GPSMAP 168 Sounder
chartplotting receiver
& depth-fi nder
owner’s
manual
and
reference
guide
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© Copyright 2000-2002
GARMIN Ltd. or its subsidiaries
All Rights Reserved
Software Version 3.03 or above
Internal Database Version 2.00
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 9AQ, U.K.
Tel. 44/1794.519944 Fax 44/1794.519222
GARMIN Corporation No. 68, Jangshu 2nd Road, Shijr, Taipei County, Taiwan
Tel. 886/2.2642.9199 Fax 886/2.2642.9099
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 and of any revision to 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 or revision 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.
July 2002
Part Number 190-00170-00 Rev. D
Printed in Taiwan
168 Manual Intro.indd i
Introduction
Foreword
GARMIN®, Autolocate®, See-Thru®, DCG (Depth Control
Gain)® and TracBack® are registered trademarks, and
MapSourceTM is a trademark of GARMIN Corporation and
may not be used without the express permission of GARMIN
Corporation.
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Introduction
Preface and
Registration
Why should you register your GARMIN GPS
unit:
• Notifi cation of Product Updates
• Notifi cation of New Products
• Lost or Stolen unit tracking
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Preface
Congratulations on choosing one of the most advanced depth sounding and marine navigation
systems available! The GARMIN GPSMAP 168 Sounder utilizes the proven performance of GARMIN
GPS and full featured depth sounding and mapping to create an unsurpassed marine navigation
chartplotter and fi shfi nding package.
To get the most out of your new navigation and sounding system, take the time to go through
this owner’s manual and learn the operating procedures for your unit. This manual is broken down
into two parts for your convenience.
Part One introduces you to the GPSMAP 168 Sounder and provides a Getting Started tour so you
may become more familiar with the unit. This section will provide you with a basic working knowledge
necessary to use the unit to its fullest potential.
Part Two is divided into sections that provide detailed references to the advanced features and
operations of the GPSMAP 168 Sounder. This allows you to concentrate on a specifi c topic quickly and
look up detailed information about the GPSMAP 168 Sounder.
Customer Service Product Registration
Help us better support you by completing our on-line registration today! Have the serial
number of your GPSMAP 168 Sounder handy and connect to our website (www.garmin.com). Look for
the Product Registration link on the Home page. Also, be sure to record your serial number in the area
provided on page iv of this manual.
NOTE: If you have previously registered a GARMIN product purchase using a mail-in
registration card, we invite you to re-register using our NEW on-line system. Many
services provided by our new product registration system are now being automated.
Re-registering your purchase ensures you the best possible support from GARMIN.
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The GPS system is operated by the United States government, which is solely responsible for
its accuracy and maintenance. The system is subject to changes which could affect the accuracy and
performance of all GPS equipment. Although the GARMIN GPSMAP 168 Sounder is a precision
electronic NAVigation AID (NAVAID), any NAVAID can be misused or misinterpreted and, therefore,
become unsafe.
The electronic chart is an aid to navigation and is designed to facilitate the use of authorized
government charts, not replace them. Only offi cial government charts and notices to mariners contain
all information needed for safe navigation – and, as always, the user is responsible for their prudent
use.
Use the GPSMAP 168 Sounder at your own risk. To reduce the risk of unsafe operation, carefully
review and understand all aspects of this Owner’s Manual—and thoroughly practice operation using
the simulator mode prior to actual use. When in actual use, carefully compare indications from
the GPSMAP 168 Sounder to all available navigation sources, including the information from other
NAVAIDs, visual sightings, charts, etc. For safety, always resolve any discrepancies before continuing
navigation.
The GPSMAP 168 Sounder should not be used as a navigational aid or depth sounder to prevent
collision, grounding, boat damage or personal injury. The digital depth displayed is the depth under the
transducer and not necessarily the front of the boat. By the time a depth is displayed, most of your boat
may have already passed over that area. We recommend that you operate the boat at a very slow speed
if you suspect shallow water or submerged objects.
