Garmin GPS II+ User manual

Owner’s
Manual &
Reference
®
GPS II 7/23/98 1:27 PM Page 1

Software Version 2.0 or above
© 1996 GARMINCorporation, 1200 E. 151st Street, Olathe, Kansas66062 USA
GARMIN(Europe), Unit 5, The Quadrangle, Abbey Park, Romsey, Hampshire SO51 9AQ UK
All rights reserved. No part of this manual may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic
or manual, 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 its
products and to make changes in the content without obligation to notify any person or organization of such changes or
improvements.
GARMIN, GPS II, Personal Navigator, AutoLocate, TracBack, and MultiTrac8 are all trademarks of GARMIN
Corporation and may not be used without the expressed permission of GARMIN.
August 1996 Part # 190-00118-00 Rev. A Printed in Taiwan.
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i
Thanks for choosing the GARMIN GPS II— the smallest, easiest-to-use GPS navigator
for outdoor use! The GPS II represents GARMIN’s continuing commitment to provide qual-
ity navigation information in a versatile and user-friendly flexible design you’ll enjoy for
years. To get the most from your new GPS, take the time to read through the owner’s man-
ual in order to understand the operating features of the GPS II. This manual is organized
into three sections for your convenience:
Section One (Read Me First!) takes you through step-by-step instructions to initialize
the receiver for first-time use.
Section Two (Getting-Started Tour) introduces you to the basic features of the unit
and provides a quick-start orientation to the GPS II.
Section Three (Reference) provides details about the advanced features and opera-
tions of the GPS II by topic.
Thank You!
Before getting started with
your GPS, check to see that
your GARMINGPS II pack-
age includes the following
items. If you are missing any
parts, please contact your
dealer immediately.
Standard Package:
• GPS II Unit
• Wrist Strap
• GPS II Owner’s Manual
• Velcro Mount
GPS II 7/23/98 4:03 PM Page i

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CAUTION!
The Global Positioning System (GPS) is operated by the government of the United States, which is solely
responsible for its accuracy and maintenance. The system is subject to changes which could affect the accuracy and
performance of all GPS equipment. Although the GPS II is a precision electronic NAVigation AID (NAVAID), any
NAVAID can be misused or misinterpreted and, therefore, become unsafe.
WARNING
For vehicular applications, it is the sole responsibility of the owner/operator of the GPS II to secure the GPS unit
so that it will not cause damage or personal injury in the event of an accident. Do not mount the GPS II over airbag
panels or in a place where the driver or passengers are likely to have an impact with it in an accident or collision. The
mounting hardware provided by GARMIN is not warranted against collision damage or the consequences thereof.
WARNING
For vehicular operations, it is the sole responsibility of the operator of the vehicle to operate his or her vehicle in
a safe manner, maintain full surveillance of all driving conditions at all times, and never become distracted by the GPS
II to the exclusion of safe operating practices. It is unsafe to operate the GPS II while you are driving. Failure by the
operator of a vehicle equipped with a GPS II to pay full attention to operating the vehicle and road conditions while the
vehicle is in motion could result in an accident or collision with property damage and personal injury.
CAUTION!
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GPS II 7/23/98 4:03 PM Page ii

This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC limits for Class B digital devices. This
equipment generates, uses, and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and
used in accordance with the instructions, may cause harmful interference to radio communi-
cations.
There is no guarantee that interference will not occur in a particular installation. If this
equipment does cause harmful interference to other equipment, which can be determined by
turning the affected equipment off and on, the user is encouraged to try and correct the inter-
ference by relocating the equipment or connecting the equipment to a different circuit than
the affected equipment.
Consult an authorized dealer or other qualified service technician for additional help if
these remedies do not correct the problem. Operation is subject to the following conditions:
(1) This device cannot cause harmful interference, and (2) this device must accept any inter-
ference received, including interference that may cause undesired operation.
The GPS II does not contain any user-serviceable parts. Repairs should only be made by
an authorized GARMINservice center. Unauthorized repairs or modifications could void your
warranty and your authority to operate this device under Part 15 regulations.
iii
FCC COMPLIANCE
GPS II 7/23/98 4:03 PM Page iii

