Yesterday when heading out to catch some fish the combo unit on the boat
showed a problem. The display had several narrow vertical white lines
across it. Although the lines were not helpful they really did not
interfere with reading the display. As the day warmed a few lines went away
but most remained after about six hours of ON time.

The unit is a 1999 Lowrance with a black and white display.

I fear it may be time for a replacement but would like to have your views.
I could send it back to Lowrance for the flat rate repair but am not sure
the unit is worth the cost at this point. Perhaps I'm really just looking
for an excuse to buy a new unit???

Thanks,
Butch

"Butch Davis" wrote in message
.net...
Yesterday when heading out to catch some fish the combo unit on the boat
showed a problem. The display had several narrow vertical white lines
across it. Although the lines were not helpful they really did not
interfere with reading the display. As the day warmed a few lines went
away
but most remained after about six hours of ON time.

The unit is a 1999 Lowrance with a black and white display.

I fear it may be time for a replacement but would like to have your views.
I could send it back to Lowrance for the flat rate repair but am not sure
the unit is worth the cost at this point. Perhaps I'm really just looking
for an excuse to buy a new unit???


For me, the issue would likely hinge on how much of a PITA it would be to
change out the transducer for the sounder section of the head unit. That's
usually where the most difficult part of a new installation lies, mounting
the transducer and fishing the wires to the helm. Another issue is whether
your current head unit is flush mounted or on a gimbal bracket.

Assuming your current problem is not related to a faulty transducer, but
rather a faulty head unit, as seems likely, I would check and see if a new
model head unit could be purchased that would be compatible with the
existing transducer and connector (and helm cutout if flush mounted). If
so, that's probably the direction I would take. If not, I'd have to weigh
the benefits of a whole new unit and the pain of installing a new transducer
versus just getting the old head unit fixed and not having to deal with a
new transducer installation.

Probably some corrosion or the contacts getting week that connect the screen
to the electronics. If too much for the flat rate, migh try taking the unit
apart and reseating the screen. Normally it is a silicon pad contact. The
other issue is how easy to change the transducer. Bottom mounted or transom
mounted. If a real pain to change and you are happy with the Lowrence, send
the unit back for service.
Bill

"Butch Davis" wrote in message
.net...
Yesterday when heading out to catch some fish the combo unit on the boat
showed a problem. The display had several narrow vertical white lines
across it. Although the lines were not helpful they really did not
interfere with reading the display. As the day warmed a few lines went
away
but most remained after about six hours of ON time.

The unit is a 1999 Lowrance with a black and white display.

I fear it may be time for a replacement but would like to have your views.
I could send it back to Lowrance for the flat rate repair but am not sure
the unit is worth the cost at this point. Perhaps I'm really just looking
for an excuse to buy a new unit???

Thanks,
Butch

Thanks guys.

Since the screen has the lines in both sounder and map mode I suspect it
may, in fact, be in the connector. My boat is a small Whaler so snaking the
wires is not an issue. It was an easy install.

Guess I'll probably send it in to Lowrance for the repair work. I'll have
to review the paperwork but as I remember they have a fixed charge to repair
the unit regardless of problem. Wonder if they have anything on hand to
repair a six year old unit.

If Lowrance is unable to resolve the issue I'll probably replace it with a
WAAS GPS Map and a stand alone sounder. It would be nice to use the
existing transducer but that may not work out. The screen is small so split
screen operation is not wonderful. If I had my druthers I'd have two units
so I can have a good look beneath the boat while using the map.

Thanks again.

Butch
"Calif Bill" wrote in message
.net...
Probably some corrosion or the contacts getting week that connect the
screen
to the electronics. If too much for the flat rate, migh try taking the
unit
apart and reseating the screen. Normally it is a silicon pad contact.
The
other issue is how easy to change the transducer. Bottom mounted or
transom
mounted. If a real pain to change and you are happy with the Lowrence,
send
the unit back for service.
Bill

"Butch Davis" wrote in message
.net...
Yesterday when heading out to catch some fish the combo unit on the boat
showed a problem. The display had several narrow vertical white lines
across it. Although the lines were not helpful they really did not
interfere with reading the display. As the day warmed a few lines went
away
but most remained after about six hours of ON time.

The unit is a 1999 Lowrance with a black and white display.

I fear it may be time for a replacement but would like to have your
views.
I could send it back to Lowrance for the flat rate repair but am not sure
the unit is worth the cost at this point. Perhaps I'm really just
looking
for an excuse to buy a new unit???

Thanks,
Butch

My sounder did a very similar thing.

Prior to developing lines across the screen, a message appeared stating
that the unit was experiencing a low voltage condition and that further
operation might damage the sounder.

Immediately thereafter the lines began.

It still works, and I have a digital backup, but I'm hauling out the
first of the week for bottom paint, zinc, and a few minor repairs and
this would be an excellent time to install a new sounder.

wrote:
My sounder did a very similar thing.

Prior to developing lines across the screen, a message appeared stating
that the unit was experiencing a low voltage condition and that further
operation might damage the sounder.

Immediately thereafter the lines began.

It still works, and I have a digital backup, but I'm hauling out the
first of the week for bottom paint, zinc, and a few minor repairs and
this would be an excellent time to install a new sounder.


Recently?

Did ya check the power lead to the device?

Minor repairs like flat batteries, bad starter, new alternator,
battery cable?

