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Other Humminbird Products => Other Humminbird Fish Finders => Topic started by: joeyd50 on July 27, 2012, 10:13:14 PM

Title: No GPS
Post by: joeyd50 on July 27, 2012, 10:13:14 PM
Hi, this is my first question, I picked up a 787c2 off a friend, I purchased a AS-GR 16 antenna, hooked it up but I get no GPS,  I checked  and everything is hooked up correctly, but on the Accessory Test page it says GPS UNCONNECTED, anything else I can look for to get this thing working?Is there something I'm missing or something else I need to do to get the GPS working?
Thanks
 Joe
Title: Re: No GPS
Post by: sonar2000 on July 28, 2012, 06:33:03 PM
Well, several questioions.
Do you know that the unit worked before you bought it..?
The GR16 is one of the older antennas, do you know if it worked?

Not a lot you can do except try swapping units and antennas with a working Unit..

Chuck.
Title: Re: No GPS
Post by: joeyd50 on July 29, 2012, 10:09:50 AM
Thanks for getting back to me Chuck, the guy I got the unit from said he never had a problem, he has another 787c2 he's going to let me try. I checked with Hummingbird and that is the correct antenna, and it was new in a unopened package, I like to fine out if there's any way to check a antenna.
Joe 
Title: Re: No GPS
Post by: sonar2000 on July 29, 2012, 10:57:22 AM
Joe....Probably the best way to check is to try on another unit that works.
The GR16 is an older earlier antenna. The news ones are the GR50..

They both will work, The 16 is just a bit slower..

Chuck
Title: Re: No GPS
Post by: SonarTRX on July 29, 2012, 05:55:59 PM
Hi Joe,

You could in addition check/try these things:

1. Is the GPS connected to the main GPS connector, not the second NMEA connector in the back of the unit?
[Edit: Ignore this suggestion, since it might only apply to 900 series and higher...]

2. Clean the connector with contact cleaner and make sure it is secured. The GPS is powered throught the plug, so it will will be intermittent & if it does not have a reliable power feed.

3. Are you receiving Serial telegrams (NMEA-style text-messages) from the GPS - via the tail-end cable on the GPS connector? To test this, wire up the tail-end to a DB-9 plug and connect it to a computer's RS232 port (or use a Serial to USB adapter if your computer does not have a DB-9 serial port.)

4. Are you outside, so the GPS can get a good fix when doing these tests?
(If poor satellite visibility, it may take a while...)

...Wiring scheme is shown in this post:
http://forums.sideimagingsoft.com/index.php?topic=3856.msg23210#msg23210 (http://forums.sideimagingsoft.com/index.php?topic=3856.msg23210#msg23210))


Tore

Title: Re: No GPS
Post by: joeyd50 on July 29, 2012, 06:58:17 PM
  A lot of stuff your talking about is all way over my head. I took the antenna out of the package and plugged it into the bottom of the unit, it did come with a Y connector cable that I did not use. I put a Hummingbird 595 in my sons boat and that was all I did and his works fine. I might have missed a step?
 Joe
Title: Re: No GPS
Post by: sonar2000 on July 30, 2012, 07:55:06 AM
Joey, you are right it can get a bit over the head for some.
To make it simple...
Try the antenna on another unit.
Try the unit on another antenna.
Have a computer or electrical friend clean the plugs.

Chuck
Title: Re: No GPS
Post by: joeyd50 on July 30, 2012, 04:27:17 PM
Thanks Chuck, the guy I purchased this from has another unit he's suppose to let me try. Chuck I'm going to copy the instructions, if you get a chance look at the diagram on page 8, all I did was run the wire from the antenna to the back of the unit, does it look like i skipped a connection. I have a short Y wire that I did not use. http://www.humminbird.com/PDF/AS_GR16.pdf (http://www.humminbird.com/PDF/AS_GR16.pdf)
Joe
Title: Re: No GPS
Post by: joeyd50 on July 30, 2012, 08:29:26 PM
Sorry it's page 3 ::)
Title: Re: No GPS
Post by: sonar2000 on July 31, 2012, 10:42:32 AM
Yep, just plug the GR into the fishfinder. tape or wire nut the other wires (do not leave bare) as they are output wires.
Chuck
Title: Re: No GPS
Post by: Humminbird_Greg on July 31, 2012, 02:06:16 PM
Joeyd50, I believe that I replied to your post on another web site.  Let us know how this turns out.

