Garmin GPSMAP 176C User manual
quick
start
guide
chartplotting receiver
GPSMAP 176C/176
Quick Start
2
Unit Overview
12-level Grayscale LCD Display with Backlight (176)
16-color Trans ective Display with Backlight (176C)
Backlit K eypad for easy night operation
GPS Antenna
External P ower
and Computer Data P ort
Battery Compartment
P ort for optional Data Storage Card
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Quick Start
3
Battery Installation
WARNING: It is very important to install ALL batteries with
the proper polarity, positive (+) or negative (-) orientation, as
indicated in the unit’s battery compartment. atteries can leak
and cause personal injury and property damage if not installed
correctly.
TIP: The GPSMAP 176 saves user data in nonvolatile
memory and will not lose data when the batteries are changed
or if stored without batteries.
To remove the battery lid, rotate the D-ring 1/4
turn counterclockwise, and pull away.
To reinstall the battery lid, place the locking pin into
the slot and rotate the D-ring 1/4 turn clockwise.
The GPSMAP 176 uses 4 AA batteries, which can be Alkaline, rechargeable, Lithium or Ni Cad.
Immediately after installing new batteries, turn the unit on to ensure that the unit’s power indicator
shows a fully charged battery condition (see page 49 of the Owner’s Manual). Replace all batteries at
the same time. Do NOT mix new and used batteries. Do NOT mix Alkaline batteries with Lithium or
Ni Cad rechargeable batteries.
,
Quick Start
4
The IN key — adjusts the map scale to show a smaller area with more detail. (Zooms in)
The OUT key —
adjusts the map scale to show a larger area with less detail. (Zooms out)
The PAGE key —
cycles the unit through the main display pages in sequence and returns
the display from a submenu page.
The QUIT key — cycles the unit through the main display pages in a reverse sequence,
re saves the previous value in a data entry fi eld, or cancels an unintended function such as a
GOTO.
The ENTER key —
selects a highlighted menu option. When entering data, it allows you to
initiate entry, and then to accept the selected value(s). It also marks the current location of a
waypoint when pressed and held for more than one second.
The MENU key —
displays a menu of available options for the current page, Pressing the
MENU key twice will display the Main Menu.
The NAV/MOB key — displays the Navigation Menu. It also activates the MOB (Man
OverBoard) function when pressed and held for more than one second.
The FIND key — allows you to quickly access User Waypoints, Cities, Points of Interest,
Services and other items used for navigation.
The POWER key — is used to turn the unit on and off and to activate the backlight. It is
also used to adjust the contrast.
The ARROW KEYPAD — is used to select (highlight) menu options and enter data. It also
controls cursor movement on the Map Page.
Learning the Keypad
Quick Start
5
Power On/
Backlight and Contrast
This exercise provides you with the knowledge and skill to confi dently navigate the pages and
menus of your GPSMAP 176.
As you progress through this Quick Start and the Owner’s Manual, you will often be directed to
press a specifi c key or highlight a fi eld. When you are directed to press a key, you should press, then
release the key. If the key needs to be held down for a period of time, the instruction will tell you to do
so. The position of the highlight is controlled by the ARROW KEYPAD. When a fi eld is highlighted, a
dark strip will encompass the fi eld.
Turning the GPSMAP 176 On
To turn the unit on, press the POWER/BACKLIGHT key. The POWER/BACKLIGHT key is
labeled with a red light bulb. As the unit powers on a “Warning/Info Page” will be displayed. To
acknowledge that you have read and understand the warning, press the ENTER key.
Backlight and Contrast Adjustment
You may need to adjust the Backlight or Contrast to see the display better. To display the Backlight/
Contrast adjustment window, with the unit on, press the POWER/BACKLIGHT key.
To adjust the acklight level:
1. With the Backlight/Contrast adjustment window displayed, press the ARROW KEYPAD UP to
increase the brightness o the backlight, or DOWN to decrease the brightness o the backlight.
Or...
