I have a Lowrance LMS 520C.  IT worked fine until a couple weeks ago.  Now the GPS won't work.  ONe of the "fixes" suggested by Lowrance is to upgrade to newest software.    The unit is less than a year old but there is a newer software version available.

Why would the unit all of a sudden need an upgrade in software for GPS?  Anyone else had this problem.

I tried a "soft" reset and also checked all the connections.  Its all good.  Any ideas?  :-?

Technically, the actual name for that is a firmware upgrade.  It's very possible there was a programming glitch written into the original firmware that is causing the malfunction and only an upgrade will fix the problem.  This doesn't mean that all 520C's experienced the problem, probably only certain runs.

LCD tv's also have certain problems that can only be solved by a firmware upgrade.  If the upgrade can be accomplished by the customer, Lowrance should have a download available for it along with instructions on how to perform it.  

BTW, whether a TV or an LCD fishfinder, never perform a firmware upgrade unless instructed to do so by the manufacturer.  Firmware upgrades are the equivalent of upgrading your bios on a computer and you never do that unless it's certain to do so will fix a problem.

Thanks for the info Cart7t!

I checked the lowrance site.  The download is free but I have to have the hardware to get the upgrade from my PC to the LMS 520 via the MMC/SD card.

Lowrance wants $50 for the card reader/programer.  I think I can get it for less than that.  Checked wally world cause someone else told me they got one there cheaper but wally doesn't carry them anymore.

So I'll have to head in to civilization (I live out in BFE) to find a real electronics store to complete the upgrade.

Thanks again!

I would think a card reader with SD availability is all that's needed.  If you have a usb flash drive you can probably download the program, transfer it to the flash drive and then you'll need to find someone with a card reader to transfer from your flash drive to a blank SD card.  Normally those firmware upgrades are self initializing.  Stick the SD card in the Lowrance, the unit detects it and then reads the info to start the firmware upgrade.  

That almost sounds too easy, even for a low tech guy like me ;D