“Your one stop shop for Fish Finders, Portable Fishfinders, and GPS Fishfinder products at very reasonable prices.”
more >> Nick Noll.
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Lowrance and Eagle Frequently Asked Questions
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Where can I obtain
a replacement owner's manual? |
| Selected manuals are
available on our website. If a manual is not listed on our website,
no electronic version is available for download. Printed manuals
may be purchased through our accessories division, LEI Extras, Inc. at www.lei-extras.com or by phone at
(800) 324-0045 or FAX at 918-234-1710. |
| Where can I get a manual in another
language? |
| We do not currently produce manuals for our
products in languages other than English. However, some translated manuals
are available from select international dealers. To locate an
international dealer please refer to our dealer locator at http://www.lowrance.com/Support/DealerLocator/ilocate.asp?searchtype=intl |
| How do I obtain service for my
unit? |
We back your
investment in quality products with quick, expert service and genuine
Lowrance parts. If you're in the United States and you have technical,
return or repair questions, please contact the Factory Customer Service
Department.
Many times problems
can be resolved without the necessity of sending your unit to the factory.
Before any product can be returned, you must contact
Customer Service to determine if a return is necessary. If repair
service is required, you will be issued a Return Authorization Number.
Contact Customer Service via email or
call toll-free at 800-324-1356, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. (9 a.m. to 4 p.m. October
through March) Central Standard Time, Monday through Friday. Please be
prepared to provide the following information:
Unit's serial number
Your name
Street address
City
State
Zip/postal
code
Country
Daytime phone number
Credit card
number
Expiration date on credit card
Name on credit card
If it becomes necessary to send a product for repair or replacement, you must
first receive a Return Authorization Number from Customer Service.
Products shipped without a Return Authorization will not be accepted. When
shipping, we recommend you do the following:
- Ship your unit
in a box that is suitable size and pack it well to prevent further
damage during shipping.
- Always insure
the parcel against damage or loss during shipment. Lowrance does not
assume responsibility for goods lost or damaged in transit.
- For proper
testing, include a brief note with the product describing the problem.
Be sure to include your name, return shipping address and a daytime
telephone number.
|
| I received my Return Authorization number but where do I
send the unit? |
When shipping your unit, we recommend you do
the following:
- Ship your unit in a box that is suitable size and pack it well to
prevent further damage during shipping.
- Always insure the parcel against damage or loss during shipment.
Lowrance does not assume responsibility for goods lost or damaged in
transit.
- Do not include any knobs or brackets.
- For proper testing, include a brief note with the product describing
the problem. Be sure to include your name, return shipping address and a
daytime telephone number.
- Place a mailing label containing the following information
prominently on the outside of the box.
Lowrance Electronics
Inc
RA # XXXXXX
12000 East Skelly Drive
Tulsa, Oklahoma
74128
USA
- It is also a good idea to include the same information on a sheet of
paper and placed inside the package itself just in case the label is
damaged.
|
| Why is my unit not
repairable? |
| Due to rapid advancements in the electronics
industry, some components required to repair a unit may no longer be
available. Our goals is to provide service to our customers as long as
possible. If we are unable to repair a unit, there may be other options
available. Please contact a Customer Service representative to determine
eligibility. |
| Where can I buy units? Can I buy
direct? |
| We do not sell direct from the
factory. |
| Why don't you list prices? |
| As a manufacturer we rely heavily on our
dealers to sell our products. We are not in the retail business and thus
do not suggest or set prices for our retailers. The retail price will be
guided by the specific market area you are in. You are encouraged to shop
around before purchasing a unit. |
| How do I know which fish finder unit to
purchase? |
| The two main factors in selecting a Lowrance
Sonar product are application and budget. Lowrance makes units in all
price ranges, and all are built to the same quality standards. The
difference will be features, screen size, screen resolution (number of
pixels) and power. |
| How do I know if I need a dual-frequency or
single-frequency model? |
| Dual-frequency 50/200 kHz units are
specifically designed for saltwater angling or tracking downriggers in the
Great Lakes. For superior inland and freshwater performance
single-frequency 200 kHz units are recommended. |
| Which transducer should I use? |
We currently produce two basic types of
transducers.
-
The wide cone angle (freshwater) transducer is the standard
transducer supplied with almost all products sold. This transducer fits
the needs of most of our customers.
- The narrow cone angle (saltwater) transducer has a more focused
cone angle and is designed to offer better performance at the maximum
depths.
Refer to our transducer
selection guide for more information.
NOTE: Maximum depth is determined by which
model sonar is used and the power output of that
sonar. |
| I have a transducer in my boat with a gray
connector. Will a new unit with a blue connector work with
it? |
| Yes, if the gray connector has 7 pins.
