Customer service was accommodating and provided a replacement data SD card. The replacement card seems to have solved many problems. The unit talks to the card frequently so a bad card leaves the unit in a loop, requiring the reboot.

You can force an overload lockup and reboot with this method:
Terrain Awareness ON
Two Map page
Select Resize option from the Menu
Hold down or rapidly press the UP or DOWN buttons until the unit locks
up and reboots. This lock up always occurs within a couple of seconds.
The unit always reboots 10 seconds after lock up.
Apparently the cpu can’t keep up with downloading all the TA data. Software problem?

So I just leave TA off. Never had an operational problem in flight.

The display backlighting is way too bright for night use. I would like to see it dim down to almost nothing at the last stop. Not zero at the last stop but almost zero. The PWR/light button can turn the backlight on and off so the dimmer shouldn’t turn it off completely.

Setting and using routes is the preferred method. However, a couple of glitches:
__You have to be careful to include a new waypoint in the route before using it as a diversion if intending to continue to use the route later. Other wise the route is deactivated and must be reactivated through the menu system. It would be nice to have a warning message pop up that the route will be turned off or that you could add the new waypoint to the existing route.
__If you Find your Destination and select Runway extension with navigation guidance, that guidance becomes a new route and wipes out the old one. I would prefer the same assistance as above to be available here as well.

Glare: I tried a protector/ anti-glare lens. Just made the otherwise excellent screen a little fuzzy. So I found a better place to mount the unit (left of the instrument panel).

I bought another antenna from GPSGeek and mounted it in the back window. Seems to perform better than the included antenna and is far enough away from the radio stack to eliminate RF interference.

So, overall, it’s a winner for me.

It is unfortunate that Lawrance would not help you. However, don’t give up as it would appear that your set is not getting power from the on/off switch source. The manual does not detail a trouble shooting procedure for this or whether a fuse is located inside the set. Take your set to a good computer teck and ask to have the reason for no power to the circuit investigated. A good shop may locate the problem. Also, the cord supplied could have been defective and allowed more than 3 Volts into your set. In this case something would be burned out on the circuit board and probably not worth fixing.

Also, try the Canada number 905 629 1614, not free but very inexpensive to get an opinion. I have found Lawrance Canada very good as they also sell fishing and units for boats, a large market that needs a good reputation.

Don’t dispair, I have a Garmin 90 from the 90’s era that will no longer display much on the screen although it works and locks onto satellites ok. Garman is of little help with this either. It makes me wonder if their newer products will have failing screens as they age? Good luck,

Joe

Well, I don’t work for Lowrance but I have used my unit successfully for 2
years now. First I took out the chip Lawrance provided and downloaded a new
data base onto a 1 gig card. I lost the terrain part but I never used it so
no problem for me. I set the backlight to its fullest or brightest possible
and I always plug it into external power via the cigarette socket. Do not
use any other means of plug in as you will blow the unit. The provided plug
reduces the voltage to 3V. I normally use the “compass overlay” panel when
flying as it has everything needed, GS Alt Dist etc. Try it. I find the zoom
feature works best on that window. If you can get it working and just use
the Pages and find windows it should be everything you need. I would and did
insist that the Lawrance Teck help until it sets up to your satisfaction.
Direct sunlight is always a problem even on the Garmin’s so try and keep it
free of direct sunlight which is no problem in my Cessna 170. A sunlighted
cockpit is no problem for me since the map is very well back lighted.

I hope this helps, and yes make a copy of the various re-set procedures as
found in the blogs and keep it in your cock pit just in case. Mine has never
required a re-set with the high capacity card. Any good quality 1g card
should be ok. Download right from Jep to this card then download the map
sections as per the maps you may have purchased separately.

I think this set was never made to operate much with th3e back light off so power it reotely and keep it well lighted and you should be able to enjoy most of its many features.

Cheers,

Joe

It’s been a couple of years since your comments here, but they are still quite relevant. I bought a 600c earlier in the year and had exactly the same problem you describe. My screen was so dark it was useless without the backlight on. I returned my unit to Lowrance and was sent a replacement after abouit 6 weeks delay. OK, I thought, finally I’m fixed. Wrong. The new unit also did exactly the same thing. You can see, I share your frustration.

Did you ever arrive at a fix? I’d appreciate anything you could tell me.

Thanks,

Brian