Garmin G500 Manual

							4-75190-01102-02  Rev. DGarmin G500 Pilot’s Guide
ForewordSec 1 
System Sec 2 
PFD Sec 3 
MFD Sec 4 
Hazard 
Avoidance
Sec 5 
Additional  Features Sec 6 
Annun. 
& Alerts Sec 7 
Symbols Sec 8 
Glossary Appendix A Appendix B 
Index
4.9.6.1  Displaying Weather on the Weather Radar Page
1) While viewing the Weather Radar page of the Wx page group, press the  MODE 
soft key. 
2)    While  on  the  ground,  press  the  STANDBY  soft  key.  A  warm-up  period  is 
initiated (countdown is displayed on the screen - GWX radars only). After the 
warm-up is complete, the radar enters the Standby Mode. 
3)  When the aircraft is airborne, press the WEATHER soft key. 
  OR
4)  While on the ground, select the  WEATHER soft key. A confirmation window is 
displayed. 
Figure 4-66  Caution for Radar Activation Confirmation
5)  Turn the large  MFD Knob to highlight  YES and press the ENT key to continue 
radar activation. 
  OR
6)  If  the  aircraft  is  airborne,  select  the  WEATHER  soft  key. A  warm-up  period  is 
initiated (countdown is displayed on the screen - GWX radars only).  After the 
warm-up is complete, the radar begins transmitting. 
7)  Press the RNG keys to select the desired range.  
						

							4-76Garmin G500 Pilot’s Guide190-01102-02  Rev. D
Foreword
Sec 1 
System
Sec 2 
PFD
Sec 3 
MFD
Sec 4 
Hazard 
Avoidance
Sec 5 
Additional  Features
Sec 6 
Annun. 
& Alerts
Sec 7 
Symbols
Sec 8 
Glossary
Appendix A
Appendix B 
Index
Figure 4-67  Vertical Scan Display
4.9.6.2  Vertically Scanning a Storm Cell
  (Not available with all radars)
When  vertically  scanning  with  stabilization  ON,  the  actual  physical  area 
that  the  radar  is  sweeping  may  not  match  the  GDU  vertical  scan  display.  This 
occurs  whenever  the  aircraft  pitch  is  not  at  0  degrees.  To  compensate  for  this, 
the  GDU  vertical  display  will  “erase”  the  portion  of  the  vertical  display  that  is 
no longer being scanned. It will appear that the vertical sweep “wraps around” 
when reaching the end of the GDU vertical display. The radar is simply “erasing” 
the portion of the vertical display that is not currently being scanned. 
 NOTE:  Vertical scanning of a storm cell should be done with the aircraft  wings level to avoid constant adjustment of the Bearing Line.  
						

							4-77190-01102-02  Rev. DGarmin G500 Pilot’s Guide
ForewordSec 1 
System Sec 2 
PFD Sec 3 
MFD Sec 4 
Hazard 
Avoidance
Sec 5 
Additional  Features Sec 6 
Annun. 
& Alerts Sec 7 
Symbols Sec 8 
Glossary Appendix A Appendix B 
Index
1)  While in the  Horizontal Scan view, press the  CONTROL and then the BRG soft 
keys. This displays the Bearing Line. 
  OR
  Press  MENU  and  turn  the  large  or  small  MFD  knobs  to  highlight  the “Show 
Bearing  Line”  menu  item  and  press  the  ENT  key.  This  displays  the Bearing 
Line. 
2)  Press  the  MFD  knob  to  activate  the  Bearing  Line Adjustment  in  the  Control 
window. Turn the Large MFD knob to highlight the Bearing value. 
3)  Turn the small
 MFD knob to place the  Bearing Line on the desired storm cell or 
other area to be vertically scanned. 
Figure 4-68  Bearing Line Adjustment
4)  Press the VERTICAL soft key. A vertical “slice” of the selected area will now be 
displayed. 
5)  With the Bearing value still highlighted, the small
 MFD Knob may be used to 
move the scanned “slice” a few degrees right or left. 
6)  Press the RNG keys to adjust the range. 
7)  Press the MFD Knob to remove the cursor. 
8)  To select a new area to be vertically scanned, select the  HORIZON soft key to 
return to the Horizontal Scan view and repeat the previous steps. 
4.9.6.3  Adjusting the Antenna Tilt Angle
In  order  to  make  an  accurate  interpretation  of  a  storm  cell,  the  radar  beam 
should be pointed at the wet part of the weather cell to record the proper rainfall 
intensity (color level). The ideal aiming point is just below the freezing level of 
the storm. The best way to find this point is to use the Vertical Scan feature. The 
antenna  tilt  angle  can  be  centered  on  the  strongest  return  area  in  the  vertical 
scan  to  get  a  more  accurate  view  of  the  coverage  and  intensity  of  the  target  in 
the horizontal scan.  
						

