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Configuring a Spy Pole

After installing a Spy™ pole and connecting it to the chartplotter, you are prompted to start a setup wizard to perform the initial configuration and calibration. You can adjust each configuration value or perform calibration if you skipped the setup wizard or want to refine any of the specific settings.

  1. From the Spy™ Pole control bar, select Menu button > Installation > Calibrate.
  2. Select an option:
  3. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the configuration or calibration.
  4. Repeat this procedure for any other settings you want to configure or calibrate.

Calibrating the Spy Heading Sensor Paired with a Spy Pole

You are prompted to calibrate the Spy™ heading sensor after installation. You can perform this process from the chartplotter if you skipped the initial calibration or want to calibrate it again to provide better results.

NOTE: A Spy™ heading sensor is required only if there is no other source of heading information available to the chartplotter over the NMEA 2000® network, Garmin BlueNet™ network, or Garmin® Marine Network.
  1. If necessary, add the Spy™ Pole control bar to a screen (Adding the Spy Pole Controls to Screens).
  2. From the Spy™ Pole control bar, select Menu button > Installation > Calibrate > Spy™ Heading Sensor.

    The calibration wizard opens.

  3. Select Begin and follow the on-screen instructions until the compass calibration is complete, taking care to keep the boat as steady and level as possible.

    The boat should not list during calibration.

    If possible, you can turn the vessel in place by engaging two engines in opposite directions.

    NOTE: If the heading performance is unacceptable after calibration, you may need to relocate the sensor and calibrate the compass again. Refer to the Spy™ pole installation instructions for further details.
  4. Select Auto Heading Alignment.
    NOTE: This alignment method is available only if there is a GPS source present on the Garmin BlueNet network or Garmin Marine Network. If a GPS source is not connected, you must align the heading manually (Adjusting the Fine Heading Alignment).
  5. Select Begin.
  6. Follow the on-screen instructions until the alignment is complete.

Adjusting the Fine Heading Alignment

If you do not have a GPS source present on the Garmin BlueNet network or Garmin Marine Network, the Auto Heading Alignment option is not available as part of menu-based calibration. You must adjust the Fine Heading Alignment instead.

You can adjust the Fine Heading Alignment in conjunction with Auto Heading Alignment to fine-tune the heading output (optional).

  1. Start the Spy™ heading sensor calibration, and skip directly to Fine Heading Alignment.
  2. Using a landmark or a known good compass, determine the heading of your boat.
  3. Adjust the heading until it matches your measurement.
  4. Select Done.

Setting the Spy Pole Bow Offset

Based on the installation angle, the Spy™ pole may not align with the center line of your boat. For the best results, you should set the bow offset.

  1. Adjust the angle of the Spy™ pole 1 so it aligns with the center line of your boat 2, pointing straight forward.

    Bow offset with callouts
  2. From the Spy™ pole control bar, select Menu symbol > Installation > Calibrate > Bow Offset.

Calibrating the Spy Pole Steering Alignment

The Spy™ pole shaft is aligned at the factory, and should not need regular alignment. Occasionally, due to an impact or an unexpected manual shaft rotation, the Spy™ pole steering may appear off, or you may receive an error message regarding the steering alignment. You can perform this alignment procedure to correct this type of error.

  1. If necessary, deploy the Spy™ pole.
  2. From the Spy™ pole control bar, select Menu symbol > Installation > Calibrate > Steering Alignment.
  3. Follow the on-screen instructions and select Begin.
    NOTE: The Spy™ pole performs a number of steering motions during the calibration process.
  4. Wait until the calibration process is complete.

Setting the Position of the Devices on the Boat

Some advanced features of the Spy™ pole, such as the SpyLock™ feature and OneVü™ scans require you to define the position of devices and sensors on the boat. When you first connect a Spy™ pole to the chartplotter, you are prompted to begin a setup wizard, which includes the device-position configuration. You can run this again at any time to set or refine these values for the best performance.

  1. If you are not running this configuration as part of the Spy™ pole setup wizard, select Settings menu > My Vessel > Device Position.
  2. Select sensor name in the window on the left, then press Select.
  3. Select Starboard/Port Offset.
  4. Using the on-screen image as a guide, measure the distance from the center line of the boat to the installed location of the Spy™ pole.
  5. Select Starboard/Port Offset and enter the value you measured in the previous step.
  6. Select Stern Offset.
  7. Using the on-screen image as a guide, measure the distance from the stern (rear) of the boat to the installed location of the Spy™ pole.
  8. Select Stern Offset and enter the value you measured in the previous step.
  9. After you have measured and entered the values for both of these, select Back.
  10. Repeat this procedure for the other devices shown in the Device Position window.
GUID-25CCEC48-337E-47C0-8B89-5C35CCDB65AC v35
April 2026
© 2019 Garmin Ltd.