Antenna
Function Keys
LCD Display
Battery Door
Rocker Keypad
iv
UNIT FEATURES
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1
SECTION ONE Read Me First!
Keypad Usage/Operating Terms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2
What is GPS? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3
Satellite Acquisition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4
Battery Installation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5
Screen Orientation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6
SECTION TWO Getting-Started Tour
Initializing the Receiver/Power On . . . . . . . . . . . .7-9
Page Sequence . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10
Tour . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11-19
SECTION THREE Reference
Satellite Status Page . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20-25
Position Page . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26-28
Creating and Using Waypoints . . . . . . . . . . . . .29-39
GOTO and MOB Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .40-41
TracBack Navigation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .42-45
Creating and Using Routes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .46-55
Compass and Highway Page . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .56-59
Moving Map Page . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .60-68
Menu Page and Auxiliary Functions . . . . . . . . .69-80
Simulator Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .81-82
Appendix A—Battery Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . .83
Appendix B—Dashboard Mounting . . . . . . . . . . . .84
Appendix C—Specifications and Wiring . . . . . .85-88
Appendix D—External Antenna . . . . . . . . . . . . . .89
Appendix E—Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .90-91
Appendix F—Map Datums . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .92-95
Appendix G—Time Offset Chart . . . . . . . . . . . . . .96
Appendix G—Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .97-99
Appendix H—Navigation Diagram . . . . . . . . . . . .100
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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2
KEYPAD USAGE/OPERATING TERMS
(POWER)— Turns the unit on and off, and controls
three-levels of screen backlighting intensity.
(PAGE)— Scrolls the main pages in sequence and
returns the display from a submenu page to a main page.
(MARK)— Captures your present position and displays
the mark position window.
(GOTO)— Displays the GOTO waypoint window, allow-
ing you to select the destination waypoint.
(ENTER)— Activates highlighted fields and confirms
menu options and data entry.
(QUIT)— Returns the display to a previous page or
restores a data field’s previous value.
(ZOOM)— Provides 12 adjustable fields by selecting
either the in or out keys from the map page.
(KEYPAD)— Controls the movement of the cursor and
is used to select options and positions, and to enter data.
CURSOR—Solid black bar which can be moved up,
down, left, and right with the keypad to select individual
fields.
DEFAULT—A system-selected format, built into a soft-
ware program or the unit’s memory, that will be followed
unless the user chooses a different setting.
FIELD—The location on a page where a group of char-
acters or option is entered and displayed.
HIGHLIGHT— The act of using the cursor to select a
field for the purpose of entering data.
SCROLL—Moving through characters or options from
a selected field.
‘Mode’
Field
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What is GPS?
GPS is a system of 24 satellites which circle the earth twice a day in a very pre-
cise orbit and transmit information to earth. The GPS II must continuously “see” at
least three of these satellites to calculate your position and track your movement.
By using an almanac (a timetable of satellite numbers and their orbits) stored in
the receiver’s memory, the GPS II can determine the distance and position of any
GPS satellite and use this information to compute your position.
Your GPS receiver can only see satellites above the horizon, so it needs to know
what satellites to look for at any given time. To use this almanac data, your GPS
needs to either be told its general location or given the opportunity to find itself, or
“initialize.” Once you initialize the unit to a position, it will usually compute a fix
within a few minutes.
Initialization is only necessary under the following conditions:
• The first time you use your GPS II (from the factory).
•After the GPS II has been moved over 500 miles from the last time you
used it (with the power off).
•If the GPS II’s memory has been cleared and all stored data has been lost.
READ ME FIRST!
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Satellite Signals
Because the GPS II relies on satellite signals to provide you with navigation guid-
ance, the receiver needs to have an unobstructed, clear view of the sky for best per-
formance. In a nutshell, the GPS receiver’s view of the sky will generally determine
how fast you get a position fix— or if you get a fix at all. GPS signals are relatively
weak and do not travel through rocks, buildings, people, metal, or heavy tree cover,
so remember to keep a clear view of the sky at all times for best performance.
Once the GPS II has calculated a position fix, you’ll usually have anywhere from
four to eight satellites in view. The GPS II will then continuously select the best satel-
lites in view to update your position. If some of the satellites in view get blocked or
“shaded,” the receiver can simply use an alternate satellite to maintain the position
fix. Although a GPS receiver needs four satellites to provide a three-dimensional (3D)
fix, the GPS II can maintain a two-dimensional (2D) fix with only three satellites. A
three-dimensional fix means the unit knows its latitude, longitude, and altitude,
while a two-dimensional fix means the unit knows only its latitude and longitude.
To prevent accidental battery
power loss, the GPS II will
automatically shut off 10 min-
utes after the last keystroke if
the unit is not tracking at least
one satellite and has never
acquired a position fix.
READ ME FIRST!
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5
Battery Installation
The GPS II operates on 4 AA batteries, which are installed at the base of the
unit. Normal battery life is approximately 15 hours, and up to 20 hours when the
unit is in battery saver mode.
To install the batteries:
1. Flip up the metal ring at the base of the unit, and turn the ring 90 degrees counter
clockwise.
2. Install the batteries (Fig. 5), and close the battery compartment door.
3. Lock the door in the closed position by rotating the metal ring 90 degrees
clockwise.
Battery life varies due to a variety of factors, including temperature,
backlighting, and whether the unit is in battery saver mode. You may find
that you get more or less battery life in different conditions.
When replacing the GPS II’s batteries, observe the polarity
markings engraved in the plastic case.
READ ME FIRST!
Polarity
Markings
Fig. 5
GPS II 7/23/98 4:03 PM Page 5

