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I thought about buying an antenna for it but hate to spend the extra money if it still doesn't work. Now it will not lock on a satellite so all these waypoints that are on it are worthless. I have not contacted Lowrance about the problem, but after reading the other reviews there is no need. I purchased this product 2 years ago. Until Lowrance gets there act togeather they are history for me. I purchased the Fishing Hot Spots chip for it and proceded to mark favorite fishing places. It is used to mark waypoints on my favorite lake. It worked fine until this year.
I don't know what is causing this problem, but I do know that I will never purchase another Lowrance product. A friend also bought one of these units after seeing mine, and now his won't get a gps lock. I have used this gps about 7 or 8 times over 2 years, and now I get no gps lock. Lowrance says send $150.00, or wait until a new version comes out.
A great marine chip for this unit is the Nautic Path which can be found on Amazon for $119.This unit is a true handheld chartplotter at a price even with the detailed all USA marine chip by Nautic Path defeats all competitors.NP-USA NAUTIC PATH MAP CHART I have been searching for a handheld chartplotter where you can string a series of waypoints on the chart and create a route. The Garmins (Colorado and now Oregon) don't do it, you have to set waypoints then select them from an off chart list to create a route.Yes, for more details you have to buy a chip.
The price and features are very attractive. I might as well buy a new GPS - a non-Lowrance unit this time. Lowrance's minimum repair rate is $149.95 plus shipping since the 1 year warrenty has expired.
It worked fine at first - with TOPO downloaded maps onto the MMC card and a Navionics card for marine use. Now, after not using it for about 4 months (the batteries removed for safe storage) the unit will not lock onto satellites regardless of how long it's left on or despite performing soft and hard resets. I have had this unit for about 18 months but have used it only 6-8 times - never in foul weather.
The built-in Lowrance software on it is actually newer than what's on the latest Lowrance software update page - which makes no sense at all. But beware, I think it's a very inferior product in the long run. Always locked on fairly quickly.
Displayed maps beautifully.
It sometimes took 10 seconds or more for the new screen to load, and if you are using this device as an aid, and travelling across the lake at 30 or 40 knots, the delay was a little unnerving at times, specifically if the lake has a lot of rock pile hazards. For the Navionics maps, you will also need toknow the abbreviated file name for the area you want to view.
This is a Navionics comment, so we did not add or detract from the GPS review score.That issue aside, we would probably rate this item overall at a 4.5.If you are heading to a large unknown lake, looking for navigation aids, and a depth chart, this is a great tool, and we doubt you will regret the purchase. The file names are not always obvious, so make sure you review the software to know what map to load, for the area you are using the GPS.
We purchased the Lowrance iFinder H2Oc GPS with some Navionics maps on an SD memory card. The batteries we started with lasted all week, and we used this unit extensively all week.When you arrive at your destination, you need to remember to load the specific map you will use.
If you are getting older, the screen is a little small, but it is hand-held, and small enough to put in your pocket or tacklebox.Good luck We used new Lithium AA batteries with the unit.Our purpose for purchasing the unit was for use in navigating waterwaysbetween Minnesota and Ontario, specifically the Rainy Lake region.The unit worked very well, and was very useful for navigating these rocky lakes, with many navigational hazards, such as numerous rock outcroppings, and hazards just below the surface of the lake.The only problem we encountered was a long delay in downloading/processing map information, if you chose to zoom in/out of your current display.
And yes, the software states you should not use this device for navigation, it is only an aid.
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