Garmin nuvi 3550LM User manual

April 2012 190-01387-00_0C Printed in Taiwan
nüvi® 3500 series
owner's manual

© 2012 Garmin Ltd. or its subsidiaries
All rights reserved. Under the copyright laws, this manual may not be copied, in whole or in part, without the written
consent of Garmin. Garmin reserves the right to change or improve its products and to make changes in the content of
this manual without obligation to notify any person or organization of such changes or improvements. Go to www.garmin
.com for current updates and supplemental information concerning the use of this product.
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. Go to 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®, the Garmin logo, nüvi®, and MapSource® are trademarks of Garmin Ltd. or its subsidiaries, registered in the
USA and other countries. BaseCamp™, HomePort™, cityXplorer™, ecoRoute™, myTrends™, nüMaps Guarantee™,
nüMaps Lifetime™, myGarmin™, and trafcTrends™ 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. Windows® and Windows NT® are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/
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under license from iBiquity Digital Corporation. U.S. and Foreign Patents. HD Radio™ and the HD logo are proprietary
trademarks of iBiquity Digital Corp.
.

nüvi 3500 Series Owner’s Manual iii
Table of Contents
Getting Started ����������������������������������������� 1
Connecting the Device to Vehicle Power ........... 1
About myDashboard .......................................... 2
About Sleep Mode ............................................. 4
Adjusting the Screen Brightness ....................... 4
Adjusting the Master Volume ............................. 4
About Automatic Volume ................................... 4
Status Bar Icons ................................................ 5
Satellite Signals ................................................. 5
Using the On-screen Buttons ............................ 6
Using the On-screen Keyboard ......................... 7
About Shortcuts ................................................. 7
Finding Locations ������������������������������������ 8
About Locations ................................................. 8
About Search Tools ......................................... 11
Saving a Home Location ................................. 14
Finding Recently Found Places ....................... 14
Finding Parking ................................................ 14
Setting a Simulated Location ........................... 14
Saving Locations ............................................. 15
Voice Command ������������������������������������� 17
About Voice Command .................................... 17
Navigation ���������������������������������������������� 20
Starting a Route ............................................... 20
Following an Automobile Route ....................... 20
About Exit Services ......................................... 23
Avoiding Road Features .................................. 24
About Custom Avoidances .............................. 24
Enabling Advanced Detours ............................ 25
Navigating Off Road ........................................ 26
Map Pages ���������������������������������������������� 26
Customizing the Map ....................................... 26
Viewing Turns .................................................. 28
Viewing Current Location Information ............. 30
Pedestrian Routes ........................................... 30
Hands-Free Phone Calls ����������������������� 32
About Hands-Free Calling ............................... 32

iv nüvi 3500 Series Owner’s Manual
Pairing Your Phone .......................................... 32
Placing a Call ................................................... 33
Receiving a Call .............................................. 34
Using the Call History ...................................... 34
Using In-Call Options ...................................... 34
Saving a Home Phone Number ....................... 35
Using the Apps �������������������������������������� 35
Using Help ....................................................... 35
About Smartphone Link ................................... 35
About Garmin Live Services ............................ 37
About ecoRoute .............................................. 38
Viewing myGarmin Messages ......................... 41
Viewing the Weather Forecast ........................ 41
About Audiobooks ............................................ 42
Planning a Trip ................................................. 44
Viewing Pictures .............................................. 45
Viewing Previous Routes and Destinations ..... 46
Using the World Clock .................................... 46
Using the Media Player ................................... 47
Playing a Video ................................................ 48
Setting an Alarm .............................................. 48
Finding Parking ................................................ 49
Finding Your Last Parking Spot ....................... 49
Using the Calculator ........................................ 49
Converting Units ............................................. 49
Using the Language Guide .............................. 50
About Tracker ���������������������������������������� 51
Setting Up Tracker ........................................... 51
About Followers ............................................... 52
Hiding Your Location ........................................ 53
Sending a Location Message .......................... 53
Enabling Your Social Network Accounts for
Tracker ............................................................ 54
Trafc ������������������������������������������������������ 55
Enabling Trafc ................................................ 55
Receiving Trafc Data Using a Trafc
Receiver .......................................................... 56
Trafc Receiver ............................................... 56
Receiving Trafc Data Using Smartphone
Link .................................................................. 57

