View Full Version : X-15 GPS Module not responding
lassig
03-30-2002, 03:10 PM
While out fishing today my GPS module started flaking out. It would periodically read 0 and then start reading again. This happened 4 or 5 times and then the last time it did not come back to reading again. I powered cycled the unit and very quickly after powering up the unit complained that the GPS module is not responding. I tried my base unit with a friends antenna and everything worked OK.
Has anyone seen this before? I certainly appears that the antenna is flaky?
I am not positive that this is the problem, but REW may be able to correct me if i am wrong. i have known that on some boats it does make a difference if the module is placed directly to the surface on an aluminum boat, also it usually makes a difference (on some brands)if the module is too close to the unit itself. on the aluminum boats all that is needed to correct the problem is a plastic washer larger than the base of the module( a flat piece of plastic between the base and the aluminum ). i hope this helps. good luck and good fishin.
Den
eyeman_1
03-30-2002, 07:56 PM
Hey Lassig,
You sound just the that sorry so and so who called me at my dad's house today complaining about the same darn thing. My supposed buddy is out there fishing on the big pond without me, supposedly catching the snot out of them, and then he's got the gall to call me and ask if he can put that broken down piece of junk on my boat to test it. Gezzz.... some people?
At least he remembered to shut off the power on the boat after he was done. This is the kind of guy who'd then want you to take him to all your secret hotspots on Erie in a few weeks and give away the cookie jar? Where do these people come from?
Mark.... glad to hear it works here and I hope Den's advise will help you out. You do have it mounted close to the unit....like inches. Did you also contact Lowrance? Call the Seagull and ask him...he is Mr.Lowrance!
If you can't get it working you can always use the maps on my unit!
lassig
03-31-2002, 05:34 AM
Den,
Thanks for the response. The unit worked up until that end of the trip yesterday. Also, last night I mounted the antenna in a antenna base and it did not correct the problem. I am using the antenna real close to the unit, without the extension cable. I plan on talking with Lowrance support in the morning.
Walizz 1
03-31-2002, 05:57 AM
Mark,
Check the power supply too. I don't have the X-15 but last year I had similar problems with a 350A and it turned out to be a weak battery and the unit wasn't getting enough juice. At the same time I also put a new fuse in the fuse holder because the old one was a bit tarnished. Don't you just love all these bugs that boats seem to develop in winter storage? Good Luck.
bountyhunter
03-31-2002, 06:55 AM
HAD THE SAME problem called service they sent me a new unit NO MORE PROBLEM good fish,in jim
lassig
04-01-2002, 05:11 PM
An updated for everyone to what the problem was. It turns out the antenna is OK, what was causing the GPS antenna to not respond was two of the NMEA0183 wires where shorting out making the unit think that it was getting input from another source that didn't exist. After rewrapping these wires to seperate them the problem went away. Lesson learned, if not using the NMEA1083 interface make sure the wires are separated from each other.
Mark thanks for the update. good luck and good fishin.
Den