However, the temp will not work unless you purchase the TS-1BL temp sensor
(Part Number 000-0099-95) which already has the Y-cable built
in. |
|
What's the difference between 'Peak-to-Peak' and 'RMS'
when comparing the power of different units? |
| 'Peak-to-Peak' and 'RMS' are specifications
used by manufacturers in the marine electronics industry to state the
power ratings of sonar units. These specifications are sometimes
used to judge the effectiveness of a sonar's useful range. Please
review a short sonar
tutorial which will explain this and many more of the basic principles
of sonar. |
|
At shallow depths (fresh or salt) does it matter
if I have a 600 watt or 3,000 watt unit? |
| For most fresh water fishing - in depths
under 200 feet - a 600 watt unit will meet most fishermen's needs, but
higher power can help show small targets better and eliminate "noise" on
the screen. Since saltwater is more dense, a higher output power is
recommended for most applications.
|
|
Are all Lowrance models capable of reading boat
speed and water temperature? |
| Most of our products are capable of reading
speed and temperature. However, please check the product information
on our website or check with www.FishFinder-Store.com for
information concerning specific products. |
| Do you have a side looking
fish-finder? |
| The Three-Beam BroadView™ technology gives
you an expansive view of the underwater world. By telling you whether fish
targets are in the right, center or left sonar beam, TargetTrack™ gives
you the additional advantage of knowing on which side of the boat fish are
located. This feature also displays the precise depth of fish symbol
targets for pinpoint lure presentations. This feature is only available on
selected models.
|
Lowrance GPS
Why can’t I download a map from the web or use my own mapping data in your GPS
units? |
Maps used in GPS navigation must be
geo-referenced so that every point on the map is in the correct position
relative to your GPS position. In order to geo-reference a map you must
consider map scales, the datum used to create the flat map projection, and
many other mathematical and geo-physical characteristics that may change
from map to map. A mapping GPS unit not only displays a map but must also
accurately indicate your position on the map.
Graphical format maps are easily manipulated
because they do not require all of the geo-reference data. Mapping
programs that allow the users to print or display maps are really no more
than electronic books. Some atlas and mapping programs will allow your
position to be displayed over the map when a GPS is connected to the
computer. These maps are geo-referenced but the output of these programs
is still a picture of a map, not a geo-referenced file of mapping
data.
It is currently not possible to convert
graphical format map such as TIFF, GIF, JPG, or even standard cartographic
formats like DRG’s or “Shape” files to the proprietary format files used
in our products.
|
| How accurate is GPS? |
| With the elimination of Selective
Availability, GPS accuracy is typically within 10 to 20
meters.
|
| Will my unit work in bad
weather? |
| GPS works 24 hours a day, anywhere in the
world and is not affected by clouds, storms or weather. This is one of the
advantages GPS has over Loran C.
|
| What is DGPS? |
Differential GPS, or DGPS, was
developed to improve GPS accuracy to within a few meters. A DGPS
transmitter beacon will transmit the error factors to your DGPS receiver,
which in turn gives the corrected information to the GPS receiver, so it
can use the data to correct its own measurements and calculations.
A Lowrance
Differential Beacon Receiver is available for your DGPS
needs. |
| Which GPS should I get? |
| There are many products to choose from and
the unit that is right for you depends on your application. See our Outdoor Products
section for more information.
|
|
How long is the battery life? |
| The life of your battery in your handheld
GPS unit depends on a number of factors. First and foremost is the quality
of the batteries you are using. Be sure to select a high quality alkaline
battery. Using the Power Save feature whenever possible and keeping the
backlight panel off when not needed will assure maximum battery life.
Depending on the unit you have, your average battery life will be between
8 and 20 hours. |
| My iFINDER has a soft buzz when I turn on the
backlight. Does this mean something is
wrong? |
| This is normal, there is nothing wrong with
your unit. Many products that use EL (electroluminescent)
backlighting buzz when the backlight is turned on. The frequency
used to drive the backlight is in a range low enough for us to
hear.
|
|
What is the difference between 5 channel and 12
channel? |
| A 12-channel receiver has 12 dedicated
channels reserved for satellite communication. The additional channels
provide quicker lock-on, more up to date information and the ability to
stay locked-on when you are in a challenging area (a heavily wooded area
or in locations where the horizon is blocked by mountainous terrain,
cliffs, valley slopes or tall buildings.)
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| MapCreate™ 6.3 is hanging upon execution on my
computer running Windows XP with Service Pack 2. What can I
do? |
|
If MapCreate 6.3 is hanging upon execution on a computer running
Windows XP with Service Pack 2, please read this
solution document for a temporary work-around.
|
|
After installing MapCreate™ 6.3 on my computer
running Windows 98SE, I can no longer access the internet or local
network. What can I do? |
|
If you are experiencing problems connecting to a network or the
internet after installing MapCreate 6.3 on a computer running Windows
98SE, please read this
solution document
|
|
How do I use MapCreate™ 6 quickly? How do I
transfer waypoints between my GPS unit and MapCreate™
6? |
|
These quick reference guides will help you get started using
MapCreate™ 6 more quickly.
|
| When I try using MapCreate™ 4 on Windows®
NT/2000/XP, I get an error that says "Not a valid NT application" or "Not
a valid Win32 application". What can I do? |
The installer used for MapCreate™ 4 will sometimes cause corruption
in the mapping software. However, there is a work-around that is fairly
simple to correct this matter. Simply perform the following
tasks:
-
Insert the MapCreate™ 4 CD-ROM into your CD-ROM drive.
