Garmin GPSMAP 78 series User manual
GPSMAP® 78 series
owner’s manual
for use with the GPSMAP 78, GPSMAP
78S, and GPSMAP 78Sc
All rights reserved. Except as expressly provided
herein, no part of this manual may be reproduced,
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or stored in any storage medium, for any purpose
without the express prior written consent of Garmin.
Garmin hereby grants permission to download a
single copy of this manual onto a hard drive or
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to print one copy of this manual or of any revision
hereto, provided that such electronic or printed copy
of this manual must contain the complete text of
this copyright notice and provided further that any
unauthorized commercial distribution of this manual
or any revision hereto is strictly prohibited.
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. Visit
the Garmin Web site (www.garmin.com) for current
updates and supplemental information concerning
the use and operation of this and other Garmin
products.
Garmin®, BlueChart®, City Navigator®, and
GPSMAP® are trademarks of Garmin Ltd. or its
subsidiaries, registered in the USA and other
countries. HomePort™, BaseCamp™, ANT™, and
ANT+™ are trademarks of Garmin Ltd. or its
subsidiaries. These trademarks may not be used
without the express permission of Garmin.
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Computer, Inc. microSD™ is a trademark of SanDisk
or its subsidiaries. Other trademarks and trade
names are those of their respective owners.
Getting Started .................... 1
Manual Conventions .................. 1
Device Overview........................ 2
Battery Information .................... 3
Installing the Batteries ............... 3
Turning the Device On or Off ..... 3
Acquiring Satellite Signals ......... 3
Buttons ...................................... 4
Navigating with Waypoints
and Routes .......................... 5
Waypoints .................................. 5
Routes ....................................... 6
Additional Maps ......................... 8
Tracks .................................. 9
About Tracks.............................. 9
Navigating a Saved Track........ 10
Using the Main Pages .......11
Customizing the Data Fields.....11
Restoring Default Page Settings 11
Map...........................................11
Compass ................................. 13
Using the Compass ................. 13
Using Sight ‘N Go .................... 14
Elevation Plot........................... 15
Opening the Main Menu .......... 16
Trip Computer .......................... 16
Main Menu Features and
Settings ............................. 16
Geocaches .............................. 16
Share Wirelessly...................... 17
Proximity Alarms ...................... 17
Prole Change ......................... 18
Area Calculation ...................... 18
Satellite .................................... 18
Additional Main Menu Tools ..... 19
Customizing Your Device 19
Customizing Data Fields.......... 19
Data Field Options ................... 20
System Settings....................... 23
Display Settings ....................... 24
Setting Up Tones ..................... 24
Marine Settings........................ 24
Setting up Marine Alarms ........ 25
Resetting Data ......................... 26
Changing the Page Sequence 26
Customizing the Unit Settings . 27
Time Settings ........................... 27
Position Format Settings ......... 27
Altimeter Settings .................... 28
Geocache Settings .................. 29
Routing Settings ...................... 29
Fitness ..................................... 30
Proles..................................... 30
Appendix ........................... 30
Registering Your Device .......... 30
Updating the Software ............. 31
Viewing Important Device
Information ............................ 31
Contacting Garmin Product Support
31
Using the Backlight .................. 31
Specications .......................... 32
Maximizing Battery Life ........... 33
About the Batteries .................. 33
Buying Optional Accessories ... 34
Using Optional Fitness Accessories
34
Data Management ................... 35
Attaching the Wrist Strap ......... 38
Caring for the Device ............... 38
Troubleshooting ....................... 39
Index .................................. 41
GPSMAP 78 Series Owner’s Manual 1
Getting Started
See the Important Safety and Product
Information guide in the product box for
product warnings and other important
information.
When using your device the rst time,
you should complete the following tasks
to set up the device and get to know the
basic features.
Install the batteries (page 3).
Turn on the device (page 3).
Acquire satellites (page 3).
Mark a waypoint (page 5).
Navigate a route (page 8).
Record a track (page 9).
Calibrate the compass (page 13).
When you are instructed to press
something, use the buttons on the unit.
Use the to select something
in a list, and then press ENTER. See
page 5.
The small arrows (>) used in the text
indicate that you should select a series
of items in order, for example, “Select
> .”
2 GPSMAP 78 Series Owner’s Manual
Getting Started
Internal
antenna
Buttons
Display Battery
compartment
Serial port
(under weather
cap)
mini-USB port
(under weather
cap)
microSD
™
card slot
(under
batteries)
MCX connector for
external GPS antenna
(under weather cap)
GPSMAP 78 Series Owner’s Manual 3
Getting Started
The device operates on two AA batteries.
Use alkaline, NiMH, or lithium batteries.
Use precharged NiMH or lithium
batteries for best results (page 33).
Slide the latch on the back of the
device, and remove the battery cover.
Insert the batteries, observing
polarity.
Replace the battery cover.
For best results, after you install new
batteries, update the battery type in the
system settings (page 37).
Press and hold .
Turn on the unit.
Use the Rocker to select a
language.
It may take 30 to 60 seconds to acquire
signals.
Go outdoors to an open area.
If necessary, turn on the device.
