H2O problems and Lowrance cust. survice

[lutzy]

I have read all the posts about poor Lowrance customer service. I have even ripped them myself extensively because of probs I have had with my HDS unit on my boat. Well today I change my mind. Because of all the posts about the probs with the H2O I decided to send them an email. I questioned why they are having all the probs and what is causing it and what they are doing to solve the prob. Within a few days they emailed back and said the answer was too long to put in an email so they asked for a phone number. I sent back the number and within less than an hour they called me. The guy spent about an hour on the phone with me explaining what is causing the issues. I don’t even own an H2O and he still was willing to spend that kind of time just to explain things. I have to say bravo to Lowrance. It seems they are really making an effort to improve their cust. service.

The long and short of the issues with the H2O not locking in on sats is to use or at least turn on the unit every few weeks and let it find the sats and leave it on for a few minutes. This will keep the unit updated on where the sats are and make it possible to find them the next time. For the guys that have already lost them and can’t find them, turn on the unit and leave it outside for 8 hours or so and it will eventually find the sats. The prob is you can’t use batteries for this because it will lose power before it finds them. You would need to plug it into a cig lighter or something. Basically if yours still works make sure to turn it on every few weeks. He went through a lot more on what is causing and how to solve but that is the short version.

Now Lowrance may still not be the best out there, but for the guys that already have them this may be of some help.

[broman]

I'm not sure I believe this a a realistic solution. That would mean that every new unit in the past would need to be turned on when first purchased and have this procedure done because they had been sitting on store shelves for weeks or months before being bought.

However, if this does work for those unfortunate few then this would be great news.

Anyone out there try this or are going to try this?

[hoggs222]

I haven't had many problems with my H20c. I'd try it, but the cig lighter cord I got with it is a P.O.S., soooooo.

[Ed Carlson]

So..I let my Rhino 530Hcx Garmin handheld sit for several months unused, and turn it on...and it locks in 5 seconds with 23' GPS accuracy...but the Lowrance need 8 hours or longer to accomplish the same task?

I'm having a tough time buying the cause and effect and resolution on that issue. If true, it's still poor engenering on there part.

[harvey lee]

I haven't had many problems with my H20c. I'd try it, but the cig lighter cord I got with it is a P.O.S., soooooo.

My cord also wemt out and Lowrance has no more of them.

Batteries are the game now.

[harvey lee]

I have read all the posts about poor Lowrance customer service. I have even ripped them myself extensively because of probs I have had with my HDS unit on my boat. Well today I change my mind. Because of all the posts about the probs with the H2O I decided to send them an email. I questioned why they are having all the probs and what is causing it and what they are doing to solve the prob. Within a few days they emailed back and said the answer was too long to put in an email so they asked for a phone number. I sent back the number and within less than an hour they called me. The guy spent about an hour on the phone with me explaining what is causing the issues. I don’t even own an H2O and he still was willing to spend that kind of time just to explain things. I have to say bravo to Lowrance. It seems they are really making an effort to improve their cust. service.

The long and short of the issues with the H2O not locking in on sats is to use or at least turn on the unit every few weeks and let it find the sats and leave it on for a few minutes. This will keep the unit updated on where the sats are and make it possible to find them the next time. For the guys that have already lost them and can’t find them, turn on the unit and leave it outside for 8 hours or so and it will eventually find the sats. The prob is you can’t use batteries for this because it will lose power before it finds them. You would need to plug it into a cig lighter or something. Basically if yours still works make sure to turn it on every few weeks. He went through a lot more on what is causing and how to solve but that is the short version.

Now Lowrance may still not be the best out there, but for the guys that already have them this may be of some help.

Lets see, cannot use the batteries and must use the power cord. Thats fine but what do you do when your power cord does not work asnd Lowrance has no more and will not be getting anymore.

Thats great service for sure. maybe a joke might fit better.

Having to turn it on every two weeks to keep it working simply means they are a junk GPS.

[delcecchi]

I have a theory. The H2O is an old, relatively speaking, unit. Perhaps the software in the unit doesn't accurately project the position of the satellites over long periods of time any more. So if you let it set too long it gets confused and has to look in the wrong place or at the wrong time for quite a while before finally getting it right.

Newer units do a better job of projecting satellite location.

Alternative theory is that the Lowrance is forgetting where it is while powered off if it sits too long.

