Zero Off Problem

[tadelfio]

For the second non-consecutive time, I wasn't able to get a GPS signal on my Zero Off. Clear Blue ski, nothing seemed to be loose. I was out for about 4 hours and never got a signal. Anyone have any suggestions? Can the antenna go bad?

[maxxwell]

There is always a chance for the antenna to go bad, but unlikely. Due to its location, it's wires could be broken. Other than that I would blame the control box, configurations may be buggy. Or maybe even losing power, but you would notice that as your display would not work.

Sorry I couldnt help much more

[MARK-S]

Shut the boat down

Turn off the master switch below the throttle. This shuts down all battery power to your whole boat.
Turn it back on and you should be good to go. You may have to reset some of the stuff on the ZO like wait times and auto settings.

[teamseal]

Go to the diagnostic screen and check for problems.

[tadelfio]

Hmm, thanks for the replies. I did try shutting off the battery and restarting, no luck. I checked wires and didn't find anything loose or broken. As far as going to any menus, the only thing it would let me do was turn it on and off and change the RPM settings. I could not go to any menus. I am going out first thing in the am and I will see what happens with it. I don't know if a better manual exists but the one I received with my boat was vague at best and has no trouble shooting information in it at all.

[j2nh]

I had it happen to me once. No reason whatsoever for the inability of the unit to capture a GPS signal but it did not. This went on for about an hour of use and then after shutting the boat down and starting it again it started up like nothing had happened. Never happened since.

Starting the day the display works fine but in large letters says NO GPS, lasts for about a minute and then it kicks in and all is well.

How is your battery? Voltage maybe?

[tadelfio]

Update

Spent several hours on the lake for the past two days and did not have a problem with my ZO at all. I did run the diagnostics on it but didn't understand any of the codes so it didn't help me any. ???? hopefully it won't happen again. I kinda like my ZO.... a lot...

[gride300]

glad it's treating you right. don't forget, the boats are usable w/o cruise control. it went on for decades.

[tadelfio]

We could also live without indoor plumbing doesn't mean i wanna do it.

[DanielC]

There is a lot of difference between being able to manually operate a throttle lever, and indoor plumbing. Besides, I still occasionally pee outside on the lawn, or in the body of water I am boating in.

You are depending on receiving a very weak radio signal from a satellite. My understanding of how the Zero Off figures out how fast you are going it that it uses Doppler shift of the radio carrier frequency. In order for there to be a Doppler shift, you have to be moving to or away from the satellite it is using to determine your speed. That means a satellite directly overhead is not usable, because you are not really changing your distance to it, and therefore no Doppler shift. The same effect happens with satellites directly off port or starboard. Ideally, for getting Doppler shift information, the satellite has to be in front, or behind you, low on the horizon. This satellite position however, reduced the signal strength compared to a satellite overhead.

Personally, I like my Airguide Speedometers, and my speed control, between my thumb and index finger of my right hand. My hand moves a throttle handle, physically connected to a cable, that is physically connected to the butterfly valve on the top of the intake manifold. In over 2280 hours of operation, it has not lost a GPS signal, and made my boat unusable.

[tadelfio]

Thanks