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All rights reserved. Except as expressly provided herein, no part of this manual may be reproduced, copied, transmitted, disseminated, downloaded or stored in any storage medium, for any purpose without the express prior written consent of Garmin. Garmin hereby grants permission to download a single copy of this manual onto a hard drive...
Introduction This manual includes information for the following products: GPSMAP 421/421s GPSMAP 451/451s ® GPSMAP 521/521s GPSMAP 526/526s GPSMAP 551/551s GPSMAP 556/556s Tips and Shortcuts • Press HOME from any screen to return to the Home screen. • Press MENU from any of the main screens to access advanced settings.
Using the Chart/Sonar Screen ... Where To? ...23 Navigating to a Destination ... Creating and Using Waypoints... Creating and Using Routes ... Using Tracks ... Using BlueChart g2 Vision ... Navigating with a Garmin Autopilot ... GPSMAP 400/500 Series Owner’s Manual ...11...
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Viewing Information ...31 Viewing a Compass ... Viewing Numbers ... Viewing Trip Information ... Viewing and Customizing Fuel Gauges and Engine Gauges ... Viewing and Customizing Wind Gauges ... Viewing Tide-station Information ... Viewing Current Information ... Viewing Celestial Information ... Viewing User Data ...
Contact Garmin Product Support if you have any questions while using your unit. In the USA, go to www.garmin.com/support, or contact Garmin USA by phone at (913) 397.8200 or (800) 800.1020. In the UK, contact Garmin (Europe) Ltd. by phone at 0808 2380000. In Europe, go to www.garmin.com/support...
Turning the Unit On or Off To turn on the unit, press and release the Warning screen appears, select i agree to view the Home screen. NOTE: The first time you turn on your unit, you must configure the initial settings. See “Initializing Unit Settings.” To turn off the unit, press and hold the Home Screen Initializing Unit Settings...
Time Zone—set the time zone you want displayed for time readings. If auto is selected for the Time Zone, the DST option is not available and is automatically set to auto. System Units—specify units for on-screen measurements as Statute, Metric, or Nautical, or select Custom to individually define units of measure for depth, temperature, distance, speed, elevation, volume, and pressure.
To switch between Day and Night mode: 1. Press and release the Power key. 2. Select Color Mode. 3. Press left or right on the Rocker to switch between modes. Using the Keypad POwER/baCKLigHT—Press and hold to turn the unit on or off.
. When the unit loses satellite signals, the green bars disappear and the position icon displays a flashing question mark. For more information about GPS, visit the Garmin Web site at www.garmin.com/aboutGPS. Using Simulator Mode Simulator mode turns the GPS receiver off for use indoors or for practice.
Use SD cards to transfer data such as waypoints, routes, and tracks to another compatible Garmin unit or a computer (page 40). The SD card slot is on the lower-right corner of the unit.
Using Charts Your chartplotter has a worldwide basemap or BlueChart g2 cartography for either the USA shoreline or a specific country. • Navigation Chart—displays all relevant navigation data available on your preloaded maps, including buoys, lights, cables, depth soundings, marinas, and tide stations, in an overhead view.
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Your boat Exposed wreck Light Exposed rock Navigation Chart with g2 Vision Navigation Chart Menu To access additional settings or options for the Navigation chart, press MENU. full Screen Map—view the Navigation or Fishing chart in full- screen mode, without numbers. waypoints &...
• Cruising—turn the GPS Speed, GPS Heading, Depth, and GPS Position data bar on or off. Select data bar Setup the data shown on the screen. • Navigation—turn the Distance to Destination, Arrival, Off Course, and Bearing data bar on or off. Select navigation data bar whenever you are navigating to a destination.
Other features common to most charts include depth contour lines (with deep water represented in white), intertidal zones, spot soundings (as depicted on the original paper chart), navigational aids and symbols, and obstructions and cable areas. Navigating to a Point on the Chart 1.
Accessing Additional Object Information Use the map pointer ( ) to view information about on-screen map items, waypoints, and charts. To access additional object information: 1. On the Navigation chart, highlight an item with the map pointer, and press SELECT. Selected item 2.
Roses—displays a compass rose around your boat, indicating compass direction. True wind direction or apparent wind direction displays if the unit is connected to a compatible marine wind sensor. Wind direction indicator Changing the Chart Appearance From the Home screen, select Charts MENU >...
