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Posts: 3518
Location: north central wisconsin | Greetings,
I know this may have been covered here, just having a hard time finding it so I apologize if starting a redundant thread.
I would like to purchase a new Lakemaster chip for both MN and WI this year, as it has been a few years since upgrading. I run lcx 111 and lcx 27 units. I have been reading/hearing that some have been having dificulty with the new chips in the older(sheesh hard to beleive a 111 is an old unit already) units. I'd prefer not to do any software updating as both of my units are really running well. I would purchase the 2009 chips as they contain most of the lakes I desire, but the 2010 did add quite a few and for the same price, may as well go with the new one. Advice?
Thanks in advance,
Edited by Reef Hawg 5/3/2010 4:53 PM
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Posts: 2323
Location: Stevens Point, WI | In order to use a 2010 chip, Navionics or Lakemaster, you have to have the 2.5 update on the unit. The reason for this is, both Navionics and Lakemaster use micro sd chips with the 2010 versions. Only way you can use a 2010 chip is with the 2.5 update.
You can use any 2009 chip on the LCX units without a problem. |
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Posts: 3518
Location: north central wisconsin | Looking at Lowrance website, it appears as though the 2.1 is the most recent update for the lcx 111. I am not interested in that update, though would be in the 2.5 if that in fact would/could be utilized in the 111.
That said, would the older units be able to utilize any of the advanced features of the newest hd cards? Otherwise I think my mind has been made up for me, but the 2009 cards.
edit: Just got off the phone with Matt at Thorne Bros. Looks like i cannot even get a 2009 Lakemaster chip. Is this Lowrances way of telling me I need a new unit? I am really hoping that my lcx 111 that was purchased 2 seasons ago, is not obsolete in terms of getting upgraded mapping.
I guess next step is to call Lowrance and hope I get a live body.
Edited by Reef Hawg 5/3/2010 6:07 PM
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Posts: 968
Location: N.FIB | try profishingsupply.com it says they have the 2009 chips on there site,but I would call them to make sure. |
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Posts: 897
| Do some calling, you should be able to find a 2009 chip somewhere. Also, I don't know what update TJ is talking about, but the guy at my local shop who called Lowrance said the 2010 chips wouldn't work in the older units. By older units I mean anything other than the HDS units. I have a 27C and a 520C with the most recent updates and the 2010 chip wouldn't work. Luckily, my local store had an extra 2009 chip for me. I just hope the GPS receiver keeps working, I'm under the impression the LGC-2000 pucks don't work any longer. Hopefully, the 3000's keep working for a few more years. |
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Posts: 582
| whynot,,, ,i have been told that the 2010 chip from navi works in the 520c. IN fact, just had this conversation with them. They have tested it and it works according to them. I can't get mine to work either even with the update but they said they will help get it working. I have the 520c as well. |
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Posts: 582
| whynot,,, ,i have been told that the 2010 chip from navi works in the 520c. IN fact, just had this conversation with them. They have tested it and it works according to them. I can't get mine to work either even with the update but they said they will help get it working. I have the 520c as well. |
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Posts: 676
Location: Wisconsin | Some of the older units cannot be upgraded to read the new MicroSD cards. It's a real hit and miss with the level of SD card reader installed during production. There are plenty of 2009 chips on the market. |
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Posts: 897
| my bad, i should have said the 2010 LakeMaster chips don't work in my units. |
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Location: Stevens Point, WI | Just to clarify things here, the 2.5 update is only offered for the last generation LCX units. The LCX-113, 112, 38, 37, 28, 27, and 522, and 520 will accept the 2.5 update.
Any units prior to these, including the LCX-104, 110, 111, 26, 25, LMS-332, 334 and others will not accept the 2.5 update.
To get any of the latest Lowrance updates, check out this link:
http://www.lowrance.us/Downloads/Product-Software-Updates/
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Posts: 3518
Location: north central wisconsin | Here's to hoping Lowrance will make a chip accepted by a 3 year old $2200 unit. |
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Posts: 2323
Location: Stevens Point, WI | Reef, actually, that unit is more like 4-5 years old if you look at it from the day it was released. A unit is only current until the next generation unit comes out. Same goes for the IPhone, three generations of IPhones in four years, that's how electronics work. |
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Posts: 897
| So T.J., are you saying that my 27C and 520C, with the 2.5 update should be able to read the 2010 LakeMaster MN chip? I went to my local store two weeks ago and they downloaded the most recent update for both units onto chips that day, put them in my units, and the 2010 LakeMaster MN chip still did not work. The guy at the store called Lowrance and they said they were aware of the issue with the 2010 LakeMaster MN chip and were working on an update. Unless the 2.5 update you're talking about came out in the last couple weeks, I'm under the impression the 2010 LakeMaster MN chip will not work in my 27C or 520C. You're making it sound like that is not the case. Where are you getting your info? |
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Location: Stevens Point, WI | Did the store attendant go in the menu and change the mapping option to Lakemaster?
