Lowrance H2OC Is not locating me....HELP

[tip_upclyma]

So I pulled out some of my ice fishing stuff to get ready for this winter. When I pulled the H2OC out of the drawer, I put in new batteries, turned it on and set it out on my porch because I know it would take a minute to locate me because I hadn't turned it on in 7 months.....WELL after 2 hours the GPS had still NOT located me....ANY IDEAS BEFORE I SEND INTO LOWRANCE?

Thanks!

[PerchJerker]

Try a soft reset. With the power off, press and hold the Pages Button and the Power Button until it comes back on.

If that doesn't work, go into the GPS menu and try initializing the GPS.

Couple other things, make sure you don't have it set to indoor mode, and make sure you don't have it set to require WAAS.

Good luck getting it going again.

[tip_upclyma]

I appreciate the advise PerchJerker....I have already tried to do a soft reset...and I even did a hard reset that erased all of my waypoints....BUT i need to check the indoor mode...and more importantly, I think mine was set up to require the WAAS. I will give it a go.

Thanks!

[splakeshaker]

Lowrance will charge you $140 just to look at the thing. I would exhaust all other options or maybe even replace the unit instead. Cabelas has the expedition color for $200 plus free shipping right now. Since you've alreday lost the waypoints it may be the better option. Lowrance is pushing it's new series so I would expect good deals coming up on thr ifinders. Good Luck.

[Augusta]

Mine will do the same thing. I just do the "initial GPS" and it works all the time.

[deadeye]

1+ Augusta

I do exactly what he said and its the hot ticket. It has happened to me maybe 3 or 4 times and thats what does it.

Otherwise, make sure your batteries are ok. I have had it where they are getting low but not registering that they are. Pop new ones in and its good to go.

[rmrakt]

+2 Augusta.....also make sure you are in an OPEN area. may help to walk in the open field too with some patience.

[JavaJohn]

Why is the Expedition selling for cheaper than the H2Oc? I thought the Expedition was a higher end unit. This is not just in the B Cave either. It generally is going for less on most the online shops.

[rmrakt]

tip_upclyma,

Did you get your GPS working?

I pulled mine out of the bag too yesterday, set it on my truck roof and it would not lock in after an hour.

Plugged the cord into my cig lighter in my truck, powered it up and let it sit on the dash while I drove to town. It found the satellites five minutes after I hit the road.

[tip_upclyma]

No luck yet....I just put in new batteries, turned the WAAS option OFF, Intitialized GPS....and NOTHING after over an hour. I have a guy that is going to buy it tonite....so I will just cut my losses and get a new one. THANKS FOR ALL THE TIPS THOUGH! It is great to be able to get advise from fellow fisherman!

[croixflats]

That's to bad. The way things go I guess. Take the opportunity to upgrade to the new one that is semi touch screen if you stick with same brand. I always find a way to talk myself into doing such things.

[Hitman]

Mine did the same thing, worked well for the last 3 years, now it won't lock satellites or lock a fix on the plotter. Explained to Lowrance CS the issue, and they summized the antenna has quit working. While I would like to try another, my Lakemaster chips and Ram mount is another cost I would have to change if I go Garmin. Instead I will reward them with another $162 to repair/replace my H2Oc and treat this as a disposable electronics. I feel a bit trapped, but the dollars don't make sense to change. By the way my brother's same unit did the same thing last May. He is using my 8 year old Garmin 12XL.

Glad Lowrance doesn't make TV's or computers.

[splakeshaker]

You can get a new one for $200 and have a warranty.

[schweady]

Thanks, rmrakt!

After 4 years of flawless service, last night my ExpeditionC refused to lock on any satellites and display my position. Initializing, resetting, nothing worked. Finally, I followed your advice of plugging into the cig. lighter and going for a ride, and it was locked into what looked like every satellite in the sky before I had gone 3 blocks.

SHORT-TERM PROBLEM SOLVED!

[erickol]

Why is the Expedition selling for cheaper than the H2Oc? I thought the Expedition was a higher end unit. This is not just in the B Cave either. It generally is going for less on most the online shops.

I picked up an H2o last night online cabellas for 189$ I'll have to pick up the lakemaster chip somewhere else though, they are out of stock.

[jeff in WI]

Before I'd give up on the unit I'd try an external antena. You can get one for about $20.00 online. Not the most elegant solution, but it's cheaper than buying a new GPS.

[MuleShack]

From what I was told from lowrance, the external antenna wont work if your internal one is shot. So that would be and extra $100 shot.

One electronics guy recommended to use the reset to default setting also to try to get it to work again.

[BK19]

One electronics guy recommended to use the reset to default setting also to try to get it to work again.

that is what the hard reset should do

[CousinEddie]

For those of you having trouble with your H2o, have you tried downloading and installing the software update?

[MuleShack]

is there a recent one?

I only found an update from 2007

[CousinEddie]

The 2007 update is the last that I know of. I was having trouble locking in satelites spring 2008 and the update corrected the problem.

[herefish101]

everyone who buys all the stuff from this company probably know the used to have great customer service but for home reason they started charging what ends up being alot of money just to get their crappy equipment fixed. everyone needs to band together and demand that they fix their customer service.

[MuleShack]

everyone who buys all the stuff from this company probably know the used to have great customer service but for home reason they started charging what ends up being alot of money just to get their crappy equipment fixed. everyone needs to band together and demand that they fix their customer service.

Or just start buying other brands...

[Fredd]

I had sent mine back two years ago and was charged nothing. This customer service policy will impact my future purchasing decisions.