Bushnell Neo Handheld - GPS Rangefinder Manual

Table of Contents

Contents

1 Introduction
2 Using the Neo Sync Application
3 Playing Golf With Your Device
4 Troubleshooting Problems
5 Documents / Resources
- 5.1 References
- 5.2 Download manual

Introduction

This User Manual was created for you to get the most out of your new device. It only takes a few minutes to read, after which you can immediately begin using the Bushnell Neo and enjoying its many features.

Also, please be sure to set up your iGolf.com membership (using the Neo Sync application as described in this manual). As a member, you have access to all the features and benefits iGolf.com has to offer, including access to an extensive database of GPS enabled golf course files for use on your Bushnell Neo.

Legal Disclaimer

By using this product, you agree that Bushnell Outdoor Products will not be held legally responsible for any injury or damage to you or any person or property caused by the user's improper operation and/or poor judgment while using this product.

Note: See the Warranty statement for other limitations on our liability.

Additional Information

The Global Positioning System (GPS), a network of 32 satellites orbiting Earth, is operated and maintained by the U.S. government. This GPS device requires at least 3 satellites to be acquired to accurately determine your position. Any change made to the system by the government could affect the accuracy and performance of this product.

Package Contents

1 - Bushnell Neo
1 - Belt Clip
1 - USB Cable
1 - AC/DC 5V Adapter
1 - Quick Start Guide

Additional Requirements

PC with Windows 7, Vista, XP or 2000
or Mac with OS X, version 10.4.x or later **

Available USB port

*Required to transfer course data files.
**Windows is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and other countries. Mac and Mac OS are trademarks of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries.

Note: earlier versions of the Neo also included a CD-Rom containing the Sync App and Drivers. This CD is no longer included or necessary, as the latest software for your Neo is now provided as a file download at www.bushnellgolfgps.com as described in this manual.

Battery Information

This product contains an internal rechargeable lithium-ion battery. Under normal operating conditions, a new battery will last 14-16 hours on a full charge. However, battery life is diminished due to a variety of factors including temperature and backlight usage. All rechargeable batteries lose their effective charge length over time.

The internal battery can be charged by connecting the included USB cable to the device and a computer. Alternatively, the battery can be charged by connecting the USB cable to the device and using the included adapter to plug the charger into a standard 110V wall outlet. The battery should be charged for at least six hours before using the Neo for the first time.

Using the Neo Sync Application

Download the Software

Follow these instructions to assist in the proper and complete installation of the Neo Sync software application on your computer. Confirm the Neo is NOT connected with the USB cable to your computer before beginning the installation.

Go to www.bushnellgolfgps.com. Make sure you have the latest version & update of Java for Windows* (link provided-click to download).
Click Download and Install Software and Save the file (zip folder) to your desktop. You will automatically receive the correct file contents for your computer OS.

* Mac Users: use the Software Update feature (in the Apple menu) to ensure you have the most up-to-date version of Java for your Mac.

Install the Software

"Unzip"* the downloaded file and open the folder inside. Double click Bushnell_Neo_Installer.exe to run the Neo Sync App installer.
Click "USB Driver Setup" to install the required driver.
Click "Sync Application" to install the Sync software.

*Free software to decompress zip files is available on the internet if it was not included with your PC or Mac.

About the Sync App

Introduction

The Bushnell Neo Sync application provides the user with all the tools required to let the Neo communicate with your Windows or Mac computer*.
Using this interface, the user can control every aspect of golf course file management.

*Compatible with Windows 7, Vista, XP,2000 and Mac OSX
*Windows is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation.
Mac and Mac OS are trademarks of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries.

Before You Launch the Sync App

Charge the Neo for at least 6 hours using the supplied AC adapter & USB cable (the Neo's battery will also be charged whenever it is connected to a computer, but this will take longer to fully charge it for the first time).
Connect the cable to a USB port on your computer.
Insert other end of the cable into the USB port on the Neo (under the rubber plug on the left side-see photo above).
Hold the Power button for approximately 2 seconds, until the display shows "Bushnell Neo".
A "USB Mode" message will appear on the Neo's display when it is ready to accept data, and the Sync App will indicate "Connected" (at top left).

Downloading Courses

Set Up Your iGolf.com Membership
You are now ready to start the Sync App, and use it to set up your iGolf.com membership so you can download the GPS data and scorecard info for any of the thousands of golf courses in their extensive database. Note that the free "trial" membership option will not allow you to download any course data.

