Garmin 3210 Question

Joe · 05-19-2006, 09:01 PM

Anyone else having issues with the unit losing the sonar? Friend has a 3210 with the gsd 22 and airmar P66 xducer. Has the most recent Garmin updates (mailed to him) and have performed a "master reset". It just blinks 0.0 ft, but records temp and speed.

Glen E · 05-20-2006, 11:06 AM

squirt some elelctronic spray cleaner in the connection on the 22 - other than that you may have a defective 22 or transducer...

Silver_Spur0 · 05-20-2006, 05:25 PM

thanks for asking Joe. I replaced the transducer today and it seems to be operating properly now. We'll see tomm.

holmestk · 05-21-2006, 01:53 AM

I have a brand new 3205 that is having the same problem. Starts out ok with the sounder, then will lose it and blink zero with no lines whatsoever on the screen. The GSD20 just sits there and blinks red, meaning a comm problem with the head unit, but from the head it says that all is ok. Wiring has been triple checked and re-done.

On one occasion I was able to get it back working by toggling the communication to port 2 off then on again. Seems like something is funky and I am going to call again next week.

Big E · 05-21-2006, 09:50 AM

OK- So what is the deal with a 3010C and GSD20?

Friend has this system installed on new WC27 and has been having intermittent problems for over 2 weeks with sonar. Went through all the hoops with having to get bigger data cards (32mb!) to download the update
( why can't this unit be done in- house like umpteen other models can? )

Now have purcha$ed bigger data cards, completed the update install, restored factory defaults and sonar won't read bottom!!

Just flashes 0.00 feet. Crappy manual points out in a dozen different places that this means there is a problem with the unit, but gives you no clue as to what to check for!

Have already tried the obvious-power connections to GSD20 and trans. and network/power cable. All are fine. GSD20 has a steady flashing green led... again crappy manual has no Troubleshooting flow chart of any kind that lets you know what the green flashes mean.

Tech support not available on weekends

Need to mention that I have the 2010C on my boat for 4 years now. Have done all the updates (last one was over a year ago) and never installed an update that broke something!

I am not a big fan of the GSD20 fish finder (mediocre compared to my Furuno on same boat), but I am even less fond of this version of the GSD20 which has even less tuneability.

Now it appears that Garmin is following Raymarine with this "mix and match, pick this week's patch" software update crap.

Does anyone have an idea what the green flashing led means?

Or do I wait until weekdays to call Garmin? Hopefully, they are still as good as they "used to be".

Joe · 05-21-2006, 10:59 AM

Green flashing LED for 1 second, off 1 seconds means it shouldbe working and is servicing one head unit. When it flashes for 1/2 seconds then back on 1/2 second, it is working andservicing 2 head units.

Big E · 05-21-2006, 03:05 PM

Joe- Thanks for reply.
I'd have to say it is the one second on-of-on since there is only one head unit athough it seems quicker. If this indicates normal operation why can't my buddy's 3010 read bottom? Is there an internal system check that can be run? Transducer is new and properly positioned. I would also suspect that if the 'ducer were the problem, the L.E.D. woul indicate some sort of red sequence? Again why no troubleshoot chart?