Marine Electronics Forum - Garmin XM Weather going in and out (Video)

Video is bouncy but you can see the idea.Garmin 3210 with GDL30A XM Weather Fisherman's Package.

The NEXRAD image goes in and out like a signal loss. But I can look nation wide on a clear day locally and see storms hundreds on miles away and they drop in and out. This is bad when its happening when you really need the weather. Most of the time I really have to work to get it going at all. Turn the Animate ON to OFF and back again. Change Profiles over and over.

Anyone see this same thing? Settings?

VIDEO
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jle70CH2854&feature=youtu.be


TP

How long between when it comes back? Could it be the loop starting over again each time? Other than that, you might be loosing cell signal. How far out (away from shore) are you when that happens. If you are more than about 7 miles out, the cell signal will start getting spotty.

So it's not cell service since it's a GDL30A. It's XM satellite. My guess it's the loop starting over, and that part of the loop is not populated with data yet. If it's been on for a while (like 20 minutes or more), the loop should fill up. Does it do this all the time or was this the only instance?

It was intermittant for us in the BVI, but I realized that the satellite was a lot lower in the sky at that lattitude, and people sitting outside the cabin were blocking its view. Shifting bodies helped.

Agree ...... Looks like part of the animation loop ......

the loop feature on the 3200 series and and GDL30A combo will be slightly slower than the newer Garmin units.

Garmin 740 weather looped .....

http://bluewaterpirate.phanfare.com/5431412_6323099

XM vs Sirius weather .....

http://bluewaterpirate.phanfare.com/5431412_6448277


http://bluewaterpirate.phanfare.com/5431412_6323022

Great thread, I've seen so many posts about satellite weather integration and the videos are really helpful to actually see the value they can deliver!

It's all satellite for sure. It has always done this at best. At worst it won't show anything at all when storms are all around. I had storms all over us this weekend and losing that info was dangerous since we were counting on the updates as we navigated around the stuff.

I did the Feb 2012 update using a data card Garmin sent me ( you use it with a deposit and send it ******. That fixed a few things but the weather was the main attempt.

Making me crazy. Is there a setting regarding the loop? Otherwise It must be something blocking the satellites like my radar dome? Or something? It's not on a raised mount. It's on a rail mount on the T-top upper piping.

I do not see many others telling me they have this issue. Anyone have same thing?

I do not see many others telling me they have this issue. Anyone have same thing?


I have the same issue, rarely do i get to see the cloud cover. I was at the dock looking at storm clouds, on the phone with xm and all they said they could do was resend the signal. No help at all. Last time out I did have messages saying signal lost several times throughout the evening and finally it settled down. So far i am not that happy with the service.

The first thing I would do is see if you have any error lights the GDL30 blackbox, then check the antenna connection and antenna (disconnect the antenna from the box). Next thing disconnect the RJ45 network wire from both the chartplotter and GDL30 blackbox (if you have a larger network I would disconnect one of the other network cables and connect to the GDL30 to see if you might have a bad cable etc). ALso if you have the inline fuse (2a) still connected to the power cord from the GDL30 remove it from the fuse holder clean it and check the fuse holder for corrosion).

First thing check for errors on the fault lights on the GDL30A.

One other question ... do you have a radar and if so is the GA32 XM antenna on the same level as the antenna if so you might be getting interference from the radar. Is the GDL30a on it's own power source or share a power source with another piece of equipment?

I'm not familiar with your unit but if it is a satellite signal problem due to being at the lower Latatudes of the BVI'S, I would assume that some where in the unit there is a menu page that will tell you signal quality.
You could also contact Garman to verify if your setup is designed for use in that area.

I do suspect the Radar might be blocking one of the low horizon satellites. XM is on the starboard side of the boat on the top ring of the T-top lower than everything. See pic. The Radar is the larger Dome on a raised pedestal (not shown). Maybe I move it to the front or back?

I have times when I cant get an image at all. Other boats around me are telling me they see the storms clearly and mine looks like its not on. It does seem that I can turn Animate ON and OFF back and forth and change the Profile and that kick starts but not sure if its coincidence or not

I will look for the error on it and see if I can find a situation where there are storms that I cant see and I have the ability to go under and look. This is connected the network module with the radar. The power is the same battery bank but this is on different terminals. Not isolated.

The first thing I would do is get your XM Antenna above the plane of your radar antenna you're being blocked by it but getting electromagnetic interference from it.

http://i676.photobucket.com/albums/vv129/bluewaterpirate/GDL30A.jpg?t=1344604348

The first thing I would do is get your XM Antenna above the plane of your radar antenna you're being blocked by it but getting electromagnetic interference from it.

http://i676.photobucket.com/albums/vv129/bluewaterpirate/GDL30A.jpg?t=1344604348


That's excellent - I will do that and get a report. I will put it on a mask and raise it up.

I would follow bluewaterpirates suggestions first before trying the antenna above the radar. My antenna is below the radar and never an issue. Good luck and let us know what you find.

That's a good point. I will.

My Radar has an angle and the XM is to the side and about center line of radar support. I think it might be too close and in the line of transmission. But will check the others as bluewaterpirate indicated.

You have to extrapolate a little on these 2 pics. For so reason I don't have one that shows all the antennas and radar. But this is the layout


I would follow bluewaterpirates suggestions first before trying the antenna above the radar. My antenna is below the radar and never an issue. Good luck and let us know what you find.

Too close to the radar beam. I'd move it. Raise it over the radar done with a 2' extension pole, or move it away.

I think that's the issue. Thank you. i will report back.
If anyone has this and fixed it or tried the radar fix - please post info.

Too close to the radar beam. I'd move it. Raise it over the radar done with a 2' extension pole, or move it away.

This is the install I have. I have these other threads as part of the antenna move issues. A guy there shows the under-mount version. Its hard to believe that works? Also, my XM might be 3ft under the Radar - seems like its ok there. Starting to thing the cables, power or other is an issue.

I'm trying to take the GPS antenna off the ratchet mount and put the XM on the ratchet mount with an extension. I would like to put the GPS antenna on the same extension but cant find a double mount like I am looking for in this thread. I called that a Cactus Mount. Anyone have an idea regarding the mount?

Antenna Thread

http://www.thehulltruth.com/marine-electronics-q-boe-marine/449836-garmin-gps-antenna-extension.html

Double Mount Thread (Cactus Mount)

http://www.thehulltruth.com/marine-electronics-forum/450916-antenna-extension-double-gps-xm.html
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