Garmin OREGON OREGON450 User manual

OREGON®series
owner’s manual
450, 450t, 550, 550t

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Oregon Series Owner’s Manual i
Introduction
Introduction

WARNING
See the Important Safety and
Product Information guide in the
product box for product warnings
and other important information.
This manual provides instructions for
using the following products:
Oregon 450 and 450t
Oregon 550 and 550t
Tips and Shortcuts
Touch or to scroll and
see more choices.
Touch to return to the
previous screen.
Touch to return to the Main
menu.
Touch or on the Map
page to zoom in or zoom out.
•
•
•
•
•
•
Manual Conventions
When you are instructed to “touch”
something, use your nger to touch
that item on the screen.
The small arrows (>) used in the
text indicate that you should touch a
series of items in order. For example,
if you see, “Touch Where To?
> Tracks,” you should touch the
Where To? button on the screen, and
touch Tracks.
Product Registration
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.

ii Oregon Series Owner’s Manual
Introduction
Contact Garmin
Contact Garmin Product Support if
you have any questions while using
your Oregon. In the USA, go to
www.garmin.com/support, or contact
Garmin USA by phone at (913)
397.8200 or [phone].
In the UK, contact Garmin (Europe)
Ltd. by phone at 0808 2380000.
In Europe, go to www.garmin.com
/support and click Contact Support
for in-country support information,
or contact Garmin (Europe) Ltd. by
phone at +44 (0) 870.8501241.
If needed, the serial number of your
Oregon is located in the battery
compartment. Remove batteries as
indicated on page 2.
Optional Accessories
For a list of available accessories and
maps, refer to the Garmin Web site at
http://buy.garmin.com.
Caring for the Oregon
Cleaning the Case
Use a cloth dampened with a mild
detergent solution, and wipe it dry.
Avoid cleaners that may damage the
plastic components.
Cleaning the Screen
Use a soft, clean, lint-free cloth. Use
water, isopropyl alcohol, or eyeglass
lens cleaner. Apply the liquid to the
cloth, and gently wipe the screen
with the cloth.
Cleaning the Camera Lens
Clean the lens only when necessary.
Use a soft lens cloth. Apply lens
cleaning uid to the cloth and gently
wipe the lens with the cloth.

Oregon Series Owner’s Manual iii
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Introduction.......................... i
Tips and Shortcuts.......................i
Manual Conventions....................i
Product Registration....................i
Contact Garmin ..........................ii
Optional Accessories..................ii
Caring for the Oregon.................ii
Getting Started.................... 1
Battery Information .................... 2
Turning On and Off the
Oregon .................................... 2
Adjusting the Backlight Level..... 3
Acquiring GPS Satellite
Signals .................................... 3
Locking the Screen.................... 3
Basic Navigation................. 4
Accessing Applications from the
Main menu .............................. 4
Creating Waypoints ................... 4
Navigating to a Destination........ 5
Stop Navigating ......................... 7
Using the Map .......................... 7
Using the Compass ................... 9
Bearing and Course Pointers ...11
Managing Waypoints,
Routes, and Tracks........... 13
Modifying Waypoints ............... 13
Creating Routes....................... 14
Viewing Stored Routes............ 14
Editing and Deleting Routes.... 14
Viewing the Active Route......... 15
Managing Tracks ..................... 15
Additional Tools................ 17
Elevation Plot........................... 17
Sharing Information
Wirelessly.............................. 18
Using the Camera.................... 19
Viewing Images ....................... 20
Calculating the Size of an
Area ...................................... 20
Trip Computer.......................... 21
Other Tools .............................. 21

iv Oregon Series Owner’s Manual
Table of Contents
Monitoring Satellite
Reception.............................. 22
GPS Games....................... 23
Geocaches .............................. 23
Wherigo™................................ 23
Customizing the Oregon.. 24
Changing the Prole................ 24
Setting Up Proles................... 24
Using System Setup................ 25
Customizing the Display.......... 26
Map Setup ............................... 26
Tracks Setup ........................... 27
Customizing the Main Menu.... 28
Changing the Camera
Settings ................................. 29
Changing Marine Settings ....... 29
Changing Time Settings .......... 30
Changing Measurement
Units...................................... 30
Position Format ....................... 31
Modifying the Compass........... 31
Altimeter Setup ........................ 32
Pairing the Oregon .................. 33
Reset ....................................... 34
Viewing Your Oregon
Information ............................ 34
Appendix ........................... 35
Specications .......................... 35
Using Demo Mode................... 36
Connecting Your Oregon to a
Computer .............................. 37
Installing a microSD™Card...... 37
Transferring Tracks, Routes, or
Waypoints ............................. 38
Loading and Deleting Files...... 39
Optimizing Battery Life ............ 39
Restoring Factory Default
Settings ................................. 40
Attaching the Carabiner........... 41
Calibrating the Touchscreen .... 41
Software License Agreement... 42
Index .................................. 43

Oregon Series Owner’s Manual 1
Getting Started
Getting Started
Power key
Touchscreen
Mini-USB connector
(under weather cap)
Latch
Mounting
spine
Battery
cover
Camera
lens (550
and 550t)

