Lowrance Broadband Sonar Install Questions/Problems

R

rogerbum

New member
My Tomcat came with a Lowrance 8200C GPS that I decided I wanted to turn into a fish finder with the LBS-1 Broadband Sounder add on. In brief, this is a separate device made by Lowrance that interfaces back to the head unit via the yellow 5-pin ethernet connector. The sounder unit powers the transducer and provides digital signal processing of the signal. After fishing the cables through and getting everything hooked up, I applied a software update that came with the unit on an SD card. That software update appeared to load something (e.g. I could see an update progress bar) but ended with an "invalid loader" message. On re-powering up the sounder and the 8200, I didn't see any options for sonar whatsoever in the 8200's menus.

So, I went to the Lowrance site and discovered that there was a software update available for the head unit. My 8200 was running V2.3 but V2.5 was available and one of the claimed features of 2.5 is "Added support for the Lowrance Broadband Sounder-1". So I assumed that the problem was that V2.3 didn't support the sounder and I needed to install that update. That took awhile since the Lowrance updater for the mac doesn't work on my current MacOS but after a few machinations (using an older mac with an older OS and few other tricks), I got the 2.5 software update applied. Still the 8200 has no menu options related to sonar. I then tried to re-apply the software update that came with the sonar and I get the invalid loader message immediately.

Also, I note that the LSB-1 unit has red/green lights flashing on the power indicator and the ethernet indicator light is off. According to manuals for other similar units (this condition isn't mentioned in the manuals for my units), the power indicator light flashing red/green quickly indicates that the ethernet connection is not being made and that either the head unit is powered off or the ethernet cable is not connected or the cable itself is bad. I have a few alternate hypotheses for this problem:
1) The ethernet cable is indeed bad - I can test that by buying another cable ($'s + some time).
2) The software update that came with the sonar has never been applied properly and hence the head unit isn't really looking for the sonar and that's why it isn't communicating with it. Under the networking sub menu, there is an ethernet diagnostic screen and it shows packets transmitted but none received.
3) The sonar unit is bad in some way
4) The head unit's ethernet port isn't working.
I'm leaning towards #2 but am hoping that other C-Brats might have some advice/knowledge in this area. My main question is should I see menu items on the 8200C for sonar if the software is up to date/correct but the sonar unit is not connected? I see menu items for radar without having the radar connected so I might expect the same for the sonar. I so, I think the software is still the problem. If not, then perhaps it is a cable issue.
 
Roger,

I don't know the answer but was wondering if your GPS is compatible with the Broadband Sounder. Is your unit 2007 or newer? From the Lowrance site, it says: "Compatible with all 2007* and later LCX, LMS, X and GlobalMap® Lowrance models with 5-pin ethernet connector".

As for the software update, I agree it looks like the version 2.5 is the update needed on all the units.

Let us know. I need to install my BBS as well.

Peter
 
I think that you really need to get Lowrance involved in this. They have had good customer support in the past, and will be able to give the ebst answers to your questions.
 
I have read about this problem at a few other fishing sites. Its a common problem and the answer was in how the two units where powered up and in what order the first time. I dont remember the details but if you do a search you will find it.
 
I talked to the Lowrance tech support and so far they were somewhat useless. First he said that the ethernet port on this unit was never enabled but then when he looked at the exact same information online as I had looked at he decided he was wrong - so that was a real confidence booster in Lowrance tech support. He indicated that the head unit has to be communicating with the sonar unit for any sonar related menus to show and suggested that either the head unit, the sonar unit or the cable was the problem. He further suggested I take it to a local deal to see if I could at least test the connections and the communication between the sonar unit and some other head unit.

I still suspect it's a software issue. I know that the default behavior for many of the update programs on SD cards is that they erase themselves after they install. Hence I think what may be the problem is that when I tried to install the sonar update it installed and wiped itself off the memory card BUT it really needed to be installed AFTER I updated the 8200C main software to V 2.5. At least that's my working theory.
 
I submitted my questions to Lowrance via email and am working to find another enet cable with which to test that theory. If anyone local to Seattle has a lowrance unit with a yellow 5-pin enet cable connected to something AND who is willing to try swapping in my cable to see if it works, I'd appreciate it.
 