nüvi 3500 Series Owner’s Manual v
About the Trafc Icon ....................................... 57
Trafc on Your Route ....................................... 58
Trafc in Your Area .......................................... 59
Understanding Trafc Data .............................. 59
About Trafc Cameras ..................................... 59
Trafc Subscriptions ........................................ 60
Data Management ���������������������������������� 61
File Types ........................................................ 61
About Memory Cards ....................................... 62
Transferring Files from Your Computer ........... 62
Deleting Files .................................................. 63
Customizing the Device ������������������������ 63
Map and Vehicle Settings ................................ 63
Navigation Settings .......................................... 64
Display Settings ............................................... 65
Bluetooth Settings ........................................... 65
Trafc Settings ................................................. 66
Units and Time Settings................................... 67
Language and Keyboard Settings ................... 67
Proximity Alerts Settings .................................. 67
Device and Privacy Settings ............................ 68
Restoring Settings ........................................... 68
Appendix ������������������������������������������������ 68
Power Cables .................................................. 68
Caring for Your Device ..................................... 69
Changing the Fuse in the Vehicle Power
Cable ............................................................... 70
Mounting on Your Dashboard .......................... 71
Removing the Device, Cradle, and Mount ....... 71
Updating Maps ................................................ 72
Purchasing Additional Maps ............................ 72
Safety Cameras ............................................... 72
Custom Points of Interest ................................ 73
Purchasing Accessories .................................. 73
Troubleshooting .............................................. 74
Index ������������������������������������������������������� 76

nüvi 3500 Series Owner’s Manual 1
Getting Started
 WARNING
See the Important Safety and Product
Information guide in the product box for product
warnings and other important information.
1 Mount the device (page 1).
2 Register the device (page 3).
3 Check for updates.
• Software updates (page 3).
• Free map update (page 3).
Connecting the Device to Vehicle
Power
 WARNING
This product contains a lithium-ion battery.
To prevent the possibility of personal injury or
product damage caused by battery exposure
to extreme heat, remove the device from the
vehicle when exiting or store it out of direct
sunlight.
Before you use your device on battery power,
you should charge it.
1 Plug the vehicle power cable ➊ into the
USB port on the mount ➋.
2 Snap the mount onto the suction cup ➌.
3 Press the suction cup to the windshield, and
ip the lever ➍ back toward the windshield.
4 Fit the bottom of your device into the mount.
5 Tilt your device back until it snaps into place.

2 nüvi 3500 Series Owner’s Manual
➊➋➍
➌
6 Plug the other end of the vehicle power
cable into a power outlet in your vehicle.
7 If necessary, connect the external antenna
to the trafc receiver and secure it to the
windshield using the suction cups.
About myDashboard
Use myDashboard to register your device, check
for software and map updates, access product
manuals and support, and more.
Setting Up myDashboard
1 Connect the USB cable to the USB port on
the device.
➊
➋
2 Connect the USB cable ➊ to the USB port
➋ on your computer.
3 Go to www.garmin.com/dashboard.
4 Follow the on-screen instructions.

nüvi 3500 Series Owner’s Manual 3
Registering the Device
1 From myDashboard, click Register Now.
2 Follow on-screen instructions.
Updating the Software
1 Open myDashboard (page 2).
2 Under Software Updates, click Update Now.
3 Follow the on-screen instructions.
nüMaps Guarantee™
To receive one free map update (if available),
register your device at http://my.garmin.com
within 90 days of acquiring satellites while
driving with your device. You are not eligible for
the free map update if you register by phone or
wait longer than 90 days after the rst time you
acquire satellites while driving with your device.
For more information, go to www.garmin.com
/numaps.
Updating Maps
1 Open myDashboard (page 2).
2 Register the device (page 3).
3 Select an option:
• Under Map Updates, click Update Now.
• If a free map update is no longer
available, click Buy Now.
4 Follow the on-screen instructions.
Turning Off the Device
You can power off the device completely.
1 Hold the Power key ➊.
➊
NOTE: If you hold the Power key for less
than 4 seconds, the device enters sleep
mode.

4 nüvi 3500 Series Owner’s Manual
2 Select Off.
Resetting the Device
You can reset your device if it stops functioning
Hold the Power key for 10 seconds.
About Sleep Mode
Use sleep mode to conserve battery power
when your device is not in use. Sleep mode
uses very little power, and a battery charge lasts
for weeks when your device is in sleep mode.
Entering Sleep Mode
Press the Power key.
Exiting Sleep Mode
While the device is in sleep mode, press the
Power key and double-tap .
Adjusting the Screen Brightness
1 Select Settings > Display > Brightness.
2 Use the slider bar to adjust the brightness.
Adjusting the Master Volume
1 Select Volume.
2 Select an option:
• Use the slider bar to adjust the volume.
• Select to mute the device.
• Select > Audio Mixer and use the
slider bars to adjust the volume for
navigation prompts, phone, and media.
About Automatic Volume
On devices with hands-free calling, automatic
volume allows the device to adjust the volume
level based on the background noise in the
vehicle. See page 32
Automatic volume control lowers the volume of
the device when background noise is low and
raises the volume level when background noise
increases.

