Gps acquiring satellite signal

[paulga]

The gps stuck at acquiring satellite signal, so it doesn't show real time speed and cog.

What could be the cause?

 

[rslifkin]

It looks like it's getting GPS data from a separate device on the network, so that device would be the first thing I'd check. Especially any connections on it for a dedicated GPS antenna.

 

[tpbrady]

The GPSMap 3210 requires an external GPS sensor, in this case the GPS-17 to work. The position shown on the display is probably the position of the boat on the chart when it was last working. The recommendation to check the cabling is probably a good place to start. The GPS-17 is a NMEA 2000 GPS sensor so look for that type of network cabling.

Tom

 

[paulga]

During the 2.5 hrs trip, the gps got signal for twice, it would show the real time location, speed and direction, maintain that way for 5 seconds before going back to "lost remote GPS connection".

 

[tpbrady]

Sounds like a network/cable problem. I was incorrect on the first post. The GPS-17 is apparently a NMEA 0183 sensor so is directly connect to the NMEA 0183 interface on the 3210. I found this document on the Garmin web site which should help. https://static.garmin.com/pumac/GPSMAP3005C_InstallationInstructions.pdf

 

[paulga]

Sounds like a network/cable problem. I was incorrect on the first post. The GPS-17 is apparently a NMEA 0183 sensor so is directly connect to the NMEA 0183 interface on the 3210. I found this document on the Garmin web site which should help. https://static.garmin.com/pumac/GPSMAP3005C_InstallationInstructions.pdf

There are two gps17 sensors installed. Maybe one is a backup?

How to test if these sensors are getting stable power and feeding stable signals to the gps?

 

[tpbrady]

Only one can be connected to the 3210 at a time. One might be a spare and the other supplying data to another device such as an autopilot. One sensor can supply data to multiple devices over NMEA 0183 but only one of that type of device, a GPS sensor for example, can be transmitting that data.

So you should probably see what each is connected to and go from there.

Tom

 

[Bmarler]

If both of those gps sensors are identical you can try plugging the chart plotter into the other sensor. That could help narrow down the issue. If it works on the other one, it’s either the sensor or the cable. Not sure if the cable is molded in to that one, or if it’s threaded on.

 

[Comodave]

Mine are Raymarine with GPS sensors built in. Worked fine on our last boat but on our current boat it would only pickup a signal on certain headings. Put on an external GPS antenna and it works fine now.

 

[paulga]

Sounds like a network/cable problem. I was incorrect on the first post. The GPS-17 is apparently a NMEA 0183 sensor so is directly connect to the NMEA 0183 interface on the 3210. I found this document on the Garmin web site which should help. https://static.garmin.com/pumac/GPSMAP3005C_InstallationInstructions.pdf

I followed the nmea cable from the chartplotter to underside the helm station, but I didn't see the 3 color pairs (orange, orange), (green, white), (white, gray) as shown in the installation manual. All connections are solid.

The voltage b/t gps + and - is 13.5v. I didn't figure out where are the thick white and gray wires from and how they are related.

 

[Iggy]

If it was me......... I would upgrade my unit. I understand you want to fix it! Looking at those 2 buss bars would drive me crazy. 0183 is all well and good, it works and works well. But its hard to share its info without a multiplexer. Which adds more wiring and $$.

I am not fond of NEMA2k, but it can share the same data to many device, plug and play vs 0183. If I had my way, ethernet would be the way to go.

Good luck, you have some good advice. Keep in mind, that those connections are at least 16years old. You may want to to go over them and some have no ring or spade connectors on them.

 

[ranger58sb]

There are two gps17 sensors installed. Maybe one is a backup?

Or maybe an orphaned corpse, replaced with the other but not completely removed...

followed the nmea cable from the chartplotter to underside the helm station, but I didn't see the 3 color pairs (orange, orange), (green, white), (white, gray) as shown in the installation manual. All connections are solid.

The black cable bundle coming into the top of the longer buss bar... is from the GPS-17, or from the 3210? Or from ???

From top to bottom of that long bar, right side, I think I see:
- white???, white, orange, blue, gray, yellow, white, green, brown, black???
- can't make out any striping in any of those...

-Chris

 

[paulga]

Or maybe an orphaned corpse, replaced with the other but not completely removed...



The black cable bundle coming into the top of the longer buss bar... is from the GPS-17, or from the 3210?

-Chris

3210. I haven't decided which wire is from gps17

 

[ranger58sb]

If there's really a brown, gray, and blue etc... not cited in the 3210-GPS17 wiring diagram... then the 3210 cable bundle must be connecting to something else, too? AP? DST? et cetera?

-Chris

 

[paulga]

If there's really a brown, gray, and blue etc... not cited in the 3210-GPS17 wiring diagram... then the 3210 cable bundle must be connecting to something else, too? AP? DST? et cetera?

-Chris

besides the two GPS17 in the first photo, there is a depth sounder GSD22 module (functional) connected to the gps

 

[paulga]

If both of those gps sensors are identical you can try plugging the chart plotter into the other sensor. That could help narrow down the issue. If it works on the other one, it’s either the sensor or the cable. Not sure if the cable is molded in to that one, or if it’s threaded on.

