Unable to acquire satellite signal - Any clues?

[TheOtherLine]

Just finished installing my chartplotter the other day and went through the setup. When I get to the GPS setup part, the unit doesn't acquire a satellite signal. Anyone have any clue as to what might be causing this?

I have the Garmin 4212 -

Antenna is at least 3 feet from VHF. GPS antenna is not obstructed by radar dome. :?

 

[John_Madison CT]

Bad dome perhaps? Time to call Garmin.

 

[Porkchunker]

Check and double-check the electrical connections.

My unit has a built in test element (BITE) that you can run to tell you if you are getting signal through the wires, and what it thinks it is reading. I once had the GPS head go down, and based on the codes I reported in the Raymarine on-line help forum, they told me to ship it in for replacement (under warranty).

See if there is a BITE or any kind of self-diagnostic function in the maze of menu items.

 

[TheOtherLine]

OK. Just found out that I'm running old software. I just downloaded the current version from Garmin. Not sure if that has anything to do with it but it can't hurt. Now all I've got to do is figure out how to get the new update off the pc and onto the unit.

 

[Megabyte]

Now all I've got to do is figure out how to get the new update off the pc and onto the unit.

You need a Garmin data card and USB card reader.

http://shopping.yahoo.com/s:Computer%20 ... and=Garmin

 

[TheOtherLine]

You need a Garmin data card and USB card reader.

Does it have to be a Garmin data card? Can't it be any SD card ?

 

[Megabyte]

Does it have to be a Garmin data card? Can't it be any SD card ?

The form factor for my card is the same as the Bluechart chip.
In fact, that's where I plug my card in when doing updates (in the Bluechart slot).

 

[TheOtherLine]

As it turns out, I did need a software update, but that wasn't the issue.

Apparently on my unit, the red and black coming off the power cord have to be connected to the red and black nema cord AND have to BOTH be connected to red and black on the bus bar.

For some reason if you match wires from nema and power only, it won't work. ??

Thansk for all the suggestions.

 

[channel_surfer]

Yes, the garmin GPS wants all components to share a common ground connection. Not sure how critical the +12v connection being shared is, but the ground from all components need to be physically connected to each other. I would think that having them all grounded to the same electrical system would suffice, but for some reason this is not the case. My Garmin 3210 is the same way.