Cambridge 302 and GPS-NAV owners – IMPORTANT NEWS

On Sat, 22 Nov 2014 13:05:06 -0800, Tom Kelley #711 wrote:

FWIW. I just powered my 302 up. The 303 first showed 1/2005 for the
date on the 303 display. Then the 302 went to a 3 bar display and the
303 changed dates to 4/08/95 date.
I did leave it on for 30 minutes and then powered off and back on. No
change in date...4/08/95. So, its new battery time.

Good job and thanks Paul for the news update.

Best, #711.

So there seems to be two lithiums in there, one for the electronic seal
and one for the GPS. If you're returning a 302 for the GPS issue, I'd
suggest changing both of them. The older models let a user change the
security one himself if external power was applied, but don't think
that's an option with the 302. The older models also show battery
voltage on powerup, giving plenty of warning that replacement is needed.

I sent my 302 in last winter, due to the gain on the ENL circuit somehow
getting set to 0, and asked for the lithium battery to be replaced. The
email back and forth with Gary just mentions the one battery, but I see
on the invoice he said 'batteries' replaced, so maybe he actually did
both.

Dave

I just talked with Gary about sending in my 302 which is exhibiting 3
separate issues. He quoted me from their webpage that they have moved
to a fixed price schedule for repairs. $350 should repair all faults.
I think that's a lot less expensive than redoing my panel with newer
technology and, besides, I really like my 302.

On 11/21/2014 12:51 PM, Paul Remde wrote:
Cambridge 302 and GPS-NAV owners – IMPORTANT NEWS

Unfortunately, there has been a rash of Cambridge Model 10/20/25 and
302/302A with a fault in which the units lose track of the date and do
not record a flight log, or record a flight log with an incorrect date.
The problem is related to the internal Garmin GPS engine’s UTC date.
This is a new issue, but there have already been many reported instances
– especially from areas in which there are soaring flights this time of
year. It is very likely that many 302 and GPS-NAV owners that have
their gliders put away for the winter will, unfortunately, have the same
issue during their first flight in the spring.

If you have the optional LCD display connected to your 302 or GPS-NAV
flight recorder, you may be able to tell whether or not your unit is
affected. Connect the GPS-NAV Model 20/25 to a GPS-NAV LCD Navigation
Display, or connect the 302 to a 303 LCD Navigation display and give the
unit time to lock onto satellites before continuing. The GPS-NAV’s LED
will blink when it is locked onto satellites. The 302 will show 3 bars
on the right side of the screen when it has a good lock on satellites.
Then scroll to the UTC date/time screen. If your unit is working
properly you will see the current date. If your units is not working
properly you will find an erroneous date – such as 2005. In that case,
the unit will need repair.

If your GPS-NAV or 302 does not have the optional LCD Navigation
display, then the best way to determine whether your units is affected
is to take a flight (or drive) and look at the date of the flight log
that is generated. Make sure the unit has a good lock on satellites
before takeoff. If the flight log’s date is off, or no flight log is
generated, then the unit will need repair.

The bad news is that the units will need to be sent in for repair. It
is not possible to repair the unit in the field. This issue affects the
GPS engine which is inside the logger, not the external GPS antenna.

The great news is that Gary Kammerer at ClearNav can fix them. The
Garmin receiver has a 3v rechargeable battery under its cover. The issue
is not related to the 3v logger security button battery. Gary can remove
the Garmin’s cover, replace the 3v rechargeable battery that is soldered
to the Garmin circuit board put the unit back together and then send a
couple of commands to the GPS which wake the Garmin back to reality. The
new battery keeps it working properly after the repair procedure.
Without the replacement battery the Garmin's memory cannot be kept
"alive". Gary has performed this fix to dozens of 302 and GPS-NAV units
he has received from all over. They have all been successfully repaired.

CNI Service Policy For Cambridge Equipment--
http://www.clearnav.net/main/cn-service.html

Gary’s contact information:
Gary Kammerer
ClearNav Instruments
779 Rosedale Rd
Kennett Square, PA 19348
USA
Phone: 610-388-0456
Email:

Please include a note explaining the reason you are sending the unit to
Gary, and also include your contact information.

Gary and I hope this information will allow you to resolve this issue
with your 302 or GPS-NAV before your next big soaring flight.

Best Regards,

Paul Remde
Cumulus Soaring, Inc.

--
---
Dan Marotta

$350 just to replace to the battery?
Maybe it is time to start using the log files from my PowerFlarm then.

Ramy

On Monday, November 24, 2014 1:51:42 PM UTC-8, Ramy wrote:
$350 just to replace to the battery?
Maybe it is time to start using the log files from my PowerFlarm then.

Ramy


Copied from ClearNav website. $350 includes:

September 27, 2014 - CAI 302 Repair Policy

CAI 302 Repair Policy

Effective immediately we are moving to a fixed price service policy. For $350* we will

Repair almost any 302**

Clean and test and inspect as appropriate, connectors, boards and components

Calibrate the altitude pressure transducer and provide a new calibration certificate

Issue a full one-year warranty to cover the entire instrument, not merely the repaired items

*There will be a minimum charge of $125.00 if no defects are found and the unit is determined to be functioning perfectly.

**Almost any - we reserve the right to return at no cost any instrument which we judge not repairable - for example if you drove the trailer over it or filled it with water in a water landing.

On Monday, November 24, 2014 3:51:42 PM UTC-6, Ramy wrote:
$350 just to replace to the battery?
Maybe it is time to start using the log files from my PowerFlarm then.