Wait while the device searches for
satellites.
A question mark ashes while the
device determines your location.
Quickly press to open the
backlight status page.
The GPS bars indicate satellite strength.
When the bars are green, the device has
acquired satellite signals.
4 GPSMAP 78 Series Owner’s Manual
Getting Started
Button Description
FIND/MOB Press to open the
search menu.
Press and hold (man
overboard function) to
store your current location
as a waypoint and begin
navigation to that point.
Press and hold to turn
the device on and off.
Quickly press to open
the backlight status page.
QUIT Press QUIT to cancel
or return to the previous
menu or page.
PAGE Press PAGE to scroll
through the main pages
(page 11).
MENU Press to open the
options menu for the page
that is currently open.
Press twice to open
the main menu (from any
page).
ENTER/
MARK
Press ENTER to select
options and acknowledge
messages.
Press and hold to
save your current location
as a waypoint.
GPSMAP 78 Series Owner’s Manual 5
Getting Started
Rocker Press up, down, right, and
left to select menu options
and to move the map
cursor.
+Press + to zoom in on the
map.
-Press - to zoom out on
the map.
Waypoints are locations you record and
store in the device.
From any page, press and hold
.
Select .
You can use the search menu to quickly
nd waypoints, tracks, routes, and
coordinates that you have saved.
From any page, press .
Select .
Select a waypoint.
Select .
6 GPSMAP 78 Series Owner’s Manual
Navigating with Waypoints and Routes
Before you can edit a waypoint, you must
create a waypoint.
From the main menu, select
.
Select a waypoint.
Select an attribute (such as the name
or location).
Enter the new information.
Select .
From the main menu, select
.
Select a waypoint.
Press .
Select .
On the map, move the pointer to
a location near which you want to
search for tides.
Press .
Select .
Select a tide station.
Press .
Select .
Tide times and heights are displayed
for the selected station.
If necessary, select an option:
• To view tide information for
another date, select >
.
• To view the tide chart, select
> .
A route is a sequence of waypoints that
leads you to your nal destination.
From the main menu, select
> >
.
Select a category.
Select the rst point in the route.
Select .
GPSMAP 78 Series Owner’s Manual 7
Navigating with Waypoints and Routes
Select .
Repeat steps 2–5 until the route is
complete.
A route must contain at least two
points.
Press to save the route.
From the main menu, select
.
Select a route.
Select .
Enter the new name.
Select .
From the main menu, select
.
Select a route.
Select .
Select a point.
Select an option:
• —shows the point on the
map.
• (or )—changes
the order of the point on the
route.
• —adds an additional point
on the route.
The additional point is inserted
before the point you are editing.
• —removes the point
from the route.
From the main menu, select
.
Select a route.
Select .
From the main menu, select
.
Select a route.
Select .
8 GPSMAP 78 Series Owner’s Manual
Navigating with Waypoints and Routes
Press .
Select .
Select a route.
Select .
From the main menu, select
.
Select a point in the route to view
additional details.
From any page, press .
Select .
From the main menu, select
.
Select a route.
Select .
Select the route again.
Select .
Select .
To purchase preloaded detailed map
data cards, go to http://buy.garmin.com
or contact your Garmin dealer.
You can use optional City Navigator
maps to search for addresses, cities,
and other locations. The detailed maps
contain millions of points of interest, such
as restaurants, hotels, and auto services.
Press .
Select .
Enter the country.
Enter the city or postal code.
: Not all map data provides
postal code searching.
Select the city.
Enter the house number.
Enter the street.
Select .
GPSMAP 78 Series Owner’s Manual 9
Navigating with Waypoints and Routes
Press .
Select .
Select a category.
Select a destination.
Select .
Your Garmin device records a track log
while you are moving. You can save
these tracks and navigate to them later.
You can view archived or loaded tracks
by selecting from the
main menu.
From the main menu, select >
> .
Select , or
, .
If you select , ,
a line on the map indicates your
track.
Select .
Select an option:
• —records tracks at a
specied distance.
• –records tracks at a
specied time.
• —records tracks at a
variable rate to create an
optimum representation of your
tracks.
Select .
Select an option to record tracks
more or less often.
: Using the interval
provides the most track detail and lls
up the device memory quicker.
10 GPSMAP 78 Series Owner’s Manual
Tracks
The track being recorded is called the
current track.
From the main menu, select
> .
Select an option:
• —shows the current
track on the map.
• —shows the
elevation plot (page 15) for the
current track.
From the main menu, select
> .
Select what you want to save:
• —saves the entire
active track.
• —allows you to
select a portion of the current
track to save.
From the main menu, select >
> > .
From the main menu, select
.
Select a track.
Select > .
You must record and save a track
(page 10) before you can navigate using
it.
Press .
Select .
Select a saved track.
Select .
GPSMAP 78 Series Owner’s Manual 11
Tracks
The information needed to operate this
device is found on the following pages:
map, compass, main menu, and trip
computer.
You can customize the data elds that
appear on the main pages. For data eld
descriptions, see page 20.
From a main page, press .
Select .
Select a data eld.
Follow the on-screen instructions.
