How Lowrance GPS and the GPS System Work

You'll navigate a little easier if you understand the basics of how the iWAY 350 scans the sky to tell you where you are and where you're going. (If you already understand GPS receivers and the GPS system, skip on ahead to Section 1, Installation & Accessories on page 3.)

First, think of your unit as a small, highly automated computer. The iWAY 350 includes a touch powerful screen with several menus so you can tell it what to do. The screen also lets the unit show your location on a moving map, as well as point the way to your destination. A speaker lets you hear verbal turn-by-turn driving instructions, as well as MP3 music files.

An internal antenna tunes in to a couple of dozen GPS and WAAS sat- ellites circling the earth. Your unit listens to signals from as many sat- ellites as it can "see" above the horizon, then computes its location in relation to those satellites. The iWAY 350 plots that position on the moving map shown on the screen.

A hard drive contains highly detailed road and highway mapping data for Hawaii, the 48 contiguous United States and most of Canada. You can’t change or erase the map. Another partition of the hard drive is available for you to store MP3 music files. The iWAY's memory also records GPS data you create, such as address book contacts.

GPS stands for Global Positioning System, a navigational system that can accurately locate your position anywhere on the Earth. This tech- nology is available to everyone, everywhere, 24 hours a day, in all weather conditions. GPS uses 24 satellites orbiting 10,900 miles above the Earth to transmit position data back to Earth. A GPS receiver pro- cesses that data to tell you where you are.

For the system to work, the unit must have a clear view of the satellites in order to receive their signals. Unlike radio or television signals, GPS works at very high frequencies. These signals can be easily blocked by trees, buildings, an automobile roof, even your body.

If you would like to know more about GPS and its companion system WAAS, visit our web site and check out the GPS Product Guide section (www.lowrance.com/Support/gps.asp). It includes a GPS tutorial, fre- quently asked questions and a glossary.

NOTE:

The iWAY is controlled using a pressure-sensitive touch screen. In this manual, the touch screen "keystrokes" appear as boldface type. So, if you're in a real hurry when you're looking up instructions (or if you just need a reminder), you can skim the instructions and pick out what menu command to use by finding the boldface command text.