Magellan Blazer12 User manual

GPS lazer12
User Manual
User Manual

WARNINGS
A measure of knowledge by the user is required for proper and
safe use of the Magellan GPS Blazer12™. READ THE USER GUIDE
& WARRANTY COMPLETELY.
Use Good Judgment
This product is an excellent navigation aid, but it does not replace
the need for careful orientation and good judgment. Never rely
solely on one device for navigating.
Use Care to Avoid Inaccuracies
The Global Positioning System (GPS) is operated by the U.S.
Government, which is solely responsible for the accuracy and the
maintenance of GPS. Certain conditions can make the system less
accurate.
No part of this User Guide may be reproduced or transmitted in
any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including
photocopying and recording, for any purpose other than the
purchaser’s personal use, without the written permission of
Magellan Systems Corporation.
© Copyright 1999 by Magellan Systems Corporation. All rights
reserved.
Magellan™ and GPS Blazer12™ are the trademarks of Magellan
Systems Corporation.
PN: 630288 B

i
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Introduction....................................................1
Welcome to the Magellan GPS Blazer12.............................. 1
GPS Blazer12 Description .................................................. 1
Magellan GPS Blazer12 ....................................................... 2
Getting Started ................................................3
Installing the Batteries ......................................................... 3
Getting Signals from Satellites ............................................. 3
Initializing the Receiver - EZStart ........................................ 4
Computing a Position.......................................................... 5
Basic Operation...............................................7
Saving a Position Fix ............................................................ 7
Creating a Landmark ........................................................... 8
Viewing the POSITION Screen ........................................... 9
Viewing the NAVIGATION Screens .................................. 10
Creating a GOTO Route ................................................... 13
Summary ........................................................................... 14
Working with Landmarks..............................15
Viewing a Landmark.......................................................... 15
Editing a Landmark ........................................................... 16
Deleting a Landmark ......................................................... 16

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Working with Routes.....................................17
Creating a Route................................................................ 17
Viewing a Route ................................................................ 19
Activating/Deactivating a Route ........................................ 20
Deleting a Route................................................................ 21
Adding Legs to a Route...................................................... 21
Activating a Leg in a Route ................................................ 22
Editing a Leg in a Route .................................................... 23
Deleting a Leg From a Route ............................................. 24
Reversing a Route .............................................................. 24
Additional Features .......................................25
Viewing theTime and Date ............................................... 25
Viewing Elevation.............................................................. 25
Viewing Battery Life .......................................................... 25
Changing Coordinate Systems ........................................... 26
Changing Map Datums ..................................................... 27
Changing Distance Units................................................... 28
ChangingTime Display andTime ..................................... 28
Changing North Reference ................................................ 29
Initializing the Receiver (EZSTART) ................................. 29
Activating the Demo Mode................................................ 30
Setting Display Contrast.................................................... 31
Using theTrip Odometer................................................... 31
Troubleshooting ............................................32
Accessories.....................................................37
Glossary.........................................................40
Index .............................................................43

1
Introduction
Welcome to the Magellan GPS Blazer12
Congratulations on your purchase of the Magellan GPS
Blazer12 satellite navigator. The GPS Blazer12 is an easy-to-
use GPS receiver designed to get you out in the “Great
Outdoors” rather than spending hours reading a User’s
Manual. There are, however, a few items that you need to be
familiar with so it is suggested that you follow along at least
through the chapter on Basic Operation.
Before you begin, make sure that your package includes the
items listed on the GPS Blazer12 box. If any items are
missing or damaged, contact your Magellan dealer or retailer.
GPS Blazer12 Description
The GPS Blazer12 is a self-contained hand-held GPS receiver
designed for general purpose position locating and navigation.
It has a built-in antenna located at the top of the receiver, a
backlit display, and keypad. Using two AA batteries, inserted
from the battery door found at the back of the receiver, the
GPS Blazer12 will operate for up to 20 hours.