If not, go into Menu > Menu > Chart > right click drop down labeled Lowrance and select Lakemaster. (or click the drop down). You are now in Lakemaster mode.
I was told by multiple Lowrance Technicians that the 2.5 update is suppose to allow you the ability to use the 2010 chips in the last generation LCX units.
I will touch base with my contacts and see if they know of any problems. |
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Posts: 676
Location: Wisconsin | There is an issue with 2010 Lakemaster cards and some "legacy" or older Lowrance or Eagle units. Along with the 2.5 software update, you need to also have the newest version of the Lakemaster 2010 card. The version is on the back of the package and the card I believe, but it should be version 4.1 for Wisconsin. This card along with the Lowrance software updates will allow the cards to work in most of the older Lowrance units. It should work for the past three generations of units. If you have a previous Lakemaster card, I guess Lakemaster will exchange them for the newer verison. Contact Lakemaster for that.
Add: You should always check the Lowrance website and keep your locator / GPS up to date with the current firmware, just good sledding.
Edited by Muskiemetal 5/5/2010 12:59 PM
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Posts: 897
| Yeah, we checked the mapping option along with everything else we could think of. Then we called Lowrance. FYI, I bought both of my units last year brand new. Not sure if that means anything as far as whether they are "legacy" units. I'll hook both of them up tonight when I get home just to make sure the 2.5 software is in there, not positive since the store updated them for me. I'd have to believe that's the update I got, though, since they got them off Lowrance's website the day I went into the store.
As far as your last comment, Muskiemetal, I'm a firm believer in if it's not broken don't fix it when it comes to these things. I've heard about far too many problems people have had after they update their units. Only reason I put the updates in is because the 2010 chip wasn't working. |
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Posts: 676
Location: Wisconsin | whynot, make sure you have the 4.1 version Lakemaster. If it is the 4.0 Lakemaster Wisconsin 2010, then call Lakemaster up and see about getting the new card. It should work with that new updated card....... |
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Posts: 897
| I'm gonna run the 2009 chips I know work for me. Already traded my 2010 MN chip to a buddy for his 2009 MN chip. I don't fish WI if at all possible... 
I'm just bringing this stuff up so other people know. |
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Posts: 307
| whynot, I don't know why the LGC 2000 wouldn't work the only difference between it and the LGC 3000 is the color of the connector on the end. 2000 is blue 3000 is red.
Where did you hear this? |
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Posts: 897
| maybe it was the 1000's, then, but i recently read on here i think that one of the older versions of the pucks doesn't work any longer because the satelites no longer support them. thought it was the 2000's, but i'll try to run down exactly where i saw that. |
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Posts: 3518
Location: north central wisconsin | TJ DeVoe - 5/5/2010 12:26 PM
Reef, actually, that unit is more like 4-5 years old if you look at it from the day it was released. A unit is only current until the next generation unit comes out. Same goes for the IPhone, three generations of IPhones in four years, that's how electronics work.
TJ, actually the unit is in fact 3 years old, as was sold by an authorized Lowrance dealer within that time frame. Understand, I am not ripping Lowrance here. I wouldn't own them if I didn't feel they best suited my needs at the time and understood that the thing wouldn't be supported forever. As far as how electronics work, that is not completely accurate. We spend thousands on new computers that become outdated the day we buy them, but low and behold there are constant updates to install in even 10-11 year old computers that allow them to be used with current software. Apple even allows new itunes to be installed and updates old ipods to add ability to download musiic from the new version of the software.
My point is that there is going to be some shock when alot of folks head out to purchase a replacement chip or even the first ever chip for their 3-5 year old unit, and it won't work. It would probably be as simple as a few keystrokes by folks at Lakemaster(Lowrance) to also offer a chip with the updated lake list that works in slightly older units. I am not arguing that it isn't available now, but I don't buy that it absolutely cannot be done. Heck there are chips for 'birds now, would be cool if they'd alow for an updated chip for the older Lowrances. I'll bet there are a bunch of guys with the lmx 15's and 17's that would lay some cash down for lakemaster if they could pop them into their units as well.
