Topic: Interlink Disconnection Issues

[JimG]

I have tried everything on this problem. Randomly (about 8-10 times a day) all three units lose the GPS signal. I have an 1197, 957, and 787. The first two are connected by an Interlink, and the 787 shares the GPS with a Y cable (per Humminbird's recommendation).

I have updated the software, checked the cables, etc. EVERY TIME it comes back - but I lose the GPS, then get a message "No Accessory Interlink".

Do I have a bad Interlink? Has anyone seen or heard of this problem? All three units have the latest software.

[RGecy]

Jim,

Please give some more details about you setup.  How do you have the GPS conneted?  To the interlink and then with a Y cable to the 787c?  Are you running all three units from the same GPS puck at the same time?

Robert

[JimG]

I have the 1197 and the 957 are connected with the Interlink. The 787 uses the Y-cable to share the GPS puck with the Interlink. This was provided by Humminbird via a diagram. It's the only way to have three units connected to one GPS puck. The problem showed up last year, around the time I added the third unit in (the 787). I figured it was a software issue and would be fixed by the next big update.

It ALWAYS comes back after about a minute. I know there are multiple ways to fix this, like scrapping the Interlink, or adding another GPS puck to the front unit.

I was hoping it was a known problem, because I like having the units networked.

Today I tried turning off the 787 since I thought taking the 787 out of the mix would help, but no luck. It happened again.

[RGecy]

Do you have a GR16, GR50, or GRHA and which unit do you usually power on first?  If you have a GR50 or GRHA you should make sure you always have the 1197 or 997 turned on first.  The 787 does not have the power to handle the GR50 or GRHA.

I would also do this just to troubleshoot.  First, remove the Y cable and 787 from the mix and see what happens.  If you still are losing gps, we know it may have to do with the interlink.  If not, put the Y-cable back in, but do not connet the 787 and see what happens.  And lastly, hook the 787 back up but remember to always power on the 997 or 1197 first.  One of them will always have to be on!

Robert

[JimG]

When you say "turned" on, does it have to be fully booted up and functioning? I always turn the 1197 and 787 on at the same time.  I have never waited until the 1197 is fully powered up before powering up the 787.  My next step was to take the Y cable out of the mix and see if it happens.

But shouldn't NOT powering up the 787 have the same effect as unplugging the Y cable? When I didn't turn on the 787 it happened as well.

[RGecy]

No, you could have a bad connection in the Y cable. 

As for powering on, I would let the 1197 or 997 get a GPS signal before turning on the 787.  This way you know which unit is powering the gps.  Also, the 1197 has to go thru the Interlink to find th gps and this make take a little longer than the 787 just hooked up the Y cable.

Robert

[JimG]

Robert, I have a GR16 as my GPS puck. I am going to try to troubleshoot this, but I may just take the Interlink out , and install dedicated pucks for my 1197 and 957. Which GPS puck should I get? GR50 for each? or the HA one?

I want the fastest GPS response. Taking the Interlink out will also allow me to use Enhanced GPS, as I understand it.

[Humminbird_Greg]

Using the Y-cables and additional GPS Receivers will give you the enhanced GPS refresh rate JimG.

You would want the GR50 GPS Receiver as we no longer make the GRHA GPS Receiver.  Didn’t you get these when you bought the 957 and 1197 units?

[JimG]

No, I got my boat in March 2008, and you were shipping the GR16 at that point. In any case, on my invoice from Ranger is specifically says "GR16".

I just ordered two GR50's. I am tired with wrestling with the Interlink, and if I can solve this problem AND get the Enhanced GPS, that's what I'll do.

[RGecy]

I wouldn't discount the interlink completely.  You could still use it between two of the units and have the GPS pucks going diretly to each, one to the 1197 and have the 957 and 787 share the other with a Y cable or off the NMEA pigtail.

Robert

[JimG]

I added a GPS transducer to the front unit, and it totally fixed the GPS problem. I used the Y cable to go to the puck and the Interlink. Problem is, it added a new problem.

Now when I save a waypoint on either unit, it goes to both units as it should. BUT, when I restart the 1197 at the console, the waypoint is gone! But, the waypoint is still on the front unit. There are two columns of numbers on the waypoint screen in the Interlink, and the number they are off by is the ones that are NOT being shared between the units.

As an aside, the problem is that the Interlink is rebooting. It still does it, but the unit on the front keeps it's GPS fix because it has a puck.

Any ideas on this?