Furuno GPS

Slow_boat

Slow_boat

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My Furuno GP 32 stopped giving a position a few days ago.

I've run the self diagnosis and it says 'no beacon' The beacon/aerial is the mushroom type and is sealed, so there's not much I can check there. I've had the cable off the back of the display unit and the connection looks clean. Does that mean that I definitely need a new beacon/aerial?
I'm in Eastbourne Sovereign harbour at the moment, heading for Shoreham this afternoon. The chandler here tried to sell be a Garmin one, but I'm not sure if it's a good idea.

Any ideas, anyone?

The handheld Lowrance won't get a signal, either!

At least I'm not used to electric gadgets so don't miss it to much!
 
If the handheld won't get a signal as well there is a black spot or a drop out of the sats. Don't know about lack of gps signal in the UK but happens in some parts of the rest of the world regularly. One classic place is near the US military download station in Gran Canaria, the gps gets blacked out frequently.

Any warships about?
 
Our GP30 stopped working I found that the battery in the control head need replacing. Later the aerial also developed a fault which I thought it was the cable but in the end all that was need was to re-solder the connection at the aerial end. Looked like water had over the years entered the unit as I had to cut about 300mm of cable away before I got to newish looking cable. Our aerial top screwed of leaving the electronics exposed.

hope this helps.
 
Just came back after thinking (always dangerous) I think there is a backup battery both in the main unit and the mushroom. BUT WHY dosnt the handheld work?

Both can't go wrong at the same time.................. well it can happen sod's law but still...........
 
Slow_boat said:
How do I get at the battery in the mushroom?

Maybe I'll see if I can find someone in Littlehampton to have a look at it.
Click to expand...
Fairly sure there's no battery in the mushroom. The manual explains how to replace the battery in the instrument, but it's a soldering job on a tagged battery IIRC.
Edit, not sure that your symptom is that of a failed battery, is a "battery low" message displayed?

I think "no beacon" refers to no DGPS beacon receiver connected, which would be the norm.
 
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For the GP32 the aerial is just a passive device. Some wires that's all. You can make a replacement with just few bits of wire.

The most likely fault is the BNC correction or coax wire to the aerial.

Internal batteries (in the Gp32 unit, not the aerial) do often fail, but usually the diagnostic message will list this as the fault.
Its a puzzle why a separate HH is not working as well. Has it been used recently?
 
Slow_boat said:
My Furuno GP 32 stopped giving a position a few days ago.

I've run the self diagnosis and it says 'no beacon' The beacon/aerial is the mushroom type and is sealed, so there's not much I can check there. I've had the cable off the back of the display unit and the connection looks clean. Does that mean that I definitely need a new beacon/aerial?
Click to expand...

I'm fairly sure that your 'No Beacon' message is a red herring. Unless it is connected to a Furuno GR-80 dGPS beacon receiver, the GP32 will always show this message. From memory the GP32 displays the status of the internal battery on the same test screen.

I replaced the battery on a GP32 a couple of years ago. It is not a soldering job. The CR2354 battery is stopped from falling out by a couple of blobs of glue which need to be cut out and replaced. There are instructions in the manual.
 
earlybird said:
Fairly sure there's no battery in the mushroom. The manual explains how to replace the battery in the instrument, but it's a soldering job on a tagged battery IIRC.
Edit, not sure that your symptom is that of a failed battery, is a "battery low" message displayed?

I think "no beacon" refers to no DGPS beacon connected, which would be the norm.
Click to expand...

There are a couple of beacons shut down at present up here in Scotland so maybe else where. The

Coastguard will mention it if so in their weather reports etc.
 
Slow_boat said:
My Furuno GP 32 stopped giving a position a few days ago.

I've run the self diagnosis and it says 'no beacon' The beacon/aerial is the mushroom type and is sealed, so there's not much I can check there. I've had the cable off the back of the display unit and the connection looks clean. Does that mean that I definitely need a new beacon/aerial?
I'm in Eastbourne Sovereign harbour at the moment, heading for Shoreham this afternoon. The chandler here tried to sell be a Garmin one, but I'm not sure if it's a good idea.

Any ideas, anyone?

The handheld Lowrance won't get a signal, either!

At least I'm not used to electric gadgets so don't miss it to much!
Click to expand...



Just a thought......Has some one been button pushing? You do not really need DGPS so check page 35 of your manual
and see if settings are correct.. IE Auto etc .

http://www.furunousa.com/ProductDocuments/GP32 GP37 Operator's Manual F1 5-27-10.pdf
 
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