GPS - RL70C - no fix

Rock Sea

Rock Sea

New Member
May 24, 2009
31
Montreal, Canada
Boat Info
330 sundancer 1998
Engines
350 mercruiser with shaft
I have a problem with my GPS, sometime I have my location and sometime I dont, that say No fix (boat info). I believe its could be a connection instead the antenna but I'm probably wrong ? any clue ?

Best Regards
Michel
DA330 98
 
I have the same unit with the 120 sensor.I called Raymarine a few years back,they told me to add a switch in line with the sensor (the 12 volt feed).By powering down the sensor then powering it back up the problem of "No Fix " is cured.
 
I have the same GPS and same problem periodically. Below my helm where several of my electronic fuses are, I can remove the GPS antenna connection and reconnect it. It always solves the problem. I'm assuming my wiring is loose or corroding.
 
We had the same problem and fixed it with a new Raystar 125. Haven't had any issues since. Not trying to be a smarta$$ here, ours went from occasional 'no fix', to 'no fix' on a regular basis so it was clear the 120 was fading fast.

Henry
 
The 120 is hardwired into the GPS bulb. The 125 has a plug that goes into the GPS bulb. To make things easier on yourself, remove the 120 and pull it out a little to expose some wire. Now you can nip the old wire. (Leave a good length at the bulb if you want to re-use the 120 as a back up. It can be soldered back together.) Then firmly attach some heavy string (solid stuff like 1/8" braided) and slowly pull the old wire and string towards the helm. Once the string emerges at the helm attach the NON plug end of the 125 to the string on the end at the Arch where the bulb will be attached. Now pull the string from the helm. The reason for the string is to get the ld wire out while making sure you can get the new wire in. Trying to pull the new wire with the old wire risks damaging the new if it gets hung up.

Henry
 
Henry, can I install that 125 on the existing piedestal mounting bracket (120) ?

Regards
Michel
 
The 125 will fit on the old 120 stanchion. I mounted mine directly on the cabin roof and had to drill a larger hole to accommodate the newer ant. Worked like a champ and no lost fixes ever... I even get a fix in less than 5 seconds...

Go with a 125... The lithium battery in the 120 is only good for 8 to 10 years... and you can not replace that battery.
 
Thank you Doug, at 300$ for the sensor only, is what I expect...not less :grin:

About the battery, I read the samething on some others forums but I cannot understand why they produced that kind of sensor, il the only issu is the garbage can...:huh:

Regards
Michel
 
I have to install the sensor today, I dont have any radar antenna or autopilot ... I need to know if the sensor connection to the RL70C should be connect as NMEA or Seatalk ?

Thank you
Michel
 
Michel,

The 125 can be installed as either SeaTalk, or NMEA. The 120 on the other hand came in two different models, a SeaTalk model and a NMEA model. The top of the old 120 antenna will have a decal that says which type it is. The simplest thing to do would be to connect the new antenna exactly in the same way as the old. Just make sure you rely on wiring colors based on 125 instructions. I don't remember if the 120 and have the corresponding color schemes.

Henry
 
Thank you Henry, I'll pay attention to the existing setup and I'll connect in the same way....as per I read on the net, the wires colors dosen't match between the sensor and the RL70C.

Regards
Michel
 
Rock Sea - do you have a sea talk junction box? (little white box with up to 4 seperate wires/cables coming out of it - mine was labeled "raymarine"). Just did this install to replace a RN300 (GPS) that was going down the "no fix" tube really fast. Connected the RS125 as sea talk to the junction box and swiched the power to the RS125 off the auto pilot on/off switch (I don't have an "electronics switch"). Powered up and the RN300 came to life (along with radar, smartcraft, and auto pilot - had to switch the RN300 to "repeater mode" from "master"). Checked all my connections prior to running wires to be certain it worked and all of the planets lined up and now I be "fixed"! Good Luck - Jeff
 
Its done, I spend 2 hours with Sea Talk... Jeff, I dont have that junction boxe... finaly NMEA was the solution. We should connect the yellow wire (NMEA out) from the sensor to the orange wire (NMEA in) on the RL70C+ . All others wires (except 12vdc) should be grounded.

Now, I got my position all the time, a big thank you to everyone. :grin:

Nice picture Jeff :thumbsup:

Regards
Michel
 
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