Lowrance LMS 522c iGPS with Ice pack - Losing bottom in 20ft water .

[MN English]

Have any of you used a Lowrance LMS 522 with the ice pack that's available for it or know anyone that has ? I bought one recently but two out of three times I used it the depth was all over the place and kept losing bottom lock when in 20 feet of water or less. Already sent it back am thinking about getting another one from Cabelas and giving it another try with a different unit. There is a software beta patch for it, does anyone know if it works to fix the bottom lock issue or not ? Any input welcome, thanks !

[Wanderer]

I have a 522 iGPS with the ice gear. Not sure what you mean by bottom lock - it doesn't call it out in my manual.

I may be over simplifying your question but did you try using a manual depth setting to keep the bottom consistent?

In auto, your depth could be at the break point where the graph wants to change or your sensitivity might be too low so the unit will only intermittently recognize bottom.

When ice fishing use your manual settings for depth and sensitivity.

Hope that helps. Good luck.

[TonkaBass]

By bottom lock are you talking about a split screen option?

[croixflats]

Lowrance is notorious for losing bottom contact. Thats why I went to a better company No poblems since.

[MN English]

I had all the settings on manual and had looked at a couple of forums to fund the best settings for the unit for ice fishing to try and resolve the problem. I was trying to use the flasher, it worked great in 30>40 feet of water on the st croix but in <20feet elsewhere the problem was really bad. What happens is the depth jumps around constantly, one minute it's 18feet and the next it's 12 then 2.4 and then 12 again but rarely stays at what it's supposed to be and is never steady. Drove me nuts, I turned off the auto depth and sensitivity, set the flasher mode to manual and tried adjust the ping speed down and the sensitivity down to make it work. There is a beta fix 2.4.2 on the Lowrance site that is supposed to help and from what I can tell the Lowrance models in general have had a lot of problems with not being able to keep the correct depth stable when in shallow water or anything with a soft bottom and weeds. The Lowrance site says something about the unit being too powerful making it difficult but I don't buy that, sounds like a design flaw to me. Problem was I bought the unit to use on my boat in the summer and for ice fishing in the winter. I've returned the unit but still have the ice pack and Lakemaster chip to go with it so would ideally like to get another that works. It was the 200hz transducer for up to 900ft, most of the time lakes and ice fishing for me are around the 20 foot mark.If someone can tell me that the beta resolves the probelm then I will get another one and be quite happy with it but am cautious about having problems with it after I can no longer return it. They're not cheap and I go fishing to relax not to be ticked off because my electronics are playing up. If anyone knows that the 2.4.2 beta software really does resolve the probelm using the new shallow water setting or if they have an LMS 522c that works just fine in weeds and 20feet or less please let me know and I will give it another try. Thanks Guys.

[JimBuck]

It doesn't help the issue to point fingers at the company. As for your question MN English. It takes a little tweaking to get the unit dialed in. I think that's why I like it is because features and settings are fully customizable etc. First make sure to turn Manual Chart Mode off. If your still losing bottom, make sure you have the latest software update. If not, try that. If problem persists, contact Lowrance. Great customer service. Good luck.

[The Hammer]

I have the same unit and mine did the same thing when I had it sitting directly on the ice. The last time I was out I put it on a 5 gallon bucket and it worked fine. On the other hand I have the gps mounted right on the unit and when I hook up the transducer the gps don't work. I called Lowrance and talked to a guy that designed those units. Sometimes it might be from not enough battery power. If the unit is on the ice it can make the unit and battery cold and make it not work right. I am switching to a 10 amp hour battery to see if that works better.

[MN English]

Are you using the flasher or the graph and how deep are you usually fishing ? Have you experienced any problems with the depth flashing when around 20 feet or less or in weedy conditions. Can you tell me what settings you normally use and have had success with. Have you ever had to turn the sensitivity down so far that you cannot see the lure anymore or been fine. Thanks !

[The Hammer]

I usually use the graph setting on mine. I do have to set the sensitivity real low at times it matters how clear the water is. I set the depth on auto depth and it works fine for me. I then turn the ping speed all the way up and I adjust my chart speed to whatever feels right. Then when I jig my lure up and down it is reacting as quick as my jig moves. I like the graph setting better.

email me and I'll send you some photos I took when I had some fish on the [email protected]

[croixflats]

Lowrance is notorious for losing bottom contact. Thats why I went to a better company No poblems since.

How is pointing out a company has an on on going problem with there units pointing fingers. Bringing this to light helps one decide weather or not one should stay with the company or move on, just as I decided to chose to do.

[MN English]

I hear where you are coming from but wouldn't have said what I said if I hadn't seen enough posts with the same issue on the web for this unit and tried everything I could to fix it. There's enough posts out there with the exact same subject matter and it's mentioned on the Lowrance HSOforum as well `http://www.lowrance.com/en/Products/Marine/Full-Size-SonarGPS-Chartplotter-Combos/LMS-522C-iGPS/Downloads/LMS-522C-iGPS-Software-Update-242-BETA/`. I am trying to do the right thing by giving them another chance especially now I am stuck with an ice pack and map chip which is only good for their units and not Hummingbirds. The beta software release says it will help because it has a new `shallow water` setting but other posts say it doesn't help much,I didn't get a chance to install the software upgrade before I sent the unit I had back. I only had 31 days before I was stuck with it, before I drop another $500 I would like to hear from someone that has the 2.4.2 and is using the flasher in 20feet or less successfully. If I hear that Lowrance has actually fixed the issue and it's not still a problem I'll give it another try. The software update has been a beta since october and has yet to be finalized ??? Otherwise, I cannot afford to buy a unit that will not serve the purpose that is was purchased for.Can you agree with that ?

