Lowrance 350A Problem

[Bronco]

I bought a new 350A last August when I heard that they were
being discontinued. It has worked great, but now has developed
a small problem that I hope someone may be able to help me with.
The units sonar will stop working and start flashing depth readings that are not realistic such as several hundred feet when
I know that the depth is only shallow or medium depth. It seems to happen when I either go shallower or deeper than the unit, on
automatic, is showing as the range on the screen. The unit seems to just stop and doesn't reset. I get no bottom echo or any scroll of readings on the screen. It just stops and flashes these false readings. It seems to correct itself when I shut the unit off and restart it. Could this be a battery problem?? I have checked the voltage read out on the 350A and it is showing 12 volts, but may be the battery is getting old or weak. It is a two year old battery.

Any other ideas or help would be appreciated- Thanks

Bronco

[Chuck Pederson MN]

I have a 350A and I know it will flash your depth if it is looking for bottom. Check your transducer and make sure you have it mounted properly and that should take care of it. Good unit I sure like mine.

[bernie]

i had this same problem i sent the unit in check out the thread on lowrance 350a discontinued and dishonored

[Bronco]

I was hoping that it may be something easy as I am heading
out to the Missouri River soon and kind of need the
unit. Guess I'll have to limp along with it the way it is
until I get back unless some one has another idea as what may
be wrong with it.

I have only had the 350A for 10 months-I wonder if it is under
warranty??

[Mark]

It is still under warrenty if you sent the paper work in. Check to see if you have the transducer mounted in the haul, that it is still expoxed to the bottom of the haul good. if you have it mounted on the out side, check to see if you it has been hit and shooting at a angle. Also try running it on manual mode. and see that helps the problem. I had a 350a before I got the X-15, and thought it was a good unit. Mine sometimes did this same thing. Just check out those things I suggested. You might be alright.

[JCarp]

Wish I had a good answer...

I have the same problem in shallow water only. Reads fine on plane in 5-6' or less until I stop & then it goes wacko and locks up. Occasionally, does it w/o any reason in very shallow water when I'm trolling @ 3 mph. Maybe soft/hard bottom composition changes. No problem in water 12+?. I posted the same question a while back & several responses suggested a transducer problem. A shallow water bass guy suggested leaving the depth readout off and lowering the sensitivity, you might check the archives. The bass guys advice helped.

My speculation - unit loses bottom because sensitivity hasn't responded to change. In my case, I discovered I can fiddle with the sensitivity (lower it)(auto or manual) and it corrects the problem faster than if I turned it off and on. Leaving the digital depth off seems to help, going manual seems to help if your in consistent depths You'll develop a knack for it. I only have problems on two very shallow lakes, nowhere else. This is just my impressions, I wouldn't swear to any of it. Hope this helps you get by.

[hammertime]

i have one and ran into this only when trying to run more than one graph, thats the only problem ive ever had with this unit except i cant use my gps because they want 300.00 to upgrade my gps system to the 12 channel and im not going to pay that just because they want to not carry the recievers for the people that carried them for all these years they were making money off them. who cares about the money already spent, lets make more. i run a garmin color map also so im not going to dump 300.00 more just to get my lowrance 350 to do what it,s supposted to do in the first place after i replaced the module once already. hate to say it but i think that when ya buy there products, they should be there when ya need them, not just think of way to get more money or atleast offer you the up-grade at a reasonable price. ( guess ya can tell im not happy with them and there ways ) there,s a lot of other co,s out there that will take your money but stay with you when ya need them.

[Diz]

I've had this problem before, called the gize at Reed's and they sed that it could be a transducer problem, which I had happen with my X85 or the tranducer settinsgs may be wrong... 50khz - 192khz. Go in to the window that sez settings and make sure that your on 192khz. This should get you a good reading.
Nuf sed
Diz

[Bronco]

I already checked it out- it is set on 192
but thanks for the advice

Bronco