lowrance updates

[alumalunker]

i have a 522 and was wondering what is needed and how you download the updates. basicallly ive never done it and really have no idea of what im doing.

[rabbit]

Go to Lowrances main website. Click on Downloads and then scroll down until you find your unit and see if there are any available updates for your unit? If so, you will need a blank MMC card (If that is what your unit takes) and a MMC card reader to plug into your computer(I think you can get them at Wally World). The site will prompt you on the transfer of the update and load it onto the blank card. When done take the card to your unit on the boat and REMOVE any existing cards you have in your unit. Some units are capable of using two cards. Put your new update card into your unit. Hit your menu button and go to Data transfer. Follow the prompts on your unit. I don't think I forgot anything? If I did you will get more responses..............Paul

[alumalunker]

the blank mmc card where can you get those? is it a specialty card or what? Sorry for the dumb question.

[blueicecpa]

Get the SD memory cards "Sandisk" Best Buy et all

[yarcraft91]

Get the SD memory cards "Sandisk" Best Buy et all

Yes- and only buy chips 2GB or smaller. The larger 4, 8 and 16 GB HDSC chips apparently aren't compatible.

[twobearlake]

Yep, just get any SD card 2MB and smaller. Download the update directly to the SD card. Then just put it into your 522, turn the unit on and it will automatically load the update. The shallow water feature works very well on my 522. I fish a river with many <2ft sections. I would get the flashing depth readings all the time. The unit would then take several minutes to regain the bottom reading - what a pain!!! With the shallow water update, I keep bottom at all depths and have NO flashing depth issues at all.

TB

[alumalunker]

great. one last question. about how much it will run me to get everything just curious?

P.S. thanks to all that replied.

[twobearlake]

If your computer already has an SD card reader then this is all you need - $5.89.

http://www.amazon.com/Kingston-SD-Flash-Memory-2GB/dp/B000EOMXM0/ref=pd_sim_auto_1

If you need a card reader, here is one option - $12.99.

http://www.amazon.com/Kingston-Travellite-Card-Reader-SD/dp/B000EOMXRA/ref=sr_1_12?ie=UTF8&s=automotive&qid=1243289973&sr=8-12

It plugs right into one of your computer's USB ports. You can find cheaper options, but I would strongly urge you to go with a "name-brand" (Kingston, Sandisk, Kodak). The cheaper options can be very bugging and you don't want that when messing around with updates for your electronics.

Any large "all-purpose" stores will have these and then you can save the shipping cost. I just wanted to show you some specific options.

Hope this helps.

TB

[thatvoodoothatyoudo]

The latest updat 2.4.4 , says that it requires an 8mb card for the download- If the unit can only " digest" an 2mb card- something looks in error ??

-JBP

[twobearlake]

The cards are 2GB, not 2mb. My error on the early post - thanks for asking the question for clarification.

Sorry about that.

TB

[rabbit]

Are the MMC cards getting pretty much outdated and the USB San Disc will plug right into the units now? Please update me. Other than a pre-loaded hard drive do the newer units still require chips MMC or what kind of chips are they now using? I haven't had the need for new electronics. My 104C has worked flaulessly so far, so I'm a little behind the times... Please reply Thanks, Paul

[hondo]

MMC cards are outdated, SD (secure digital) cards replaced them. I don't know how or why but SD cards hold more data than MMC cards even though they are the same size and shape, that's why MMCs are gone and SDs are here (until micro SDs replace them).

[Workdog]

Yes- and only buy chips 2GB or smaller. The larger 4, 8 and 16 GB HDSC chips apparently aren't compatible.

Lesson Learned on updating software: I have a 2005 vintage GlobalMap 4800M and LGC-2000 GPS antenna that I have been trying to update software on. I downloaded the software onto 2 GB SD chips just fine. When I plugged the SD chips into the 4800M I was unable to download the software into the units. The 4800M got slow as molassas, and did not recognize either software package. Way way back on one of these pages, I recalled someone saying that the 1 GB SD chip was the max that Lowrance recommended. When I retried the software update procedure with a 1 GB SD chip it worked perfectly. An update should only take 15-20 seconds. Perhaps the newer Lowrance units can use a 2 GB chip, but the older ones won't. My 4800M had original software version 1.0, as did the GPS puck.

[alumalunker]

last ques whats the difference between the LMS-522C iGPS and the LMS-522 iGPS (Beta Release). the only thing i can see is that the BETA is the latest.

thanks

[yarcraft91]

last ques whats the difference between the LMS-522C iGPS and the LMS-522 iGPS (Beta Release). the only thing i can see is that the BETA is the latest.

thanks

Are you asking about the two software releases from Fall 2008, 2.4 and 2.4.2 BETA? If so, the 2.4.2 BETA release added a Shallow Water mode to help those of us unable to operate the LMS-500 series in shallow, weedy water. There were other changes, but that's the main difference that comes to mind.

[bioboy]

FWIW, through both of the latest HDS updates, I've had a lot of trouble downloading the updates using Lowrance's default Java loader settings. I eventually figured out that it worked if I downloaded the files to a folder on my C drive, then transferred to my SD card. Maybe the extra time it took to download directly to the SD card was causing timeout errors?

If you're having similar trouble, give this a shot. I'll post comments after I get a chance to put the new update to the test on the water.

[HT32BSX115]

Yeah,

I was unable to get the JAVA downloader to work on either Windows or Linux. They need to fix it

[bioboy]

Agree Lowrance should improve their download mechanism. The good news is there are many of us willing to help each other :).

One other comment on the Java installer - while it appears to be stuck in a loop, let it run until the end. My system kept showing progress gradually up to 6%, then it jumped to 100%, then back to 1% over and over many times.

Even though it doesn't look like it, it is working. I believe you will get an error message if it doesn't download properly. Check your download size at the end. For the latest HDS 10 update, you should have either 332MB or 336 MB total (can't remember which) comprised of two files and a multi-file "Maps" folder.

I did get repeated error messages initially, then it seemed to work after I rebooted my 'puter.

[blueicecpa]

1 GB SD disks are the largest ones the older units could use. Try again on a Smaller SD disk and it will work.:raisin: