posted 06-08-2008 11:59 PM ET (US)        

I know wiring is correct and the network is powered. I'm getting no error message. Unit is not [receiving] any satellite signals. Sonar is working perfectly.

I've done hard and soft resets without any luck. Anyone had a similar experience? Have sent a support inquiry to Lowrance but no reply as yet.

posted 06-09-2008 09:12 AM ET (US)            

I believe you would be far better off to call technical support on the toll free number provided in the owner's manual.

My experience using the toll free number has been very positive.

Meanwhile, you may find it helpful to disconnect and clean your battery terminals and power bus connections. Corrosion can build up in unseen places over the winter storage period. Also ensure the antenna power switch is on and that the terminals are free of corrosion. Double check the fuse in the antenna power feed during the process.

posted 06-09-2008 05:03 PM ET (US)            

Now, with two antenna [malfunctions] within about 1 year, I'm starting to wonder.

Yes, I installed a power switch on the network. I've turned on off, even going so far as to bypass the switch and hardwire. I've left unit on for over 1 hour without it acquiring a fix. Not only does it not lock in, it does not show reception of any satellites at any signal strength. Just a blank blinking screen.

It is not location - took the boat to the river yesterday and never could get a satellite even in the wide open center of the channel.

Now, I know the antenna is sending out some type of signal because if I turn off network power - I immediately get the gps module not responding message. When I turn power back on, it immediately goes away.

posted 06-09-2008 09:10 PM ET (US)            

The Lowrance LMS 525cDF has some NMEA 2000 networking diagnostic screens, as I recall, and these might be useful to determine if the remote GPS receiver is seen on the network.

An LMS 500-series device that I recently reviewed and bench tested had a LCG-3000 GPS receiver. In my testing I noticed that the LCG-3000 GPS receiver did not seem to be able to acquire and track GPS satellites as fast or as easily as some other devices I have tested in the same location (such as Raymarine A60 or the GlobalSat BU-353 receivers). So I would not characterize the Lowrance LCG-3000 receiver as being at state-of-the-art sensitivity or speed.

It may also be that since you have had your Lowrance unit for a while that you have an older model of the GPS receiver such as the LCG-2000. In that case ignore my comments about the LCG-3000 model, as it is different from yours.

posted 06-09-2008 10:37 PM ET (US)            

Tonight, I removed the long extension cable and hooked the short antennal lead directly to the "T" connector and cleaned all pin connectors. No improvement. I also downloaded the latest software patch and installed. Again, no change.

Can't seem to get home in time to call Tech support during business hours but I did send a new email with detailed description of problem. If I don't hear back from them tomorrow, I'll try calling during the day from work.

I think its the antenna/module again which is concerning. Why should a $600+ unit be so prone to failure. I've got a $200 Magellan Merridian series that has never failed me in years of hard use.

posted 06-10-2008 10:47 AM ET (US)            

Another thought, are you certain that you have the "T" connectors and the correct terminators properly installed?

http://www.lowrance.com/en/Products/Marine/ LowranceNET-Marine-Networking-System/Sample-LowranceNET-Marine-Network/

There is quite a bit of information on this error message on the Lowrance site (search "gps module not responding"):

posted 06-12-2008 10:09 AM ET (US)            

Still no word from Lowrance via emails and I've had no time to call. It's high on my list - will post results when I do.

posted 06-17-2008 05:27 PM ET (US)            

Lowrance just contacted me via-email. Based on my serial number - the unit is 8 weeks out of warranty. However they stated that they stand behind their products and will fix or replace for free. I'll be returning it this weekend.