CAUTION: IT IS THE USER’S RESPONSIBILITY TO USE THIS PRODUCT PRUDENTLY. THIS
PRODUCT IS INTENDED TO BE USED ONLY AS A NAVIGATIONAL AID AND MUST NOT
BE USED FOR ANY PURPOSE REQUIRING PRECISE MEASUREMENT OF DIRECTION,
DISTANCE, LOCATION, OR TOPOGRAPHY.
Introduction
Warnings and
Precautions
MAP DATA INFORMATION: One of the goals of GARMIN
is to provide customers with the most complete and accurate
cartography that is available to us at a reasonable cost.
We use a combination of governmental and private data
sources, which we identify (as required) in product literature
and copyright messages displayed to the consumer. Virtually
all data sources contain inaccurate or incomplete data to
some degree. This is particularly true outside the United
States, where complete and accurate digital data is either
not available or prohibitively expensive.
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Introduction
Software License Agreement
Software License Agreement
BY USING THE GPSMAP 168 SOUNDER, YOU AGREE TO BE BOUND BY THE TERMS AND
CONDITIONS OF THE FOLLOWING SOFTWARE LICENSE AGREEMENT. PLEASE READ THIS
AGREEMENT CAREFULLY.
GARMIN grants you a limited license to use the software embedded in this device (the “Software”) in
binary executable form in the normal operation of the product. Title, ownership rights and intellectual
property rights in and to the Software remain in GARMIN.
You acknowledge that the Software is the property of GARMIN and is protected under the United
States of America copyright laws and international copyright treaties. You further acknowledge that
the structure, organization and code of the Software are valuable trade secrets of GARMIN and that the
Software in source code form remains a valuable trade secret of GARMIN. You agree not to decompile,
disassemble, modify, reverse assemble, reverse engineer or reduce to human readable form the Software
or any part thereof or create any derivative works based on the Software. You agree not to export
or re-export the Software to any country in violation of the export control laws of the United States
of America.
WARNING
These products are intended for recreational fi shfi nding and as a aid for navigation and should not
be relied on as a substitute for offi cial marine navigation charts. It is the user’s responsibility to be
aware of shallow water and underwater hazards and to exercise common prudence and navigational
judgment.
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Introduction
FCC Compliance
FCC Compliance
The GPSMAP 168 Sounder complies with Part 15 of the FCC interference limits for Class B digital
devices FOR HOME OR OFFICE USE. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection
against harmful interference in a residential installation, and are more stringent than “outdoor” require-
ments.
Operation of this device is subject to the following conditions: (1) This device may not cause harmful
interference, and (2) this device must accept any interference received, including interference that may
cause undesired operation.
This equipment generates, uses and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in
accordance with the instructions, may cause harmful interference to radio communications. However,
there is no guarantee that interference will not occur in a particular installation. If this equipment
does cause harmful interference to radio or television reception, which can be determined by turning
the equipment off and on, the user is encouraged to try to correct the interference by one or more
of the following measures:
·• Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna.
·• Increase the separation between the equipment and receiver.
·• Connect the equipment into a different outlet or circuit than the one that is curently being used.
·• Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for help.
The GPSMAP 168 Sounder does not contain any user-serviceable parts. Repairs should only be
made by an authorized GARMIN service center. Unauthorized repairs or modifi cations could result
in permanent damage to the equipment, and void your warranty and your authority to operate this
device under Part 15 regulations.
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Introduction
Warranty and
Serial Number
Serial Number
Use this area to record the serial number (8-digit number
located on the bottom of the unit) in case it is lost, stolen, or
needs service. Be sure to keep your original sales receipt in a
safe place or attach a photocopy inside the manual.
Serial Number:
The GARMIN GPSMAP 168 Sounder has no user-service-
able parts. The GPSMAP 168 Sounder is fastened shut with
screws. Any attempt to open the case to change or modify
the unit in any way will void your warranty and may result
in permanent damage to the equipment.
