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Chartplotter Will Not Acquire GPS Satellite

If a Garmin chartplotter is not acquiring satellite signals, there could be a few causes. If the device has moved a large distance since the last time it has acquired satellites or has been turned off for longer than a few weeks, the device may not be able to acquire the satellites correctly. 

  • Ensure the device is using the latest software. If not, update the device software. See Related Content below for software update instructions. 

  • If the device is using an internal GPS antenna, make sure the device has a clear view of the sky so the internal antenna can receive the GPS signal. If it is mounted inside of a cabin, it should be close to a window so it can receive the GPS signal. If the device is mounted inside a cabin and cannot be placed in a location where the device can acquire satellites, use an external GPS antenna.

  • If the device is using an external GPS antenna, make sure the antenna is connected to the chartplotter or the NMEA network. If necessary, see the GPS antenna installation instructions for connection information and diagrams.

  • If the device is using an external GPS antenna connected using the NMEA 2000 network, select Settings > Communications > NMEA 2000 Setup > Device List. Make sure the antenna appears on this list. If it does not, verify the antenna installation and the NMEA 2000 network installation.

  • If the device has more than one GPS antenna source, select a different source. See the device's owners manual for instructions for setting the GPS source.

  • If the above troubleshooting steps do not help to resolve the issue, check the Navigation Center for GPS service interruptions. 

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