Anyone else having trouble with lowrance units post update?

[mamohr686]

Between my dad and I we have 3 lowance gps/sonar combo units all on different boats. 2 are X-15MT and 1 is a LMS-332C. This spring we did all the updates and all the units have the same problem reading depth in weedlines. Before our units would read great even at wide open. Now whenever we are in any kind of shallow soft bottom 9 to 2ft of water, the sonar depth will blink and the screen will stop progressing (before when the sonar would momentarily lose signal the screen would keep moving). I've literally tried every single sonar setting to help with the problem from ping speed to sensitivity and even gray scale etc. I think this new update might make me lose a lower unit on my outboard. When I'm comming up in the shallows I frequently lose my depth, and almost as annoying I don't know the depth to get an idea if I can safely get on plane. On hard rock bottom the problem isn't nearly as bad but, any weedy cabbage or submerged vegitation and I have to resort to a flasher. Any way to go back to the earlier update, or fix this problem? I really hate to sit on hold for 3 hours to talk to a human at lowance.

[sparkyaber]

Anyone heard from lowrance on the older versions of software? I sent them an email a few days back and have not heard anything as of yet. I really need to get ahold of the previous version for the lms-332.

[Valv]

Me too, I need an old version for my X15MT

[Valv]

Never mind I found it

[iffwalleyes]

There is no point to emailing Lowrance as you will never hear from them. There customer service leaves much to be desired. After being on hold with them today for 34 minutes I finally got to talk to someone. Only to be told that I would have to talk to a senior tech. So then I was on hold for another 19 minutes and finally I got help total call time 56 minutes. So then I tell the guy what is going on and he claims he has never heard of it. I told him I wanted old version of the software he said no problem. So he emailed me copies I will reload them this weekend and see if I am back to normal. At least now I have a email for a tech at lowrance so I can go that route rather than being on hold. That is still the fastest way to get ahold of them and get answers is to get on hold and wait. They might as well not even have a email because for as many emails I have sent them over the years I don't remember one response. I still think though that when everything is working proper Lowrance is still the best unit out there. Although that SI units from hummingbird looks good too.

[Genofish]

I also emailed Lowrance for the 1.6 version for my 332c. Could you email the 1.6 version when you get it ???

[email protected]

[iffwalleyes]

I got a copy of 1.7 I think this is what I was running in my 332 before updating. I might have been 1.6 but I will try and see how it runs now and if need be I can try getting 1.6. Email sent with file.

[sparkyaber]

Quote:

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I got a copy of 1.7 I think this is what I was running in my 332 before updating. I might have been 1.6 but I will try and see how it runs now and if need be I can try getting 1.6. Email sent with file.

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I would take a copy of that if you could? My buddies are 'bout ready to put the smack down on me for messing with their gps/sonar. They said it was done on purpose so I finally could catch more fish than them .

Seriouslly, If you could e-mail me a copy, I would help distribute it to who ever needs it. (If I can figure out the upload feature on my email. I have never tried it, but it can't be that hard, can it? )

[iffwalleyes]

E mail Sent Sparkyaber

[sparkyaber]

thanks iff- got it, installed it, we did not take his boat, but when we do, I will let everyone know. Thank you for taking the time get the downloads and send them off to me. If anyone needs the previous versions for the lms-332c or the lcx-25c let me know I will send them out. Thanks to iffwalleyes and tgtt009 for doing all of the leg work .

[mamohr686]

Sparky

What were the steps you used to install the program from Iff (jason)? He emailed them to me also. I just downloaded the file and draged them to my card. When I put the card in my unit it said "invalid loader" and then started up as normal on my 332C. how did you get 1.7 to load right?

[iffwalleyes]

I loaded it and it said the same thing about an invalid loader but then it did load after all. However it didn't fix the problem. It is still doing the same thing for me. So I am going to try and get version 1.6 and see if that will work better. My LCX20 is good to go though again it had version 1.4 before I upgraded and I remembered that so there is some kind of software problem with the newer versions.

[sparkyaber]

mamohr686, did you place both downloads on the card? If you don't put both on it it will not work. Also, don't put it in any files on the chip. The unit needs to find the "update" right away. I don't believe it will find it if you put it in a seperate file, I found that out the hard way. Some cussing and some head scratching later, it donned on me to place it at the top "level" of the chip and it worked. Good luck.

