I Finder H20c Problems

[carp master]

I just got a new h20c and toke it out of the package and played with it for a little bit and read through the instructions, but I could not get it to pick up even one satellite and I was standing with a clear view of the sky outside whats wrong I played with it for two hours and got a sore neck?

Edit: I had just taken it out of the package and not put any chips in it yet.

[broman]

Take it back and buy something else. Lowrance handheld GPS units are prone to failure. They seem to be dying left and right. It's very well known, you'll see many others on this forum that have had the same issue. They almost seem to have a certain shelf life and now the new ones are dying as well as the older ones. I wouldn't trust exchanging it as you'll probably have it dye later on. Some people have good luck with the units, some haven't. There are just too many failures happening.

[Hubcat]

A buddy of mine had the same problem, he took it back and got a new one. we tested it before we left the parking lot. It did the same thing, it ended up being the lake master chip that was causing the problems. If you put a lake master chip in it maybe that is the problem.

[BehindtheHead]

did you initialize the gps? you cant just take it out of the package turn it on and presto....... otherwise it will search the whole world for your position.

insructions:

1 push power button

2 clear out the saftey messages by hitting exit 2 times

3 push menu 2 times

4 go down to GPS setup, enter

5 its the top menu selection it says"initalize GPS" push enter and it will ask you to move the cursor to your location and then push enter.

6 set it on the hood of your truck for 15 or 20 minutes.

when you come back it will be ready to go.

also if you dont use the unit for awile or if you move a long distance with the unit off you might have to do this if it doesnt lock in.

i hope this helps, i have owned a h2o and a expedition c in the past 5 years. the only problem i have had is the power cable went to he!! right away.

now i have a DC battery charger and 6 AA bateries this works great because it burns AA batteries like it is its job.

good luck

[bigbad401]

did you initialize the gps? you cant just take it out of the package turn it on and presto....... otherwise it will search the whole world for your position.

insructions:

1 push power button

2 clear out the saftey messages by hitting exit 2 times

3 push menu 2 times

4 go down to GPS setup, enter

5 its the top menu selection it says"initalize GPS" push enter and it will ask you to move the cursor to your location and then push enter.

6 set it on the hood of your truck for 15 or 20 minutes.

when you come back it will be ready to go.

good luck

That is a lot to do for a new unit. With my Garmin Oregon all I had to do was turn it on and wait for several minutes while it acquired the satellites.

[broman]

Yeah, when I bought an H2O a few years back (Garmin Oregon 200 owner now) I did not have to do that procedure. It just worked. It sounds like something good to try.

[broman]

Not to mention that the owners manual itself says that it's ready to use out of he box. Their words, not mine.

[cribbageboy]

Never did that with my Lowrance Hunt. Took it out of the package turned it on and it was ready to go besides calibrating the compass.

[Esox_Magnum]

Been to long since I first got my Expedition to remember the set up, but I do run Lithuim battries and 6 days hunting muskies in V only takes 3 sets. I'm still running on the last set I put in last August. On the boat or truck it's plugged in though.

[BrdHunter01]

Take it back and buy something else. Lowrance handheld GPS units are prone to failure. They seem to be dying left and right. It's very well known, you'll see many others on this forum that have had the same issue. They almost seem to have a certain shelf life and now the new ones are dying as well as the older ones. I wouldn't trust exchanging it as you'll probably have it dye later on. Some people have good luck with the units, some haven't. There are just too many failures happening.

I have a 2004 Lowrance Ifinder and have NEVER had a problem.....

[Urbanflyguy]

I have had the H20C for 3 years now and upgrade the lakemaster chip every year.

I got the unit of HSO-Classifieds used from china(still thought it was in china when i turned it on for the first time) and it has worked like a charm every time winter or summer and i use it lots. Even works like a charm staning on the ice in well below negative weather. If i where you id play in the menu before declaring it total loss, i personaly like this unit better than the other 2 garmins i've had but to each thier own

[eurolarva]

Funny three years ago the H2O series both black and white and the colors were the best thing since sliced bread now people think they are junk. I must be one of the lucky ones. Mine has worked flawlessly for almost 5 years. I have a navonics chip and a lakemaster lake of the woods chip and have never had a problem.

