Cobra Electronics GPS 500 manual

The user is responsible for operating this product wisely . The product is intended for use only as a navigational aid and should not be used when precise measurement of direction, location, distance or topography is required. GPS (Global Positioning System) is operated by the U.S. government, which is solely responsible for its accuracy and mainte[...]

Congratulations! Y ou’ve made a smart choice by purchasing the GPS 500 Global Positioning System receiver from Cobra ® . Designed to give you access to the most advanced satellite navigation technology available, your GPS 500 offers you these sophisticated features and capabilities: Features: • Cobra ® EXCLUSIVE 18- channel technology gives y[...]

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 T ABLE OF CONTENTS Important Information ........................................................................................................ A1 Product Features ............................................................................................................... A2–A3 Welcome.......................................[...]

GPS GENERAL INFORMA TION 2 GPS Basics The Global Positioning System (GPS) is a space-based radio- navigation system. It consists of 24 satellites, which orbit the earth at an altitude of approximately 11,000 miles, and ground stations. GPS provides users with accurate information on position, velocity and time. This is available anywhere in the wor[...]

GPS GENERAL INFORMA TION Data Field Choices Descriptions Y our Cobra ® GPS 500 has the ability to display various types of information to you. In order to take advantage of the rich information available to you, it is important that you understand the meaning of certain terms. Below is a list of terms that will aid you in using your Cobra ® GPS 5[...]

Installing Batteries   Y our GPS 500 operates on two standard AA batteries (not included). Always use high-quality alkaline batteries. T o install batteries, twist the D-ring connector counterclockwise (anticlockwise) and remove the battery compartment cover . Insert two AA batteries ensuring cor rect polarity alignment. Replace the battery c[...]

1 BASIC OPERA TION 7 Navigating with the GPS 500 Y our GPS 500 receives signals from Global Positioning System satellites that are in fixed orbits (stationary relative to the ground) around the earth. By acquiring – or locking on to – the signals from at least three satellites, your unit can use triangulation to precisely determine your current[...]

2 THE FIVE MAIN P AGES 9 10 2. 1 MAP P AGE Map Page  The Map page displays a graphic representation of the navigation currently in progress. Y ou can choose to display or hide any waypoints; cities/towns; continental U.S. state, Canadian provincial and European country boundaries; points of interest; routes or tracks that you are using. A black [...]

12 2.1 MAP P AGE 2.1 MAP P AGE 11 Using the Map Page Moving Around: Panning Moving Around the Map Image From the Map page, you can zoom in or zoom out on the map image by pressing the ZOOM IN/OUT button. The data field on the map image can be hidden by selecting FULL MAP (see “Set Data Option”, page 10). A section of map outside the current vie[...]

2.1 MAP P AGE 13 14 2.2 GAUGES P AGE Moving Around: Details  Compass  Select Options  Bearing  Pointer Settings Gauges Page  The Gauges page displays a compass that indicates direction of travel. It can show the direction you are currently traveling or the direction from your current position to the next waypoint in your navigation. [...]

2.3 TRIP METER P AGE 2.2 GAUGES P AGE Using the Gauges Page  T rip Meter Info  Option Settings  Reset V alues T rip Meter Page  The T rip Meter page displays infor mation about your current position, the navigation in progress and other available data. It can display up to 5 fields that you can select from a total of 15 choices. Selecti[...]

Nav Data Page  The Nav Data page gives you access to the powerful navigational features of your GPS 500. From this page, you can create and store up to 500 waypoints. For each one, you can choose a name and assign a symbol. Using the navigational features, you can ask the unit to show you the “GoT o” direction of travel to reach a selected w[...]

20 2.4 NA V DA T A P AGE 2.4 NA V DA T A P AGE  Add New W aypoint  Information Screen  Information Screen New Option     Highlight and select NEW to add a new waypoint to the list. Highlight and select MARK CURRENT to save the coordinates for your current location as a waypoint. The default name (a 3-digit number) and symbol (a[...]

