Lowrance HDS7 GPS Help

[snatcher20]

I've had my new unit out 3 times now and it doesn't seem to stay locked to satellites. I have the internal GPS with no physical obstructions overhead.

If anchored, it briefly shows the speed at .1-.5mph which is fine. But then just random numbers start flashing. If I then move spots, the GPS clearly isn't working as it's not showing a speed or creating a trail. Then at times it seems to be working fine while moving, then just stops showing a speed or trail.

The sonar seeems to work fine.

Should this unit work for the most part straight out of the box? Are there settings I neeed to adjust? I've gone through the manual and troubleshooting which hasn't helped. There are no other electronics or sonars on in the boat other than lights and this unit.

I figured I'd start here before calling Lowrance. Any help would be greatly appreciated!

[fishwater]

I've heard of this issue before the May 15th update came out, heard it was resolved with that update. Is your unit updated - they released new updates last week again?

[snatcher20]

I bought it on 5/30 so maybe it's not updated. I'll look for the update on their HSOforum and see if that clears it up. Thanks for the help.

The joys of new technology!

[PerchJerker]

It sounds like you're 2 updates behind current. The latest updates were supposed to improve the map displays.

[snatcher20]

So is it ridiclous if you spend over $1000 on a product and it doesn't work out of the box or is it just me? So now I have to go spend another $30-40 to get an SD/MMC card reader and card so I can download the upgrades, just so my brand new product will perform correctly.

Anybody have any thoughts or experience with internal vs. external GPS?

[reddog]

I think theyre only $12, and if you are going to have and use this type of technology, youre going to use the card and the reader anyway for saving screencaptures.

What no one is saying , is that if you are not somewhat computer saavy, you probably shouldnt be using new technology, unless youre willing to learn a few more tricks.

[delcecchi]

you can buy an adapter that makes a SD card into a "thumb" drive for like 7 bucks at wally world. A small SD card, 512 MB or 1G should cost less than 5 bucks. You can borrow one from someone. You only need it for like 30 minutes. Yes, they probably should have put a usb port on the unit so you could plug it in to your computer, but they didn't so far as I know. So you will have to deal with it.

[PerchJerker]

So is it ridiclous if you spend over $1000 on a product and it doesn't work out of the box or is it just me? So now I have to go spend another $30-40 to get an SD/MMC card reader and card so I can download the upgrades, just so my brand new product will perform correctly.

Anybody have any thoughts or experience with internal vs. external GPS?

I have my HDS connected in a network with an external puck. It automatically works off the best gps signal. Seems like 1/2 the time it's using the puck and 1/2 the time it's using the internal antenna in the HDS.

When Lowrance announced the HDS units they also announced that there would be software updates soon to follow. The majority of the HDS updates have been to correct problems with Navionics, not with the HDS itself. It really shouldn't be a surprise. Software updates are not uncommon, they are a fact of life with any kind of electronics -- for example my windows software and antivirus software check for updates every day, my HP stuff checks for updates once a month, etc.

Your dealer or whoever you got your HDS from should help you with the updates if you need help. We do it all the time for free for our customers. If you need help you can contact me at the info below.

[snoozebutton]

If you'd like snatcher, I have the update on an SD card. I could mail it to you and you could either send it back when you're done or send me a blank SD card. Doing it that way, you wouldn't have to buy the card reader, just plug the chip into your unit and turn it on.

Let me know.

[email protected]

[snatcher20]

Snooze- Thanks for the offer.

Turns out my unit came with the May 15 update so all I need is the June update. But.....

I bought a card and reader. However the HDS doesn't seem to take the update, which is clearly on the card. Does an install screen appear on the HDS because nothing happens? Is the install quick? I'm giving it 15-20 minutes and there is no sign anything is happening. The version never changes after following the steps on the software download page.

I can go to file and it recognizes the chip but nothing happens. It reads the Lakemaster card fine.

I guess it's back to the extemely helpful and timely Lowrance Customer Service tomorrow morning. It was odd when I talked to them today and she was very quick to offer an RA# when I said the GPS wasn't working.

[JohnMickish]

Or you can just take to to somewhere knowledgable like Thorne Bros and have them do it for you. Cabelas would be a good choice too. Any Lowrance dealer is supposed to be able to do it for you.

[JIM C]

What is the satellite status screen telling you?

Power up your unit with a clear view of the sky. Press Menu twice. Select System, then Satellites. You should now see the satellite status screen. This will tell you how many satellites the unit is currently seeing and the relative strength of their signals. If your unit is powered up for a few minutes and you don't have satellites locked up, then your antenna is likely bad and you will definitely have to send your unit back to Lowrance.

One thing I've noticed is that the internal antenna's on these new HDS units are much improved over anything Lowrance has had in the past. You can shade the unit with your arm and the signal strength does not diminish.

Jim Carroll NPAA #13

[Stoneman]

How do you find the current version on the unit??? I know its there somewhere but can't locate it... Also, any body heard of the emulator for the HDS, when its due??? Tks

[jason007]

How to see if your HDS-7 is already using version 2.1.30.58 software:

1. From a chart or sonar page, press the MENU key twice to activate the Settings menu.

2. Select SYSTEM.

3. Select ABOUT from the SYSTEM menu.

4. The software version is displayed with the title "Application".

5. If your version is the same version listed above, there is no need to download the software.

[jignrap09]

I have a HDS-5 and when following Lowrance's directions on how to load the new version of software into the unit it does not appear to work. The new version is on a SD card and when I place it in and turn the unit on the unit starts up like usual. Then I can go into the screen to show which version I have and that still shows the current version that was installed at the factory. Any info would be appreciated.

[fishwater]

I recommend that you download the update file directly to your computer, don't use the java installer to put the update on the SD card. Once the file is on your computer, run it to install on the SD card. I've had nothing but problems using the web installer.

[PerchJerker]

I recommend that you download the update file directly to your computer, don't use the java installer to put the update on the SD card. Once the file is on your computer, run it to install on the SD card. I've had nothing but problems using the web installer.

Good advice. Also, do a quick format on your card to wipe it clean before you download the update files to it.

[Bullwinkled]

I concur, I download to computer, use an inexpensive USB SD card reaer writer and upload it to SD card, works perfect. By the way I am not a computer expert by any means. Never had a SD card other then Lakemaster before.

[jignrap09]

well i tried your suggestions and all works up to the point to where i place the loaded 2G SD card into the unit and it does not download. I placed the navionics chip in the unit and a message came across stating that navionics software is not ready yet until lowrance creates the software. Thanks for the replies though.

[PerchJerker]

The Lowrance site should have instructions on how to manually start the update process if the unit doesn't do it automatically. Maybe give that a try.

[ssaamm]

If I understand this correctly, the new Lowrance HD's already have updates to correct errors on the latest models. I get to do soft and hard resets on my 334c at least monthly. I thought the new models would have had this corrected. Good luck getting your new unit working right. I know it can be frustating.

[jignrap09]

Problem fixed!! I was saving the download to my SD card instead of running it to the card. Should have read the earlier post more closely. Anyways, thanks for the info. Now I can use this up at Pelican in Orr this coming week.

Thanks!