Garmin bites the dust

[TyBoo]

My Garmin 2006C appears to be fried. I turned it on this morning and it looked just fine until I left the dock and saw it wasn't registering any speed. The satelites were fixed, and the display looked fine. I shut it off, restarted, and it came back up and worked for a few seconds, then quit responding again. This time, the on/off button would not turn it off. In fact, none of the buttons worked. I shut off the power to it and restarted. Nothing. Went back to the dock and looked everything over. No power or connection problems. The next dozen tries, it would not even turn on. Then it got to where it would turn on and display an all white blank screen after some weird rainbow loooking blips at power up. But none of the buttons do anything, and I have to remove the power to shut it off. I don't know what it is. And I ain't happy about it.

[UncleRichie]

Bummer Mike hope you get it fixed quick.

Richard

[Pat Anderson]

This doesn't sound good at all...however, will mention that my Garmin188C on the 22 worked great from February through October 2003, then on the Sequim weekend (in the fog, naturally), it started spontaneously powering off. I contacted Garmin, they said it sounded like a software problem and to download the new version of the software, which I did. I installed the software, and it worked flawlessly thereafter. Of course, if your 2006C does not respond to the buttons at all, it could be difficult to install software...

[El and Bill]

The 2006 owners in the pub are waiting for the doctor report with bated breath ... Good luck -- as Pat says, maybe an easy software fix.

[Sneaks]

Jeeze, Mike, first it was the Furuno radar, now the Garmin? I hope you carry a second VHF, because it sounds like a techno-cloud is currently over the boat.

If Garmin software updates are like Lowrance updates, you can download the upgrade to your computer, burn a CF card, plug it in the Garmin and power up. The unit should look to the CF card first and basically boot to the card, upgrade the firmware/software, then go on to start up normally.

Good luck. Nothing like a broken primary nav device to ruin yer day

Don

[stevej]

Bummer Mike. kind of an odd failure though.
You might want to try;
Disconnecting the antenna and all other inputs
Pull the map chip

might be getting brain damage from an outside influence

stevej

[TyBoo]

Sneaks - Thanks for that idea. I already have an upgrade chip that came with the GSD 20 sounder module that I can stick in to try. I really thought the electronic jinx theory might have some substance, because my Honda alternator puts out a little higher voltage than I like to see (14 to 15v). But the Garmin specs list a range of 10 to 32v for the unit, so over voltage wasn't it. The Furuno - well - that came with the boat and was never quite right anyway.

Steve - I haven't tried unhooking the antenna, although I did unhook the sounder module. Fishing sucks, so maybe tomorrow I will screw with it a little.

I kind of think it is a hardware problem, though.

If nothing works after spending a little time, I will turn it over to Garmin. It will be interesting to see how they treat me. I really like the Blue Charts, and I really like the new Garmin units, but for two grand it had better last more than four years. I will definately post a report on here.

I was going to try the unit as a flasher for fishing today, since it ain't much good as a fish finder any more. But the only way to attach the leader is to tie it to the mounting knobs, and I figured that one knob or the other would come unscrewed depending on which way it was spinning.

[dogon dory]

Sorry, Folks - Post Deleted By Author

[TyBoo]

If those old charts and compass were new in your lifetime, sonny boy, I probably got underwear older than them. Thanks for the offer, but I have my own compass. You can sure mail me the charts if you want, though. All I have is the cruising atlas variety. Or better yet, get your butt and the charts to the SBSCBGT in January and meet some of these nice people. You can dogsledpool with Mark, 'cuz there's no way he is missing it two years in a row.

I've already ruled out the Honda culpability. The only way it could be remotely connected is through the prop it's turning.

Now be nice - this is a Pub, not a treehouse.

I am going to go plug in that upgrade chip in a little while, but I am betting the unit won't care.

[dogon dory]

Sorry, Folks - Post Deleted By Author

[TyBoo]

The software chip didn't do a thing. It might have worked if the unit would power up correctly. Now it only comes on if I hold the power button for a few seconds while it makes a high pitched squeal, and then comes the white screen for 5 seconds until it shuts down by itself. I clipped the wires for the antenna and disconnected the sounder module. Nothing. Checked the voltage to the main unit plug - 12.62vdc. Visually inspected the other connections - all tight and clean. It's junk. I'll do the Garmin phone call next week.

[Mr. Fisherman]

Bummer. Sure glad you didn't cut the end of your finger off or anything dumb like that while you were clipping those wires . I hear it can take days for something stupid like that to heal .

[Sneaks]

[Mighty Bite]

Bummer on the Garmin, Mike, ain't nothing bullet proof when it comes to electronics or for that matter, most anything else. Character, integrity and quality of this site excepted.

You got it right Mike, I'm not missing the SBS this year, Betty and I will be there. Hopefully, Dan and Paige will make it as well.

Everything worked like it should on 3rd Byte this year with the exception of the minor glitch on the auto pilot and some damn fool leaving the fenders out when my boat is running at mach 2 and no land within miles. . If I ever catch that sucker, he's is in a world of hurt.

Good luck on the Garmin. This sounds like a problem for Garmin to resolve and it WILL be interesting to see how they take care of it.

[Captains Cat]