[iffwalleyes]

Version 1.6 has been sent to everyone that had contacted me for the LMS 332. Like I say version 1.7 wasn't any better than 1.8 for me this weekend. But I did get my LCX20 working like it used to pre update. I can't believe they would have this problem with two versions of software and then when I was talking to them the other day claim that they had never heard of it before. Oh well at least we are getting it figured out. So anyone that wants version 1.6 get ahold of me I have the files that you need. I am pretty sure that version 1.6 was what was on mine to begin with but I couldn't remember for sure.

[croixeyes]

Man.....After reading this thread im not going near the upgrade stuff.Why wouldnt Lowrance post something about potential problems on their HSOforum.Confusing

[Genofish]

Thanks for the 1.6 update. I wouldnt have known that you sent it if i didnt check the forums today. As you know the 1.7 update you sent didnt solve the problem. I will get out on Tuesday to check the 1.6. Thanks again.

[mamohr686]

I got all 3 units downgraded and now....all 3 units work perfectly. the X-15's were easier because the older 3.6 version is still on their HSOforum. My problem was exactly as Sparky described for the 332C, I had too much garbage on my card. After I formated the card so there we no other files besides the 2 lowrance files. 1.6 loaded perfect and I didn't get the "invalid loader" message on the screen. Now all my units read great, and both depthfinders are at the same depth. Since I orignally posted the question the weedlines have grown a bunch. My X-135 sonar would read the correct depth and my 332C would intermittantly read the top of the weedline or not at all (and no depth reading in any weedy bottom below 10ft of water). I won't be upgrading lowrance units unless I have a problem from now on. All I wanted to do in the first place was fix the time change issue, but I guess I can live with that!

[mamohr686]

I also wanted to post my response from lowrance. I emailed lowrance on 6/12

I recieved my response on 7/1

based on the response, it appears that lowrance techs are unaware of the problem.

Thank you for your inquiry. We apologize for the delay in responding due to our

busy season. The software updates for both of the units that you list have

been posted for some time now and we are not aware of any depth related issues

with either one of them. If the units were having depth related issues prior to

the updates, then it is most likely an unrelated incident and could be either

transducer or internal unit hardware. In an effort to try to isolate the

issues, we would suggest trying the units on different transducers to see if the

problem can be duplicated on another set-up. If the issues clear up, then the

problem is with the transducer and it may need to be either replaced or

remounted. If the issue doesn't clear up but continues on, then it is most

likely internal to the unit and depending on which one it is, may not be a

serviceable issue. If the 15mt is the one, we have other options available

instead of repair. If the 332c is the one in question, repair is still

available for the unit.

Please feel free to contact us if we can assist further.

Thank you for Choosing Lowrance Electronics

12000 E. Skelly Dr.

Tulsa, OK 74128

1-800-324-1356

Thanks for your help Iffwalleye (jason) and sparkybear, you've been a bigger help than lowrance.

[Jim Almquist]

tgff009 if you still have a copy of the 1.6 for the lcx25c could you shoot me a copy. If any body cares to go back to 1.4 I still have that but must have deleted my 1.6. [email protected]

[tgff009]

Sent

--Tim

[Jim Almquist]

Thanks to all . now I have 2 copies

[uglystick007]

I'm experiencing the same problem with ver 1.8 on lms332c.

I should have learned from a similar experience with Hummingbird Matrix unit that would randomly turn itself off after a firmware update. It took 3 months the convince them they had a software problem. Could someone send ver 1.6 for lms332cto me. THANKS [email protected]

[sparkyaber]

Quote:

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I'm experiencing the same problem with ver 1.8 on lms332c.

I should have learned from a similar experience with Hummingbird Matrix unit that would randomly turn itself off after a firmware update. It took 3 months the convince them they had a software problem. Could someone send ver 1.6 for lms332cto me. THANKS

[email protected]

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Did someone send you a copy yet?

[uglystick007]

Nothing in my inbox yet.

[Wayne Sieber]

Guys - Could someone please send ver 1.6 for lms332c to me also? Thanks!

[email protected]

[sparkyaber]

I think I sent the older versions to the both of you, let me know if you did not get them.

abe