Garmin Tr 1 Autopilot Manual

							
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Turn power on by pressing and releasing the Deckmount switch.  Turn the power off by 
pressing and holding the switch down until the Deckmount switch light has extinguished 
(about four seconds).
Power on is indicated by illumination of the Deckmount switch button and the STBY LED 
on the Hand Held.
Both the Deckmount switch light and remote STBY LED will blink for about 30 seconds after \
turning power 
on.  During this 30-second time, the pilot computers are running self-te\
st and starting up the compass and 
gyroscope.  No autopiloting operations are available during this start u\
p period.  After the startup period the 
STBY LED will stay illuminated, without blinking, as long as the system \
remains in standby mode. 
 The deckmount switch can also be used to switch the unit from standby t\
o autopilot. 
     
    
    
The Auto/Stby button on the handheld engages and disengages autopilot 
steering.  The Deckmount button performs the same function after the pilot 
is powered up. 
When the button is pushed to go into Auto mode, the pilot captures the compass heading and subsequent 
moves the rudder to hold that heading.  The LED next to Auto will illumi\
nate when The autopilot is 
engaged.  You should be steering your boat on a constant heading at the \
time you Press the Auto/Stby 
button.
If you program the Bent Right Arrow and Bent Left Arrow buttons for 
Remote Steer, when one of these buttons is pushed, the rudder is directl\
y 
controlled by these pushbuttons until a Straight Right Arrow or Straight 
Left Arrow button is pushed to reengage the pilot or the system is returned standb\
y.
 (In remote steer, (autopilot0 heading hold is not engaged and will not lock on to a new heading until one 
of the straight arrows are pressed to take it out of remote steer.)   
Engaging Heading Hold  (Engaging Autopilot)
Power On/Off (Deckmount Switch)
Change Heading with Remote Steer 
						

							
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You can steer to a new heading with the Straight Right Arrow and Straight Left Arrow
buttons. Momentary presses of either of these buttons will cause the pilot to alter the heading by 
one degree per press.  For example, pressing the Straight Left Arrow button five times will 
cause the heading to be changed by 5 degrees to the port.  Holding either of these buttons down 
causes the pilot to turn the rudder so as to make a port or starboard turn.  The rudder turns as 
long as the button is held down or until the rudder reaches the end of its travel range.  When you 
release the button, the autopilot will move the rudder to stop the boat from turning.  When the 
turn is stopped, the autopilot captures the compass heading and then moves the rudder so as to 
maintain this heading.  An example RCAH turn is shown in the figure below.  
     Change Heading with RCAH 
Initial heading 
Final heading 
Heading when starboard  
RCAH button released 
Starboard RCAH button released 
Starboard RCAH button pressed 
Boat path 

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Change Heading While in Autopilot (RCAH) 
						

							
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GPS Steering
 
The GPS steering functions are not guaranteed to work with all GPS systems.  Each manufacturer of GPS equipment 
puts his own spin on how to assemble the data on the NMEA data bus. Some\
times the data on the bus will not 
conform to the needs of the autopilot.  The autopilot expects to see, at\
 least, the NMEA data sentences $GPRMB 
and $GPRMC at 4800 baud.  These sentences are the minimum recommended da\
ta to be transmitted when there is 
an active waypoint.  Some GPS systems do not conform to this NMEA specification.
Almost all GPS systems truncate the cross track error data to 0.01 NM re\
solution, this means that the autopilot 
cannot be expected to stay on track any closer than 60 to 120 feet.  The\
re is a large discrepancy between 
manufacturers in how they warn the user when the navigation fix is compromised.  Some systems alert the NMEA 
bus listener immediately upon position fix loss but wait 30 seconds to a minute to warn the operator on the GPS 
display.  This is disconcerting to the user because his autopilot drops \
out (The autopilot stops using the GPS 
steering command immediately upon receiving a warning from the navigator\
.) of GPS steering and there is often 
no indication on the GPS display that anything is wrong with the GPS.  S\
ome manufactures wait 30 seconds to 
alert the user via the display and the devices on the NMEA’S data bus when the position fix is broken.  The worst 
performance in all the GPS units we have tested occurs when a satellite \
is occluded by the horizon; we have seen 
steering errors on the order of several hundred feet in these situations\
.
The autopilot cannot fix steering errors that are GPS generated.  Keep an eye on where you are going when you couple 
the GPS to the autopilot.
When the autopilot is taking steering commands from the GPS, the GPS (Select Load) LED will be lit solid.  If the 
autopilot detects a GPS problem it will blink this LED.  Press any butto\
n to extinguish the blinking LED.
Set North
To run a GPS course requires that the autopilot compass is in agreement with the GPS’s course estimate.  You need to set 
North with the pilot in standby mode.  Do not set North except in calm sea’s and un-accelerated conditions.  You should 
be running at a reasonably high speed, it won’t hurt to be running on plane with your main engine.  With your GPS 
turned on and setup code 48 selected, press and hold the GPS (Select Load) button. 
If the Up Arrow LED illuminates, this means that your GPS connection is not sending cou\
rse information to the 
autopilot correctly.  You must point your boat north and then press and \
release the Deckmount switch to set compass 
north.
If the Up Arrow LED does not illuminate, press and release the Deckmount switch to set compass north.  In this case 
you do not need to be pointing north-you only need to be going in a stra\
ight line.
Your pilot will power down after north has been set.
If you press and release the GPS (Select Load) button when the autopilot is in heading hold and the GP\
S does not have 
an active route, the pilot will maintain the GPS course over ground inst\
ead of the magnetic heading.  Be aware that the 
course over ground calculated by the GPS is erratic at low speeds.
All the special function and turn buttons will continue to behave as if \
you are in normal heading hold.  If you use any of 
the normal turning buttons, go to waypoint and course over ground hold a\
re terminated.
Course Overground Hold
GPS 
						

