Garmin 545s - not getting accurate readings!!!?

tphinney said:
actually the biggest danger in the upper bay these days is all the crab pots that have shown up in the last year and up here a 240DA is a big boat most folks run around in 16' flats boats and stay close to shore, 99.9% of then all run for shore as soon as the sun starts to set. it's like the reverse of vampires with the dawn. it's amazing...at night it's actually really relaxing versus the day time.

So Morph how old is your unit and what year is the base map that they told you; you needed to buy a new map?

Also before i forget. Any suggestions on weather i should have MM pull the sterndrive and check it after a grounding like this. I went in mud, it toke the paint off about 2-3 inches of the lower skeg; but I didn't notice any vibration or ill efects other than my own palpitations....
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Purchased it sometime after oct 06 so it's not that old. I don't remember the map years off the top of my head I have them written down I will look for them.
 
Nehalennia said:
dark and 30 mph is just crazy....don't you think?
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It is nuts. I don't care how accurate your GPS is, your assumption that the real buoy/daymarker position is the same as it is on the GPS screen is flawed. It's "close"... The positions on the charts are where they are "supposed to be" and may or may not be where they really are. Combine that error with the GPS errors and no one in their right mind would trust that thing as their only instrument cooking down a narrow channel on plane. Radar seems to get it right though. But then again, in our society, I'm sure if someone rammed into a daymarker and it was off by 20 feet from the electronic chart, they would sue everyone....
 
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Four Suns said:
It is nuts. I don't care how accurate your GPS is, your assumption that the real buoy/daymarker position is the same as it is on the GPS screen is flawed. It's "close"... The positions on the charts are where they are "supposed to be" and may or may not be where they really are. Combine that error with the GPS errors and no one in their right mind would trust that thing as their only instrument cooking down a narrow channel on plane. Radar seems to get it right though. But then again, in our society, I'm sure if someone rammed into a daymarker and it was off by 20 feet from the electronic chart, they would sue everyone....
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Yeah I think the refresh rate of the unit alone is not able to keep up with 30knots even if it was spot on. Your story maybe the product of the Video game age
 
Here is an image of how my map's appear to be off east to west but north and south seem to be dead on.

Garmin3205MapOff.jpg
 
You cannot increase the accuracy of your charts by over-sooming. The chart has a base resolution and even though your GPS will allow you to look at it more closely, it will not increase your navigational ability.

One has to know the underlying information such as the date of survey and the date your chart data were last updated along with the chart scale. You also have to be sure your chart plotter is using the correct chart datum and that it is giving you an accurate position fix.
 
I have a 545s.

I bought it last year, about 5 days (or so) after it was released to market.

I find the accuracy of the base maps to be very good *for my area*. I suggest you compare accuracy of the map with and without the G2 vision cards. I wanted the improved resolution of the 545 over the 540, but was too cheap to buy the vision cards (just don't need what they offer).

If you have a decent sat signal without the external antennae, I cannot imagine what benefit an external antennae will provide.

Also, if Garmin is offering a free update for the software via SD card. . .then DO IT. Do you have a digital camera that has SD cards? Geez. . .what more could you want? I plan to update my software later this week once the batteries are back on board.

- - - - - - - -

Otherwise. . . . although I am loathe to admit it, I gotta agree with Gary and Jim -> GPS is an aid to the Mk1 eyeball; not a replacement. Be glad if you only scuffed paint on the skeg and didn't throw anyone overboard due to impact.

I *do* run my boat on full plane at 30mph at night, but when I do I have my eyes glued to the water, and am on constant lookout for markers and other boats. So do my passengers. If I can't see a marker, that I know is out there, then I will slow up and *find it*, using the GPS as a reference.

Note that in my area, there are a scary number of daymarks and "no wake" bouys in prime navigation areas. In one spot, there are "no wake" bouys actually in the ICW, which is only 100 feet wide at that point. Every year, I go out in daylight and HUNT every nav marker around, and ensure that each one is plotted as a GPS waypoint. I don't like finding new markers at night. If I am going someplace new, I make sure that I do it during daylight and plot ALL the navaids and navobsticles so that if I return after dark (common enough to do for me), I don't do something stupid.

But mistakes happen. Thank goodness you walked away from this one with only your pride damaged.
 
comsnark said:
Also, if Garmin is offering a free update for the software via SD card. . .then DO IT. Do you have a digital camera that has SD cards? Geez. . .what more could you want? I plan to update my software later this week once the batteries are back on board.
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Prior to this 2008 maybe 2007 Garmin used a proprietary card not a SD card. They want more then $100 for the card with the FREE update on it.
 
tphinney said:
Now I don't have an external antenna. I do have a good signal from more than 3 satelites so what gives????.
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What level of HDOPs readings are you getting? I believe 2 or less is required for an accurate fix.
 
tphinney said:
So I completed the install on my 545s on the top of my helm with it recessed just under the wind screen so as to prevent from taking a direct hit when I take a wave over the bow ( yes it has happen in the past):thumbsup:. Now sice my GPS76 has always been so accurate. I assumed that the NEW 545s would be as accurate or better. NOT SO. Last night as I sew based on the chartplotter that I was in the channel; I run aground in the mud :smt089. when I realize what happeded I notice the channel marker 100 to 200 yards to port. I'm WAY out of the channel.

then today as I am head out agian instead of showing me in Channel A. it's shows the boat Icon on a Road next to channel A about 200 to 300 yard to Starboard.

