Lowrance LVR-250 Weather Alert Problem

[kam582]

I got such a quick response on my previous post, I thought I might ask another question. Also in the boat is the above marine band radio. It has been driving me crazy with a problem that I cannot figure out. When I listen to the weather channel, the radio will suddenly start broadcasting the alert tone, which is very annoying. It does this even though I do not have the alert setting on. It does this every time, at seemingly random times. It does this even though there is no weather alert being issued by the weather service. I brought this to the attention of the dealer, who told me that the distress button had been pushed and that the fact that there was no GPS data entered it was sounding the alert. I reset the radio to factory defaults, but it still does the same thing.

It is something with the weather alert, as the ALT words are flashing on the screen after the **** thing sounds. I have shut down all the GPS and DSC functions, but the radio is still doing the annoying alert thing. I can't believe that the weather service has the alert tone going out at random, as I think that my in house weather radio would also be going off. Anyone have any ideas, other than sending it back to Lowrance?

[yarcraft91]

Take it to the dealer and see if he can make it work correctly. If not, tell him you want to exchange the Lowrance for an ICOM radio- you'll like it much better.

[kam582]

I went back to the dealer today, who traded my old radio for a new one. I put it in, and of course, it does the same thing that the old radio was doing. Now I am really stumped. I guess its back to the manual to see if I have missed anything, but I really don't think I have. Lowrance may make decent sonar stuff, but I am beginning to doubt their radios.

[VaGuy]

I went back to the dealer today, who traded my old radio for a new one. I put it in, and of course, it does the same thing that the old radio was doing. Now I am really stumped. I guess its back to the manual to see if I have missed anything, but I really don't think I have. Lowrance may make decent sonar stuff, but I am beginning to doubt their radios.

I have two Lowrance VHF radios, and they are excellent, better than
the two ICOM radios I had that failed, or the Raymarine that I gave
away.
Just an opinion but I think you are missing something somewhere.

[kam582]

I hope so, I went over the manual again but still can't figure it out. I emailed Lowrance, but got a canned response sending me to their self help pages, which I had already tried with negative results.

It's got to be something that I am missing, but I just can't see it, and neither can the boat dealer.

[VaGuy]

and neither can the boat dealer.

That's sure no suprise!!

emails sent "general delivery" to Lowrance usually take about a week
for an answer. Try greg.hunter@navico.com . He is in customer service.
He is a GPS guy but may be able to help or get you the right help.
Worth a try.
Also if you call very early the wait time is usually much shorter.
Don't know if they will be much help either. They are really geared
up to handle HDS questions, the only thing that is selling big time
in a very depressed marine electronics industry.
I will have to admitt I have never seen you problem, and I have seen
most everything that's a problem in electronics.

Good luck!!

[kam582]

Thanks for the email address. I just sent him a description of the problem. I tried to call Lowrance off and on all day, and got nowhere. I'll keep trying.

[kam582]

I thought I might post an update to this ongoing problem. I finally got through to Lowrance, who had no clue as to why the radio(s) were doing what they are doing. They had one other customer who had the same problem, but it only did it one time, not every time you tried to listen to the weather forecast. They said that the engineers were working on the problem. If I read between the lines correctly, that translates to "Don't hold your breath".

VaGuy, I never did hear back from your contact, but that is understandable if Lowrance doesn't know what the problem is.

I just emailed my dealer, asking about another brand of radio, I have just about had it with Lowrance VHS. Listening to the weather should not be too much to ask.

[VaGuy]

I just emailed my dealer, asking about another brand of radio, I have just about had it with Lowrance VHS. Listening to the weather should not be too much to ask.

Should have got an RA number, sent it in, and they most likley would
send you a new one. I would sure like to try you radio on my boat to
see if it has the same problem.

Anyway if you are going to take it back and get something else,
I have had very good results with Standard Horizon. Some very
good radios in the $100 range.

[kam582]

Sorry for beating this dead horse, but I have a question related to my LVR-250 and it's weather alert problem.

Lowrance sent me an email and told me to reset the radio by holding down SCAN and MEN (although they typed MEM but I assume they meant MENu) and then turning the radio on. I did that and the radio asked for a PIN number. No where in any literature, either online or in the manual, can I find any reference to what a PIN number is or what the PIN is for that radio. In order to get the radio to do anything, you have to turn it off and then turn it back on again. It doesn't appear that I have reset the radio, as all my settings are still in it.

I sent Lowrance a reply email, but don't expect to hear anything for 2 weeks. Anybody out there know what the heck the PIN might be for an LVR-250?

[Chicago10meter]

I was having a problem with the same radio. Long story short is that in the menu screen under radio settings there is a "reset button" after i reset the radio and turned off then on all the problems were fixed.

that wierd beeping alert is the "WX alert" i just set mine to off and haven't had it make that noise again

Also if you do not have your radio hooked up to a GPS antenna it makes a beeping noise. To get rid of that beeping noise change the GPS setting to manuel.

The key beep is pretty anoying also, set that to "off"

hope this help, email me at mikebitter12@hotmail if you need any other help.

[ozarkeyes]

Sorry for beating this dead horse, but I have a question related to my LVR-250 and it's weather alert problem.

Lowrance sent me an email and told me to reset the radio by holding down SCAN and MEN (although they typed MEM but I assume they meant MENu) and then turning the radio on. I did that and the radio asked for a PIN number. No where in any literature, either online or in the manual, can I find any reference to what a PIN number is or what the PIN is for that radio. In order to get the radio to do anything, you have to turn it off and then turn it back on again. It doesn't appear that I have reset the radio, as all my settings are still in it.

I sent Lowrance a reply email, but don't expect to hear anything for 2 weeks. Anybody out there know what the heck the PIN might be for an LVR-250?

See if there is a Serial #/FCC info plate on the back or bottom of the unit, which might have a PIN listed. Just a thought.

[rogerbl]

Hi!
Did u find out what the PIN code for the LVR-250 is?
I need to hard reset my unit too and would like to know.

Regards Roger

[stcriox]

Kam,

I have the very same unit with the very same problem. I thought by connecting the NMEA Comm to the unit (which shows GPS position on the radio-as well as allows DSC) that would solve the problem. It did not.

LOOK in your manaual in either the front or rear (index of symbols, etc..) You will notice under WX (weather) a subtitle for the LVR-250.

The maunal states that the LVR-250 is pre-programmed to sound the alert when the radio is on a weather channel for a period of time. The larger radio (not sure of the number) does not have that feature.