nüvi 3500 Series Owner’s Manual 5
Enabling Automatic Volume
Your device can increase or decrease the
volume automatically based on the level of
background noise.
1 Select Volume > > Automatic Volume.
2 Select Enabled > Save.
Status Bar Icons
The status bar is located at the top of the main
menu. The status bar icons display information
about features on the device. You can select
some icons to change settings or view additional
information.
GPS signal status.
Bluetooth® technology status (appears
when connected to a compatible device).
Transportation mode indicator.
Current time.
Battery status.
Smartphone Link status (appears when
connected to Smartphone Link). See
page 36.
Satellite Signals
After the device is turned on, it begins acquiring
satellite signals. The device may need a clear
view of the sky to acquire satellite signals. When
at least one of the bars is green, your
device has acquired satellite signals.

6 nüvi 3500 Series Owner’s Manual
Viewing GPS Satellite Signals
For more information about GPS, go to
www.garmin.com/aboutGPS.
Hold .
Transportation Modes
Automobile mode
Pedestrian mode
Routing and navigation are calculated differently
based on your transportation mode.
For example, in Automobile mode, the estimated
time of arrival is calculated using the speed
limit of the roads on the route. Pedestrian mode
calculates time of arrival based on walking
speed.
NOTE: Pedestrian routes do not include
highways. If you have cityXplorer™ maps loaded
on your device, pedestrian routes may include
public transit (page 31).

Select .
Battery Information
After the device is connected to power, it begins
to charge.
The icon in the status bar indicates the
status of the internal battery. To increase the
accuracy of the battery gauge, you should fully
discharge the battery and then fully charge it. Do
not unplug the device until it is fully charged.
Using the On-screen Buttons
• Select to return to the main menu.
• Hold to quickly return to the main menu.
• Select or to see more choices.
• Hold or to scroll faster.

nüvi 3500 Series Owner’s Manual 7
• Select to see a menu of options for the
current screen.
Using the On-screen Keyboard
See Language and Keyboard Settings to
change the keyboard layout (page 67). Select
a character on the keyboard to enter a letter or
number.
• Select to add a space.
• Hold to delete a character.
• Select to erase the entire entry.
• Select to select the keyboard language
mode.
• Select to enter special characters,
such as punctuation marks.
• Select to change character
capitalization.
About Shortcuts
You can add shortcuts to the Where To? menu.
A shortcut can point to a location, a category, or
a search tool.
Adding a Shortcut Icon
The Where To? menu can contain up to 36
shortcut icons.
1 Select Where To? > Add Shortcut.
2 Select an item.
Removing a Shortcut
1 Select Where To > > Remove
Shortcut(s).
2 Select the shortcut to remove.
3 Select the shortcut again to conrm.

8 nüvi 3500 Series Owner’s Manual
Finding Locations
The device offers many methods for nding
locations.
• By category (page 8)
• Near another location (page 10)
• By spelling the name (page 11)
• By address (page 11)
• Using recently found locations (page 14)
• Using coordinates (page 12)
• Using the map (page 13)
• Using saved locations (page 15)
About Locations
The detailed maps loaded in your device contain
locations, such as restaurants, hotels, and auto
services. You can use categories to browse for
nearby businesses and attractions.
Finding a Location by Category
1 Select Where To?.
2 Select a category, or select Categories.
3 If necessary, select a subcategory.
4 Select a location.

To narrow your search results, you can search
within some categories.
1 Select Where To?.
2 Select a category, or select Categories.
3 If necessary, select a subcategory.
4 If necessary, enter all or part of the name in
the search bar (page 9).

nüvi 3500 Series Owner’s Manual 9
Finding a Location Using the Search Bar
You can use the search bar to search for
locations by entering a category, brand name,
address, or city name.
1 Select Where To?.
2 Select the search bar ➊.
➊
3 Enter a search term.
Suggested search terms appear below the
search bar as you type.
4 Select an option:
• To search for a type of business, enter
a category name, such as “movie
theaters.”
• To search for a business by name, enter
all or part of the name.
• To search for an address near you, enter
the street number and street name.
• To search for an address in another city,
enter the street number, street name,
city, and state.
• To search for a city, enter the city and
state.
• To search for coordinates, enter latitude
and longitude coordinates.
5 Select an option:
• To search using a suggested search
term, select the term.
• To search using the text you entered,
select .
6 If necessary, select a location.