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Heading Line—draws an extension line from the bow of the boat in the direction of travel. • Off—turns the heading line off. • distance—sets the distance to the end of the heading line. • Time—sets the amount of time until you reach the end of the heading line.
Using the Split Navigation Chart Use the Split Navigation chart to view two different zoom levels of the Navigation chart at the same time. Split Navigation Chart (with a BlueChart g2 Vision card) The top half of the screen is zoomed in 10 times closer than the Range (-/+) keys control the zoom bottom half of the screen.
• waypoints—view, sort, or filter existing waypoints, or create new ones. • New waypoint—create and edit a new waypoint. active Tracks—manage tracks • (page • Saved Tracks—view a list of tracks that have been saved. Other Vessels—view information about other vessels. To view information about other vessels, your unit must be connected to an external AIS (Automatic Identification System) or DSC (Digital Selective Calling) device...
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To view details about navaids such as beacons, lights, and obstructions: 1. Use the Rocker to point to the navaid. When the cursor is over the navaid, the navaid is highlighted. 2. Press SELECT to view details about the navaid. Mariner’s Eye 3D Settings To access additional settings or options from the Mariner’s Eye 3D screen, press MENU.
Lane width—adjusts the width of the course line drawn when navigating. This setting also affects routes (Route To), but does not affect automatic guidance (guide To). Using Fish Eye 3D Using the depth contour lines of the BlueChart g2 Vision cartography, Fish Eye 3D provides an underwater view of the sea Range floor or lake bottom.
The Fishing chart uses detailed bathymetric data on a preprogrammed BlueChart g2 Vision SD card, and is best for offshore deep-sea fishing. From the Home screen, select Charts To access additional settings or options from the Fishing chart, press MENU. Navaids—displays navigational aids, such as beacons, lights, and obstructions.
NOTE: When enabled, the high-resolution satellite images are only present at lower zoom levels. If you cannot see the high-resolution images in your BlueChart g2 Vision region, either zoom in further Range (+) key, or set the detail level higher using the Photo Overlay Off Land Only Photo Overlay...
To access aerial photos from the Navigation chart: Use the Rocker to highlight a camera icon with the pointer, and select Aerial Photo or Review. Animated Tide and Current Indicators You can view indicators for animated tide station and current direction on the Navigation chart or the Fishing chart.
Current direction indicators appear as arrows on the chart. The direction of each arrow indicates the direction of the current at a specific location on the chart. The color of the current arrow indicates the range of speed for the current at that location. When you move the cursor over the current direction indicator, the specific current speed at the location appears above the direction indicator.
Using the Chart/Sonar Screen NOTE: The Chart/Sonar screen, like the Sonar screen, is only available when using a sonar capable unit with a transducer attached. Use the Chart/Sonar screen to view the Navigation chart, Fishing chart, Mariner’s Eye 3D, or Fish Eye 3D and sonar at the same time. To view a split chart/sonar screen: 1.
Where To? Use the where To? option on the Home screen to search for, and navigate to, waypoints, routes, tracks, and services such as nearby fuel, repairs, and ramps. NOTE: You must create waypoints and routes before you can navigate to them. You can navigate to a destination using one of three methods: go To, Route To, or guide To.
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3. Select a destination. NOTE: Press the right or left arrow to view additional information or to display the location on a chart. 4. Select Navigate 5. Select Select Guide To when using a preprogrammed BlueChart g2 Vision card to use Automatic Guidance. 6.
Creating and Using Waypoints You can store up to 3,000 waypoints with a user-defined name, symbol, depth, water temperature, and comment for each waypoint. To create a new waypoint: 1. From the Home screen, select Charts MENU > Waypoints & Tracks >...
To view waypoint information on the Navigation chart: 1. From the Navigation chart, use the map pointer ( the waypoint on the Navigation chart and press SELECT. 2. Select an option. Review • Select or the name of the waypoint to view details of objects in the vicinity of the cursor.
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4. Press SELECT. Repeat this step to add additional turns. 5. Press MENU to cancel, to undo the last turn, or to begin navigating the route. To create a route in another location: 1. From the Home screen, select Information Routes >...
To delete a route: 1. From the Home screen, select Information Routes. 2. Select the route to delete. Delete > OK. 3. Select If the route has been saved, you are prompted to “Delete all unused route waypoints?” Unused waypoints are waypoints on the route that are not used by another route.
