Lowrence 3500c & tides

[Sans Bateau]

I double checked my Lowrance 3500 at the weekend, I haven't been to the boat for a couple of weekends, so was not able to comment on the recent thread.

I was convinced, and I have confirmed, that my 3500c shows tides in meters and the unit is set to meters. I double checked the tidal data on paper against the unit and I have to say it is just about spot on.

On the weekend, the tide turned at Chichester bar 15mins before my Lowrence said it would. I think that acceptable.

Out of interest, the software was upgraded within weeks of buying the unit at this years LIBS, mine now runs version 1.6.0

 

[Guest]

Is that with nautipath or Navionics ?

I know that fault is supposed to lie in the plotter software not the charting ...

I have just downloaded the update ex Lowrance web-site onto card - ready to be updated on machine ... next trip back to UK ...

I think the online update is vers. 1.7.0 for both GPS antenna and the plotter ... ( 2 updates ... antenna has to be done first ..)

 

[Sans Bateau]

Thats naughty path, if there is another update I will download that, after hols!

 

[Guest]

Great .... lets' see what others say ...

See you next time back ....

 

[PembrokeshirePromise]

Hi,

The issue with m / fathoms was on the tidal gauges I believe (the funny little icon that is supposed to show how much tide there is).

If I remember correctly - clicking through on this gives the tides - and I think they displayed OK in metres - but it is from memory ...
The timing issue was more to do with currents than tides I think ...

P.S. Got the Navionics PC plotter on trial - displays the charts OK - but teh software is one of the least polished apps I've seen ina long time ... I reckon it will be going back !

 

[bluedragon]

Pembrokeshire Promise is correct in what he says. I'd be amazed if your unit was any different. In fact it would be the only one in existence and Lowrance would like to have it back please /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[Sans Bateau]

[ QUOTE ]
The issue with m / fathoms was on the tidal gauges

[/ QUOTE ]

I dont see that as a problem realy then, I cant actually see the writing on the gauge ( /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif new glasses) but the fact is the tide going up or down, for me is good enough, the rest of the tidal info looks good, tidal flow 'looks' right, but I will monitor that a bit more closely then

 

[Sans Bateau]

[ QUOTE ]
I'd be amazed if your unit was any different

[/ QUOTE ]

Your may right, although I remember peeps talking just recently of version 1.3.0 software as mine is V1.6.0 I wondered if there is an update some need to down load.

 

[jackho]

Anybody tell me what the uggrades do? I bought one of these last month - don't know what version software is loaded. Am very pleased with it although when I zoom out the nav. lights sectors seem to take over the chart. Can I clear these for daylight sailing? Thanks in anticipation . Jackho

 

[RMA]

Excuse my ignorance, but how do you upgrade the software? I take it you need something extra to enable a computer to read the MMC card.

 

[Sans Bateau]

I had the upgrade emailed to me from Silva(?). I had to buy an MMC card reader/writer from PC World (£10). I saved the data that was already on the card to my PC before downloading the upgrade, ever so easy and I'm no Brendan!

 

[Guest]

You ""I saved the data that was already on the card to my PC before downloading the upgrade, ever so easy and I'm no Brendan! ....... are you saying that you saved the chart data to pc before using the chart card before recording to it ??

Reason I ask is that the chart data cannot be written back unless it is absolutely the same card and in same condition as when data was on originally ... it's part of the protection. In fact - I would advise that the chart card is not used for other data at all ... better to use a different separate card ...

 

[Sans Bateau]

I have copies of the following files on my pc. There are 4 files, all end in .at5 three are clearly tide files, the forth has just a numeric file name, but is 90mb!

These files are only copies of what was on the MMC card. The instructions they sent are:


Nauticpath Tides Upgrade File: Feb 2006


1. Insert Nauticpath MMC card into MMC/SD card reader – Diagram 1 should then appear on your screen.
2. Delete the file called “ International_Transastides.at5 “ (right click and delete)
3. Add in file “International_Tides.at5 “
NB “International_Tides.at5 “ file available from Silva by email or on disk
(Either drag & drop, save as or copy & paste the file)
4. Nauticpath chart MMC card information should now look like Diagram 2 on screen.

Hope this helps

 

[Guest]

Re: Lowrence 3500c & tides ... got yer !!

OK - undertstood - this is not what I assumed from previous post ... as the chart data file - the 90mb one cannot be moved to another card - it can be backed-up but must go back to same card again it was taken of.

The other files are indeed tide / current files and I assume from Silva's info. that they do not have similar protection.

Good ...


The updates I was talking about before are the plotter software updates not card.

 

[RMA]

Re: Lowrence 3500c & tides

Thanks for the info

 

[Rivers & creeks]

To upgrade your plotter software, go to the Lowrance web site and dowload the latest version. Remember to upgrade your NMEA software before the plotter software (another download from the same site). The latest upgrade for the plotter fixes a few minor bugs, one of which was that it did not always display speed over ground if you were not on a waypont based route.

Put them onto your pc, copy to an SD card (don't use the one with your charts on); put the SD card into the plotter with the power off, turn on and follow the instructions that came with the download. Dead easy.

 

[Sans Bateau]

/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gifI just wanted to be a navigator not a blummin computer programer! /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

 

[Guest]

To enlarge on Pasta-simon ...

There are two upgrades ...

First is to upgrade the GPS Antenna software .... and then to do the plotter ....

This url is direct link to the page to read and start downloads from .....

http://www.lowrance.com/Software/Upgrades/GlobalMap/GM3500C_170/Default.asp

BUT it is for the 3500C .... so go back to base Update page and choose your model .... I note that the 3600iGPS has a different update version ....

 

[Guest]

Just got replay back from Silva about update for Card data ... wanted to know where / when purchased etc. etc.

So hoping for good reply now ...