I think I fried my GPS

Grubstake · February 13, 2011

The power port for my gps shorted out..... I could hear the GPS sizzling. It still works but it no longer draws power via the cord ( it starts sizzling again) If I put a new set of batteries in it I can power it up but within minutes it is dead. It even drains them if the power is off. It is a Lowrance H2Oc. You guys think it would be worth fixing or could it be fixed? Don't really have the cash to replace it right now.

Chad Peterson · February 13, 2011

Better see if the warranty is still good. If so,send it in to Lowrance and they will get it fixed.

Sniffer

Lakeside_Nelson · February 14, 2011

Well, considering it is not made anymore, and the warranty is only a year, you might be out luck. It still would be worth sending to Lowrance though.

Billy_Burbout · February 14, 2011

yep. send it to them. then place a note in the box. have it say...please place this on your chair, straight up, pull your pants down, and sit.

MuleShack · February 14, 2011

It will cost you to ship it and then they will charge you $90 to take a look at it or just send you a refurbished one (if they have any left that work)

croixflats · February 14, 2011

yep. send it to them. then place a note in the box. have it say...please place this on your chair, straight up, pull your pants down, and sit.

Luv it!

Ed Carlson · February 14, 2011

If you can find one, try a different power cord first, it may be the cord has shorted and not the unit itself?

As the H20's are now classified as a "Legacy Unit" by Lowrance, it will likely cost you $150 to $200 to have it refurbished even under warranty, if any a are available yet for exchange.

If the power cord does not appear to be the issue, then attempt a call and see what they say. I strongly suspect the response, options, and end result will be disappointing to you.

You can get a new Garmin for $99 to $300 depending on what your needs are.

Grubstake · February 14, 2011

I have considered mounting my 5" lowrance on my snowmobile, I think I may be doing that. I need something lake master compatible, are the Garmins?

I fired off an email to lowrance. I'll see what they say but I think I know already.

Ed Carlson · February 14, 2011

Garmin's are LakeMaster compatible, as well as NDTRAX and MNTRAX. You would need the Garmin version of the LakeMaster though, the Lowrance or Hummer versions will not transfer over for use.

If your hard set to stay in the Lowrance mapping platform so you can use the same chips and mapping on your marine and hand held units, then the new Endura is likely your best bet to go to next.

I'm no fan of the Endura and Safari line, as they have had a nightmare in mapping FUBARS and bugs in them, but they are shaking the bugs out now and appear to be doing better on the mapping issues.

Food for thought...If Lowrance tells you your unit is shot and it will cost you $$$$ to exchange or replace, and if they are agreeable to work under warranty, then discuss with them the option to upgrade to the Endura at a significant discount and you will pay the balance. Even on a reconditioned Endura, if it has a new warranty on it and all the new updates in it. Not sure if your Warranty was still active on the H20, if so, you may have that card to play in negotiating a repair or exchange.

They may bite on that offer, it has been done before...worth a shot as the Endura will run old and the new mapping going forward for the HDS line too.

Crappyfisherman · February 14, 2011

The Endura uses a micro chip, the 09 or older chips won't work. I had a Safari and took it back. Didn't do much better than the H2O as far as I could see. Took a long time to lock on. Hooked up my HDS-5 for ice fishing and just love it.

Ed Carlson · February 14, 2011

They use a converter chip now, micro and SD on the Lowrance cards for LakeMaster.

But you correct, the older mapping will not work but most of that was not on micro's anyway...some of the messed up software that was supposed to work was, the new LakeMaster is good to go in the new units.

So you would need new cards either way, Lowrance or with Garmin. That is a good point to consider as well.

Ed Carlson · February 14, 2011

I still say start with the Power Cord, they are known to go bad...lets hope it's a simple deal first.

leech~~ · February 14, 2011

I thought that I hear the power cord has a resister in it that drops the volts down from 12v to 3.7volts? If that went bad it may be your just getting the full 12v and it is to much making it get hot? If it's working on batteries but not the cord it could just be a bad cord like Ed said? But, you may have fried it with the higher volts now?

stretcher · February 14, 2011

I know if anything ever happens to my h2oc I will have it fixed or bye another one on HSO-Classifieds. I played around with some of the new ones earlier this season and was very disappointed in all of them even the new Lowrance. The h2oc is so easy to operate and user friendly compared to all these new ones. If it where me I would see what Lowrance has to say and get it fixed if possible but first I would try a new cored. Hopefully an easy fix for you.

bapperpimp · February 14, 2011

I have the newest Lake of the Woods V3/V4 microSd card and am looking to possibly trade for the older 2009 card. Any interest out there? I have the H2o and the new microSd will not work in it, but the 2009 will. Please let me know. robert dot nathe at target dot com

thanks

Grubstake · February 14, 2011

tried a different cord, no go. haven't heard back from lowrance. I think I will mount my global map but still need a handheld too. Prices are a bit high on the new ones!

Grubstake · February 15, 2011

just as suspected they recommend sending it in where it will be repaired for a $149.95 flat rate.

Ed Carlson · February 15, 2011

Yup...but do you want to put $150 or more into a known "Legacy Unit" that will cost you the same again if it [PoorWordUsage] out? And risk there will be none to swap with at another $150 in the future if it does go down?

You could buy a new color Garmin for that and have a fully Warranty to work with if needed..just say'n?

eyesandgills · February 15, 2011

My recent experience with Lowrance was not good. My situation was with an Expedition C not locking onto the satellites. The help desk would only say, "you can send it to us with $162.45 and we will either fix it or give you a refurbished one". There was no negotiation - take it or leave it. I have since chosen a Garmin 78 and it's a real workhorse. Yes, it does need the micro chip but it works great with the Lake Master database.

bigbad401 · February 15, 2011

I have since chosen a Garmin 78 and it's a real workhorse. Yes, it does need the micro chip but it works great with the Lake Master database.

Plus the Garmin lakemaster has more lakes on it than the Lowrance lakemaster.

Grubstake · February 15, 2011

No, i won't be spending the $150 to get it repaired. I have used a Garmin in the past and did not like it. I loved my H2o and will be looking for a used one.

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I think I fried my GPS

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