Garmin GPS 12

[Carl]

Is it just me, or is the GPS 12 a bit difficult to figure out. I'm new to using a GPS and thought this would be a good entry point for me but the owners manula is to obtuse for me to understand. Can anyone help me?Thanks!Carl

 

[Mike I]

GPS

West Marine and Boat/US have instructional videos for the Garmin 12 and others. Check the same section of the catalog as the GPS units.

 

[david lewis]

garmin GPS

I have a garmin 45 and it took a little while to figure out how to type in waypoint names and set it all up but after using it for a while it is great. I also use a handheld loran as a backup navigation system (sportnav) and it was easier to use but I had trouble losing signals at times and have never had that problem yet with the garmin. The two units in tandem provide a safety net if either fails and a cross check for accuracy. Loran is supposed to stay in business until 2006? I think. I have seen these units at marine consignment shops for like 50 bucks. The garmin comes with two user manuals, one is a complete manual and the other is a quick reference. Just use the quick reference to get used to it and then study the manual. Go out in your backyard and walk around with it. I assume you already initialized the unit for your location...when first started they need to know where they are in the world approximately. One of the problems is they tried to minimize the number of buttons so they are multi purpose. My loran had a lot more buttons wich made it easier to understand but it is about 3 times the size and weight.Now heres a good idea for you....if you have a beverage holder mounted on your grab rail in front of your pedestal steering or a beverage can holder anywhere in the cockpit. Get an end cap for a PVC pipe that is a hair smaller than the drink holder hole. Take the garmin holding bracket and screw it to the top of the end cap. Now take some rigging tape and just put enough around the PVC cap to fit very snug in the drink holder. Now you can have your small garmin mounted at your steering station while sailing. If you also mount a cup holder at your nav. station inside the boat you can just pull the pvc end cap out of the drink holder in the cockpit and move it to your nav. station. I have used this set up for several years after my micrologic loran bit the dust at my nav. station and I am very pleased with it. I also found my GPS gets a great signal inside the boat and I haven't had to buy the "$100.00+" outside GPS antenna. Having the GPS in the cockpit gives you great nav data like crosstrack error, VMG, distance to go, estimated time of arrival, course direction (make sure you know your variation and deviation) and speed,as well as waypoint tracking and reverse course and on and on.

 

[Rob Rich]

Garmin

Carl, David nailed it when he described the only problem with the Garmin 12 - and that is that entering data is a little tough becuase you only have a few buttons to work with. I have a Garmin 12 as well, and I would not trade it for the world (well, maybe the nice GPS III with the highway maps in it). Anyway, I started learning it a function at a time. You never realize how cool it is until you start entering a bunch of waypoints into it - only then does it really become useful. I take mine with me in my truck when I go to work. Some days I'll travel a couple hundered miles. Today I went from Austin to San Antonio and back, and marked key locations on Interstate 35. I do this primarily for fun, but it's great practice for the water, too. Just remember to keep an eye on the road!Keep playing with it - if you really don't like it, the next model up, I think it's the 48, has some built in maritime navaids and has a better database of waypoints to work with. Let me know if you have any questions - robrich@austin.rr.comBest of Luck -Rob

 

[Rick Webb]

I This Useful

I put a neckstrap on my Garmin GPS 12 and found it much easier to use when I do not have to worry about it sliping and falling overboard