2 Oregon Series Owner’s Manual
Getting Started
Battery Information
The Oregon uses two AA batteries.
Use alkaline, NiMH, or lithium
batteries. Use precharged NiMH or
lithium batteries for the best results.
Standard alkaline batteries are not
recommended for Oregon 550 units
when using the camera feature.
To install the batteries:
1. Lift the latch, and remove the
battery cover.
Latch
Battery cover
Weather cap
2. Insert the batteries, observing
polarity.
3. Replace the battery cover, and
push the latch down.
To select the battery type:
1. Touch Setup > System > Battery
Type.
2. Touch Alkaline, Lithium, or
Rechargeable NiMH.
Long-Term Storage
Remove the batteries when you do
not plan to use the Oregon for several
months. Stored data is not lost when
batteries are removed.
Turning the Oregon On
and Off
1. To turn on the Oregon, press .
2. To turn off the Oregon, press and
hold .

Oregon Series Owner’s Manual 3
Getting Started
Adjusting the Backlight
Level
1. While the Oregon is on, press
and quickly release .
2. Touch or to adjust the
brightness levels.
See (page 26) to change the
backlight timeout.
Acquiring GPS Satellite
Signals
Before the Oregon can nd your
current location and navigate a route,
you must acquire GPS signals.
1. Go outdoors to an open area,
away from tall buildings and trees.
2. Turn on the Oregon. Acquiring
satellite signals can take a few
minutes.
The bars on the Main menu
indicate satellite strength. When
the bars are green, the Oregon has
acquired satellite signals.
Locking the Screen
Lock the screen to prevent
inadvertent screen touches.
1. Press and quickly release .
2. Touch Lock Screen.

4 Oregon Series Owner’s Manual
Basic Navigation
Basic Navigation
Accessing Applications
from the Main Menu
You can access all Oregon
applications from the Main menu.
Main Menu
Touch or to access
additional applications.
Creating Waypoints
Waypoints are locations you record
and store in the Oregon.
To mark your current location as
a waypoint:
1. Touch Mark Waypoint.
2. Touch Save and Edit.
3. Touch an attribute you want to
change.
4. Touch letters, numbers, or
symbols to make the changes.
5. Touch (except when
changing a symbol). Change
other attributes, if necessary.
6. Touch to discard the
changes.
To edit or delete a waypoint, see
page 13.

Oregon Series Owner’s Manual 5
Basic Navigation
Navigating to a
Destination
You can use Where To? or choose
a point on the map to navigate to a
destination with the Oregon.
To navigate to a destination
using Where To?:
1. Touch Where To?.
2. Touch a category.
3. Touch one of the following items:
Recent Finds—items you
have recently found.
Waypoints—a list of
waypoints (page 4).
Photos—a list of geotagged
pictures (page 19).
Tracks—a list of tracks
(page 15).
Coordinates—enter the
coordinates of a location.
•
•
•
•
•
All POI (Points of Interest)—if
supported by the preloaded
or optional mapping, various
Points of Interest may be
listed.
Cities—a list of the 50 closest
cities to your current location.
Tides—a list of the closest
tide stations.
4. Touch Go. A colored line indicates
your course.
5. Touch > Compass.
6. Use the compass to navigate to
your destination.
•
•
•

6 Oregon Series Owner’s Manual
Basic Navigation
To nd a destination by spelling
the name:
1. On the Main menu, touch Where
To? > All POI.
2. Touch .
3. Touch characters to spell a part of
the name of your destination.
4. Touch .
5. Touch the destination.
6. Touch Go. A colored line indicates
your course.
7. Touch > Compass.
8. Use the compass to navigate to
your destination as indicated on
page 9.
To navigate to a point on the
map:
1. Touch Map.
2. Touch a point on the map.
3. Touch the information button at
the top of the screen.
Information
button
4. Touch Go > > Compass.
5. Use the compass to navigate to
your destination as indicated on
page 9.

Oregon Series Owner’s Manual 7
Basic Navigation
To navigate to a destination near
a waypoint or a recent nd:
1. Touch Where To?.
2. Touch .
3. Select from the following options:
A Recent Find
A Waypoint
My Current Location
A Map Point
4. Touch the location you want to
search near.
•
•
•
•
5. Touch a category. Items are listed
in order of distance from the
location you selected.
6. Touch a destination.
7. Touch Go. A colored line indicates
your course.
8. Touch > Compass.
9. Use the compass to navigate to
your destination as indicated on
page 9.
Stopping Navigation
To stop navigating, touch Where
To? > Stop Navigation.
Using the Map
To use the map:
1. Touch Map. Your current location
is indicated by a location
marker .
2. Touch or to zoom.
3. Touch and drag the screen to pan
the map.

8 Oregon Series Owner’s Manual
Basic Navigation
Zoom buttons
Location marker
Zoom range
Map Page
To review detailed information
about a point on the map:
1. If necessary, pan to the location
you want to review.
2. Touch the location.
3. Touch the information button at
the top of the screen for additional
information.
Information
button
To show or hide data elds at
the top of the screen:
1. Touch Setup > Map > Data
Fields.
2. Select 0,2,4, or Custom.
To change the Map page data
elds:
1. On the Map page, touch one of
the data elds.
2. Select a data type.

