GDL 30A ™ owner’s manual
© 2008 Garmin Ltd. or its subsidiaries Garmin International, Inc. 1200 East 151st Street, Olathe, Kansas 66062, USA Tel. (913) 397.8200 or (800) 800.1020 Fax (913) 397.8282 Garmin (Europe) Ltd. Liberty House Hounsdown Business Park, Southampton, Hampshire, SO40 9RB UK Tel. +44 (0) 870.8501241 (outside the UK) 0808 2380000 (within the UK) Fax +44 (0) 870.8501251 Garmin Corporation No. 68, Jangshu 2nd Road, Shijr, Taipei County, Taiwan Tel. 886/2.2642.9199 Fax 886/2.2642.9099 All rights reserved.
Introduction Introduction The GDL™ 30A Marine Weather/Audio Satellite Receiver provides graphical and textual marine XM WX Weather™ information to your Garmin® Marine Network chartplotters as well as XM music, news, and talk programming. Operation of the GDL 30A requires a subscription to either the XM WX Satellite Weather service, the XM Radio service, or both. This manual covers the XM weather and audio features of the GDL 30A when viewed on a GPSMAP® 3000 Series Garmin Marine Network chartplotter.
Introduction Introduction...........................................................................1 Product Registration................................................................... 1 Contact Garmin.......................................................................... 1 Contact XM................................................................................. 1 Important Numbers..................................................................... 1 Unit Overview..............................
Unit Overview Unit Overview Power/Data Connector Packing List and Accessories Before installing your unit, please check to see that your package includes the following items. If any parts are missing, contact your Garmin dealer immediately. LED Status Indicator Weather Cap Network Port Standard Package Mounting Holes Antenna Connector Audio Connector • GDL 30A unit • 7-pin power cable • Garmin Marine Network cable (6 ft.
Unit Overview Installing and Activating the GDL 30A Step 1: Install the unit Use the GDL 30A Installation Instructions to complete the appropriate wiring connections. Step 2: Set up the XM account Ensure that your XM Weather ID and your XM Radio ID are readily available. Contact XM Satellite Radio by phone at (800) 9859200. After receiving the required information from you, the XM representative activates the account and sends out an XM signal to activate the GDL 30A.
Using XM WX Weather Using XM WX Weather This manual describes the use of XM WX Weather and XM Audio functions on a GPSMAP 3000 Series chartplotter. If you have a GPSMAP 4000 Series or a GPSMAP 5000 Series chartplotter, please use your chartplotter Owner's Manual for instructions on using XM WX Weather and XM Audio. WARNING: The XM Weather Radio data is merely supplemental and advisory in nature and is not intended to be relied up on as safety-critical information.
Using XM WX Weather Customizing the Preset Weather Displays You can customize the weather displays. Each preset has three subcategories: Precipitation, Atmosphere, and Sea Surface. Each category contains display settings for that topic. You can also change the name of the presets and customize any of the weather features. For detailed information on customizing the preset weather displays, please see the chartplotter Owner’s Manual.
XM WX Weather Features XM WX Weather Features Following is a brief description of each weather feature. The weather features are divided into three subcategories: Precipitation, Atmosphere, and Sea State. Precipitation The Precipitation category provides NEXRAD/Cloud Top, Storm Cell, Lightning, and Hurricane data. Each feature can be turned on or off, or set to display at a selected zoom range. NEXRAD NEXRAD NEXRAD is an acronym for NEXt Generation Weather RADar.
XM WX Weather Features Cloud Tops Cloud Tops are shown in shades of gray. Cloud Tops can be displayed independently or with NEXRAD information.
XM WX Weather Features Storm Cells The Storm Cells feature displays storm cells and the projected path of storms in the immediate future. The direction the red cone is pointing (from the narrow end to the wide end) indicates the projected path of the storm cell. The red bars that span the cone indicate the projected area of the storm. Each bar represents 15 minutes. The storm icon indicates the current location of the storm cell.