LIMITED WARRANTY
This GARMIN product is warranted to be free from defects in materials or workmanship for one year from the
date of purchase. Within this period, GARMIN will at its sole option, repair or replace any components that fail
in normal use. Such repairs or replacement will be made at no charge to the customer for parts or labor, provided
that the customer shall be responsible for any transportation cost. This warranty does not cover failures due to
abuse, misuse, accident or unauthorized alteration or repairs.
THE WARRANTIES AND REMEDIES CONTAINED HEREIN ARE EXCLUSIVE AND IN LIEU OF ALL
OTHER WARRANTIES EXPRESS OR IMPLIED OR STATUTORY, INCLUDING ANY LIABILITY ARISING UNDER
ANY WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, STATUTORY OR
OTHERWISE. THIS WARRANTY GIVES YOU SPECIFIC LEGAL RIGHTS, WHICH MAY VARY FROM STATE
TO STATE.
IN NO EVENT SHALL GARMIN BE LIABLE FOR ANY INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, INDIRECT OR CONSE-
QUENTIAL DAMAGES, WHETHER RESULTING FROM THE USE, MISUSE, OR INABILITY TO USE THIS
PRODUCT OR FROM DEFECTS IN THE PRODUCT. Some states do not allow the exclusion of incidental or
consequential damages, so the above limitations may not apply to you.
GARMIN retains the exclusive right to repair or replace the unit or software or offer a full refund of the
purchase price at its sole discretion. SUCH REMEDY SHALL BE YOUR SOLE AND EXCLUSIVE REMEDY FOR
ANY BREACH OF WARRANTY.
To obtain warranty service, contact your local GARMIN authorized dealer. Or call GARMIN Customer Service
at one of the numbers shown below, for shipping instructions and an RMA tracking number. The unit should be
securely packed with the tracking number clearly written on the outside of the package. The unit should then
be sent, freight charges prepaid, to any GARMIN warranty service station. A copy of the original sales receipt is
required as the proof of purchase for warranty repairs.
GARMIN International, Inc.
1200 East 151st Street
Olathe, Kansas 66062, U.S.A.
Phone: 913/397.8200
FAX: 913/397.0836
GARMIN (Europe) Ltd.
Unit 4, The Quadrangle, Abbey Park Industrial Estate
Romsey, SO51 9AQ, U.K.
Phone: 44/1794.519944
FAX: 44/1794.519222
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Introduction
Capabilities
Designed for detailed electronic charting capability, the GARMIN GPSMAP 168 Sounder is a
powerful navigation device that can give you the navigation information you need:
Precision Performance
• High-contrast, four-level gray, LCD screen with backlighting
• 12-channel parallel receiver tracks and uses up to 12 satellites for fast, accurate positioning
• Differential-Ready — just add an optional GARMIN beacon receiver for better than 5-meter
accuracy
• Fully gasketed, high-impact plastic alloy case, waterproof to IEC 529-IPX-7
Advanced Navigating and Plotting
• 500 alphanumeric waypoints with selectable icons
• Built-in Americas basemap to 20 miles includes detailed ocean, river and lake coastlines, cities,
interstates, US state highways and local thoroughfares
• 20 reversible routes with up to 30 waypoints each
• Uploadable maps up to 2.5 Megabytes of data using GARMIN’s MapSource PC products
• Coordinates: Lat/Lon, UTM/UPS, Loran TD, plus 15 grids, including Maidenhead
• TracBack route feature which allows you to quickly retrace your track log to a starting position
• Built-in simulator mode
Superior Fishfi nding Ability
• Whiteline feature provides a clear image of both bottom hardness and structure
• See-Thru technology which helps separate fi sh returns from thermoclines and structure
• Four zoom levels with a moving view window
• Underwater waypoint marking
• Map/Sonar split screen combines navigation and fi shfi nding information
• Fish and depth alarms
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