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Mann Library Garmin GPS Quick Guide

Getting Started
Collecting Data with the GPS
Downloading Data
Erasing Data
Unit Accuracy

Please note: These units are provided with only minimal "base layer" maps, and are not suitable as navigation devices as is. Their primary purpose for our patrons is to record data points for research purposes.

Getting started

Initialization

Turn on the GPS unit by pressing down the red power button on the left. By default, the receiver will begin "initialization", searching for overhead satellites in order to determine (fix) its location. This process can take from 5 to 15 minutes. You must be outdoors with a clear view of the sky.

To shorten the time required:

  1. From the Satellites page, press the MENU button,
  2. Scroll to New Location (using the center ROCKER button),
  3. Press ENTER,
  4. Scroll to Use Map, and press ENTER again.
  5. Use the ROCKER button to move the cursor over the display map, and the ZOOM IN and OUT buttons to find your approximate location, then press ENTER.

The initialization process will now focus its search for satellites in your area. As the GPS unit finds satellites, the Locating Satellites message will change to Acquiring Satellites. Once three or more are found (four needed for 3 dimensional orientation), a location can be determined.

Configuration

There are a variety of settings accessible from each of the pages as well as the Main Menu page. You can cycle though pages by pushing the PAGE button. To open the menu options for a page, press MENU. For the Main menu page, use the ROCKER button to select the appropriate sub menu. If you wish to stop the initialization (acquiring satellites) process temporarily after powering up, from the Satellite page press MENU, then (with Use with GPS Off highlighted), press ENTER. You can now conserve battery power during configuration. The PAGE button can also be held down to toggle the compass on or off.

Datum and coordinate system: In GIS, it is critical that the datum and coordinate system of your data, including base map data, are explicitly defined (and ultimately the same). Before collecting data, make sure the GPS unit is set to the coordinate system and datum that best matches your needs (those who are using DNR Garmin will download data as GCS WGS 84 –see Downloading Data section for changing projection after download).

  1. From the Main Menu page, select Setup.
  2. Scroll down and select Units.
  3. Select the Position Format (coordinate system) you wish the output coordinates to be in. If you're using latitude and longitude, these should be expressed as decimal degrees (hddd.ddddd) rather than degrees, minutes and seconds. You can convert DMS to DD later if you do not select DD before collecting data. You can also change (reproject) the coordinate system of your data if needed. See the Mann Library GPS tutorial for instructions on data conversion. Select UTM UPS for Universal Transverse Mercator coordinates. If you are working with State Plane data, select User UTM Grid. You will need to configure some settings -go to http://gpsinformation.net/state-plane.html for details, where you can download a table http://gpsinformation.net/mapinfow-e.xls listing the info you will need.
  4. Select Datum. It is especially important that the datum be correct, since it represents fundamental assumptions about the size and shape of the earth. Most US users will find NAD83 or WGS 84 appropriate for use with recent projected data sets, though some older data sets are NAD27.
  5. When done, highlight Save and press ENTER

Batteries: The GPS unit is circulated with two rechargeable batteries. If you need to replace the batteries with non-rechargeable batteries, change the battery type as follows:

  1. From the Main Menu page, select Setup and then System.
  2. Change the battery type from NiMH to Alkaline.

Collecting Data with the GPS

Waypoints

The Mark Waypoint Page can be used to record individual point coordinates and attributes (name, elevation, time and date).

  1. Press in and hold the ENTER/MARK key until the Mark Waypoint Page appears.
  2. To change the name of the waypoint (optional), use the ROCKER key to highlight the waypoint name field and press ENTER to display the on-screen keypad. Use the ROCKER key and ENTER key to create a name for the waypoint. If you choose a name that has already been used, a "Waypoint Already Exits” message appears.
  3. To assign an identifying symbol to a waypoint, use the ROCKER key to highlight the symbol block next to the waypoint name and press ENTER to display the Symbols Chart.
  4. To save the waypoint to the Find Menu Waypoints List, highlight “OK” and press ENTER.
  5. If you do not want to save it as a new waypoint, press the QUIT button to cancel.

Tracks

Tracks consist of data (Track Log) gathered automatically (at specified time or distance intervals) while in motion. Their primary purpose is to record path and speed, rather than detailed info for particular points. The Garmin 76CS can also be used to measure the area of any space you encompass with a track, and retrace your path in either direction. The Tracks page can be accessed from the Main Menu page or by cycling though active pages using the PAGE button. The Setup page can be used to configure logging options.

