GPS Depth Finder problems

[9joey1]

I just purchased a boat with a LXC-25 color depthfinder/GPS and it is connected to a Lowrance GlobalMap 4800. There is one puck at the back of the boat that they both share. There is a cord that goes from the LCX 25 to the back of the Global4800 that says network. It worked great the first night but the next morning I started having problems. I am a novice with this to say the least. I turn on the LCX 25 and the GlobalMap 4800 and they both flash GPS Module not responding. The coordinates from the last time it was working just flash over and over and the speed says 0.0 flashing. Does anyone have any idea what the problem is? Like I said I just got these and I am clueless.

Thanks, Joe

[sparkyaber]

If you are in the garage, you won't get any sigal to the puck, and you will not beable to find your position. Also, it does take some time to find all of the satillites to aquire your postion, but again, if you are inside a structure, you may be waiting forever. There is one last function that you must do, and of course I can't remember what it is off the top of my head, basically you are forcing the gps to find itself. It is a few menu's deep but it is in the instructions. The next person to post I sure will have the answer though, it is just escaping me at the moment. (I run a garmin, that will explain a few things )

[Valv]

Go to the Lowrance web site you can download a simulator for the sonar, it's just like having the unit installed on your computer, it does help a lot learning the functions.

As previous post says if you are inside a building or under thick woods you will not get GPS signal.

[Mykal]

9joey1, I run a 3500c, 332c, and also ran a 4800m all off the same module using the Inet cables. I DO get a lock (not WASS lock)through my garage roof. But, the first obvious test is to pull it outside and try it since you said it worked the day before. If you are still getting a "gps module not responding" I have a few things for you to check. Let me know and I'll walk you through the process.

[9joey1]

Thanks for your help eveyone. I will pull it out into my driveway tonight and try again. I do not think it is the garage thing though because it used to work through the garage plus I was out on Tonka yesterday and it still did not work. Joe

[Mykal]

9joey1, First, lets make sure the network is set up correctly. The "gps module not responding" message sounds like you are not getting power to your gps module. I assume you have 120ohm terminators on each end of the network (connected to each unit with a "t" connector) and you are not using the "Y" cable that came with the 4800m. The Y cable would have grey connectors and not blue. I also assume you are getting power to the the X25 and to the 4800m? If correct, let me know if you are powering the gps module separatley from the X25, the 4800m, or on somewhere along the Inet cable itself, and if you have a separate switch or not to turn off power to your gps module.

[9joey1]

Mykal, On the back of the Global 4800 there is a power cord and a network cord. I was told the x25 goes through the global4800 and they share the same source which looks like a white hockey puck on the side of the boat. So i cant use the gps on the 25 without using the global4800. I also have a x17 on the front of the boat that has a separate puck that is on the boat towards the front. That is working fine even in the garage. I am going to pull my boat out into the driveway and unplug everything and plug everything back in and leave it on for 15 minutes. If it cannot read the sats after 15 minutes obviously something is wrong correct? Joe

[Mykal]

9joey1, The gps module you are sharing on 4800m should be powered separatley. If set up correct. the power is alway on to the gps module. As long as all the connections are plugged in you should be able to power your 4800m without turning on your X25 and vise versa. Also, check the fuse to your GPS module while you have everything disconnected. Question, when you say it was working before, did you have both units working at the same time?

[9joey1]

Mykal, I unplugged everything, blew on it, and plugged it back in. After 10 minutes all of a sudden it said position found on the global 4800, and 2 seconds later it said position found on the x 25. I am not unplugging anything ever again. Hopefully it was just a one time thing. Thank you so much for your help. That was very classy of you to help a perfect stranger. Joe

[Mykal]

9joey1, no problem at all. Glad it was just a loose connection and not something worse.