Lowrance iFinder Explorer Operating Instructions Manual page 13

nates the weakest signals, then computes its location in relation to the
remaining satellites. Once the iFINDER figures its latitude and longi-
tude, it plots that position on the moving map shown on the screen. While
the screen is updated once a second, your iFINDER is making these in-
ternal calculations and determining its position several times a second!
The performance doesn't stop there. Stored in the permanent memory of
each iFINDER is a basic background map of the entire world. We lock it in
at the factory — you can't change or close this map.
Another portion of the iFINDER's onboard memory is devoted to re-
cording GPS navigation information, which includes waypoints, event
marker icons, trails and routes. This lets you look back the way you
came. Think of this data storage like the hard drive memory in a com-
puter or a tape in a cassette tape recorder. You can save several differ-
ent GPS data files, erase 'em and record new ones, over and over and
over again. Like any computer file, these GPS Data Files (file format
*.usr) can be shared between iFINDERs, other Lowrance GPS and so-
nar/GPS combo units and even personal computers.
The iFINDER has one more thing in common with a personal com-
puter. Just as computers have a floppy disk drive for storing and ex-
changing files, the iFINDER has a slot for an MMC (MultiMedia Card)
or SD (Secure Digital) Card flash memory card. These solid-state mem-
ory devices are about the size of a postage stamp, but can hold data
ranging from 8 MB to 1 GB. (Compare that to a floppy disk's 1.44 MB
capacity!) The iFINDER uses all that MMC space for two key purposes.
You can backup your onboard GPS Data Files by copying them to the
MMC. Since the MMC is removable (like a floppy disk or a cassette tape),
you can store these GPS Data Files on a personal computer equipped
with an MMC card reader. (Or store them on a pocketful of MMCs, if you
don't have a computer.) Our MapCreate mapping software can save, edit
and create its own GPS Data Files, which may be copied to the MMC and
then loaded from the MMC into the iFINDER's memory.
NOTE:
No matter where they come from, GPS Data Files must be loaded
from the MMC into memory before the iFINDER can use them.
The other key GPS use for MMCs is storage of special high-detail, cus-
tom maps, which can be produced on a computer with our MapCreate
software. These MapCreate custom maps contain much greater detail
than the basic background map.
Custom Map Files (file format *.lcm) can also be shared between
iFINDERs, other Lowrance GPS or sonar/GPS units and personal com-
puters.
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