Lowrance HDS update

[PeteD]

Followed all the instructions for installing updates and there's NADA '
no updates on either unit.
What a waste of time....
Yeah I could take em in and have someone else do them and that would be more time....
is there a flaw with there instructions?

Humminbird was so easy

Peted

[Ken Sauret]

Hi Pete,

It is easy to update your Lowrance unit yourself but the first time can be difficult being something you haven't done before. Once you do it successfully it gets easier every time and you'll be helping your friends do it.

Take an empty SD card and go to www.lowrance.com and click on Downloads then click on Product Software Updates. Then scroll down the list to find your unit model number and click on the current update and follow those instructions and download the update onto the SD card. When you are through go into the drive on your computer and look on the SD card to make sure the update got onto the card. There will be a list of 2 or 3 files on the card and since you started with a blank card these are the updates for you units.

Now go to your boat and with the unit off insert the SD card with the update into the unit. Turn the unit on and it will recognize the update and download it into the unit automatically during boot up. When the update is loaded you will be prompted by the unit to remove the card and continue the boot up process and you are done.

[PeteD]

Thats what I did but when I put the card in and start the unit it does not recognize the files and just starts normally.

Im taking the boat into the shop today for repairs so I'll have them try it.

Thanks
PeteD

[Rob Dickson]

try a different memory card. I had a 2gb scandisk card that had the info on it but the graph would not pick it up. My wife got me a 8gb scandisc ultra and it worked.

[PeteD]

Rob,
Thanks for the input, after being at the shop we could only update the HDS-5, I still cant update the 5x, I was also told the only way to update the 5x is to install an ethernet cable, Lowrance said it should work over the Nema2K.

Do I need a Ethernet cable ?, I thought that was only for the downscan LSS.

Thanks
Peted

I will also try a bigger SD card.

[bryanmc]

N2K (Nema) and ethernet are 2 different things... I would think if your 5x has a card slot you should be able to update siftware without either, but I'm not sure.

[PeteD]

I think I found the problem- When all else fails read the instructions..

The HDS 5 manual states that MMC cards using formatted FAT 32 or
NFTS will not work with there products.

Peted

[PeteD]

So the new SD card works for the HDS 5
I still cant get the update to the 5X from the 5.
So if I need to buy a Ethernet cable now to get them to talk after I just spent $ on a SD card, I should have just upgraded to the 5 on the bow which tells me there isn't any use for the X other than to keep spending money to get them to talk- which means the boat should have never been rigged with the two different ones in the first place.

Case closed
Thanks for listening to me Vent.

PeteD

[bryanmc]

Ahhh, I see it now. The 5x is purely a depthfinder, no gps or mapping, hence, no need for a card slot. I'm sure if you check with you local boat dealer they have an ethernet cable laying around you could use for 2 minutes at the shop to do the update. Check with Gene at the hook, he can probably help you out.

[PeteD]

Correct no card slot on the 5X, I also want to share info between both units, I would be able to mark a way point from the 5x to the 5.
Also I want the time function for like when the tide changes or how much time I have to get to a weigh in.

I guess this is the way Lowrance markets ther different units.

Kinda like Microsoft giving you a Office try out for 60 days, they just tease you into spending $'

Lowrance has instructions that says the unit can be updated this way,
on the phone support told me it is possible to be done through the Nema 2 K and I dont need the Ethernet cable. But then again they use consumers to do their trouble shooting for them.

Peted

[bryanmc]

Not really a lot you could share between the units. You could share time, but since there are no gps or mapping features on the 5x you can't really share waypoints or nav info.

I have a Lowrance on the bow and a 'Bird on the console. If I find something I want to waypoint, I mark it on the front, then go to the back and waypoint it there.

Sadly, you have to hook the units together somehow for them to share info. It would be nice if thay came up with a wireless network to connect them, but then someone would find a way to hack your waypoints or some other mess like tour graph reading someone elses transducer when your close.

[Marc]

PeteD,

Here is the link to the instructions for updating the HDS-5X unit:

http://www.lowrance.com/en/Downloads/Pr ... or-HDS-5X/

3.0 is a large update. As per the instructions, you have to use an ethernet cable between the HDS-5 and the 5X to transfer the update.

The cable is not expensive, and you can borrow one for just the update, but since you want to share waypoints and also for sharing transducers, the ethernet cable is the best thing since sliced bread. I highly recommend keeping an ethernet cable installed between your two HDS units. It is especially good for sharing a single transducer so you eliminate crosstalk in deep water. You might want to read my article in the previous issue of Bass Angler Guide Magazine about using the ethernetwork.

FYI, the 5X is not a tease unit or marketing ploy like trial software. It is a great unit for people who do not want to pay more for or need a combo GPS/Sounder, and only want a Fish Finder/sounder. It also has the broadband sounder built in.

ciao,
Marc

[bryanmc]

but since you want to share waypoints and also for sharing transducers, the ethernet cable is the best thing since sliced bread.

Marc... How do you share waypoints with the 5x? From what I can see, there's no "wpt" button to set one and there's no mapping in the unit to display one.

Just curious...

[Marc]

You are correct, you can't share waypoints with the 5X; it was a poor choice of words on my part considering the context of this thread.

If you have more than one HDS gps capable unit, the ethernet cable allows sharing of waypoints better than a NMEA2000 network. My post was intended to illustrate the value of an ethernet cable for anyone reading this thead, and who has multiple GPS units. Even with the 5X units, it does allow you to share multiple sonar transducers between units, which makes it a valuable addition to your electronics.

ciao,
Marc

[PeteD]

Hi Marc,
Here's my point- I bought a new boat with A Gps unit HDS 5 on the console.
I can update that unit with new software which is "free". now to update the 5x its gonna cost money i.e. price for ethernet cable.
The 5x is the cheaper unit but gonna cost money- for both units to have same version of software- so they can communicate over Nhema2k.
I dont know why this boat was set up this way.
Ive spoken to other dealers and they told me they would not have put the 5x on the bow. I know if someone wanted just a fish finder without GPS the X would be cheaper. But in this case it cost money to update it.

Thanks for the input

Peted

[Marc]

Actually it won't cost you a dime to update it if you borrow an ethernet cable for a few minutes. If I were local you could borrow my extra one. Any Lowrance dealer should be able to do this, and I would hope your boat dealer would do so; otherwise I would shop for a new boat dealer.

I understand your frustration at how your boat was setup, but it sounds like you are blaming Lowrance. How your boat is setup is between you and your dealer; Lowrance has nothing to do with this. We can help solve the Lowrance issues, but not with the dealer and boat issues.

I'm driving down to So. CA in a few weeks moving my daughter to USC grad school; I'll bring my cable and help you if you can't get any help elsewhere.

ciao,
Marc

[PeteD]

Thanks Marc

Peted