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To clear the active track: From the Navigation or Perspective 3D chart, select Waypoints & Tracks > Active Tracks The track memory is cleared. The current track continues to be recorded. To retrace the active track: 1. From the Navigation or Perspective 3D chart, select Waypoints &...
Navigating with a Garmin Autopilot When you start any type of navigation (go To, Route To, guide To, or follow Track), if you are connected to a compatible Garmin autopilot, you are prompted to engage the autopilot. GPSMAP 400/500 Series Owner’s Manual (page 49).
Viewing Information Use the Information screen to access information about dashboard gauges, tides, currents, user data, and other vessels. Viewing a Compass From the Home screen, select Information Compass. GPSMAP 400/500 Series Owner’s Manual Viewing Numbers You can view and customize numerical data including depth, GPS information, and navigation information.
3. Select the number of fields to show (3, 4, 5, or 6). 4. Select information to show in each field. Select a field to view additional information that can be shown or select and press the Range (-/+) keys to view additional fields. Viewing Trip Information From the home screen, select Change Page...
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From the Home screen, select Information Engine. Cycling Through Engine Gauge Screens 1. From the Home screen, select Information Engine. 2. Select the left and right arrows on the gauge screen to the next. Customizing Engine Gauge Limits To establish the upper and lower limits of a gauge and the range of desired standard operation, you can configure up to four values for the engine gauge.
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Selecting the Number of Engines Shown in Gauges The engine gauges can show information for up to four engines. 1. From the Home screen, select Information Engine > MENU > Gauge Setup > Engine Selection Engines. 2. Select the number of engines. 3.
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From the Home screen, select Information Engine > MENU > Gauge Setup > Fuel • Use Total Fuel Level—select to display a numeric value for the total fuel level. • Use Fuel Tank Levels > Num. Tanks—select to display a graphical representation of all the specified tanks.
Viewing and Customizing Wind Gauges From the Home screen, select information wind. Wind gauge Compass Selecting True, Apparent, or Ground Wind for the Wind Gauges > dashboard > The chartplotter must be connected to the peripheral devices listed below to capture the data shown on the wind speed graph. Wind Description Speed...
Configuring the Heading Source You can specify the source of the heading displayed on the wind gauge. Magnetic heading is the heading data received from a heading (or magnetic) sensor, and GPS heading data is calculated by your chartplotter GPS. From the Home screen, select information wind...
Viewing Current Information Use the Current Prediction screen to view information for currents. NOTE: You must use a BlueChart g2 Vision card to view Current- station information. 1. Select Information > Tides & Currents 2. Select a current station. Current-station information is shown. Select Change Date >...
2. Check your MapSource version on the computer by clicking Help > About MapSource. If the version is older than 6.12.2, update to the most-current version by clicking Help > Check for Software Updates, or check the Garmin Web site at www.garmin.com. >...
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To transfer data (waypoints, routes, tracks) to an SD card: 1. Insert an SD card into the SD card slot on the front of the unit. 2. From the Home screen, select Information Transfer > Save To Card. 3. Complete one of the following: •...
4. Remove the SD card from the unit, and insert it into an SD card reader attached to a computer. 5. From Windows Explorer, open the Garmin\UserData folder on ® the SD card. 6. Copy the appropriate .ADM file on the card, and paste it to any location on the computer.
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About AIS AIS alerts you to area traffic. When connected to an external AIS device, the chartplotter can show some AIS information about other vessels that are within range, that are equipped with a transponder, and that are actively transmitting AIS information. The information reported for each vessel includes the Maritime Mobile Service Identity (MMSI), the location, the GPS speed, the GPS heading, the time that has elapsed since the last position of the vessel was...
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The location of this symbol indicates the closest point of approach to a dangerous target, and the numbers near the symbol indicate the time to the closest point of approach to that target. Dangerous target is lost. A red X indicates that the AIS transmission from the vessel is lost, and the chartplotter displays a message banner asking whether the vessel should continue to be tracked.
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When course over ground and heading information are provided by an activated AIS target, but rate-of-turn information is not provided, the projected course of the target is calculated based on the course over ground information. Projected course Activated target MMSI Target with Course over Ground and Heading Turning Off AIS Reception AIS signal reception is turned on by default.