Oregon Series Owner’s Manual 9
Basic Navigation
To save a waypoint on the Map
page:
1. On the Map page, touch the point
you want to save.
2. Touch the information button at
the top of the screen.
3. Touch to save the waypoint.
Using the Compass
The Compass page guides you to
your destination by displaying a
compass and a bearing pointer.
It also provides navigation data such
as current speed, distance to the next
point on the route, and estimated
arrival time.
The electronic compass is similar
to a magnetic compass when you
are stationary or walking. If you
maintain a higher speed, such
as traveling in an automobile,
the compass uses GPS signals to
determine your direction. To turn the
electronic compass off, see page 31.
To ensure maximum accuracy, hold
the compass level when navigating.
To open the Compass page:
Touch Compass.

10 Oregon Series Owner’s Manual
Basic Navigation
Calibrating the Compass
Calibrate the electronic compass
outdoors. Do not stand near objects
that inuence magnetic elds, such
as cars, buildings, or overhead power
lines.
Calibrate the compass after moving
long distances, experiencing
temperature changes greater than
20°F (11°C), or changing the
batteries.
To calibrate the electronic
compass:
1. Touch Setup > Heading > Press
To Begin Compass Calibration.
OR
From the Compass page, touch
and hold the middle of the
compass.
2. Touch Start and follow the on-
screen directions.
“Too Fast” or “Too Slow” may
appear, notifying you to adjust your
turning speed. If “Calibration Failed”
appears, touch OK,and repeat the
process.

Oregon Series Owner’s Manual 11
Basic Navigation
Bearing and Course
Pointers
The Oregon can use either a bearing
pointer or a course pointer on the
compass. The bearing pointer
indicates the direction to your
destination, and the course pointer
indicates your relationship to a
course line leading to the destination.
To select a bearing or course pointer,
see page 31.
Bearing Pointer
Bearing to
destination
Direction you
are currently
traveling
The bearing pointer points to
your destination, regardless of the
direction you are moving. If the
bearing pointer points toward the
top of the 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.
Course
Pointer
Bearing to
destination
Direction you are
currently traveling
Course line to
destination
Scale
Course deviation
indicator
The course pointer provides an
indication of drift (right or left)

12 Oregon Series Owner’s Manual
Basic Navigation
according to the scale shown at the
edge of the compass ring. The scale
refers to the distance between dots
on the course deviation indicator.
The course line to your destination is
based on your original starting point.
Move back to the “course line to
destination” to compensate for
deviation and to get back on course.
This is most useful if you are
navigating on water or there are no
major obstacles in your path. It also
helps you avoid hazards to either
side of the course, such as shoals or
submerged rocks.
To change the Compass page
data elds:
1. On the Compass page, touch a
data eld.
2. Touch a data type.

Oregon Series Owner’s Manual 13
Managing Waypoints, Routes, and Tracks
Managing
Waypoints, Routes,
and Tracks
Modifying Waypoints
You can edit waypoints to change the
name, the symbol, the comment, the
location, the elevation, and the depth
of the waypoint. On the Oregon 550
or 550t, you can change the picture.
You can also use the Waypoint
Manager to relocate a waypoint to
your current location, and to delete
waypoints.
To edit a waypoint:
1. Touch Waypoint Manager.
2. Touch the waypoint.
3. Touch the attribute.
4. Touch letters, numbers, or
symbols to make the changes.
5. Touch (except when
changing a symbol). Change
other attributes, if necessary.
6. Touch to discard the
changes.
To reposition a waypoint to your
current location:
1. Touch Waypoint Manager.
2. Touch the waypoint you want to
reposition.
3. Touch Reposition Here.
To delete a waypoint:
1. Touch Waypoint Manager.
2. Touch the waypoint you want to
delete.
3. Touch Delete Waypoint.
To delete all waypoints, touch Setup
> Reset > Delete All Waypoints >
Yes.
NOTE: On the Oregon 550 or 550t,
if you have selected a picture for a
waypoint and then you delete the

14 Oregon Series Owner’s Manual
Managing Waypoints, Routes, and Tracks
waypoint, the picture will not be
deleted.
Creating Routes
You can create and store up to 50
routes.
To create and navigate a new
route:
1. Touch Route Planner > <Create
Route> > <Select First Point> to
select a starting point.
2. Touch a category.
3. Touch the rst item on the route.
4. Touch Use > <Select Next
Point>.
5. Repeat until the route is
complete.
6. Touch to save the route.
7. Touch > Where To? >
Routes to navigate the route.
Viewing Stored Routes
To view a route on the map:
1. Touch Route Planner.
2. Touch the route you want to view
> View Map.
Editing and Deleting
Routes
You can edit any of your stored
routes.
To edit a route:
1. Touch Route Planner.
2. Touch the route you want to edit >
Edit Route.
3. Touch the point you want to edit
and select from the following
options:
Change—changes the point
to a different location.
Review—shows the point on
the map.
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•