Garmin Users - You Might Want to Hold on the Latest S/W Updates

[Avenger]

Gents,
I just had a full Garmin Suite installed over the winter. (2) 8616's, Fantom Radar, Reactor with smart pump, and Flir. Prior to this I was accustomed to Axiom. I am having issues when running the radar overlay. The overlay does not match up with the shoreline and targets. It also appears that while running a route in the overlay screen the route course does not match the heading line of the boat even when following a dead straight route. The traditional radar screen seems to work perfect if ran independently and the targets are spot on. The charts and routing functions also work perfect when operated independent of overlay. I am scratching my head on this one and so is my installer. What I am describing is shown in the pic below as the radar is incorrectly overlaying the land target.
I also included a pic of the route in the radar screen being several degrees off the heading line for no apparent reason.

 

[alnav]

Gents,
I just had a full Garmin Suite installed over the winter. (2) 8616's, Fantom Radar, Reactor with smart pump, and Flir. Prior to this I was accustomed to Axiom. I am having issues when running the radar overlay. The overlay does not match up with the shoreline and targets. It also appears that while running a route in the overlay screen the route course does not match the heading line of the boat even when following a dead straight route. The traditional radar screen seems to work perfect if ran independently and the targets are spot on. The charts and routing functions also work perfect when operated independent of overlay. I am scratching my head on this one and so is my installer. What I am describing is shown in the pic below as the radar is incorrectly overlaying the land target.
I also included a pic of the route in the radar screen being several degrees off the heading line for no apparent reason.
View attachment 147317
View attachment 147318

Your issue sounds like it's related to heading sensor issues. What sensor do you have and where is is located? Typical problems are either lack of calibration or magnetic interference from the sensor being too close to metal or electronics.
First step IMO is to do (or re-do) the calibration process. I believe the exact process is dependent on the sensor you have but roughly, you find the sensor in the system and are presented with a calibration procedure. First is usually going in a circle for a while, then in a straight line.

 

[ttmott]

Your issue sounds like it's related to heading sensor issues. What sensor do you have and where is is located? Typical problems are either lack of calibration or magnetic interference from the sensor being too close to metal or electronics.
First step IMO is to do (or re-do) the calibration process. I believe the exact process is dependent on the sensor you have but roughly, you find the sensor in the system and are presented with a calibration procedure. First is usually going in a circle for a while, then in a straight line.

There is also an offset adjustment in the radar settings.
But make sure all of your instruments are either set to True or Magnetic and if Magnetic (like most of us) you have the correct declination.
Last but not least make sure all of your instruments are getting GPS data from the same receiver.

I also have that same problem but it is intermittent - for me I need to relocate the CCU then go through the calibration again.

 

[b_arrington]

Your issue sounds like it's related to heading sensor issues. What sensor do you have and where is is located? Typical problems are either lack of calibration or magnetic interference from the sensor being too close to metal or electronics.
First step IMO is to do (or re-do) the calibration process. I believe the exact process is dependent on the sensor you have but roughly, you find the sensor in the system and are presented with a calibration procedure. First is usually going in a circle for a while, then in a straight line.

I would agree its related to the heading. I'd guess he may not have a stand-alone heading sensor since the reactor autopilot has one built in (that's how my system is configured).

Calibrating the heading sensor is for sure a good idea. You go hit the Home button, Settings, Autopilot Setup. There are 2 related options - configure the heading and set north up. Configure the heading requires spinning the boat in a flat circle 1.75 times. North Up requires holding the boat in a steady straight heading at cruising speed.

However - I think this may still not be the main issue which I was also having. Note that the in both screens the Heading is set to GPS Heading (COG), not Heading (from the Heading Sensor, aka the direction the boat is pointed. These two values can be quite different. The heading sensor shows which way the boat is pointed, and GPS heading shows which way the boat is moving. Several factors including improper calibration can cause a discrepancy.

I installed a second Garmin screen over the winter and my two units had these settings set differently. It was driving me a little nuts to see one with the line coming straight out, and the other at an angle with the boat crabbing sideways. Once I got the heading settings to match it was much better.

 

[ttmott]

I would agree its related to the heading. I'd guess he may not have a stand-alone heading sensor since the reactor autopilot has one built in (that's how my system is configured).

Calibrating the heading sensor is for sure a good idea. You go hit the Home button, Settings, Autopilot Setup. There are 2 related options - configure the heading and set north up. Configure the heading requires spinning the boat in a flat circle 1.75 times. North Up requires holding the boat in a steady straight heading at cruising speed.

