Lost GPS heading, speed & position

D

Dale777

Well-known member
Joined
Feb 21, 2011
Messages
331
Fluid Motion Model
C-302 C
Hull Identification Number
FMLT3132L314
Vessel Name
TANGENT (2014)
On my 2014 R31S, GPS Heading and Speed are no longer shown on the 7215 chartplotter. They show with 3 underscores: _ _ _

GPS Position shows Latitude and Longitude from where the boat was the last time everything worked, but it never changes as the boat moves through the water now. The boat icon on the chart never moves even when the boat moves through the water.

The Autopilot does show a Heading. The Radar works.
Device list shows:
AIS600
GHC10
GHP10
GMR18HD
GPS 19x-NMEA 2000
GPSMAP 7215

I unplugged and re-plugged all connectors, including power, on the back of the 7215 chartplotter, but no help. I unplugged and reconnected the radar connectors on the radar antenna, but no help.

Any diagnostic suggestions?
 
Could be the GPS antenna. It is showing up on your list though. Have you checked the connection at the antenna? Maybe time to call Garmin support. They are pretty helpful.
 
After exchanging several texts with Andrew Custis in which I noted all the items in my original post above, he suggested the problem was a bad GPS antenna. But then on 2nd thought he suggested I power down the entire system. So, I turned off the battery disconnects for Engine, House, and Thruster. I then waited about 2 minutes, then turned those disconnects back on. When I started the 7215, the GPS Heading and GPS Speed appeared to be okay although the boat was then stationary in its slip after sunset. The Satellite View showed 12 satellites found, whereas before there were none. It appears that the problem is fixed.

On Sunday, I will take the boat out to confirm that all is working okay while underway. If so, it is certainly a puzzle why I needed to cut power completely to get everything working again.

I don't like puzzles like that. I've been a software engineer a good part of my working career, so having to reset, reboot, or completely power down and up always bothers me. That situation always suggests a hardware or software bug that needs to be specifically identified and fixed.
 
I have had the same problem with the Garmin 7616 several times last Summer, including while underway. Same fix - hard reboot of the system. I also have a software background and agree that it looks like a software error. I have an iPad mini running Navionics as a backup.

Sean
 
This is interesting. I just remembered, last week as I was anchoring I had a similar situation. It appeared that my screen froze. I lost my depth sounder, and no movement of my icon. My fix was a bit different. I turned the unit off and then on and all was better.
 
We have a 7612 and lost chart plotter functions twice. Screen froze, lost gps heading and location. I shut the unit down and restarted the unit and same condition. When we arrived back at the dock I turned the house battery off for a few minutes. I then switched house battery on and powered up plotter everything worked as normal. I called Garmin, their response was "most likely need a update" (pre active captain) I downloaded the newest update ,put it on a SD card and loaded the update on the 7612. I've not had the problem again.
 
After the turning off power for a few minutes at all three of the battery disconnects yesterday, my problem appeared to be fixed. Today, I took the boat out for a short run to confirm that fix worked. All GPS functions on the chartplotter are now working properly. I don't like this type of "fix" of power off then on. This situation remains a puzzle.

I also have a backup chartplotter with Navionics running on my wife's Android tablet and on my Android cell phone. Given the number of people who report Garmin chartplotter issues, I think it is critical to have a backup plan. What I need now is a good mount for the Android tablet, if I am forced to use it.
 
One excellent thing to note in this situation: Hurray once again for Andrew!

He was willing to exchange texts with me late on a Saturday afternoon offering ideas, one of which worked. This is great service from Ranger Tugs.
 
I have been reading all the replies and have decided to throw my two cents in. I have a 2014 31S and my auto pilot has had trouble since I bought it new. It will not find the controller at times when starting up. I have to go behind and unplug it and plug it back in as a “hard restart” before it will work. Andrew, a long time ago told me about this and I have to do it several times during the year. I still don’t know what the problem is, but the “hard restart” seems to work. I wish someone could figure out a permanent fix.
Rick and Becky
R&R
 
we have the same problem as rjohnson58. Have to power down autopilot controller when display cannot find. Usually turning off house power for a minute will work, easier than reaching back to controller plug. Wish I could identify the fuse.
 
I'm curious if the symptoms you are all experiencing are also caused by the NEMA bus.

My friend has been chasing issues with his auto pilot on his 29CB. I occasionally encountered issues with my auto pilot not able to communicate with the chart plotter either. We don't get the "Follow Route" option, just "Engage Circle".

Andrew or Garmin told my friend sometimes the NEMA bus gets corrupt and devices on that bus loose communication with one another.