Title: Re: No GPS
Post by: joeyd50 on August 01, 2012, 07:57:18 PM
I want to thank everyone for trying to help, still no GPS. I know how GPS's work been using them for years hunting, and I had a little Lowrance H2O on my boat with a Hummingbird Wide 100, still have both of them, this 787c2 is acting like I don't even have a antenna hooked up. I get no satellite page at all, just the test page saying GPS Unconnected.
Joe
PS: I'm going to try and update my software, I'm running 3.240 and there is a 5.420 available, maybe this will fix things
Thanks Again
  Joe 
Title: Re: No GPS
Post by: joeyd50 on August 03, 2012, 11:40:42 AM
I couldn't do the software update I suck with computers >:(, How bout does anyone know were I can get this checked out besides Hummingbird they want Like $170.00 to look at it. Be nice if it was close by.
Thanks
 Joe
Turnersville area NJ
Title: Re: No GPS
Post by: ITGEEK on August 03, 2012, 12:43:28 PM
Joe, I know you're frustrated, but probably in the long
run, it would be better if you could figure out how to do
the software updates.
All of these units have multiple software updates come
out.   Some are good, and some are not so good.
In your case, it would be best to run the newest software,
then at least you know you've covered all the basis
before sending your unit in to Humminbird to pay to
get it fixed.

We're here to help.
Tell us what you did on your software update,
and where things went wrong.
Title: Re: No GPS
Post by: sonar2000 on August 03, 2012, 01:47:25 PM
Joe, here is the suggested update procedure.

http://forums.sideimagingsoft.com/index.php?topic=14.0 (http://forums.sideimagingsoft.com/index.php?topic=14.0)

Chuck
Title: Re: No GPS
Post by: joeyd50 on August 03, 2012, 03:03:35 PM


We're here to help.
Tell us what you did on your software update,
and where things went wrong.
This is what I did, I log into my account, my unit is there with the avalable software download, I click on the download and I get a pop up saying that says save file or open, I did it twice once with save file and once with open with, when I hit save file I get a pop up saying, You are attenpting to open a file type 'BIN FILE' (.bin)
These files are used by operating systems and by various programs, editing or modifying them could damage your system
If you still want to open file, click open with, otherwise click cancel.
When I click open with, I get a pop up saying Windows can not open this file, then it give the file number and a choice to used the web to open file I pick the web to open file then I get, no known program will open this file. Thats as far as I could get, I tried several times with same outcome
Title: Re: No GPS
Post by: sonar2000 on August 03, 2012, 06:13:06 PM
Joey, dont open the file.  Windows cant open a .Bin file......
Ensure your sd cards have been formatted...(FAT32)

If you have waypoints I would save them to a separate sd card before starting this process..

Make sure you have a current copy of your current software....... you can download a backup copy for your current release on a blank sd card.
Then take another sd card with nothing on it and..download the update to your sd card.  Or to your computer and copy it to the sd card.
Remove any sd cards from the unit.
Turn on your unit and restore factory defaults.
Insert the sd card.
Follow all prompts and most of all wait for it to finish.
Sometimes it may take a bit to complete the sd card to unit transfer (update).
Restore factory defaults again.
Try your unit without any sd cards in it.

Chuck
Title: Re: No GPS
Post by: joeyd50 on August 03, 2012, 07:38:29 PM
If Windows won't open the file then how do I open it?
Thanks
 Joe
Title: Re: No GPS
Post by: ITGEEK on August 03, 2012, 08:43:28 PM
Joey,
You're not opening the file.
You are saving it to your sd card.
Have your SD card reader in your computer, with the SD card in it.
It will probably be drive E: or maybe D:.
After you save the update to your SD card, then take it out of your computer.

