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Lowrance Ifinder Expedition stopped finding signal?


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Ok, i have not used my GPS for a few months and I pulled it out last week on a hunting trip to map my scouting walks. For some reason it is not aquiring a fix any longer. I admit to not using it a lot, but I have never had an issue before now. I power up the unit and it "looks" for a signal, and looks, and looks, etc. I have an external anntenna, which I have always just left attached with no issues. It just keeps looking until I get the message that it can not find the satellites. I have turned the unit off and back on several times, tried new batteries, even tried in multiple locations, but it NEVER finds my location.

What should I be doing to find out the issue? ANy recommendations? THe unit is only 3 years old.

Thanks

Keegan99usa

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Keegan,

 

You have the misfortune of joining a rapidly growing club. I thought that my ExpeditionC was all it until a couple of years ago when it began losing me on an increasingly regular basis. Usually, it would seem fine for 1/2 hour and then "Position Lost." As I'm sure you are aware, this is a discontinued unit and Lowrance wants over $150 for you to send it in for a look. I, and many others, have posted similar misfortune on fishingminnesota.com and they all seem to have been okay until the past couple of years. Conspiracy?

 

I am now the happy owner of a Garmin 62st and I'm not looking back. Good luck.

Edited by schweady
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Keegan,

 

You have the misfortune of joining a rapidly growing club. I thought that my ExpeditionC was all it until a couple of years ago when it began losing me on an increasingly regular basis. Usually, it would seem fine for 1/2 hour and then "Position Lost." As I'm sure you are aware, this is a discontinued unit and Lowrance wants over $150 for you to send it in for a look. I, and many others, have posted similar misfortune on fishingminnesota.com and they all seem to have been okay until the past couple of years. Conspiracy?

 

I am now the happy owner of a Garmin 62st and I'm not looking back. Good luck.

Not exactly what I had hoped to hear :( I tried the "soft reset" and now will try the "hard reset" and see if I gain anything, but this does not make me optomistic.

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Here is the reply I got from Lowrance, hope it works.

 

---------

I have a procedure that needs to be done on your unit and I am sure that this will get it fixed and working so you can resume using the unit. Please see below;

 

The unit that you currently have is a GPS system that from time to time needs an ephemeris data reset in order to position itself with the constellations. Ephemeris data is downloaded to the units through a download from the satellites every 6-8 hours. The suggested process for this reset is as follows:

 

1. Place brand new batteries into the iFinder

2. Leave the unit on in a place where the unit has a clear 360 degree view of the sky.

3. The unit should be on for a total of 8-10 hours and be left alone to download the data to the antenna. 4. At that time, power the unit off and power the unit back on.

5. Verify to see if the unit is locks onto satellites.

-----------

 

If anyone tries this and it does work out, please let me know. THanks

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Here is the reply I got from Lowrance, hope it works.

 

---------

I have a procedure that needs to be done on your unit and I am sure that this will get it fixed and working so you can resume using the unit. Please see below;

 

The unit that you currently have is a GPS system that from time to time needs an ephemeris data reset in order to position itself with the constellations. Ephemeris data is downloaded to the units through a download from the satellites every 6-8 hours. The suggested process for this reset is as follows:

 

1. Place brand new batteries into the iFinder

2. Leave the unit on in a place where the unit has a clear 360 degree view of the sky.

3. The unit should be on for a total of 8-10 hours and be left alone to download the data to the antenna. 4. At that time, power the unit off and power the unit back on.

5. Verify to see if the unit is locks onto satellites.

-----------

 

If anyone tries this and it does work out, please let me know. THanks

 

Well, that did not work for me. Now it's 3 sets of batteries gone and it still does not work.

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Sorry to hear of your continued difficulties, Keegan, but I believe that it is a predictable and repeatable symptom. About the only thing that seemed to help me (and not every time, for sure) was plugging it into a 12v source and hoping it would lock in, then unplugging and using in the field. Certainly not an option 100% of the time.

 

Like I said, I dealt with Lowrance to no avail. Very happy with my ultimate solution: Garmin 62st.

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Have had it looking for a signal for two days running all day all night, nothing. Looks like I have a glorified MP3 player

 

Well, off and on it will receive a signal and lock on while attached to the 12V source. It does not stay locked on for long at all. It does show quite a number of satelites, but will not use them. I think I will be using my phone GPS from now on.

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i have the same problem put small copper wire in external antena hole the center one took right off i had let it search for 3 days and that fixed it so i ordered an external antena for it hope it works for you let me know if it dose pass it along seems like lots of people having same problem thanks JOE

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