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| Message Subject: Lowrance 520C flashing depth in shallow weeds | |||
Pedro |
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Posts: 670 Location: Otsego, MN | I know 5 guys who are all having problems with there lowrance units, I know some guys running the new Humminbirds and they love them. I know they are not used nearly as much as Lowrance so maybe I don't here of the same number of problems with these units. Considering the switch to the bird. Fished Tonka last night with Nearly $3000 dollars of sonar in my boat and I couldn't read the depth inside 10 feet with the milfoil, thank god for 1 foot contour maps! | ||
| cimusky |
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Posts: 75 | I have been looking at getting a new depth finder and thought that this would be the one. After reading of the problems I am not so sure. Muskies can give a person fits without spending 6 bills on a unit that makes you wish you still had your old one. Have you seen the latest software update for this unit from Lowarnce? I fould an update for this unit today on their website that said it fixed the shallow weed problems. Has anyone tried it? Thanks for your input.. CI | ||
| Southshore |
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Posts: 218 | I just installed 3 Lowrance units and all 3 510c, x27 and 520 all have problems reading the bottom in shallow water. Even in the manual mode with power, sensitivity and color turned down all 3 loose the bottom. The tech support agrees there is a problem with all 3 units and claim a soft wear update will be the needed cure. I don't think I can down load an update for the 510c. It is not in most cases user error because the tech people (4 different people) are very familiar with the symptoms presented in this thread. As norm stated, there are many confirmed reports of these units failing to perform their most basic functions. There are problems with these units. I am not sure if it is a soft wear issue or a hardware processor problem but the depth sounder dose not function as well as it should. In some cases it does not function. The units give me the poorest sonar performance in over 18 years and 12 different Lowrance depth sounders. I would give them a failing rating. That being said, I think the GPS system is pretty darn good. It is user friendly and easy to see and read in all lighting conditions. Ray Edited by Southshore 6/28/2008 6:35 AM | ||
| Reef Hawg |
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Posts: 3518 Location: north central wisconsin | Norm, good point on the 'blind' rigging as it is what I've done for years.... till next time... Claiming a the same issue hapening over and over to a large contingency of product users as operator error, is laughable. To make that claim, there probably hasn't been enough exposure to these units as to make that assumption, as it was the Walleye guys who really put the screws to Lowrance to 'fix' the updates. Even guys on the Lowrance team(including the guy I bought my boat from) were having issues that they had no answers for. When I started having trouble with shallow water readings on my 111(only after installing latest update last season), I posted here over a year ago and nobody could help(http://muskie.outdoorsfirst.com/board/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=35402&posts=2&highlight=lowrance&highlightmode=1#M261145), so I checked the walleye equivalent to this site(walleyecentral.com), and learned from the very walleye guys mentioned that it was the software update that had been installed(1.7 at the time) that was giving me the problems. In fact, it was one of the Walleye pro's that emailed a copy of an older update that would fix my unit. It worked, thank goodness, as I am not so sure I wanted a $2,200.00 unit that comes with a 6' canoe paddle to search for bottom, due to not reading electronically in 2-4 fow, when needed for safety purposes. Anyone having trouble in shallow water or weeds needs to ask Lowrance if you can back date your units software(this may or may not be possible with the latest units). The new updates(if similar in settings to the newest updates I installed in 2007), will simply keep giving you issues and might not be the answer. Don't settle for having to turn your ping speed and gain/sens. down to unnacceptable levels, to get a shallow water reading. Again, after I went back about 3 updates and installed a new transducer(I still don't understand how a unit can fiz the transducer as it has), the shallow water/weed issue has been resolved. It still shows more clutter than I care for, and I don't get the benefit of the new add-ons of the new updates, but I like the mapping and kids come over at the landing and ask if they can play Space Invaders on it, which is cool I guess. edit: This is not intended as a Lowrance bash. In fact, in defense of Lowrance, I don't know many units themselves that have had to be returned due to being faulty. the ones that are sent in are often up/backdated and sent right back. It is often the software, which can be fixed right on the boat as stated above. Edited by Reef Hawg 6/29/2008 1:30 PM | ||
| fish hawk |
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Posts: 40 Location: Elkhorn, WI | I agree with nwild, if it is such a complex operation to find the bottom in shallow water, why not include it in their manual? | ||
| curleytail |