When you put your SD card (with the update on it) into your Humminbird unit,
the .bin file will be executed.
Title: Re: No GPS
Post by: joeyd50 on August 04, 2012, 11:04:50 AM
ITGEEK, Chuck, you guys have been great hanging in with me. OK, I formatted my SD card (FAT32) I checked the card in my PC and it's blink, I opened my account and  download my update, check PC and now it has Profile Text Document 1KB. I power up my unit, restore defaults, confirm restore, insert card and nothing happens. It's supposed to ask me if I want to install new software according to the instructions but I get nothing. I'm really stumped.
 Joe
Title: Re: No GPS
Post by: Jim Jack on August 04, 2012, 11:07:22 AM
Turn off your unit, insert card, power on unit and it will ask if you want to update.
Title: Re: No GPS
Post by: joeyd50 on August 04, 2012, 12:04:19 PM
Turn off your unit, insert card, power on unit and it will ask if you want to update.
Did what you said and the unit comes on but says nothing about updating software.
Title: Re: No GPS
Post by: sonar2000 on August 04, 2012, 05:09:48 PM
It sounds like you did not download the .bin for your unit.
the unit will not recognize other upgrades....only the one for your unit.

Look at your download on the sd card and see if it looks right in file size from the download.

Make sure you inserted the card fully into the unit..

Hmmmmmmm

chuck
 
Title: Re: No GPS
Post by: ITGEEK on August 04, 2012, 05:22:54 PM
Once you download/save the file to your SD card, you will
have a file on the card that ends with .bin.
If you don't have that, it probably downloaded it to your computer
somewhere.
It won't hurt anything to do it again.
The target drive where you will save the file is your SD card, maybe E: or D:
Title: Re: No GPS
Post by: joeyd50 on August 04, 2012, 06:52:46 PM
I finally got the new software on my 787c2 ;D, I still don't have GPS :'(, it still says GPS Unconnected. I'm still open to suggestions on that GPS issue, any help is appreciated.
Thanks
 Joe
Title: Re: No GPS
Post by: Humminbird_Greg on August 06, 2012, 02:43:16 PM
I am curious: why didn’t you get the GPS Receiver that was on your friend’s boat when you bought the 787c2 unit?

Do you know for certain that the GPS worked when this unit was on his boat?

Was the GPS Receiver plugged directly into the 787c2 unit than?


Try testing someone else’s Humminbird Combo unit on your boat and GR16 GPS Receiver.  This will be the only way to know for sure whether the new GR16 or the 787c2 unit is bad.  Testing can be done with any model Humminbird Combo (sonar + GPS) unit that uses an external GPS Receiver.

Title: Re: No GPS
Post by: joeyd50 on August 06, 2012, 05:21:18 PM
Hear goes the whole story, a friend of my son's boat was being repossessed, he had two 787c2  on his boat, right before the boat was taking he removed both the Fishfinders quickly buy just cutting the wires. My son has a Nitro bass boat and his 595c took a crap, he bought one of the units thinking he could use his puck and transducer, but there not the same, my son owed me a few bucks so I git the 787c2 from him. I picked up a new transducer and antenna for $149.00 on E-Bay both new in a unopened package. The guy my son got it from is going to drop the other one off so I can try it on my boat.
Title: Re: No GPS
Post by: joeyd50 on August 13, 2012, 05:40:34 PM
It wasn't the 595 that took a crap on my sons boat it was his front unit I think it was a 495 or 395 I'm not sure but it's a color fishfinder without GPS.
  Joe
Title: Re: No GPS
Post by: aza bajourn on October 12, 2012, 05:48:35 PM
joey i have a 787c2 as well and my screen says the same  not connected.  it used to work but stopped.  i bought a new antenna  but unfortunately  no fix what a waste of money   next im going to open it up and inspect .  maybe i will buy a lowrance  if it cant be fixed.  its something to do with the unit  its not you joey
Title: Re: No GPS
Post by: joeyd50 on October 12, 2012, 08:43:40 PM
I sent it back to Humminbird, cost me $180.00, but I think they sent me a completely rebuilt unit. I can't say for sure but it sure looks new.
Title: Re: No GPS
Post by: wpda on October 14, 2012, 09:16:29 PM
YOUR UNIT NEEDS A FET REPLACED IN THE ACCESSORY POWER SUPPLY CIRCUIT
SEND IT TO YOUR LOCAL REPAIR AGENT AND THEY WILL DO THE SOFTWARE FOR YOU AT THE SAME TIME
THIS IS A BASIC COMPONENT LEVEL REPAIR AND SHOULD NOT BE TOO EXSPENSIVE
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