Lowrance XOG

[walstib]

Hey now,

I just got an XOG at Bass Pro Shop for 160 bucks. Real nice unit. I had the old iWay 100M for a few years. I was trying to load tracks and did that fine using GPSBabel, but my address book keeps filling up with waypoints????? While in GPSBabel I have converted checking tracks only and still get the waypoints in the address book. Is it because I am using the Mac version of GPSBabel? MaybeI should try a PC version??? I'll keep playing with it. The new mini-usb cord is kinda funky, it is a 90 degree bend, but it is upwards not towards the back. Weird.

[fendermon]

Make any headway yet?...(bump)

[Big Toe]

Hi,
I'm new to the GPS thing. Are Canadian maps avalalbe for this unit? There are Canadian dealers but I don't see anything on there website about Canadian maps.

[rwamf]

Originally Posted by acormier7

Hi,
I'm new to the GPS thing. Are Canadian maps avalalbe for this unit? There are Canadian dealers but I don't see anything on there website about Canadian maps.

The XOG comes with US and Canada NavTech Maps, at least mine has full detailed maps for Canada.

[Big Toe]

I'm thinking this may be a good choice for my V-Strom, at least 90% paved roads with a bit of gravel road, fire roads thrown in.
I want a gps that is some what waterproof, turn-by-turn direction with an MP3 player for the long trips. It'll be used in my car also.
I'm thinking this would be a good choice. A Zumo 450 or 550 are way out of my budget.

[Big Toe]

For us Canadians, Bass Pro Shop in Toronto has it on sale till Dec, 24 for $159.99 Can. down from $269.99 Can, which is about $125.00 US. That's a bargin for us Canadians who generally get screwed on pricing. I don't know if Bass Pro Shop in Canada Ship there product's.

http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/st...tab&storeID=11

[JimNtexas]

I've been pretty happy with the XOG I bought in June, until this week.

It seems my battery (sealed in the unit) is pretty much dead. It can hold a charge only a few minutes.

In and of itself, this isn't really a big deal. Batteries can die in any application.

My problem is that as near as I can tell there is no tech support from Lowrance. They have a number you can call, and a web form you can fill out. Unfortunately, the phone number always hangs up on me after 20 minutes on hold, and they seem to ignore the web mail form.

They claim on their web page, their 'on hold' message, and on the autoresponse from the web form that you can get an RMA on the web, but that's a lie.

I fully expected that this wouldn't be a big deal, I'm sure their techs could swap the battery out in a few seconds.

Sadly, their management seems unwilling to give out RMAs.

I can't recommend any company with this level of non-support, even when the basic product is a good one.

[rwamf]

Originally Posted by JimNtexas

I've been pretty happy with the XOG I bought in June, until this week.

It seems my battery (sealed in the unit) is pretty much dead. It can hold a charge only a few minutes.

In and of itself, this isn't really a big deal. Batteries can die in any application.

My problem is that as near as I can tell there is no tech support from Lowrance. They have a number you can call, and a web form you can fill out. Unfortunately, the phone number always hangs up on me after 20 minutes on hold, and they seem to ignore the web mail form.

They claim on their web page, their 'on hold' message, and on the autoresponse from the web form that you can get an RMA on the web, but that's a lie.

I fully expected that this wouldn't be a big deal, I'm sure their techs could swap the battery out in a few seconds.

Sadly, their management seems unwilling to give out RMAs.

I can't recommend any company with this level of non-support, even when the basic product is a good one.

I called them 3 weeks ago about my Iway 600c that the touch screen was screwing up, they gave me a RMA over the phone, I sent it in and in a week I got a brand new unit back, Pretty damm fine service for me
May be they are all on a xmas break?????

[DaymienRules]

My xog totally lost all satellite reception, got an RMA over the phone and a new unit about 2 weeks later. The phone rep even owned a xog himself. I was really impressed with their customer service.

Regarding the battery-after taking mine apart I found the battery looks VERY similar to an ipod battery(same connector too), and some cell phone batteries. I'd bet an replacement could be found on ebay for less than 10 bucks shipped. And for any rebel DIYers out there-it looks like there is room inside the unit to install a higher capacity battery. Especially if you unglue the speaker and move it over a bit.

[Big Toe]

What's an RMA ?

[DaymienRules]

Originally Posted by acormier7

What's an RMA ?

probably a typo that we all copied. I meant an RA# for Return Authorization

[jstcrashnthru]

Originally Posted by acormier7

What's an RMA ?

Return Merchandise Authorization.

[Cyclepath]

Originally Posted by JimNtexas

I've been pretty happy with the XOG I bought in June, until this week.

It seems my battery (sealed in the unit) is pretty much dead. It can hold a charge only a few minutes.

In and of itself, this isn't really a big deal. Batteries can die in any application.

My problem is that as near as I can tell there is no tech support from Lowrance. They have a number you can call, and a web form you can fill out. Unfortunately, the phone number always hangs up on me after 20 minutes on hold, and they seem to ignore the web mail form.

They claim on their web page, their 'on hold' message, and on the autoresponse from the web form that you can get an RMA on the web, but that's a lie.

I fully expected that this wouldn't be a big deal, I'm sure their techs could swap the battery out in a few seconds.

Sadly, their management seems unwilling to give out RMAs.

I can't recommend any company with this level of non-support, even when the basic product is a good one.

i'm not sure why you think this is a lie. i have had some problems with one of my units "i have three" i got my rma number from there web site and sent it to them. i had a brand new unit on my front porch in three weeks. cyclepath

[walstib]

Hey Now,

Well, tried converting a route saved as a .gpx file through GPSBabel (pc version this time). Selected waypoints and tracks like Robert's screenshot and my address book loaded hundreds of waypoints. I reset the whole unit to get rid of the waypoints in the address book, then converted the same .gpx file and only selected tracks. Same thing. I keep getting the waypoints loading up in the address book???? Any suggestions guys? Thanks in advance.

Also on a side note, I copied some MP3 files onto a couple of different SD cards and I noticed I get a ghost file with a .- in front of every song file. These do not have any bits of data, just renamed files???? So when they get selected they do not play, the unit just stops playing.

[JimNtexas]

Originally Posted by Cyclepath

i'm not sure why you think this is a lie. i have had some problems with one of my units "i have three" i got my rma number from there web site and sent it to them. i had a brand new unit on my front porch in three weeks. cyclepath

I finally got through to Lowrance. Maybe its not a 'lie', but they have introduced new software, and that feature is not currently operative.

The good news about Lowrance is that their tech support is in Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA.

The fellow I talked too was very knowledgeable about the XOG, and instantly said I needed a new unit. The poor guy was also only barely clinging to his sanity.

The reason they are so far behind is a combination of two things:

1) New customer support software that they haven't completely groked.

2) Tulsa is covered in ice, and most of the staff couldn't get to work this week.

The poor fellow was really about to lose it. Every time he entered data he would say something like 'I'm going to the next page, I hope this works', or, 'I'm really lucky to have made it to work alive today', or 'Tulsa can't deal with ice', or 'Why did it do that?'

Eventually he got my RMA number, so I'm now a happy camper.

The delay wasn't really Lowrance's fault, it was more of an Act of God.

He said they are running behind, but I should have my replacement unit within a month of my sending the bad one in.