Vesper Marine xb-8000 anchor alarm problem

[ReneJK]

Since may last year we’re fultime cruising , using the vm xb-8000 constantly also as our main anchor alarm

I am not sure when it first started but lately I noticed that our external alarm does not always work when the boat drifts outside the set circle

Today we moved to another anchorage and i forgot to turn the anchor alarm off and set it to ‘coastal’ , when i wanted to reset the anchor alarm i realized i forgot when we moved to another anchorage but no alarm sounded when we left ?!

I tried to manually activate (test) the external alarm but no alarm. I had to turn power off and on again on the xb-8000 to get it working again .

I am not sure after how much time it stops working (hours , days , weeks ?) but this should be a ‘set and forget’ function and not a ‘set and daily test hopefully it works when we need it’ function ?

We spent the last 2 weeks in Cville Tobago anchored but I now feel not so sure anymore and will sleep less comfortable

Anyone else experienced this problem and how did you solve it ?

[Tillsbury]

How are you setting the alarm? In my experience it remembers well, even if you turn off the router, run out of phone battery, or whatever. Reconnecting with another device brings up the correct anchor alarm settings and trace history. Are you sure the xb8000 didn't lose power?

[ReneJK]

Originally Posted by Tillsbury

How are you setting the alarm?

I am setting the alarm through the app, either on my phone or ipad

Originally Posted by Tillsbury

In my experience it remembers well, even if you turn off the router, run out of phone battery, or whatever. Reconnecting with another device brings up the correct anchor alarm settings and trace history.

Trace history keeps working , I can see out track around the anchor and the breadcrumbs show like normal, just the external alarm doesnt sound anymore if we drift outside the set circle OR if I test the alarm manually through the app

Originally Posted by Tillsbury

Are you sure the xb8000 didn't lose power?

no I am not sure it (briefly) lost power somewhere in the week(s) we are anchored out but I always see it in my wifi list and can connect to it

[a64pilot]

Shoot Vesper an email, they respond pretty quickly

[johnjuliano]

Would you post your response from Vesper?

[ReneJK]

Will do , ive just dropped them an email

[Mr O]

Never had a problem with my vesper xb8000 anchor not going off, so I am also curious why yours is not. Do you have the optional vesper alarm installed or do you rely on iPad only? If iPad only, perhaps there is a communication issue between vesper and iPad? Whatever the case, I hope you find an easy fix. The xb8000 is a fine piece of equipment that has worked flawlessly for me.

[bradfordharley]

I also use vesper as our anchor alarm. It reliably screams when I pull out of my anchor without turning it off, but following.

[moseriw]

Sorry BUT: Anchor Alarm? Do you really trust the accuracy of GPS? I am talking about an inaccuracy of 200ft! at max. That makes 100 ft radial.

Quite a lot, isnt it..

Besides your technical problem which can only solved on board and with your equipment.

Easy: check speaker and wiring, take a small speaker from a PC and mount it at the XB directly. By then you know where the problem is.

[ReneJK]

Originally Posted by Mr O

Never had a problem with my vesper xb8000 anchor not going off, so I am also curious why yours is not. Do you have the optional vesper alarm installed or do you rely on iPad only? If iPad only, perhaps there is a communication issue between vesper and iPad? Whatever the case, I hope you find an easy fix. The xb8000 is a fine piece of equipment that has worked flawlessly for me.

I am not sure when it first started but lately I noticed that our external alarm does not always work when the boat drifts outside the set circle


I typically set the alarm with my iphone / ipad

[ReneJK]

Originally Posted by moseriw

Sorry BUT: Anchor Alarm? Do you really trust the accuracy of GPS? I am talking about an inaccuracy of 200ft! at max. That makes 100 ft radial.

Quite a lot, isnt it..

I just checked, its accurate to within 1.1 meter ( 4 feet) and has been since the beginning , so yes I have and do trust it (the gps)

Originally Posted by moseriw

Besides your technical problem which can only solved on board and with your equipment.

Easy: check speaker and wiring, take a small speaker from a PC and mount it at the XB directly. By then you know where the problem is.

the external alarm from vesper is exactly that , an external alarm similar to a buzzer / small speaker and is connected direct;y to the XB



not sure what other equipment would have an influence on thsi stand alone system with alarm ?

[PuttingDoctor]

Following.....

[S/V Alchemy]

Also following as I have an XB-8000 with which I am very pleased, but for which I have yet to try out this feature.

[Tillsbury]

Originally Posted by moseriw

Sorry BUT: Anchor Alarm? Do you really trust the accuracy of GPS? I am talking about an inaccuracy of 200ft! at max. That makes 100 ft radial.

Quite a lot, isnt it..

Accuracy is irrelevant. Consistency is. I regularly let out 20m of chain and set the alarm at 25m, the track shows us jigging around in a circle just inside the alarm trigger. You can set the alarm by pinch/zoom anyway once you’ve seen how you’re moving. The trick is to remember to hit the anchor button as you drop it, not once you’re set. I do this on the iPad at the helm while releasing the anchor.

And yes, the vesper external alarm is a buzzer you can put anywhere, with a separate cancel button.

[Paul L]

Originally Posted by moseriw

Sorry BUT: Anchor Alarm? Do you really trust the accuracy of GPS? I am talking about an inaccuracy of 200ft! at max. That makes 100 ft radial.

........

The Vesper anchor alarm works very well. We use it every night. GPS repeatibility is extremely good. False alarms occur due to errors in setting the anchor drop point and inadequate swing room in the alarm circle. Not because of GPS position issues.