Filter
Top Products
1
Initializing the GPS Receiver
Reference
GPS Information Page
This Reference Manual describes the Main Display pages and their options in detail. The Quick
Start Guide describes the basic functions of the GPSMAP 176 and the processes of navigating the Main
Display pages. While the Reference Manual will provide some direction on how to select an item, the
main purpose is to describe each Main Page and its Option Menu in detail.
Initializing the GPS Receiver
Before the GPSMAP 176 can be used for GPS navigation, the GPS receiver must be initialized. The
GPS receiver only needs to be initialized the fi rst time the unit is used, or if it has been stored for several
months. This process is automatic and should only take a few minutes.
The GPSMAP 176 stores orbital data for each satellite in an Almanac. The orbital data is supplied in
the satellite signals. Each time the unit receives satellite signals, the Almanac is updated. This is how
the GPSMAP 176 knows which satellites to search for. If you do not use the unit for several months, or
move the unit several hundred miles between uses, the Almanac can become “cold,” which means the
orbital data is no longer valid. If the Almanac is “cold,” your unit may take longer to lock on to satel-
lites while it updates the Almanac with fresh data.
To initialize the GPS receiver:
1. With fresh batteries installed, take the unit outside where it will have an unobstructed view of the sky
and turn it on. Make sure the antenna is pointed up and not in the saved position.
2. The unit will search for satellite signals and begin to gather and save the information that it needs
to become operational. Following the screen prompts, press ENTER to display the GPS Information
page.
3. When the unit is able to navigate, the message ‘2D GPS Location’ or ‘3D GPS Location’ will be dis-
played at the top of the GPS Information page and/or the unit will automatically switch to the Map
Page.
If the unit is not able to gather the necessary satellite information, an options page will be displayed.
Select ‘New Location’ then ‘Automatic’ and allow the unit to continue initializing. This selection will
force the unit to search for all satellites and the unit may take a little longer to become operational using
this method.
190-00185-10_0A.indd 1 6/18/2002, 10:00:14 AM