What a pain!!!

Gentlemen, On July 27 2012 I purchased at BPS a new in the box Hummunbird 597ci hd. In the past 11 months its been in for repairs twice and it still ain't right. I just got it back a couple weeks ago and got to try it out last weekend. Here's my issue now for those that are more educated than myself. Turn the unit on, wait for it to load, press exit to get to the sonar screen. Press the view button to rotate the display, and there's my problem. I use the split screen with sonar on the right and gps on the left. Well I no longer have that screen. It's always been there before. The only way I can get it to display said screen is to power off, remove sd card, power up, install sd card, The unit says loading data and then I can get the desired screen. Once I turn it off it looses this information and I have to repeat the process to get it again. Any ideas? I don't want to send it back again. I'm unhappy to say the least and I will give it a lot of thought before I purchase a second Humminbird. Thanks in advance, David Mann.

It sounds like your GPS antenna is still trying to track the satillites ...

Any chart screen will not show in the "View" rolodex ..nor will there be a "NAV" tab in the main menu until the GPS has actually locked onto the satillites...

Go into the main menu...cursor over to the "Views" tabs....scroll down to the "GPS Diagnostic" view ...and make it "Visable"...

Power off the unit....
Power on the unit...
As soon as you hit "Exit" to get into "Live View"...press the "View" button on the unit until you get to the "GPS Diagnostic" view....

Watch the top right hand box to see how long it takes the GPS to acquire the satillite fix....

As soon as the GPS acquires satillite fix...your chart views and the "Nav" tab in the main menu should be available...

Rickie

David,
Are you using a mapping card or a blank memory card in your 597ci HD unit?

Greg, Thanks for your interest in my issue's. The sd card I'm using is a hot maps card for the southeast. I have been using this card since I have had the unit. I have never had this problem before until the last time it was repaired. Rickie, I don't think it is due to the gps not connecting and here's why. I always turn it on while I'm getting the boat straps off and ready to launch. The gps display will show on the navigation screen but the split screen isn't in the rotation. Thanks, David Mann.

Did you check your views to make sure that one is turned on before you shut it down when you are having the problem? Did you by chance save any waypoints to the map card? That can cause the mapping to act up sometimes.

Good info and question lcookie. We have seen some strange problems when the mapping or memory card starts to go bad.

When you shut the unit down are you using its power button and allowing it to do so or are you shutting off the boat’s power to it?

I always power the unit off via the button. it is wired directly to the battery with a 3 amp inline fuse. There's no other way to turn it off. As for making sure that view is turned on, I don't know because I am not really educated with electronics. What I do know is that screen has always been in the rotation and now it ain't. I do have about 15 waypoints saved on the card. If the problem's continue I will sink the unit and look for another brand to replace it. Thanks for your input and help to resolve the issue.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by superfly

I always power the unit off via the button. it is wired directly to the battery with a 3 amp inline fuse. There's no other way to turn it off. As for making sure that view is turned on, I don't know because I am not really educated with electronics. What I do know is that screen has always been in the rotation and now it ain't. I do have about 15 waypoints saved on the card. If the problem's continue I will sink the unit and look for another brand to replace it. Thanks for your input and help to resolve the issue.

---

A lot of us aren't educated in electronics, that's why we need to read the manual and just spend some time fooling around with the unit and getting to know how it works. Mash the wrong button by accident, and you can change what the screen is showing. I can't count the times I've found I had somehow changed the settings on my units by accident. On your unit, push the menu button twice, and you will see a series of sub menus at the top of the screen. Highlite one and scroll down to see the different settings you can select. Spend some time and go through them all and get that education. Switching brands will only start a whole new learning curve! I think most folks will agree the H/B units are one of the simpler units to master.

Thanks Shellback, I appreciate your advice. I will try to see if that screen is just closed or not visible for some reason. Like you said though just pushing buttons scares the Hell out of me. If it can be done I'm sure I can set off a self destruct sequence that will destroy the system completely. Thanks superfly.

push away you can always do a factory reset if you get to far out of kilter

"Restore Defaults" is your friend...

:ThumbsUp

Rickie

Yeah I know, tried that with no success.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by superfly

Yeah I know, tried that with no success.

---

That could be where it disappeared. When it was serviced, they probably did the default restore. Some of the views will not be visable until the user turns them on which takes the unit into a advanced status. I have turned off several views to speed up the rotation of views because there are several I just don't use.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by superfly

It's always been there before. The only way I can get it to display said screen is to power off, remove sd card, power up, install sd card, The unit says loading data and then I can get the desired screen.Once I turn it off it looses this information and I have to repeat the process to get it again.

---

This part is something I've never heard before...

Which mapping card are you having to remove and then re-insert...??

Rickie

Rickie, I am using a hotmaps card for the southeast. I have checked the menu tab and it shows the split screen is visible but it wont show on the rotation. Here's how it works. If I take the cover off the front that covers the card, push in on the card, it pop's out. Remove it, power up wait till it comes on, press exit to go to the sonar. Put the card back in, it displays loading data. once it loads the split screen is available then but not until I go thru those steps. Just to be clear this is a legitimate card bought at BPS it is not a bootleg or copy. Thanks David Mann.

If possible, borrower someone's card to check and see if you got a bad card. If not a bad card, HB customer service would be the next call. I know its aggravating, but they will help you get through it.

I agree with shine...if you can borrow another card...

Something really weird is going on here ...

I can't understand why loading map data would have anything to do with a view being in (or not in) the rotation...

Rickie

Well I called customer service. It appears that my card issue is a result of a software update done on the last repair. I was told I would just have to remove the card every time I go fishing. So the procedure is as follows. Remove the card, turn the unit on, wait for it to start, press exit to clear the start up screen, insert the card to get the map and desired screen options. Needless to say I AINT HAPPY!!!!! I ain't asking for anything for free or anything new, I just want the unit I bought to work as it should. I was basically told to live with it. I asked to speak with a supervisor and was told that she would relay my message. I haven't heard from them yet. Thanks superfly.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by superfly

Well I called customer service. It appears that my card issue is a result of a software update done on the last repair. I was told I would just have to remove the card every time I go fishing. So the procedure is as follows. Remove the card, turn the unit on, wait for it to start, press exit to clear the start up screen, insert the card to get the map and desired screen options. Needless to say I AINT HAPPY!!!!! I ain't asking for anything for free or anything new, I just want the unit I bought to work as it should. I was basically told to live with it. I asked to speak with a supervisor and was told that she would relay my message. I haven't heard from them yet. Thanks superfly.

---

I know a person that trouble with and entirely different electronic item and they called the comapny. When the tech came on the line the first thing this person told them was that they wanted to speak to their suppervisor. When the supervisor came on they told them they wanted to speak to their supervisor. This went on until the pwerson that answered the phone told them they was no one higher. They then explained the problem. It got fixed. My be a pain in the rear to do it this way but you might get the problem fixed. Or you could just make a sign saying how unhappy you are with it and send them a pic. These compaines really don't like negative exposure.

If HB did not change any hardware in the unit either of the trips back to Eufala ... You can revert back to your original version of software...

Rickie

HB says they believe its a software glitch. It's on the way as of Friday for repair.