							4-78Garmin G500 Pilot’s Guide190-01102-02  Rev. D
Foreword
Sec 1 
System
Sec 2 
PFD
Sec 3 
MFD
Sec 4 
Hazard 
Avoidance
Sec 5 
Additional  Features
Sec 6 
Annun. 
& Alerts
Sec 7 
Symbols
Sec 8 
Glossary
Appendix A
Appendix B 
Index
Adjusting Antenna Tilt on the Horizontal Scan Display
1)  Press the MFD knob. 
2)  With the Tilt value highlighted in the Control window, turn the small  MFD knob 
to adjust the Tilt. 
Figure 4-69  Adjusting Tilt
Adjusting Antenna Tilt on the Vertical Scan Display 
(Not available with all radars)
1)  While  in  the Vertical  Scan  view,  press  the  CONTROL  and  then  the TILT  soft 
keys. This displays the Tilt Line. 
  OR
  Press  MENU and turn the large or small  MFD knobs to highlight the “Show Tilt 
Line” menu item and press the ENT key. This displays the Tilt Line. 
2)  Press the  MFD knob to activate the Tilt Adjustment in the Control window. Turn 
the Large MFD knob to highlight the Tilt value. 
3)  Turn the small
 MFD knob to place the adjust the Tilt value. 
4.9.6.4  Adjusting Gain
The gain is used to adjust the sensitivity of the radar receiver. It can be used 
to adjust the characteristics of the returns. 
Gain adjustment is shown in the Gain bar graph. The white reference line on 
the right side of the bar graph indicates the calibration reference point. 
 WARNING: Changing the gain in weather mode will cause precipitation  intensity to be displayed as a color not representative of the true intensity.  Remember  to  return  the  gain  setting  to  :  “Calibrated”  for  viewing  the actual intensity of precipitation. 
 NOTE: Gain can be adjusted in Weather mode on the GWX radars only.  
						

							4-79190-01102-02  Rev. DGarmin G500 Pilot’s Guide
ForewordSec 1 
System Sec 2 
PFD Sec 3 
MFD Sec 4 
Hazard 
Avoidance
Sec 5 
Additional  Features Sec 6 
Annun. 
& Alerts Sec 7 
Symbols Sec 8 
Glossary Appendix A Appendix B 
Index
1)  While viewing the Weather Radar page of the Wx page group, press the  MENU 
key. 
2)  Turn the large  MFD knob to highlight “Manual Gain” and press  ENT. This will 
highlight the Gain value in the Control window. 
3)  Turn the small MFD knob to adjust the Gain. 
  OR
1)  Press the  MFD knob and turn the large  MFD knob to highlight the Gain value 
in the Control window. 
Figure 4-70  Highlight Gain Cal Value
2)  Turn  the  small  MFD  knob  to  adjust  the  Gain  Cal  value.  Press  the  MFD  knob 
again to accept the value and end editing. 
Figure 4-71  Adjust Gain Cal Value
Restore Calibrated Gain
1)  While viewing the Weather Radar page of the Wx page group, press the  MENU 
key. 
2)  Turn  the  large  MFD  knob  to  highlight  “Restore  Calibrated  Gain”  and  press 
ENT.  
						

