Lowrance chartplotters

[mdonnelly]

The external GPS unit of My lowrance globalmap 3500 has died. I have been quoted around £200 for replacement. Considering replacing with 5150c as can get for £299 and use old card. Have seen the 3500 for £442. So is the 3500 a superior model to the 5150c because would then just replace gps unit. Advise to clarify my confusion would be gratefully received.

 

[Phoenix of Hamble]

5150 is 640x480, whereas 3500 is 480x480.... both with similar sized displays.... the 5150c is a better machine

 

[mdonnelly]

About to bite the bullet and buy the 5150c + nauticpath europe west from Gaelforcemarine for 309.99 inc delivery!

 

[Sans Bateau]

The 3500C is now out of production. It is replaced by the 5200C.

edit: You should keep a closer eye on the For Sale forum, sorry too late now though. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

 

[stevebirch2002]

Have a look at the Garmin 550. Under £400 delivered with complete UK Charts. Im very impressed, bought one last week.

 

[Pinnacle]

I'll second that....

 

[Sans Bateau]

Good move Steve.

 

[charles_reed]

The receiver on all the Lowrance GPS sets are the same.

Unfortunately Lowrance are trailing the competition, and have nothing in their range which accepts AIS input.

For that reason, though I have a considerable investment in Navionics charts, I wouldn't consider the Lowrance replacement if I was in your position.

The only chartplotters which accept Navionics Gold are the Raymarine - they have no EGNOs/WAAS input - IMHO a built-in obsolescence.

So I'm waiting, even though the Lowrance engine is one of the best on the market.

 

[Sans Bateau]

The GPS receiver is different, they (for reasons unexplained) have changed the Nmea 2000 connecting cables. The receiver used to be an LGC 2000 its now LGC 3000.

Regards Navonics, Raymarine use (I believe CF) Lowrance use MMC/SD, so you would have to get an upgrade anyway.

 

[nigelhudson]

According to the manual the plotter will take an nmea input via the data connection (not the nmea 2000 bus). This means that you could use any GPS with nmea 0183 output to drive it.

 

[Sans Bateau]

mmm worth a try, it would work unless the firmware expects to see a proprietary receiver, in which case it may not.

 

[Tekkie]

Yep that will work. We Drive our 3500c via the NMEA 0183 woks well and has done for over 3 years.

 

[DavidTav]

I had this problem with my unit. I was told by Silva that there was a batch of faulty antenna supplied and they provided a replacement free of charge. Maybe you have the same problem? There are previous posts on this subject.

 

[moody1]

Depending on age you may be able to claim replacement based on the faulty batch they had at one stage.
If not, all Lowrance accept GPS Input from standard hand-helds via NMEA - hubby wired up ours in a few minutes as a check and back-up.

 

[Sans Bateau]

Thats really good news, I did not know a nmea input would drive the plotter!