Three GPS Questions

[Tree]

I have a Garmin 2006 Chartplotter. It has worked beautifully for several years.

Question 1.......Last week we were out for our first cruise of the season (8 days) and the GPS started randomly giving me a "Lost GPS Signal" .... sometimes for a couple of seconds before regaining signal and sometimes a minute or two. What gives? I've not changed anything on the boat. This would happen regardless of weather, etc. Sometimes it would work perfectly for hours..... then.... it would start beeping and giving me this alert. .... then would work for another few hours. Any Ideas about what is going on here?

Question 2..... I see a software update for this unit on the Garmin site. The 2006C came with a 9 pin compter cable. None of my current computers have a 9 pin connection. Can a person use a 9 pin / USB adaptor?

Question 3..... I remember seeing somewhere in one of the sailing magazines a while back a reference to a new GPS satalite being put into service and causing some problems with older GPS units. I wouldn't consider my GPS unit "older" but does anyone have any more information about this and or thoughts as to what a person needs to do?

Thanks in advance for any and all advice.

[Plumper]

1. It sounds like an external antenna problem. Do you have an external antenna?

2. I use a serial port to USB adapter for my GPS/Laptop interface. It works, but it is important to turn everything on in the right sequence.

3. My oldest GPS was made in the early 90s and still works just fine.

[negrini]

1- it happens eventually. unless you made any location change, new fixture close to antenna, your cables not suffered from long time vibration, etc ... that could be just eventual fixing failure, but should resume shortly and not pose any problem. Otherwise, you have a failure on your unity.

2- yes, you can use those USB - Serial converter. And considering you use those damm Microsoft based system, just make sure you set port no. and baudrate correctly. Before you tempt a system update, try backing up your waypoints, uploading others, etc .. after gaining confidence you've correct connection, go for a system update. Even then, make sure you don't experience any power failure during the process.

3- I'm not aware of any chronic problem, or induced one. Just know of eventual fixing failures, due to stratospheric impedance, i.e.

[Harryeod]

My computer did not have a serial port connector either so I went on ebay and bought an adapter for about nine bucks and no matter what I did, I could not get it to work. So I went and bought the more expensive garmin produced apadpter and it worked.

Just sharing my experience.

[LittleMissMagic]

Another good question to ask is whether or not any Naval Activities were going on around you. Those big billboard radars can knock out the low power GPS signals on occasion. This is why the government has extended Loran service for a few more years.

[Tree]

Harryeod.....Where did you find the Garmin adaptor? I just went on the Garmin USA site and couldn't find adaptors. and .... how much did you pay?




Plumper.... yes, I have an external ant.

[sailingdog]

Most of the USB-to-serial adapters should work just fine...just don't get a bargain basement no-name brand one...

Also, many of the units can be updated via memory card, rather than using the serial port.

[brak]

My GPS (Garmin) occasionally loses track of satellites (it really manifests as losing antenna signal entirely). This isn't a connection issue (it only happens during startup occasionally, and seems to never happen after a long time being on, even if boat is jumping all over the waves). I wrote to Garmin support and they recommended some sort of resetting satellite signal procedure, which I am yet to try (as the unit behaved nicely last few sails). In any case, Garmin firmware is not known for its bug-free condition.

[JiffyLube]

Originally Posted by Harryeod

My computer did not have a serial port connector either so I went on ebay and bought an adapter for about nine bucks and no matter what I did, I could not get it to work. So I went and bought the more expensive garmin produced apadpter and it worked.

Just sharing my experience.

Not all USB to serial adapters work. I'm not sure why, probably has to do with a software problem with the adapters.

[JiffyLube]

Originally Posted by Tree

Harryeod.....Where did you find the Garmin adaptor? I just went on the Garmin USA site and couldn't find adaptors. and .... how much did you pay?

You won't find any adapters on Garmin's site, as all Garmin's adapters are made by a third party for Garmin (under Garmin's name). West Marine sells Garmin adapters, but so do many online sites.