Author Topic: 798 ci si GPS works sometimes, sometimes it doesn't  (Read 5385 times)

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Offline John O

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798 ci si GPS works sometimes, sometimes it doesn't
« on: June 24, 2013, 12:37:04 PM »
Hi All....New to this forum....I have a Zx 190 with 2 798 ci si installed, one in teh bow and the other in teh drivers console. I keep getting errors where my GPS will not work...Sometimes it says disconnected, sometimes it says not available.

Am sedning my units back to Humminbird but was also told that an external antenna would be better.  These units are 3 months old and have never worked properly...Sometimes after 2 hours units will work, sometimes all day they do not work, other times they work fine.

So I am clueless and just wanted to see if anyone else had these issues.

Thanks


Offline ITGEEK

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Re: 798 ci si GPS works sometimes, sometimes it doesn't
« Reply #1 on: June 24, 2013, 12:41:23 PM »
Since you did not say what you have checked,
I have to ask:
Have you load tested your batterie(s),
and checked all connections, and fuses?

Offline John O

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Re: 798 ci si GPS works sometimes, sometimes it doesn't
« Reply #2 on: June 24, 2013, 12:46:49 PM »
Pretty much checked everything, took the boat back to the dealer and had them check just to make sure everything was connected properly. Boat is 3 months old and has about 6 hours on it so far.

Dealer did load test on batteries, checked connections etc...and everything was fine.

Talked with Humminbird this morning and they asked me to send the units back to them, which I will. They said they had some updates they could try.

I am hearing that some of these console have metal in them and it messes up the signal thus causing errors but I have no clue, some people say an external antenna works better, again I have no idea.

Just wondering if the consoles are such a big deal why would teh manufacturor install them and not put the external antenna on it to make it work properly.

Offline ITGEEK

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Re: 798 ci si GPS works sometimes, sometimes it doesn't
« Reply #3 on: June 24, 2013, 01:00:52 PM »
In my opinion, I'd rather have an external gps module.
It's bigger (more surface to catch signals), and you can mount it
anywhere on the boat.  You can also angle it.

Maybe for ease of installation, and price, that's why they have
internal gps modules.

Remember, to go external, you have to buy an additional cable,
and gps module, $200+ new for top of the line.

Offline John O

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Re: 798 ci si GPS works sometimes, sometimes it doesn't
« Reply #4 on: June 24, 2013, 01:05:30 PM »
Ok...I was "Told" that the external antenna just plugs into the back of the unit and is a real simple installation.

I'll check on the antenna as well. Will wait till I get the units back from Humminbird to see how they perform. Just seemed odd that the console is the problem since so many are mounted in the console

Offline ITGEEK

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Re: 798 ci si GPS works sometimes, sometimes it doesn't
« Reply #5 on: June 24, 2013, 01:14:03 PM »
It's easy to plug the external gps module cable into the back of the
unit, yes.
But, you have to figure where to put that extra cable, and
where to mount the GPS module.
You want to mount so that the incoming GPS signals won't get
blocked.  People and equipment can block the signals.

Offline Humminbird_Greg

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Re: 798 ci si GPS works sometimes, sometimes it doesn't
« Reply #6 on: June 24, 2013, 01:23:20 PM »
Hey John O and welcome to the Side imaging Forums.

Are both 798ci units doing this at both locations?
Are both installed ‘indash’ or is the bow unit mounted in the open?

This does sound more like a power related issue more than anything else.  Can you cross-test at least one of the unit on someone else's boat that uses the same type of mount?  It does not have to be another 798ci Si unit and can be done with the boat on the trailer.
Greg Walters at Humminbird
gwalters@johnsonoutdoors.com

Offline John O

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Re: 798 ci si GPS works sometimes, sometimes it doesn't
« Reply #7 on: June 24, 2013, 02:05:44 PM »
Greg...when you say a "Power" issue, what exactly are you talking about.....Do you mean the batteries for the boat? Or does this unit have it's own batteries?

These inits are installed in 2 different places...one is installed on the bow right above the trolling motor foot pedal...the other is installed in the drivers side console in the center right above the steering wheel.

Supposedly there is an interlink cable that goes from one unit to another.

What makes it weird is that sometimes they work fine and other times nothing.  When I talked with a Pro Staff at the SOT he said that the external antenna would be best for this application...I'll forward you the e-mail if you would like.

Offline Humminbird_Greg

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Re: 798 ci si GPS works sometimes, sometimes it doesn't
« Reply #8 on: June 24, 2013, 04:01:41 PM »
By power I mean voltage and current.  While the units may have the proper voltage getting to them we have seen GPS (and other) issues caused by a lack of current from poor electrical connections (loose or corroded) or from using too small of a wire diameter.  Wiring the units directly to the battery they are powered from usually eliminates this.  An easy way to test for this is to temporarily wire the unit directly to the battery using only the Humminbird power cable.

Are these units connected with an InterLink module or with an Ethernet cable?
Check to see which is shown as “CONNECTED” by going to the Accessory Test View.  You may have to set this as “Visible” under the Views menu tab.
Also check and see which GPS Receiver each unit is set to use by looking at the GPS Override menu and in the case of an Ethernet connection; the Network Source Setup menus.
Greg Walters at Humminbird
gwalters@johnsonoutdoors.com


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