However - I think this may still not be the main issue which I was also having. Note that the in both screens the Heading is set to GPS Heading (COG), not Heading (from the Heading Sensor, aka the direction the boat is pointed. These two values can be quite different. The heading sensor shows which way the boat is pointed, and GPS heading shows which way the boat is moving. Several factors including improper calibration can cause a discrepancy.

I installed a second Garmin screen over the winter and my two units had these settings set differently. It was driving me a little nuts to see one with the line coming straight out, and the other at an angle with the boat crabbing sideways. Once I got the heading settings to match it was much better.

Mine (Reactor 40) is different in that there is a separate Course Computer Unit (CCU) then the separate Smart Pump. The CCU I have located on the Forward Engine Room Bulkhead. The washer/dryer is directly on the other side of that and what, in my case, is probably causing the variance between the radar and charts.

 

[Skybolt]

I'll look later when at the boat, but I recall there being a setting to align the land and the return radar image some where in the overlay screen.

Your standalone radar image looks like it will match the chart. Were both pic's taken at the same time and boat angle?

Your also set to Magnetic on the screen, check that your CCU is also set for Magnetic.

 

[Avenger]

The reactor course computer is on a bulkhead low in the bilge away from anything ferrous or magnetic. I will double check that the CCU is also set to magnetic. Good idea to go through the AP recalibration process again.

 

[Avenger]

I'll look later when at the boat, but I recall there being a setting to align the land and the return radar image some where in the overlay screen.

Your standalone radar image looks like it will match the chart. Were both pic's taken at the same time and boat angle?

Your also set to Magnetic on the screen, check that your CCU is also set for Magnetic.

Pics were taken within a couple minutes.

 

[Avenger]

I would agree its related to the heading. I'd guess he may not have a stand-alone heading sensor since the reactor autopilot has one built in (that's how my system is configured).

Calibrating the heading sensor is for sure a good idea. You go hit the Home button, Settings, Autopilot Setup. There are 2 related options - configure the heading and set north up. Configure the heading requires spinning the boat in a flat circle 1.75 times. North Up requires holding the boat in a steady straight heading at cruising speed.

However - I think this may still not be the main issue which I was also having. Note that the in both screens the Heading is set to GPS Heading (COG), not Heading (from the Heading Sensor, aka the direction the boat is pointed. These two values can be quite different. The heading sensor shows which way the boat is pointed, and GPS heading shows which way the boat is moving. Several factors including improper calibration can cause a discrepancy.

I installed a second Garmin screen over the winter and my two units had these settings set differently. It was driving me a little nuts to see one with the line coming straight out, and the other at an angle with the boat crabbing sideways. Once I got the heading settings to match it was much better.

Brad,

You are correct I currently don't have a stand alone heading sensor (yet). Are you saying I should be using the heading from the course computer instead of the GPS? Have to excuse my lack of knowledge I'm a complete Garmin rookie. Thanks for the input

 

[ttmott]

Brad,

You are correct I currently don't have a stand alone heading sensor (yet). Are you saying I should be using the heading from the course computer instead of the GPS? Have to excuse my lack of knowledge I'm a complete Garmin rookie. Thanks for the input

I'd like to know also. I don't know of any separate Garmin autopilot sensor other than the CCU and GPS receiver.
The CCU is the magnetic flux heading compass (that's why it can't be anywhere around metal and needs to be located as low as possible in the boat) and the GPS manages speed and position.

 

[alnav]

Brad,

You are correct I currently don't have a stand alone heading sensor (yet). Are you saying I should be using the heading from the course computer instead of the GPS? Have to excuse my lack of knowledge I'm a complete Garmin rookie. Thanks for the input

Avenger, it might be helpful if you dig out which model GPS and/or heading sensor was installed. Should be visible through the Communications menu under either NMEA 2000 or possibly also Garmin network.

I'd like to know also. I don't know of any separate Garmin autopilot sensor other than the CCU and GPS receiver.
The CCU is the magnetic flux heading compass (that's why it can't be anywhere around metal and needs to be located as low as possible in the boat) and the GPS manages speed and position.

Tom, Garmin has come out with some newer position/heading products in the last couple of years that blur the old lines between the GPS and the magnetic compass. I've had my eye on getting one even though I probably don't need it. Top of the line is the MSC 10 which is a satellite compass Garmin claims is not subject to magnetic interference that provides heading, position and even roll, pitch and yaw. It costs $1K+. There's also the GPS 24xd, a traditional-looking GPS receiver with a heading sensor; not magnetic safe. There are also a couple of upgraded heading sensors which are supposed to be more accurate than the CCU that comes with most autopilot installs. With a new install, I'm wondering if Avenger might have one of the newer heading solutions, hence my question above. Any of the above would result in more than one heading source on the system and need to be dealt with.

