Garmin GPS III Pilot - Manual (Page 13)

Once the GPS III Pilot has calculated a position fix, you’ll 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 “shaded,” 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 “select initialization method.” (If the initializa-
tion prompt has not automatically appeared, press MENU and select ‘Initialize Position’.)
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 ‘Use Map’, 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 ‘2D Navigation’ or
‘3D Navigation’ 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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