I-Finder H20 and Navionics Problem???

[gvt]

I fished on LOW Friday and Saturday, caught lots of eyes, but they ran pretty small. My I-Finder did not work too well though. It would only load the Navionics chip about every 10th time I turned it on. The chip would not even appear on the menu, like it was not in the gps. Half way back to the Twin Cities I tried it in the truck a few times and it worked fine. Has anyone else experienced this? The LOW map isn't real accurate, I just wanted to play around with it a little. Kinda disappointing! Thanks for any replies.

[ScoutII]

Was the H2O sitting out in the cold, or maybe low batteries. I have heard that not all of the LOTW's is on the HOT MAPS card, but the West Great Lakes XL3 Charts show all of LOTW.

[Bobcat45]

gvt I had this problem myself. You may have to update the softwear from lowrance. I think the last version is 1.4 Look in the menu under system info. If it is not call Lowrance and they will send you a card with the new updates with a deposit from a credit card. It cleared up the problem for me. If you have a card reader you can also download it off the internet yourself. Good luck Bobcat

[gvt]

Thanks for the replies! I just sent an email to Lowrance. I'll check the software version tonight. Thanks again!

[ScottND]

I found the file the day it came out on Lowrances web site and downloaded it, installed it on a card and updated my H20. Even with dialup internet the whole thing took less than 15 minutes.

So far I haven't had any problems. I was out on Big Cormorant last weekend and it put me right on the money within the GPS error margin (which was 19' at the time).

Can't wait for open water!

[bkft]

I just received my Navionics Premium North chip and tried it on my H2O. That's awesome. Can't wait 'til soft water to try it out! (By the way, I also had to upgrade my software to 1.4 for it to work.)

[cliffy]

I recently bought the H20...and I just checked the software and its the 1.2 version or something like that...not the 1.4 that is being spoken about on this forum.

I went to the Lowrance HSOforum and down load the most up to date version. My question is how do I get it from my computer into the H20. Where do you buy the little MMC card reader? I assume that plugs into the cpu's USB port and then you can down load it to the card...and then put the card in the GPS and down load the software? Is this correct....? Where do I find that card reader thing?

Thanks for your help.

[Bobcat45]

Cliffy they sell card readers at Office max or probly at any type of computer store. I've never looked myself but I wouldn't be surprised if Wallmart or Target carry them also. When I had the problem with the Navonics chip in the H20 that software was 1.0 and we upgraded to 1.2 and haven't had any problems since. Bobcat45

[bkft]

Cliffy,

Installing the updates works just like you think.

I bought the card reader from lowrance directly, because I heard from someone you could not use any other kind of card reader with their MapCreate software. I'm not sure if you can use some kind of thumb drive from Best Buy/Circuit City/etc to load software updates, though. Might be worth a shot rather than ordering the reader directly.

[cliffy]

Thanks for the info guys...I will head out to the local computer store or office max this eve to check it out. I did see that Lowrance offered the cord/reader on thier HSOforum..but I would rather just buy it at a local store rather than shopping on-line and waiting for it to be deliverd.

THanks.

[walleyehawk]

I overheard one of the Cabela's elctronics guys telling a customer that you need to Lowrance card reader/writer for the H20. You may want to verify that with Lowrance. The guy gave me good info on two questions I had, so I think he knows what he is talking about.

[ScoutII]

I use my laptop with a SanDisk card reader, running the XP Home version. Haven't run into any problems yet.

[f1sh1nfool]

I picked up a cheap card reader/writer from an electronics super store and have absolutely no problems downloading software updates or the maps from lowrance

[bkft]

I think you only need Lowrance's card reader if you use MapCreate. Other than that, it seems you can use any reader you want.

[ScoutII]

The Driver for the card reader is on disk one of the MapCreate 6 program. So you can use a generic card reader.

[gvt]

I just went to Thorne Bros. and had the update to ver. 1.4 done. Obviously they did it for free, it takes about 2 minutes. Thanks for the replies!