Enter Coordinates in a Garmin GPS
GPS, or global positioning system, is a navigation system that uses satellite technology. A GPS unit receives available satellite data from any of 24 satellites orbiting the Earth. A GPS unit triangulates your location by receiving data from at least three satellites. Garmin has been a leader in GPS technology since 1989. GPS technology can enhance a variety of activities, including hiking, boating and car navigation. GPS units will vary in screen display and resolution and other features such as barometric altimeter. There are several methods of capturing coordinates.
Instructions
1. Select a location free from buildings, hilly topography, or dense tree cover. Any of these scenarios can interfere with data collection by blocking the GPS signals to your GPS unit.
2. Initialize your GPS unit. The first time you use a Garmin GPS or enter coordinates, you must let the unit find your position. Place the GPS unit down and do not move it for about five minutes. Once initialized, the display will show your location. Initializing is only necessary again if you travel over 500 miles from the initial location.
3. Record real-time location data by setting a waypoint. A waypoint is a location that you mark with the GPS unit. Depending upon the Garmin unit, select "Add Waypoint" or press the waypoint button to collect the coordinate data which can be viewed later.
4. Connect your GPS unit to your computer via the USB connection. Install the Garmin Communicator plug-in from the Garmin website. Garmin's Dakota GPS unit supports direct download of coordinate data with installation of the plug-in.
5. Download coordinate data from the Geocaching.com website or other website which offers GPS downloads. Data from Geocaching.com supplies information for geocaching, a high-tech treasure hunt game that uses GPS coordinates to locate geocaches.
6. Determine the correct map datum to use. Map datum is a means to model the surface of the Earth. Modeling is necessary to approximate distance and area data from the 3D surface of the Earth to the 2D display of the GPS units. In the United States, WGS 84 is the accepted datum. This feature can be set in the Set-Up Menu.
7. Set the coordinate system. Several systems of recording location exist. Which system you use depends upon preference. Two common systems are degree, minutes, seconds, and decimal degree and minutes. Many find the latter easier to use and understand because they are real numbers rather than something more abstract as in degrees.
8. Manually enter GPS coordinate data using the Garmin's Waypoint Menu. Enter data in the coordinate system. If this point represents a site you wish to locate, use the Go To feature to navigate to the point.
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