Proximity Alarms

Proximity Alarms allow you to define when your GPS alerts you that you are close to a defined set of coordinates (waypoint). It's mainly used in competitions to alert the pilot when your GPS has recorded a tracklog point close enough to the turnpoint so you know that you can continue on your way to the next waypoint. But, it can also be used to steer you away from controlled airspace which is important during everyday free-flying.

Proximity Setup - there is two parts to it - the audible alarm and the visual display on your map page.

In your Main Menu there is a "Proximity" page where you can choose a waypoint stored in your memory and define the radius around the waypoint that you wish to be notified of if you get close enough to it. When you set this your GPS will beep when you cross that border and a message will appear on your GPSs screen saying which waypoint you are "close" to. You can use this in a competition to audibly confirm that you've obtained a turnpoint (a good proximity warning) or during free-flying to warn you that you are in restricted airspace (a bad proximity warning). By defining these distances, it will also put a dashed ring around the waypoint on your GPSs map screen. If you fly while on this screen, you will visually see these areas approaching your flight path.

A more permanent/default setting is in your "Setup" menu....there is an "Alarms" tab that has an "Approach and Arrival" setting. This will give you an audible alarm with message on any point you program into a route. This is ideal for competition flying - set this value to the distance acceptable by the scorer (usually 0.4km or 0.25mi) and if you want a bit of a buffer, you can set it one value less (0.39km or 0.24mi) to ensure you are well into the cylinder.