The"fix" is to remove power from the bus. On the 29CB it appears this is a dedicated circuit and you have to find the fuse, or as most of you have done, turn off all batteries. On my 25SC, the NEMA bus gets its power from the Fusion radio. There's a setting which supplies (or doesn't) power to the auto pilot (or the bus) which I sometimes have to toggle, and then my auto pilot is able to provide the option to "Follow Route".
 
bill46":338ljjsx said:
On my 25SC, the NEMA bus gets its power from the Fusion radio. There's a setting which supplies (or doesn't) power to the auto pilot (or the bus) which I sometimes have to toggle, and then my auto pilot is able to provide the option to "Follow Route".
Click to expand...

On your application NK2 being powered with the Fusion Radio is part of the corruption. I had the same issue going on when I had my NK2 back bone powered by the Fusion. At one time I lost all power to the back bone and lost complete communication to NK2 none of the electronics were linked. I spoke with Garmin, Garmin response was confirm yellow power lead has power and then find out which Tee connector failed. No yellow power lead! Where is power coming from ? There was no power going to the back bone. I spoke with Andrew and he told me some of the back bones are powered thru the Fusion. It was! According to Garmin the NK2 requires more power then the Fusion NRX circuit can provide. Its purpose is to provide Fusion radio controllers at the locations in the boat not power the NK2. The extra draw can freeze the system and a complete reboot of the radio is necessary. ( HOLD OF BOTTON FOR 10 SECONDS) then let it reboot and then go into setting and turn NRX back on and that powers the NK2. Garmin told me that using the NRX could cause a failure to the Fusion radio and I should provide the back bone with its own dedicated power source using a yellow Garmin power cord. After I did Garmin recommendations the auto pilot and all of its functions have worked properly and corruption was gone to NK2.
 
BB Marine,

I suspect you are likely spot on with your comments about why some of our NMEA 2000 connected devices intermittently failing to communicate, thus requiring a complete power off either at a fuse, switch, connector, or the battery disconnect.

In reading the Garmin manual on "NMEA 2000 Network Fundamentals", it specifically states:

(1) "Your NMEA 2000 network must be connected to a 12 Vdc power supply. Do not connect your NMEA 2000 network to any other voltage source, such as a 24 Vdc power supply. Use a NMEA 2000 power cable to connect your NMEA 2000 backbone to the auxiliary power switch on your boat. If you do not have an auxiliary power switch, or if connecting to the auxiliary power switch causes electrical interference, connect the NMEA 2000 power cable directly to the battery and install an in-line switch.

CAUTION: If you connect the NMEA 2000 network to your battery without an in-line switch, it may drain your battery.

Be sure to ground the NMEA 2000 power cable. Ground the drain wire (bare) to the same location as the ground wire. The Garmin NMEA 2000 power cable connects to a T-connector like other drop cables. Make sure to connect the NMEA 2000 power cable to the top of a T-connector; never connect the NMEA 2000 power cable to the side of a T-connector. You can connect power either at the end of your NMEA 2000 network or in the middle. When planning where to place the power cable and T-connector on your NMEA 2000 network, you will need to evaluate how the NMEA 2000 devices connected to your network use power. The NMEA 2000 network will work properly as long as there is no more than a 3 Vdc drop in the supply voltage between the power source and the NMEA 2000 device located farthest from the
power source on the NMEA 2000 network"

(2) "A NMEA 2000 network must be connected to power to function correctly (page 5). Do not connect the NMEA 2000 network to power in more than one location."

Reference: http://www.michaelkintner.com/interesti ... entals.pdf

QUESTIONS:

(a) How do we determine where the NMEA 2000 network is connected to power on our boats?
(b) Which boats are and are not connected to the Fusion Radio for power?
(c) If they are connected to the Fusion Radio for power, how do we remove that power source, but still maintain the Fusion Radio on the NMEA 2000 network?
(d) If we remove that NMEA 2000 Network power source at the Fusion Radio, where do we then connect the NMEA 2000 Network to 12V power with a ground, a 12V fuse and ideally a switch?
(e) To satisfy the BOLDED quotes above and achieve item (d), what steps do we take?

I suppose that with enough time sleuthing on the NMEA 2000 Network, I could draw up a diagram and answer all my questions, but I'm hoping someone already knows the answers.
 
A) Look at the back bone and see if it has a dedicated power line (Yellow power cord ) follow the yellow lead to fuse panel to see where it is fused. Or go into the fusion radio settings and scroll down to NRX setting if its set to on and your back bone is powered turn the setting to off and your NK2 should power down and communication between equipment will not be working.
B) I'm not sure that Ranger/Cutwater knows some were some weren't ,at least thats what they told me.
C) All you have to do to remove the power source is turn the NRX off in the settings of Fusion ( As per Garmin)
D) I ran the yellow power cord by installing a N2K Tee and running it to the fuse panel. I now have a dedicated fuse and power supply for the Back bone. I did not install a switch. When I power down the house battery the Backbone like all other equipment is off. If I want to shut down the N2K to do repairs or install additional equipment I pull the fuse.
E) Hopefully E is answered in A,B,C,D
 
Did others nearby experience similar problem? May not have been your equipment
 
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