Lowrance - STILL no resolution of the tidal issues

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bluedragon

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I seem to be the only one bothered by this, but I'm determined to make a noise until Lowrance can be bothered to fix the tidal software bugs in their plotters. The story has been well discussed on this forum, and personally with Lowrance and Navionics by me at both the January LBS and the SBS last week and in numerous e-mails. In summary for new forumites (or those who have just bought a Lowrance plotter) the issues are a) the tidal height "T" icon on the chart reads a FATHOM value when METRES are chosen as the depth unit, and vice-versa b) when using Navionics charts, the times of HW/LW behind this icon are nonsense on a few days most months. This latter issue is a Lowrance bug, not Navionics, but it is in their best interest to put pressure on Lowrance to fix it. The Southampton Boat Show displays of the Lowrance plotters and the Lowrance plotter on the Navionics stand still showed that neither issue has been fixed, and I had to go over the whole story again with both Silva and Navionics people, demonstrating the bugs to them. Lots of nice words and promises...but I've been there before 9 months ago!! If anyone can definitely state that a software update on any Lowrance plotter has solved either one of these issues...then please let me know (by PM if you wish). I shall be keeping the pressure on over the months ahead, before once again descending on their stands at the LBS in January (anyone want to join me?). Thanks.
 
I have not found this problem on my 3500c. The requested values are set to meters and that is what I get. During our summer 2 week cruise I watched carefully, checking the tidal data against other tidal data, it looked pretty good to me, no more than 10 - 15mins out.

Or am I missing the point?

PS I only use Nautipath.
 
Please do the following:

a) set the depth units to feet...come out of the menu and check the value on any tidal T icon
b) repeat the above with the units set to metres
c) repeat with the units set to fathoms

You'll see if you check the ht of tide above CD for the time and day that the feet value is correct, the metre setting is giving a fathom value, and the fathom setting is giving a metre value. Now in the USA where they all use feet...no problem. In Europe where we typically use charts set to metres, the ht of tide shown on the T icon is in fathoms...not metres. I've checked dozens of Lowrance plotters and they all do the same thing. It makes no difference whether Navionics or NauticPath charts are used. Therefore Etap_Owner I don't see how yours is correct unless you have your unit set to feet? PLEASE check and let me know.

PS - let me make it clear...I'm talking about the pop-up value you see when moving the cursor over a T icon...not the tidal curve data behind it, which is correct, with the exception of those days when the Navionics charts go haywire.
 
OK
will double double check this. I have been aware of this problem from the outset. I do understand the problem, you have confirmed that. I am set to Metres and the 'T', I'm sure is reading an 'M'.
 
Etap_owner...if it is reading correctly it would be useful to know when you bought your plotter and/or the serial number, as it'll be the only one I've come across that works correctly in this respect. If anyone has any Lowrance plotter that is OK either out of the box or after a software update, I'd like to use that info in my communications with Lowrance. Thanks for your help.

PS - just noticed this phrase in your post "I'm sure is reading an 'M'. "...yes it does show an "M" but the value shown is fathoms...that's the confusion!
 
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it would be useful to know when you bought your plotter and/or the serial number

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Be far more useful to note the software versions as this is clearly a software issue
 
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it would be useful to know when you bought your plotter and/or the serial number

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Be far more useful to note the software versions as this is clearly a software issue

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Yes it would...you're correct! Thanks.
 
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didn't think there was a unit software upgrade since last year ?

1.7.0

there was one for the anternnae/gps module though but cant see how that would affect this issue

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No, that's correct for the 3500C. But it's just possible that earlier versions didn't have this problem, and of course there have been software updates for other models (which also seem to suffer from this bug).
 
Am I hallucinating??? On 11 Sep I received an email from Lowrance regarding a software update for 3600i. I downloaded it but it wouldn't upload to my plotter. The other day I downloaded a second copy but again today it would not upload. It was for ver. 1.4. I have just checked the site now and the only update is 1.3 dated last April. Is this just another figment of galloping senility or was anyone else emailed about an upgrade that is now no longer there?
 
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