| Versions |
  |
|
| Author |
 Topic  |
|
truckinusa
USA
8 Posts |
 Posted - 20 avr. 2008 : 03:56:44
|
| I have been looking around and can't find any info on this unit. Is it something that has multiple brand names and maybe I'm not googling the most popular version? Trying to help a friend out with his 250c and lowrance 250c hack doesn't get me much on google. |
|
|
Ads
|
|
|
ST-Bob
USA
3651 Posts |
Posted - 20 avr. 2008 : 04:16:44
|
No, it's a discontinued model that probably won't have any updates - ever...
An as for "hacking" this unit - forget about it. It's not a Windows CE or Windows Mobile device. Lowrance's operating system is custom made for their purposes; not built upon a Windows type platform.
And we don't talk about hacks here either. This leads to illegal file sharing and copyright infringement. |
Bob Peloquin - Moderator-Lowrance iWay forum
Massachusetts, USA
Various Iways, nüvi 750 |
Edited by - ST-Bob on 20 avr. 2008 04:18:55 |
 |
|
|
truckinusa
USA
8 Posts |
Posted - 20 avr. 2008 : 05:25:56
|
| Regardless of the legal implications, I was pretty sure this unit was outdated like you said and thats what I kinda figured. Too bad it isn't a Windows CE device. Don't have to be so militant about outdated stuff. Cmon who would give you support anyways for something this old? |
|
|
|
ST-Bob
USA
3651 Posts |
Posted - 20 avr. 2008 : 05:30:54
|
Well it's not THAT old. The iWay 250c was replaced by the XOG in late 2007. The 250c in turn replaced (or supplemented) the iWay 350c in late 2006.
Lowrance's small GPS units are on a 1 year product cycle now.
As for being militant - I'm only militant about no hacking threads. We do NOT discuss hacks on GpsPasSion.com period. |
Bob Peloquin - Moderator-Lowrance iWay forum
Massachusetts, USA
Various Iways, nüvi 750 |
Edited by - ST-Bob on 20 avr. 2008 09:27:53 |
|
|
|
truckinusa
USA
8 Posts |
Posted - 20 avr. 2008 : 05:36:13
|
| I was mainly trying to figure out "what can I do with it?" I guess the answer is not much, hehe. Can I play pacman on it? (A pirated version of course!!) |
|
|
|
jjen
USA
79 Posts |
Posted - 20 avr. 2008 : 13:47:01
|
Call Lowrance at 1-800-324-1356 about the Iway 250C update. It is supposed to be Q307. This information was posted on the Bass Zone forum out of Tulsa by Linda Colt about a week ago. Linda is the most reliable person with Lowrance. You will not find any info on their website about the update. That website has been screwed up since it went Navico.
The update is $49.95 with trade in of old card.
Linda Colt
Customer Service Department
12000 East Skelly Drive
Tulsa, Ok 74128
1-800-324-1356 #8747
Direct line 918-438-8747
Fax 918-234-1745
Email: linda.colt@navico.com
|
Fort Worth,
Texas |
Edited by - jjen on 20 avr. 2008 14:30:50 |
|
|
|
truckinusa
USA
8 Posts |
Posted - 20 avr. 2008 : 16:18:52
|
| what is Q307? do you have any idea what it updates exactly or where I can read some more on that bass forum? |
|
|
|
jjen
USA
79 Posts |
Posted - 20 avr. 2008 : 18:19:08
|
| It is the map update from Navteq. It means the map update is up to the 3rd quarter of 2007. Most of the units had Q106. Some were Q306. My unit has Q106. I bought it in October of 2006. Go to Options page 3 on the unit and select Device Information. It will tell you what update the unit has. |
Fort Worth,
Texas |
Edited by - jjen on 20 avr. 2008 18:23:31 |
|
|
|
ST-Bob
USA
3651 Posts |
Posted - 20 avr. 2008 : 20:03:15
|
As for "what I can do with it", there's nothing other than what it does natively. The iWay family uses a Samsung processor which does not run any common applications. The 250c's 2 GB SD card is almost filled with the maps so there's little room left for music or photos.
One thing you can do is copy the maps to a 4 GB SD 1.0 spec card. There are only a few (listed in the FAQ) which work with the iWay product line though due to the SD card support built into the processor. Only those listed in the FAQ work and NONE of the SDHC cards work so don't waste your money. A 4 GB card will give you 2 GB free for music, photos, books on tape, MapCreate maps etc.
Since about the middle of 2006, the iWay line has supported animated GIFs to give the buttons a little action but there's a certain size limitation so videos cannot be turned into animated GIFs unless they're really small (animated avatars for example). Believe me, we've tried. Lowrance is sensitive to the legal issues of having video players in cars so purposely hasn't included one and has taken steps to prevent them from working on their GPS units. C'est la vie.