2.4 NA V DA T A P AGE 2.4 NA V DA T A P AGE W aypoints: Creating New W aypoints: GoT o 22 “GoT o” a Selected W aypoint T o make the map show the navigational path to a selected waypoint: 1. From the Nav Data page, highlight using the JOYSTICK and select W A YPOINTS b y pressing the ENTER button  . Highlight and select SELECT  . 2. Highlig[...]

2.4 2.4 NA V DA T A P AGE T racks When you select TRACKS from the Nav Data page (see  ), your GPS 500 will display a list of the tracks currently stored. Y our unit will automatically record a track as you travel. Y ou can store up to 10 tracks and later recall any of those tracks to use for navigation. Y our unit can guide you along a selected [...]

26 2.4 NA V DA T A P AGE 2.4 NA V DA T A P AGE Navigate a Selected T rack T o make the map show the navigational path along a selected track: 1. From the Nav Data page, highlight using the JOYSTICK and select TRACKS by pressing the ENTER button  . 2. Highlight and select the track you want to navigate  . A map of the selected track appears wi[...]

28 2.4 NA V DA T A P AGE 2.4 NA V DA T A P AGE 27 Creating a New Route T o create a new route consisting of up to 50 waypoints and/or points of interest: 1. From the Nav Data page, highlight and select ROUTES  . Highlight and select the line of empty spaces at the end of the list of routes  . A blank New Route screen appears with the current [...]

30 2.4 NA V DA T A P AGE 2.4 NA V DA T A P AGE Routes: Editing Editing a Route Inserting a W aypoint/POI into a Route T o add a waypoint or point of interest to an existing route: 1. From the Nav Data page  , highlight and select ROUTES. Highlight and select the route you wish to add a point to  . The selected route ‘ s screen appears  .[...]

32 31 2.4 NA V DA T A P AGE Routes: Navigation Information NA V DA T A P AGE Routes: Navigate  Route List  Points Not Y et Reached  Points Already Reached  Nav Data Page  Current Point 2.4 Viewing Information for a Route Being Navigated By selecting a route which is currently being navigated, you can view information for any of the p[...]

34 2.4 NA V DA T A P AGE NA V DA T A P AGE 33 Cities/T owns: Summar y Cities/T owns: GoT o Cities/T owns When you select CITIES from the Nav Data page, you have access to the coordinates for hundreds of cities/towns worldwide already stored in your GPS 500’ s memory . Y ou can ask the unit to show you the "GoT o" direction of travel to [...]

36 2.4 NA V DA T A P AGE 2.4 NA V DA T A P AGE 35 Points of Interest: Summary Sort Option    Highlight and select SORT to sort the list of POIs according to name, symbol, or nearest POI. Highlight and select NAME to sort the POIs in alphabetical order . Highlight and select SYMBOL to sort the POIs with the symbol you chose listed first. (G[...]

38 2.4 NA V DA T A P AGE 2.4 NA V DA T A P AGE 37 “GoT o” a Selected POI T o make the map show the navigational path to a selected POI: 1. From the Nav Data page  , push the JOYSTICK up or down to highlight POINTS OF INTEREST and press the ENTER button to display the POI screen  . 2. Highlight and select SELECT  . Highlight and select [...]

40 2.4 NA V DA T A P AGE 2.4 NA V DA T A P AGE 39 Routes Option   Highlight and select ROUTES to delete any or all of the routes you have stored. Highlight and select ONE-BY -ONE to delete routes individually (see “Deleting Individual Waypoints, T racks, Routes, or Points of Interest,” page 40). Highlight and select ALL to delete all rout[...]

42 2.4 NA V DA T A P AGE 2.4 NA V DA T A P AGE 41 Editing T ext T o enter or change the information displayed for a waypoint, track or route: 1. From any screen that allows you to enter letters, numbers or symbols (names of waypoints/tracks/routes, dates, etc.), push the JOYSTICK  up or down to move to the field you want to edit and press the EN[...]

