GPS Satellite Reception Problem
- Thread starter MRWood
- Start date
casper5280
Crew Member
I would try the antenna first. Just take the head unit out and try it in someone else's boat that has a antenna. You can then rule the antenna out.
Sharphooks
Well-Known Member
All the symptoms you mention point to malfunctioning antennae. I went through hell last summer with a Furuno GPS-- sometimes it would fix on satellites, more often then not, it wouldn't. I did the install so I kept thinking it was wiring or corrosion or power or because I'm electrically challenged. I finally sent in the antennae to Furuno-- they bench tested it, said it was fine.
I re-installed, and immediately had the same issues. I finally insisted that Furuno replace it. (these things are pushing $ 400 so I was motivated to get some relief) Furuno finally relented and replaced it. Never had a problem since.
I think the stories of the US military shutting down satellite systems is apocryphal. There are commercial airlines relying on those systems!!! When you lose a signal, it's more often---power issues (corrosion, poor connection etc); faulty antennae (getting toasted by your radar or someone else's or water intrusion); software; or, one reason that is often overlooked---stressing the connections during the initial installation---i.e. when fishing the wire in a crowded wheelhouse. I remember wincing when fishing my antennae wire--- it had to go through huge bundles of wires and around corners in the upper enclosed gutter of my wheelhouse---I always suspected that's where the trouble began in the first place. And the suspicion grew when Furuno bench tested it and said it was fine, then after the re-install, it wasn't fine
I re-installed, and immediately had the same issues. I finally insisted that Furuno replace it. (these things are pushing $ 400 so I was motivated to get some relief) Furuno finally relented and replaced it. Never had a problem since.
I think the stories of the US military shutting down satellite systems is apocryphal. There are commercial airlines relying on those systems!!! When you lose a signal, it's more often---power issues (corrosion, poor connection etc); faulty antennae (getting toasted by your radar or someone else's or water intrusion); software; or, one reason that is often overlooked---stressing the connections during the initial installation---i.e. when fishing the wire in a crowded wheelhouse. I remember wincing when fishing my antennae wire--- it had to go through huge bundles of wires and around corners in the upper enclosed gutter of my wheelhouse---I always suspected that's where the trouble began in the first place. And the suspicion grew when Furuno bench tested it and said it was fine, then after the re-install, it wasn't fine
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