With that said, something I found quite amusing while I wade through this issue with making sure I purchase the right chip for both of my units. I have a friend who runs a couple 4-6 year old Humminbird units. He just found out there was an update released for his unit so he could run the Lakemaster chips. Long story short, update loaded, and Lakemaster chip now working. Interesting and ironic option, for someone to be able to buy an older used Humminbird to read a new Lakemaster chip made by Lowrance.
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Location: Stevens Point, WI | Reef, I'm going to have to kindly disagree with you on this one. Lowrance has remained very consistent in how they introduce units and what updates are available.
As for computers, they are very different believe it or not. The computer you bought 4 years ago, is nowhere near the same as the computer you will buy today. For example, I bought a brand new computer 5 years ago when I started college, it came with only a 512mb of ram, I don't even think a512 is being nowadays.
Sure, there are some things that can be updated, for example, windows updates and anti-viruses are ones that are typically free. But, if you wanted to put Windows 7 on a computer that came with Windows XP, you'd have to pay for that one way or another. Or, if you wanted to take your computer that has a 250 gig hard drive and upgrade that to a 500 gig, you'd have to buy the drive. So, point being here, if you want the new technology, you have to pay for it. Certain things can be updated even if they are 10 years old, but I promise you, a computer that is bought new today is very much different than that computer that was sold four years ago. If it wasn't different, they wouldn't be able to sell new computers.
You may have bought that unit 3 years ago, but the software is not 3 years old. With most electronics, it goes by the date it's released, not by the date it's being sold. I find it sufficient that Lowrance is supporting the last generation of LCX units(113, 112, 38, 37, 28, 27, 520 series). Asking them to support units that are older than that, I think is unreasonable to ask of a company.
Also, as far as Hummingbird, great units, don't get me wrong. However, they've only had a solid unit out that can even be compared to a Lowrance for about four years. Lowrance has at least two dozen units in the last 8-10 years that require software updates. Hummingbird might have a quarter of that. Much easier to offer updates for all their units versus a company who has put out more units in three years than Hummingbird has in four years.
As far as people willing to put money down for updates, I'm sure there are some. But, the cost of those updates wouldn't make a whole lot of sense in my opinion. I'd rather put the money towards a newer unit, something that is more up to date. What's happening is just part of technology, it's the way it works. The Apple IPhone is a prime example. Apple is supposedly announcing the 4g IPhone in June, I just bought a 3GS last June. It's just how it works, imo. |
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Location: north central wisconsin | First off, it is not really possible to dissagree with someones wish list, desire or even fantasy(as this may be in my case...lol). My friend, what you are not quite understanding, simply, is my point. My point is/was that it sure would be nice if a few keystrokes could be made not neccessarily mandate a unit upgrade, but simply to continue making a mapping chip that works in older units. Heck, chips wear out from going in and out of units. I might want to buy a new one if I drop mine in the lake. That isn't unit support, it is marketing THE only piece of software that can be loaded into these units by the user, a very simple map chip. Further, if I didn't realize new computers were 'better' than 5 year old units, I wouldn't have purchased a crispy new one last year. But, I also kept my old one and installed much of the same software that my new one has, to keep it up to date.
Again, in your infinite Navico defense(not sure why a densive stance taken when no offense intended from other party), please be willing to accept that some people might wish for or hope for certain progress, changes, and certain new boundaries erased/crossed. If nobody asked for it, complained about it, many of these friendly allowances would never be made.
So, and my point continues, it sure would be cool if Lowrance would produce a new lakemaster chip that could be used in some of the older units, even if a premium had to be paid. Some of us with relatively young(3 year old) units, really are not quite ready to lay another $2,300.00 for a new unit just to read a few new maps.
Edited by Reef Hawg 5/6/2010 10:31 PM
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Location: Stevens Point, WI | I get exactly what your saying, believe me, I do. As for being defensive, I hardly see it that way, I apologize if it's coming off that way.
I'm simply trying to say that, why would anyone buy new technology if it can be offered in the old technology?
I try and make an effort to not hold onto units longer than two years, or for more than two generations. I find that if you upgrade every couple years, you can resell older units and still get top dollar for your old units. If you wait 3-5 years, the price goes down considerable.
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Location: Davenport, IA | Humminbird has only had a competitive product for 4 years? It should read Lowrance hasn't had a competitive product for four years. I have a Lowrance, and like it. But they are nowhere near Humminbird in reliability, ease of use and customer service. |
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Posts: 2323
Location: Stevens Point, WI | Schuler - 5/6/2010 10:06 PM
Humminbird has only had a competitive product for 4 years? It should read Lowrance hasn't had a competitive product for four years. I have a Lowrance, and like it. But they are nowhere near Humminbird in reliability, ease of use and customer service.