10 nüvi 3500 Series Owner’s Manual
Changing the Search Area
By default, your device nds locations closest
to your current location. You can nd a location
near another city or location.
1 Select Where To? > Searching Near.
2 Select an option.
3 If necessary, select a location.
Reporting a Closed or Missing Location
If your search results include an outdated or
incorrect location, you can report the error to
Garmin and remove the location from future
searches.
1 Search for a location (page 8).
2 From the search results, select a location.
3 Select .
4 Select > Edit.
5 Select Report as Closed or Report as
Missing.
This information is sent to Garmin when you
connect to Smartphone Link (see page 36) or
when you connect your device to myDashboard
using your computer (see page 2).
Editing Location Information
You can change the address or phone number
for a location that appears in the search results.
1 Search for a location.
2 From the search results, select a location.
3 Select .
4 Select > Edit.
5 Select Address or Phone Number, and
enter the new information.
Rating a Point of Interest
You can assign a star rating to a point of
interest.
1 Search for a location (page 8).
2 From the search results, select a location.

nüvi 3500 Series Owner’s Manual 11
3 Select .
4 Select the stars to rate the point of interest.
The star rating updates on your device.
About Search Tools
You can search for locations by using the on-
screen keyboard or by entering the location’s
address or coordinates.
Finding Fuel Stations and Prices
Before you can use this feature, you must
subscribe to the Fuel Price service, and your
device must be connected to a supported phone
running Smartphone Link (page 36). This feature
is not available in all areas.
You can nd nearby fuel stations and compare
fuel prices.
1 Select Where To? > Categories > Fuel
Prices.
2 If necessary, select > Fuel Type, select a
fuel type, and select Save.
3 Select a fuel station.
Finding an Address
NOTE: The order of the steps may change
depending on the map data loaded on your
device.
1 Select Where To? > Address.
2 Enter the address number, and select Done.
3 Enter the street name, and select Next.
4 If necessary, select Searching In to change
the city, state, or province.
5 If necessary, select the city, the state, or the
province.
6 If necessary, select the address.

12 nüvi 3500 Series Owner’s Manual
Finding a City
1 Select Where To? > Categories > Cities.
2 Select Enter Search.
3 Enter a city name, and select .
4 Select a city.
Finding an Intersection
Before you can nd an intersection, you must
add a shortcut to the intersection search tool
(page 7).
1 Select Where To? > Categories >
Intersections.
2 Select a state or province.
NOTE: If necessary, select State or Country
to change the country, state, or province.
3 Enter the rst street name, and select Next.
4 If necessary, select the street.
5 Enter the second street name, and select
Next.
6 If necessary, select the street.
7 If necessary, select the intersection.
Finding a Location Using Coordinates
Before you can nd a location using coordinates,
you must add a shortcut to the coordinates
search tool (page 7).
You can nd a location using latitude and
longitude coordinates. This can be helpful when
geocaching.
1 Select Where To? > Categories >
Coordinates.
2 If necessary, select > Format, select the
correct coordinate format for the type of map
you are using, and select Save.
3 Select the latitude coordinate.
4 Enter the new coordinate, and select Done.
5 Select the longitude coordinate.
6 Enter the new coordinate, and select Done.

nüvi 3500 Series Owner’s Manual 13
7 Select View on Map.
Finding a Location by Browsing the Map
Before you can nd places included in the map
data, such as restaurants, hospitals, and fuel
stations, you must enable the map layer for
places along the road (page 26).
1 Select View Map.
2 Drag and zoom the map to display the area
to search.
3 If necessary, select , and select a
category icon to view only a specic
category of places.
Location markers ( or a blue dot) appear
on the map.
4 Select an option:
• Select a location marker.
• Select a point, such as a street,
intersection, or address location.
5 If necessary, select the location description
to view additional information.
Searching within a Category
After you have performed a search for a point
of interest, certain categories may display a
Quick Search list that displays the last four
destinations you selected.
1 Select Where To?.
2 Select a category, or select Categories.
3 If applicable, select a destination from the
Quick Search list.
➊
4 If necessary, select the appropriate
destination.

14 nüvi 3500 Series Owner’s Manual
Saving a Home Location
You can set your home location for the location
you return to most often.
1 Select Where To? > > Set Home
Location.
2 Select Enter My Address, Use My Current
Location, or Recently Found.
The location is saved as “Home” in the Saved
menu (page 15).
Going Home
Select Where To? > Go Home.
Editing Your Home Location Information
1 Select Where To? > Saved > Home.
2 Select > > Edit.
3 Enter your changes.
4 Select Done.
Finding Recently Found Places
Your device stores the last 50 locations you
have found.
1 Select Where To? > Recent.
2 Select a location.
Clearing the List of Recently Found
Places
Select Where To? > Recent > > Clear
> Yes.
Finding Parking
1 Select Where To? > Categories > Parking.
2 Select a parking location.
Setting a Simulated Location
If you are indoors or not receiving satellite
signals, you can use the GPS to set a simulated
location.
1 Select Settings > Navigation.