Lowrance hds7 problems

 Hi guys, just got a new lowarance hds 7 sounder/GPS just over a month ago but am having some errors with it regarding reading the bottom, the sounder constantly cuts out and freezes on ground from over a km ago which we have already pass and does not read anymore including  what we are currently above and also when we are reading the ground below the image is not coming up well with it being hard to see the structure and ground


Posts: 6265

Date Joined: 26/04/14

 when it cuts out how fast

Sun, 2014-11-30 19:40

 when it cuts out how fast are you going?  also have you selected the correct transucer in your settings. it could be as simple as correct settings or more difficult like transducer height all the info you can give the better. some of the lads on here know there shite

sea-kem's picture

Posts: 15002

Date Joined: 30/11/09

 Had to give my HDS9 a soft

Sun, 2014-11-30 19:46

 Had to give my HDS9 a soft reset today. Turned it on and screen was very dark and unreadable. Your problem Snapper sounds like Tranny installation, getting air around will distort your bottom feedback. Hopefully just needs lowering a tad.

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Cruise Control's picture

Posts: 973

Date Joined: 03/11/10

Hey Sea-kemI had this same

Tue, 2014-12-02 13:08

Hey Sea-kem

I had this same problem with my HDS8.

I did a lot of searching and found that this is a "common" problem. I spoke with Lowrance at 30 months and they told me to try the reset and all good for a while. Then over the months it got worse and worse. It finally got to a point where it was happening a couple of times a day. So after 48 months I went back to Lowrance and spoke with the boss of the Tech Department. He agreed to replace my HDS8 series 1 with a remanufactured HDS8 series 2 for just under $500. Hoping that i am not going to have the same issues with this one.

If I do it will be a bin job and go for something a little more reliable. Hope not as I really like the HDS as a GPS.

cheers

sea-kem's picture

Posts: 15002

Date Joined: 30/11/09

 Thanks for the heads up

Tue, 2014-12-02 14:57

 Thanks for the heads up cruise control. I think the Lowrance models as a whole have this problem. Even my old 334C used to do it quite regular. As you say they are a great GPS that's all I primarily use it for.

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Posts: 32

Date Joined: 25/10/12

 When it cuts out we are

Sun, 2014-11-30 19:48

 When it cuts out we are going reasonably slow enough for it to be able to read the bottom it will just cut out at any sudden moment then the image will not start reading again for 5 or so minutes even when we stop moving and drift

sea-kem's picture

Posts: 15002

Date Joined: 30/11/09

 Maybe do what I did and do a

Sun, 2014-11-30 19:57

 Maybe do what I did and do a soft reset.

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Posts: 187

Date Joined: 06/01/09

 try a software update also

Sun, 2014-11-30 20:08

 try a software update also

davidbland50's picture

Posts: 392

Date Joined: 24/07/11

Software update

Mon, 2014-12-01 20:46

Even though you just bought the unit, it will need to have a software update. With all the units we have on our sounder wall, I have had to put new updates in all of them even though they are meant to be brand new.

If you speak with Navico, they will first tell you to make sure your software is up to date before they will even take a look at under warranty.

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Posts: 574

Date Joined: 24/04/11

Config

Tue, 2014-12-02 08:15

In the configuration for eh sounder there is a "fishing mode" selection.
Set this to deep water. Mine initially defaulted to "General Use' and was basically crap. Changing to "deep water" made all the difference for me....plus getting the transducer in the correct location which is a bit of trial and error.

crano's picture

Posts: 704

Date Joined: 04/11/09

 Sea-kem I have got an HDS10

Tue, 2015-01-06 21:13

 Sea-kem I have got an HDS10 that occasionally goes very dark.I just hit the power button a couple of times and it is back to normal.If you hit the power button when it is working OK it will go dark. May not be the same problem but worth a try.

Posts: 198

Date Joined: 25/05/10

Same as crano. Have a 7 touch

Wed, 2015-01-07 13:14

Same as crano. Have a 7 touch and the power button is also screen brightness. It is easy to turn your scree brightness down so low by accident you don't know if the unit is on or off. Familiarise your self with the instructions and now when it happens no more soft resets. User error on my part.