is the lms 520 a good unit? i have a lcx-17 and would like to get another lowrance to link to it. also will a 2009 navionics chip work in the 520 because i cant get it to work in the x-17. any help would be great
I have been running a 520 for the last 3 years. No issues with it ever. (knock on wood) I have never done any updates on it as I kind of think that created issues for some. It should take the 09 Nav chip. I know mine takes SD and I THINK MicroSD in the adapter card too.
I know nothing about linking them as you mentioned, I run the 520 as GPS now that I have the x20 for sonar. -Mark
I had my 520 also for 3 years with out any problems and just bought a new 2nd 520 off of ebay. I have the GPS hooked
up to the same antenna by using a T- connector and a 15′ red network expansion cable which I got both from Cabela’s. The GPS port on the unit has a 5 pin connecton- 4 on the outer dia and 1 pin in the center which is why you need what lowrance call their RED cable. (cable is really black on both ends) Not sure what you need for your other unit.
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is the lms 520 a good unit? i have a lcx-17 and would like to get another lowrance to link to it. also will a 2009 navionics chip work in the 520 because i cant get it to work in the x-17. any help would be great
Have you ever updated your x-17?
There may be an update available for your x-17 to run the
Navionics chip. I would call Lowrance and ask them.
Their number is 800 324-1356.
Mapping is not shared over a network.
The x-17 is a “blue network” device and the cables, tees, and terminators are hard to find to expand the network.
To hook a “red network” unit like the LMS-520 into a blue network would require an adaptor cable that would connect
into a blue tee and have a red end to connect to the 520.
Red network parts are readily available and I would recommend scraping the blue parts and setting up a red
network. You would then need a “blue to red” adaptor to
run your X-17 on the red network.
Besides the red parts being easier to find you will also
be set up to add another red device when your x-17 finally
gives up the ghost. This includes the HDS line.
Let us know if you have any setup questions.
dd
I know there is an additional update for the x-17 (ver. 1.8)
that is not available on the Lowrance website.
This update allowed the x-17 to use the new LGC-4000 antenna
and it possibly included other software upgrades so I would
call Lowrance and ask about the Navionics.
800 324-1356
dd
The 520c is a great little unit. I have had one since they first came out. No problems.
-J.
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The 520c is a great little unit. I have had one since they first came out. No problems.
-J.
Is that the same one that went swimming for a few hours?
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Quote:
The 520c is a great little unit. I have had one since they first came out. No problems.
-J.
Is that the same one that went swimming for a few hours?
Yes, totally submerged on a capsized boat for nearly 20 hours. Not even a hickup. No fogged screen, nuttin! 
Really the only piece of electronics that was salvaged off the boat. The “Totally Submersable” VHF radio was full of water…. 
-J.
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is the lms 520 a good unit? i have a lcx-17 and would like to get another lowrance to link to it. also will a 2009 navionics chip work in the 520 because i cant get it to work in the x-17. any help would be great
Did you figure out your LCX-17 issue? I have two LCX-27c and use a Navionics card in each one. Being a software guy by profession, I know any new features are likely to have some issues to be ironed out so I am diligent about staying current with the updates.
John S.
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