GPSMAP® 176/176C
chartplotting receiver
owner’s manual
© Copyright 2002-2005 Garmin Ltd. or its subsidiaries
Garmin International, Inc. 
1200 East 151st Street,  
Olathe, Kansas 66062, U.S.A. 
Tel. 913/397.8200 or 800/800.1020 
Fax 913/397.8282
Garmin (Europe) Ltd. 
Unit 5, The Quadrangle,  
Abbey Park Industrial Estate,  
Romsey, SO51 9DL, U.K. 
Tel. 44/0870.8501241 
Fax 44/0870.8501251
Garmin Corporation  
No. 68, Jangshu 2nd Road, Shijr,  
Taipei County, Taiwan 
Tel. 886/2.2642.9199 
Fax 886/2.2642.9099
All rights reserved. Except as expressly provided herein, no part of this manual may be reproduced, copied, transmitted, disseminated, downloaded or stored in any 
storage medium, for any purpose without the express prior written consent of Garmin. Garmin hereby grants permission to download a single copy of this manual onto 
a hard drive or other electronic storage medium to be viewed and to print one copy of this manual or of any revision hereto, provided that such electronic or printed 
copy of this manual must contain the complete text of this copyright notice and provided further that any unauthorized commercial distribution of this manual or any 
revision hereto is strictly prohibited.
Information in this document is subject to change without notice. Garmin reserves the right to change or improve its products and to make changes in the content 
without obligation to notify any person or organization of such changes or improvements. Visit the Garmin Web site (www.garmin.com) for current updates and 
supplemental information concerning the use and operation of this and other Garmin products.
Garmin®, GPSMAP®, AutoLocate®, TracBack®, BlueChart®, and MapSource® are registered trademarks of Garmin Ltd. or its subsidiaries and may not be used without 
the express permission of Garmin.
January 2005 
Part Number 190-00185-10 Rev. C 
Printed in Taiwan
INTRODUCTION > ABOUT THIS MANUAL 
The Main Pages chapter provides detailed explanations about each 
page in the GPSMAP 176/176C and step-by-step directions on using 
the pages. The Main Menu chapter provides detailed explanations 
about the Main Menu and how to use it to configure your unit. 
The Appendix contains information such as specifications, optional 
accessories, and maintenance information. You can also find warranty 
and FCC information in the Appendix. Read the Safety Information 
to learn how to install and use your Garmin GPSMAP 176/176C 
safely and responsibly. An Index is provided at the end of the 
manual for reference. Simply look up the topic you wish to learn 
about and read the page or pages listed. 
INTRODUCTION
Thank you for choosing the Garmin® GPSMAP® 176/176C. The 
GPSMAP 176/176C utilizes the proven performance of Garmin GPS 
and full-featured mapping to create an unsurpassed portable GPS 
receiver. Please take a moment now to compare the contents of this 
package with the packing list on the outside of the box. If any pieces 
are missing, contact your Garmin dealer immediately.
About This Manual
To get the most out of your new navigation system, take time to read 
this manual and learn the operating procedures for your unit in detail. 
This manual is organized into the following chapters. 
The Introduction chapter contains the Table of Contents as well as 
GPSMAP 176/176C care information. 
The Getting Started chapter provides information such as an overview 
of unit features to help you get acquainted with your new GPSMAP 
176/176C. 
The Basic Operation chapter provides you with information about 
features such as using the Find Menu, navigating a route, and using 
waypoints. There are also step-by-step directions to assist you in 
these operations. 
GPSMAP 176/176C Owner’s Manual 
i
Immersing the Unit in Water
The GPSMAP 176/176C is waterproof to IEC Standard 60529 
IPX7. It can withstand immersion in 1 meter of water for 30 
minutes. Prolonged submersion can cause damage to the unit. After 
submersion, be certain to wipe and air dry the unit before reuse.
To resolve problems that cannot be remedied using this guide, contact 
Garmin Product Support in the U.S. at 800/800.1020 or Garmin 
Europe at 44/0870.8501241.
INTRODUCTION > CARE INFORMATION
Care Information
Cleaning the Unit
The GPSMAP 176/176C is constructed of high quality materials and 
does not require user maintenance other than cleaning. Clean the unit 
using a cloth dampened with a mild detergent solution and then wipe 
dry. Avoid chemical cleaners and solvents that may damage plastic 
components. 
  WARNING: The GPSMAP 176/176C lens is coated with a special 
anti-reflective coating which is very sensitive to skin oils, waxes, 
and abrasive cleaners. CLEANERS CONTAINING AMMONIA 
HARM THE ANTI-REFLECTIVE COATING. It is very important 
to clean the lens using an eyeglass lens cleaner that is specified as 
safe for anti-reflective coatings and a clean, lint-free cloth.
Storing the GPSMAP 176/176C
Do not store the GPSMAP 176/176C where prolonged exposure to 
temperature extremes may occur (such as in the trunk of a car) as 
permanent damage may result. User information, such as waypoints 
and routes are retained in the unit’s memory without the need for 
external power. It is always a good practice to back up important user 
data by manually recording it or downloading it to a PC (transferring 
it to MapSource). 