I have to say, I'm now a loyal Lowrance customer from this point forward. Not many companies would have honored an expired warranty.

posted 06-22-2008 05:40 PM ET (US)            

While fishing Friday I noticed my new Lowrance LCX-27C GPS unit not tracking. The pointer in the screen was flashing with a question mark. I had just bought this for our Whaler at Christmas because my wife likes to water ski at an exact speed. I assume the flashing question mark means that the GPS antenna is not functioning. I did to the tee almost everything you did - checking wiring, both hard drive and soft drive restarats, with no luck. I did not update with the new software because I have not figured out how to do that. The antenna is the safe as your Lowrance LGC-3000. I wonder if they've had problems with these? I will be calling Lowrance in the morning, hopefully for a replacement. I just installed the LCX-27C in the Outrage May 1 and have only used it four times. All times previously to now it worked great. Of course, I'm still learning how to use it. The continuous wave is such a great site to help out fellow Whaler enthusiasts. I tseems no matter what the problem is, someone on this site has experienced it and has advice. Now, if someone can tell me how to go across the wake harder without going out the front....

posted 06-22-2008 07:18 PM ET (US)            

Last Thursday the LGC-2000 failed again while in use. My plan has been to update with a new LGC-3000 but you fellows have me wondering if I shouldn't try another manufacturer's module.

posted 06-22-2008 11:36 PM ET (US)            

The antenna was left on the boat all winter but the boat was covered and there is no sign of water intrusion. The display was kept indoors over the winter in my boat bag.

Nevertheless - Lowrance has told me that they will stand behind their product and that they will fix it or replace it for free regardless of warantee status. Granted I'd prefer that there had never been a problem but knowing I'm "covered" goes a long way. I'll post results when I get the unit back. Perhaps they do know they have a problem and that's why they were so willing to help - don't know. But, it seems they are going to do the right thing. Can't ask for more than that.

posted 06-24-2008 10:06 AM ET (US)            

A replacement Maretron GPS Module is about $225 plus the red/blue network adapter. A new LGC-3000 direct from Lowrance is about $230 plus the adapter. I'm considering getting the Maretron to use as the primary module and having the LGC-2000 for backup. I dislike being without a GPS. Very few of our channels are marked and I have become fairly expert at finding the bottom. I suppose you could call me navigationaly challenged.

By all accounts the Maretron is plug and play.

posted 07-01-2008 01:23 AM ET (US)            

The unit worked fine last year but this spring it lost communication with the antennae.

I was advised to spray a little WD-40 in the plugs.

posted 07-01-2008 09:33 AM ET (US)            

Excellent! Perhaps I should have tried that. Because my GPS antenna/module failed while in use in mid-season it did not occur to me to clean up the connection.

I do believe my connection is pretty air tight as it is somewhat difficult to disconnect. Today I'll track the status of my repair job at Lowrance.

posted 07-02-2008 09:40 AM ET (US)            

If dielectric grease has high resistance would that not be something to be avoided in waterproof connections?

Thanks for clearing that up for me.

posted 07-07-2008 07:38 PM ET (US)            

I mailed the LGC-2000 module to Lowrance on 26 June and received it back today. Since I used plain vanilla first class mail and there were two weekends during the period I'm pleased with the service.

It's pretty hot out there this afternoon so I wont try out the module until tomorrow morning.

BTW, they repaired my original module for the second time. I would have been happier with a new one but as there was no charge for this out of warranty repair I will not whine.

posted 07-09-2008 07:22 PM ET (US)            

Because of my experience with two failures of this module I'd be tempted to seek an internal antenna GPS unit if I were in the market.

I am seriously considering a Maretron GPS module as a running spare (back up) for my LCX-111.

posted 07-18-2008 10:33 PM ET (US)            

Cf.:
http://www.boatered.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=102903 where a boater says his Lowrance GPS failed after a police boat came nearby with its RADAR operating;

http://my.boatus.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=50452&PN=2 where a boater says that Lowrance informed him that his older unit was not shielded and could be affected by RADAR.

posted 07-19-2008 08:47 AM ET (US)            

In the case of my two LGC-2000 failures radar could not have been a factor. The first failure was in my driveway. The second was in a remote area with no nearby boats.

posted 07-21-2008 10:01 AM ET (US)            

That said, failure ocurred in my driveway. Unless it was radar from one of the doppler sites or from a passing plane - I doubt that's the culprit.

posted 07-21-2008 07:15 PM ET (US)            

With your RA# you can determine the repair or shipping status of your GPS module on the Lowrance web site.

posted 07-21-2008 10:03 PM ET (US)            

I delayed sending it in after my initial posts because I needed the sonar unit (which still worked) for a fishing trip I'd had planned for some time.