I have connected the dots on the wiring part.
but there are still two questions. GPS 17's yellow wire is grounded on its wiring diagram, but on the strip, why is it connected to the nmea orange (Accessory on signal) wire?
second, how to test if there is stable signal on the GPS 17's white (data transmit out from sensor) and blue (in) wires?

 

[porman]

Do you have AIS? My Raymarine AIS has it's own GPS antenna.

 

[paulga]

Do you have AIS? My Raymarine AIS has it's own GPS antenna.

probably not. As a last resort, I would buy a new sensor and mount inside the flybridge.

 

[tpbrady]

The orange accessory wire on the 3210 being connected to the yellow wire on the GPS-17 probably serves as a switched wire to turn the GPS-17 on when the 3210 is powered on. On its replacement the GPS-19, the manual talks about that connection.

 

[paulga]

The orange accessory wire on the 3210 being connected to the yellow wire on the GPS-17 probably serves as a switched wire to turn the GPS-17 on when the 3210 is powered on. On its replacement the GPS-19, the manual talks about that connection.

The gps 17's red and black wire are connected directly to the positive and negative strip. Does the sensor still power on if its yellow wire is capped?

 

[tpbrady]

I would say with the positive and negative both connected to a positive bus and negative bus, with 12v on the positive bus the GpS-17 should be operating. If the positive bus is always powered when the battery switch is on, it will always be on consuming power.

 

[ranger58sb]

The orange accessory wire on the 3210 being connected to the yellow wire on the GPS-17 probably serves as a switched wire to turn the GPS-17 on when the 3210 is powered on. On its replacement the GPS-19, the manual talks about that connection.

That's the way I'd interpret "Accessory on signal" -- meaning "turn the accessory on when you hear this..."



-Chris

 

[paulga]

That's the way I'd interpret "Accessory on signal" -- meaning "turn the accessory on when you hear this..."



-Chris

this is a quote from "Garmin customer service":

"The orange wire is used to turn on accessories networked to the chart plotter via NMEA 0183. When the unit is turned on it will signal the accessory to turn on. It is 24 AWG wire and it can be extended by using the appropriate gauge wiring for the distance of the run.

It’s a ground signal, when the unit turns on it closes the ground, completing the circuit and telling the unit to turn on. No Voltage carries through."

The backup cameras that I installed earlier also have trigger/wake up wires. Per the manual, a trigger wire can be connected to the backup light so that the camera will be turned on when the backup light is powered on. I didn't need this function so simply capped all trigger wires. I think 3210's orange wire implements a similar "cue" function working as a switch or relay

but what ground signal is being sent when 3210 is turned on? how does gps 17 understand the cue and then power on?

 

[Bmarler]

It’s solid state electronics. Signal goes high or low. In this case it goes low and turns on a switch inside the gps.

 

[paulga]

It’s solid state electronics. Signal goes high or low. In this case it goes low and turns on a switch inside the gps.

Oh I see. This accessory wire is to switch on gps 17, while my backup camera trigger wire is to trigger the monitor, equivalent to pressing a button on the monitor.

Is the signal an instant pulse or does it last?

 

[paulga]

I watched the gps screen for a few minutes. The pattern of change is very rhythmic.

It loops over the following two screens. Starting from photo 1, "acquiring satellite signal", after about 25sec, it emits two beeps then switches to photo 2, then it returns to photo 1 quietly within 3 sec, and repeat over and over.

The 3210 in the salon has exactly the same problem with the 3210 in the fly bridge.

 

[Bmarler]

Oh I see. This accessory wire is to switch on gps 17, while my backup camera trigger wire is to trigger the monitor, equivalent to pressing a button on the monitor.

Is the signal an instant pulse or does it last?

Typically it’s a maintained signal. Like turning on a toggle switch.

 

[tpbrady]

Are both 3210s using the same GPS-17?

 

[ranger58sb]

Back to that thing about two GPS17s...

Do you know which GPS17 those wires to the pictured buss come from? Do you know where wires from the other GPS17 go?

And since you also have two 3210s... do you also have two separate buss sets similar to those you've pictured? One behind the flybridge helm, one behind the lower helm?

Since both 3210s are showing the same symptoms (simultaneously?), I'd first guess it's a single GPS17 feeding both, but... if the other GPS17 is working and you could find the wiring, it might be useful for diagnostics...

OTOH, I could also guess the other GPS17, if working, might be feeding an AP...

Still, seems useful to know for sure which is doing what to whom...

-Chris

 

[paulga]

Back to that thing about two GPS17s...

Do you know which GPS17 those wires to the pictured buss come from? Do you know where wires from the other GPS17 go?

And since you also have two 3210s... do you also have two separate buss sets similar to those you've pictured? One behind the flybridge helm, one behind the lower helm?

Since both 3210s are showing the same symptoms (simultaneously?), I'd first guess it's a single GPS17 feeding both, but... if the other GPS17 is working and you could find the wiring, it might be useful for diagnostics...

OTOH, I could also guess the other GPS17, if working, might be feeding an AP...

Still, seems useful to know for sure which is doing what to whom...

-Chris

I need to open a back panel on the lower helm station to inspect.
the boat does not have an auto pilot. where is AP usually installed?