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Double click on the "My Computer" icon on the desktop.
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Double click on your CD-ROM drive (it should be labeled
"049_0015_22").
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Double click on the "Map Create" folder.
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Right click on the file labeled "MapCreate.exe" that looks like a
globe.
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Left click the word "Copy" from the pop-up menu.
-
Return to the "My Computer" main screen by clicking back
twice.
-
Double click on your "C:" drive.
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Double click on the folder labeled "Program Files".
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Double click on the folder labeled "Lowrance".
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Right click on the folder labeled "Map Create".
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Left click the word "Paste" from the pop-up menu.
-
A message will appear that asks if you would like to replace a
file. Select Yes.
Now you can use MapCreate™ 4 on your Windows® NT, 2000, or XP
system. |
|
What is GDM-16? |
GPS Data Manager (GDM-16) allows you to upload and download data
from your GPS unit to your computer. You can easily access and manipulate
Waypoints, Routes, Plot Trails and Icons. The perfect tool for planning a
route, the GPS Data Manager allows you to build a collection of route
information that you can download to your unit. New features included in
version 3.1 are: the ability to easily import and export waypoints and
routes in a text file for use with other applications such as DeLorme
Street Atlas USA®, the ability to print a plot trail and route together,
and an improved help file.
It is included on the MapCreate™ CD-ROM which is available to purchase as an accessory from our accessories division LEI Extras. The GDM-16
software is also distributed free of charge by download, for use by
our valued customers.
NOTE: Our resources are directed first toward
our hardware and the software which operates it, and then to PC software
programs. We realize that our data transfer programs are very basic, and
that's one of the reasons we make GPS Data Manager freely
available.
We have made the tools available to third-party
software developers to communicate with our GPS units, and they are able
to create applications far more advanced than ours. This is intentional,
as those who specialize in PC software development can do this very well,
and we can continue to focus our efforts on producing great GPS
units.
|
|
How do I ...? |
Optimize my computer to connect to my GPS unit?
Optimize my GPS unit to connect to my computer?
Download and install GDM-16 software?
Connect to my GPS unit?
|
|
I've installed the software, but where is the
desktop icon? |
|
The GDM-16 Software does not install a desktop icon or shortcut
desktop for you automatically. When you install the software you will find
the start icon by clicking the START BUTTON, PROGRAMS, LOWRANCE, and then
you will see the GDM-16 icon which will start the program. You will have
to create one yourself if you would like a shortcut on the
desktop.
|
| What is the difference between GDM-16 and
MapCreate™? |
Although GDM-16 can and does upload certain maps, these maps are pre-defined by state, and contain only detail mapping of major roads,
highways, and bodies of water. They are not customizable and do not
contain city streets.
MapCreate™ 4 does not handle user information like the waypoints
and routes, but does allow you to create custom content and sized maps for
upload into GPS mapping units or programmable cartridges.
MapCreate™ 5 combines these functions, allowing you to exchange
custom maps and GPS data such as waypoints. |
| Can I install GDM-16 on a
Macintosh? |
Minimum System Requirements:
MS-Windows® PC with 486 processor, 8MB RAM, CD-ROM drive, VGA
graphics, and 10 MB free hard drive space. MapCreate™ runs with Windows®
95, Windows® 98, and Windows® NT 3.51 and 4.0. (Note: MapSelect will run
with Windows® 3.1)
GDM-16 was produced to operate on a Microsoft Windows® 95/98
operating system. We do not currently produce a Macintosh version of our
software.
|
| Can I edit or change my own user data for use in
my GPS product? |
The GDM-16 software is designed to be used in downloading, saving,
restoring, and uploading, "user" data. The program will allow you to
export that data in an editable text file format (.TXT).
For more specific information about editing waypoint, route, and
icon information inside of the GDM-16 program, please refer to the help
file included with the GDM-16 program by clicking HELP on the top pull
down menu and selecting HELP TOPICS from the choices listed.
|
|
The "HELP" file for this
software is very complete and easy to understand. We recommend
everyone gives this section a good once over after installing the
software. |
|
The MapCreate™ CD-ROM contains the GDM-16
program, which CD-ROM do I have,
and which do I need? |
|
Several versions of this software have been distributed. See our CD-ROM
identification page for more information.
|
|
Is there additional software
available? |
With CyberCom you can develop Windows applications that interface
Lowrance products with a PC. The Serial Interface Protocol, LSI 100,
documentation is also available.
Install and transfer Navionics ECharts™ with our NavTrans
transfer
software. | |
