Overview: How to use a GPS Working with the Garmin Venture HC Prepared by: John McGee Jennifer McKee With support from: NSF DUE-0903270 in partnership with: Geospatial Technician Education Through Virginia’s Community Colleges (GTEVCC)

Activities Using a GPS Capturing a Waypoint Saving a track Estimating area Navigating to a Waypoint Inputting Coordinate Location by Hand

Using a GPS Satellite page Map page Compass page Main menu Mark waypoint

Using a GPS Hold the receiver in front of you, facing sky Be careful not to place thumb over top area of GPS unit (block antennae reception)

Capturing a Waypoint To capture a waypoint press & hold the Rocker key straight down To accept the waypoint select OK or To change the name of the waypoint, highlight the name field* & press Enter to open the on-screen keypad, select OK twice when done *

Saving a Track Using the Page key, find the Main Menu page Select the Tracks icon & push enter Save the entire track...or Select the beginning & ending points for the track 4. Select OK

Estimating Area Using the Page key, find the Main Menu page Highlight the Setup icon & push Enter Highlight “Page Seq. “& push Enter Highlight <Add Page> & push Enter Highlight “Area Calculation” Add Calculate Area page

Estimating Area Continued Select Start on the Calculate Area page Walk the area to be measured Select Stop on the Calculate Area page Area will be displayed, Units of measurement can be altered To save the track, select Save

Navigate to a Waypoint Using the Page key, find the Main Menu page Highlight Find icon & push Enter Highlight Waypoints & push Enter Highlight a waypoint & push Enter Highlight “Go To” at the bottom right of the page The compass page will open showing the compass direction & distance to your waypoint

Inputting Coordinate Location by Hand To input an X,Y coordinate press & hold the Rocker key straight down Instead of accepting the waypoint you will CHANGE the X,Y coordinate to your desired location To change the XY info., highlight the Location field* & press Enter to open the on-screen keypad Input the location using the keypad When done, highlight OK & press Enter * 1 2 3 - 4 5 6 + 7 8 9 OK

Any Questions? John McGee Geospatial Extension Specialist jmcg@vt.edu 540-231-2428 Jennifer McKee Geospatial Project Developer jmckee@vt.edu 540-231-9115