I have a different Lowrance model--but going to the web site I noticed than on the 2.5 update:

"Notes: Mac OS X users may need to reapply the execute permissions to the stand-alone installer after it has finished downloading. To reapply the execute permissions, open a Terminal window, and type the following command (this assumes you downloaded the file to your desktop):
chmod +x desktop/GM8200C_250.command"

I also would think it is software problem.
 
thataway":2gs6ztti said:
I have a different Lowrance model--but going to the web site I noticed than on the 2.5 update:

"Notes: Mac OS X users may need to reapply the execute permissions to the stand-alone installer after it has finished downloading. To reapply the execute permissions, open a Terminal window, and type the following command (this assumes you downloaded the file to your desktop):
chmod +x desktop/GM8200C_250.command"

I also would think it is software problem.
Click to expand...
Bob,
I got the V 2.5 update installed on my Lowrance 8200C. It was actually a bit more complicated than the web site indicated as their script to copy the software to the SD is old and won't run under the newer java versions on the mac. Also, even under an older java, a portion of it (the dialog box in which you select the SD card) was broken and it would only install it to the location from which the script was run. Hence, in addition to downloading the "stand-alone installer" and issuing the appropriate unix command to allow me to execute it, I also had to copy it to the SD card and run it from there to get the software update on the SD card. Clearly Lowrance doesn't bother to update stuff for the minority that use macs....

So I have the 2.5 update installed on the 8200C. What I suspect may the issue is that the additional update that came with the sounder probably needed to be installed AFTER I updated to 2.5 on the 8200 and when I installed it under 2.3 it erased itself from the SD car. At least that's one theory. Of course the 1 page installation instructions that came with the LSB-1 sounder unit never said that I should update the head unit first.
 
A bit off topic, but I can only find 8 conductor ethernet cables listed on the internet, and the ethernet socket on the back of my computer has 8 conductors in it.

I know that for 8 pin ethernet cables there are two different wiring types. One is a 'straight thru' cable, and one is a 'crossover' cable. The 8 pin ethernet cable I have and use to connect two computers together is a yellow crossover type.

Is this the cable under discussion?
 
I talked to Peter today and he has graciously agreed to lend me his recently acquired LSB-1 and new ethernet cable so I can test my unit with those. That will eliminate the cable or the LSB-1 unit as the source of the problem. E.g. if the system works with his cable and my LSB-1, I'll know it's the cable. If it works with his LSB-1 and my cable, I'll know it's my LSB-1. If the system still behaves the same, it's likely that it's neither the cable nor the LSB-1 and it's more likely a software issue which will require a lot more conversations with Lowrance (at least until I get to someone who knows something there). I'll meet Peter at the SBS gathering on Fri and will be done with my testing on Sat. I'll update the group to let you know how that went. I'm still betting it's a software problem but I'd be happy to find out that it's the cable or LSB-1 (still under warranty). If it were the latter, I'd know exactly what to do. If it's a software issue or an issue with my GPS, I can't predict when I'll get it working.
 
Over the past few days I've had several email exchanges with Lowrance. Most the exchanges were spent convincing them that I had indeed installed the software updates etc (they even sent me copies via email which I reapplied). Bottom line, it's still not working and I'm leaning toward the cable or the LSB-1 as the problem. Tonight I'll get the borrowed cable and LSB-1 from Peter and I can test out those theories. I'll know by tomorrow.
 
Well, I swapped in the ethernet cable I borrowed from Peter - same problem. I then swapped in Peter's LSB-1 and cable - same problem. So it's probably still some software BS issue with the 8200C or perhaps the 8200C enet is working even though the GSP functions and everything else seems fine. #$%!)$ frustrated.

I hope to find a Lowrance rep at the boat show who maybe knows something, but at this point, my temptation is to send both the 8200 and the LSB-1 to Lowrance and tell them to make it work and send it back when it does...
 
Well - after multiple emails, sending back both the LSB-1 and the 8200c and a phone call or two.....

The bottom line is that the ethernet on the 8200C was not working. My guess is that the ethernet on that unit never worked but that the previous owner had no reason to use it. Since the 8200C is out of warranty and no longer supported (apparently Lowrance can't even get parts for it), it's not possible to repair it. If it were possible, they would charge around $500 to do so. But all is not lost, they offered a new HDS-8 with transducer to replace the unit and gave it to me for what it would have cost to repair the 8200C. So, I'll spend a bit more than I planned on BUT I get a new and improved unit and if it ever needs repair, it will still be supported (at least for a few years from today, knock wood). Also, the new HDS-8 will allow me to add the modern Lowrance broadband radar and integrate with an AIS radio so it's definitely a nice upgrade from the 8200C.
 
Way to go Roger. Now you don't even need the Broadband Sounder since it's already built into the HDS-8.

Very cool deal from Lowrance!!! So when are we going fishing?? :wink

Peter
 
My understanding is that the broadband sonar is an add on to the regular sonar that can be standard in the HDS-8. There are different HDS-8 models, and not all have the sonar as part of the display.
 
Matt Gurnsey":3hm6g4my said:
My understanding is that the broadband sonar is an add on to the regular sonar that can be standard in the HDS-8. There are different HDS-8 models, and not all have the sonar as part of the display.
Click to expand...

That's true - however, the person on the phone indicated that the unit they would send had the integrated sonar and an included transducer. I have to assume she was correct when she said. The HDS-8M is just the GPS, the HDS-8 is the GSP and sounder combined.

Roger
 
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