2. Press the POWER/BACKLIGHT key. When the POWER/BACKLIGHT key is pressed repeatedly, the
backlight will cycle between ‘O ’, ‘the last setting’ and ‘ ull On’.
To adjust the contrast setting:
1. With the Backlight/Contrast adjustment window displayed, press the ARROW KEYPAD RIGHT to
increase the contrast (darker) or LEFT to decrease the contrast (lighter) setting.
acklight Contrast
Quick Start
6
Activating the Simulator
Using the GPSMAP 176
The keys are your link with the GPSMAP 176. Let’s take a few minutes and use each key so that you
can get a feel for their use before doing any live navigation.
Each time the GPSMAP 176 is turned on the GPS Info tab will be displayed showing the current
satellite status. If you press the PAGE or QUIT key, the GPS Info tab will be hidden and no longer
show in the Main Page cycle.
While learning the basic operation of the GPSMAP 176, let’s put the unit into Simulator Mode. The
Simulator Mode is great for practicing with the unit while indoors and when satellite signals are not
available. When the GPSMAP 176 is in Simulator Mode, the GPS receiver is turned off. This will help
conserve battery power, but the unit cannot be used for actual navigation in simulator mode.
NOTE: Do not try to navigate using the Simulator Mode. While in the Simulator Mode,
the GPS receiver is turned off. Any Satellite Signal Strength Indicators displayed are only
simulations and do not indicate the strength of actual satellite signals.
Acti ating the Simulator Mode
Putting the GPSMAP 176 in simulator mode:
1. With the GPS In o tab displayed press the MENU key.
2. ‘Start Simulator’ should be highlighted, i not, using the ARROW KEYPAD, highlight it and press the
ENTER key.
When the Simulator Mode is active, the message “Simulating GPS” will be displayed in the Status
Field along the top of the GPS Info tab. Press the PAGE key to display the Map Page.
)
With the GPS Info tab displayed, pressing the MENU key
will display the options for the page. To start the simula-
tor, verify the selection “Start Simulator’ is highlighted
then press the ENTER key.
Quick Start
7
Main Pages/
Features
Main Display Pages
There are fi ve Main Display Pages: the Map Page, Compass Page, Highway Page, Active Route
Page, and Numbers Page. Pressing the PAGE key will display the next Main Page. Press the PAGE key
several times to look at the Main Pages. The QUIT key will allow you to cycle through the Main Pages
in a reverse sequence.
Features and Entering Data
Cursor— A highlighted area on the screen which can be moved UP/DOWN/LEFT/RIGHT with the
ROCKER KEYPAD to select individual fi elds on the display. Moving the cursor to a given location
allows you to begin data entry or scroll through a list.
Def ult— A system selected format, built into the operating software of the unit’s memory, that will
be followed unless the user chooses a different setting. For example, the default setting for distance
and speed units is Statute (miles/miles per hour/feet) but can be changed to Metric or Nautical. Once
a setting is changed, the new setting is retained until another change is made or the ‘Restore Original
Settings’ menu option is selected.
Map Page Compass Page Highway Page Active Route Page Numbers Page
PAGE PAGE PAGE
QUIT
QUITQUITQUIT
PAGE
Quick Start
8
Field— The location on a page where a group of characters or an option is entered and displayed.
The cursor is placed on a fi eld (using the ROCKER KEYPAD) to begin data entry or select options.
To enter data in a data fi eld:
1. Use the ROCKER KEYPAD to highlight the desired data fi eld. Press ENTER to begin data entry.
2. Use the ROCKER KEYPAD to enter the desired data. Move UP/DOWN to select the desired character
and RIGHT to move to the next character fi eld. LEFT allows you to back up to the previous character
fi eld or, when at the le t-most character fi eld, to clear the entire data fi eld.
On-Screen Button— Similar to ‘Field’. Place the cursor on a button and press ENTER to select the
action corresponding to the button. An example of an on screen button is the ‘Show Map’ button at the
bottom of the Waypoint Edit page (see example at left).