Yeah, it shouldn't take that long, although a buddy had an old garmin that was single channel receiver and would take a long time to sync if he turned it off then drove a few hundred miles and let it sit for a month.

[CAMAN]

I'm not believing their excuse either. If that were true when I power on my unit and wait the 15 or so minutes it takes to find itself then turn it off while sitting icefishing then an hour or so later turn it back on in the same location to move spots it should only take 30 seconds at most to find itself.... but NO, it takes another 15 minutes or so to find its location. So IMO that is a horse____ response. I can turn off my HBird over the winter and start it back up again 200 miles away in the spring and it will find itself in less than a minute with accuracy of <10 ft. HBird and Garmin all the way! Lowrances inferior units and their garbage CS can go away forever for all I care.

[lutzy]

Don't get me wrong. I am not saying the H2O is an excellent unit. I was just trying to help the guys that have them and the guys that are having problems. If you don’t want to try it I don’t care I was just giving some info that may help some people out. Also I thought I should state I received great cust service for an issue I’m not even having because I don’t have one. I have ripped them in the past and though it only fair if you say when you get bad service you should say when you get good service. All I’m saying.

[jjohnson5150]

Garbage unit. Horrible customer service. I'm done with lowrance.

[AaronM]

Quote:

Lets see, cannot use the batteries and must use the power cord. Thats fine but what do you do when your power cord does not work asnd Lowrance has no more and will not be getting anymore.

Thats great service for sure. maybe a joke might fit better.

Having to turn it on every two weeks to keep it working simply means they are a junk GPS.

Harvey, I understand your frustration but the negativity in your posts really grinds my gears. Anyway, I have had Lowrance all of my life and cannot be happier with the way I have been treated. My only problem was a dud transducer for one of my units, and I had a new one at my door within a week.

[TurnUpTheFishing]

That's great that they called and spoke with you but why cant they give the same prompt customer service to people that actually have an issue?

Ive had an H2O for about 4 seasons now and luckily it still works great and has no problem getting a signal (knock on wood). If it does go bad on me Ill most replace it with another brand. Im looking to buy a side imaging unit for my boat this spring and Im not even considering Lowrance based solely on their horrible customer service reputation. I need to hear a lot more positive stories before my opinion of them changes. Unfortunately you seem to hear 5:1 negative to positive stories. Maybe its just because people are more likely to talk when they are angry. Though, I cant say Ive heard much bad press about other fishing electronic companies.

[Esox_Magnum]

I love my Expedition, but I use it all the time and have had it since they first came out, I did have a bad cord as most and it was replaced and still works after all these years of constant use. You can still buy them fairly easily, my buddy just got a new one for his Expedition.

[harvey lee]

fishingfrenzy

I am negative about the h20 as I have had many issues with mine and still do today. It'svery bad when they have a huge issue with the power cord that many users have had and when one calls Lowrance to purchase another they say sorry, we no longer have any.

Where does that leave all the H20 users?

[CAMAN]

Where does that leave all the H20 users?

It leaves me thinking someone making the decisions at Lowrance has partial ownership in Energizer

[Billy_Burbout]

I already started a thread on this. i did what they said (8hrs outside) didnt work. do agree with you on how nice they were...when they wanted $149.95 + $12 shipping to fix the unit for me! i just hope your h20 doesn't go out. good luck

[Red Cabin]

I've purchased 3 Lowrance products in the last 7 or so years, 2 had to be sent back for repair/replacement the other is an h20C so I'm worried it will fail also. My next electronic purchases will be another brand.

[Surface Tension]

My experiences with Lowrance CS have been positive when the unit was under warranty in that a fix or replacement happened in an acceptable amount if time.

Outside of that warranty period, well you I can't help but feel frustrated when a company is aware of known issues but feels no obligation to a customer or their defective product to offer a replacement at a reasonable price.

H2O powercords for example. Lowrance is aware that they are prone to fail. Come on, how about a replacement at a reasonable cost. $27 for a powercord. My second one lasted less then a year and I take great care with my electronics.

I'm not about to buy another so I'll continue using rechargeable batteries and turn the H2Oc on when I really need it to mark or go to a waypoint. I had planned on using it for more then that. When I bought the H2Oc the powercord was a one of the features that hooked me.

Lowrance has been one of the leaders in outdoor electronics for a long time and I'm sure they continue to be.