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• Proj. Heading—allows you to enter the projected heading time for AIS-activated vessels. • Trails—shows the tracks of AIS vessels. Select the length of the track that appears using a trail. Activating a Target for an AIS Vessel NOTE: Mariner’s Eye 3D charts are available only if you use a BlueChart g2 Vision SD card.
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3. Select MENU > Other Vessels > AIS Alarm A message banner appears and an alarm sounds when an AIS- activated vessel enters the safe-zone ring around your boat. The object is also labeled as dangerous on the screen. The Off setting disables the message banner and the audible alarm, but the object is still labeled as dangerous on the screen.
System information—view system information and reset factory settings. The Save to Card button is provided as a troubleshooting tool. A Garmin Product Support representative may ask you to use this feature to retrieve data about your chartplotter. Setup to set Event Log—displays a list of system events.
Heading—sets the reference used in calculating heading information. • auto Magnetic—automatically sets the magnetic declination for your location. • True—sets true north as the heading reference. • grid—sets grid north as the heading reference (000º). • User Magnetic—allows you to set the magnetic variation value. Position format—change the coordinate style in which a given location reading appears.
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auto guidance—set the automatic guidance parameters: • Safe depth—set the minimum depth (chart depth datum) to allow when calculating an automatic guidance path. A safe depth of less than one meter is not allowed when using automatic guidance. • Safe Height—set the minimum height (chart height datum) of a bridge that your boat can safely travel under.
2 to use when connecting your chartplotter to external NMEA devices, a computer, or other Garmin devices. NMEa 0183 Setup—enable or disable NMEA 0183 output sentences for sounder, route, system, and Garmin NMEA settings. To enable or disable NMEA 0183 output sentences: 1. From the Home screen, select...
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2. Select a setting (Sounder, Route, System, or Garmin). 3. Select the NMEA 0183 output sentence to toggle the output on or off. • Posn. Precision—adjust the number of digits (Two digits, Three digits, or four digits) to the right of the decimal point for transmission of NMEA output.
Setting Alarms You can set the unit to sound an audible alarm when certain conditions are met. By default, all alarms are turned off. To set an alarm: 1. From the Home screen, select Configure 2. Select an alarm category. 3.
GPSMAP 400/500 Series Owner’s Manual NOTE: To receive fuel-level information, your unit must be connected to an external fuel sensor, such as the Garmin GFS 10. Configure > To enable the Total Fuel Onboard alarm and set the fuel alarm level: 1.
If the wheel turns freely, check the cable connections. If you continue to get the message, contact Garmin Product Support. fuel Capacity—enter the total fuel capacity of your boat.
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aiS alarm—create a safe zone around your boat for collision avoidance. The zone can be customized. To customize safe-zone settings: From the Home screen, select Configure Alarm. • Range—change the measured radius of the safe-zone ring to a specified distance from 500 ft. to 2.0 nm (or from 150 m to 3.0 km, or from 500 ft.
Using Sonar When connected to a transducer, the following chartplotters can be used as fishfinders: GPSMAP 421s GPSMAP 451s GPSMAP 521s GPSMAP 526s GPSMAP 551s GPSMAP 556s Understanding the Full Screen Select the Full Screen option to view a full-screen graph of the transducer’s sonar readings.
Understanding the Split Frequency Screen Use the Split Frequency screen (dual-frequency transducer only) to view both the 50 kHz and the 200 kHz frequencies on the same screen. A 50 kHz frequency graph appears on the left. A 200 kHz frequency graph appears on the right.
Understanding the Depth Log Screen The Depth Log screen keeps a graphic log of temperature readings over time. The present depth is shown in the top-left corner. From the Home screen, select Sonar MENU Press to set the duration and the scale for the log. Depth Time elapsed...
Setting Up Sonar Use the Sonar Setup screen to define and adjust settings universal to all sonar screens. Sonar Sonar From the Home screen, select > Scroll Speed—adjust the rate at which the sonar scrolls from right to left (Ultrascroll , fast, Medium, or Slow).
◦ Medium—many strong returns are highlighted in white. ◦ Low—the least-sensitive setting. Only the strongest returns are highlighted in white. Color Scheme—select white or blue. This affects the background on all sonar screens, but does not change the Temp Log screen. Advanced Sonar Settings To adjust advanced sonar settings, press sonar screen.
The chartplotter can track the positions of vessels sending position reports. Quickly set up and send individual routine call details to your Garmin VHF radio. When you initiate a man-overboard distress call from your radio, the chartplotter displays the man- overboard screen and prompts you to navigate to the man-overboard point.
