GPS Initialization Process

By REI staff

In This Article

• For Garmin eTrex Series (Grayscale):
• For Garmin eTrex Series (Color):
• For Garmin 60 and 76 Series:

Follow these steps if your new GPS receiver is not picking up signals very well, even with open access to the sky. The most popular models are covered here.

For Garmin eTrex Series (Grayscale):

When you turn on your GPS unit, its boot-up process ends at the Satellite screen. From here, follow these steps:

1. At the Satellite screen, use the click-stick button (just above and to the left of the screen) to highlight the MENU box in the upper-lefthand corner of the screen. NOTE: There are 2 boxes in this corner. The left one is the MENU button; the right one is the PAGE button.
2. With the MENU box highlighted, push in the click-stick. The acts like an ENTER function.
3. A drop-down menu will appear with choices such as "Use with GPS Off," "Track Up," "New Location" and "Show GPS Elevation" (menu items vary by eTrex model). Using the click-stick, toggle down to highlight "New Location," then push in the click-stick.
   1. Select "Automatic" when initializing your GPS unit for the immediate local area and a 300-mile radius around that point.
   2. Select "Use Map" when initializing the unit for a distant location in advance or when you actually arrive at that spot. When this option is chosen, a base map will appear (if your model has this feature). You can then toggle the cursor to whatever location is desired.
4. A smaller menu will appear with 2 choices: "Automatic" or "Use Map."
5. Push in the click-stick to begin initialization.
6. Take your GPS receiver outside and place it screen-up so that it has a clear view of the sky. Leave it this way for 20 minutes. NOTE: If the weather is rainy, it's best to place your receiver inside a resealable plastic bag.
7. The satellite info downloaded by a GPS receiver will remain current for about 3 months, at which time you should repeat this process.

For Garmin eTrex Series (Color):

When you turn on your GPS unit, its boot-up process ends at the Satellite screen. From here, follow these steps:

1. At the Satellite screen, press the MENU button (on the left side of the GPS below the Zoom In/Zoom Out buttons).
2. A drop-down menu will appear with choices such as "Use with GPS Off," "Track Up," "New Location" and "Show GPS Elevation." Using the click-stick, toggle down to highlight "New Location," then push in the click-stick.
   1. Select "Automatic" when initializing your GPS unit for the immediate local area and a 300-mile radius around that point.
   2. Select "Use Map" when initializing the unit for a distant location in advance or when you actually arrive at that spot. When this option is chosen, a base map will appear (if your model has this feature). You can then toggle the cursor to whatever location is desired.
3. A smaller menu will appear with 2 choices: "Automatic" or "Use Map."
4. Push in the click-stick to begin initialization.
5. Take your GPS receiver outside and place it screen-up so that it has a clear view of the sky. Leave it this way for 20 minutes. NOTE: If the weather is rainy, it's best to place your receiver inside a resealable plastic bag.
6. The satellite info downloaded by a GPS receiver will remain current for about 3 months, at which time you should repeat this process.

For Garmin 60 and 76 Series:

When you turn on your GPS unit, its boot-up process ends at the Satellite screen. From here, follow these steps:

1. At the Satellite screen, press the MENU button.
2. A drop-down menu will appear with choices such as "Use with GPS Off," "Track Up," "New Location" and "Show GPS Elevation." Using the center toggle, highlight "New Location" and press the ENTER button.
   1. Select "Automatic" when initializing your GPS unit for the immediate local area and a 300-mile radius around that point.
   2. Select "Use Map" when initializing the unit for a distant location in advance or when you actually arrive at that spot. When this option is chosen, a base map will appear (if your model has this feature). You can then toggle the cursor to whatever location is desired.
3. A smaller menu will appear with 2 choices: "Automatic" or "Use Map."
4. Press the ENTER button to begin initialization.
5. Take your GPS receiver outside and place it screen-up so that it has a clear view of the sky. Leave it this way for 20 minutes. NOTE: If the weather is rainy, it's best to place your receiver inside a resealable plastic bag.
6. The satellite info downloaded by a GPS receiver will remain current for about 3 months, at which time you should repeat this process.

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