LCX-15 LOSING BOTTOM

[JIM HARGREAVES]

Does anyone know how to remedy the problem of losing the bottom? I keep getting the display flashing 60 or 1255 or some invalid number for depth while the graph shows 0 feet. If I leave alone after awile it will work intermittantly for a few seconds at a time. I've reset using the pages and power keys and it will work for a while then it starts all over again. It gets old resetting all of the settings every 30 minutes or so. It also seems to happen every time I put the boat in the water and always in shallow water 15 feet or less. This is the first lowrance sonar I've owned. Haven't they been making sonar units for years? What gives? It is a great unit when it works. I just wish it worked more often.
Oh! I have noticed that when the unit is unable to find the bottom the transducer seems to ping at a different rate. actually it seems like morris code or something. Its really strange. But it is pinging so I think its not fried. It seems like the sonar just changes its pinging. Maybe this is another software bug.

Thanks for any info.
Jim :-(

[FROGMAN]

My partner experienced the same thing you are describing. Installing the upgrade from the Lowrance site took care of the problem. The latest version is 1.9 good luck

Keith Segar
NPAA #260

[Zeek]

Jim;
I experienced the same problem with mine. For me, the unit seemed to have difficulty if I was in 5ft or less. It didn't seem to matter if I was turning the unit on or if I come from deep water into shallow water. I was forced to reset it 8 times over the weekend. Of course, then I'm forced to re-customize it and reset the local time.

I already have version 1.9 installed so I don't know what to do.

Maybe Lowrance can help us.

[jim hargreaves]

I too have version 1.9 on it. Lowrance won't return my e-mail so I geuss I'll have to wait for hours on the phone. Good luck with yours I'll post it if I get it resolved.

Jim

[COONDOG]

Jim, about the only thing you can do, is send the stupid thing back to Lowrance. I have had all of the problems that your having and a few more, mines at Lowrance now, I hope they replace it with a new unit. Seems that some of these work great, and some dont, like you I was resetting every time I moved, lost bottom and wouldnt come back til I did a reset. I have a 5 year old hummingbird that works alot better than this thing, and I have had to reley on it during 2 tournys. GOODLUCK

[Jim Hargreaves]

Coondog,
I guess I'll bite the bullet and send it in to them. Thanks for the input. Good luck with yours. I sure hope it works when you get it back.
Jim

[COONDOG]

Jim, I know how your felling right now, this is not the time of year to be messing around with your main sonor unit, if you have been following the posts on the x-15, you know how I feel about Lowrance. I thought that replacing the 'ducer was going to fix me up WRONG AGAIN, I'm getting sick of calling the factory every time I come off the lake with another screwed up sonor unit, hopefully there gonna get it fixed this time. I here that the guys that have units that work, love them, hope I'm one of them in a week. GOOD LUCK, and thanks to everyboby on W.C. that has been helping get the straight dope on these things.THANK YOU

[ezmarc]

Jim,

I sent an E-mail to Lowrance and it took 11 days for an answer. Waste of time unless you just want a catalog or something!

However I've called them 5 times and have never had to wait more than 2-3 minutes, even got right through on 2 occasions, I also have talked to some good techs except for 1 guy, who I think may have just started that day. Good luck!! Mine is on the way to Lowrance right now, I just hope the one I get back works as good as the one I sent in!

[reddog]

Alas, I am having the same problems that all of you are. every ten minutes or so, it just starts changing depths, like it is thinking about how deep it is, and then just starts flashing a bunch of different depths, I have tried all the gimmicks, Custom depths, resetting, rebooting, system resets. It will work for a time, then start screwing up. I have 1.9 in, and actually never had these problems before installing. It makes me feel bad inside, when I sit and look at the black screen, because I cannot trust it to work properly, and am trying to fish, not monkey around with the sonar. Fortunatly, I have been doing alot of shore casting, and not trolling so far.

[Team Alto]

I had the lost bottom problem, replaced the transducer and it helped but not 100% so I sent it in and they exchanged the head - ran it Sat and Sunday and it worked flawless. :-)

Bob

[Jim/UT]

My Raytheon was doing the exact same thing whenever I had my sidefinder hooked up. The unit worked great with the sidefinder pigtail disconnected. I suspected connections because of this. Cleaned them ALL with some spray electronics cleaner, everything has been peachy for about 7 trips now. Worth a try.

Jim

[reddog]

Replaced the transducer tonite, and went fishing, unless I was in 60 frikking feet all nite, I dont think its working properly. guess Im gonna call James again in the morning. I think he will recognize my voice. lol Dont care if I get a new one, or a loaner, this thing is going back to LEI. If money was no object, they wouldnt recognize it when they opened the package. Thats how I felt on the water tonite.

[WALLIZE]

JUST TALKED TO LOWRANCE PUT TRANSDUCER IN TEN FEET OF WATER OR MORE HOLD ZOOM & ZOOM OUT BUTTONS IN TURN UNIT ON