lowrance update

[white80a]

well i tired to update my 2 hds unitsthis past weekend with mixed results. i had a little trouble getting the entire file on the sd card but finaly got it suck the card into my hds7 and it work with no problem, so then i hooked up the comm. line between my hds7 and my hds5x and followed the instructions to update that unit and all went well until it told my to press power to reboot wich is normal so i pushed power and now all i have is a hds5x with a black screen! and can't do any thing with it. not happy my big trip is next week and i would really like to have both units working. any ideas?

[magnum mike]

Contact Lowrance. There was a problem with the file that contained the update. I know they were working on it last week.

[white80a]

i called lowrance they said they never seen that before and i need to send the unit in. the problem is i am going to canada the end of next week and the guy said it would take at least 10 bussiness days to do plus shipping time. i ask if they could just send a replacement unit it out and i would sned mine in the minunte i recived it and they said no have to send it in first

[PerchJerker]

Sorry to hear of your troubles leading up to your trip.

Just to be sure, have you checked the power to your 5x just to be sure it's still working. You don't have a blown fuse or anything like that causing your problem, do you? Probably not, but I'd for sure check to be sure before I sent the unit in.

I'd also try to do a hard restart on the 5x, if that's possible.

Good luck getting it working again.

[white80a]

i have power the keys still light up and the screen is on but no picture how do you reset it?

[Northlander]

Boy Lowrance is still having issues with their lines? I thought these HD units were supposed to take care of all the issues. Sounds like a new issue every time I turn on the computer. I hope they can get their act together because if their products were more reliable they would be a good unit.

[Jim Almquist]

From Lowrance for the HDS 5 but it looks like they all use the same sequence :

[white80a]

i tried the soft reset last night didn't work i will try the hard reset tonight. since i bought the unit from gndr mt i called them to see if i could exchange the unit since i have only had it for about 45 days and they said nope can't help you call lowrance we have a 30 day return policy, i bet if i bought it from the big c store they would have exchange it for me

[Jim Almquist]

Give the hard reset a try and see what happens. Is it possible to reload the HDS 5 by itself ?

[jerkbait]

You would think if it is software related that Lowrance could email some software to reboot it.

[Trouthunter]

Boy Lowrance is still having issues with their lines? I thought these HD units were supposed to take care of all the issues. Sounds like a new issue every time I turn on the computer. I hope they can get their act together because if their products were more reliable they would be a good unit.

Disappointed in comments like this from a seasoned FM poster - while there are reports of people having issues, I for one had zero issues with updating both of my units, and suspect there are a lot more folks out there like me. Having the rep you do on this site - be careful for making statements regarding the quality of products you do not have first hand experience with.

BD

[Ed Carlson]

Ask Lowrance if you can overnight express your locked-up unit to them, if they do the same with your new one to your Gander...with the new update already loaded into it. Push them to do it as there is a known issue with the last update and you need it now.

The 30 day return deal is policy now for all retailers on Lowrance products, per Lowrance's wishes. That said..whatever...go ahead and raise a stink!

You may be able to still exchange it at Gander if you coordinate the new warranty return to go direct to your Gander and have your locked-up HDS 5 overnight shipped at your cost to Lowrance (minor compromise on the shipping).

Try to work with the Fishing Manager spicificaly..they may do that for you. You will need all the warranty ticket incident info from Lowrance and have them call the Gander to confirm the new unit will be shipped to them ASAP. If coordinated 2 days should see a new unit at your door and back on your boat.

[Ed Carlson]

Did you achieve any resolution to your warranty issue?

[FM_Mike]

I have to agree with BD. Lowrance took care of an issue I had last year and I was very happy with their service and products. The bashing really doesn't help the original OP with the problem they have.

ALL manufacturers have had their issue with their products, they are electronics. Lowrance has come a long way of late supporting their products. Good luck to the OP I hope you get your issues fixed timely.

Mike

[Ed Carlson]

Still curious...any luck with a resolution? What GM store were you working with, if I may ask?

PM me if your stuck, I may be able to help.

