Garmin GPS 152H anchor watch disappointment

[cpedw]

The anchor watch alarm on my new Garmin 152H makes 4 beeps then goes silent, unlike the 128 it replaced which used to beep continuously until silenced or it returned within the specified range of the original location.

I asked Garmin support if it can be altered but no; and the alarm output in the data/power cable gives the same 4 pulses. I'm disappointed in case I'm sleeping too soundly next time I need awaking.

Derek

 

[pvb]

The anchor watch alarm on my new Garmin 152H makes 4 beeps then goes silent, unlike the 128 it replaced which used to beep continuously until silenced or it returned within the specified range of the original location.

I asked Garmin support if it can be altered but no; and the alarm output in the data/power cable gives the same 4 pulses. I'm disappointed in case I'm sleeping too soundly next time I need awaking.

But it's got an alarm output; why not just wire a loud sounder on to it?

 

[elton]

But it's got an alarm output; why not just wire a loud sounder on to it?

It's an "active low" output, so not as straightforward as simply wiring a sounder to it, but not that difficult either. Also, I don't know if the output is as brief as the built-in beeper, so it may require a latch. A loud external sounder with latch could be built for less than a tenner.

 

[cpedw]

The alarm output just beeps the same as the internal sounder - a loud transducer would help, but not for long. The latching circuit could do what I want but then there's more to go wrong and it would need an off switch.

I wish I'd found a replacement 128 instead.

Derek

 

[BruceDanforth]

It's a few pennies worth of components to make a latch :

http://homemadecircuitsandschematics.blogspot.co.uk/2011/12/simple-and-useful-transistor-latch.html

there's no great reason it should go wrong and you can probably skip the relay.

you'll probably need to invert the input on the circuit in the link...