My 296 lost all reception for about 30 mins the other day. I tried cycling the power, cycling waas, etc etc. nothing seemed to help. then all of a sudden all the satellites came up and voila it was working again on the ground. I could not get it to receive any satellites on ground or in the air prior. Anyone ever seen this behavior?
Never, by the way, the url on your info is incorrect, too many https
In reply to:
My 296 lost all reception for about 30 mins the other day. I tried cycling the power, cycling waas, etc etc. nothing seemed to help. then all of a sudden all the satellites came up and voila it was working again on the ground. I could not get it to receive any satellites on ground or in the air prior. Anyone ever seen this behavior?
I have been having an intermittent failure to receive satellites on my 496 recently. At first I thought it was interference from a pocket digital video recorder I was trying in the cockpit - but I removed that from the plane - and it is still happening every once and a while.
The few times it has happened, it usually starts working after 5-20 minutes. A couple times it did not work at all on 1.5 hour flights. Once it locks in on satellites, it never stops working until it has been shut off again.
Both 430’s are getting good coverage when this happens.
It also happened once while trying to use it in my car. I am suspicious of a failing antenna or internal antenna wire.
Poor cell phone photo attached.
In reply to:
Never, by the way, the url on your info is incorrect, too many https
huh? what url? I wasnt aware I had one lol.
Steven that is exactly what mine looked like! I saw the far right satellite bar full up, but it would fade out also after a minute or 2. The panel mount apollo gps was also working fine during my outage as well. whiskey tango foxtrot?
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I saw the far right satellite bar full up
Mine usually shows those two satellites (I believe 49 & 51) with signal, but not always. I do not know if there are satellites up there numbered 49 & 51, and wondered if it was some sort of failure code Garmin could recognize.
I called Garmin several weeks ago to request service, and they had me update to the newest version of software/firmware, but the problem continues.
I also keep forgetting to take the external antenna and use it on some some flights as a test.
I’ll let you know if I learn more, and appreciate anyone who might have other ideas.
Steve.
When I checked your profile by clicking on your name, your homepage is not clickable because it is wrong. One too many http. Click on fitbryan on the upper right and you will see. Just need to edit your member profile.
In reply to:
When I checked your profile by clicking on your name, your homepage is not clickable because it is wrong. One too many http. Click on fitbryan on the upper right and you will see. Just need to edit your member profile.
I had no idea anyone would be that inquisitive lol. It has been corrected. thanks!
I emailed garmin support. hope to hear back soon.
I look forward to hearing your response from Garmin.
As an extra data point… while at Gainesville today, discussing my November annual with the service center, the service manager mentioned another 496, in a non-Cirrus, doing the same thing.
Mine worked perfectly for the 10 minute flights to and from Gainesville. My non-scientific estimate of it’s delay or failure to capture satellites, runs about 5% of my flights.
Steve.
The response:
Thank you for contacting Garmin International,
If part of the satellite almanac data (or operating system) is corrupted, it will cause the unit to drop satellite reception and/or reset (power off). The following resolutions should correct the issue.
The first resets the satellite almanac data, the next resets the entire unit (erasing all user data), and the last re-installs the operating system from our website. Try each one to see if it resolves the issue.
Satellite Reset - With the unit off, press and hold the Zoom OUT button while turning the unit on. This will reset the satellite data.
(Before doing any of the procedures listed below, you may want to backup your user data - waypoints, routes, tracks - as it is usually erased during the following procedures. This is easily done if you have one of our computer Mapsource software products. It can then be reloaded
later.)
Master Reset - With the unit off and all cables disconnected and any datacard removed, press and hold the OUT+QUIT+NRST buttons. Tap the POWER button once for about .5 - 1 second. (The unit will beep and power up to a shaded screen.) Continue holding the OUT+QUIT+NRST buttons for about 6 - 8 seconds and then release. If the unit powers off or refuses to power up to full brightness, remove and re-install the battery and perform this reset procedure only one more time. Again remove and re-install the battery. The unit should now function properly. After this is done, enable the WAAS function and take it outside to let it acquire the satellite signals for about 10 minutes.
Unit Software Update - To do the Unit Software update, remove any datacard (if installed) and follow the steps below. Make sure to read all warnings as this update may erase all routes, waypoints, and tracks in the unit.
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Go to our website at http://www.garmin.com/support/agree.jsp?id=889.
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Follow this link through the download process.
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Save the file in a location on your computer that can be easily found
- I suggest the Desktop.
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Find the downloaded file on your computer and run it (double click).
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Select USB if that is how the GPS is connected to the computer.
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Make sure the GPS is turned on - simulator on.
This update may take a few minutes to complete. After this is done, enable the WAAS function and take it outside to let it acquire the satellite signals for about 10 minutes.
With Best Regards,
Todd C
Aviation Product Support Specialist
Pilot Operations
Garmin International
913-397-8200
800-800-1020
913-397-8282 (fax) Att: Todd C
www.garmin.com
Update: I did the software upgrade (turns out I was on 5.10 and 5.20 was current). Issue was not resolved. I then did the master reset and it now seems to be acquiring the satellites properly. Hope it stays that way…
My 396 started doing this after one of the software updates a long time ago. I insist it is some error they introduced in “acquiring satellites”.
If you see “acquiring satellites” and it doesn’t show any green after 15 seconds, just turn it off. Then hold the “out” buttom top right of the unit and turn the unit back on withOUT letting go of the “out” button. KEEP holding it until the “I agree” button comes on the screen at which time you can let go of the “out” button. You will notice it shows “Auto Lock satellites” or something to that effect and it will find the satellites and obtain a lock within 15 seconds or so.
Rick