

4 aera 500 series quick start manual
7. Tilt the aera back until it snaps into place.
8. Plug the other end of the vehicle power
cable into a power outlet in your vehicle.
Acquiring Satellites
1. Go outdoors to an open area, out of
garages, and away from tall buildings.
2. Turn on your aera.
Acquiring satellite signals may take a few
minutes. The bars indicate GPS
satellite strength. When one bar is green, the
aera has acquired satellite signals. Now you
can select a destination and navigate to it.
Using the Menu Page
➊➋➌➍
➏
➒➑
➐
➎
➓
➊ GPS satellite strength.
➋ Bluetooth
®
technology status.
➌ Touch to select automotive or aviation
mode.
➍ Battery status.
➎ Current time. Touch to change settings.
➏  Touchtondadestination.
➐ Touch to view the map.
➑ Touch to make a call when connected to
a compatible mobile phone.
➒ Touch to adjust the volume.
➓ Touch to use the tools such as settings,
Where Am I?, and Help.
Finding Points of Interest
1. Touch Where To? > Points of Interest.
2. Select a category and a subcategory.
3. Select a destination, and touch Go!.
To enter letters contained in the name, touch
Where To? > Points of Interest > Spell
Name.
To search for a location in a different area,
touch Where To? > Near.
Adding a Stop
1. With a route active, touch Menu > Where
To?.
2. Search for the extra stop.
3. Touch Go!.
4. Touch Add As a Via Point to add this stop
before your destination.
To add more than one stop, edit the current
route. Touch Where To? > Custom Routes.

aera 500 series quick start manual 5
Following Your Route
Your route is marked with a magenta line.
As you travel, your aera guides you to your
destination with voice prompts, arrows on
the map, and directions at the top of the
map. If you depart from the route, your aera
recalculates the route and provides new
directions.
A speed limit icon could appear as you travel
on major roadways.
➊ ➋
➌
➍
➎
➏
➐
➊ Touch to view the Next Turn page or the
Lane Assist page (550 and 560 models).
➋ Touch to view the Turn List page.
➌ Touch to zoom in and out.
➍ Touch to view the Where Am I? page.
➎ Touch to view the Trip Computer page.
➏ Touch to return to the Menu page.
➐ Touch to change the data displayed here.
Receiving XM®Satellite
Signals
XM is only available on the aera 510 and 560
models. If your aera came with a GXM 40
antenna, you can receive XM satellite signals.
Some features, such as XM WX
™
Weather
and XM Radio, require XM satellite signals.
A subscription to XM services is required
to access the XM WX Weather and XM
Radio features. For more information on XM
subscriptions, go to www.garmin.com/xm.
The service is activated by providing XM
Radio with a coded ID (Radio ID). The
Radio ID can be found on the underside of
your GXM 40 antenna. Refer to the GXM
40 Owner’s Manual for more information on
activating XM Radio.
NOTE: XM is only available in North
America.
1. Place your aera in the automotive cradle
or the aviation mount.

6 aera 500 series quick start manual
2. Plug the GXM 40 antenna into the
mini‑USB port on the back of the cradle.
3. Place the GXM 40 antenna within clear
view of the sky.
Making Hands-Free Phone
Calls
Using Bluetooth wireless technology, your
aera can wirelessly connect to your mobile
phone to become a hands-free device.
To pair and connect, your phone and the aera
must be turned on and be within 10 meters of
each other.
Pairing the aera with Your Mobile
Phone
Before pairing your aera with your phone, go
to www.garmin.com/bluetoothtoconrmthat
your phone is supported by the aera.
1. Enable the Bluetooth component on your
phone. Enable Find Me/Discoverable/
Visible mode. These settings might be in
a Bluetooth, Connections, or Hands‑free
menu.
2. Touch Tools > Settings > Bluetooth.
3. Touch the button under Bluetooth.
4. Select Enabled, and touch OK.
5. From the Bluetooth page, touch the button
under Phone.
6. Select your phone, and touch OK.
7. Enter the aera Bluetooth PIN (1234) in
your phone.
Receiving a Call
When you receive a call, the Incoming Call
window appears. Touch Answer to answer
the call. Touch Ignore to ignore the call and
silence the ring.
Making a Call
When your phone is connected to your aera,
you are ready to make phone calls. Touch
Phone to access the Phone menu.
Not all phones support all features of the aera
Phone menu.
Calling a Number
1. Touch Phone > Dial.
2. Enter the number, and touch Dial.
3. To end the call, touch > End Call.
Loading Files on Your aera
1. Insert a memory card (optional).
2. Connect the USB cable.
3. Transferlestotheaera.
4. Eject and unplug the USB cable.
Listening to MP3 Files
1. Touch Tools > Media Player.
2. Touch Source to open the MP3 player.
3. Touch Browse.
4. Touch a category.
5. Touch Play All.

aera 500 series quick start manual 7
Locking Your aera
1. Ensure you are at your security location
and that your aera is receiving satellite
signals.
2. Touch Tools > Settings > Security.
3. Touch the button below Garmin Lock.
4. Enter a 4‑digit PIN and drive to a security
location.
NOTE: If you forget your PIN and your
security location, you must send your aera
and valid product registration or proof of
purchase to Garmin to unlock your aera.
Resetting the aera
If the aera screen stops functioning, turn the
aera off and on again. If this does not help,
remove the battery and then reinstall the
battery.
nüMaps Guarantee™
To receive one free map update (if available),
register your aera at http://my.garmin
.com within 60 days of acquiring satellites
and traveling with your aera (acquiring
satellites for this purpose requires driving
oryingwiththeunitover5milesperhour
for approximately 30 seconds). You are
not eligible for the free map update if you
register by phone or wait longer than 60 days
afterthersttimeyouacquiresatelliteswith
your aera.
NOTE: The nüMaps Guarantee only applies
to the automotive maps loaded on your aera.
For more information on aviation databases,
go to http://y.garmin.com.
More Information
For more information about your aera,
touch Tools > Help. You can download the
latest version of the owner’s manual from
www.garmin.com. For information about
accessories, go to http://buy.garmin.com or
contact your Garmin dealer.
Tips and Shortcuts
To quickly return to the Menu page, touch
and hold Back.
Touch and to see more choices.
Touch and hold to scroll faster.
•
•

Garmin
®
and the Garmin logo are trademarks of Garmin Ltd. or its subsidiaries, registered in the USA and other countries. nüMaps Guarantee
™
and aera
™
are trademarks of
Garmin Ltd. or its subsidiaries. These trademarks may not be used without the express permission of Garmin. The Bluetooth
®
word mark and logos are owned by the Bluetooth
SIG, Inc., and any use of such name by Garmin is under license. Other trademarks and trade names are those of their respective owners. XM and the XM logos are trademarks
of XM Satellite Radio Inc. XM Radio and XM WX
™
Weather are trademarks of XM Satellite Radio Inc.
For the latest free software updates (excluding map data) throughout the life of your
Garmin products, visit the Garmin Web site at www.garmin.com.
© 2009 Garmin Ltd. or its subsidiaries
Garmin International, Inc.
1200 East 151st Street, Olathe, Kansas 66062, USA
Garmin (Europe) Ltd.
Liberty House, Hounsdown Business Park, Southampton, Hampshire, SO40 9LR UK
Garmin Corporation
No. 68, Jangshu 2nd Road, Shijr, Taipei County, Taiwan
www.garmin.com
September 2009 Part Number 190‑01117‑01 Rev. B Printed in Taiwan