XM WX Weather Features Lightning Lightning strikes are represented by lightning-bolt icons, as shown in the images below. Lightning strikes appear on the map if they have been detected within the last seven minutes. The ground-based detection network only detects cloud-to-ground lightning.
XM WX Weather Features Hurricanes The Hurricanes feature shows the current position of a hurricane, tropical storm, or tropical depression, as well as its projected path (indicated by a red line). The darkened squares that appear along the red line indicate the projected locations received from the National Hurricane Center. The Center provides four forecasts at 12-hour intervals and a fifth forecast at a 24-hour interval.
XM WX Weather Features Atmosphere The Atmosphere category provides Wind, Pressure, Visibility, Front, and City Condition data. Each feature can be turned on or off, or set to appear at a selected zoom range. Wind The Wind feature displays wind speed and wind direction. Wind direction is indicated by a circle with a wind barb. The circle points in the direction of the wind with the barb as a tail. Wind speed is indicated by different flags attached to the barb.
XM WX Weather Features Pressure The pressure feature displays pressure isobars and pressure centers on the map. The isobars connect points of equal pressure. Pressure readings can help determine weather and wind conditions in an area. High-pressure areas are generally associated with fair weather. Low-pressure areas are generally associated with clouds and the chance of precipitation. Isobars that are packed closely together show a strong pressure gradient.
XM WX Weather Features Visibility Visibility is the maximum horizontal distance that can be seen. Isobars on the Visibility feature show a change in visibility. Distance can be displayed in nautical miles (nm), miles (mi.), or kilometers (km). See the chartplotter’s Owner’s Manual for more information on configuring units of measure. In the example below, visibility ranges from 0.5 nautical miles to 3 nautical miles. This image shows NEXRAD, Cloud Tops, and Visibility.
XM WX Weather Features Fronts The Fronts feature displays the lines indicating the leading edge of an air mass that is replacing an existing air mass. This feature also displays pressure centers. Pressure centers are represented by a large red “L” for low-pressure centers or a large blue “H” for high-pressure centers. Pressure centers represent an area where pressure is measured to be either the highest or the lowest pressure relative to the surrounding area.
XM WX Weather Features City Conditions This feature displays the current weather conditions at selected cities throughout North America. The current weather condition for an area is depicted by an icon.
XM WX Weather Features Sea Surface The Sea Surface category contains Temperature, Wave Height, Wave Period, and Wave Direction. Each feature can be turned on or off, or set to display at a selected zoom range. For more information on configuring units of measure for Temperature and Wave Height, see the chartplotter Owner’s Manual. Temperature The Temperature feature displays the water surface temperature. The temperature breaks are indicated by isobars.
XM WX Weather Features Wave Period The Wave Period feature provides the time (in seconds) between successive waves. Wave Direction The Wave Direction feature shows the direction in which waves are moving, as indicated by the direction of the red arrows.
Main Menu Main Menu The Main Menu allows you to customize the weather data that appears on your GPSMAP 3000 Series chartplotter. For information on configuring weather on a GPSMAP 4000 Series or a GPSMAP 5000 Series chartplotter, consult your GPSMAP 4000 Series or GPSMAP 5000 Series chartplotter Owner’s Manual.
Main Menu Forecast The Forecast sub tab includes two panels that display forecast information for the location selected in the Current sub tab. The top panel displays the high/low temperature, chance of precipitation, and weather condition (cloudy, sunny, thunderstorms). The number of days that appear in this panel depend on the data available from the responding weather service center. If more than four days of forecasts are provided, use the ROCKER to move down the list.
Main Menu Sea Surface The Sea Surface sub tab provides weather data of specific importance to mariners. This data comes from a variety of data sources that are nearest to your current or selected location. If a condition field is empty, data for that condition is not currently available.
Main Menu Forecast Map The Forecast Map sub tab displays Fronts, High-Pressure and Low-Pressure Centers, and City Conditions. The map zoom range can be changed using the Range keys. The three buttons at the top of the map are used to control the display of the forecast conditions for the next 48 hours.
