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 counterclockwise.
2. Install the batteries and close the battery compartment door. When replacing the
GPS III PilotÕs batteries, observe the polarity markings engraved in the plastic
case.
3. Lock the door in the closed position by rotating the metal ring 90û clockwise.
Battery life varies due to a variety of factors, including temperature and
backlighting. You may find that the battery life varies in different conditions and
that lithium batteries provide longer life in colder conditions. An internal 10-
year lithium battery will retain your data while youÕre changing batteries.
Polarity
Markings
#?
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							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 Pilot can determine the distance and position of
any GPS satellite and use this information to compute your position.
Your GPS receiver can only see satellites above the horizon, so it needs to know
what satellites to look for at any given time. To use this almanac data, your GPS
needs to either be told its general location (ÒinitializedÓ) or given the opportunity to
find itself. Once you initialize the unit to a position, it will typically compute a fix with-
in a few minutes. WeÕll show you how to initialize your new GPS III Pilot on page 5.
Initialization is only necessary under the following conditions:
¥ The first time you use your receiver (new from the factory).
¥ After the receiver has been moved over 500 miles (with the power off) from
the last time you used it.
¥ If the receiverÕs memory has been cleared and all internally stored data has
been lost.
Because the GPS III Pilot relies on satellite signals to provide you with navigation
guidance, the receiver needs to have an unobstructed, clear view of the sky for best
performance. In a nutshell, the GPS receiverÕs view of the sky will generally determine
how fast you get a position fixÑor if you get a fix at all. GPS signals are relatively
weak and do not travel through rocks, buildings, people, metal, or heavy tree cover,
so remember to keep a clear view of the sky at all times for best performance.
Hold the receiver at a 
comfortable height with the
antenna pointing up.
When new (or if a position
cannot be determined after 10
minutes), the GPS III Pilot will
prompt you to initialize the
receiver. The unit needs a
starting position to determine
which satellites are in view. 
4
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							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 satellites. A 
three-dimensional fix means the unit knows its latitude, longitude, and altitude, while
a two-dimensional fix means the unit knows only its latitude and longitude.
Initializing Your GPS III Pilot
To initialize the GPS III Pilot, take the receiver outside and find an open area where
the antenna has a clear view of the sky. You may either hold the receiver at a comfort-
able height with the antenna pointing up (see page 4), or mount the receiver on the
dash of a vehicle, as described in Appendix A. (Likewise, when you use your GPS III
Pilot in a vehicle, make sure the antenna is pointing up.)
To turn the GPS III Pilot on, press and hold the red power key.
The Welcome Page will be displayed while the unit conducts a self test. Once
testing is complete, the Welcome Page is replaced by the Database Page (which shows the
effective date for the Jeppesen database), followed by a warning page, then by the Satellite
Status Page. A message will inform you to Òselect initialization method.Ó (If the initializa-
tion prompt has not automatically appeared, press MENU and select ÔInitialize PositionÕ.)
To initialize your unit:
1. Press ENTER to acknowledge the message. A window will appear prompting you to
select an initialization method.
2. Use the rocker keypad to highlight ÔUse MapÕ, and press ENTER.
3. Use the rocker keypad to point the map cursor to your approximate location (within at
least 250 miles). You may also wish to use the IN and OUT zoom keys to make it easier to
identify your approximate position.
4. Press ENTER to select the position and begin searching for satellites.
Check the Satellite Status
Page for Ô2D NavigationÕ or
Ô3D NavigationÕ to verify a
position fix.
The Welcome Page is 
displayed when the GPS III
Pilot is first turned on. During
this time the receiver is con-
ducting a self-test.
5
GETTING STARTED
Initialization
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							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 cover, the receiv-
er may not be receiving enough satellite signals to calculate a fix. Also, if youÕre
using the GPS III Pilot inside the cockpit, make sure the unit is placed so that it
has the clearest possible view of the sky. Your GPS will only be able to detect satel-
lites that it can ÒseeÓ through your vehicleÕs windshield. Depending on the slope
of glass or the overall surface area, it may be necessary to remote mount an anten-
na inside the cockpit or install an outside antenna. (Contact your local GARMIN
dealer and inquire about the GA 26 Remote Antenna, part number 010-10052-
02, or the GA 56 Low Profile Antenna, part number 010-10040-01.)
¥ Have you selected the right area when initializing?
Check for the correct approximate position on the Map Page (press PAGE until
the Map Page appears; see pages 7 and 10), or reselect your approximate 
location to restart the initialization.
¥ Have you moved more than 500 miles from the last calculated position
with the receiver off?
Reinitialize the receiver by selecting your approximate position on the map, or
select ÔAutoLocateÕ from the Satellite Status Page Options (see page 31).
To initialize the GPS III Pilot, 
designate your approximate
location directly on the map
display. Use the rocker keypad
and IN/OUT zoom keys to
position the cursor on the map.
Once the GPS III Pilot has a
position fix, it will automati-
cally transition from the
Satellite Status Page to the
Map Page.
