Humminbird Fishfinder problems

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sparkie

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I've inherited a Humminbird fishfinder 595 (not working) with my new boat. Not too bothered about the fishfinder capability, but need to have the GPS working so that I can connect it to my XM DSC radio (can't see an easy way of doing that at the moment but one step at a time).

I've connected the Humminbird GPS mushroom antenna to the appropriate port on the receiver, but the system screen says "GPS unconnected".Humminbird screen.jpg

I have an old Furuno mushroom antenna that I know works, but this has standard co-ax cable, and I can't see a way of connecting it to the Humminbird receiver for a test (pic attached of Humminbird plug).Humminbird GPS plug.jpg

Is there any way of testing the Humminbird antenna?? Or alternatively is there a way of test-connecting the Furuno antenna to the Humminbird receiver?? I could just source a replacement Humminbird antenna complete with lead, but if it's the receiver that's at fault then clearly it's for the bin, and I'd have wasted my money. Any advice greatly appreciated. I'm out of my depth here amd Humminbird don't have any service agents in this country apparently.
 
I suspect that the mushrooms you have are nmea for the hummingbird and and antenna for the furuno, if you only need gps get a cheap nmea of eBay as stand alone
 
The one with coax is just antenna, the one with nmea needs power and comms so at least 3 wires. Also to add that most nmea receivers will also work down below and don’t need to be outside
 
Another option is to get another radio with built in GPS, makes it easier if that’s all you need,
 
Daverw said:
The one with coax is just antenna, the one with nmea needs power and comms so at least 3 wires. Also to add that most nmea receivers will also work down below and don’t need to be outside
Click to expand...
Well that's very useful. The existing Humminbird one has four pins in the plug so that adds up. Is there any way I can test it??
 
You may have 4 wires? red = postive 12v, black = negative 12v, white = RS232 NMEA transmit, green = RS232 NMEA receive.

Go to the Humminbird web site. They are very good at responding.
 
tillergirl said:
You may have 4 wires? red = postive 12v, black = negative 12v, white = RS232 NMEA transmit, green = RS232 NMEA receive.

Go to the Humminbird web site. They are very good at responding.
Click to expand...
Thanks for that, very useful info. I've tried contacting Humminbird by online chat but but found them very unhelpful. Didn't seem to understand what I was talking about... quite a frustrating experience. Just sent me a manual, which I've already got... I'm in the position of having three pieces of gear, receiver/screen, transom transducer, and GPS mushroom, and none of it seems to work. I'm thinking it can't all be faulty, and as neither of the inputs is being recognised I suspect it could be the receiver that's u/s.
 
Really surprised by the online chat. But I did it by email. I admit they didn't understand English very well initially!

Do I assume the 4 pin plug is from the GPS antenna? And do I assume you have a square like plug from the transducer? I see the manual but not the installation guide which is a pain.
 
tillergirl said:
Really surprised by the online chat. But I did it by email. I admit they didn't understand English very well initially!

Do I assume the 4 pin plug is from the GPS antenna? And do I assume you have a square like plug from the transducer? I see the manual but not the installation guide which is a pain.
Click to expand...
Yes the 4 pin is from the GPS mushroom antenna- and yes - try this attachment, see if it shows what you need. Thanks!
 

Attachments

Humm. Took an age to download it and frankly it doesn't really help. I had a 796ci which had a similar mounting bracket and frankly it was better to fit the plugs into the back of the instrument head without that 'support'. If the pins are not damaged and they plug in firmly and connect properly, then there is a problem with either both transducer and GPS antenna failing at the same time or the instrument head has failed. It is possible to see if the GPS works but that would be a real pain as connecting each pin without a female matching plug (which I don't think exist). If you could connect power to the red and black you would then need to have NMEA data logger software I think AGG software permit a free trial. But you would need the white and green wires would need to use a RS232 - possible using a Din 9 sub connector into a Virtual Serial Port running a USB on your computer. It so happens I have all that kit but we are other sides of the country. If you have the Humminbird on with the transducer plugged in can you get your ear down to the transducer. If the transducer is clicking but the instrument head won't acknowledge it, that suggest the instrument head has failed. But frankly I would suspect that if the instrument head won't acknowledge the transducer, the transducer wouldn't get power from the instrument head to start clicking.