[white80a]

sorry for the delay but was up north fishing. i was working with gander mtn. in rochester and they said nothing they could do and i had to send it in. so i ups it to lowrance and i mounted my x67c on my bow for now. sort off disapointed that neither company would go the extra mile now its just a waiting game

[Ed Carlson]

Well could be better that's for sure. At least you have an option in case it does not get back yo you in time for your trip.

The biggest thing to save time on these mandated warranty issues is get that warranty ticket started ASAP with the Vendor, and stand your ground with the vendor if they stall on anything.

When dealing with Lowrance it often pays to ask to go to the next level in the supervisory chain, and then things suddenly start to roll pretty dang quickly. Gander is kinda stuck on what they can do now at the store after 30 days, the poor schmuck on the floor can't do anything to change it. Understand this, If they took the unit back past the 30 days, they will not be reimbursed for it by Lowrance...so if he/she did so they may quickly find themselves on the bricks for doing so. The policy is very firm.

[Northlander]

Troutman making assumptions about me and my experience with Lowrance? I do have 1st hand knowledge of Lowrance and their "issues". I have had several Lowrance units in the past. Still have a old x-15 on front of my boat and its fine and reliable. 1 of my newer units went back after issues and I got a Bird. All units of any brand have issues of some sort, we all know this but there just seems to be a lot of folks upset with their Lowrance units and the lack of customer service they get when they do have issues.

I also have a few Lowrance hand held units anmd they are working fine so far. I hope they contin ue to because dealing with Lowrances Customer Service has been less then fun for me.

I also hope that Lowrance can get things consistant and more reliable because I would love to have one of them new HD units with side and bottom imaging.

[Trouthunter]

Troutman making assumptions about me and my experience with Lowrance? I do have 1st hand knowledge of Lowrance and their "issues".

Was only making assumptions about your experience with the 1st hand knowledge of issues with HDS. That's what this post is about. As I stated, your excellent reputation on this site should be used for sharing the great information you have and helping people, not proliferating broad speculation about a company's current products based on 2nd hand internet reports you read and your experience with (working) legacy products.

Too many times have I heard from salesmen, friends and others to "get a 'bird" and when asked about their experience of HDS, it doesn't go past the computer screen or the demo units on the sales floor.

[delcecchi]

Having had a 522 and a 334 (fool me twice, shame on me) why on earth should I consider a HDS or other lowrance product? At least for the next couple years, until they have re-established their reputation? And preferably stepped up for those customers stuck with poorly performing units that they paid top dollar for.

Although, my 522 works pretty well with the US2 in the Terova on the bow. The 322 not so well with the second Lowrance transducer. I am going to try the transducer that came with the 522 and see if that helps.

[harvey lee]

Don't forget the 522 issues and the H20 and how they handled that disaters.

Lowrance would be so much better off if they would handle thier CS issues.

Yes, every brand has issues with electronics but Lowrance seems to not handle thier customers issues so well and even to date.

I know plenty of users who have left Lowrance due to an issue. if Lowrance would have maybe went out of thier way and helped them, maybe a bit less on the bad ink also.

I switched to Humminbird a few years back and it was simply for the fact that Lowrance seemed to not care about me or many other end users. I used thier products for years and still have one unit.

There are some great dealers out thier but they can only do so much for thier customers as thier hands are tied by Lowrance as Ed stated.

Pretty much the world knows that the 522 and the h20 had big issues. From what I have heard, the majority of people complained about thier poor service and I still hear of the poor service today. That's too bad but I guess it is not quite as important to Lowrance as it isw thier customer.

TO me, when one of your customers spend hard earned cash for one of the spendy units and has issues before a trip, that the company could go one step farther to help them out.

Never hear of any of those good stories and it makes one wonder why not.

Seems like they had our money so go and get lost or send us a bunch more.

[delcecchi]

I think they screwed up the 300 series designs, and hustled out the 500 series that was better but still bad, and then were overwhelmed by complaints and warranty issues. Reminds me of OMC and the FICHT debacle. Lowrance ended up getting acquired and OMC went bankrupt. The new owners have pretty much washed their hands of the past.

The Lowrance thing has all the earmarks of an offshore outsourced design to the low bidder. They didn't have the skills in their own design team to make the transition to digital and microprocessors and wanted to save expense. Then when the excrement hit the air moving device they had no resources in people or money to deal with it. That's my guess, anyway.