I suspect I'll hear from them before too long.

posted 07-25-2008 04:03 PM ET (US)            

Let's hope this is the end of it. Will report back when I get it back on the boat.

All in all - I'm pretty happy with Lowrance's service. It only took them about a week to replace a unit they didn't have to replace.

posted 07-25-2008 06:50 PM ET (US)            

That's good news. I expected Lowrance to repair or replace your unit without charging you.

posted 07-25-2008 11:56 PM ET (US)            

But - I can't help but wonder what's going on with these GPS units. Did a search tonight out of curiosity. Google returned tons of similar complaints. I'm seeing some that say its a function of mounting antenna too close to the base unit. Others say its a radar issue. Still others say its electrostatic... I don't know but I hope they fix the problem and I believe there truely is a problem.

According to one site I read - there has been additional shielding added to newer antenna/gps modules and there is a tag on them indicating this is the case. If my new one has a tag I'll let you know.

Any Lowrance employees out there that can give us the scoop? Again - I'm happy the company is doing the right thing by standing behind the modules and replacing them but I think we really need to know for certain that they recognize there is a problem and they are going to fix it.

posted 07-26-2008 09:53 AM ET (US)            

Radar transmits a signal and the closer to the radiator the stronger, or more concentrated, the signal. But, given the long history of GPS use on radar equipped boats and aircraft it seems doubtful to me that radar is the culprit. Your unit failure and one of mine seems to have happened on the driveway at home ie. while the unit was turned off.

Because the head unit is passive and emits no signal I can't believe mounting the GPS module near the head unit can be the cause. One of my two failures happened while the unit was on and that was after many hours of use. My unit IS mounted close to the head unit. Surely Lowrance would issue some warning to users if this was causing failures. In my case the fix would be simple as my module is mounted to a ratchet mount antenna mount. I would only have to add a section of pipe of the necessary length. Another thing that mitigates against the theory is that there are those with an integrated antenna which seems to somewhat counter the theory.

ESD or electrostatic discharge(???) also seems unlikely but as I know so little about it I'll reserve comment and judgement. I have read that some recently repaired modules were returned with a tag indicating they were "ESD Protected(?)" if you can believe everything you've heard.

We'll just have to see what develops but if I have another module failure I will try another brand of module. Right now Maretron heads my list of potential replacements.

posted 07-26-2008 10:41 AM ET (US)            

I don't know - my unit is mounted on the shephards crook. To be safe - I may go ahead and move it to the port/stern rail near where the sonar transducer is mounted.

Also - while researching last night - I ran across one post where the user had wired the NMEA output of his Garmin hand held into the head unit. Seeing as how my Old Magellan Merridian Marine has not failed in over 5 years of use and abuse - I'm definately going to see if this will work.

posted 07-28-2008 09:31 PM ET (US)            

Chance of rain tomorrow so don't want to uncover the boat. Will post results when I get around to re-installing.

posted 07-01-2009 12:21 PM ET (US)            

I did check the manual and the UTC time is set at the factory. It says I can reset the time by going to the local time setting but when I navigate to that feature I get a message that I cannot set local time without a fix...a catch 22! I'm going to stop at a local dealer to see if he has any ideas. I'm guessing I need to send it in for repair. Either the internal battery is dead or the circuit is defective.

posted 07-02-2009 12:36 PM ET (US)            

Again - I only have positive comments to make about the customer service I recieved from Lowrance. The "extra's" they gave has resulted in me recomending their products to several friends.