LMS480 or Lowrance GPS Help

[fishfordollars]

I bought a 480 off another site and when I hooked it up I am getting a "GPS not responding" error message. Did the hard reset and checked all connections but it did not help.

I ordered another antenna but it has not come in yet. Any suggestions as to something I am missing? If it's brain fade someone throw something at me. Previous owner swears the antenna was ok.

Unit was cheap enough, talked to the seller, and I am not asking for any monetary help nor am I sending it back. Sonar and everything else works great. In fact it is a new replacement from Lowrance that has never been installed.

Need some ideas.

Thanks,

Jack

[Wayne P.]

If you know anyone with a LEI GPS unit, try your antenna hooked to theirs. That will let you know whether it's the unit or the antenna.

edited: just thought of another possibility. Some LEI set-ups require the antenna to be separately powered. I don't know about the 480 you have, but you can download a manual from the Lowrance site to find out.

[acar555]

There are separate power leads for the antenna that must be hooked up. If it came with a manual, the early ones didn't specify to connect the NMEA power wires to a power source with a switch. So you may have missed it. The later manuals fixed the omission. The "gps module not responding" issue is usally a power/connection problem, a bad or loose terminator or a bad antenna.

[fishfordollars]

If you know anyone with a LEI GPS unit, try your antenna hooked to theirs. That will let you know whether it's the unit or the antenna.

edited: just thought of another possibility. Some LEI set-ups require the antenna to be separately powered. I don't know about the 480 you have, but you can download a manual from the Lowrance site to find out.

Read the Manuel??? Wayne, I thought you knew it by heart. Guess I'll have to go read the dang thing. It's sitting on my work bench. LOL.

acar555, I was afraid someone would mention that. Thanks, now I have to research that dang issue. I'm usually the type that likes to just

"Plug and go".

Thanks for the tips. I'll try them and let you know if it works or come back crying for more info.

Jack

[Wayne P.]

FFD, you should have gotten a Humminbird and then you wouldn't have that problem. They are "plug and go". LOL

That powered antenna deal has been a trouble shooting headache since it was incorporated. Interference with the display if too close, dead battery from being non-switched, blown fuse on the power hook-up, failure to provide power, etc.

OH, didn't you know that it might not work correctly if it is closer than 3' to the display? Just one of those "omissions" in the manual that recommends the placement to avoid "possible interference".

[fishfordollars]

Yea I know. The antenna is mounted in the back just in front of my navigation light base.

FYI, found the problem a few minutes ago. Bad wire at the connection just in front of the inline fuse(Of course I use fuses).

Gonna keep those Lowrance units a while longer. The wrap wouldn't look to swift with the Lowrance logo cut out of each side. LOL.

Thanks for the help guys.

Jack