Bit of a pain. I have a rather late model and it's advice is to turn everything off, leave it alone for 10 minutes and then try again. If it doesn't work, the manual then suggests referral to the Service Centre. If you go to the website, rather than to the live chat, you can ask for technical assistance.
 
tillergirl said:
Humm. Took an age to download it and frankly it doesn't really help. I had a 796ci which had a similar mounting bracket and frankly it was better to fit the plugs into the back of the instrument head without that 'support'. If the pins are not damaged and they plug in firmly and connect properly, then there is a problem with either both transducer and GPS antenna failing at the same time or the instrument head has failed. It is possible to see if the GPS works but that would be a real pain as connecting each pin without a female matching plug (which I don't think exist). If you could connect power to the red and black you would then need to have NMEA data logger software I think AGG software permit a free trial. But you would need the white and green wires would need to use a RS232 - possible using a Din 9 sub connector into a Virtual Serial Port running a USB on your computer. It so happens I have all that kit but we are other sides of the country. If you have the Humminbird on with the transducer plugged in can you get your ear down to the transducer. If the transducer is clicking but the instrument head won't acknowledge it, that suggest the instrument head has failed. But frankly I would suspect that if the instrument head won't acknowledge the transducer, the transducer wouldn't get power from the instrument head to start clicking.

Bit of a pain. I have a rather late model and it's advice is to turn everything off, leave it alone for 10 minutes and then try again. If it doesn't work, the manual then suggests referral to the Service Centre. If you go to the website, rather than to the live chat, you can ask for technical assistance.
Click to expand...

Thanks for all that, I'll check out the transducer when I'm next at the boat in a couple of weeks time. It sounds as if there isn't any way I can simply check out the various bits of gear, I can't get any sense out of the Humminbird website- usual running-round-in-circles routine- so I'm rapidly coming to the conclusion that the best course of action is to stop wasting my time and bin it.

Certainly won't be replacing it with anything made by Humminbird- appalling service.

Thanks for all your input. Cheers.
 
If you plan (in due course) for a new system, consider the Onwa. I use it, indeed have just upgraded because I was happy with the first. Home You can include depth, GPS and AIS quite reasonably. There are other models which can include radar and weather capability.
 
tillergirl said:
If you plan (in due course) for a new system, consider the Onwa. I use it, indeed have just upgraded because I was happy with the first. Home You can include depth, GPS and AIS quite reasonably. There are other models which can include radar and weather capability.
Click to expand...
Well thanks for that advice. Yes I'll almost certainly be looking for a new system, I'll look into the brand, don't think I've heard of it before. Cheers.
 
sparkie said:
Thanks for all that, I'll check out the transducer when I'm next at the boat in a couple of weeks time. It sounds as if there isn't any way I can simply check out the various bits of gear, I can't get any sense out of the Humminbird website- usual running-round-in-circles routine- so I'm rapidly coming to the conclusion that the best course of action is to stop wasting my time and bin it.

Certainly won't be replacing it with anything made by Humminbird- appalling service.

Thanks for all your input. Cheers.
Click to expand...
I would not be too hard on humminbird though, not sure how they can really help you diagnose your issue when you don’t know what is working or faulty and you don’t have the equipment to test the nmea comms. Don’t think any tech department would be any better unless you sent them both pieces of kit.
 
Daverw said:
I would not be too hard on humminbird though, not sure how they can really help you diagnose your issue when you don’t know what is working or faulty and you don’t have the equipment to test the nmea comms. Don’t think any tech department would be any better unless you sent them both pieces of kit.
Click to expand...
I would dearly like to do that but there is no service facility in the UK that I can find, no telephone number or email contact, and the contact dialogue form on the website won't accept a UK phone number, so basically it's impossible to speak to them. The only contact I managed to find (and have been unable to repeat) was a "live" chat that I'm pretty sure was with a bot. I'm fairly inured to crap service these days but this experience really is the worst.
 
From what I can see Humminbird are mainly focused on the North American market and the only support outside is via the dealer network, may be worth trying to contact a UK supplier and see if you have options, suspect the cost will outway replacement of the VHF,
 
Daverw said:
From what I can see Humminbird are mainly focused on the North American market and the only support outside is via the dealer network, may be worth trying to contact a UK supplier and see if you have options, suspect the cost will outway replacement of the VHF,
Click to expand...
Yes I contacted the main UK importer, had a very nice reply, but said that it was trade only and didn't know of any service facilities in the UK. But it still sells the gear....! Cheers.
 
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