Sonar & Garmin -- failing to report depth
 

I've contact garmin a few times about this -- they tell me it's "normal" or
"growth on the transducer" etc.

sometimes, depth stops being reported/read (flashes) -- powering the unit on/off
does nothing -- switching from dual beam to dual frequency (or narrow to wide or
50 to 200mhz) does nothing. Speed is irrelevant. it's still getting a signal
from the tranducer because if I unplug it; it says "tranducer unplugged" .

sometimes it stops reporting for only a few minutes, other times for hours.

What's a best guess on this? Bad sounder or bad tranducer? one is easier to
replace than the other, one costs more than the other -- so for me -- it's about
a wash as to what I replace 1st. Both units are less than a year old...

Thanks for your thoughts.

-josh

Sonar & Garmin -- failing to report depth
 

Software glitch. Don't take any crap off Garmin. Send the head in for
reflash.
JR

Josh Assing wrote:
I've contact garmin a few times about this -- they tell me it's "normal" or
"growth on the transducer" etc.

sometimes, depth stops being reported/read (flashes) -- powering the unit on/off
does nothing -- switching from dual beam to dual frequency (or narrow to wide or
50 to 200mhz) does nothing. Speed is irrelevant. it's still getting a signal
from the tranducer because if I unplug it; it says "tranducer unplugged" .

sometimes it stops reporting for only a few minutes, other times for hours.

What's a best guess on this? Bad sounder or bad tranducer? one is easier to
replace than the other, one costs more than the other -- so for me -- it's about
a wash as to what I replace 1st. Both units are less than a year old...

Thanks for your thoughts.

-josh



--
--------------------------------------------------------------
Home Page: http://www.seanet.com/~jasonrnorth

Sonar & Garmin -- failing to report depth
 

On Mon, 13 Aug 2007 12:56:10 -0700, Josh Assing
wrote:

Thanks for your thoughts.

Two issues.

1 - The unit may need to be reflashed and that's only done at a
service center.

2 - The most likely cause based on your symptoms is a cracked crystal
in the transducer. Replace the transducer first and see if the
problem goes away.

3 - Don't take any crap from Garmin. Their customer service, in my
experience, is lousy.

Sonar & Garmin -- failing to report depth
 

Software glitch. Don't take any crap off Garmin. Send the head in for
reflash.

I can't reflash it myself? I have the pc interface for it...

JR

Josh Assing wrote:
I've contact garmin a few times about this -- they tell me it's "normal" or
"growth on the transducer" etc.

sometimes, depth stops being reported/read (flashes) -- powering the unit on/off
does nothing -- switching from dual beam to dual frequency (or narrow to wide or
50 to 200mhz) does nothing. Speed is irrelevant. it's still getting a signal
from the tranducer because if I unplug it; it says "tranducer unplugged" .

sometimes it stops reporting for only a few minutes, other times for hours.

What's a best guess on this? Bad sounder or bad tranducer? one is easier to
replace than the other, one costs more than the other -- so for me -- it's about
a wash as to what I replace 1st. Both units are less than a year old...

Thanks for your thoughts.

-josh

Sonar & Garmin -- failing to report depth
 

1 - The unit may need to be reflashed and that's only done at a
service center.

bummer -- I can expect to be w/o it for how many months? ;-)

2 - The most likely cause based on your symptoms is a cracked crystal
in the transducer. Replace the transducer first and see if the
problem goes away.

****er. how do they get cracked? I've not struck anything nor has it been
dropped prior to install (at least while it was in my hands)

3 - Don't take any crap from Garmin. Their customer service, in my
experience, is lousy.

They used to have good service, way back when....

Thanks
-josh

Sonar & Garmin -- failing to report depth
 

On Tue, 14 Aug 2007 09:08:03 -0700, Josh Assing
wrote:

1 - The unit may need to be reflashed and that's only done at a
service center.

bummer -- I can expect to be w/o it for how many months? ;-)

Probably two weeks - assuming, of course, that they actually do it.

And before you ask, no you can't do it yourself - that software is
proprietary to Garmin.

2 - The most likely cause based on your symptoms is a cracked crystal
in the transducer. Replace the transducer first and see if the
problem goes away.

****er. how do they get cracked? I've not struck anything nor has it been
dropped prior to install (at least while it was in my hands)

They aren't delicate, but anything from temp to defect in the crystal
can cause it. Most likely, it's a defect in the crystal. And your
symptoms are very typical.

That doesn't mean it can't be something else. I assume you've checked
wiring connections, etc.

3 - Don't take any crap from Garmin. Their customer service, in my
experience, is lousy.

They used to have good service, way back when....

In my experience, they have never had good customer service.

Ever.

Sonar & Garmin -- failing to report depth
 

And before you ask, no you can't do it yourself - that software is
proprietary to Garmin.

I asked in a different post ... oh well -- I'll try getting it -- yesterday it
went out when I absolutely needed it...

They aren't delicate, but anything from temp to defect in the crystal
can cause it. Most likely, it's a defect in the crystal. And your
symptoms are very typical.

well; then that's good that it's typical -- bummer is I gotta haul the boat out
to change it...


That doesn't mean it can't be something else. I assume you've checked
wiring connections, etc.

1st thing I checked.

In my experience, they have never had good customer service.

Ever.

when my 12xl had an issue -- they sent me a ups call tag for overnight shipping
& then shipped it back -- it was 4 days from time it was sent to the time I got
it back.... it was out of warranty but they fixed it for free... that was 10+
years ago tho. I was able to reflash the 12xl -- which is why I hoped I could
update the stuff on my 498...

I'll order up a new transducer & try to get the unit reflashed...

Sonar & Garmin -- failing to report depth
 

"Short Wave Sportfishing" wrote in message
...
On Tue, 14 Aug 2007 09:08:03 -0700, Josh Assing
wrote:

1 - The unit may need to be reflashed and that's only done at a
service center.

bummer -- I can expect to be w/o it for how many months? ;-)

Probably two weeks - assuming, of course, that they actually do it.

And before you ask, no you can't do it yourself - that software is
proprietary to Garmin.


Garmin site give you all the software need to reload the firmware, or
upgrade fw.

Sonar & Garmin -- failing to report depth
 

On Tue, 14 Aug 2007 14:45:20 -0700, "CalifBill"
wrote:


"Short Wave Sportfishing" wrote in message
.. .
On Tue, 14 Aug 2007 09:08:03 -0700, Josh Assing
wrote:

1 - The unit may need to be reflashed and that's only done at a
service center.

bummer -- I can expect to be w/o it for how many months? ;-)

Probably two weeks - assuming, of course, that they actually do it.

And before you ask, no you can't do it yourself - that software is
proprietary to Garmin.


Garmin site give you all the software need to reload the firmware, or
upgrade fw.

Well, there you have it.

Sonar & Garmin -- failing to report depth
 

"Short Wave Sportfishing" wrote in message
...
On Tue, 14 Aug 2007 14:45:20 -0700, "CalifBill"
wrote:


"Short Wave Sportfishing" wrote in message
. ..
On Tue, 14 Aug 2007 09:08:03 -0700, Josh Assing
wrote:

1 - The unit may need to be reflashed and that's only done at a
service center.

bummer -- I can expect to be w/o it for how many months? ;-)

Probably two weeks - assuming, of course, that they actually do it.

And before you ask, no you can't do it yourself - that software is
proprietary to Garmin.


Garmin site give you all the software need to reload the firmware, or
upgrade fw.

Well, there you have it.

did my 162 plotter a few years ago.