Baja 540 question.

[milo12]

Just received my Baja 540. Very nice screen. I noticed on original setup it took forever (15min) to grab my location. All my garmins have done it in less than 5 minutes. I also noticed the antenna seems sensitive to position. On the dash I lose satellites but removed from the truck and placed on the lawn it works well. From my test it seems the antenna or the receiver is not as good as other GPS's I have had.

Has anyone else noticed this?

Is a better antenna available?

Thanks.

 

[LC/LR4Life]

Just received my Baja 540. Very nice screen. I noticed on original setup it took forever (15min) to grab my location. All my garmins have done it in less than 5 minutes. I also noticed the antenna seems sensitive to position. On the dash I lose satellites but removed from the truck and placed on the lawn it works well. From my test it seems the antenna or the receiver is not as good as other GPS's I have had.

Has anyone else noticed this?

Is a better antenna available?

Thanks.

Often on a cold start, since the GPS only knows its last location (where they tested it at the factory), it needs to find it's location, and takes a bit longer on first time power up.

I am guessing you are using the white magnetic mount antenna that came with it? Put it out on the hood of your Cruiser. Should be very good reception there. Lowrance is known for their outstanding ability to lock onto, and stay locked, onto a GPS signal even in heavy coverage.

 

[Angel?]

Cold start takes a while to lock.

fyi, when unit is plugged in gps unit stays on even when main unit is off (where the screen is off), hence it boots quickly.

 

[mjm]

Mine can take several minutes for it to lock on. Make sure your unit has the latest software update. A recent update (included in the current update) made improvements to the unit's ability to lock on. I am not sure I saw any improvement.

 

[jerdog53]

Don't remember the cold start its been over a year but normal start of a trip it will grab satellites inside the garage before the door has time to open. My wifes Nuvi takes a lot longer to aquire than my 540C

 

[milo12]

I have been using it a couple days now and I am very happy. The initial problems were just the startup as others pointed out.

I can't find anything in the manual about software update. How do I check this and how do I update it?

 

[spressomon]

I just ordered a 540c based on all the positive feedback on Exped and MUD...thanks to all that were ahead of me and provided the feedback to make a better decision! The only downside for me is the apparent lack of Apple/Mac compatibility...so I need to keep that PC plugged in a little longer

 

[spressomon]

Ok...got the 540C. Seems nice enough. However they mention in the manual an "optional magnetic mount" for the antenna puck. No mention on the Lowrance website...no mention about it at TigerGPS...

Anyone figure out where to buy one of these secret accessory magnetic mounts?


Gotta love the GPS industry. :littlefriend:

 

[adventureduo]

Never seen ours take that long to find our location. Weird. Only time that happens is when it's view is blocked from the sky. Like under a bridge.

Spress, i have never seen a magnetic mount for the antenna. Post up if you find it online please.

 

[Angel?]

I have been using it a couple days now and I am very happy. The initial problems were just the startup as others pointed out.

I can't find anything in the manual about software update. How do I check this and how do I update it?

Hi Milo,

Here you go: http://www.lowrance.com/en/Products/Automotive/GlobalMap-Baja-540C/Downloads/

Check out your software version as noted in the manual. Most likely you will need to update it. To update it, you will need a blank SD memory card and a SD memory card writer (some recent PCs are now being shipped with built-in reader/writers). You do want to update it, as the update resolves a booting problem.

Cheers,
Cal

 

[milo12]

Thanks Angel?

I'm digging my 540c now. One bummer is it can't show where people have gated trails.

 

[CAPTAIN COORS]

I mounted my 540 to an old cb mag mount, works just fine

 

[Richie Rich]

Interesting about the unit drawing power even when off. That would explain the battery in my rig being stone dead when I go to pull it out of the garage on weekends (not my DD).

As for the mag mount, after searching what seemed like the entire internet, I gave up and made my own.

A pair of magnets harvested out of some dead hard drives and some two part epoxy later, I now have a mag mount. Hasn't moved yet.

Unscrewed base from antenna, making sure to keep the plastic bushings exactly where they belong.

Covered the top of the base with plastic wrap (to keep epoxy from escaping)

Clamped unit to a flat surface

Inserted hard drive magnets

Mixed epoxy, poured into base until almost even with gasket surface

Let epoxy cure

Removed clamps and plastic

Screwed base to antenna and stuck to roof of truck.

Done!

 

[nwoods]

I just got a new rig with a 540c hard mounted. Brilliant screen, I like what I've played with so far. Very interesting to read about the power thing, that would explain why the previous owner needed a trickler charger on the rig. He never figured out what was causing the draw. Is there a way to turn it all the way off? I haven't even looked to see if the power cord unplugs from the unit itself, though I assume it would.

Is the MapSearch software the manual talks about any good, or do you guys use something else?

 

[nwoods]

I just got a new rig with a 540c hard mounted. Brilliant screen, I like what I've played with so far. Very interesting to read about the power thing, that would explain why the previous owner needed a trickler charger on the rig. He never figured out what was causing the draw. Is there a way to turn it all the way off? I haven't even looked to see if the power cord unplugs from the unit itself, though I assume it would.

Is the MapSearch software the manual talks about any good, or do you guys use something else?