Lowrance HDS 5

[reel guru]

I recently purchased a Lowrance HDS 5. I have yet to get it to lock onto the GPS. I have tried all of the suggestions listed in the owner's manual. I use it on a 14ft. boat with no top to interfere with transmission. Any suggestions would be appreciated. This is my first GPS.

[Highmark]

Is the antenna and internal or external type and are you using the
lowrance net system. or plugged straight in the back of the unit?

[reel guru]

The unit has an internal antenna. The unit tells me it is unable to locate GPS. Very frustrating considering the unit is worth about $900. I bought it new. There must be a trick to getting it to work. I have the battery cables hooked up directly to the battery. The transducer works great for fishfinding. I used it up at Billy Chinook a couple of times and same thing.

[Highmark]

I was just in the operations manual. in the set up there looks like a page that you have select the pgs
in the system menu select satellites and see what it shows.
And in the installation manual it is only one power requirement. Sorry the older units have 2 power req.
But it should be put through it's own switch and not direct to the battery.

I have to say this, After Doing a little reading in both installation book and operation manual.
they are both a little hard to understand.

[hot wire]

If you have 45 min's you can call Lowrance.

1.800.324.1356 in the USA 8-5 central

[lurking_out_loud]

I talked with Lowrance Tech support last week about an HDS8 I sold and was on hold for less than 2 minutes. Question answered and on my way in less than 5 minutes using the regular tech support line. I don't know what your issues were, but every time I've called it's never been more than a couple of minutes at most for help.

-lol

[hot wire]

Im reading that there are some issues with water intrusion on these new Lowrance HD units. I know of at least two. Rain water is filling the insides with water. These units are IPEX rated 6 & 7. Rain should NOT be an issue. Keep your wallet's closed for a while. There may be a tech note released on the subject soon. For all of you that have purchased one, keep it outta the rain till we get more clarification from Lowrance....FYI

[Highmark]

That is very interesting. I'm glad I went with the Northstar unit I installed
this spring. I have a 337 unit, I Moved it from the helm to the back deck
it's located under the roof overhang.
So it's got some protection from the rain.
The guy I worked with at the electronics store did say wait on the
new Lowrance stuff till all the bugs are worked out of them, It sound like he was right....
After doing a little reading in the manuals on the hds 5/7
looks like a lot a set up time to me. And a big learning curve as well.
That is one of the things I do not like about 337.
I had to sit down an read the book 2 or 3 times to get it.
And i still get lost at times. Like setting up routes and using it to run the auto pilot. Some times it would
pick it up, another times it would not. Why I do not understand.But so far with this new unit.
You push the go to button, it takes you to your saves way points.
hit the one you want. bang you are heading there.
vary user friendly. The unit was not that much fun installing.
The manuals jumped around a lot. But I figured it out with a little time.
it was a little more money. But you can not take it with,

[hot wire]

No. TB 31 / April 2009


HDS Water Intrusion


It was bound to be official. This was released thru back channels. So, for those with the newest models, I would be REAL careful exposing it to rain and hoses. The unit is rated both IPX6 with the data door open and IPX7 with the door closed...obviously they have a serious issue.

IPX-6 – Protected against high pressure water stream from any angle.
IPX-7 – Protected against water immersion. Immersion for 30 minutes at a depth of up to 1 meter.