Fluxgate Suggestions, or Can My KVH Be Repaired ?

[phantomracer]

My fluxgate, KVH autocomp 1000 has been giving me some gas pains, I tihnk it finally bit the big one.

It has been operating erratically - 'counting down' 159..358....0, and over and over..then it would lock on to the heading.

Now I get no output. I removed the input from the mux, and put it directly to the autopilot. Same deal, nothing showing on the screen.

Called KVH. Hands down, the worst Customer Service I have experienced in 2 and half decades of boating.

The rep asked how old it was, told him it was about 10 or so years old. He said. Just buy a new one. Can't send it in for repair. No discount on a replacement unit, no refurbs, nothing. So I now have a $400 4 pound paperweight!!

what good is a nice top quality piece of equipment that can't be serviced?


Is there anyone, other than KVH that can service it.. or another decent fluxgate that won't make me miss a mortgage payment??

THanks

Paul

[S/V Alchemy]

Maretron makes a "black box" fluxgate but I forget how it outputs other than "to a plotter".

I have a KVH AC103 I like a lot, even if it's a bit primitive. It's not attached to anything...I'll have a separate system for that in good time.

[phantomracer]

I just saw the Maretron fluxgate. nice piece! Even more expensive (about 2x !!) than the KVH! But it does have nmea 2000, and nmea high speed.

I may have to go with the kvh autocomp 1000 again. It just upsets me to buy from a company that doesn't support their out of warranty products.

I could go with the original autohelm/raymarine heading compass, but I have not heard a lot of good things about it (probably why it was replaced by the previous owner)

[phantomracer]

Got a new KVH, installed it. working great now!

still pissed at KVH's support (or lack of it).. but im back in business!