H2O problems and Lowrance cust. survice

[lutzy]

I have read all the posts about poor Lowrance customer service. I have even ripped them myself extensively because of probs I have had with my HDS unit on my boat. Well today I change my mind. Because of all the posts about the probs with the H2O I decided to send them an email. I questioned why they are having all the probs and what is causing it and what they are doing to solve the prob. Within a few days they emailed back and said the answer was too long to put in an email so they asked for a phone number. I sent back the number and within less than an hour they called me. The guy spent about an hour on the phone with me explaining what is causing the issues. I don’t even own an H2O and he still was willing to spend that kind of time just to explain things. I have to say bravo to Lowrance. It seems they are really making an effort to improve their cust. service.

The long and short of the issues with the H2O not locking in on sats is to use or at least turn on the unit every few weeks and let it find the sats and leave it on for a few minutes. This will keep the unit updated on where the sats are and make it possible to find them the next time. For the guys that have already lost them and can’t find them, turn on the unit and leave it outside for 8 hours or so and it will eventually find the sats. The prob is you can’t use batteries for this because it will lose power before it finds them. You would need to plug it into a cig lighter or something. Basically if yours still works make sure to turn it on every few weeks. He went through a lot more on what is causing and how to solve but that is the short version.

Now Lowrance may still not be the best out there, but for the guys that already have them this may be of some help.

[jentz]

Before I signed on here as a member, I remember looking at GPS posts.EVERYBODY!! on this site was saying if its not H2O its not worth even considering.Outdoor forums have a way of convincing people that what they say and think is the only way.

I have a Magellan works geeeeereat leave it off all winter and it picks up sats within 3 minutes after that first spring search for sats it connects within 1 minute,Its a older one,But as I see now it does outpreform a H2O.

Customer service?? I only used Magellan service once that was for a wire to connect to the computer to download FREE updates.

I'm so happy with my lowly magellan!! Hearing all these complaints makes me realize the wise decision of NOT getting a H2O

[TurnUpTheFishing]

Back in the day the H2O was the unit to have as it was the only one that supported the Map chips and before problems began to arise.

Funny day after I post in this thread I go to use my powercable on the way to the lake, guess what? It broke. Im not too tore up though I got 4 years out of it.

[Northlander]

My H2Oc is still working great. The power cord on the other hand is JUNK! I have been through 3. Finally got Lowrance to send me a new one. Yes they can still find new ones for you if you are a big enough pain in their ars.

[Stringerless!]

What is the unit to have today ? I need one !

[reddog]

My H2O is fortunately still working but my fishing partner wasnt so lucky. His died 2 years ago, BUT, he did send it in and got it repaired and no issues since. Mine does take a long time to lock on, but not 8 hours. My power cord works upon initial startup, but some time later, it switches over to batteries. When I unplug the cord from the power source, it is so hot its about to melt. I let it hang out the window for half an hour and its good for another hour or so. Im thinking its on its last leg.

[Surface Tension]

Your cord is hot because it has one strand of wire left that hasn't broke. Give it time it'll fix itself. LOL

My H2O is working so I must be in the club that "knows what their doing". Dang power cord is smarter then me though.

So me being me(cheap & resourceful), I started to take the plug apart, my attention got diverted. Figured I get to the plug later but not soon enough because I and lost it. That is where the problem is, the plug that goes into the unit.

What I was going to do is drill out the plug, insert the + & - wires through the plug. Tin the ends, and maybe brandish them with copper.

Wallah! Erika! Crikey!

[CAMAN]

I've enjoyed my H2Oc since the day I bought it and the power cord hasn't given me any issues either. Lucky I guess.....

I think part of the problem is that people don't understand how a GPS unit works and think that it's supposed to lock right on within seconds of powering up the unit. If people would only read the manual... *sigh*

Yeah, I guess your right, I don't know how to use my H2Oc but did know how to use my H2O. *rolleyes* My H2O ran flawless for the 3 years I owned it, unfortunately sold it when I got the H2Oc. Both went through powercords so I gave up on them, the H2Oc actually killed a powercord within one week and the next one lasted about 6 months, but they wouldn't send me a new one after that. Don't tell me I abused my equipment either, because when its not in use I have it stored in a padded case that also stores my 3 fishfinders/gps when they aren't in use. And when in use its either in my jacket pocket or mounted in my RAM gps holder. And never gotten wet except for a couple drops of rain here and there.

But yeah, I guess I'm too stooopud fur eny buuk larnin so I don't bother to read the instruction manual. *sigh*

[Billy_Burbout]

Sorry guys. just got home from taking a "gander". when i went to the fishing section with my gps in my hand, the guy just looked down and sadly asked how he could help. i didn't even have to tell him what was going on, he already knew. HIS personal h20c was going to heck so he sold it (not very nice). he has had many guys come in with the same prob and the best advice he could give me was to go on HSO-Classifieds and buy a external antenna and try that. nobody has come back with any feed back on that one though. on the case with my buddys dad getting his fixed for free the guy said they could have somehow reset the unit to make it work (what ever that means). sorry for not having better news. when i get to the cities again iam going to go to the same store that fixed my friends to see if they will help me also. iam NOT giving up that easy! haha

[leech~~]

Alternative theory is that the Lowrance is forgetting where it is while powered off if it sits too long.

I have an Alternative theory too. That Lowrance thinks it's to powerful and forgets how it got there through it's customer base which it loses everyday as it sits on it's thumbs too long not fixing it's failures! But it's just a theory?

[delcecchi]

[quote=leech~~

I have an Alternative theory too. That Lowrance thinks it's to powerful and forgets how it got there through it's customer base which it loses everyday as it sits on it's thumbs too long not fixing it's failures! But it's just a theory?