GA Bassman

I did get a new unit from Lorance. It has newer software installed, version 2.4 which has notyet been released to the public. This unit is better but still loses bottom over milfoil weed beds. It will though , unlike before, still give a bottom line as the chart now keeps running unlike the older one where the chart stopped scrolling. Perhaps another look by teir programers will resolve the bottom losing issue over weeds. I will be sending LowrANCE SOME OPERATION REPORTS NEXT WEEK FOR THEM TO PONDER OVER. The GPS on this new unit works fine and holdsthe sattellite contact well so far. Lowrance it trying to help resolve my promlem so hats off to them for caring.

Sounds like advice worth considering. I did ask and do appreciate all inputs. Better to relocate the antenna module than risk a failure from that possible cause. Got plenty of cable on the unit and one more small hole will not be a problem. Thanks for you input and time.

I purchased my 520c with no transducer so have to assume the MinnKota is OK. I did let Lowance know I was using MinnKota's universal transducer and they had no issue with that. It would be interesting to see if it performed well with it's designed Xducer.

Today I emailed Lowrance and again explained my installation and problems. They are trying to help. Said they are sending me a new unit as well as prepaid shipping to return the problem one to them. Hard to find fault with that service. My receiver module is about 18 inches from the main unit. Cable is original length so imepdance is as manufactured. I can not locate any instruction that mentions installing it 3 feet or more away. I could move it away but do like it's present location. I will try a new distant location if the new unit presents same problem with GPS reception. Will let you all know what happens when I receive the new unit. Will hope for good operation in sonar as well as GPS functions. Thanks for thee help. I will hope that my original unit is defective and the new one will operate as Ihoped.

My LMS 520c is mountedd on the bow. It has the external antenna which is also mounted on the bow with pretty much unobstructed view of the horizon. I can place my Garmin handheld in the same location and never lose GPS . I did the intsallation. The unit is getting 12.7 volts with battery fully charged. I am using the MinnKota trolling motor transducer with proper adapter. I have uploaded the latest software 2.3 from Minnkota's website as per their(Lowrance tech) recommendation. It might have made a minor provement though it would be difficult to prove. It has excellent bottom deffinition over rocky or any bottom so log as no weeds are present. It absolutly will not register bottom over a Milfoil weed bed or coontail weed bed. It has limited response to bottom over hydrilla. When bottom is lost I generally need to shut down and restart the unit. I will find bottom but lose it almost immediatly if I am still over the weeds. Weeds simply confuse it. During the few times it has maintained stability over a weed bed it indicateds the weeds to be bottom as they are bright yellow just as is rock bottom. A few strands of milfoil will appear on the screen as a bright yellow peak. The unit gives a very nice readout of bottom when no weeds are present. I re-installed my old Hummingbird 400 TX and it holds bottom perfectly over the same areas so I am using that most of the time. I am fishing Lake Seminole in GA. I have a couple buddies that also recently purchased Lowrance units and they are experiencing the same troubles. Scrambled signals when getting over weed beds. I called online marine to return it but they refused even though I only had it a week. Lowrance is aware of weed problems but only has the Software 2.3 update which is a very limited fix. I will call them again to inform them of the negative fix. This unit is pretty much useless as is. Guess I will have to bite the bullit and acept my loss. My experience indicatess I should have purchased a new Hummingbird. thanks all for the inputs. I got far more from this forum than onlinemarine and Lowrance.

I just purchased a 520c Lowrance sonar /gps and it does not perform well. I purchased it from Online Marine without checking them out and now I find that I can't return it. Dumb mme. The machine will noot hold bottom when passing over weeds, even weeds that are several feet under the boat. It gets a scrambled signal which is unreadable. Most of the time it will not reset and I need to shut off the sonar and restart. Even then is often will not recover the bottom. Lowrance is aware of the problem and has issued at least two firmware upgrades. I have installed these at their suggestion but it only got worse. Has anyone here used this GPS / sonar and experienced similat problems? Have you resolved them? The GPS portion is about as worthless as it continually looses the satallites and just gives me a diaalog box saying thhe GPS is not functioning. Guess I may just be out $650 bucks on this poor unit.