I need a tutor for basic GPS use - Garmin 76S

[JD]

Can anyone here please me a primer on correctly configuring my Garmin 76S and on how to best use it during flight?

I have all the Sylmar waypoints loaded but I'm really not clear on many things such as:

How to actually set up then navigate a route to follow
How to switch between screens during flight and which screens to use or ignore
How to start and stop track recording
How the tracks should be recorded. Time, distance, interval, etc.

I think you get my drift. I probably should have bought 2 bicycle mounts and used it on my bike for practice. I cut up the one I had to make my instrument mount.

Thanks,

Jonathan Dietch
nmerider gmail

[frosty]

Here are a couple of tutorials I have bookmarked.


GPS Usage Tips for Competition - Garmin 76S (scroll down page):

http://ridgedancer.sfbapa.org/archive/z ... e48385.htm


Using a GPS in soaring flight:

http://www.aeroexperiments.org/GPSsoar

[JD]

Here are a couple of tutorials I have bookmarked..............

Frosty - Thanks for the links. Brett Hardin's 2005 tutorial was a lifesaver. I've been slowly reading Steve Seibel's pages on GPS useage over the past week which is another excellent resource. I guess I'll just have to set up practice routes every time I fly so I can get used to using the GPS in flight.

If anyone else has anything more to add, I am listening.
Cheers,
Jonathan

[Dizzy]

How to actually set up then navigate a route to follow

1. [Menu]->[Menu]-> select Routes->[Enter]
2. Create new route by clicking [Enter]
3. Use Up/Down to select waypoint you need then [Enter]
4. After you add all waypoint [Quit][Quit][Quit] to return
5. To start navigation [Nagigate]-> select Navigate Route [Enter][Quit]

What is important on 76S is to set waypoit transition to Manual. To do it:
1. [Menu]->[Menu]-> select Routes->[Enter]
2. [Menu]->select Setup Routes->[Enter]
3. If you see Manual then you good [Quit][Quit]
4. If you Auto then use Up button to select it then [Enter]
4. Select Manual [Enter][OK][Quit][Quit]

When you take waypoit in flight and need to swith to next one:
[Navigate] Goto next waypoint

How to switch between screens during flight and which screens to use or ignore

To switch between screens use [Page]
Most important is a map and compase plus you can configure what other info you need. I use following:
1. Distance to next waypoint
2. Distance to destination
3. Time of day (so you don't start earlier that start time)
4. Glide Ratio (to next waypoint)
5. Glide to Destination (Important when last leg of task is shorter then one your glide).
6. Speed (Very important to determine wind speed)

How to start and stop track recording

To start: [Menu]->[Menu] select Tracks->select Clear (it will delete previous track)
To stop: turn off GPS

Never save a tracks!!! Because you will lose some important info, you can have only one track. You may have several flights without downloading track and can split them after download.

How the tracks should be recorded. Time, distance, interval, etc.

Time. Interval depends on how long you plan to fly. For example 3 seconds give you: 10000 point (in active track) * 3 sec / (3600 sec in one hour) = 8.3 hour.

[stebbins]

And there are lots of folks in the LZ who could help. I will (probably) be there for the Dahlsten. Feel free to ask me. Do it early, though. You'll want to play with it & I'll get busy.

[JD]

.........What is important on 76S...............

Dizzy - Thanks for all those extra tips! I did set up a simple route this afternoon and used my bicycle. I even did circles in a parking lot to get accustomed to using the map display to track a thermal, etc. I hope to meet everyone on Saturday. Cheers, Jonathan