Help- GPS/Chart plotter problems

[mjd]

hey gang

took the boat out yesterday and my GPS (Lowrance LCX-112C) never worked. By that I mean after I turned it on, the shoreline and the sonar worked fine but the actual GPS gave me a (GPS module not responding) warning. I ran through all the connection and everything looks good with no corrosion or damaged pins. My guess is that the antenna is probably gone but before i spend the money, is there any thing else that it could be and ways I could diagnose it. thanks. . .

 

[GLG]

Check the fuse and make sure you don't have corrosion on the metal ends.
The fuse will look fine but a small amount of corrosion will not let the juice flow.
You can also find the pin outs and check for voltage.
The manual will have the details.

Those modules have a history of going belly up.
Getting harder to find replacements.

 

[Tips Up]

Do a search, this has been covered.

Same issue for me.
Mine has had issues on and off. Working good right now. (knock wood)
I wired direct to battery which helped.

I found that if I lose connection and get the not responding message, I unplug the wires at back of unit and hook up after a couple of minutes. This resets it everytime. Doesnt fix the problem but works everytime. I also carry a hand held as back up.

Tips

 

[mjd]

thanks.

Yep the more i research this problem the more i realize it is a common issue with this module. I have disconnected the entire unit several times with no change, I have tried to check the volts but me and electrical don't mix. The unit itself works great--besides the GPS--is it possible that everything works (sonar and map) but the voltage isn't good enough to run the module and GPS? I have a hard time understanding this. . .

does anyone have any experience with a newer module but compatible with the Lowrance LCX 112c, that may have addressed the issues that the 3000 module has. I think the Lowrance point-1 module will work but it is pricey. I just don't want to buy another module and be faced with the same problems down the road.

 

[GLG]

If you post your location someone may have an idea of who you can bring you module to for checking.

 

[JAC]

The point 1 will not work on the 112c

 

[mjd]

i'm in tofino.

 

[searun]

Try removing the chip then rebooting with chip plugged back in. If that doesn't work you need a recovery chip to reboot the system. Harbour chandler can get you one Sometimes your chip will slide out of the slot. My buddy just had that problem this week.

 

[Battle Bay]

You can still buy the lgc-4000 that is the replacement for the 3000

 

[mjd]

thansk for all the input gang, its all helpful.

Battle bay--thanks for that

searun--is the chip really going to be responsible for the module not working. I have tried the reboot and taking the card out and putting it back in, but maybe not in the order you suggested. . .the map functions and chip seem to be working though so I have a hard time understanding this. however, your not the first person to say they have first hand experience with this.

I guesss my question at this point is: If I replace the module with a new one is the problem going to be solved or is the LCX-112c always going to be a quirky unit. Does anyone have long term experience with this unit? The last thing i want to do is buy a module for 200+ dollars and then have to reboot/unplug/restart the unit all the time to keep it working. I have read that there is a lot of issues with this but what I can't determine is if these problems are due to the 3000 module that this unit was sold with or if its a problem in the unit itself. The display, sounder and map are really nice so if I can have this unit, and count on it I will keep it. I'm just being picky I guess because fog is a major reality up here and I haven't been here long enough to really feel comfortable having electronics randomly give out on me.

I have started doing some research into smaller gps/sounder units and I think i can get a whole new unit for around 500.00, then I can use the lowrance sounder, which seems to be pretty nice, and have a stand-alone GPS.