Topic: Lost GPS Signal

[doninlouisiana]

My 797 is just over a year old and has worked flawlessly until today. I get out on the water and find my unit's  GPS says it is not connected? Strange as nothing has changed with regard to wires, etc? I had my Navionics chip in and it showed my position but with a circle instead of the boat icon. Can someone give me some advice please? Thanks in advance

Don

[RGecy]

Don,

My first suggestion would be to check the connectors.  Have had quite a few issues with pins not getting good contact.

I would gently bend the pins slightly outward to help make better connection. 

Do you have any accessories installed?  If so, check the Y-cable connections also and again, bend the pins outward slightly!

Good Luck and let us know if this helps.

Thanks,

Robert

[sonar2000]

It does appear that there is a loss of connection on a lot of units. Probably due in part to the type of connectors used to make contact.  Slide pin connection with out a positive lock maybe lending itself to the problem.  All ready built units will continue to have problems but maybe future units construction can use a different connector system. Ones with a locking or twist plug.   
I am exploring the option of using epoxy to secure my power cable (1197) at the unit. Since the unit is out of warrenty I can afford to do this at the power connection.  Of course this will be a pigtail connection to the main power distributor. 
I guess also that we must have a maintenance schedule to check on pin tightness.  At least we might be able to ward off problems this way.
Another thought is to secure the cables to prevent a drooping condition that might tug on the connector. 
If the cables are well connected the HB units perform very well. I am impressed with the picture of the bottom and the clarity.

Chuck

[Humminbird_Greg]

Don,
If the unit was still showing a Chart View then it must have been recognizing that a GPS Receiver was connected to it on some level.  The circle meant that it was not detecting that the boat was moving.

Are you using an AS-YC Y-cable between the GPS Receiver and the unit?

Which GPS Receiver are you using with your 797 unit?

Pull the black plastic cap off the end of the second (shorter) wire that is coming out of connector of the GPS Receiver.  There should be three wires under it.  Make sure that the Red wire is not making contact with either of the other two wires.

Try testing your unit on someone else’s boat that has a Humminbird GR16 GPS Receiver and/or their unit on your boat to see if the GPS works for them.  No matter which model it as it will work for the test.

[sonar2000]

don, when this happens  have you tried to go to the satelite menu page and see what it is sayin as far as receiving the signals.  how many and what strength?

As Greg said,  it is a question of at what level does the unit think the signals are missing. 

Chuck   

[doninlouisiana]

 Sorry I am just now getting back. I wanted to thank everyone for the replies and excellent advice, it
was indeed a connection problem. (Under the dash, the connectors had worked loose) I am now back
to my unit working 100% perfect and will buy a 798 or 898 for the bow shortly.



Don