No Wind Data

Wired and Wireless Wind Instruments

Garmin has both wired and wireless wind transducers. The wired transducers use a GND 10 box to transmit wind data to either a chartplotter or to a GNX Wind the wireless system. The wireless transducer pairs with either a single chartplotter or a GNX Wind and shares that data via the NMEA 2000 network to other devices.

Basic inspection and troubleshooting of the wind transducer

• Inspect that the wind sensor is freely moving in the wind

• Inspect for gWind transducer and mount for damage. Replace if broken

• Remove any obstructions found

• Inspect any cable connections related to the wind sensor and instrument display to ensure that there are no loose or chaffed wires or connectors

• Power cycle the display, if connected to wirelessly pair to GNX or chartplotter

• Power cycle the NMEA Network

• Ensure the System Software is up to date

• If it is a wireless model, clean the solar panel and allow to charge for 5 hours or try replacing the battery;  gWind Wireless 2 Replacement batteries

When troubleshooting the wind sensor, set it to apparent wind angle/speed (AWA/AWS)

The GND 10 Status lights

The GND 10 has a three status lights next to each of the ports, NMEA 2000, Nexus, and the USB. See GND 10 Status or Blink Codes for more information and steps to perform to resolve the issue. If there is no light on the NMEA 2000 status light, see NMEA 2000 Troubleshooting for steps to perform. If the Nexus port has no lights or is not transmitting data, see Troubleshooting the Mast Cable.

gWind Wireless 2 

The gWind Wireless 2 connects wirelessly to a compatible chartplotter or GNX Wind and is identified by the blue support shaft. 

Environmental sources that create issues for the wireless connection

• The gWind Wireless 2 wind sensor maximum distance is 50ft away from the paired device

• Lacking a clear line-of-sight between the devices

  • Obstructions, interior mounting locations, Biminis, fiberglass, metal, wood, carbon fiber, Kevlar, sails, masts, booms, rigging, and Instrument pods can have adverse effect to signal strength 

• Disruption by VHF, cell phone, other Wi-Fi systems, and electromagnetic interference

No Wind Data on a GNX Wind

GNX Wind

• Ensure power is coming from the NMEA 2000 to the GNX Wind instrument

• Ensure the max distance is less than fifty feet

• There is an unobstructed line-of-sight between the gWind Wireless 2 transducer and the GNX Wind instrument or chartplotter

• Verify the GNX Wind wireless connection is on

See NMEA 2000 Troubleshooting for specific directions on troubleshooting the NMEA 2000 network.

Turn on the Wireless function

If the wireless antenna symbol is missing from inside the wind rose on the GNX Wind, verify that the wireless feature is set to on. See manual for the GNX Wind, Finding the Owner's Manual for a Garmin Device

Check the RSSI strength

If the wireless symbol displays but no wind data is showing check the wireless RSSI signal strength found under menu item 4.3 SENS Configuration Settings.

The RSSI measures the wireless signal strength from the gWind Wireless 2 transducer to the GNX Wind and cannot measure between the gWind Wireless 2 transducers and the chartplotter.

Ranges between (1-100) the higher the number the better the signal strength

• Optimal number is 70

• Average number is 40

• Anything lower than 25, is considered insufficient signal strength

If RSSI is below 25 or above and wind data is not present or not accurate

• Look for and remove items that disrupt the wireless signal

  • VHF, cell phone, cell tower signals, Wi-Fi, and electromagnetic interference

• Power cycle the GNX Wind - pair the gWind Wireless 2 and check RSSI levels

• Power cycle the NEMA 2000 system - pair the gWind Wireless 2 and check RSSI levels

• Remove the gWind Wireless 2 transducer from the mount and bring it to within 10ft of GNX Wind instrument - pair the gWind Wireless 2

  • Continue to monitor wind information and RSSI signal strength while slowly move the gWind Wireless 2 transducer away from the GNX wind instrument (Do not exceed fifty feet of separation and maintain a clear line of sight between the devices

No Wind Data on a Compatible Chartplotter

• Check the distance and line-of-sight for obstructions between the chartplotter and gWind Wireless 2 transducer

• Verify the chartplotter is paired to the gWind Wireless 2 transducer 

• Power cycle the chartplotter

Refer to the compatible GPSMAP or ECHOMAP owner’s manual for wireless pairing instructions. See Finding the Owner's Manual for a Garmin Device.