Returning from the last trip to Catalina Island in March, the (15-yr-old) Furuno (Model 1622) starting giving the error message "HD-Sig-Miss." For this message, the manual under troubleshooting says to check the cable connection. After thorough inspection of the connections, no problem was found there.
Several telephone calls finally led to my removing the radar dome and taking it to a local shop. Fortunately, it's mounted on a transom post where it can be reached with a ladder from the dock, and not mounted half-way up the mast. The problem--a faulty magnetic reed switch. Evidently, when the radar arm rotates a magnet attached to the arm passes over a reed switch, activating it with each sweep. If the switch is not activated, you get the error message. Thus, more than one thing could be at fault--what ever it is that prevents the switch from being activated. Alternative possible "fixes" I was advised-- check that the belt driving the arm has not broken or fallen off somehow; check that the magnet has not fallen off the arm. Another possibility--check that the reed switch itself has not fallen off its little mount beneath the rotating arm.
A "one-day" fix once it's in the shop and if they have the part on hand. Altogether, including time on the ladder, two trips to the shop (not close), and half a dozen telephone calls--about 3 days plus a hundred dollars. Add two days if you have to wait for the part.
Several telephone calls finally led to my removing the radar dome and taking it to a local shop. Fortunately, it's mounted on a transom post where it can be reached with a ladder from the dock, and not mounted half-way up the mast. The problem--a faulty magnetic reed switch. Evidently, when the radar arm rotates a magnet attached to the arm passes over a reed switch, activating it with each sweep. If the switch is not activated, you get the error message. Thus, more than one thing could be at fault--what ever it is that prevents the switch from being activated. Alternative possible "fixes" I was advised-- check that the belt driving the arm has not broken or fallen off somehow; check that the magnet has not fallen off the arm. Another possibility--check that the reed switch itself has not fallen off its little mount beneath the rotating arm.
A "one-day" fix once it's in the shop and if they have the part on hand. Altogether, including time on the ladder, two trips to the shop (not close), and half a dozen telephone calls--about 3 days plus a hundred dollars. Add two days if you have to wait for the part.