Other Vessels List. Receiving Distress Calls If your Garmin chartplotter and VHF radio are connected via NMEA 0183 or NMEA 2000, your chartplotter alerts you when your VHF radio receives a DSC distress call. If position information was sent with the distress call, that information is also available and recorded with the call.
2. Select from the following options: • Select Call with Radio with the radio to call the vessel that sent the position report. This option is only available if you are using a Garmin NMEA 2000-compatible VHF radio. • Select Edit to edit the vessel name and the vessel symbol, and to add a comment.
> > Placing an Individual Routine Call When you connect your Garmin chartplotter to a Garmin VHF NMEA 2000-compatible radio, you can use the chartplotter interface Hours, all to set up an individual routine call. When setting up an individual routine call from your chartplotter, you can select one of the following channels on which you want to communicate.
5. On your Garmin VHF radio, select Call. Calling an AIS Target When you connect your Garmin chartplotter to a Garmin VHF NMEA 2000-compatible radio, you can use the chartplotter interface to set up an individual routine call to an AIS target. For more...
Appendix Specifications Physical Specifications Size : 400 Series: W × H × D: 5.7 in. × 5.0 in. × 3.0 in. (14.5 cm × 12.7 cm × 7.6 cm) 500 Series: W × H × D: 5.9 in. × 6.4 in. × 2.9 in. (15.0 cm ×...
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acquisition Times: (Average acquisition times for a stationary receiver with a clear view of the sky) GPSMAP 421/421s GPSMAP 451/451s GPSMAP 521/521s GPSMAP 551/551s Warm*: Approximately 1 second Cold**: Approximately 38 seconds GPSMAP 526/526s GPSMAP 556/556s Warm*: Approximately 15 seconds Cold**: Approximately 45 seconds *warm: your unit is at or near the last location where you recently acquired satellites.
MENU Can’t Read User Card—error reading card; remove and reinsert. Contact your dealer or Garmin Product Support if the problem persists. Can’t Read Voltages That High, Limited To Top Of Range—the voltage value in the Battery Alarm setup is higher than the unit can read.
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Position Report Received from—shows the MMSI or name associated with an MMSI. database Error—internal problem with the unit. Contact your dealer or Garmin Product Support to have the unit serviced. deep water alarm—the Deep Water Alarm depth has been reached.
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Sonar Timeout—there is an internal problem with the unit. Contact your dealer or Garmin Product Support to have the unit serviced. Sonar Service Lost—the external sonar device you were connected to has either been disconnected or the unit has lost communication with the sonar device for some other reason.
To copy the screenshots to your computer: 1. Remove the SD card from the chartplotter and insert it into an SD card reader that is attached to a computer. 2. From Windows Explorer, open the Garmin\scrn folder on the SD card. GPSMAP 400/500 Series Owner’s Manual 3.
CONDITIONS OF THE FOLLOWING SOFTWARE LICENSE AGREEMENT. PLEASE READ THIS AGREEMENT CAREFULLY. Garmin grants you a limited license to use the software embedded in this device (the “Software”) in binary executable form in the normal operation of the product. Title, ownership rights, and intellectual property rights in and to the Software remain in Garmin.
Clear User Data collision alarm colors, hazard Color Scheme Communications Compass compass rose 30–34 Compass Tape contact information, Garmin coordinates, grid creating waypoints using course up current stations customizing chart settings Dashboard data transfer Data Bars fish eye 3D chart...
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ID number Fuel Capacity fuel gauge full screen, sonar keel offset fuse keypad gain Label Devices Garmin Data Transfer Lane Width go to Language 4, 47, 67 Light Sectors GPS heading Grid (North) magnetic heading Man Overboard Manual Zoom...
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screenshots scroll speed quick links SD cards inserting radio removing Range (sonar) SELECT key Range keys Serial Port setup Range Rings 15, 16 Service Points registering your product settings restoring factory settings alarms Rocker key chart Roses communications routes fish eye 3D creating initializing deleting...
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viewing currents other boats tide stations user data WAAS water temperature Waypoint IDs waypoints creating deleting 25, 26 depth edit existing 15, 25 mark current location moving viewing Where To Whiteline wind gauge close hauled 36, 37 zoom manual split GPSMAP 400/500 Series Owner’s Manual...