Wow, this was a sleeper issue that just shook my world!
I leave in about 3 weeks for a 5 month cruise. My NN3D gets GPS from two data sources -- unfortunately, both are Furuno. I have a GP-32 as a backup, and a GP-330B as primary. Both are broken. I have limited time to get this fixed, and I use the tide features daily when anchoring in northern ports with 20+ foot tides.
Are there any solutions other than a new receiver (actually, two for north of $1K plus labor)? Since accuracy of date and time isn't terribly critical (plus or minus several minutes is just fine), is it possible to turn off the "use date from GPS" in the setup wizard data sources and then manually enter the date and time? Sort of like your phone still knows the date/time when out of cell service? Or will it automatically use the GPS every time it comes on line?
Neither of the manuals for these devices stated a programmed EOL date, which makes me very nervous about buying any more gear from Furuno. My GP-330B, for example, is fully functional with no "obsoleteness" other than the factory programmed EOL date -- the recommended unit to replace it is a..... GP-330B! Since Furuno doesn't publish hard-coded expiration dates on their products, I'm nervous about spending $400 to buy a functionally identical unit with the software "fixed." It's not even an upgrade! One has to wonder what the unpublished EOL date is for the new unit (obviously, the next rollover in 19 years -- but is there another secret date?).
It sure would have helped a little if Furuno had been more vocal on this impending disaster! I was reading a post here on the forum, where a user had a question in September about power to his GP-32 -- the rep answered the question without mentioning that the unit was programmed to die in 4 months! Talk about keeping it under the radar....