[PerchJerker]

Funny three years ago the H2O series both black and white and the colors were the best thing since sliced bread now people think they are junk. I must be one of the lucky ones. Mine has worked flawlessly for almost 5 years. I have a navonics chip and a lakemaster lake of the woods chip and have never had a problem.

+1 Except I have had mine for more than 5 years, and no problems.

[broman]

Quote:

]

I have a 2004 Lowrance Ifinder and have NEVER had a problem.....

Of course some will be fine. You can't expect 100% failure. But the issues are happening to more than a few. My cousin couldn't lock satellites either after a few years of use. So there's anoher one to add to the list.

[Ed Carlson]

I just got a new h20c and toke it out of the package and played with it for a little bit and read through the instructions, but I could not get it to pick up even one satellite and I was standing with a clear view of the sky outside whats wrong I played with it for two hours and got a sore neck?

Edit: I had just taken it out of the package and not put any chips in it yet.

You may have unintentionally rushed it through or interrupted the process of initializing the GPS.

So I would do as "Behingthehead" suggested in the prior post, and see if it than will initialize the GPS and acquires satellite lock properly.

It often takes a bit of time, so be patent and let it do it's thing.

[carp master]

I did what you BehindtheHead said this evening and it still wouldn't work only i laid it on the car for an hour or two.

[munchy71]

Originally Posted By: eurolarva

Funny three years ago the H2O series both black and white and the colors were the best thing since sliced bread now people think they are junk. I must be one of the lucky ones. Mine has worked flawlessly for almost 5 years. I have a navonics chip and a lakemaster lake of the woods chip and have never had a problem.

+1 Except I have had mine for more than 5 years, and no problems.

Add 1 more. My unit has worked flawlessly for many seasons now...hard and softwater....

-Munchy

[Northlander]

My H2Oc works great its the cords that are a problem for me!

[jwmiller33]

my H20 works great for me... never given me one problem... we also have a expedition C and it has never given us any problems either.

[broman]

Here's a few posts from those with issues.

Here's a few post from others who've had problems with thiers. Some were able to fix theirs by disabling WAAS. Most had to send it in or junk it.

http://www.hotspotoutdoors.com/forum/ubbthreads.php/ubb/showflat/Number/2189527/Searchpage/2/Main/235694/Words/H2o+satellite/Search/true/Re_Lowrance_GPS#Post2189527

http://www.hotspotoutdoors.com/forum/ubb...ed_#Post2209724

http://www.hotspotoutdoors.com/forum/ubbthreads.php/topics/2163963/1

http://www.hotspotoutdoors.com/forum/ubb...owe#Post1910729

[Ed Carlson]

I did what you BehindtheHead said this evening and it still wouldn't work only i laid it on the car for an hour or two.

OK...Then try the Hard Reset, if it is going to snap out of it, it will than, or never. Make sure there is no data cards in it when you do it.

The Lowrance H2o support web site will tell you how to do it.

[hamms-scooter]

Never had an issue with this unit. Works everytime!

[paceman]

I have had the H20C for 3 years now and love it! No issues what so ever. Took it out of the package, turned it on amd has been working flawlessly ever since.....

[WalleyeChaser]

I purchased one 3 years ago and have had no problems with it. It actually seems to lock on faster the more i use it, espesially this year. Could be due to more satelites though. I generaly turn it on the minute i get in the truck. It seems to lock on better when I'm moving for some reason. The estimated position of error also gets more accurate when moving! I would suggest the hard reset and then if no go return it.

[stumper]

Hard reset

turn on while pressing the zoom in and out buttons at the same time.

When it beeps press the find key until it beeps again.

Sold at least a thousand Ifinders in the last 5 yrs. Get about 1 a month that needs a reset done to get it going. Ive seen 3 in the last yr that would not locate a satalite at all.