Routes

Routes are a sequence of waypoints which lead to a destination. Their primary purpose is as a navigational aid when used in conjunction with a GPS. The GPS will tell you the bearing and distance to the next point in sequence as you navigate along your route. The 76CS can store 50 routes, with up to 250 waypoints each. To create a route, access the Routes page from the Main Menu.

Downloading Data

Note: The classroom machines on the first floor of Mann Library have the necessary software and drivers already installed. If using a different computer, you will first need to download and install drivers from http://www.garmin.com/support/blosp.jsp, and the DNR Garmin software. It is available for free from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Garmin GPS Extension page.

Preferred Method

The easiest method for downloading GPS data is using the DNR Garmin software. It allows users to save data directly as a shapefile, a format easily imported into GIS software like ArcGIS. A USB cable is included with the unit for connecting to a computer.

  1. Connect the GPS unit to the computer using the USB cable.
  2. Turn on the GPS unit.
  3. The unit will by default start to acquire satellites. Press the MENU button and select the Use with GPS Off option, then press ENTER.
  4. If you are prompted by the New Hardware Found Wizard on a classroom computer, to designate the proper USB drivers:
    • Select Yes, this time only, then Next
    • Choose Install from a list or specific location, then Next
    • Make sure Search for the best driver in these locations is checked, and Include this location in the search lists C:\Garmin\USB_Drivers.
    • Click Next once more, then Finish
  6. Start the DNR Garmin software from the PC Programs menu.
  7. Under the GPS>Set Port menu, select USB.
  8. If needed, select Open Port from the GPS menu.
  9. Select the download option from one of the following menus: Waypoint, Track, or Route. The data will be downloaded from your GPS into a data table (if necessary click Data Table button to view). Once the data is downloaded you may edit it prior to saving.
  10. Under File> Set Projection, choose the projection you wish the data to be exported (projected) to. If you wish to create and export a supplementary .prj file as well (enabling GIS software to properly register), and have ArcGIS installed, click the Load PRJ button (ArcGIS is installed on the Mann Library classroom computers). Browse for an ESRI projection file as a template (usually found in the C:\Program Files\ArcGIS\Coordinate Systems folder).
  11. Save data to a file from the Data Table. From the File>Save to-File menu, select a location and name for your output (do not begin name with numbers and make sure there are no spaces or special characters). Shapefile format is easiest to import directly into a GIS.

Optional Method

To download data from the Garmin 76CS, you can also use Garmin's MapSource Trip and Waypoint Manager software.

  1. Connect the GPS unit to the computer using the USB cable.
  2. If you are prompted by the New Hardware Found Wizard, see step 4 above.
  3. Start the MapSource software from the PC Programs menu.
  4. Choose Transfer > Receive From Device from the main menu.
  5. If the GPS unit is not listed in the dialog window, click on Find Device.
  6. When the computer has found the device, check what type of data you want the program to receive and click Receive. Click OK when the program is finished importing your data.
  7. In the MapSource table of contents, select the tab that represents the type of data you imported. You should see a list of your data.
  8. To import data into a GIS, you will need to export the data using the File>Export menu option. Save as tab delimited text format, which can be imported into Excel and saved as csv or dbf. If you have lat/long coordinates, remember to convert "W" longitudes to - (negative).

Erasing Data from the GPS Unit

Press the Page button until you come to the Trip Computer page. From the Trip Computer page, press MENU, highlight Reset, and then ENTER. Using the rocker button, select what you want to delete (highlight Select All for complete deletion), press ENTER, then Apply, then OK to confirm your selection.

To turn off the GPS unit, press in and hold the power button until it turns off (if you quickly press the power button the backlight adjustment control will appear -useful if working in low light levels).

Unit Accuracy

The Garmin 76CS is a Wide Area Augmentation System (WAAS) capable receiver. It offers potential accuracy of 1-2 meters horizontal and 2-3 meters vertical, provided ground based reference stations are nearby. Enabling WAAS in regions that are not supported by ground stations, which correct position data, typically does not improve accuracy even when receiving signals from satellites. In fact it can degrade the accuracy to less than that provided by GPS satellites alone. For this reason, the Garmin GPS receiver, when in the “WAAS Enabled” mode, automatically uses the method that achieves the best accuracy.

For more information, please consult the complete 76CS and 76CSx owner's manuals.

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