2
The ENTER key
confirms data
entries or menu
selections.
The NAV key
accesses the
Position and
Navigation
screens.
The MARK key is
used to create
landmarks and store
the current position.
The LIGHT key turns
the light on and off.
The ARROW pad is used to
enter landmark names, and
scroll through the series of
screens and menu selections.
The MENU key is
used to access the
route, landmark and
setup functions.
The PWR key
turns the receiver
on and off.
The GOTO key is
used to create a
direct route to any
landmark stored in
memory.
GPS Antenna
Magellan GPS Blazer12
PWR
MENU
GOTO
ENTER
NAV
MARK

3
Getting Started
Installing the Batteries
The GPS Blazer12 uses two AA alkaline batteries that are
installed at the back of the receiver. To remove the battery
cover, turn the ring of the battery door screw counterclockwise
until the battery cover can be removed.
Insert the new batteries as
shown, being sure to respect the
polarities, and replace the
battery cover.
Replace the screw and turn the
ring clockwise until the battery
door is held in place securely.
You should avoid overtightening
the battery door screw.
+
-+-
Getting Signals from Satellites
Since the GPS Blazer12 receives information from satellites
orbiting the earth, the antenna needs to have a relatively
unobstructed view of the sky. Large obstructions such as
buildings, cliffs, and overhangs may interfere with signal
reception causing your GPS Blazer12 to take additional time
to compute your location.

4
The GPS Blazer12 is designed to
fit comfortably in your hand.
Hold the receiver with the
antenna towards the sky.
Initializing the Receiver - EZStart
Before using your GPS Blazer12 for the first time, the receiver
needs to know its approximate location. Using Magellan’s
EZStart procedure, the GPS Blazer12 will prompt you for the
information it requires when you turn it on for the first time.
You do not need to initialize your receiver each time you use
it. Follow these steps to initialize the GPS Blazer12 if this is
the first time you are using it.
1Press
PWR
to turn the GPS Blazer12 on.
2SELECT REGION. Use the ARROW pad to change the
flashing text to select the appropriate region for your
present location. Press
ENTER
.
3SELECT COUNTRY or STATE. Use the ARROW pad
to change the flashing text to select the country or state for
your present location.
Press
ENTER
.

5
4ENTER ELEVATION. Use the ARROW pad to enter
the approximate elevation for your position. If unknown,
leave the elevation at 0. Press
ENTER
.
5ENTER TIME. Use the ARROW pad to enter your
present time. Press
ENTER
.
6ENTER DATE. Use the ARROW pad to enter the date.
Press
ENTER
.
The GPS Blazer12 then displays the POSITION screen and
automatically begins searching for satellites that it knows are
in this area for the date and time you entered.
The display shown here may differ
from yours depending upon the
information you selected in steps 2
and 3. As the GPS Blazer12 scans the
sky, the arrow in the circle will swing
around pointing to a satellite and
displays, in the center of the circle,
that satellite’s elevation above the
horizon.
Computing a Position
The GPS Blazer12 will begin to acquire information from the
satellites and use this information to compute your current
position (called a position fix). Whether you have just

6
completed the initialization process or have just turned your
GPS Blazer12 on, the GPS Blazer12 will display the following
screens in the order shown.
As the GPS Blazer12 searches for
satellites, some of the small circles
around the large circle will become black
indicating that the GPS Blazer12 is
tracking that satellite and receiving
information. The number at the
bottom right of the screen displays how
many satellites are being tracked.
After the GPS receiver has received
positioning data from at least three
satellites (approximately 2-3 minutes), it
will begin computing a position fix
based upon the information it is
receiving. As soon as a position fix is
computed, the receiver switches to the
navigation screen displaying the moving
compass. The word “TRACKING” is
displayed in the lower right corner indicating that the receiver
is computing position fixes.
Note: If the receiver has not acquired a position fix in
approximately 10 minutes, refer to the troubleshooting
section of this manual.
More information on these screens and the information they
display can be found in the next chapter.

