Lowrance LMS 332C - GPS Problem

[tanimola]

'Out of the blue' I am receiving an error message on my Lowrance plotter:


"GPS Module not responding"

I have checked all connections, power etc. and all are ok

Interestingly, at the same time the fuel sensor stopped working too. However, when I unplug the GPS connector, the fuel sensor works again...

What am I missing?

[jyasaki]

2000 series antenna? Those were known to be rather fragile (a strong radar signal nearby could kill them; almost always prevented them from getting a signal.)

Sounds like the NMEA 2000 interface in yours is toast, to the point where it's preventing anything else from talking on the bus.

As far as I know, the 2000, 3000, and 4000 are all interchangeable (aside from the larger connector on the 2000. You can get adaptors to get around that.)

jky

[tanimola]

It is an LGC 2000 receiver.

Photo shows the fuel sensor connected - working ok - but when I connect the GPS module the fuel sensor is not picked up either!

[jyasaki]

Which implies the problem with the GPS sensor is killing the network communication signals.

General way this thing works is that you've got 2 wires for intercommunication. Each device listens for an opening on the bus, then puts out a header saying what data it is sending, then transmits its data followed by a stop signal to say it's done. At that time, the next device will see the bus is clear and send its data, followed by a stop signal, and so on and so forth.

So, most likely, either your antenna is pulling the entire bus down so nothing can talk or it's not sending a stop signal to say the bus is clear. This has nothing to do with whether the antenna is receiving a satellite signal or not; just its effect on the network.

If someone nearby has a the same antenna, see if you can swap it in to yours to verify it's your antenna. Odds are pretty good it is causing the problem.


jky

[tanimola]

Thanks for this.

Have now spoken to Lowrance service team.....they agree with your conclusion.

They will replace the antenna for me at a very agreeable price - not sure why it failed though???

Suggested a software update too - seems very straightforward via the SD card

Thanks again

[jyasaki]

Failed because the LGC-2000 wasn't designed very well (or not built very well.)

A lot of people had problems with them.

I upgraded my 332 to a 525 (I think it is) when the card reader stopped reading; it came with an LGC-3000; has worked well since (with one problem area where one of the SF Bay traffic radars is, I think.)

jky