Garmin GPS498 Initialize

J

j-d

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Nov 22, 2004
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15782
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Our boat's been out of service for months. When I recommissioned and installed GPS today, it kept "Searching for Satellites" but never "found" any so it didn't go into Normal Operation. I issued the command "Initialize" from Menus with no improvement. Called Bill at Garmin. There's a Forced Initialize (my terms for it) that goes like this:
1. Unit outdoors, clear view of sky, power available, unit OFF
2. Press and Hold "Page"
3. While holding "Page" Press and Hold "Power"
4. Unit will switch ON, continue holding BOTH Power and Page at least TEN Seconds
5. "Accept" the warning page
6. Unit now searches for satellites with a an "almanac" database that was cleared with the Forced Initialize
In my case, this restored normal operation. Bill said the Almanac can get out of date or corrupted.
If you're having a problem, this may help you. Enjoy.
 
It's a shame they don't put those things in the owners manual.
 
+1, Ron. There are probably other shortcuts to problem resolution too. And I imagine similar tools for other products, although probably not the same gestures.

Last time I had problems with the 498, I went through the routine where Garmin sends a proprietary chip with updated firmware upon receipt of about $58, $50 of which is refunded on return of the chip. Like a BIOS Flash in a PC, and it got my 498 running till now. I think we did the "Forced Initialize" before resorting to the new firmware, because I had "Power + Page" in my notes, just not how to execute the sequence to make the gesture work.
 
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