Launch the Bushnell Neo Sync app by clicking the desktop icon, and click the "GPS Download" tab.
Fill in the "Join Now" info to setup an iGolf membership (if already a member, just "Log In").

Next, use the Search features on iGolf.com to find the golf course(s) you are interested in playing, and download the GPS data for it.

Once logged in, enter the name of a course you want to play in the box under "SEARCH FOR GOLF COURSE GPS FILES", and click SEARCH.
Select the desired course from the results list to access the course download page. If your search returns too many results, using the "Advanced Search" feature instead may produce a shorter list.
Click DOWNLOAD GPS & SCORECARD to download the data to your computer.

Sending Courses to Your Neo

The downloaded course data is stored by the Sync App, ready to send to your Neo. All courses you've downloaded will always appear under "My Courses" unless you delete them. The Neo can store about 10 courses at a time in its internal memory. Courses already stored on your Neo may easily be deleted to make room for different or additional courses.

After downloading, the course name will appear in the MY COURSES box in the left column of the Sync App window.
Select and highlight the course(s) you want to load onto the Neo from the MY COURSES box. Multiple courses can be selected for loading by holding down the Ctrl key on your PC as you click on their names.
Click the SEND button to transfer the course(s) to the Neo.
The DELETE button can be used to remove the downloaded data for any courses you do not plan to play again.
The (lower) MY DEVICE box displays the courses that are currently stored on the connected Neo. Click DELETE to remove a course you no longer need. A course can be copied from MY DEVICE back to MY COURSES by simply dragging its name from one box to the other.

Settings

If you find it necessary (normally it is not), the Settings option of the Sync App allows you to specify or change how the device communicates with your computer and where the downloaded course files are stored.

Click Settings in the (upper, smaller) MY DEVICE box
Always leave COM Port set to "AUTO" unless the specific port being used is known (this is a Windows only setting).
The default course file storage location is C:\My Documents\Bushnell\ Neo. If the setting must be changed, be sure to note the new location and save all your future course downloads in the same folder.
Click OK to close the Settings Window after making any desired changes.

You're Ready to Hit the Links!
Once you finish sending the the data for all the courses you need from the computer to your Neo, you may disconnect the USB cable from the Neo and close the Sync App.

Playing Golf With Your Device

Controls and Parts Reference

Button Functions

Power Button

Turns the device on & off
Turns the backlight on & off

SCREEN Button

Switches between screens within Play Golf mode

Up Button

Scrolls up
Changes hole number (+)

Down Button

Scrolls down
Changes hole number (-)

OK/SHOT Button

Selects highlighted option
Activates Shot Distance

ESC/MENU Button

Cancels current operation
Returns to previous step or screen

Power On

Press and hold the power button until "Bushnell Neo" appears (about 2 seconds).

Power Off

Press and hold the power button until the screen goes blank*.

Backlight On/Off

From any screen, press the power button to turn the backlight on.
Press power button again to turn the backlight off.

* Note: the unit will automatically power off after 45 minutes if no buttons are pressed. To override this, change the "Auto Off" option under "Settings" to "OFF".

The Main Menu displays all the pages (screens) available to the user, which are explained in detail in subsequent sections of this User Manual. To begin using the device, scroll to highlight any page and press OK.

Page Descriptions

Play Golf - Select to play golf using GPS data
Map Course - Select to create and customize golf course files
Delete Course - Select to delete files from the device
Satellites - Select to view satellite position and signal strength
Battery Level - Select to verify remaining battery power
Settings - Select to customize additional features
About - Select to display version and company information

Play Golf Mode

In Play Golf mode, the screens display distance information-you will likely spend most of your time using this screen. Course information must be first iGolf.com or manually entered using the Map Course feature. If GPS data is available, distances to the front, center and back of the green and up to four custom points per hole will be displayed upon satellite acquisition. Highlight PLAY GOLF on the Main Menu and press OK. Scroll to highlight the desired golf course and press OK.
Play Golf Mode - Selecting course

Button Functions

Up/Down buttons - Move between holes
SCREEN button - Move between screens
OK/SHOT button - Activate Shot Distance
ESC/MENU button - Go Back (Keep pressing to return to Play Menu

Shot Distance Feature

From any Play Golf screen, press SHOT to activate the Shot Distance feature. Press SHOT again to establish a starting point. The distance will automatically update as you move. Once you reach the end position, press SHOT to freeze the shot distance measurement. Press SHOT again to reactivate the Shot Distance feature and establish a new start position. Press ESC to return to the previous screen at any time.