							
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If you press and release the GPS (Select Load) button when the autopilot is in heading hold and the GPS 
has an active route, the pilot will steer to the selected waypoint. 
If you are more than 1000 ft. off the courseline the pilot will steer directly at the waypoint and not try to 
remove crosstrack error. 
Return to heading hold by pressing one of the Straight Arrow buttons. 
The autopilot will orbit the waypoint you have activated in your GPS, with the waypoint to your starboard 
side if you press the Bent Right Arrow button when the GPS (Select Load) LED is lit and the special 
function Orbit Wpt has been enabled.  The waypoint will be on your port side if you use the Bent Left 
Arrow button. 
The orbital radius is the distance from the waypoint at the time you press one of the bent arrow buttons. 
Return to heading hold by pressing one of the Straight Arrow buttons. 
The cloverleaf pattern is intended for use when you wish to repeatedly pass over a point where you think 
fish may be holding.  You must mark the location of the cloverleaf stem with a waypoint in your GPS.   
Once the waypoint is saved, select “go to” this waypoint on your GPS.  From heading hold, press and 
release the GPS (Select Load) button.  The pilot will start maneuvering toward the waypoint.  If you have 
selected 3 Leaf Clover pattern as the special function for the Bent Arrow buttons, pressing either Bent 
Arrow button will start the boat on the cloverleaf pattern.  If you used the Bent Right Arrow button the 
cloverleaf will be traversed by always turning to starboard, the other Bent Arrow button will cause the 
pattern to be traversed while always turning to port.  The length of one of the cloverleaf is programmed 
with setup code 28.  It is adjustable in length from 500 ft. to 6000 ft. in 100 ft. increments. 
              Return to heading hold by pressing one of the  
              Straight Arrow buttons.  An example of the Clover- 
              Leaf pattern is shown in the figure to the left. 
Steer To Waypoints (GPS Steering) 
Orbit Waypoint (GPS Steering) 
Three Leaf Clover Pattern (GPS Steering) 

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The cloverleaf pattern is intended for use when you wish to repeatedly p\
ass over a point where you think 
fish may be holding.  You must mark the location of the cloverleaf stem with a waypoint in your GPS.  
Once the waypoint is saved, select “go to” this waypoint on your G\
PS.  From heading hold, press and 
release the GPS (Select Load) button.  The pilot will start maneuvering toward the waypoint.  If yo\
u have 
selected clover leaf pattern as the special function for the Bent Arrow \
buttons, pressing either Bent Arrow 
button will start the boat on the cloverleaf pattern.  If you used the Bent Right Arrow button the cloverleaf 
will be traversed by always turning to port.  The length of one of the c\
loverleaves is programmed with 
setup code 29.  It is adjustable in length from 500ft to  6000 ft in 100\
 ft increments. 
						

							
To do an outward spiraling search from a waypoint, setup the special function buttons for search 
patterns. (See page 28 Selecting Special Functions)  When you are near the waypoint you want 
to search from, select “go to” this waypoint on your GPS.  With the pilot in heading hold, press 
and release the GPS(Select Load) button and then press and release one of the Bent Arrow 
buttons.  If you pressed the Bent Right Arrow button, the waypoint will remain on your 
starboard side as the spiral search unwinds.  The spacing between the spiral laps is set with setup 
code 249. 
Search Pattern  (GPS Steering) 
Return to heading hold by pressing one of the straight arrow buttons.  An example of the search 
pattern is shown in the figure below. 

