How To Use This Information With A GPS Receiver

The key to using this information is first getting it inside your receiver! This can be done in several different ways. All GPS receivers, even the most basic, will allow you to enter the numbers of a geographical coordinate with the keypad. Since we use a Garmin auto routing hand-held, most of the directions will be based around that. If you have a different brand of GPS receiver, refer to the directions that came with your hand-held, and play with it a bit! It’s not difficult, and no matter what brand of GPSr you have, these directions should help give you the basic idea of what to do.

Entering Data and Navigating

Since we use a Garmin GPSmap 60C the following directions cover that model. They also cover the CS version and the newer Cx and CSx versions, and all the similar variations of the Garmin GPSmap 76C. if you are not using a Garmin unit, be sure to read your owners manual on how to enter this data on your particular unit.

First, be sure that your unit is set for decimal degrees and NAD 83 datum. Go to the main menu page, highlight “Setup” and press “Enter”. Go to the “Units” subheading, press “Enter” and then select “Position Format” (decimal degrees) and “Map Datum” (NAD 83).

Hit the “Page” key until you are back on the map display, and then hit the “Mark” key. This will display the "Mark Waypoint" page. Use the arrow key to highlight the number displayed at the top of the page. Now hit "Enter". This will bring up the character entry page; use the arrow key and the enter key to put in the name of the waypoint from the waypoint column in the database. When you have entered it, use the arrow key to highlight “OK” on the data entry panel and hit enter. Now use the arrow key to move down and highlight the location panel. Hit the enter key again, and use the numerical entry panel to enter the latitude/longitude information from the “Lat./Lon.” column in the database. Highlight "OK" on the numerical entry pad, hit “enter”, then use the arrow key to navigate down to the "OK" tab on the "Mark Waypoint" page. Press the enter key one more time, and you have stored the waypoint in memory.

Now, press the "Find" key. Press "Enter" again, and you will have opened the waypoint page. Navigate through the waypoint page using the arrow key to find the name of the waypoint that you just entered, and press "Enter" again. This will bring up the page for the waypoint. In the bottom right hand corner, the tab marked "Go to" will be highlighted. Press "Enter" again. You will now have a screen that says, "Follow road” and "Off Road". Select “Follow Road” and hit enter. You will now have a screen that says "Faster time " and "Shorter distance".  Select “Faster Time”, and press the enter key one more time. The unit will now plot a route to your destination and give you turn-by-turn directions along the way.

(You must also have the maps for the area that you are traveling in loaded into the unit’s memory; see your receiver’s instructions. This almost certainly involves purchasing mapping software like Garmin”s “City Select” or “City Navigator”, or whatever software works with your brand of receiver. Some units, Garmin’s Streetpilot C330, for instance, do come with the mapping software already installed.)

Navigating Where No Roads Are Shown

In some remote locations, your mapping software may not show all the roads near the river, or the roads shown may not be accurate. If that’s the case, do this-

Hit the “Menu” key, and select “Recalculate Route”. The “Follow Road” / “Off Road” panel will open, select “Off Road” and hit “Enter”. This sets the receiver to navigate to the waypoint by ignoring the roads. Now, switch to the “Compass” page. The display will have a compass rose and a red arrow; the compass rose shows the direction that you are traveling in and the arrow points at the location (waypoint) you are navigating to. Keep in mind that you have to be moving for this information to be accurate, the receiver will not show you the true direction or distance to your destination when you are stopped.

Now, watch the red arrow and the “Distance to Destination” readout on the compass page. As long as the arrow is not pointing behind you and the distance to the destination is still decreasing, you are headed towards your waypoint. Simple!

The RiverRamp Database In Garmin Format

If you have a Garmin GPSr (Highly recommended; they’re the best general use units available---), simply download the database in the Garmin (.gdb) format. Store this in your computer where you can find it and then you can load the whole thing into your Garmin GPSr with the Mapsource program and the USB cable. If you do not have a Garmin unit, this file will not work in your GPSr! You can download a copy of Robert Lipe’s excellent program “GPSBabel” to convert the .gdb files to one that will work with your GPSr. See the “Links” page.