What Was Learnt?

How to Use the GPS 72

Features & Downloads

Garmin Manual & Quickstart Guide (PDFs).


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GARMIN GPS 72 Basics

Installing the battery
  • Remove the battery cover by turning the D-ring _ turn counter clockwise and pulling the cover loose.
  • Check the battery polarity with the moulded diagram in the battery compartment and install the batteries inserting the end toward the spring first.
  • Re install the battery cover by reversing step 1
Press the Power key and a welcome page will be displayed followed by a warning page. Acknowledge these pages by pressing the Page key while they are displayed.

Initializing the GPS Receiver

Before the GPS 72 can be used for navigation, the receiver has to be initialized.
  • Take the unit outside where it will have an unobstructed view of the sky. The unit will search for satellite signals and begin to gather and store information that needs to become operational. This process should take no longer than five minutes. When the unit becomes operational, the message 3D GPS Location should be displayed on the GPS information page.
  • If for some reason 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. The selection will force the unit to search for all satellites. It may take a little longer for the unit to become operational.
The Interface Keys
  • The Power key is used to turn the unit on or off.
  • The Rocker key is used to control the up/down and left/right movement of the cursor.
  • The Menu key is used to display page option menus. If pressed twice, the main menu will be displayed.
  • The Page key will cycle you through the five main display pages in sequence.
  • The In and Out keys are used on the map page and the plot page. The In key decreases the map scale and the out key increases the map scale.
  • The Enter/Mark key is used to activate a data field or confirm a selection. This key is pressed and held and will store the current location and display the mark way point.
  • The GoTo/Mob key is used to begin or stop navigation to a way point. This key is pressed and held down, the GPS stores the current location or man overboard point.

Main Display Pages

The five main display pages are
  • GPS Information page
  • map page
  • pointer page
  • highway page
  • active route page.
You can cycle through these pages by pressing either the Page or Quit key.

Activating Simulator Mode
Press the Power key then press the Page key twice to display the GPS information page.
  • With the GPS information page displayed press the Menu key
  • Using the Rocker key, highlight ‘start simulator’ then press Enter

Displaying the Map Page options menu
  • Press the Menu key

Selecting an item on the options menu

  • Using the Rocker key highlight “set up map”
  • Press Enter
Many of the menus are arranged in a tab layout, use the left/right Rocker to navigate from tab to tab.

To mark a Waypoint
  • press and hold the Enter/Mark key this activates the mark function.
  • press the Enter key to save the waypoint with a default name number.

To store a Waypoint
  • Use the Rocker key to highlight the “OK” button an press the Enter key.

Changing the Waypoint name
  • Use the Rocker key, highlight the name field and press Enter
  • Press the Rocker key to the left and clear the field name
  • Press the Rocker key up to scroll through the alphanumeric list and select the appropriate letter
  • Press the rocker key to the right to move to the next placeholder and use the Rocker to scroll through the list until the next letter is selected
  • Repeat this process until the name is complete.

Go to a Waypoint
  • press the GoTo key
  • select Waypoint and press Enter
  • use the Rocker to highlight your chosen waypoint and press Enter

To clear a Track Log
  • Press the Menu key twice to display the main menu
  • Highlight tracks then press Enter.
  • Highlight the Clear button and press the Enter key
  • Highlight the Yes button then press the Enter key

To begin Navigation
  • press the GoTo key
  • with the appropriate waypoint highlighted press the Enter key
  • select the compass pointer page As you start walking the arrow will point the way to your chosen destination


www.garmin.com/products/manual.jsp?product=010-00309-00

science.nasa.gov/Realtime/jtrack/3d/JTrack3D.html

www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/shackletonexped/navigate/gps.html


GPS Games

Scavenger hunt

A scavenger hunt can be set up by marking out a trail, similar to an Easter Egg hunt and marking the waypoints. Scavengers then GoTo the various waypoints, either photographing or recording details about each point.

Geocaching

Geocaching is similar to a much older activity called letterboxing. The major difference is its use of the Global Positioning System. Geocaching via GPS was made possible by the removal of selective availability of the Global Positioning System allowing all users access to accurate data.

Geocache –TimoOK Ammunition Box – Francois
A geocacher will place a waterproof container, containing a log book (with pen or pencil) and trinkets or some sort of treasures, then note the cache's coordinates. These coordinates, along with other details of the location, are posted on a website. Other geocachers obtain the coordinates from the Internet and seek out the cache using their GPS handheld receivers. The finding geocachers record their exploits in the logbook and online.

If a cacher discovers that a cache has been damaged, it can be logged as needing maintenance, which sends an e-mail to the cache owner so it can either be deactivated, repaired, or replaced.


Creating a Google Earth Overlay

Information from your GPS can be used with other software to create overlays on photographs and maps. Most of the software is free or at very low cost. Google earth is one readily available program that accepts the information and has significant capacity to upload photographs and information.
  • Download your chosen tracks from the GPS using either GPS utility or Easy GPS.
  • Using the GPS Visualiser site convert the downloaded GPX file to KMZ which will work with Google Earth.
  • Open the converted file to view on Google Earth.
  • Waypoints can be renamed at this point if necessary.

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