From a main page, press .
Select .
Press .
The position icon represents your
location on the map. As you travel, the
position icon moves and leaves a track
log (trail). Waypoint names and symbols
also appear on the map.
From the map, press .
Select > .
Select an orientation:
• Select to show north at
the top of the page.
• Select to show your
current direction of travel at the
top of the page.
• Select to
show a perspective view.
12 GPSMAP 78 Series Owner’s Manual
Using the Main Pages
You can move the cursor around the map
to measure distance from the current
location.
From the map, press .
Select .
The device automatically begins
measuring from your current location.
Move the cursor to a point you want
to measure to.
The distance appears at the top of
the page.
Press to stop measuring.
From the map, press , and select
.
• —allows you to
select how the map is displayed
(page 11).
• —allows you to select
when to show guidance text on the
map.
•
◦—automatically
selects the appropriate zoom
level for optimal use on your map.
When is selected, you must
zoom in or out manually.
◦—map items
draw or appear at or below the
selected zoom level.
◦—allows you to select
the text size for map items.
◦—allows you to select the
amount of map data displayed on
the device.
: Higher detail settings may
cause the map to redraw slowly.
• —shows detail relief
on the map (if available) or turns off
shading.
• —allows you to
enable or disable the maps currently
GPSMAP 78 Series Owner’s Manual 13
Using the Main Pages
loaded on the device. To purchase
additional maps, see page 34.
When navigating to a destination,
the bearing pointer points to your
destination, regardless of the direction
you are moving. When the bearing
pointer points toward the top of the
electronic compass, you are traveling
directly toward your destination. If it
points any other direction, turn toward
that direction until the arrow is pointing
toward the top of the compass.
notice
Calibrate the electronic compass
outdoors. Do not stand near objects that
inuence magnetic elds, such as cars,
buildings, or overhead power lines.
: The three-axis compass is
available only with the GPSMAP 78S
and GPSMAP 78Sc.
You should calibrate the compass after
moving long distances, experiencing
temperature changes, or changing the
batteries.
From the compass, press .
Select > Start.
Follow the on-screen instructions.
You can use the compass to navigate an
active route.
Press .
Hold the device level.
Follow the bearing pointer to your
destination.
14 GPSMAP 78 Series Owner’s Manual
Using the Main Pages
: Sight ‘N Go is available only with
the GPSMAP 78S and GPSMAP 78Sc.
You can point the device at an object in
the distance, such as a lighthouse, lock
in the direction, and then navigate to the
object.
From the main menu, select
.
Point the device at an object.
Select > .
Use the compass to navigate to the
object.
From the compass, press , and
select .
• —shows the type of
directional heading on the compass:
◦—sets the
compass reading to directional
letters (N, S, E, W).
◦—sets the
compass reading to degrees
(0°–359°).
◦—sets the compass reading
to mils (0 mils–6399 mils).
• —sets the north
reference of the compass:
◦—sets true north as the
heading reference.
◦—automatically sets
the magnetic declination for your
location.
◦—sets grid north as the
heading reference (0°).
◦—sets the magnetic
variation value.
• —allows you to
select how the course is displayed.
◦(Small/Large)indicates
the direction to your destination.
◦indicates your
relationship to a course line
leading to a destination.
GPSMAP 78 Series Owner’s Manual 15
Using the Main Pages
• —allows you to switch
from an electronic compass to a GPS
compass when you are traveling at a
higher rate of speed for a set period
of time, or turns the compass off.
• —starts the
compass calibration (page 13).
: The elevation plot page is
available only with the GPSMAP 78S
and GPSMAP 78Sc.
You can manually calibrate the
barometric altimeter if you know the
correct elevation or the correct pressure.
From the elevation plot, press .
Select Calibrate Altimeter.
Follow the on-screen instructions.
From the elevation plot, press .
• —sets the type of
data shown on the elevation plot:
◦—records
elevation changes over a period
of time.
◦—records
elevation changes over a
distance.
◦—records
barometric pressure over a period
of time.
◦—records
ambient pressure changes over a
period of time.
• —adjusts the
zoom ranges shown on the elevation
plot page.
• —resets the elevation plot
data:
◦—resets all trip
data.
◦—deletes
all saved waypoints.
16 GPSMAP 78 Series Owner’s Manual
Using the Main Pages
◦—deletes
the track log.
◦—restores the
device to factory settings.
—see page 15.
The main menu gives you access to
setup screens including waypoints,
tracks, and routes. See page 16 for main
menu settings pages.
From any page, press twice.
The trip computer displays your current
speed, average speed, maximum speed,
trip odometer, and other helpful statistics.
From the trip computer, press .
• —resets all the trip computer
values to zero. For accurate
information, reset the trip information
before beginning a trip.
• —changes the size
of the numbers shown on the trip
computer page.
• —changes the
theme and information displayed on
the dashboard.
: Your customized settings are
remembered by the dashboard, and
will not be lost when you change
proles (page 18).
Geocaching is a type of treasure hunting,
in which geocachers seek hidden
treasures using GPS coordinates posted
on the Internet by those hiding the
geocache.
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