							4-80Garmin G500 Pilot’s Guide190-01102-02  Rev. D
Foreword
Sec 1 
System
Sec 2 
PFD
Sec 3 
MFD
Sec 4 
Hazard 
Avoidance
Sec 5 
Additional  Features
Sec 6 
Annun. 
& Alerts
Sec 7 
Symbols
Sec 8 
Glossary
Appendix A
Appendix B 
Index
Figure 4-72  Restore Calibrated Gain
  OR
1)  While  viewing  the  Weather  Radar  page  of  the  Wx  page  group,  press  the 
CONTROL soft key. 
2)  Press  the  GAIN  CAL  soft  key  to  restore  the  calibrated  gain  value.  Press  the 
MFD knob again to accept the value and end editing. 
4.8.6.5  Sector Scan (GWX Radars Only)
Adjusting the Sector Scan reduces the scan angle from Full in increments of 
±20°, ±40°, and ±60° in horizontal scanning. Sector scanning is not available for 
vertical scanning. 
1)  While  viewing  the  Weather  Radar  page  of  the  Wx  page  group,  press  the 
CONTROL soft key. 
2)  Press the BRG soft key to display the Bearing Line. 
3)  Turn the small
 MFD knob to place the  Bearing Line in the desired position.  The 
location of the Bearing Line will become the center point of the Sector Scan. 
4)  Turn the large
 MFD knob to place the cursor in the SECTOR SCAN field. 
Figure 4-73  Sector Scan - Full
5) Turn the small MFD knob to select FULL, 60°, 40°, or 20° scan.  
						

							4-81190-01102-02  Rev. DGarmin G500 Pilot’s Guide
ForewordSec 1 
System Sec 2 
PFD Sec 3 
MFD Sec 4 
Hazard 
Avoidance
Sec 5 
Additional  Features Sec 6 
Annun. 
& Alerts Sec 7 
Symbols Sec 8 
Glossary Appendix A Appendix B 
Index
Figure 4-74  Sector Scan - 40°
6)  If  desired,  readjust  the  Bearing  Line  as  discussed  previously  to  change  the 
center of the Sector Scan. 
7)  Remove Sector Scanning by returning the SECTOR SCAN value to FULL. 
4.9.6.6  Antenna Stabilization
1) While  viewing  the  Weather  Radar  page  of  the  Wx  page  group,  press  the 
CONTROL soft key. 
2)  To activate or deactivate the antenna stabilization, press the  STAB ON soft key 
to activate  antenna stabilization or press the  STAB OFF soft key to deactivate. 
The current stabilization condition is shown in the upper right of the weather 
radar display. 
4.9.6.7  Weather Attenuated Color Highlight (WATCH™)
  (GWX Radars Only)
While in horizontal scan mode, this feature can be used as a tool to determine 
areas  of  possible  inaccuracies  in  displayed  intensity  due  to  weakening  of  the 
radar  energy.  This  weakening  is  known  as  “attenuation.”  The  radar  energy 
weakens as it passes through areas of intense precipitation, large areas of lesser 
precipitation, and distance. Issues with the radome will also attenuate the radar 
energy. All these factors have an effect on the return intensity. The more energy 
that dissipates, the lesser the displayed intensity of the return. Accuracy of the 
displayed  intensity  of  returns  located  in  the  shaded  areas  are  suspect.  Make 
maneuvering  decisions  with  this  information  in  mind.  Proper  antenna  tilt 
management should still be employed to determine the extent of attenuation in 
a shaded area. 
1)  While  viewing  the  Weather  Radar  page  of  the  Wx  page  group,  press  the 
CONTROL soft key. 
2)  To activate or deactivate the WATCH™ feature, press the WATCH soft key.  
						