Consumers do consider CS when they make a choice in their purchases.

It is silly to think that a powercord would have any effect as to my next purchase, or is it.

[LMITOUT]

I've enjoyed my H2Oc since the day I bought it and the power cord hasn't given me any issues either. Lucky I guess.....

I think part of the problem is that people don't understand how a GPS unit works and think that it's supposed to lock right on within seconds of powering up the unit. If people would only read the manual... *sigh*

[krats]

I too have had the "lock on" problem with my H2Oc. I did the 8 hour thing like the CS lady told me and it did not fix the problem. Called them back a few days later and she told me that it is the processor and it was $162 to have it fixed.

I have not sent it in yet....trying to decide if I should just by a different band of unit instead.

The handheld unit served me well for about 4 years, kind of disappointed that Lowrance would not do some sort of a recall if so many people are having problems.

Maybe I will just get a nicer unit for the boat and not buy another handheld.

[harvey lee]

I've enjoyed my H2Oc since the day I bought it and the power cord hasn't given me any issues either. Lucky I guess.....

I think part of the problem is that people don't understand how a GPS unit works and think that it's supposed to lock right on within seconds of powering up the unit. If people would only read the manual... *sigh*

I believe that many here know how to run their GPS. It should not take as long as it does to lock into the satelitte as asll my other GPS units lock in right away.

Not even going to mention the power cord issues.

[Billy_Burbout]

amen mr lee. its not the person running the unit. another buddys dad had his go out also. he got his fixed for FREE. only took one hour to get it fixed. iam going to try in brainerd today to get mine fixed. he got his fixed in the cities. will let everybody know if it works. PS. sounds fishy to me if a guy can take it to a "chain store" and gives it to a tech, and he has it fixed in 1 hr?? huh intersting

[LMITOUT]

That just reinforces that it's user error or not taking the time to become familiar with the different options and settings of the unit.

[Billy_Burbout]

Dear LMITOUT: Iam not as smart as you are when it comes to my H2Oc. So when cust. service walked me through the entire process in trying to locate single and THEY told me my unit is broke, i would tend to believe them since they work for lowrance for a living....wait a second...do you??? do you know why these units are breaking down?? do you get a cut of the $162?? just askin

[harvey lee]

Billy, Lmitout simply has all the answers.

Just maybe Mr I know everything Lmitout could tell us all why our power cords do not work also!!

[Fishinguy40]

I have an older Garmin handheld GPS, Etrex Legend. Haven't used it for a few years. Turned it on this fall and it wouldn't find satellites. I went to there their website and it had similar recommendation, turn it on once a month so that it can find the satellites.

If there is an error in the software, even small, the longer it goes without finding satellites, the more the error will compund.

For my garmin, I downloaded a software update and left it on the deck. It did finally lock in after 20-30 minutes.

[jentz]

Before I signed on here as a member, I remember looking at GPS posts.EVERYBODY!! on this site was saying if its not H2O its not worth even considering.Outdoor forums have a way of convincing people that what they say and think is the only way.

I have a Magellan works geeeeereat leave it off all winter and it picks up sats within 3 minutes after that first spring search for sats it connects within 1 minute,Its a older one,But as I see now it does outpreform a H2O.

Customer service?? I only used Magellan service once that was for a wire to connect to the computer to download FREE updates.

I'm so happy with my lowly magellan!! Hearing all these complaints makes me realize the wise decision of NOT getting a H2O

[TurnUpTheFishing]

Back in the day the H2O was the unit to have as it was the only one that supported the Map chips and before problems began to arise.

Funny day after I post in this thread I go to use my powercable on the way to the lake, guess what? It broke. Im not too tore up though I got 4 years out of it.

[Northlander]

My H2Oc is still working great. The power cord on the other hand is JUNK! I have been through 3. Finally got Lowrance to send me a new one. Yes they can still find new ones for you if you are a big enough pain in their ars.

[Stringerless!]

What is the unit to have today ? I need one !

[reddog]

My H2O is fortunately still working but my fishing partner wasnt so lucky. His died 2 years ago, BUT, he did send it in and got it repaired and no issues since. Mine does take a long time to lock on, but not 8 hours. My power cord works upon initial startup, but some time later, it switches over to batteries. When I unplug the cord from the power source, it is so hot its about to melt. I let it hang out the window for half an hour and its good for another hour or so. Im thinking its on its last leg.