Oldest GPS?

[doug748]

Two questions for you all:
Is there any particular system or software reason why my venerable Magellan Meridian is failing to pick up satellites this year? It has always worked faultlessly (if you ignore the fact that it always knocked out a position 3/4 of a mile to the South East of the real one
Has anyone else got an older unit in regular use? Purchased June 1995, £199.95 + 28.95 for the installation kit.

 

[FlorealIII]

I have an old Garmin from before 1995 and when it fails I put in the DR position manually and then it works again . This does not happen regularly but ever so now and then .

 

[chrishelen]

I have a Garmin 45 bought in 1995 for £250 still have the receipt,worked fine until last year when the screen developed blank lines,time to invest in a new one.

 

[sailorman]

i bought a Furuno GP 50 for £871.26 on 08/07/93
the screen went blank 4 yrs ago (sold it on ebay as spares ect) bought a GP 30 £220.00

 

[saltwater_gypsy]

Trimble Ensign 1992. Still OK but SLOW!

 

[MASH]

Many Garmin GPS100 in use in light aircraft, 1990-1 ish.

 

[lw395]

There are several possible causes.
1) Corrosion to the external antenna, cable etc.
Try another aerial.
2) Frequency drift of the internal crystal. I managed to rejuvenate a very deaf Garmin GPS120 by tuning the crystal reference to the frequency the unit was expecting. Just happened to work where a rubidium reference was available. The unit may self calibrate if left on for long enough.
3) An internal backup battery may have gone flat.
4) Anything else may have died of old age, corrosion etc.

 

[philip_stevens]

AP-Philips Mk8 from 1993 - bought 2nd hand by me four years ago, and still going strong.

AP-Philips Mk6 from the same age, but completely U/S when replaced on a containership I served on. I had it repaired by ComarGPS and has worked perfectly ever since. This unit was top spec when fitted.

Which reminds me, both units need new replaceable back-up batteries.

The Mk6 is inside and feeds the radar, and the Mk8 is outside for when sailing.

 

[Neddie_Seagoon]

Is it one like this ?

'coz if it is knackered but has a working display I am interested - mine works fine but the display is knackered!

 

[doug748]

Neddy, sorry mine is the handheld but looking at it, it could well be the same display. However, I still have high hopes that it will come to life given an extended trial.

 

[Billjratt]

Have you had a look for an internal battery? ( Lithium disc) just in case...

 

[thalassa]

My 1994 Magellan Meridian developed the same problem four years ago. So, I had it on an external power supply for three days (yes, days) before it worked normally.

 

[doug748]

Thanks for the tips I will be giving it a go.