You might want to read this prior to buying a new GPS/Sounder

[Roccus7]

I’ve been thinking about replacing my 2013 Garmin system with a new one that shows when a fish farts. Well this video cured that itch…

 

[BoatGuy]

So, there is no solution?

 

[Roccus7]

So, there is no solution?

Yup, other than BOHICA or just refusing to load updates. At least when you have a 13 year old system like mine they don’t even make they don’t even make updates anymore. That might manifest itself as outdated tide reports, but I have those on my phone.

I would be spitting bullets IF uploading an update would brick my machine and I couldn’t revert to an older working version.

 

[Avenger]

Garmin makes great products, but their attitude about support keeps me from buying anything that's not handheld.

 

[captmike28]

I’ve been thinking about replacing my 2013 Garmin system with a new one that shows when a fish farts. Well this video cured that itch…

Was having a couple of annoying problems with my 7 y/o Simrad NSS EVO 3 last year. Randomly losing bottom tracing on both my 200 and 50 Hz frequencies. "Reputable" dealer that sold and installed this machine suggested it was a transducer problem, but everything seemed to check out with that component.

Both Simrad and a friend with the same unit told me that the software updates usually took care of any of the issues he experienced with his machine. So, reluctantly I did the suggested update offered by Simrad. It did seem to clear my difficulty with the 200Hz frequency, which I use the most but not the 50 Hz channel. Can't wait to see what happens when I fire it up for the first time this season! 

After watching this video, I will not even attempt to do any further software upgrades to my machine. Damned planned obsolescence seems to bite us all with one product or another over time!!

 

[BoatGuy]

Is there viable competition? I mean, if I need a new unit, why not support a brand that is more reputable. After all, these units are not cheap.

 

[Matts]

I love my Garmin GPSMap, but i stopped with the annual updates because they would just change features that didn't need to be changed, and which would force me to learn a new way to operate an already hard to operate machine.
This is another reason not to update.
Capitalism and lack of regulation at its finest!

 

[Roccus7]

Is there viable competition? I mean, if I need a new unit, why not support a brand that is more reputable. After all, these units are not cheap.

Video makes it seem to be industry wide, at least with the higher end machines. If you have an older, working machine or access to one, stick with it.