After unpacking and inserting two fresh AA batteries ( I don't recommend "bargain" brands), press the red PWR button on the front of the unit. After about five seconds, you will notice a screen that has a large circle with some small circles around it. This is could be called the "satellite status" screen. The large circle can be thought of as the earth, and the smaller circles are satellites. When the smaller circles darken, that means that the receiver is receiving signals from that particular satellite. You need a minimum of three satellites to be able to navigate with a GPS. Four satellites will allow you to get elevation information. Regardless of what you see on the screen, push the "menu" button. Press the right arrow button on the keypad until the display says "Setup- press ent to change". Once again, press the right arrow button. you will be able to set particular features, such as whether you want your GPS to show true north or magnetic north, screen contrast, and map datums. The most important is the "EZ Start" screen. On this screen you will be asked what country and state you are currently in. With this information, your GPS will be able to "fix" your current position, making subsequent uses of the GPS much quicker to initialize. It will take about fifteen minutes for the GPS to initially fix your position. Unless you travel more than 300 miles with your receiver off, you will not have to go through these steps again. Subsequent startups (when you turn the unit on) will only take about twenty seconds for the receiver to be fully operational. When you see the word "tracking" in the lower right hand corner of the screen, your unit is ready for use. Probably the first thing that you will want to is to "landmark" your present position (your home?). Simply press the "Mark" button. Take a drive down the road, and you will notice that the unit will tell you exactly how far you away and what your bearing is to your home. Of course, their is much more that you can do with your new GPS, but then this is supposed to be a "basic" guide. Good Luck!