25 
						

							
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 The autopilot will attempt to perform any of its  steering functions when the boat is backing in 
reverse gear.  To engage the system in reverse: 1) Start from Standby. 2) Press and hold the GPS
(REV) button.  3) Press and release the Auto/Stby button. 4) Release the GPS (REV) button.
The Man Overboard (MOB) function causes the boat to turn to starboard for a while then turn to 
port until the reciprocal course is established, with the goal of running alongside the point where 
the MOB button was pushed.  The boat path will be as shown in the figure below. 
Changing Heading With MOB 
Reverse
If you program the Bent Right Arrow and Bent Left Arrow buttons for Circles, pressing the 
Bent Right Arrow button will cause your boat to be driven in a clockwise (from above) circle 
with a lap time between 1 and 90 minutes (programmable).  The Bent Left Arrow button will 
cause counterclockwise turns.  You can exit the circle and run straight anytime by pressing either 
theStraight Right Arrow or Straight Left Arrow button. 
Circles
             If you program the Bent Right Arrow and Bent Left Arrow buttons for Steps, when one
of these buttons is pushed, the pilot will execute a port or starboard turn.  The turn will  
terminate when the programmed step angle is reached.  The step angles are programmable 
from 1 to 90 degrees.  Multiple pushes of these buttons will result in a turn through an angle  
equal to the sum of the angles per push.  For example, if you have programmed the pilot for 10
degree steps, five pushes of the Bent Right Arrow button will turn you 50 degrees to starboard. 
180 degrees is the maximum turn sum. 
Step Turns 

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Heading Hold 
Boat Path 
Change Heading with Zigzags 
 If you program the Idle/Resume button for Zigzags (other), then when you press the Idle/Resume
button the pilot will begin to zigzag about the heading you were on when you pressed the button.  The 
zigzag angle and period are both programmable.  An example zigzag path is shown in the figure below. 
Automatic idle and resume is accomplished by pressing the Idle/Resume button.  If the throttle is set 
higher than idle, the Idle/ Resume function will take the engine to idle.  If the throttle is sitting in the 
idle position, the Idle/Resume function will return the throttle to the last above idle position.  The 
Idle/Resume button must be programmed to perform Idle/Resume and not MOB or Zigzags. 
Idle/Resume
 Increase throttle by pressing the Up Arrow button.  Decrease throttle by pressing the Down Arrow 
 button. The electric throttle runs in parallel with the tiller throttle, this means that you cant reduce 
the RPM with the electric throttle if the tiller throttle is set high.  It is best to always run with the tiller 
throttle set to idle. Be careful to set the electric throttle and tiller throttle to closed position before starting
your outboard. 
Throttle Up/Down 

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Throttle Up/Down
Idle/Resume Feature
Change Heading Using Zig-Zags 
						

							
When you select special functions, by the methods described below, you are simply choosing which 
function is to be executed by the pilot when you push one of the tree special function buttons.   
TheIdle/Resume button is programmable to provide either Idle/Resume or MOB or Zigzags (other).  
TheBent Left Arrow button is programmable to provide either Steps or Circles or Remote Steer.  
The Bent Right Arrow is used to program the pilot for waypoint Orbiting or clover leaf or search 
steering in conjunction with your GPS.   
To change the functions of these programmable buttons, follow the directions below. 
1.  Autopilot must be in Heading Hold or Standby Mode before selection process can start. 
 (AUTO LED solid on or STBY LED solid on.  No other LEDs on.) 
2.  Press and holdSetup Button.  Three LED’s next to the numbers 1 through 9 will illuminated, 
indicating which (3) special functions are programmed to operate.  For example, if LED 2, 4, and 7 
illuminate, your system is programmed to do: 1) Idle Resume when the Idle/Resume button is 
pressed. 2) Step turns to port when the Left Bent Arrow button is pressed.  3) Step Turns to 
starboard when the Bent Right Arrow button is pressed. 4) Orbit a waypoint clockwise when the 
Bent Right Arrow button is pressed and the system is tracking a GPS signal.  5) Orbit a waypoint 
clunterclockwise when the Bent Left Arrow button is pressed and the system is tracking a GPS 
signal.
3.  Select the Special Function you want to use by pressing and releasing the Idle/Resume and Left
Bent Arrow button until the appropriate LEDs are lit.  (See the Table below for Special Function 
Indicators.)
4.  Release the Setup Button.
5.  To make the selected Special Functions into start up defaults: Press and release the Setup
button and verify the setup LED is lit.  Then press and holdtheGPS (Select Load) button.  Verify 
that the Load LED is lit.  Then press and release the Deckmount switch, then release the GPS (Select 
Load button). (ThisLocks in your selections)  
6. To illuminate the keypad on the remote for nighttime operation:  Press and hold setup and press 
the up arrow.  Repeat to turn the back light off.  The down arrow will toggle the brightness of the 
orange LEDs between bright and dim when the setup button is held down. 
          Special Function Indicator LED Numbers 
1MOB
2Idle/Resume 
3Other
GPS Steering 
(GPS connection required) 
7Orbit Wpt. 
83 Leaf Clover 
9Search
4Steps
5Circles
6Remote Steer 
Selecting Special Functions 

