Help with X-15 LCD Problems

My Lowwrance X-15 has been acting up with depth output going from 20ft ( real depth ) to 995ft. This doesn’t happen all the time. I’ve double checked connections, range settings and the transducer angle and battery charge, but the only way to get back on track when this happens is to restart. Does anyone have any idea, what is going on. The unit is only 1 yr old and I hate to send this thing in for repair if it’s just me doing something stupid. Thanks,
Dave C.

Mr. Coffee,
The only time I’ve had this issue is when I launched the boat and the xducer hit the bottom. This changed the angle, once I reached into the water and straightened it out it worked fine. Doesn’t sound like your problem if you turn it off and on and it clears up.

I’ve had good luck with emailing companys (shimano and Minnkota) before I send the units in. They are usually good at getting back to customers within 2-4 days.

Let us know what it is.

Hi Mr coffee. I was at Cabela’s and they told me that there is a upgrade for the X-15. All you do is bring in your power head and they will upgrade it for you, this may not cure your problem. I have a X-15 and a X-91 if I go into 20+foot of water one will act up just like you have explained, I asked the guys at Cabela’s and they said the cones were overlapping and interfering with each other.

FEAR NO FISH!!!

Snagger, thanks
Is the upgrade a replacement for the whole unit or software or plug in replacement of some sort? I didn’t buy the unit from Cabelas. I wonder if they will take something back, or if they just turn it over to lowrance so they don’t get stuck. thanks Coffee

The upgrades can be downloaded from the Lowrance web site. They have software upgrades usually once or twice a year.

If its still uder warenty send it in.IF not call them they will give you a custermer number and pay shipping both ways.70$ and they fix it.When i did it they sent me a new unit.

I just tried out the X-15 I put on my boat this winter. Im having the same problem. It even did it when i anchored in 12ft of water.
I had a dealer install and it looks like a decent one. Shouldnt matter when anchored much anyway.
Called lowrance. The told me how the re-boot the finder. They are also sending me a new transducer to try free of charge. You cant beat that they didnt even ask for warrenty info. If this doesnt fix it the said send it back. kinda sucks since it was my first time with the new finder. Hope this helps some ..give them a call its a 800 number

I talked with the technical dept at Lowrance.
They told me that running two sonar units at the same time
is a primary reason for problems with depth readouts.

Most serious fisherman I talk to, run a unit on the bow and another on the stern. If both are turned on, I would think overlapping sonar signals would be an issue for alot of people. I’d like to know if anyone using a bowmount transducer on the trolling motor and a stern transducer running at the same time, are you seeing a conflict on signal readouts?
thanks,
Dave C.

Lowrance products typically run at 200 khz. If you run 2 Lowrance units in the same boat, you will get overlap. (Interference) You need at lease 50 khz separation in transducer frequency.

I run a Vexilar Edge. This unit runs at 2 frequencies, 400 khz, and 107 khz. I also run a Zercom LPG2000. This unit runs at 200 khz. I can run all three transducers at the same time with zero interference.

Hope that helps. Any other questions?

Jon J.

Jon thanks,
Actually I’v been thinking about swapping out the X-51 I have in the front and replacing it with the Vexilar FL18, so I could use ice fishing as well. What do think of using the FL18? I like the X15 on the console, so maybe the vex would prevent the sonar problems and give me some great detail for vertical jigging.
thanks again, Dave

The Vexilar FL-18 is 200 khz, same as the X-15. You WILL have interference running both at the same time.

I noticed in the X-15 specs that they have an optional 50-200 khz transducer. Not sure how that works exactly. Meaning does the unit automatically switch freq. or is it selectable by the user. If you can contact Lowrance and see if it is possible to run the X-15 only using the 50 Khz side of the transducer, there should be no problem running the Vex and the X-15 at the same time.

P.S. Lowrance has pretty good tech support. See the website at http://www.lowrance.com/

Jon J.