[MN English]

Hammer, when you mention having to set the sensitivity real low, how many feet of water are you in and can you still see your ice jig ? I tried turning thesensitivity down last time out but then I couldn't see my lure. I was using the flasher and just couldn't get it to settle down. I was on Lake Marion in 19 feet at the time. Maybe it's soft bottomed and weedy but I can't understand why the unit has such a problem getting settled. Used it on the st Croic the week before in 38 feet and the flasher worked like a charm. Caught a 12" crappie, watched the line appear and come up and my bobber go down. It was beautiful and then the next time out no good. The first time I sued it on White Bear in shallower water I had the same problem, depth readings all over the place. The flasher switching from 5 feet to 60 feet constantly all over the board. Other than that the GPS was great, Battery worked fine, I'm hoping I can figure out if the 2.4.2 beta resolves the issue fully. Right now I am a bit dissapointed.

[The Hammer]

When I talked to Lowrance I got the guy who designed this unit on the phone. I explained what my problems were and he thought it might be not enough juice to the unit. The gps will pull so much power that the graph might not work. When I have been using this unit it is on the graph only. I have a LX-5 Marcum so I would use that if I wanted to use the flasher mode. In my opinion it is way better in the graph mode. I have been out and it went all over the place with the depth. I then took it off the ice and put it on a bucket and it started working good. I was in 15 feet of water and a clear lake and had the sensitivity down over half the way so I could just pick up my jig and it worked great.

[Bob Schroden]

MN English,

I bought a LMS 522 late last summer and mounted it on my boat.

It worked fine in deeper water with no weeds.

As soon as I got into any weeds at all, the depth just flashed.

I tried all the settings, manual, ping speed, chart speed, etc.

Nothing seemed to help.

I then downloaded the latest 2.4 version, and it was a little better, but not much.

I was very frusterated as well.

I sold mine unit, and wanted to upgrade to the HDS 5.

In February, I bought the HDS 5.

I have had it out on the ice with the same ice pack and Lakemaster Chip, and it works great.

I have been fishing in weeds and it has yet to fail me.

I think the "broadband sonar" feature eliminated the issues with the shallow water performance.

The GPS locks on alot faster too.

Take a look at the new HDS series, they are really nice.

They more expensive, but you will be happy.

Or at least I am so far with mine!

Good Luck in your decision!

[MN English]

Good input and thanks, I wish the new HDS weren't so expensive, $799+tax with the lake insight maps. Do you still need the Lakemaster chip to go with it or not so much ? The broadband sounder but the old LMS 522 can be had for $489 which is a steal for a 5" screen with GPS and good enough for now if it works right. I just wish I could find someone running the 2.4.2 beta software that can say if it cures the shallow water issue or not that would be great.

[Bob Schroden]

Quote:

$799+tax with the lake insight maps, I am wondering if they are any good. Do you still need the Lakemaster chip to go with it or not so much ?

I bought the HDS 5 without lake insight. ($699.00)

Lake insight gives depth contours for some lakes nationwide, but not near the detail you get with Lakemaster Chip.

If you allready have the chip, I would not buy the Lake Insight.

[jigginjim]

I have been using my 522, over my FL-8. run it the flasher mode. the only thing I found, it takes a little longer the run through the ice before drilling holes. Other than that it has worked great, I have run the battery down were the unit shutsdown on it's own. no problems.

[MN English]

Does the HDS5 without the Lake insight have the GPS on it at that price $699 ?

[PierBridge]

Yes, the HDS-5 has GPS!

[Bob Schroden]

Does the HDS5 without the Lake insight have the GPS on it at that price $699 ?

Yes.

[MN English]

I looked Lowrances sight and Cabellas it looks like the HDS5 @ $699 has no transducer, $749 with the 83/200Khz ducer to go with it.

[Bob Schroden]

Have you tried Scheels?

[fishwater]

I looked Lowrances sight and Cabellas it looks like the HDS5 @ $699 has no transducer, $749 with the 83/200Khz ducer to go with it.

Just an FYI, you can use pretty much any recent 200khz single frequency transducer and get the benefit of the 83/200khz. Many folks have a transducer installed that will run off the new units.

[Bob Schroden]

Quote:

Many folks have a transducer installed that will run off the new units.

I agree. I will never use the 83 khz choice anyway.

I use my same ice duecer that fits my old 522 and it works fine.

[MN English]

I have an ice pack but would still need to buy one for my boat to go with it. I have an ols LOWrance on there right now and am sure the fitting is different. If someone is using the 2.4.2 beta already and no longer experiencing any issues in shallow water or weeds then Reeds has the 522 for $489 still, for a GPS with the ducer that's lot better that $749, then again old technology versus new. There is also some rumors of side imaging being available as an upgrade to all HDS units in the future,