Lowrance 520C and FM Radio Issue

[kam582]

I am wondering if anyone else has had this issue. I traded boats last fall, and am just getting into the equipment on the new boat. I have a 520C with a Sony AM-FM radio. I have noticed that when I turn on the graph, I lose most of the FM stations on the radio. Some type of interference. Not really a big deal, as I seldom listen to the radio when fishing, but still somewhat annoying considering what I paid for the boat and added equipment. I took it back to the dealer, who did not notice the problem, but did note that he was in town and much closer to the stations. I have searched the net for info on the problem, but can find nothing.

Anyone have any ideas?

[yarcraft91]

The digital electronics in the LMS-520 are broadcasting radio frequency interference, which is preventing your FM radio locking onto weak stations. That's a very common situation. I have an LMS-527. My handheld marine band radio loses weak stations if held within 1' of the LMS-527. You'll find similar behavior holding a radio near a home computer.

The cure is usually to put more distance between the radio antenna and the sonar unit. Another possible cure is to wrap the radio and sonar power cords around ferrites (those donuts or tubes you see on some computer cables- available at Radio Shack) if the interference is traveling through the power cables.

And sometimes the cure is to live with it... :(

[hondo]

The cure is usually to put more distance between the radio antenna and the sonar unit.

That is the first thing I would check as well --- and not just the antenna itself, but try moving the antenna cable away from the 520 and it's power cables and transducer cable if possible. In some cases moving it an inch or two is all you need.