Bad Raymarine RC420 Plotter or Navionics Chip?

[gignillm]

I have a Raymarine RC420 chartplotter with a Navionics chip # US642XL installed. The unit has worked flowlessly the last 3 seasons with the chip installed. Last weekend, when I powered on the unit, the system locked up repeatedly with the following message displayed on the screen:

< SW 11 - - END EXEC >
*CODE = 00008001*
00008001:.
REV 01.02.00U

>



When I remove the Navionics chip, the system seems to work fine. I have tried cleaning the chip and unit slot connections, with no change.

Is this a bad Navionics chip, or is the Raymarine unit going bad?

Have been e-mailing back and forth with Raymarine Tech support, but they want me to send the unit in (still not sure of the price) and I was hoping to correct this issue without uninstalling the unit. This is obviously an old unit and I don't want to pay a bunch for tech support for nothing...

[marinerjoe]

I had a RC420D (differential GPS), and can pass you the factory reset.

Hold the clear button and turn on. After it comes up, press "enter" twice.

That may fix it for you.

I was having another issue with mine in that the built in battery for backup was dead, and saved positions (including last known location) was gone. I don't know if that is user replacable, but if you open the case, you might see it.

Good luck,

Joe

[gignillm]

Thanks, but I've already tried the "Factory Reset" trick with no luck. I have replaced the internal memory battery twice. The battery working fine.

[av8torrich]

Mac Daddy:

I suspect what you have is a bad Navionics Chip. Do you know someone whom might let you use theirs for a test?


V/R,


Rich

[gignillm]

I agree, but haven't found anybody local that is still using this old CF style chip.

Navionics wants me to buy a new chip for $99.00 with a $25.00 trade-in.

[av8torrich]

Edgewater - If it was up to me I would pay for a new chip at west marine, and if it did not work simply return the chip. I typically repair all of my own electronics equipment. I hate sending anything back to the OEM for repair!

Rich

[sallan]

Hi There

Can you tell me the outcome as I have exactly the same problem

[Snowmon]

me too. i think i've nailed it down to the connection between the pins in the rc420 and the female side of the navionics chip. the chip seems to be less than snug and when i push the rubber cap on the unit into place my thoughts are it hits the chip and causes it to momentarily lose continuity resulting in crash and lock up. if i run the unit without the cap in place it works fine but obviously i can't run that way. i've also had success by carefully putting the cap back in place but hit or miss. either raymarine pins are too small or navionics too big. i spoke with the woman who runs navionics customer service in their wareham mass facility but she just wanted to get me to upgrade and basically told me it wasn't their problem. just a thought but i'm going to try some dielectric gell and see if that helps.

[Praetorian47]

Contact Jeff @ Navionics. He's really helpful on this. I had a similar problem with my E series last year and RM said it was the chip. I was able to borrow another from somebody and verify it wasn't the Navionics chip.

According to Jeff, they have very, very few defects.