C80 woes

Wandering Sagebrush · Posted: Mon Feb 11, 2008 4:00 pm Post subject: C80 woes

This morning I went out to clean up the boat and check things out and got a surprise from my C80 GPS. After about 15 minutes of operation (locked on quickly to fix), I got a system error. I tried powering off and on, and it did not have any effect. I left the system off for about 30 minutes, and it came up again, but then failed after another 20 minutes of operation. My guess is that it is heat/resistance related, but not sure.

Has anyone else had a similar experience?

As an aside, my Lowrance x16 unit, which used to be a dog when trying to get a fix now locks on in about a minute, versus the 20+ minutes (if ever) that it used to take.

RATS in capital letters!

Steve

flapbreaker · Posted: Mon Feb 11, 2008 4:03 pm Post subject:

Have you checked your battery voltage lately? THe c-80 is very sensistive to low batteries. Just a thought. Otherwise I don't have a clue as to why you would get system errors.

dogon dory · Posted: Mon Feb 11, 2008 4:25 pm Post subject:

Sorry, Folks - Post Deleted By Author

Wandering Sagebrush · Posted: Mon Feb 11, 2008 4:36 pm Post subject: Dogon right

Dan, I agree, you pull the Furuno off DOD and send it down here, and I'll get rid of it for you when I ditch the C80 Idea

Flap, I had the batteries on the charger when this happened. I never saw voltage drop under 12.4vdc. I was using the #2 batt, but will try again with #1 or both.

Could be a trip into Rodger's Marine Electronics...

flapbreaker · Posted: Mon Feb 11, 2008 4:57 pm Post subject:

What kind of error message are you getting?

Wandering Sagebrush · Posted: Mon Feb 11, 2008 7:14 pm Post subject: System error

Flapbreaker,

The pop up just appears in the center of the screen with a title of "system error" and a message of "position fix lost", plus the alarm screaming. The alarm will not shut off unless I power off the unit, or at least I haven't found the magic combination. The cancel and/or OK buttons don't silence it.

Steve

chromer · Posted: Mon Feb 11, 2008 9:21 pm Post subject:

Was boat stationary or underway? I've had my input wire/connector to the GPS antennae at the console not tight before.. It threw that message

JamesTXSD · Posted: Mon Feb 11, 2008 9:29 pm Post subject:

a "Position Fix Lost" signal implies that the C80 is not receiving a GPS signal. It could happen if there were something overhead that might block the antenna or if the antenna/input is being interrupted. Our Raymarine set up was installed at the factory, and the power to the GPS puck is wired to the autopilot... turn the autopilot off and the GPS signal goes away... and the alarm goes off. I thought we had some sort of a gremlin until I found out that this is how it is wired on our boat.

The first thing that I'd check is the power to the GPS antenna.

Best wishes,
Jim B.

Wandering Sagebrush · Posted: Mon Feb 11, 2008 9:29 pm Post subject: C80

We were just sitting in the driveway. I think I am going to take the display into Rodger's to have them check it out...

Steve

JamesTXSD · Posted: Mon Feb 11, 2008 9:31 pm Post subject: Re: C80

flapbreaker · Posted: Mon Feb 11, 2008 9:46 pm Post subject:

I would recheck the gps connection on the back of the c-80. Sometimes if it's cold I have a hard time getting them tight.

Wandering Sagebrush · Posted: Mon Feb 11, 2008 10:47 pm Post subject: GPS

Jim and Flapbreaker,

I have checked all of the connections, and they seemed tight. There are no obstructions over the puck, and the fuse is good. Probably the only thing that might be an issue is the power source. When I installed the C80, the instructions indicated that the power came from the C80. In subsequent conversations, it sounds like that has been superseded, and that the power should come from a buss or another source like the autopilot that Jim referred to.

Because the GPS does come up, then gets the system error, my suspicion is that somehow I am getting either heat and/or a high resistance that is dropping the power to the puck.

Steve

flapbreaker · Posted: Mon Feb 11, 2008 10:54 pm Post subject:

Steve, let us know what you find out.

I noticed you have a flushbag. How is that working out? I picked up one for my kicker motor off ebay but have not had a chance to try it out. I was thinking about getting one for the main. Looks like a tight fit.

Spencer

westward · Posted: Tue Feb 12, 2008 1:06 am Post subject:

Steve: sorry to hear you're having challenges with this unit. Is it just my imagination, or have there been an enormous number of posts describing problems and glitches with these units? Maybe enough to establish an pattern? Mike.

DaveS · Posted: Tue Feb 12, 2008 1:10 am Post subject:

I agree with Jim, be certain that the auto pilot is turned on. The "rocker bar" for my auto pilot is mounted behind the helm seat.