							4-82Garmin G500 Pilot’s Guide190-01102-02  Rev. D
Foreword
Sec 1 
System
Sec 2 
PFD
Sec 3 
MFD
Sec 4 
Hazard 
Avoidance
Sec 5 
Additional  Features
Sec 6 
Annun. 
& Alerts
Sec 7 
Symbols
Sec 8 
Glossary
Appendix A
Appendix B 
Index
      
Figure 4-75  Horizontal Scan without  WATCH™Figure 4-76  Horizontal Scan with WATCH™
4.9.6.8 Weather Alert (GWX Radars Only)
The  Weather  Alert  feature  indicates  the  presence  of  heavy  precipitation 
between  the  ranges  of  80  and  320  NM  regardless  of  the  currently  displayed 
range.  Weather  Alert  targets  appear  as  red  bands  along  the  outer  range  ring  at 
the approximate azimuth of the detected returns. 
If a Weather Alert is detected within ±10° of the aircraft heading, an alert will 
be displayed on the MFD in the Alerts Window. 
Weather Alerts
Figure 4-77  Weather Alert Display
If  the  antenna  tilt  is  adjusted  too  low,  a  weather  alert  can  be  generated 
by  ground  returns.  To  avoid  unwanted  weather  alerts,  Weather  alerts  can  be 
deactivated.  
						

							4-83190-01102-02  Rev. DGarmin G500 Pilot’s Guide
ForewordSec 1 
System Sec 2 
PFD Sec 3 
MFD Sec 4 
Hazard 
Avoidance
Sec 5 
Additional  Features Sec 6 
Annun. 
& Alerts Sec 7 
Symbols Sec 8 
Glossary Appendix A Appendix B 
Index
1)  While viewing the Weather Radar page of the Wx page group, press the  MENU 
key. 
2)  To activate or deactivate Weather Alerts, turn the large or small
 MFD knob to 
highlight either “Enable Weather Alert” or “Inhibit Weather Alert.” Activating 
and deactivating will also enable or inhibit the alert on the MFD. 
4.9.7  Ground Mapping and Interpretation
A secondary use of the weather radar system is for the presentation of terrain. 
This can be a useful tool for verifying aircraft position. A “picture” of the ground 
is represented much like a topographical map that can be used as a supplement 
to the navigation map on the MFD. 
Ground Map mode uses a different gain range than Weather mode. Different 
colors are also used to represent the intensity levels. The displayed intensity of 
ground  target  returns  are  defined  in  the  following  table.  Use  of  the  GAIN  and 
TILT controls will help improve contrast so that specific ground targets can be 
recognized more easily. As previously discussed, the type and orientation of the 
target in relation to the aircraft affects the intensity displayed. 
When the weather radar system is in the either the Weather or Ground Map 
mode, the system automatically switches to Standby mode. 
Ground Map  Mode Color GWX Radars Intensity 3rd Party Radars 
Level
BLACK 0 dB 0
LIGHT BLUE > 0 dB  to < 9 dB 1
YELLOW 9 dB to < 18 dB 2
MAGENTA 18 dB to < 27 dB 3 and above
BLUE 27 dB and greater Not Used
Table 4-18  Ground Target Return Intensity Levels 
						

							4-84Garmin G500 Pilot’s Guide190-01102-02  Rev. D
Foreword
Sec 1 
System
Sec 2 
PFD
Sec 3 
MFD
Sec 4 
Hazard 
Avoidance
Sec 5 
Additional  Features
Sec 6 
Annun. 
& Alerts
Sec 7 
Symbols
Sec 8 
Glossary
Appendix A
Appendix B 
Index
                                    
Figure 4-78  GWX Radar Ground Mode Scale  3rd Party Radar Ground Mode Scale
1) Press the MODE soft key. 
2)  Press the  GROUND soft key to place the radar in Ground Map mode. A pop-up 
regarding caution in operating radar on the ground will appear. Turn the large 
MFD knob to highlight “YES” and then press ENT. 
Figure 4-79  Ground Radar Operation Caution
3)  Press the BACK  soft key. 
4)  Press the MFD knob to activate the cursor. 
5)  Turn the large
 MFD knob to place the cursor in the TILT field. 
6)  Adjust the antenna tilt angle by turning the small
 MFD knob to display  ground 
returns at the desired distance. 
7)  Press the MFD knob to remove the cursor.