7
Basic Operation
Saving a Position Fix
Position fixes can be saved in memory for use later when you
want to return to that position. Saved position fixes are
referred to as landmarks or LMK.
To save (mark) your current position press
MARK
.
Receiver-Generated Name: The GPS
Blazer12 prompts you to enter a name or
accept the receiver-generated name for this
landmark. To accept the receiver-generated
name (LM01 - LM99), press
ENTER
.
To quickly save a position fix, press
MARK MARK
.
User-Created Name: To create a name (up to four charac-
ters), use the UP/DOWN arrows to change the character and
the LEFT/RIGHT arrows to move the cursor to the left or
right respectively. After you have input the desired landmark
name press
ENTER
.
Press
ENTER
to accept the current latitude and press
ENTER
again to accept the current longitude.
Shortcut: Press
MARK
at anytime while viewing this screen
to quickly save the position.

8
Creating a Landmark
To create a landmark at a location which is not your current
position, use the same procedure as saving a position with the
additional step of inputting different latitude/longitude
coordinates.
To create a landmark press
MARK
.
The GPS Blazer12 prompts you to
enter a name or accept the receiver-
generated name for this landmark.
When the desired name is displayed
at the top of the screen press
ENTER
.
Use the ARROW pad to change the
latitude and press
ENTER
to accept.
Use the ARROW pad to change the longitude and press
ENTER
to accept.
The newly created landmark is stored in memory and you
are returned to the screen that was displayed when you
pressed the MARK key.
Shortcut: Press
MARK
at anytime while viewing this screen
to quickly save the position.

9
Viewing the POSITION Screen
The POSITION screen displays the coordinates for your last
computed position and information about any satellites that
are visible. It can be accessed by pressing the NAV key.
Latitude and
Longitude
Satellite Elevation
Degrees above the
horizon of the satellite
indicated by the satellite
pointer.
Number of
satellites being
used.
Tracking Indicator
Satellite Icons
Appears when the receiver
has acquired enough
information from the
satellites to compute a
position fix.
North Indicator
Satellite
Pointer
Visible but not tracked.
Satellite is being tracked.
You may sometimes notice that the number of satellites being
tracked differs from the number of satellites being displayed
graphically. This is due to more than one satellite being
tracked in the same general area.

10
Viewing the Navigation Screens
Without an Active Route. Without an active route the
navigation screen displays your heading and the speed at
which you are traveling. The lower portion of the screen
displays a moving compass. The triangle at the top of the
compass points in the direction you are traveling and the
arrow points to north.
Navigation Screen without an Active Route
(Moving Compass)
Tracking Indicator
Appears when enough
satellites have provided
information to compute
position fixes.
Current
Heading
Current
Speed
Direction of
Travel
North
Indicator
The navigation screens display your speed of travel. In order
for the North Indicator to be valid and the speed to be
displayed, you must be moving at a speed greater than 2 miles
per hour.

11
With an Active Route. When you have an active route the
navigation screen still displays your heading and speed but
also includes the bearing and distance to your destination.
The moving compass is then replaced with steering informa-
tion. You can use the graphical representation or the steering
indicator to assist in directing you towards your final destina-
tion.
Navigation Screen with an Active Route
(Steering)
In the screen above you are traveling with a heading of 56°
while your destination bearing is 34°. This would indicate
that you need to turn left 22°to be on a straight line to your
destination. The circle and arrow display the same informa-
tion but in a visual manner. The triangle points in the
direction you are traveling and the arrow points towards your
destination.
Destination
Landmark
Bearing to
Destination
Current
Heading North
Indicator
Distance to
Destination
Current
Speed
Destination
Icon Steering Indicator
Indicates the number of
degrees to turn, right or left,
to destination landmark.
Tracking Indicator
Appears when enough
satellites have provided
information to compute
position fixes.
Destination
Pointer