6
GETTING STARTED
Initialization
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							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 to
sequence through the main
pages in reverse order.
7
GETTING STARTED
Main Page Sequence
Highway PageHSI Page
Map PageActive Route Page
Position PageSatellite Status Page
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							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 current
position fix (acquiring, 2D, 3D, etc.), and your estimated position error (EPE). You
can also tell how much battery power is remaining, and you can adjust the screen
contrast by pressing the rocker keypad.
Satellites are indicated on the sky view and the signal strength bars by their cor-
responding number, from 01 through 32. The sky view shows where it is looking in
the sky for each satellite, by indicating the direction and elevation (angle above the
horizon). The signal strength bars depict the relative strength of the signal from each
satellite being received. The taller the bar, the stronger the signal.
The signal strength bars give
you an indication of what
satellites are visible to the
receiver, whether or not theyÕre
being used to calculate a posi-
tion fix, and the signal quality.
If satellite reception is lost, or
an insufficient number of
satellites are available, you
will be alerted with a ÔPoor
CoverageÕ receiver status and
message.
8
GETTING STARTED
Satellite Status Page
Satellite Status Page
Receiver Status
Battery Level
IndicatorSignal Strength BarSky View
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							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 other
navigation information. WeÕll cover these fields more in the reference section.
Below the user-selectable data fields are additional data fields to display your 
current position, along with current time and date. The current position readout can
be in latitude/longitude, UTM/UPS, Maidenhead or one of several regional grids.
Current time and date can be in local time or UTC (Coordinated Universal Time, or
ÒzuluÓ time).
Position Page showing current
position in degrees, minutes
and seconds.
The trip odometer, trip timer
and average speed readings
can all be reset from the ÔTrip
ComputerÕ option on the Main
Menu. See page 75.
9
GETTING STARTED
Position Page
Position Page Track Compass
Trip Odometer
Current Time
and Date Current Position
Coordinates
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							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 smaller scale and more detail for a smaller area.
2. Press the OUT zoom key to select a larger scale and display a larger area.
The map can be oriented with the top of the page always pointing north, 
oriented along your desired course, or it can automatically rotate to keep your 
current direction of travel (track) at the top of the screen. ÔNorth UpÕ is the default
setting.
Nearby airports, VORs, NDBs, intersections and user waypoints are depicted on
the map (each with its own unique symbol) with the identifier listed directly above
the waypointÕs symbol. WeÕll cover more about the GPS III PilotÕs waypoint features
and the Map Page in the reference section of this manual.
With the map oriented to
ÔTrack UpÕ, the pointer always
points up and the map rotates
to your current direction of
travel (track). Note the north
indicator on the map.
You can also select a full-
screen map from the Map
Page Options. See page 37.
10
GETTING STARTED
Map Page
Map Page Nearby Navaid
(Intersection)Data Fields
Nearby AirportPresent Position
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							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 deviation bar; which is part of the course deviation indicator, or ÔCDIÕ) and
course pointer. If you move off course, the D-bar will indicate off course distance and
direction. To return to the desired course, simply steer in the direction of the D-bar
until it returns to the center of the CDI. The CDI scale is adjustable, with the current
scale indicated at the bottom of the page. The scale setting represents the distance from
the center of the CDI to full left or right limits.
The HSI depicts your (ground) track heading using a rotating Ôcompass cardÕ.
DonÕt confuse this with the aircraft heading indicated on your panel. On a windy day
these two figures can differ significantly!
The HSI page also provides a TO/FROM indication and vertical guidance, when
using the unitÕs vertical navigation (VNAV) features. Four user-selectable data fields
indicate current speed, distance to destination, time en route and time of day.
If you move off course, steer
in the direction of the D-bar
until it returns to the center of
the CDI.
The ÔBig NumbersÕ option
(available from the HSI Page
Options) shows a smaller
compass-type display and
larger data field characters.
See page 42.
11
GETTING STARTED
HSI Page
HSI Page Compass Card
(Track)
Current Speed 
and Distance to
Waypoint
Time to Waypoint 
Pointer
(Desired Course)
D-bar 
(part of CDI)
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							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 course, simply move toward the center of the highway.
The top of the page indicates speed and distance to your destination (or the next
waypoint in a route), along with a track compass showing current direction of 
travel. Directly below the distance reading is the time required to reach your desti-
nation (or the next waypoint in a route), in hours/minutes or minutes/seconds. The
pointer at the bottom of the page also shows the bearing to your destination, relative
to your current track. If the pointer points straight ahead, youÕre heading directly to
your destination!
If you move off course, the
highway display will move,
indicating the direction you
are off course. To stay on
course, simply move toward
the center of the highway.
As you approach your desti-
nation, the graphic highway
will stop at the destination
waypoint. You have arrived
when the waypoint is at the
bottom center of the display.
12
GETTING STARTED
Highway Page
Highway Page
Highway Display
Distance to
Destination (or Next
Route Waypoint)
Pointer
(Bearing to
Destination)
Track Compass
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