Need help with H2O

[Wilson]

Hello all,

I recently purchsed the H2O with the lake master chip. The unit is everything I thought it would be and more. But I am having one problem with it. After leaving the vehicle, I unplug the unit from the Cig. adaptor and head out fishing. WHen I get to my fishing location, I shut the unit off to save the life of the batteries. When I'm ready to move again, I turn the unit on and wait for Satillite fix. Unfortunatly the best fix I've been getting is a 2D fix and I'm anywhere from 1/4 mile to 2 miles off my original location!! The unit doesn't seem to correct it's self until I get it plugged back into the Cig adaptor and drive down the road a few miles... ANyone else have this problem? Bad receiver, or don't these units function properly in colder weather?

Thanks for any advice you may provide...

[HARPOON-OR-BUST]

NOT SURE IF A AM TOTALY FOLLOWING YOU BUT IF YOU ARE USING TO TO GET TO A WAYPOINT AND THEN TURNING IT OFF AND BACK ON AGAIN LATER AND ITS SAYING THAT YOU ARE 2 MILES FOR THE WAYPOINT YOUR SITTING ON THEN YES THERE IS SOMETHING DEFINATLY WRONG. I HAVE NEVER HEARD OF THAT BEFORE. NO THE COLD SHOULDN'T AFFECT THE UNIT BESIDES ROBBING SOME BATTERY LIFE.

IF YOU ARE TURNING IT ON AND YOU ARE IN THE MAPPING PAGE AND YOU MOVE THE CURSOR IT WILL TAKE YOU AWAY FROM YOUR CURRENT POSTION AND SHOW THE CURSOR POSITION. YOU CAN HIT EXIT TO TOGGLE BETWEEN THE CUROSR AND CURRENT POSITIONS.

[Borch]

No I haven't had that issue with my unit and I do what you are dffescribing all the time. Ihad issues the first time I used the mapping chip as it wanted to display the area that I last used the unit even though it stated that it had aquired my postion. After a few restarts and removing the chip and restarting again it was fine and has been ever since.

[Wilson]

Thanks guys, Looks like I'll have to take it in to Sportsman's and see what they say. Harpoon, I'm familiar with the toggling between the map's. When I start the unit up out on the lake it will show the black cursor with the "?" on it while it searches for a satillite. It does find a 2D lock but the cursor then moves to a different location??? It's really strange. I'll drop a note if and when I get some info back from Lowrance or Sportsman's.

[LMITOUT]

If you power it on in the approximate location where you last turned it off, it should pick up your location pretty quick.

The first time out with the H20 I had it plugged into my truck on the way to the lake. I then unplugged it (still on) and walked to my fishing spot. After finding where I wanted to fish and getting set up I turned off the GPS. Right after I did that I remembered that I should have made a waypoint so I turned it back on and it gave me the position aquired "beep" within seconds and an error of 30ft. The time from unit off to unit on was probably 10 seconds. It's possible that it hadn't gone through a complete shutdown internally even though the screen was off. Next time I'll try it again but leave it off for a longer time, although when I went to leave that night it found my location in a relatively short time IIRC.

[dockehr]

Wilson, will your unit ever get a 3D fix " in the field" or does it stay only in 2D fix? There is little accuracy in the 2D mode as enough satellites are not being accessed.

In the GPS Setup Menu is the "require WAAS" box checked? If so, uncheck it.

As long as the unit stays in "2D fix" you will not get any accuracy to speak of. As others have stated the H2O unit is usually very fast at reacquiring satellites. Keep us posted.

dockehr

Dr. Roland E. Kehr, Jr.

Lindy Tackle Company

[harvey lee]

I have a H2O and after about three months had a problem acquiring a signal,sometimes 5 minutes,sometimes not at all.I called Lowrance and they told me to ship it to them.1 week later I got it back and now the signal is lighting fast. They said they had to fix something in it. They were fast,polite and N/C.

[Wilson]

Harvey, your problem sounds identical to the problem I am having. I spoke with a rep at Lowrance, and he gave me instructions for performing a "Soft reset" and if that didn't help he gave me instructions for a "Hard Reset". Performing this should reprogram the processor he said. I tried both and it didn't help any. Getting a RMA number and sending it in. I am pleased with their service....

[harvey lee]

I went through the same deal and had to send it in.Works great now,doesnt even matter how cloudy it is out. b-4 that,when cloudy it wouldnt even pick up any signal-dead.