 

[b_arrington]

Mine (Reactor 40) is different in that there is a separate Course Computer Unit (CCU) then the separate Smart Pump. The CCU I have located on the Forward Engine Room Bulkhead. The washer/dryer is directly on the other side of that and what, in my case, is probably causing the variance between the radar and charts.View attachment 147319

That’s exactly what I have. The pump is at the stern, the brains with the heading sensor up front.

 

[b_arrington]

Brad,

You are correct I currently don't have a stand alone heading sensor (yet). Are you saying I should be using the heading from the course computer instead of the GPS? Have to excuse my lack of knowledge I'm a complete Garmin rookie. Thanks for the input

Yes, I think you should likely use the Heading from the CCU instead of the GPS Heading (COG). Although I think it will depend on how accurate your CCU calibration is. You can always switch the heading selection back.

When doing the calibration, it will return a calibration quality score in the form of Qxx. It will be a 2 digit number from 0-100, with 100 being the best. For my install, the best I can get is a Q77. I recently moved by CCU in an attempt to get a better, more accurate score. I'm considering getting a separate 9-axis heading sensor to improved my heading. The MSC 10 looks really good, but more than I want to spend.

 

[b_arrington]

Avenger, it might be helpful if you dig out which model GPS and/or heading sensor was installed. Should be visible through the Communications menu under either NMEA 2000 or possibly also Garmin network.

I think he mentioned that he has just the heading sensor that's built into the Reactor 40 CCU (same as me). I don't know the accuracy of this integrated sensor compared to Garmin's other heading sensors. But I do know that Garmin says their Steadcast heading sensor is NOT accurate enough for use with autopilot systems.

 

[quality time]

This is a timely thread as I'm having the same issue with my new to me boat and Garmin system. You guys have given me a good idea where to start especially now that I know what the CCU/heading sensor looks like.

On a side note, I installed a Furuno satellite compass on my last boat and it was amazing.

 

[Skybolt]

@Avenger So if you have the Reactor 40 Pilot, then you must have the CCU. That is not only the fluxgate compass but also the course computer.

Sometimes you can have another heading sensor like the Garmin GPS24 which is a GPS receiver and heading sensor all in one. The benefit of having that is you get the correct boat orientation at the dock without having to turn on the AP and use it's heading sensor.

The newer Garmin MFD's default to auto for the heading sensor which means the first one it finds, when there is more then one is the one it will use. The AP will look for it's CCU and always use that.

 

[b_arrington]

@Avenger So if you have the Reactor 40 Pilot, then you must have the CCU. That is not only the fluxgate compass but also the course computer.

Sometimes you can have another heading sensor like the Garmin GPS24 which is a GPS receiver and heading sensor all in one. The benefit of having that is you get the correct boat orientation at the dock without having to turn on the AP and use it's heading sensor.

The newer Garmin MFD's default to auto for the heading sensor which means the first one it finds, when there is more then one is the one it will use. The AP will look for it's CCU and always use that.

Are there times when you don't turn on the autopilot? All my navigation stuff (GPS, AP, VHF, camera) is on one main breaker circuit that feeds a multi-position fuse block. Therefore, all my navigation equipment turns on with one switch.

 

[Skybolt]

Are there times when you don't turn on the autopilot? All my navigation stuff (GPS, AP, VHF, camera) is on one main breaker circuit that feeds a multi-position fuse block. Therefore, all my navigation equipment turns on with one switch.

Yes, as I mentioned, when at the dock.

My electronics are separated into two switches. One is for on all of the time including while at anchor. And the other is only while underway. The auto pilot has been separate form the beginning as that is how it came from the PO and just never changed it. When I am finished with the Garmin AP upgrade, that will turn on with the Main MFD's.

 

[J.Wilt]

Is there a software update number, I thought I did all the new updates in May, I have been using mine all week avoiding sail & fishing boats, hit the resume course and it does a crazy Ivan but resumes course just fine after standby mode.

 

[alnav]

Is there a software update number, I thought I did all the new updates in May, I have been using mine all week avoiding sail & fishing boats, hit the resume course and it does a crazy Ivan but resumes course just fine after standby mode.

I noticed there was a new update dropped on 7 July. It doesn't seem to do anything to the autopilot but you never know. This Garmin page covers all the update methods: https://www.garmin.com/en-US/support/software/marine/
There's a bit of a discussion of the aggressive resume route behavior in a recent thread here starting in post #15: http://clubsearay.com/index.php?threads/garmin-grid-remote-helm-seat-mod.113166/