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Posts: 2687 Location: Hayward, WI | Well, I started this thread, not thinking it would go this far. I do agree, there is obviously an issue here. Too many people having the same problems. But, When running the unit in manual mode, it works much better. I did end up buying one for the front of my boat too. The menu is a little different, so I think it might have the older software, not sure what version. With that unit running in manual mode and the senaitivity turned down a little bit, I can run over pretty heavy weeds in only a couple feet of water and it will continue to read. It will flash the depth now and then, but usually only for a split second before it finds itself again. When in auto mode, when the units lock up, they stay locked up for a very long time - until you get moving out in clear water with a hard bottom. Switching to manual mode after they lock up usually starts the screen scrolling again and allows the unit to lock back on. I haven't messed with colorline or ping speed yet. They may help more, but if you don't do anything else, try switching the unit to manual. I agree it's a pain to have to do this, and I also agree it shouldn't have to be this way. As far as shallow water viewing, the $100 units that were in the boat before I upgraded out performed these $600+ units. But, I have been able to use them pretty well in shallow water with a little tweaking, and really like everything else about the units. Lowrance does have an issue with these, and hopefully they can get it straightened out enough for the common fisherman to be able to use these without any trouble. Until then, hopefully there have been enough tips in this thread to allow us to use the units we have. curleytail Edited by curleytail 6/28/2008 3:19 PM | ||
| sworrall |
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Posts: 32934 Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | Listen to Captain Ron. Seriously. He's one of the best tech reps in the field attending some of the largest tournaments out there, up at 4 AM and standing by to assist anglers with their Lowrance gear if needed, knows the smallest details about the Lowrance products and how to maximize the performance you are looking for. If you want help, he's the guy; listen and follow his lead so we can encourage him to frequent this board. There have been software issues, and with both company's units. Once those issues are identified, they are corrected...and as soon as is possible so the units are accepted. To insinuate the 'problems' are somehow prolonged on purpose is laughable, too. And, I bet the Lowrance Team wouldn't say they 'put the screws' to anyone, that's hardly productive and to a man/woman, they are far too professional to even insinuate that; they are in the field using those products under the most extreme conditions, and all the sonar companies listen to them...as they listen to the sonar companies. That's how new products are improved and bulletproofed. I attend about 25 Pro tournaments a year. The majority of electronics on the rigs are Lowrance followed by Bird, and trust me, these guys know their units, and know them very very well. They have learned most of what there is to know about the more advanced units; they know how to update the unit, maximize it in the shallows and then in the deeper waters in all types of cover and under all sorts of conditions, and can tell the difference between species of fish in 29' of flooded timber and catch them, too. DO MOST pro Walleye anglers know their sonars better than most Muskie anglers? Yes....that's not a slam, it's a fact, ask Shep... Doc Samson, Doc Parsons, Keith Kavajecz, Mark Courts and many others...all could and some DO teach courses on sonar/gps to folks like me that are well worth attending if you are going to use the top tier Lowrance/Bird gear. Do even they occasionally need assistance with an update or a setting? Yes, and Ron is the man onsite helping them learn the units' most obscure features. Norm, I promise you, Ron would know in an instant if your unit is in need of repair or in need of 'technical support', and I see darn few come off the rigs at the tournaments after Captain Ron adjusts the unit or updates the software...or whatever is needed. I can't speak for your problems, guys, but I can speak for Captain Ron Hunter and tell you he's the very best there is. Like it or not, guys, the newest generation of sonar gear, Bird or Lowrance, are COMPUTERS, not just sonars these days. there's those who know how to turn on a computer/sonar...like me...and those who know computer/sonars, like Ron Hunter or Mark Courts or 'Doc' Bruce Samson. If there is a software issue, he can identify and get the fix for it, and if there wasn't a fix, I bet I'd hear it...I'm right there when he's working with the Pros during the morning and evening. Most of the Pros who have been around awhile need no help unless a unit is malfunctioning, and that's a fact. If it's broke, they have to send it in, just like you. If you want a unit that you can just turn on and get maximum performance for that product, both Bird and Lowrance make them. they are not the more expensive units, and there's a reason for that. I watched a Tech rep give a seminar on the new top tier 'Bird units this winter, and can tell you for certain most folks won't know how to get the maximum performance there without a substantial learning curve, too. Solving the 'issues' I see in the field to the large degree is part of that 'learning curve'. Sure, it's not as easy to get help on Pelican , but with one request, Ron posted here...and some seem to be doing all they can to see to it he doesn't bother doing that again. We'll get one or more of the top Lowrance experts online to do a chat soon as we can, and that will help, I bet. This said, before the goofs even start, I bought for my rig this year....two Birds and one Lowrance. I got about $450 wrapped up in all three. | ||
| ESfishOX |
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 Posts: 412 Location: Waukesha, WI | my 520c on the bow through the Terrova US2 exhibits this behavior, and I had to update the 520c to v2.3 when I first got it. I will try adjusting the settings as Capt Ron suggests and report back. To be fair, I also had to update the 'bird firmware too. Edited by ESfishOX 6/29/2008 11:59 AM | ||
| Reef Hawg |
