My Baja 540C antenna died

milo12

Adventurer
Went out in the mountains today. Just as I get to the end of the road, I flip on the Baja 540C so I can study the trails ahead and - nothing. I get the message GPS module failed.

I'm looking online and a new antenna is $230!!!! What the heck? That is half the price of the entire thing.

Does anyone know where to get a better deal? Is there another brand that is compatible?
 

ntsqd

Heretic Car Camper
When the antenna for my GM3000MT died (due to snagging a branch in Pleasant Cyn, CA I think) I looked around for other options. I like the unit, but over the years I have come to despise Lowrance. I contacted the leading possible alternate vendor and after some research they concluded that they couldn't help me. I ended up buying the $230 option.

http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=17466
 

milo12

Adventurer
I discovered a new twist to this problem.

The antenna only fails if the truck is running when I turn on the 540C. If the truck is off the antenna connects right away and continues to work perfect after turning the truck on. I did this for the past 4 days and it is repeatable. I'm glad it works but I don't have a lot of confidence in it.
 

adventureduo

Dave Druck [KI6LBB]
Wonder if there's some type of short happening. Did you tie into anything when you wired the GPS unit? Maybe it's drawing too much and shutting itself off?
 

CAPTAIN COORS

Adventurer
My Baja 540C antenna did the same thing, some days it would work and the next day it would not. Now for the last 2 years it has worked without any problems. I don't know what the deal was!
 

spressomon

Expedition Leader
Mine died last year right before a big planned off-road trip...go figure. Anyway the Lowrance tech guided me through the whole reset process to no avail. Sent it in and they sent me a new antenna puck under their warranty.

I tried to obtain information on their new antenna but either I'm stupid (which well me be the case :)) or its the typical Lowrance website lacking of real information.
 

Photog

Explorer
I discovered a new twist to this problem.

The antenna only fails if the truck is running when I turn on the 540C. If the truck is off the antenna connects right away and continues to work perfect after turning the truck on. I did this for the past 4 days and it is repeatable. I'm glad it works but I don't have a lot of confidence in it.

Just an idea. Might be way off base.

There may be an issue, with the voltage levels. The voltage may be too high when the engine is running, and it gets some type of feedback within the antenna circuit, as the antenna gets powered up from the GPS box.

You might check your voltage levels, to see if there might have been a change in the alternator, that needs attention.

Try running it off of a 12v battery, separate from the charging system. You could even use a pair of 6v batteries, as a test.

If you still have the same problem, there may be a power field being generated along the length of the antenna wire. There are ways to solve this problem too, if you get that far.
 
Last edited:

RedRocker

Adventurer
I'm not real impressed with Lowrance's offroad software, customer service or the price of their repair work and replacement parts. If my unit goes South, I'm going with another brand before I spend a dime on this boat anchor.
 

RedRocker

Adventurer
Mine finally went out, they don't even offer to fix the 480C anymore, offered to sell me another POS with lousy software
and I passed. I'll try the turning it on with the engine off trick and see if that works.
 

Forum statistics

Threads
189,797
Messages
2,920,947
Members
232,931
Latest member
Northandfree
Top