Screen Orientation
The GPS II has a unique screen orientation feature for switching from a horizon-
tal mounting position in a vehicle or on a bike to a vertical orientation for handheld
outdoor use, such as hunting or hiking. The GPS II’s rocker keypad and single-use
keys are designed to function in the same manner, no matter if you’re using the unit
vertically (Fig. 6a) or horizontally (Fig. 6b).
To change the screen orientation:
1. Press and hold PAGE.
READ ME FIRST!
6
Fig. 6a
Fig. 6b
GPS II 7/23/98 4:03 PM Page 6

Initializing Your GPS II
To initialize the GPS II, take the receiver outside and find an open area where
the antenna has a clear view of the sky. You may either hold the receiver at a com-
fortable height with the external antenna pointing up (Fig. 7a), or mount the receiv-
er on the dash of a vehicle (Appendix B) or on a bike. (Likewise, when you use your
GPS II in a vehicle, make sure the antenna is pointing up.)
To turn the GPS II on, press and hold the power key.
The welcome page will be displayed while the unit conducts a self test. Once
testing is complete, the welcome page will be replaced by the satellite status page.
You’ll see the EZinit prompt, which asks you to choose an initialization method.
Note: If the EZinit prompt has not automatically appeared, press ENTER.
To initialize your unit:
1. Press ENTER (Fig. 7b). (The word ‘COUNTRY’ in the first prompt will already be high-
lighted.)
2. Use the rocker keypad to scroll up or down through the list of countries to select your
country/state/region. If the country you’re in isn’t listed, select another country within
500 miles of your present position, and press ENTER.
GETTING-STARTED TOUR
7
Fig. 7b
Fig. 7a
GPS II 7/23/98 4:03 PM Page 7

This usually provides a position fix in 3-5 minutes*. You’ll know you have a fix
when the unit automatically transitions from the satellite status page to the position
page (Figs. 8b-8c). Your receiver is now ready for everyday use!
To turn the unit off:
1. Press and hold the red power key for three seconds (Fig. 8a).
*(The almanac data stored in your GPS’ memory is typically valid for 3-6
months. If your unit has older data, the time required for initialization may take 15
to 30 minutes.)
Fig. 8a
Check the satellite status page
for 2D or 3D navigation to
verify a position fix.
GETTING-STARTED TOUR
8
Fig. 8b Fig. 8c
GPS II 7/23/98 4:03 PM Page 8

