25. Using the Garmin Lock Feature

Figure 81: Garmin Lock

The Nuvi 660 includes a feature called Garmin Lock. Using Garmin Lock, you can set a PIN code, and designate a "secure location". A secure location is a saved location on the map where you can unlock the GPS even if you've forgotten the PIN code. Personally this sounds like more of a liability than a help, but if you're into the idea of a password for your GPS, then GPS Lock might be just the ticket. To configure GPS Lock:

• Flip open the antenna
• Tap Settings -> System -> Garmin Lock -> OK
• Enter a four-digit PIN. Tap Yes -> OK

Figure 82: Setting a PIN Code for Garmin Lock

Once a Garmin Lock code has been entered, you must enter the PIN every time the Nuvi is powered on. Be forewarned: if you forget your PIN code AND the saved "Secure Location", you must send the unit back to Garmin to be reset.

26. Configuring System Settings

Figure 83: Configuration Main Page

Tapping on the configuration icon from the main menu brings up the main configuration menu shown above in figure 83. From this screen you can customize many aspects of the nuvi. At any time, you can restore the nuvi to all its original settings by tapping on "Restore" from this page. You can also restore individual settings by tapping on restore on the individual page.

Figure 84: Changing the Map Settings

Tapping on Map from the System Settings page bring up the Map settings page shown above.

Map Detail allows you to configure more or less map detail. More detail will make map redraws take longer. I found this also varied greatly on your location. For example, on a small country road, setting more or less detail made no difference. In downtown Boston, however, setting to maximum detail slowed things down a bit. I ended up leaving this on its default setting.

Map View allows you to change the perspective of the map from 3D to 2D. In 2D mode, you can also set whether you want the map to show North at the top, or "Track Up", which shows your direction at the top.

Map Outlines allows you to view supplemental maps, if you've loaded any onto the nuvi.

Map Info displays the currently installed map software version.

Figure 85: System Settings

WAAS / EGNOS - I was confused when I saw that by default WAAS ships in the Off mode. I did some research, and found out that WAAS stands for Wide Area Augmentation System. Basically WAAS is a system of satellites and ground stations that provide GPS signal corrections, giving you even better position accuracy. How much better? Try an average of up to five times better. A WAAS-capable receiver can give you a position accuracy of better than three meters (10 feet) 95 percent of the time. You don't have to purchase additional receiving equipment or pay any service fees to utilize WAAS.

WAAS consists of approximately 25 ground reference stations positioned across the United States that monitor GPS satellite data. Two master stations, located on either coast, collect data from the reference stations and create a GPS correction message. This correction accounts for GPS satellite orbit and clock drift, plus signal delays caused by the atmosphere and ionosphere. The corrected differential message is then broadcast through one of two geostationary satellites (satellites with a fixed position over the equator). The information is compatible with the basic GPS signal structure, which means any WAAS-enabled GPS receiver can read the signal.