Now I don't have an external antenna. I do have a good signal from more than 3 satelites so what gives????

will the external antenna help or do I have a BUM unit????

expert advice welcomed.

Also since I ran into the mud at about 24 MPH last night should I have the drive pulled to check it. I did take some paint off the lower skeg and I don't need to polish my props anymore ( no nicks of dings that I can find)...
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Tom,

We run around the intercostal near Honeymoon Island and I'm at Home Port marina, my Raymarine with Navionics card shows some spots on the intercoastal off by more than 20yds and my channel back to the marina off by similar amount. This channel is barely wide enough for 1 boat and either side is very shallow (1' at low tide). I emailed Raymarine without any improvement, they told to check and make sure I had a datum set and it was. I think this may be just the orginal maps all these are derived from may be off. I know what you mean about the crab traps...so I go slow at night.

Mike
 
fc3 said:
Hey! Hey! Hey! You're not allowed to say "proprietary" on this forum.
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So Garmin's Vision Card is on an "unnegotiably theirs" card. But any SD card is what you use to transfer info from your PC to the unit
 
i had to buy that card reader and dopey little card to back my stuff up. rip off but what can you do? can the new sd card system be used with any sd card reader or do you have to buy that from them too?
 
rondds said:
i had to buy that card reader and dopey little card to back my stuff up. rip off but what can you do? can the new sd card system be used with any sd card reader or do you have to buy that from them too?
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From what I understand the new plotters that use the SD cards can use ANY sd card doesn't have to be garmin's and you can use any SD card reader (there could be a size limit on the plotter)

Why they didn't do this from the get go I don't know maybe just greed.

I'm been trying to decide if I want to upgrade my 3205 to something newer so I can get the SD card and the G2 Vision cards but I got such a good deal on the 3205 it's tough to now pay 1000-2000 on a new plotter but if I want map updates and to be able to save data and plot from the PC I'm gonna have to spend like a bunch of $$ on the darn data card reader and software.
 
Yes it can use any SD card reader. To transfer files you stick the blank card in the GPS which formats the card fwith the folder for file (routes and waypoints) transfers
 
Hey all;

been stuck playing booth bunny at a show all week so I haven't been able to keep up or do anything about the 545s until today.

here's the latest;

I called garmin and they told me there is an update avialable for the 545s and that they will need to charge me $200 to send out the SD card and will reimburst me $125 when they get the card back. I was like Say What!? I told them that this was insane and that I just bought the unit 2 weeks ago "How is this MY problem!!!" and already ran aground thanks to their unit. Guy on the phone wouldn't budge. So told him fine get me the update; but this will be the last Garmin unit I ever buy. At which time He started processing the order and came back a minute or so later with - We'll be sending it out for free!!!.

So there is a Unit software update (and since he/they changed his tune on the price there must be a major bug in the code) and a World Base Map update for 2008. Any one who has a unit which is a recent purchase should push the issue with Garmin about getting the Unit Software update and the Base Map Update for free.

It's going to cost me about $15 for priority shipping so that it arrives before the MM Caladesi Getaway. I can live with that...

I also plan to add an external antenna before the trip to get my margin of error down under 3 meters based on what the rep was saying..

I will advise on any improved accuracy once I get the new base map and the New antenna..

Thanks for all the input and advise....
 
tphinney said:
Hey all;

been stuck playing booth bunny at a show all week so I haven't been able to keep up or do anything about the 545s until today.

here's the latest;

I called garmin and they told me there is an update avialable for the 545s and that they will need to charge me $200 to send out the SD card and will reimburst me $125 when they get the card back. I was like Say What!? I told them that this was insane and that I just bought the unit 2 weeks ago "How is this MY problem!!!" and already ran aground thanks to their unit. Guy on the phone wouldn't budge. So told him fine get me the update; but this will be the last Garmin unit I ever buy. At which time He started processing the order and came back a minute or so later with - We'll be sending it out for free!!!.

So there is a Unit software update (and since he/they changed his tune on the price there must be a major bug in the code) and a World Base Map update for 2008. Any one who has a unit which is a recent purchase should push the issue with Garmin about getting the Unit Software update and the Base Map Update for free.

It's going to cost me about $15 for priority shipping so that it arrives before the MM Caladesi Getaway. I can live with that...

I also plan to add an external antenna before the trip to get my margin of error down under 3 meters based on what the rep was saying..

I will advise on any improved accuracy once I get the new base map and the New antenna..

Thanks for all the input and advise....
Click to expand...

You got luckier then me I couldn't get them to do squat back when I called them last year.

I wonder if it's unit specific or if it would work in all units with the G2 Maps on them :grin:
 
OK. . .back to this thread.

Yesterday, I got the batteries reinstalled on the boat, and I splashed today. My 545s was working as always.

Tonight, I decided to update my Garmin Software. First time I have updated, and the unit still had the original version 2.10 software. I went to the Garmin site, and found new software dated Feb. 2008.

It downloaded as a 30mb executable file, and according to the instructions if you run the file, it will load onto your C:\garmin directory and prompt you for the location of a SD card. Using a 2gb SD card from my camera, and a cardreader, it worked like a charm.

Walked out to the boat. . turned on the unit and popped in the SD card. The unit immediately recognized that new software was on the card. . .and after selecting "update software" . . . .viola! Update complete!

Not sure the "base map" was updated. . . .I do not use G2 cards, but instead rely on the "bluechart" data loaded into the unit.

Seemed fairly straightforward.
 
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