If you have trouble initializing or getting a position fix, check the following:
•Does the receiver have a clear view of the sky?
If there are large buildings or mountains, or if there is heavy tree cover, the receiver
may not be receiving enough satellite signals to calculate a fix. Also, if you’re using
the GPS II on a car dash, make sure the unit is placed so that it has the clearest pos-
sible view of the sky. Your GPS will only be able to detect satellites that it can “see”
through your vehicle’s windshield. Depending on the slope of your dash or the over-
all surface area of the window, it may be necessary to mount an external antenna on
your vehicle’s roof or trunk in order to give the unit a better view of the sky. (Contact
your local GARMIN dealer and inquire about the GA26 low-profile remote antenna,
part number 010-10052-02)
•Have you selected the right country/state/region from the EZinit list?
Check for the correct approximate lat/lon on the position page, or reselect the appro-
priate country from the list to restart the initialization.
•Have you moved more than 500 miles from the last calculated position
with the receiver off?
Reinitialize the receiver by selecting the country/state/region of your new location
from the EZinit list.
GETTING-STARTED TOUR
9
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10
Scrolling Through the Main Pages
The GPS II features five main pages which are linked together in a chain (Fig. 10). You
can quickly scroll through the pages in either direction using PAGE or QUIT. Let’s briefly
tour each of these pages in order to give you some insight into how they help you navigate.
We’ll go over all of them in much more detail in the reference section of this manual.
This tour assumes that you have only initialized the receiver and have not changed any
of the factory settings (units of measure, selectable fields, etc.). If you have changed any of
the default settings, the pictures and descriptions in the tour may not match your unit.
Also, make sure your unit’s screen is orientated horizontally.
GETTING-STARTED TOUR
Fig. 10
Position Page
Status Page Map Page Navigation Page Menu Page
GPS II 7/23/98 4:03 PM Page 10

Satellite Status Page
Let’s start with the satellite status page, which is the page you’ll view while your
unit is getting a position fix. If you’re not already on this page, press PAGE or QUIT
until it appears. The satellite status page shows you status information that helps you
understand what the receiver is doing at any given time, and it’s a page that you’ll
want to occasionally refer back to as you use your unit. It features a sky view of
available satellites, signal strength bars, the status of your current position fix
(acquiring, 2D, 3D, etc.), and your estimated position error (EPE). You can also tell
how much battery power is remaining (Fig. 11). Once your GPS II has acquired suf-
ficient satellites, the satellite status page will automatically be replaced by the posi-
tion page (as long as you haven’t pressed any other buttons).
The signal strength bars give
you an indication of what
satellites are visible to the
receiver, whether or not they’re
being used to calculate a posi-
tion fix, and the signal quality.
GETTING-STARTED TOUR
11
Fig. 11
GPS II 7/23/98 4:03 PM Page 11

Position Page
The position page (Fig. 12) shows you where you are, what direction you’re
heading, and how fast you’re going— and it’s the page you’ll want to use when you
don’t have an active destination selected.
A graphic compass display at the top of the page shows your direction of travel,
while five data fields below display your track and speed, a trip odometer, and your
position and altitude. The ‘trip’ and ‘altitude’ fields are user-selectable, which means
you can change them to display other navigation information. We’ll cover more
about those fields in the reference section of this manual.
GETTING-STARTED TOUR
12
Fig. 12
GPS II 7/23/98 4:03 PM Page 12

Marking a Position
GPS is really about marking and going to places called waypoints. Before we can
use our GPS II to guide us somewhere, we have to mark a position as a waypoint.
To mark a position:
1. Press MARK.
The mark position page will appear, showing the captured position and a default
3-digit waypoint name. Let’s change the default name to something a little more
meaningful, like ‘HOME’ (Fig. 13).
To name a waypoint:
1. Use the keypad to highlight the name field, and press ENTER.
2. Enter the waypoint name ‘HOME’, and press ENTER.
3. Highlight ‘SAVE?’, and press ENTER.
The mark position page will be replaced by the position page (the page dis-
played before pressing MARK). The ‘HOME’ waypoint is now stored in the GPS II’s
memory, which is maintained by an internal lithium battery.
Fig. 13
If you try to mark a position
without a position fix, you will
be alerted with a ‘No Position’
message.
GETTING-STARTED TOUR
13
GPS II 7/23/98 4:03 PM Page 13

Using the Position Page
Now that you’ve marked a position, it’s time to take a brisk walk using the posi-
tion and moving map pages to watch your every move. You should still be on the
position page.
To get the most from this tutorial, walk in a straight line for 3-4 minutes at a fast
pace and watch the position page. (Because the GPS system typically has a margin of
error of approximately 15 meters, you’ll need to walk this long to ensure that you
travel far enough to register useful information. You’ll also get a much better indica-
tion of how the GPS II’s steering guidance and mapping features work to guide you.)
You’ll see that the direction you are moving (track), your speed, and how far
you’ve gone displayed in the middle of the screen, just below the graphic compass
display. The latitude, longitude and approximate altitude of your position are dis-
played at the bottom of the page, with the time of day displayed below.
To continue the tour, let’s move on to the next page:
1. Press PAGE.
You can even time yourself
with the GPS II’s on-screen
clock.
GETTING-STARTED TOUR
14
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