Ramy

Ramy, when Gary Kammerer repaired my 302 for this flaw some time ago he also put a new GPS engine into the unit and additional or replaced memory chips. The GPS is now so good, it gets reception in my basement with 2 full stories above it in a full brick home. I've been completely happy with the fix. I paid around $400 including calibration - well worth it.

I didn't say $350 to change a battery and, since the full text from the
website was posted by Brian, I won't repeat that.

My 302 is suffering from multiple problems, namely, the on/off switch is
faulty, I'm getting the wrong date in log files, and it's completely
losing GPS lock resulting in multiple log files being generated on a
single flight. So I think the price is probably reasonable considering
the cost of a replacement.

On 11/24/2014 11:50 AM, Dan Marotta wrote:
I just talked with Gary about sending in my 302 which is exhibiting 3
separate issues. He quoted me from their webpage that they have moved
to a fixed price schedule for repairs. $350 should repair all faults. I
think that's a lot less expensive than redoing my panel with newer
technology and, besides, I really like my 302.

On 11/21/2014 12:51 PM, Paul Remde wrote:
Cambridge 302 and GPS-NAV owners – IMPORTANT NEWS

Unfortunately, there has been a rash of Cambridge Model 10/20/25 and
302/302A with a fault in which the units lose track of the date and do
not record a flight log, or record a flight log with an incorrect date.
The problem is related to the internal Garmin GPS engine’s UTC date.
This is a new issue, but there have already been many reported instances
– especially from areas in which there are soaring flights this time of
year. It is very likely that many 302 and GPS-NAV owners that have
their gliders put away for the winter will, unfortunately, have the same
issue during their first flight in the spring.

If you have the optional LCD display connected to your 302 or GPS-NAV
flight recorder, you may be able to tell whether or not your unit is
affected. Connect the GPS-NAV Model 20/25 to a GPS-NAV LCD Navigation
Display, or connect the 302 to a 303 LCD Navigation display and give the
unit time to lock onto satellites before continuing. The GPS-NAV’s LED
will blink when it is locked onto satellites. The 302 will show 3 bars
on the right side of the screen when it has a good lock on satellites.
Then scroll to the UTC date/time screen. If your unit is working
properly you will see the current date. If your units is not working
properly you will find an erroneous date – such as 2005. In that case,
the unit will need repair.

If your GPS-NAV or 302 does not have the optional LCD Navigation
display, then the best way to determine whether your units is affected
is to take a flight (or drive) and look at the date of the flight log
that is generated. Make sure the unit has a good lock on satellites
before takeoff. If the flight log’s date is off, or no flight log is
generated, then the unit will need repair.

The bad news is that the units will need to be sent in for repair. It
is not possible to repair the unit in the field. This issue affects the
GPS engine which is inside the logger, not the external GPS antenna.

The great news is that Gary Kammerer at ClearNav can fix them. The
Garmin receiver has a 3v rechargeable battery under its cover. The issue
is not related to the 3v logger security button battery. Gary can remove
the Garmin’s cover, replace the 3v rechargeable battery that is soldered
to the Garmin circuit board put the unit back together and then send a
couple of commands to the GPS which wake the Garmin back to reality. The
new battery keeps it working properly after the repair procedure.
Without the replacement battery the Garmin's memory cannot be kept
"alive". Gary has performed this fix to dozens of 302 and GPS-NAV units
he has received from all over. They have all been successfully repaired.

CNI Service Policy For Cambridge Equipment--
http://www.clearnav.net/main/cn-service.html

Gary’s contact information:
Gary Kammerer
ClearNav Instruments
779 Rosedale Rd
Kennett Square, PA 19348
USA
Phone: 610-388-0456
Email:

Please include a note explaining the reason you are sending the unit to
Gary, and also include your contact information.

Gary and I hope this information will allow you to resolve this issue
with your 302 or GPS-NAV before your next big soaring flight.

Best Regards,

Paul Remde
Cumulus Soaring, Inc.


--
---
Dan Marotta

Well, poo. Checked 10 of them last night, and only 4 came up with the correct date. Several of those that failed to do so were used extensively this summer. Wonder if I can get a "group discount" rate? :-)

2 more to check and see if I can get back up to 50%

Steve Leonard

Install them with air lock or Dzus fasteners and swap the one good one
into the ship that you're flying today!



On 11/25/2014 8:13 AM, Steve Leonard wrote:
Well, poo. Checked 10 of them last night, and only 4 came up with the correct date. Several of those that failed to do so were used extensively this summer. Wonder if I can get a "group discount" rate? :-)

2 more to check and see if I can get back up to 50%

Steve Leonard


--
---
Dan Marotta

Hi Steve,

Make sure they are locked onto satellites before checking the date. But you
probably already know that.

Best Regards,

Paul Remde
_____________________

"Steve Leonard" wrote in message
...

Well, poo. Checked 10 of them last night, and only 4 came up with the
correct date. Several of those that failed to do so were used extensively
this summer. Wonder if I can get a "group discount" rate? :-)

2 more to check and see if I can get back up to 50%

Steve Leonard

On Tuesday, November 25, 2014 12:19:02 PM UTC-6, Paul Remde wrote:
Hi Steve,

Make sure they are locked onto satellites before checking the date. But you
probably already know that.

Best Regards,

Paul Remde
_____________________

Yep. Some took a while. Others were pretty quick. Of course, before sending off, they will get a second chance to take the test. Will wait for more than just 3 showing and distance to waypoint shown. That is where some were last night when checked. Others got 8 satellites pretty quickly.

Steve