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AirMap 500
Handheld Mapping GPS Receiver
Operation Instructions
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Copyright © 2003 Lowrance Electronics, Inc. All rights reserved. AirMap , Lowrance Avionics and Lowrance are all registered trademarks of Lowrance Electronics, Inc. Jeppesen is a registered trademark of Jeppesen Sanderson, Inc. Navionics is a registered trademark of Navionics, Inc. DURACELL is a registered trademark of Duracell, Inc. RAYOVAC is a registered trademark of Rayovac Corporation. Points of Interest Data in this unit are by infoUSA, copyright 2001-2003, All Rights Rese
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Table of Contents Sec. 1: Read Me First! ............................................................... 1 Capabilities and Specifications .................................................... 3 Introduction to GPS and WAAS................................................... 7 How to Use this Manual: Typographical Conventions................ 9 Sec. 2: Installation & Accessories ........................................11 Power.........................................................................
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Vertical Navigation Calculator .............................................. 44 Sec. 4: Land Operation ........................................................... 45 Keypad......................................................................................... 45 Power/Lights (Turn Unit On and Off) ....................................... 46 Main Menu .................................................................................. 46 Pages .....................................................
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Sun/Moon Rise & Set Calculator............................................ 64 Trip Calculator........................................................................ 64 Trip Down Timer..................................................................... 64 Trip Up Timer ......................................................................... 64 Waypoints.................................................................................... 64 Create a Waypoint .....................................
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Update Trail Criteria (Auto, Time, Distance) ....................... 91 Trail Update Rate (Time, Distance)....................................... 92 New Trail................................................................................. 92 Units of Measure......................................................................... 93 Set Language .............................................................................. 94 Sec. 6: Searching....................................................
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Section 1: Read Me First! How this manual can get you flying, fast! Welcome to the exciting world of GPS! We know you're anxious to take off and begin navigating, but we have a favor to ask. Before you grab the batteries and head for the plane, please give us a moment or two to show you how to skip around our manual for the information you need. (Tips start on page 2.) We want to help you get the best performance from this versatile little GPS unit — in the air, on the ground and on the sea! B
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Whether your AirMap 500 is the only GPS in the cockpit or backing up an in-panel display, you're using the most versatile and most affordable hand-held GPS receiver in the aviation market today. Our goal for this book is to get you in the air (or out on the road) fast, with a minimum of fuss. Like you, we'd rather spend more time flying, and less time reading the manual! So, we designed our book so that you don't have to read the whole thing from front to back for the information you want. At th
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the basics (or if you already have some GPS experience), you may want to try out some of AirMap's many advanced features. That brings us to Section Four, Land Mode Operation, which also includes its own one- page quick reference. After we introduce the Land Mode menus and submenus, the rest of the section contains AirMap's more advanced command functions. Your AirMap is ready to use right out of the box, but you can fine tune and customize its operation with dozens of options. We describe how to
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Receiver: ......................... Internal, 12 parallel channel GPS+WAAS; ad- vanced active remote external antenna included. Recording: ...................... Removable MMC or SD memory cards for recording GPS trip details, displaying cus- tom maps, upgrading operating system soft- ware and transferring trip data to personal computer without a slow serial connection. USB card reader included with unit. MMC slots: ...................... One, inside battery compartment. Accepts non-proprietary
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Nearest Airport: ............ Quickly locates an airfield closest to your current position. (Aviation Mode only.) Man Overboard:............. MOB feature precisely marks man overboard location with special icon, then automatically displays navigation data to that position. (Land Mode only.) Com Port:........................ One serial communications port, NMEA 0183 version 2.0 compatible. Allows exchange of position data with another device, such as an autopilot or personal computer. Optional co
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The performance doesn't stop there. Stored in the permanent memory of each AirMap is a basic background map of the entire world. (For just what's in the map, see the preceding segment on specifications.) We lock it in here at the factory — you can't change or erase this map. The background map, along with the Jeppesen and Lowrance aeronautical databases, are all you need for aerial navigation. (Your unit reads these databases automatically from the MMC card included in the package.) The backgrou
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Custom Map Files (file format *.lcm) can also be shared between Air- Maps, other Lowrance GPS or sonar/GPS units and personal computers. You make your own Custom Map Files with our MapCreate software, but you don't have to. We also sell ready-to-use FreedomMaps. These custom maps are pre-loaded on MMCs. (No computer work required!). Introduction to GPS and WAAS Well, now you know the basics of how AirMap does its work. You might be ready to jump ahead to Section 2, Installation & Accessories, o
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are spares, unused until needed. The rest virtually guarantee that at least four satellites are in view nearly anywhere on Earth at all times. A minimum of three satellites are required to determine a 2D fix. The system requires signal reception from three satellites in order to determine a position. This is called a 2D fix. It takes four satellites to determine both position and elevation (your height above sea level — also called altitude). This is called a 3D fix. Remember, the unit must have
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WAAS signals make your GPS navigation even more accurate. Your AirMap automatically receives both GPS and WAAS signals. However, WAAS has some limits you should know about. First, the U.S. government has not completed construction of the WAAS system, so it is not yet fully operational. The ground stations are in place, but only a few of the needed WAAS satellites have been launched. WAAS can boost the accuracy of land and marine GPS navigation, but the system is designed for aircraft. The satell
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Keyboard The other keys perform a variety of functions. When the text refers to a key to press, the key is shown in bold, sans serif type. For example, the "Enter/Save" key is shown as ENT and the "Menu" key is shown as MENU. Menu Commands A menu command or a menu option will appear in small capital letters, in a bold sans serif type like this: SYSTEM SETUP. These indicate that you are to select this command or option from a menu or take an action of some kind with the menu item. Text that you m
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Section 2: Installation & Accessories Power The AirMap operates from AA batteries or on 3 volts DC using an op- tional external power cable with a cigarette lighter adapter. If the power cable is used, the AirMap automatically switches to it if the ex- ternal power is greater than the battery voltage. If the external power fails, the unit automatically switches to the batteries. NOTE: Some pilots like to keep fresh batteries in their units, even when us- ing the external power. If the power fail
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Do not mix different battery types. Mixing battery types may cause leak- age. (For example, don’t use both alkaline and NiMH batteries at the same time, and don't use standard alkalines with rechargeable alkalines.) Battery Installation Turn the unit over so that the back is facing you. Place your thumb on the large arrowhead on the battery compartment cover. Press in and down, toward the bottom of the unit (in the direction indicated by the arrow). The battery cover will snap off. Remove AirMap
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Cigarette Lighter Power Adapter To use external DC power: Plug the power cable's cigarette lighter adapter into a cigarette lighter receptacle. Next, slide the other connec- tor over the power contacts on the bottom of the AirMap case. Attach external power cable to AirMap. MMC or SD Memory Card Installation Your AirMap uses a MultiMedia Card to store information, such as cus- tom maps, waypoints and other GPS data. The unit can also use Secure Digital Cards (SD cards) to store information. NOTE
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3. Hold unit upright in left hand. Use a thumbnail or fingernail to grab the groove in the bottom of the MMC. 4. Drag the MMC from the slot into the battery compartment. 5. Hold AirMap face up and give it a shake to dump the MMC into your hand or onto a work surface. To add an MMC or SD Card 1. Remove battery compartment cover. 2. Remove batteries, if present. 3. Hold unit upside down in left hand. Grasp the bottom corner of the MMC with your other hand. The MMC label should be toward you. 4. Us
