7S Vanishing Tracks

[Fat_Tones]

Has anyone experienced where you suddenly lose your track partway through a ride? I have had this happen several times now, where I’m 5 hours into a ride, many miles into the backcountry, and suddenly the breadcrumb trail I’ve been laying down all day is gone from the display. Sometimes it will appear in the list of previous tracks, dated for that day, and will be marked with the “do not show on map” icon. I can select for it to “show on map”, and yet it still does not display.

I have never fully trusted the 7S, so I always record a breadcrumb trail with my inReach/GPS as back-up in case it socks in or we get lost, and my wife also has 7S, but this has been happening way too often for comfort. I’m running the latest update and I’m thinking of trying the previous update….

 

[hamlin]

My ‘22 would sometimes not record if the 7s battery was low on charge, also I remember being told that after a period of 10-15 min? If the key has been off it will start a new track and log the old one.
I replaced my battery and I use the kill switch during the day and leave the 7s powered up. Haven’t had issues then

 

[Wintertime]

I have had this happen also when ever you turn the key off it will have gaps in the track were it stopped and started. It has been a problem at times finding your if in need. On my 22 I replaced the stock battery and that helped a lot. I have just been leaving it on with my 25'. I'm going to replace the poor quality battery that Polaris puts in there.

 

[OnlyPolaris]

I have had this happen also when ever you turn the key off it will have gaps in the track were it stopped and started. It has been a problem at times finding your if in need. On my 22 I replaced the stock battery and that helped a lot. I have just been leaving it on with my 25'. I'm going to replace the poor quality battery that Polaris puts in there.

This will happen because you are shutting down the display so it drops the GPS signal. Then when you fire the display back up your not giving it enough time to grab that satellite signal again.

My 22 will do what the OP is describing once in a while. I've found that the screen is super sensitive to snow and water. I would have random waypoints all over as well. I started locking the touch screen once I have the 7S set up and haven't had a problem since.

 

[Fat_Tones]

I think in my case it’s a super weak battery causing problems. I’ve developed some of the practices mentioned here, such as never shutting off the display and locking out the screen. I can ride 15km up a trail, then rip around for half an hour, then shut off my sled and the 7S will last at most 10 minutes before it dies. Also, after the 7S dies, or if I do switch it off, I’m in the habit of allowing the 7S to “find itself” after restarting my sled and before riding off. I keep a battery tender on it at home. I’m going to see if I can find a stronger battery to purchase.

I remember this guy telling me a story once where he loaded up his sled and drove the 5 hours home from the mountains and his 7S recorded the whole drive because he accidentally left the key in and switched on lol. That tells me these things can run a long time on a good battery, and mine must be toast.

I had the same problems with my 2023 Boost and I noticed its battery died quickly as well. My wife’s 24 seems to do a lot better.

Turns out the ride from Feb 7th is logged on my 7S, broken up into two rides, but it is all there and displaying on my screen (after I selected for it to show). For the record though, I have had rides totally vanish. I think you guys are totally right though, the unit dies and then starts a new track. It doesn’t start a new track every time it dies, but often enough that I want a better battery lol.

 

[Fat_Tones]

……it just occurred to me that maybe that guy’s sled in the story was electric start with a big battery.

 

[Wintertime]

That makes sense about the GPS. However it takes a while in the trees and heavy snow. It is eaier to leave it powered up.

 

[Fat_Tones]

I ordered this battery. I’ll just need to fab a box or bracket for it, since it’s a bit different size from the original battery.

 

[OnlyPolaris]

The 7S is supposed to shut itself off around the 10 minute mark. If your buddies 7S stayed on longer something glitched out making it stay on longer.

 

[Wintertime]

CV Customs makes a bracket for that battery. They make a whole kit with power-up cable. I think you can buy the bracket separately.

 

[Fat_Tones]

CV Customs makes a bracket for that battery. They make a whole kit with power-up cable. I think you can buy the bracket separately.

The bracket is available but it’s $66 + $42 usd shipping. With the current weak Canadian dollar, it’s just too expensive ($155). They ship with USPS as well, so I would likely be waiting 30+ days.

 

[Fat_Tones]

The 7S is supposed to shut itself off around the 10 minute mark. If your buddies 7S stayed on longer something glitched out making it stay on longer.

That makes sense. I was unaware of this feature. Seems then that it’s unavoidable that the 7S will sometimes start a new track.

 

[mrooks17]

I use that battery and cv customs bracket and don’t have any issues on my 22’. Make sure you do the software updates for it as well.