Terry K

Terry,

Thanks. When the display developed the lines there was no low voltage
warning. Plus, when I turned the unit off and on again while running the
lines were present. That indicates that low voltage is not an issue unless
the connections have become high resistance. I think.

Connections may be an issue and I'll check them at the sounder and the
batteries.

Lowrance did finally offer a keyboard solution that I'll try this PM when it
warms up a little.

The Lowrance's flat rate fix anything on my unit is $150. Much as I'd like
to have a new color WAAS unit I'll probably send the unit to Lowrance for
repairs and hope for another couple of years out of it.

Thanks again.

Butch
"Terry Spragg" wrote in message
...
wrote:
My sounder did a very similar thing.

Prior to developing lines across the screen, a message appeared stating
that the unit was experiencing a low voltage condition and that further
operation might damage the sounder.

Immediately thereafter the lines began.

It still works, and I have a digital backup, but I'm hauling out the
first of the week for bottom paint, zinc, and a few minor repairs and
this would be an excellent time to install a new sounder.


Recently?

Did ya check the power lead to the device?

Minor repairs like flat batteries, bad starter, new alternator, battery
cable?

Terry K

On Fri, 28 Jan 2005 15:30:37 GMT, "Butch Davis"
wrote:

Yesterday when heading out to catch some fish the combo unit on the boat
showed a problem. The display had several narrow vertical white lines
across it. Although the lines were not helpful they really did not
interfere with reading the display. As the day warmed a few lines went away
but most remained after about six hours of ON time.

The unit is a 1999 Lowrance with a black and white display.

I fear it may be time for a replacement but would like to have your views.
I could send it back to Lowrance for the flat rate repair but am not sure
the unit is worth the cost at this point. Perhaps I'm really just looking
for an excuse to buy a new unit???

Hopefully, it's not too late for a reply here.

First, clean the connector contacts. It's not likely that is causing
the problem, but an intermittent can cause the vertical scan to mess
up.

Second, do the lines move with the display or stay in the same place?
If they move with the display, then it's in the sender unit - probably
the transducer crystal is failing. If the lines stay in the same
place, then it's a head unit problem and most likely the display
crystals are entering their death throes.

As to replacing the head unit or having it repaired, I'd get a new
unit. Probably cheaper than paying the unit flat rate Lowrance would
charge.

Normally, with these types of finders, they are so cheap it's easier
to throw them away than repair them.

Unfortunate I know, but it's still the truth.

Later,

Tom

Tom,

Thanks for the info. Unfortunately the lines stay in the same place. I
dropped an e-mail to Lowrance support but am not hopeful of a simple low
cost fix. I'm about two months shy of getting six years of service from the
thing so am annoyed but not heart broken. Besides, I'd like to have a WAAS
unit.

My 16 Whaler has a miniscule console so if I have to replace the unit I'd
like to get another combo.... but this experience tells me to get stand
alone units. To do so I'll have to flush mount my VHF vertically which is
OK as I almost never use it.

Thanks again.

Butch
"Short Wave Sportfishing" wrote in message
...
On Fri, 28 Jan 2005 15:30:37 GMT, "Butch Davis"
wrote:

Yesterday when heading out to catch some fish the combo unit on the boat
showed a problem. The display had several narrow vertical white lines
across it. Although the lines were not helpful they really did not
interfere with reading the display. As the day warmed a few lines went
away
but most remained after about six hours of ON time.

The unit is a 1999 Lowrance with a black and white display.

I fear it may be time for a replacement but would like to have your views.
I could send it back to Lowrance for the flat rate repair but am not sure
the unit is worth the cost at this point. Perhaps I'm really just looking
for an excuse to buy a new unit???

Hopefully, it's not too late for a reply here.

First, clean the connector contacts. It's not likely that is causing
the problem, but an intermittent can cause the vertical scan to mess
up.

Second, do the lines move with the display or stay in the same place?
If they move with the display, then it's in the sender unit - probably
the transducer crystal is failing. If the lines stay in the same
place, then it's a head unit problem and most likely the display
crystals are entering their death throes.

As to replacing the head unit or having it repaired, I'd get a new
unit. Probably cheaper than paying the unit flat rate Lowrance would
charge.

Normally, with these types of finders, they are so cheap it's easier
to throw them away than repair them.

Unfortunate I know, but it's still the truth.

Later,

Tom

On Tue, 01 Feb 2005 15:01:20 GMT, "Butch Davis"
wrote:

Tom,

Thanks for the info. Unfortunately the lines stay in the same place. I
dropped an e-mail to Lowrance support but am not hopeful of a simple low
cost fix. I'm about two months shy of getting six years of service from the
thing so am annoyed but not heart broken. Besides, I'd like to have a WAAS
unit.

My 16 Whaler has a miniscule console so if I have to replace the unit I'd
like to get another combo.... but this experience tells me to get stand
alone units. To do so I'll have to flush mount my VHF vertically which is
OK as I almost never use it.

Good enough.

You might want to take a look see at some of the portable units
instead of a twofer. I switched to a Raymarine RC400 GPS linked
to a Raymarine DS500 finder linked to a Raymarine C80 radar on my
Ranger and I am REALLY pleased with how that came out. I had a chance
to put the Ranger into the water a few weeks ago in Stonington and ran
it around a little - I'm glad I went with the seperate units linked to
the C80.

I can play with them separately or I can switch everything to go
through the C80 - the ultimate in functionality.

Your situation is a little different, but give the separate units a
think about.

Good luck.

Tom