Topic: GPS quit working

[Dblakney]

My GPS quit working when I was going down river the other day. It hooked directly to my unit, I've unplugged it and plugged it back in and it's still not working. Any Ideas?

[ITGEEK]

You could try bending the pins on the gps connector wire out a little to create a better
connection.  Be careful.

Look at your accessory test screen and see if the unit recognizes that
your gps is connected.
Look at your gps diagnostic screen and see what it shows.

Make sure that you have the newest software installed.
Make sure you charge up, then load test your battery.
Check your power connections to the unit.
Check that your gps wire is not cut or kinked somewhere.
That's all I got.

Good luck.

[Humminbird_Greg]

Check the cable for the GPS Receiver for damage.

Try testing your Humminbird unit on someone else’s boat that is running a Humminbird unit that also uses an external GPS Receiver.  It does not have to be the same model as the 898c Si unit can use the all.  This can be done with the boat on the trailer but does need to be done outside so that the GPS Receiver can receive the signals from the satellites.

[Dblakney]

Where is the GPS diagnostic screen?

[ITGEEK]

It's one of the built-in screens.
Look under your views menu.
You must set it to 'Visible', rather than 'Hidden' to be able to see it.
Then, you can press your View button until it displays.

[Dblakney]

If the head unit is showing its unconnected will it still show the GPS diagnostic window

[ITGEEK]

That's an extremely good question and probably one that only
Greg could answer.
I have no idea.

[Humminbird_Greg]

The unit should not show the GPS Diagnostic View if it does not detect a GPS Receiver connected to it.

[Dblakney]

If my unit is not getting enough power would it cause my GPS not to work? Just wondering because my battery is old and I need a new one.

[Humminbird_Greg]

Yes we have seen GPS issues if the unit is not getting the power it needs.

[sonar2000]

When power issues are at front you can turn off the sonar thus reducing the power needs and see if GPS or Nav works.
As ITGeek has said in several past posts battery condition is more than 12 volts static. You must check the battery under load.
The best as he pointed out is a battery store that has the machine to load test the cells.
Also it is best to run the sonar on its own dedicated battery and not sharing with any thing else.
Of course good electrical connections are the next point..
Chuck