From any Play Golf screen, press MENU to access the Play Menu. This menu allows you to easily view satellite reception and battery level status, or modify the settings being used for the current course. The Play Menu options are:

Map Golf Hole
Allows the user to map the current hole being played without having to exit the game.

Satellites
Displays various bar lengths to show signal strength for all satellites being tracked.

Battery Level
Displays a horizontal bar representing the power remaining in the battery.

Return to Game
Resumes play from previous hole.

Exit
Returns to Main Menu.

Map Course

This page provides functions which allow you to manually input a course name and map GPS data points. Existing course files may be customized or new files created using the Neo. Highlight MAP COURSE on the Main Menu and press OK. Scroll to highlight the desired new or existing golf course and press OK. You will then be able to select the Map Course Function you want to use:

Note: press ESC to go back to the previous page at any time if needed.

Course Name Function

To revise the course name, highlight COURSE NAME and press OK. Names are limited to fourteen (14) characters and should be different from any of your other golf courses. Using the UP/DOWN buttons, scroll to highlight each character and press OK. To delete characters, scroll to "BKSPC" and press OK. When finished, scroll to highlight "SAVE" and press OK.

Note: Course files may also be renamed using the Neo Sync application.

Map GPS Point Function

To add or revise GPS data, highlight MAP GPS POINT and press OK. Select the desired hole using the UP/DOWN buttons and press OK. Highlight the point (Front, Center, Back) to map and press OK. Stand at the desired location and press OK to register the point. Do not move until the process is complete. Repeat these instructions for all desired points. When finished, scroll to highlight "Save" and press OK. Repeat for all holes, then scroll past the last hole to select Save/Exit and press OK to return to the Main Menu.

To map a custom point, highlight its default name (CSTM 1, etc.) and press OK. You can select a name for it from a list of common ABBREVIATIONS (Creek, Hazard, etc) or give it your own USER DEFINED name. After you have selected or created a name for the custom point, make sure you are standing at the point, and press OK to register it. You can also just accept the default name and go directly to REGISTER POINT.

Save/Exit

After any course name changes and/or custom points have been entered or captured, be sure to scroll to SAVE/EXIT and press OK to save all information. All entered data will be lost if either Map Course function is exited without saving first.

Delete Course

This page allows you to permanently remove a golf course file from the Neo.
Highlight DELETE COURSE on the Main Menu and press OK. Scroll (Up/ Down) to highlight the golf course to delete and press OK. To remove the course from device, confirm by highlighting "YES" and pressing OK. (Note: this only deletes the course from the Neo device. All downloaded course data is still saved on your computer, and may be reloaded onto the Neo later by using the Sync App). Press ESC to return to the Main Menu.

Satellites

This page displays the GPS satellites recognized by the device.
Highlight SATELLITES on the Main Menu and press OK.
Satellites providing location data to the device for use in distance calculation are represented by black horizontal bars and black boxes around the satellite numbers. Typically, at least three satellites providing location data are required before GPS distance can be calculated.
Press ESC to return to the Main Menu.

Battery Level

This page displays the status of the battery in the device.
Highlight BATTERY LEVEL on the Main Menu and press OK.
Battery information is displayed using a horizontal bar representing the amount of power remaining in the battery.
Press ESC to return to the Main Menu.

Settings Page

Settings
This page provides a menu with various settings which allow you to set your Neo user preferences, such as screen contrast, distance units and GPS parameters. Highlight SETTINGS on the Main Menu and press OK. The Settings menu options are:

Screen Contrast
Allows you to adjust the contrast of the screen to aid viewing in various light conditions.

Yard or Meter
Allows you to select yards or meters as the measure of distance.

WAAS
Allows you to select if location correction is used to improve GPS accuracy within the United States. Commonly known as WAAS, this system of satellites and ground stations provides GPS signal corrections for much of the U.S. You may need to adjust the WAAS setting according to geographic location. The default setting on the device is "On".

Stabilizer
Allows you to select the rate at which the Neo refreshes the GPS position. With stabilizer set to "On", the Neo will not refresh GPS distance readings once movement has ceased. This can be useful if you experience fluctuating distance readings, even when you remain stationary. The default setting is "On".

Default Settings
Allows you to reset the Neo to factory default settings. All data, including course files, will be permanently deleted. It is recommended that you save all of the Neo's files to your computer prior to accessing this setting.

Update
For factory use only.