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GPSMAP 176/176C Owner’s Manual
Table of Contents
Introduction ...........................................................................i
About This Manual ................................................................... i
Care Information ...................................................................... ii
Getting Started .....................................................................3
Unit Basics ............................................................................... 3
Interface Keys .......................................................................... 6
Basic Operation ...................................................................7
Initializing the GPS Receiver .................................................. 7
Using the Map Pointer ............................................................ 9
Selecting Map Zoom Ranges ............................................... 11
Creating and Using Waypoints ............................................ 12
Marking Your Present Location ....................................................12
Creating Waypoints Graphically ...................................................13
Entering Coordinates ....................................................................14
Projecting Waypoints ....................................................................15
Waypoint Menu Options ...............................................................16
Reviewing and Editing Waypoints ...............................................17
Waypoint Lists ..............................................................................19
User Waypoint List .................................................................20
User Waypoints List Options ..................................................21
Proximity Waypoint List .........................................................22
Recent Waypoint List ..............................................................23
INTRODUCTION > TABLE OF CONTENTS
Going to a Destination .......................................................... 24
Selecting a Go To Graphically ......................................................25
TracBack Navigation (Navigating a Track) ..................................26
MOB .............................................................................................28
Creating a Route .................................................................... 29
Following a Route ........................................................................31
Route List Page .............................................................................32
Route Review Page .......................................................................33
Route Review Menu Options .......................................................35
Active Route Page ........................................................................39
Find ......................................................................................... 39
Main Pages .........................................................................41
Map Page ................................................................................ 41
Compass Page ....................................................................... 45
Highway Page ........................................................................ 46
Active Route Page ................................................................. 48
Numbers Page ....................................................................... 48
Main Menu Page ................................................................49
GPS Tab .................................................................................. 50
Trip Tab ................................................................................... 54
Route Tab ............................................................................... 54
Points Tab .............................................................................. 54
Track Tab ................................................................................ 55
Alarm Tab ............................................................................... 57
GPSMAP 176/176C Owner’s Manual 
1
INTRODUCTION > TABLE OF CONTENTS
Celestial (Celes) Tab ............................................................. 58
Tide Tab ........................................................................................58
Sun & Moon Tab ..........................................................................61
Hunt & Fish Tab ...........................................................................62
Map Tab .................................................................................. 63
General Tab ...................................................................................63
Map Tab ........................................................................................63
Waypoint Tab ................................................................................64
Point Tab .......................................................................................64
Marine Tab ....................................................................................64
Navaids Tab ..................................................................................65
Line Tab ........................................................................................65
Track Tab ......................................................................................66
Area Tab ........................................................................................66
Topo Tab .......................................................................................66
City Tab ........................................................................................67
Road Tab .......................................................................................67
Other Tab ......................................................................................68
Setup Map Menu Options .............................................................68
Setup Tab ............................................................................... 69
System Tab ....................................................................................69
Time Tab .......................................................................................70
Units Tab .......................................................................................71
Location Tab .................................................................................71
Interface Tab .................................................................................74
Appendix ............................................................................78
Specifications ........................................................................ 78
Connecting the Power/Data .................................................. 79
Interfacing .............................................................................. 79
Satellite Information .............................................................. 80
What is WAAS? ...................................................................... 81
What is Differential GPS (DGPS)? ....................................... 81
Map Datums ........................................................................... 82
Navigation Terms .................................................................. 84
Messages ............................................................................... 86
LORAN TD System ................................................................ 88
Optional Accessories ............................................................ 90
Software License Agreement ............................................... 91
Product Registration ............................................................. 91
Limited Warranty ................................................................... 92
FCC Compliance .................................................................... 93
Safety Information ................................................................. 94
Index ...................................................................................95
2 
GPSMAP 176/176C Owner’s Manual
GETTING STARTED > UNIT BASICS
External Power and Computer Data Port
Unit Basics
12-Level Gray scale LCD Display 
with Backlight (GPSMAP 176)
16 color Transflective Display  
with Backlight (GPSMAP 176C)
GETTING STARTED
Antenna
sition for Storage
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Backlit keypad for easy night operation
GPSMAP 176/176C Owner’s Manual 
Optional Data 
Storage Card Port
Battery Compartment
3
GETTING STARTED > UNIT BASICS
To remove the battery lid, turn the D-ring 
1/4 turn counterclockwise, and pull away.
The GPSMAP 176/176C uses 4 AA batteries, which can be Alkaline, 
rechargeable, Lithium, or Ni-Cad. Immediately after installing new 
batteries, turn the unit on to ensure that the unit’s power indicator 
shows a full charge. Replace all batteries at the same time. Do NOT 
mix new and used batteries. Do NOT mix Alkaline batteries with 
Lithium or Ni-Cad rechargeable batteries. When installing new 
batteries, observe the polarity markings in the case. 
  NOTE: The GPSMAP 176/176C saves user data in non-volatile 
memory. Data is not lost when the batteries are removed.
4 
GPSMAP 176/176C Owner’s Manual
To reinstall the battery lid, place the 
locking pin into the unit and turn the 
D-ring 1/4 turn clockwise.