The pleasure of keeping old stuff running

[bitbaltic]

One of my two Garmin 128s has finally given up finding satellites over the last couple of trips out. So today I took the plunge, opened it up, and soldered in a new internal battery. It’s come straight back to life and, as it’s wired up to its twin, by setting both to the ancient ‘garmin’ proprietary NMEA I was able to beam all my waypoints and routes back into it too. So it’s good for at least another 20 years’ service!

I have a parallel N2K system, chart plotter etc but I like these old garmin units as a simple and low-power backup. I realised I was absurdly pleased by keeping this old kit going and there’s a real pleasure in keeping old systems running if they continue to perform as expected.

 

[JumbleDuck]

I love the 1980s B&G kit which came with the boat, and intend to keep it working as long as it is physically possible to do so.

 

[neil_s]

I have a Stowe trail log with a lovely analog meter. It is a lot more accurate than the paddlewheel - through the bottom digital log and I have converted it to take AA pencells instead of a PP9. All go!

 

[AngusMcDoon]

My still working Garmin GPS45 is granddad to your 128. ?

 

[mjcoon]

My still working Garmin GPS45 is granddad to your 128. ?

My 1997-bought Garmin GPS-II+ is sort of still working; just the minor point that the screen is totally unreadable! My somewhat newer Yellow eTrex is going the same way...

 

[Tranona]

Also Garmin 45 from early 90's still working. Remember leaving it on top of the dustbin all day after the dreaded (not) 2000 rollover to pick up the satellites.

 

[Koeketiene]

One my previous boat, I had a Cetrek 730 autopilot.
Wasn't able to network it, but it gave sterling service during 14 years of ownership.
I have learned from the new owner that he will have to replace it as the control unit stopped working and spares/replacements are impossible to find.

 

[Skylark]

My 1997-bought Garmin GPS-II+ is sort of still working; just the minor point that the screen is totally unreadable! My somewhat newer Yellow eTrex is going the same way...

I also bought a GPS 2 Plus in 1997 and it’s still kept in its original box. I fire it up every couple of years and it continues to work apart from it does not show the correct date. Screen readability is good. In 1998 I bought the newer version, GPS12 and this still works, too. Same issue with date, though.

 

[bitbaltic]

I also bought a GPS 2 Plus in 1997 and it’s still kept in its original box. I fire it up every couple of years and it continues to work apart from it does not show the correct date. Screen readability is good. In 1998 I bought the newer version, GPS12 and this still works, too. Same issue with date, though.

My 128s do not have the right date either. They think it’s October 2001

 

[JumbleDuck]

I have a Stowe trail log with a lovely analog meter. It is a lot more accurate than the paddlewheel - through the bottom digital log and I have converted it to take AA pencells instead of a PP9. All go!

Modernist! I use a Walker log, with no silly batteries.

 

[mjcoon]

My 128s do not have the right date either. They think it’s October 2001

I think maybe you needed to have updated the "epoch" for them to have the right date. A bit like the notorious "Y2k" bug, the date does not have enough bits allocated. So my devices show convincing dates, such as in this screen-grab file of the same date:

Or this obtained from my eTrex just now. It is running a bit fast, but has not seen the sky in months!

 

[Rappey]

I have a Stowe trail log with a lovely analog meter.

I have one of those and use it a fair bit ! I run mine on a pp3 . Get a fair few yelling at me that im trailing a rope..
Ive recently retired my seafarer voyager wind instrument after 35 years of spinning round.. The display has failed and the direction does not register. shame as the annometer mechanical parts are still in great working order..

 

[lustyd]

Yup, been there! Instructions for replacing a Garmin GPSMap 235 battery (PICS)

 

[bitbaltic]

Yup, been there! Instructions for replacing a Garmin GPSMap 235 battery (PICS)

Yes it’s the exact same battery. I got it from eBay (no connection etc)

Replacement Internal Battery for Garmin GPS 126 128 180 Fix Problem | eBay

 

[Skylark]

My 128s do not have the right date either. They think it’s October 2001

I put batteries in my GPS12 this morning and it found its position remarkably quickly given that it had not been used for a few years, The date shown is 20th October 2001 but everything else is correct.

There's nothing in any of the screens to suggest a way to change and/or update it. I seem to recall, many years ago, asking Garmin if there was a software update to correct the issue but don't recall them showing a great deal of interest.

 

[Giblets]

Modernist! I use a Walker log, with no silly batteries.

Great bits of kit. As I don't have a boat anymore I suppose I really ought to get round to converting my Walker log into cash at some stage.

 

[mjcoon]

I put batteries in my GPS12 this morning and it found its position remarkably quickly given that it had not been used for a few years, The date shown is 20th October 2001 but everything else is correct.

There's nothing in any of the screens to suggest a way to change and/or update it. I seem to recall, many years ago, asking Garmin if there was a software update to correct the issue but don't recall them showing a great deal of interest.

I've just had a look at the Garmin protocol features and don't see a way of doing the epoch update there either. There is an item for updating the Almanac but I don't think I ever did that. I don't remember how I accomplished it, but I did keep the firmware up to date...

 

[Beelzebub]

Modernist! I use a Walker log, with no silly batteries.

The trouble is that big fish like eating the towed rotators. It can work out quite expensive

 

[JumbleDuck]

The trouble is that big fish like eating the towed rotators. It can work out quite expensive

Luckily that doesn't seem to apply in the West of Scotland ... after 30+ years I am still on rotator #1.

 

[neil_s]

Modernist! I use a Walker log, with no silly batteries.

I have one, too. I also have the speed meter but unfortunately it no longer works. Walker is retired to display position at home - but the shoes are still fitted on the quarters so it can come back into service any time!