I have an older Autohelm system that was intalled probably when the boat was new that includes depth, speed, wind, and GPS at the helm along with a chartplotter down below. This past week I launched the boat and my GPS indicated "no fix" both at the helm and at the chartplotter. I didn't do any work to any electronics over the winter. Last year I did not have any problems and all worked as it should have. Any suggestions as where to start looking for the problem? Thanks.
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It needs time, so I'm told.
Took my Garmin GPS 120 off the boat for a few months and then hooked it up again,it took a few hours to reaquire the satellites, now works fine. I cant explain it, but it took a while and now all is ok.
Took my Garmin GPS 120 off the boat for a few months and then hooked it up again,it took a few hours to reaquire the satellites, now works fine. I cant explain it, but it took a while and now all is ok.
We, in the Satellite Industry...
Have this thing called the "4 Ps". This is used when trouble shooting any piece of satellite receiving equipment. They are... Power Pointing Parameters Parts I think you have the Power solved if you are getting an error message. That leaves the other three. Pointing is with a satellite dish, but it is still an antenna. Higgs mentioned the antenna. I agree, check to see that the cabling is fine and the connectors are clean. Parameters are tricky. Some GPS receivers take longer to acquire if they do not know where they are initially. My Garmin GPS12 takes longer to acquire if I have not had batteries in the unit for some time. I have to tell it that I am in the Western US. Then it narrows down whatever algorithms it uses to acquire. Check your parameters to make sure you are looking in the right place. Hearing a satellite is one thing. Thinking it is the "right" satellite is another thing. Parts just means if everything else appears to be working, then something in the unit is broken. It is possible that the receiver is no longer working. Might need to be replaced. If you have a handheld, they entering local data from that into your GPS and see if it will acquire then. Good luck.
Have this thing called the "4 Ps". This is used when trouble shooting any piece of satellite receiving equipment. They are... Power Pointing Parameters Parts I think you have the Power solved if you are getting an error message. That leaves the other three. Pointing is with a satellite dish, but it is still an antenna. Higgs mentioned the antenna. I agree, check to see that the cabling is fine and the connectors are clean. Parameters are tricky. Some GPS receivers take longer to acquire if they do not know where they are initially. My Garmin GPS12 takes longer to acquire if I have not had batteries in the unit for some time. I have to tell it that I am in the Western US. Then it narrows down whatever algorithms it uses to acquire. Check your parameters to make sure you are looking in the right place. Hearing a satellite is one thing. Thinking it is the "right" satellite is another thing. Parts just means if everything else appears to be working, then something in the unit is broken. It is possible that the receiver is no longer working. Might need to be replaced. If you have a handheld, they entering local data from that into your GPS and see if it will acquire then. Good luck.
Where is the antenna mounted?
If you mounted it on something that you took down for the winter, like a radar mast, you may have pinched a cable re-assembling or gotten it chewed up in, say, the steering chain? If that's the case, bad news; the new cable will probably cost about as much as a new unit (at least if it's a Standard Horizon). Good Luck!
If you mounted it on something that you took down for the winter, like a radar mast, you may have pinched a cable re-assembling or gotten it chewed up in, say, the steering chain? If that's the case, bad news; the new cable will probably cost about as much as a new unit (at least if it's a Standard Horizon). Good Luck!
Memory Battery??
Many GPS units have a separate battery to retain the memory after you turn the unit off. It is usually internal and should be replaced by a certified tech. The GPS may not be able to aquire satellites correctly if this battery is dead. My early Raytheon unit has had the memory battery replaced several times.
Many GPS units have a separate battery to retain the memory after you turn the unit off. It is usually internal and should be replaced by a certified tech. The GPS may not be able to aquire satellites correctly if this battery is dead. My early Raytheon unit has had the memory battery replaced several times.
Memory Battery??
Many GPS units have a separate battery to retain the memory after you turn the unit off. It is usually internal and should be replaced by a certified tech. The GPS may not be able to aquire satellites correctly if this battery is dead. My early Raytheon unit has had the memory battery replaced several times.
Many GPS units have a separate battery to retain the memory after you turn the unit off. It is usually internal and should be replaced by a certified tech. The GPS may not be able to aquire satellites correctly if this battery is dead. My early Raytheon unit has had the memory battery replaced several times.
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