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Posts: 3518 Location: north central wisconsin | I wuld sure hope that nobody would think that any problems would be prolonged on purpose? The Lowrance Team did not put the screws to anyone that I am aware of. Some Walleye guys in fact did, as I read about it for months on another website. I didn't neccessarily agree with the bashing going on, but it was happening. Some on the team were experiencing similar issues that they couldn't resolve on their own as stated in the post above. These same team guys were then helping the public with update emails, etc. which was helpful to folks including myself. Most do know that they are computers(much more powerful ones than we were used to until a few years ago), but some issues could not be resolved with setting adjustments, mainly the shallow water/weed issue(at least on units from a couple years ago with the 1.7 update). The ping speed and sens(power) turn down can work temporarily, but that was something that was supposed to be happening automatically according to the update definition. In actually defending Lowrance in my earlier post, I stated that there has been a few issues with updates, and that the newest update might not be the best for all facets of the unit in the water you fish. As Steve stated, (' and I see darn few come off the rigs at the tournaments after Captain Ron adjusts the unit or updates the software...or whatever is needed.'), it is rarely if ever the unit itself, but often is the updates, which can be equally frustrating when on a long trip. It is obviously important not to get frustrated with the unit until trying everything you can with the controls. If it persists even after some of the suggestions made, get an update(backdate in many cases) that fixes the problem. I chose an update that gave best readings in shallow water, and lost out on some of the cool new mapping features, waypoint sharing, display settings, backligting support etc. I weighed the options before going back but am quite pleased with the unit now that I did. If we thought Lowrance made a poor unit whose learning curve couldn't be met, we wouldn't have spent a years worth of our kids' college tuition on them would we have? That said, after spending a couple hours on the phone with Lowrance over a couple years, and getting to know a couple of the techs quite well(too well??), I am still loyal to Lowrance(still have them on my rig). But, it is comforting to know they aren't the only kid on the block and that other units exist that might suit my needs the same or better as I shop for a new boat when my (now)2 year old graduates............. Edited by Reef Hawg 6/29/2008 4:05 PM | ||
| mseybert |
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Posts: 443 Location: Indiana | Just a progress report. I updated the software and made some manual adjustments in the menus and had a lot better performance this weekend. Admittedly I wasn't in real weedy water but they worked flawlessly. I would suggest the update and following some of Doctor Samson's advice on settings. It seems to help a lot. | ||
| TJ DeVoe |
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Posts: 2323 Location: Stevens Point, WI | That's great to hear Mike! | ||
| The Wanderer |
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Posts: 158 Location: Burlington, WI | Well, I finally downloaded the new update (2.3) to my LMS520C, and the depth finally showed up. I did though have the depth flashing in shallow water just the same as everyone else has been saying. I didn't mess with it anymore at that time, the last couple of times out now the units won't pick up any depth or show my water speed. They both just flash. I have now tried putting the units on manual mode/not on manual mode, with/without auto sensitivity, also changed the sensitivity, changed the ping speed, changed the colorline, and nothing will make them even flash a depth close to what it should be under all depths. I guess I'll have to give lowrance a call back since everything that is working for you guys isn't working for me. I haven't checked the lowrance website in a couple of weeks. Maybe, they have a new update to fix these problems. Right? Anyway, good luck the rest of you pulling your hair out over this. If anyone figures out more please post it. Thanks. | ||
| Bytor |
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Location: The Yahara Chain | Wow, after reading this thread I am very happy that I bought a hummingbird unit this spring. The thing that I like best about mine is the awesome detail that I get with the color sonar in the shallow weeds. | ||
| kawartha kid |
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Posts: 238 | Man you guys are scareing the s@#t out of me here,i just bought a LMS520C last night with a navioncs chip to upgrade the x65 that i have on the console. I plan on moving the x65 up to the bow and scaping the junk humminbird that is there now. At this point i am having second thoughts about installing it at all and feel like returning it with out ever installing it and just staying with what i got. As my handle sugests i live and fish in the kawarthas which for the most part are shallow weed infested lakes and if everything i have read here hold true,the unit i just bought is going to performe like a piece of junk. I bought this unit to help me fish more efficently not hinder me. I am very concerned about the negative statements brought forth here and dont know what to do? | ||
| gopackgo |
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Posts: 386 | K-Kid: AND SECOND GUESS YOU SHOULD!!! If I only had the choice to return my flashing unit I'd do it right now. | ||
| sworrall |
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Posts: 32934 Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | Alright, now we've taken this to a bashing thread instead of helping each other resolve issues. it's tough to let folks vent if the post is on the edge, but this has run it's course with little left to say about resolving the issues involved. If you have good information about how to additionally resolve issues like those mentioned, PM that info to me and I'll add it to this thread. | ||
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