44 2.5 SYSTEM P AGE 2.4 NA V DA T A P AGE 43 Search Option T o search any list of waypoints or points of interest for a particular name: 1. From any screen with the SEARCH option, highlight and select SEARCH  . 2. Select (by pressing the ENTER button) the highlighted blank space to enter the first letter of the name you are searching for (see ?[...]

Map Page Defaults Function Default Orient North Up Data Field Speed Details Shown Names (show) Symbols (show) Waypoints (show) Cities/T owns (show) POI (show) T rack (show) Route (show) States (show) Auto Zoom On 2.5 SYSTEM P AGE 2.5 T urning GPS Off and On When indoors, you can turn GPS navigation off, allowing you to use the non-navigational feat[...]

2.5 SYSTEM P AGE 2.5 SYSTEM P AGE Adjusting the Display  System Page  Interface Display Using the Data Interface Y our GPS 500 is designed to let you exchange data with computer mapping programs. With optional software and interface cable (see “Optional Accessories,” page 63) you will be able to: • Upload points of interest from the com[...]

50 2.5 SYSTEM P AGE 2.5 SYSTEM P AGE 49  Language Options  Measurement  Return to System Page Setting Screen Using the Settings Screen From the Settings screen, you can change the various settings listed below . T o change settings: 1. From the System page  , push the JOYSTICK up or down to highlight and select SETTINGS by pressing t[...]

52 2.5 SYSTEM P AGE 2.5 SYSTEM P AGE 51 Using the Advanced Screen From the Advanced screen, you can change the advanced operational parameters used by your GPS 500. T o change advanced parameters: 1. From the System page  , push the JOYSTICK up or down to highlight and select ADV ANCED by pressing the ENTER button. A menu of advanced parameters [...]

3 ALERTS 53 54 3 ALERTS  W ARNING BA TTERIES LOW! This message appears approximately 30 minutes before your batteries need to be replaced. Select OK or the P AGE button to clear the message. Replace the batteries as soon as possible. The message will reappear every 10 minutes until the batteries are replaced.  NOTICE GPS IS OFF! This message [...]

4 GENERAL INFORMA TION 55 4 GENERAL INFORMA TION W orld City Time Zones Longitudinal Zone Offset E172.50 to W172.50 ..............................-12 IDL W (International Date Line West) W172.50 to W157.50 ............................-11 Nome W157.50 to W142.50 ............................-10 Honolulu W142.50 to W127.50 ............................[...]

58 4 GENERAL INFORMA TION What is W AAS? Wide Area Augmentation System (WAAS) is a GPS-based navigation system that provides precision above and beyond what GPS can do on its own. W AAS was designed to improve the accuracy and ensure the integrity of information coming from GPS satellites. W AAS is a network of 25 ground reference stations that cov[...]

60 6 MAINTENANCE & SERVICE Maintenance of Y our GPS 500 Y our GPS 500 is designed and built to give you years of trouble-free performance without the need for ser vice. No routine maintenance is required. If your unit does not appear to be operating properly , please follow these trouble-shooting steps: Make sure you are using fresh batteries a[...]

62 7 INDEX M Magnetic North ................................52 Maintenance .................................60 Map Data Option ...........................10 Map Datum .........................45, 51, 57 Map Defaults ...................................11 Map Detail Option ............................11 Map Display ...............................10-1[...]

64 9 U.S. ORDER FORM Item No. Description Cost Ea. Qty . Amount For credit card orders fill out order form and fax to: 773.622.2269 or call 773.889.3087 (Press 1 from the main menu) 8:00 am - 6:00 pm, Monday -Friday CST . Make check or money order payable to: Cobra Electronics 6500 W est Cortland Street Chicago, IL 60707 USA A TTN: Accessories Dept[...]

The Cobra ® line of quality products includes: CB radios microT ALK ® radios Radar/Laser Detectors GPS Safety Alert ® T raffic Warning Systems Accessories HighGear ® Accessories VHF Marine Radios Power Inverters For more information or to order any of our products, please visit our website: www .cobra.com Nothing comes close to a Cobra ® Print[...]