Main Menu Setup The Setup sub tab provides access to the three preset weather displays: General, Sea State, and Storms. The preset weather displays can be customized from this tab. The Setup tab contains a map that displays any changes that are made. Legends for all weather conditions are also shown. For detailed information on customizing the preset weather displays, see the chartplotter Owner’s Manual.
Main Menu XM Tab To display the XM tab, press and hold the ADJ/MENU key to display the Menu Menu. Using the ROCKER, scroll through the tabs and highlight the XM tab. The XM tab contains two sub tabs, Audio and Information. The Audio sub tab is used to tune and customize the XM Radio feature. The Information sub tab contains the Radio ID numbers and information about the XM service being received. Audio The Audio sub tab provides access to the XM Radio feature.
Main Menu Information The Information sub tab contains the Weather Radio ID and Audio Radio ID numbers that are needed to subscribe to XM Service. Your XM Weather Service Level and a list of Weather Products that are being received appear here as well. These weather products determine and display the weather information on the chartplotter. The Radio ID numbers are required when setting up the XM service. Copy these numbers and have them available before contacting XM.
Appendix Appendix Weather-Related Broadcast Rates Blink Codes The GDL 30A powers on and off with the Garmin Marine Network. The two-color (Green/Red) Status LED on the GDL 30A indicates the operational status of the module. The codes represent: Green blinking, on for 1 second, off for 1/2 second (slow blink) Status: GDL 30A is on and is receiving an XM signal. Red blinking, on for 1/10 second, off for 1/10 second (very fast blink) Status: System alarm.
Appendix GDL 30A Specifications Physical Size: 43/4 in. W × 2.00 in. H × 63/4 in. D (121 mm × 51 mm × 172 mm) Weight: 1.5 lb. (0.68 kg) Case: Fully gasketed, high-impact plastic and aluminum alloy, waterproof to IEC 60529 IPX7 Temp Range: From 5°F to 158°F (From -15°C to 70°C) Power Source: Usage: Fuse: 10–35 Vdc 18 W max AGC/3AG - 2.
Appendix Weather and Sea Surface Information The GDL 30A receives XM Weather Radio data and shows it on your chartplotter. The weather data for each feature comes from reputable weather data centers such as the National Weather Service and the Hydrometerological Prediction Center. (See the XM WX Satellite Weather Web site at http://weather.xmradio.com/weather for more information.) Any weather feature can change in appearance or interpretation if the source that provides the information changes.
Appendix accidents resulting from or associated with use of the Services. Your Radio Service includes traffic and weather information, and you acknowledge that such information is not for “safety for life”, but is merely supplemental and advisory in nature, and therefore cannot be relied upon as safety-critical in connection with any aircraft, sea craft or automobile usage.
Appendix prepared or disseminated by either the former Defense Mapping Agency (DMA), National Imagery and Mapping Agency (NIMA), or the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA). b.
Index Index A atmosphere 12 audio 24 audio radio ID number 25 B broadcast rates (weather-related) 26 C check antenna 24 city conditions 16 cloud tops 8 contact XM satellite radio 4 current submenu tab 22 current weather 19 current weather conditions 16 F forecast map 22 forecast submenu tab 20 fronts (weather) 15 H high-pressure center 15 hurricanes 11 I isobars 13, 14, 17 GDL 30A Owner’s Manual L LED blink codes 26 legend 23 lightning 10 low-pressure center 15 N NEXRAD 7 P precipitation 7
For the latest free software updates (excluding map data) throughout the life of your Garmin products, visit the Garmin Web site at www.garmin.com. © 2008 Garmin Ltd. or its subsidiaries Garmin International, Inc. 1200 East 151st Street, Olathe, Kansas 66062, USA Garmin (Europe) Ltd. Liberty House, Hounsdown Business Park, Southampton, Hampshire, SO40 9RB UK Garmin Corporation No. 68, Jangshu 2nd Road, Shijr, Taipei County, Taiwan www.garmin.com Part Number 190-00930-00 Rev.