Scroll B r— When viewing a list of items too long to display on a single page, a scroll bar will
appear along the right side of the list (see example at left). The position of the scroll bar indicates which
portion of the list is currently being displayed. The height of the scroll bar indicates the number of items
in the list. To scroll through a list of items, press UP/DOWN on the ROCKER KEYPAD.
Creating and Naming Waypoints
There will be many times that you may need to select a menu item and/or enter data. An example is
naming a waypoint. The ARROW KEYPAD is used to navigate through menu items and to enter data.
We will create a new waypoint, enter a waypoint name, and assign a symbol to the waypoint using
the ARROW KEYPAD.
The term “waypoint” may be new to you. A waypoint is a location saved in the unit’s memory so it
can be used for navigation. Waypoints can be used for direct navigation, or to build a Route.
Creating or “marking” a waypoint with the GPSMAP 176 is easy. The unit has to be turned on and
receiving at least three satellites or be in Simulator Mode to mark a waypoint.
Data Entry/
Waypoints
On-Screen uttons
Scroll ar
Quick Start
9
Creating a Waypoint
“Marking” a waypoint:
1. Press and hold the ENTER key.
When the ENTER key is held, the ‘Mark’ function of the key is activated and the GPSMAP 176
captures its current location, and displays the New Waypoint Page. Notice that the unit assigned a
square as the default symbol and a number as the default name. The ‘OK’ Button along the lower right
is highlighted, pressing the ENTER key will save the new waypoint using the default settings for the
symbol and name, but for practice we will change them.
Changing the waypoint sym ol:
1. Using the ARROW KEYPAD, highlight the Symbol fi eld, then press the ENTER key.
2. Using the ARROW KEYPAD, highlight the ‘Scenic Area’ symbol, then press the ENTER key.
Changing the waypoint name:
1. Using the ARROW KEYPAD, highlight the Name fi eld, then press the ENTER key.
The Name fi eld will become active and the fi rst zero will be highlighted. Notice that there are now
ten placeholders for alpha numeric characters displayed.
2. Press the ARROW KEYPAD to the LEFT to clear the fi eld.
3. Press the ARROW KEYPAD UP, scroll through the alpha-numeric list until the letter ‘C’ is selected.
4. Press the ARROW KEYPAD RIGHT to move to the next placeholder.
5. Press the ARROW KEYPAD DOWN, scroll through the alpha-numeric list until the letter ‘R’ is
selected.
You should be starting to get the feel of it. Continue entering letters to spell the word CREEK.
6. With the letter ‘K’ highlighted, press the ENTER key to accept the name.
Symbol Field Name Field Comment Field
up to 20 characters
Current Location ‘OK’ utton
Quick Start
10
When you have fi nished renaming the waypoint you will need to save it in the unit’s memory.
To save the waypoint:
1. Using the ARROW KEYPAD, highlight the ‘OK’ Button and press the ENTER key.
These are the same steps that you will use to enter names, change numbers and select options in all
of the data fi elds in the GPSMAP 176.
Here are a few tips:
1. I you press and hold the ARROW KEYPAD while scrolling through the alpha-numeric list it will
move through the list quickly.
2. You can scroll through the alpha-numeric list in either direction.
3. Don’t press the ENTER key until you have fi nished entering the data. Remember, use the ARROW
KEYPAD to move to the next placeholder.
You should now have enough knowledge to look through the main pages, and enter data into your
GPSMAP 176. Now let’s learn how to navigate!
Na igating with your GPSMAP 176
The main use of a GPS is to be able to navigate to a known position. Let’s create another waypoint
on the Map Page using a different method, the Map Pointer.
Press the PAGE key until the Map Page is displayed. Press the IN key several times until the Zoom
Scale in the lower left corner of the Map Page reads “300 ft”. The current GPS location is indicated by
the triangle in the center of the map.
earing and distance from Map Pointer to
current GPS location.
Map Pointer
Creating a Waypoint/
Navigation
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1
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