Garmin Pilot 3 Manual

GETTING STARTED
Batter y Installation
3
The GPS III Pilot operates on 4 AA batteries, which are installed at the base of
the unit. These batteries provide up to 24 hours of continuous use. Rechargeable
NiCad or lithium batteries may also be used.  
NOTE: The on-screen battery level indicator is calibrated for alkaline batteries,
and will not be accurate when using NiCad or lithium batteries (see page 79).
To install the batteries:
1. Flip up the metal ring at the base of the unit, and turn the ring 90û...

What is GPS?
GETTING STARTED
The Global Positioning System (GPS) is a system of 24 satellites which circle the
earth twice a day in a very precise orbit and transmit information to earth. The GPS
III Pilot must continuously ÒseeÓ at least three of these satellites to calculate your
position and track your movement. At times, additional satellites may be needed to
determine a position.
By using an almanac (a timetable of satellite numbers and their orbits) stored in
the receiverÕs memory, the GPS III...

Once the GPS III Pilot has calculated a position fix, youÕll usually have anywhere
from five to twelve satellites in view. The receiver will then continuously select the best 
satellites in view to update your position. If some of the satellites in view get blocked
or Òshaded,Ó the receiver can simply use an alternate satellite to maintain the position
fix. Although a GPS receiver needs four satellites to provide a three-dimensional 
(3D) fix, it can maintain a two-dimensional (2D) fix with only three...

This usually provides a position fix in one minute. YouÕll know you have a fix
when the unit automatically transitions from the Satellite Page to the Map Page
(shown bottom left). Your receiver is now ready to use!
To turn the unit off:
1. Press and hold the red power key for one second.
Troubleshooting
If you have trouble initializing or getting a position fix, check the following:
¥ Does the receiver have a clear view of the sky?
If there are large buildings or mountains, or if there is heavy tree...

To turn the GPS III Pilot back on, press and hold the red power key.
The GPS III Pilot features six main pages which are linked together in a chain. You
can quickly scroll through the pages in either direction using the PAGE or QUIT keys.
LetÕs briefly tour each of these pages in order to give you some insight into how they
help you navigate. WeÕll go over all of them in more detail in the reference section.
Press the PAGE key to move
through each of the main
pages in normal fashion.
Press the QUIT key...

LetÕs start with the Satellite Status Page, which is the page youÕll view while your
unit is getting a position fix. If youÕre not already on this page, press PAGE or QUIT
until it appears. The Satellite Status Page shows you status information that helps
you understand what the receiver is doing at any given time, and itÕs a page that
youÕll want to occasionally refer back to as you use your unit. It features a sky view
of available satellites, corresponding signal strength bars, the status of your...

The Position Page shows you where you are, what direction youÕre heading, and
how fast youÕre goingÑand itÕs a page you may want to use when you donÕt have a 
destination selected.
A graphic compass display at the top of the page shows your direction of travel
(track) while youÕre moving, while six user-selectable data fields below display your
current speed, average speed, trip odometer, trip timer, and sunrise/sunset times at
your current position. ÒUser-selectableÓ means you can change them to display...

The Map Page shows your movement using a real-time track log (an electronic
breadcrumb trail that appears directly on the map as youÕre traveling), and your 
present position as an airplane icon in the center of the map. The Map Page also
shows any nearby airspace boundaries, lakes, rivers, highways and towns. The map
scale is shown in the lower left-hand corner of the map. Use the zoom keys (IN and
OUT) to adjust the map to the desired scale.
To change the map scale:
1. Press the IN zoom key to select a...

The GPS III Pilot features two different navigation pages: HSI (horizontal situation
indicator) and Highway. The HSI Page is first. The HSI Page provides graphic steering
guidance to a destination waypoint and will likely become your primary navigation
screen. (The Highway page also provides graphic steering guidance by displaying a
three-dimensional perspective of your course and the surrounding area.) The HSI
graphically depicts a mechanical HSI, showing the desired course using a ÔD-barÕ
(course...

The GPS III PilotÕs Highway Page also provides graphic steering guidance to a
destination waypoint. As you head toward your destination, the middle of the screen
provides visual guidance to your waypoint on a moving graphic Òhighway.Ó Your pre-
sent position is at the bottom center of the highway display. The line down the mid-
dle of the highway represents your desired course. As you navigate toward a way-
point, the highway will actually moveÑindicating the direction youÕre off course. To
stay on...