Garmin Astro 320 Instruction manual

Astro® 320
quick start manual
GPS-enabled dog tracking system

2 Astro320QuickStartManual

 
See the Important Safety and Product
Information guide in the product
box for product warnings and other
important information.
notice
Do not attempt to track your dog using
the Astro® and the DC™ 40 until you
have completed these tasks.
1. Install batteries in the Astro
(page 2).
2. Charge the DC 40 (page 2).
3. Register your device (page 3).
4. Turn on the devices (page 3).
5. Acquire satellites (page 4).
6. Calibrate the compass (page 5).
7. Attach the DC 40 to your dog
(page 5).
8. Start a new hunt (page 5).


The Astro operates on two AA batteries
(not included). Use NiMH or lithium
batteries for best results.
1. Remove the battery cover by
turning the D-ring 1/4 turn
counterclockwise and pulling up.
2. Insert the batteries, observing
polarity.
3. Replace the battery cover.

Charge the DC 40 completely before
using it on a hunt. Charging a depleted
DC 40 battery takes 4½ hours.
1. Connect the power cable ➊ to an
appropriate electrical source.

Astro320QuickStartManual 3
➊
➋
2. Slide the charging clip ➋ onto the
DC 40.
3. Charge the DC 40 completely.
The blue LED ashes when the
DC 40 is charging. The blue LED
is solid when the DC 40 is fully
charged.

Help us better support you by
completing our online registration
today.
• Go to http://my.garmin.com.
• Keep the original sales receipt, or a
photocopy, in a safe place.

1. On the Astro, press and hold ➊ .
➊
2. Follow the on-screen instructions.

4 Astro320QuickStartManual
3. On the DC 40, press and hold
➋ .
The red LED ➌ ashes (single
blink) when the DC 40 is on and
searching for satellite signals.
TIP: Turn on the DC 40, and let it
acquire satellites before you put it
on your dog.
➋
➌


Before you can track your dog using
the Astro and the DC 40, both devices
must acquire GPS satellite signals.
Acquiring satellite signals can take a
few minutes.
1. Go outdoors to an open area, away
from tall buildings and trees.
2. Press and quickly release .
The status page appears. The
bars indicate satellite strength.
3. Wait for the DC 40 to acquire
satellite signals.


DC 40 is searching for
satellite signals.


DC 40 has acquired
satellite signals.


DC 40 is tracking
seven or more
satellites (best GPS
performance).

Astro320QuickStartManual 5

notice
Calibrate the electronic compass
outdoors. Do not stand near objects that
inuence magnetic elds, such as cars,
buildings, or overhead power lines.
The Astro has a 3-axis electronic
compass. You should calibrate the
compass after moving long distances,
experiencing temperature changes, or
changing the batteries.
1. From the main menu, press DOG >
MENU.
2. Select Calibrate Compass > Start.
3. Follow the on-screen instructions.


Attach the DC 40 to your dog’s
neck with the VHF antenna
pointing up (page 8) and the LED
facing forward.

1. From the main menu, select Start
New Hunt.
2. Follow the on-screen instructions.
Your current location is saved as
“Truck” so you can easily navigate
back to this location after the hunt.

The Astro can track up to 10 dogs
with DC 40 collars. If you purchase
additional DC 40 devices, you can link
them to the Astro. To link, the Astro
must be close enough to the DC 40 to
touch it, or you must know the DC 40
ID number.
1. From the main menu, press DOG
twice.
2. Select Add Dog.
3. Follow the on-screen instructions.
By default, the new dog is named
“Dog” and an ID number is
randomly assigned.

6 Astro320QuickStartManual
An error message could appear if there
is a conict with the ID number of
another dog.

Each dog you track has its own ID
number. If two dogs within range of
the Astro have the same ID, the Astro
warns you of a conicting ID signal.
Follow the on-screen instructions to
resolve the conict.
When possible, you should allow the
Astro to automatically assign IDs. If
necessary, you can manually assign a
new ID number to a dog.

This requires wireless communication
with the DC 40. You must turn on
the DC 40 and bring it within range
of the Astro. You must assign a new
ID number to the dog and change the
update rate.
1. From the main menu, press DOG
twice.
2. Select a dog.
3. Select Show Info.
4. Press MENU.
5. Select Comm. Settings.
6. Select an unassigned and
nonconicting ID.
7. Change the update rate (optional).
Both 30-second and two-minute
rates reduce battery drain, but they
create a less-detailed dog track and
collected statistics.
8. Bring the Astro within a few feet of
the DC 40.
9. Follow the on-screen instructions.

Astro320QuickStartManual 7


notice
Avoid using a high-powered radio
(greater than 5 watts) in close
proximity to the Astro. It may cause
irreversible damage to the Astro.
➍
➌
➋
➊
➎
➏
➑
➒
➐
➊
GPS antenna
➋
VHF antenna
➌
Power key
➍
Display
➎
Keypad
➏
USB port (under weather cap)
➐
microSD
™
card slot (under battery
door)
➑
Mounting spine
➒
Battery cover D-ring

 Press to view the Dog
Tracker page.
 Press to mark your
current location.

8 Astro320QuickStartManual
 Press to cancel data
entry or return to the
previous menu or page.
 Press to view the map.
 Press to open the menu
for the active page.
Press twice to open the
main menu.
 Press to select options
and acknowledge
messages.
 Press to view or scroll
through options and to
move the map pointer.
 Press to zoom in on the
map.
 Press to zoom out on
the map.

1. Press and quickly release .
2. Press OUT.

➊
➋
➌
➍

Astro320QuickStartManual 9
➊
VHF antenna
➋
Collar
➌
GPS antenna
➍
Power key

NOTE: The backlight brightness may
be limited when the remaining capacity
in the batteries is low.
Extensive use of screen backlighting
can signicantly reduce battery life.
1. Press and quickly release .
2. Use the Rocker to adjust the
brightness levels.
TIP: You can also press and
quickly release to cycle through
the brightness levels.
3. Press ENTER to select a brightness
level and close the menu.

• Turn on the DC 40 and allow it to
acquire satellites before you put the
DC 40 on your dog. This allows the
DC 40 to acquire satellite signals
much faster.
• Bring extra AA batteries for your
Astro.
• Use a fully charged DC 40. A
fully charged DC 40 operates for
approximately 17 hours when using
ve-second interval reporting.
• Use line-of-sight radio
communication (page 10).
• The Astro can track up to 10 dogs
with DC 40 collars. Only three dogs
can be viewed at one time on the
Dog Tracker page. To reduce the
text size, press MENU, and select
Small Numbers.
• Go to www.garmin.com/products
/astro for more information and
www.garmin.com/astro for a
tutorial.

10 Astro320QuickStartManual

The Astro and DC 40 use radio signals to communicate. Objects in the path of
radio signals degrade the quality of the signals. Keeping an unobstructed line of
sight between your Astro and your dog’s DC 40 produces the best communication
signal. Obstructed radio waves result in a poor signal. To achieve the best line-of-
sight conditions, move to the highest elevation point in your area (for example, on
the top of a hill).
Best
Good
Poor