Quite simple actually. Lowrance has been around for what, 50+ years? Hummingbird for 30 years or so. Both great units.
The first "real unit" that Hummingbird had that could actually be talked about in the same sentence as a Lowrance was built about four years ago, that is a fact. Need proof? Up until four years ago, you could barely find another unit out there a tournament professional or serious angler had on their boat. Garmin and Raymarine were actually above and beyond Hummingbird four years ago.
As for customer service, Lowrance has changed a lot in the way of customer service in the last two months. Lot's of hiring in the customer service department at Navico has taken place recently. Remember one thing though, Lowrance has ten times the units in the field Hummingbird does, of course they will have more problems, of course they will have more customer service calls, of course every problem you hear about their customer services gets played so overboard that by the next person that hears about it, it's ten times worse than what the problem really was.
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Posts: 1462
Location: Davenport, IA | I've dealt with the customer service from both companies many times. I hope what you're saying is true about hiring. I know first hand what their customer service was. |
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| American car companies learned the lesson of arrogance the hard way in the 70s...the Big Three actually ran JD Power out of town for suggesting that car makers should think about customer satisfaction! hmmm.
but hey, each time a customer says "I wish it could do this...", just keep on telling them they're wrong. cause that works. 
companies that don't pay attention to the wishes of their current customers find out that they have a lot fewer future customers. one thing that turns people off pretty quick is when a company tries to tell it's customers what they need rather than listening to what they want.
quality products, good service, and listening to consumers leads to happy customers.
and happy customers are loyal customers.
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Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | US Automotive technology and parts change so fast these days aftermarket stores have problems stocking the stupid oil filters.
The same company owns Bird that builds Minn Kota. They bought Techsonic in 2004, and a year later is when the first true innovations began. Since the parent company is who it is, I expect those innovations to keep coming, and I also believe I should expect some Minn Kota-ish events along the way.
Both companies build good product, and both are adding new technology
I think a survey is in order...we'll take a look at as many boats as we can over the next three events...an MWC, the Sturgeon Bay Open, and an AIM (a team Walleye event, a Pro-AM bass event, and a Pro walleye event), and see what brands are locked into RAM mounts on the boats by a basic percentage. What will be really interesting is how many Minn Kota owners run Lowrance.
My three year old Dell XPS wont run the core i7 processor without major overhauling; might as well buy a new unit and toss this one because it won't run allot of the software out there very well, even though its in Intel Dual Core and was a really good one...three years ago. I upgraded it to a dual hard drive array and bumped the RAM up to the max, allowing me to install Vista Home Premium 64 bit so the machine will recognize the full RAM complement for video editing. Now for less money I can buy a Gateway with a 1 tb hard drive, 8 gigs of ram, and a phenom quad core processor for under $700. I won't though...my next machine will be a Mac laptop.
I have an Imac too, and those have improved in technology tremendously since I bought it a couple years back. It's the same now with many electronics as the software and processors, hard drives and memory improves and get's tinier all the time. Lots of the software and support for the OS that came on my last two 'puters is obsolete and soon won't even be supported by Microsoft.
Will this ever slow down? Sure. Someday. |
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Posts: 676
Location: Wisconsin | The industry as a whole is moving towards the smaller MicroSD cards. Either from a hardware or software standpoint, when a company is forecasting building new units or putting software on a card, they see that the trend is going to the small Micro cards. Thus, Lowrance's new unit has the small card reader and Lakemaster and Navionics both went to the small cards. Cost for those readers and cards (on a OEM level) are dropping and the cost for the "old" cards is going up. Phones, Cameras, etc are all going to the small cards. 3 to 5 years ago, that technology was either too expensive or not available to the software firmware developers to include in the units. My phone and camera both will not read my new 4gb MicroSD card. Older computers won't read 2gb SD cards. Everything is moving forward in computers and it is very hard to backward compat something because a new 8gb MicroSD card uses a faster memory type that older motherboards or computers can't read.
Now, if you have an old Lowrance unit or Eagle or Humminbird you might be able to read all the newest cards. You can still ALWAYS find older cards on the market that do work. Some units can be upgraded, some can't. That's computers. And just like a computer, if I want to run Windows 7 and have the latest and newest software, I MUST upgrade my computer. Same with locators. If you want to have the newest and latest, you MUST upgrade. I am sure that someone will buy your old unit, heck, not everyone needs cards to catch fish..... |
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