Garmin C340 Won't Aquire Satellite?

[craigs380]

Maybe some one can help the digitally challenged?

This is a refurbished unit from Garmin and looks brand new. It turns on and loads maps and then when you select maps it goes to Aquire Satellite across the top of the screen but it never finds them. I went through all the screens and such and it all seems to work as far as I can tell.

I went to the Garmin website and registered the unit and unlocked it. I also read the full owners manual but there isn't a troubleshooting section.

Its probably something I need to do but I can't figure it out. Any ideas?

Thanx!

[mr_will]

you are not sitting inside your house trying this are you? make sure you are in a very open area see if it will aquire there. If not call garmin.

[KarlPMann]

Is it hooked up to an antenna? Or is the antenna on that one internal? Other than that, maybe that unit has a first time init. sequence as their earlier models did. On my GPS-II, II+, and III they all had to do a first time init. Turn it on, let it sit for a while. When it realizes it isn't acquiring, it will ask questions, then after you answer a few, it does a first time search. That's my only other guess. Karl.

[2ndChildhood]

you are not sitting inside your house trying this are you? make sure you are in a very open area see if it will aquire there. If not call garmin.

This is a big factor - trees, buildings, narrow canyon walls can all reduce you gps to a paperweight.

[mr_will]

This is a big factor - trees, buildings, narrow canyon walls can all reduce you gps to a paperweight.

yea ask me how i know this

[7idl]

1. make sure the date is correct
2. make sure the time is correct
3. select an initialization location in the unit
4. set the unit in a location where it has a good view of the sky. The unit probably needs to download the latest satellite catalog (I've had this happen before, but only on the older models)
5. when all else fails, RTFM

[craigs380]

I tried it out on the deck, in the driveway, on the way to work, and sitting out front of work.

I did get past the "aquiring satellite" screen. It asked me if I was inside the house and I pressed no, then it asked if I was in Kansas(it thinks it is in Kansas because when I put a destination in it starts out from Lenexa, KS) I pressed no and it went to "locating satellite", it stayed there for at least 1/2 hour. It started raining so I had to bring it back inside and shut it off. I will try again tomorrow.

I will try to get an antennae as where I live the radio reception is not so good so maybe its just a weak signal.

There also is a download on the Garmin site that I will try if the antennae doesn't help. I think it will work if it gets the right information.

[Gman]

Maybe there's something wrong with the refurb. Do they offer a short warranty or DOA replacement that you need to act quickly to use?

[shrapmetal]

I tried it out on the deck, in the driveway, on the way to work, and sitting out front of work.

I did get past the "aquiring satellite" screen. It asked me if I was inside the house and I pressed no, then it asked if I was in Kansas(it thinks it is in Kansas because when I put a destination in it starts out from Lenexa, KS) I pressed no and it went to "locating satellite", it stayed there for at least 1/2 hour. It started raining so I had to bring it back inside and shut it off. I will try again tomorrow.

I will try to get an antennae as where I live the radio reception is not so good so maybe its just a weak signal.

There also is a download on the Garmin site that I will try if the antennae doesn't help. I think it will work if it gets the right information.

it has nothing to do with the local radio signals. the satellite works just as good over my house as it does yours. is there some kind of hard reset button? just a shot in the dark.

[craigs380]

Tried the external antennae, didn't help. Read the manual again and I noticed a five bar graph in the upper left that looks like the signal strenght graph on a cell phone. In the manual it shows the bars in green and on my unit they are all blue just like the background.

I did download and install the latest updates but it didn't change any thing.

I have an email sent to Garmin technical support and will probably have to send it in. No big deal.

A couple of years ago I ordered some Midland walkie-talkies from Sportsmans Guide that were refurbished and one of them didn't work. So I sent them in to Midland and they said they could not fix them and did not have the same model any more. So they send me a new in the package pair that were way better and had a charger with them. I was pleased with their customer service and got better equipment for the price of the refurbished ones.

Take care all. CW