Recon 5+ Directional Feature not working

Seems like in the last year or so there’s been a lot of chatter on here about the Marcum Recon 5+ so I’m hoping to get some help.

I’ve had my new Recon 5+ out four times this year and the directional feature (which is the only reason I spent the extra money for the Plus model) is not working very well. Today for awhile I could spin it around 360 degrees and it stayed on south. Sometimes the directions get backwards. Then today when I got home, just to try it out again, I used it out of water and it did the same thing.

I’m likely going to have to contact them but just curious if anyone else has had this issue.

Mine does the same thing. Goes from south to southeast, back to south in a full circle. I didn’t want to take it back, but I might have too.

Have you guys tried to calibrate your cameras?

https://marcum.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/396

I didn’t have any issues with the direction, but mine was just sent in for repairs due to the temp and depth not working.

haven’t noticed any problems with the directional feature on mine but my temp gauge wasn’t working. took it into Marcum and they fixed it. 2nd time out with the “fixed unit” and its doing the same thing. Im not going to bother sending it back in cause I use a flasher for depth but if my directional feature wasn’t working I wouldn’t be happy about it. Both my LX5 and my recon 5+ have been in for repairs. the motor quit on my LX5 after 2 years and Marcum replaced the whole unit. My recon was in for repairs basically right out of the box. I like the products when they work but my next flasher will be a helix 7 or a vex

csp88 wrote:

I didn’t have any issues with the direction, but mine was just sent in for repairs due to the temp and depth not working.

Temp works on mine, but now that you say it, I don’t think the depth does. I’ll inquire with Marcum on how to fix this. Frustrating that this was new out of the box, and that these issues persist. And, taking it back won’t solve not having a camera. Everyone’s out of stock. I should still have the receipt. Thanks for the reminder on this!

crappie55369 wrote:

haven’t noticed any problems with the directional feature on mine but my temp gauge wasn’t working. took it into Marcum and they fixed it. 2nd time out with the “fixed unit” and its doing the same thing. Im not going to bother sending it back in cause I use a flasher for depth but if my directional feature wasn’t working I wouldn’t be happy about it. Both my LX5 and my recon 5+ have been in for repairs. the motor quit on my LX5 after 2 years and Marcum replaced the whole unit. My recon was in for repairs basically right out of the box. I like the products when they work but my next flasher will be a helix 7 or a vex

correction my issue was with the depth gauge not the temp! sorry for the confusion I mistyped

Seems like there are several commonalities here. My original post was regarding the direction not working and providing false directions. I don’t know if I ever see myself using the DVR so the directional feature was the only reason I paid for the Plus and not the standard Recon, so that’s why I posted about that feature not working.

However after seeing some of these posts I’ll add that I too have had off and on issues with depth. Like someone said, I’m using a flasher too so I know the depth and can see my camera on the flasher, but I guess I’d prefer all the features on a new unit work.

Dandorn thanks for the suggestion, when I get a chance I’m going to try to re-calibrate and if that doesn’t work I guess I’ll have to discuss it with Marcum.

Me too. Neither depth or direction work on mine. Mine basically always says North no matter how slow I spin it and depth is always ~17ft if I recall correctly Not sure about temp as i don’t typically even look at that anyway.

my depth always says 3.6ft no matter what. worked for 1 day after Marcum “fixed” it and went right back to the same malfunction on the next trip.

Marcum on innovation thumbs up! Marcum on quality control thumbs way down. Invest more in making your products reliable and less on trying to come out with the hottest new toy Marcum and yes I know they are a sponsor on this site. Rant over

crappie55369 wrote:

my depth always says 3.6ft no matter what. worked for 1 day after Marcum “fixed” it and went right back to the same malfunction on the next trip.

Marcum on innovation thumbs up! Marcum on quality control thumbs way down. Invest more in making your products reliable and less on trying to come out with the hottest new toy Marcum and yes I know they are a sponsor on this site. Rant over

Well you are far from the only one. There was another thread describing blue screen issues. I was not victim of that but there have been mounting concerns regarding the Recon. I steered toward the larger 485 camera. Have not seen any complaints/issues with that but then not much for feedback at all. I have my fingers crossed.

I think you posted (among others’) about issues with the flashers too. I am not being blindly discriminatory, however I have or do not see complaints on Vexilar near the same. And to reinforce that I have 2 FL-8’s that have never seen the warranty repair center or any repair in over the 15 years that I have had them.

So…I dunno, but I do know.