LOST FIX on Chart plotter

[John Richard]

Our boat has a full line of Ratheon electronics including an RN300 chart plotter. I have been getting LOST FIX messages for the past year. Ratheon told me to check the electrical connections. All are fine. The antenna for the unit is shaped like a bagel and is properly installed. Any ideas?John Richards/v Jack's Place

 

[kanga6610]

Lost fix

It may help if you could describe the frequency & duration of these losses. We experience occasional dropouts here but rarely for more than 10 minutes. It might be interesting to borrow a handheld and see if the same happens.

 

[Ken Lewis]

Antenna Blocked

Our antenna is mounted where people sitting on the stern seat can shield it and then we get the 'lost fix' notification. We just ensure that folks sitting there do not get near the antenna.....maybe this or something similar is your problem. Also, the 'lost HSB' error is more indicative of a wiring problem.

 

[John Richard]

More information on LOST FIX

I forgot the most important thing. When I lose the fix, I find that the chart plotter has turned itself off. So, I doubt it is a blocked antenna.John Richard

 

[Jack]

Message for kanga

We sail out of Escanaba in the upper peninsula of Michigan at the North end of Green Bay. A few years ago, when the GPS satelite coverage was not complete, we too experienced infrequent GPS dropouts. It turned out that our GPS (Garmin 45) was programed to withhold a fix if the available satelites were nearly in a straight line. This was because under those conditions, large errors can occur. The message was poor GPS coverage even though we could see that 3 or 4 satellites were being received. The time that the satelites lined up was once a day at a time that progressed each day (I forget how many minutes) and the down time was about 10 minutes. I don't know how good your coverage is there, but this might explain your situation.

 

[Paul Akers]

Now it sounds like an Electrical Connection...

...to the chartplotter when it turns itself off. Or is that what it's supposed to do?

 

[Tom]

Have you checked to see if the antenna is screwed in?

I have a Raychart 435 and it used to give me a lost fix and turn itself off also. I have a new B361 so I have been asking the dealer for advice. He was not able to figure it out but my wife was able to. She was seating next to the antenna when the chartplotter was acting up and she looked at it and asked me, Is is suppose to be so loose? Well she screwed it in and so far no problems. It is working like a charm. Now if I can get the speed transducer to work correctly. Thanks,Tom