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1.  Autopilot must be in Heading Hold or Standby Mode before selection process can start. 
 (AUTO LED solid on or STBY LED solid on.  No other LEDs on.) 
2.  Press and release the Setup Button. The Setup LED will illuminate to indicate the system is 
ready to take setup commands (button pushes). 
3.  Make selection of the Setup Function you want to use by pressing and releasing the buttons 
labeled 1 through 9 until the appropriate LEDs are lit.  (See the Table below for Setup Codes.) 
4. Increase an adjustable parameter one step by each press of the Up Arrow button.  When the 
parameter is adjusted to its maximum value, the Up Arrow LED will light.  The parameter is 
adjusted and is in use by the autopilot immediately. 
5.  Decrease an adjustable parameter one step by each press of the Down Arrow button.  When 
the parameter is adjusted to its minimum value, the Down Arrow LED will light. The parameter 
is adjusted and is in use by the autopilot immediately. 
6.  You can stay in Setup and adjust more than one parameter. 
7.  Compass Calibration, and resetting to factory defaults are setup conditions that take the 
system over and restart the autopilot computer.  The button sequences for their operation are 
given in the Table of Setup Codes below. 
8.  To view the operating value of an adjustable parameter, enter its code per the Table of Setup 
codes, then press and hold the GPS (Select Load) button.  The LED on the Up Arrow button 
will blink the number of tens the parameter is set to and the LED on the Down Arrow button 
will blink the number of ones the parameter is set to.  For example if the parameter is set to a 
current value of 15, the Up Arrow LED will blink once and the Down Arrow LED will blink 5 
times to indicate the parameter is set to 1 (blink) X 10  +  5 (blinks) X 1.  Of course, when a 
parameter is adjusted to its minimum or maximum value, the appropriate LED stays on solid per 
4. and 5. above. 
9.  For temporary use of the adjusted parameters:  Press and release the Setup button to exit the 
setup mode. 
10.To make the selected Special Functions into start up defaults: Press and release the Setup button 
and verify the setup LED is lit.  Then press and holdthe GPS (Select Load) button.  Verify that the Load 
LED is lit.  Then press and release the Deckmount switch, then release the GPS (Select Load button). 
(ThisLocks in your selections)  
How to Make System Changes with Setup 

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Automated Setup Codes 
Calibrate Compass  47  Hold Down Select Load Button, press and release Deckmount 
Button to start Calibration Process 
Load Factory Compass  49  Hold Down Select Load Button, press and release Deckmount 
Button to reload factory Compass Calibration 
Load Factory Pilot  59  Hold down Select Load Button, press and release Deckmount 
Button to Reload Factory Pilot Settings 
Throttle Speed  24  1 lowest speed, 10 highest speed 5 
Throttle Delay 25  1 least delay, 10 most delay  5 
Throttle Codes 
Tachometer Codes 
      Setup Action  Code #           Range of Settings or Responses Default 
Stby  Safety Monitor      349  2 settings  on, off, defaults to on every power up       on 
Tach   on/off      34  2 settings  on, off       on 
Show RPM      36 
                                                      1000’s blink on up Arrow 
Hold Down Select Load Button:
                                                      100’s blink on down  Arrow    
Hydraulic Codes 
Reverse Hoses  259  2 settings normal up arrow lit, reverse down arrow lit  normal 
Special Function Setup Codes 
Degrees per Step 610 choices/1,2,3,4,5,10,15,30,45,or 90 Degrees 15 
Circle Time 7  10 choices/ 1,2,3,4,5,10,,15,30,45,or 90 Minutes  5 
Zig-Zag Amplitude  8  10 choices 5 to 50 degrees by 5’s  30 
Zig-Zag Period  9  20 choices 1 to 20 minutes by 1’s 3 
MOB overshoot  28  1 most overshoot command, 40 most undershoot command  20 
Cloverleaf Length  29  500 ft to 1000 ft by 50 ft increments  1000 
Search Spacing  249  50 ft to 1000 ft by 50 ft increments 50 
Table of Setup Codes 

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