Using a Garmin GPSMAP64 to find your Maidenhead grid

25/10/2025 | 2E0YRE - Tony Klinakis Radio Website

You can use your Garmin to get Maidenhead, but it’s not easy.

I own a Garmin GPSMAP 64, which can display your grid reference in the Maidenhead format.

The problem is, there is no quick way to switch from Maidenhead to WGS84 and vice versa. You have to go into the settings, find the right sub-sub-menu, and activate it. When you want to go back, you have to do it all over again.

I do wish that the setting could be saved in a Profile and switched more easily, this way you could switch the Garmin on, get your Maidenhead, and be on your way for contacts.

Update 2025-11-09:

It is possible to display two position formats on the screen, when using Data Fields. You can set up one data field to display Lat/Lon, and one to use the selected position format. This still means that you change the position format on the device to Maidenhead, and therefore if you use any other functions (ie. Mark), you get the Maidenhead reference which is probably not what you want.

I assume if you’re willing to set up the Garmin for a radio excursion, or if you’re willing to fiddle with it mid-excursion (and possibly get the setting wrong) you’ll be okay. The fact remains that sadly, the Garmin was not made for this use-case and it’s not really supported.

For those interested the relevant section is called Customizing the Data Fields on the manual, page 8.