Garmin GPSMAP 8530 Black Box - Manual (Page 18)

NOTE: Not all models support radar.
When you connect your compatible chartplotter to an optional
Garmin marine radar, such as a GMR™ 1206 xHD or a GMR 24
HD, you can view more information about your surroundings.
The GMR transmits a narrow beam of microwave energy as it
rotates to a 360° pattern. When the transmitted energy contacts
a target, some of that energy is reflected back to the radar.
Radar Display Modes
NOTE: Not all modes are available with all radar devices and all
chartplotters.
Select Radar > Menu > Radar Menu > Change Radar, and
select a mode.
Cruising Mode: Shows a full-screen image of the gathered
radar information.
Harbor Mode: Intended for use in inland waters, this mode
works best with short-range signals (2 nm or less).
Offshore Mode: Intended for use in open waters, this mode
works best with long-range signals.
Sentry Mode: Allows you to put the radar into timed-transmit
mode, in which you can configure a radar transmit and
standby cycle to conserve power. You can also enable a
guard zone in this mode, which identifies a safe zone around
your boat. If you switch from Sentry mode to another mode,
the radar switches to full-time transmission and disables all
guard zones.
Radar Overlay Mode: Shows a full-screen image of the
gathered radar information on top of the Navigation chart.
The Radar overlay displays data based on the most recently
used radar mode.
Dual Range Mode: Provides a side-by-side view of both short-
range and long-range radar data.
Changing the Radar Mode
1 From a Radar screen, select Menu > Radar Menu >
Change Radar.
2 Select a radar mode.
Transmitting Radar Signals
NOTE: As a safety feature, the radar enters standby mode after
it warms up. This gives you an opportunity to verify the area
around the radar is clear before beginning radar transmission.
1 With the chartplotter off, connect your radar as described in
the radar installation instructions.
2 Turn on the chartplotter.
The radar warms up and a countdown alerts you when the
radar is ready.
3 Select Radar > Menu > Radar Menu > Change Radar.
4 Select a radar mode.
A countdown message appears while the radar is starting up.
5 Select Menu > Transmit Radar.
Adjusting the Zoom Scale on the Radar
Screen
The radar zoom scale, also called the radar signal range,
represents the distance from your position (the center) to the
outermost ring.
From a Radar screen, select or .
Each ring represents an even division of the zoom scale.
For example, if the zoom scale is set at 3 miles, each ring
represents 1 mile from the center out.
Tips for Selecting a Radar Zoom Scale
The radar zoom scale, or radar signal range, indicates the
length of the pulsed signal transmitted and received by the
radar. As the range increases, the radar transmits longer pulses
in order to reach distant targets. Closer targets, especially rain
and waves, also reflect the longer pulses, which can add noise
to the Radar screen. Viewing information about longer-range
targets can also decrease the amount of space available on the
Radar screen for viewing information about shorter-range
targets.
• Determine what information you need to see on the Radar
screen.
For example, do you need information about nearby weather
conditions or targets and traffic, or are you more concerned
about distant weather conditions?
• Assess the environmental conditions where the radar is
being used.
Especially in inclement weather, longer-range radar signals
can increase the clutter on the Radar screen and make it
more difficult to view information about shorter-range targets.
In rain, shorter-range radar signals can enable you to view
information about nearby objects more effectively, if the rain
clutter setting is configured optimally.
• Select the shortest effective range, given your reason for
using radar and the present environmental conditions.
Marking a Waypoint on the Radar Screen
1 From a Radar screen or the Radar overlay, select a location.
2 Select Create Waypoint.
Sentry Mode
Sentry mode allows you to put the radar into timed-transmit
mode, in which you can configure a radar transmit and standby
cycle to conserve power. You can also enable a guard zone in
this mode, which identifies a safe zone around your boat and
sounds an alarm when a radar object enters the zone. Sentry
mode works with all Garmin GMR model radars.
Enabling Timed Transmit
From the sentry screen, select Menu > Radar Menu >
Sentry Setup > Timed Transmit > On.
Setting the Standby and Transmit Times
Before you can set the standby and transmit times, you must
enable timed transmit ( page 12 ).
To help conserve power, you can indicate the radar standby
time and the transmit time to implement periodic radar signal
transmissions at set intervals.
1 From the sentry screen, select Menu > Radar Menu >
Sentry Setup.
2 Select Stdby Time.
3 Enter the time interval between radar signal transmissions.
4 Select Transmit Time.
5 Enter the duration of each radar signal transmission.
Enabling a Guard Zone
From the sentry screen, select Menu > Radar Menu >
Sentry Setup > Enable Guard Zone.
Defining a Circular Guard Zone
Before you can define the boundaries of the guard zone, you
must enable a guard zone ( page 12 ).
You can define a circular guard zone that completely
encompasses your boat.
1 From the sentry screen, select Menu > Radar Menu >
Sentry Setup > Adjust Guard Zone > Adjust Guard Zone
> Circle.
12 Radar