Auto Off
The default "On" setting will shut power off after 45 minutes of inactivity (no buttons pressed) to save battery power. Selecting "Off" will allow the Neo to remain powered on with no time limit, until the Neo is manually turned off.

Troubleshooting Problems

Problem: The backlight does not work.

Turn the Neo off for ten (10) seconds and try again. Re-test in a low-light environment.
From the Main Menu, press and release the power button.

Problem: The Neo will not turn off.

Press and hold power button for at least ten (10) seconds.

Problem: There are no golf course names listed in the Play Golf menu.

No golf course files are loaded on the Neo.
Transfer file again and confirm that the Neo Sync software reads "Completed" before disconnecting the Neo.

Problem: There is no GPS data for the selected golf course.

No golf course files are loaded on the Neo.
Confirm the GPS file was the iGolf.com site. (Note: GPS data is not included in Scorecard (only) file downloads).
Confirm mapped GPS points were saved prior to exiting the Map Course page.
Confirm the Neo has acquired at least 3 satellites (using SATELLITES on the Settings page menu).

Problem: There are no custom points available for my golf course.

No custom points are loaded on the Neo.
Confirm custom points are available on iGolf.com for the golf course in question.
Confirm the GPS file was the iGolf.com site. (Note: GPS data is not included in Scorecard (only) file downloads).
Confirm mapped GPS points were saved prior to exiting the Map Course page.

Problem: GPS points cannot be mapped/registered on device.

Ensure satellite strength is sufficient to obtain accurate data.
Move to a clear, unobstructed view of the sky (i.e. no trees, buildings or objects that might interfere GPS satellite strength).
Time of day may affect GPS signal strength. Try again during different hours of the day.

Problem: Entire golf course name cannot be entered in the space provided.

Limit the golf course name to fourteen (14) characters.
Abbreviate the name so it is different from other golf courses on device.

Problem: There are no satellites in view.

Move to a clear, unobstructed view of the sky (i.e. no trees, buildings or objects that might interfere GPS satellite strength).
The time required to acquire satellites may increase to 5-10 minutes for first use or if the Neo has not been used for an extended period of time.

Problem: The distances the Neo displays seem inaccurate.

Confirm the correct golf course and hole number were selected from the Play Golf screens.
Move to a clear, unobstructed view of the sky (i.e. no trees, buildings or objects that might interfere GPS satellite strength).
Go to the Settings page menu and set WAAS to "Off".
Go to the Settings page menu and set Stabilizer to "On".
Remap GPS points using the Neo and confirm accuracy.
Report any GPS or scorecard errors found to iGolf.com.

Problem: The distances on the Neo are in yards, not meters.

Go to the Settings page menu and set YARD OR METER to "Meters".

Problem: The distance displayed on the Neo is fluctuating.

Go to the Settings page menu and set STABILIZER to "On".
Move to a clear, unobstructed view of the sky (i.e. no trees, buildings or objects that might interfere GPS satellite strength).
Go to the Settings page menu and set WAAS to "Off".

Problem: Sync software does not state "Connected".

Confirm the USB cable is connected to computer.
Confirm the USB cable is connected to the Neo.
Confirm the Neo Sync software was installed correctly. Remove and reinstall the USB driver and Sync application if necessary.
Confirm the correct COM port is selected (check "Settings" in Sync app).

Problem: Golf course files cannot be sent to the Neo.

Confirm USB cable is connected to the Neo.
Confirm sync software was installed correctly. Remove and reinstall the USB driver and Sync application if necessary.
Confirm correct COM port selected.
Confirm status as "Connected" on sync software.
Confirm file to be sent is selected on sync software.

Problem: Golf course files cannot be saved to computer from the Neo.

Confirm the USB cable is connected to the Neo.
Confirm the Neo Sync software was installed correctly. Remove and reinstall the USB driver and Sync application if necessary.
Confirm the correct COM port is selected (check "Settings" in Sync app).
Confirm status as "Connected" on Sync software.

Problem: No golf course files are available to transfer in Sync application.

Check "Settings" in Sync application to view the file save location. The default location is C:\My Documents\Bushnell.
Perform a search for the file using the search feature on your computer.

Problem: Saved golf course files cannot be located on computer.

Check "Settings" in Sync application to view the file save location. The default location is C:\My Documents\Bushnell.
Perform a search for the file using the search feature on your computer.

Problem: No more golf course files can be transferred to the Neo.

Delete unused files from the Neo to make room for new files.
Be sure that files deleted from the Neo are safely saved on your computer before confirming deletion.
Approximately ten (10) courses can be stored on your Neo.