12
A second navigational screen is also provided while you have
an active route. This screen is very similar to the first screen
except that the distance to the destination has been replaced
with XTE (cross track error, the distance left or right that
you are off course) and heading has been replaced withTTG
(time to go). This screen provides you additional informa-
tion to aid you in navigating to your destination.
Second Navigation Screen with an Active Route
(Steering)
The navigation screens and the position screen are connected
to one another in a circular loop. Pressing the NAV key or
using the ARROW pad while viewing one of the position or
navigation screens moves you to the next screen in the loop.
North
Indicator
Current
Speed
Steering Indicator
Indicates the number
of degrees to turn,
right or left, to
destination landmark.
Destination
Landmark
Bearing to
Destination
Destination
Icon
Time to Go
Time remaining to
arrive at the
destination at your
present speed and
heading
Cross Track
Error
Distance left or right
of the desired
Tracking Indicator
Appears when enough
satellites have provided
information to compute
position fixes.
Destination
Pointer
Courseline.

13
Creating a GOTO Route
The simplest form of a route is a one-leg route called a
GOTO route (you are GOingTO a destination). This is
routing you from your current position to a landmark stored
in memory All that is required to create a GOTO route is
that you have saved a landmark indicating the location of your
destination.
To create (activate) a GOTO Route:
From any screen, press
GOTO
. The
GOTO screen appears.
To select a different landmark, use the
LEFT/RIGHT ARROWS until the
desired destination landmark is displayed.
Press
ENTER
or
GOTO
. The display
returns to the Navigation screen showing
the name of the GOTO destination at
the top of the screen.

14
If the receiver is not tracking sufficient satellites to
compute a position fix, the start of the newly created
GOTO route will be the last position computed,
which may not be the current position.
This GOTO route will remain the active route until a new
GOTO route is created, a multileg route is activated, or the
receiver is turned off. Turning off the receiver deactivates
any GOTO route.
Summary
This completes the basic operation of the GPS Blazer12. At
this time it would be a good idea to put what you know to
practice. Pick a location that you would want to come back
to, your home for example. Take a position fix of the location
and save it to memory, giving it a name that you will later
associate with this location. Then travel a few miles away with
your receiver, stop and take another position fix. Now use the
GOTO key to set a GOTO route and highlight the landmark
you created before and press ENTER.
Your GPS Blazer12 is ready to navigate you back to where you
started. The navigation screens are now showing you the
distance and bearing back to the original landmark. As you
begin moving, the GPS Blazer12 will begin using your speed
and direction to compute the shortest distance back to your
original starting point as well as how long it will take you to
get there.
The following chapters provide you with more information on
using your GPS Blazer12 that build upon what you’ve learned.

15
Working with Landmarks
Viewing a Landmark
To view a stored landmark press
MENU
until LMKS appears at the top of the
screen.
Press
ENTER
. The BEARING/DIS-
TANCE screen for the first landmark in
the receiver’s memory is displayed with
the bearing and distance from the last
computed position fix to that landmark.
To select a different landmark, use the
LEFT/RIGHT arrows until the name of
the landmark you wish to view is at the
top of the screen.
To view the POSITION screen of the
selected landmark, press the UP ARROW.

16
Editing a Landmark
Following the instructions under Viewing a Landmark, use the
LEFT/RIGHT arrows to select the landmark you wish to edit.
Press the UP ARROW until the screen displays PRESS ENT
TO EDIT, then press
ENTER
.
You can modify the landmark name and/or the coordinates for
the landmark by using the UP/DOWN arrows to change the
information and press
ENTER
to move to the next line. If the
landmark you are editing is used in a route, the route will be
modified to reflect the changes you made to the landmark.
Deleting a Landmark
Following the instructions under Viewing a Landmark, use the
LEFT/RIGHT arrows to select the landmark you wish to
delete.
Press the UP ARROW until the screen displays PRESS ENT
TO DELETE, then press
ENTER
. Use the LEFT/RIGHT
ARROWs to confirm (YES or NO) and press
ENTER
.
If the landmark is used in a route or is the destination
landmark in a GOTO route, the GPS Blazer12 alerts
you that the landmark cannot be deleted. Remove
the landmark from the route and repeat.