For point to point navigation or multi-stop navigation the iWay 250c is adequate in most respects. It has some weird routing algorithm problems sometimes but all GPS navigators do. Leave the routing sliders at their defaults and it'll make sure you don't go astray on your route.
It is not specifically designed for truckers so has none of the bridge/tunnel/length restrictions in it. In fact, I don't believe most of the Garmin unit do either. You have to get into the $1000 and up units to get this since NavTeq charges significantly more for this segment of their database.
Enjoy your iWay 250c and consider updating its maps if you feel yo need it. It's a cheap, small GPS road navigator, not a PDA. It does what it was designed for pretty well for the money though. |
Bob Peloquin - Moderator-Lowrance iWay forum
Massachusetts, USA
Various Iways, nüvi 750 |
|
|
|
skyking1999
Canada
43 Posts |
Posted - 25 avr. 2008 : 03:02:14
|
Lowrance
12000 East Skelly Drive
Tulsa, Oklahoma 74128 USA.
Customer Service 1-800-324-1356.
www.lowrance.com
Technicians and representatives are available to help you Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. CST, except holidays.
The mapping & turn by turn database for the 250 is now available. The new update is version Q3-07. This is not on our website to order at this time. You do have two options, if you wish to order this update.
Option 1 - For $54.99 plus shipping, you can send your existing mapping card into us and we will load the new NavTeq update on it and return your card to you.
Option 2 - For $74.99 plus shipping, you can order a replacement card. We will process the order and ship this to you. You would keep the card you currently have and do as you wish with it.
To order call Customer Service at 800-324-1356 between 8-5 Central Time, Mon - Fri. |
|
|
|
jjen
USA
79 Posts |
Posted - 28 avr. 2008 : 20:58:33
|
Any takers on the update? I'm waiting for a review.  |
Fort Worth,
Texas |
Edited by - jjen on 28 avr. 2008 21:00:21 |
|
|
|
Donny
14 Posts |
Posted - 12 mai 2008 : 23:01:12
|
| Well I tried to order the Map update with no luck today. The number for Lowrance had a busy signal for about ten minutes, then I got a ring but stayed on hold for 50 minutes.. So an hour of my time wasted and still no update. I did leave a message and six hours later I do not have a call back. The recording said they would call back in 1-3 days. I ran into this same problem although not as bad when I had to return the unit for repair. I will NEVER buy another Lowrance product again.. My next GPS will be a Garmin. |
|
|
|
ST-Bob
USA
3651 Posts |
Posted - 13 mai 2008 : 00:23:03
|
Donny, your problem is not unique. Lowrance tells you their highest call volume (and longest wait times) are on Mondays and Fridays. Try again on Tuesday through Thursday.
Would you be any happier with a company that outsourced their tech-support to India, China, or some other place where they barely speak English and know nothing about the product? At least with Lowrance you're talking to a real Lowrance employee in Tulsa Oklahoma. They know the products and can get help if you've got a problem they can't handle right away. Lowrance's phone queue does not allow techs to make outgoing calls as long as there are any calls left to be answered. The only way you'll get a call back is if there's no other callers on the phones. Sorry, but that's just the way it works when you handle all your own tech-support in house.
If a little on-hold time is enough to make you say you'll never buy another product from them, you really should cut down on the coffee. You're taking this little inconvenience way too seriously. |
Bob Peloquin - Moderator-Lowrance iWay forum
Massachusetts, USA
Various Iways, nüvi 750 |
Edited by - ST-Bob on 13 mai 2008 00:24:41 |
|
|
|
Donny
14 Posts |
Posted - 13 mai 2008 : 00:58:03
|
Donny, your problem is not unique. Lowrance tells you their highest call volume (and longest wait times) are on Mondays and Fridays. Try again on Tuesday through Thursday.
Or they could add a staff person or two on Mondays and Fridays.. Who comes first, the customer or the company?
Would you be any happier with a company that outsourced their tech-support to India, China, or some other place where they barely speak English and know nothing about the product?
Since all I need to know if a few simple details about ordering a new map card, Hell yes I would be happy with someone actually answering the phone in under an hour.
At least with Lowrance you're talking to a real Lowrance employee in Tulsa Oklahoma. They know the products and can get help if you've got a problem they can't handle right away.
Wrong.. I am not talking to ANYONE, because they won’t answer the phone! (at least in an hour).. All the experts in the world are no help if I can’t talk to them, and I didn’t need an expert anyway, just an order taker. If I needed an expert I would understand why they were harder to reach.
Lowrance's phone queue does not allow techs to make outgoing calls as long as there are any calls left to be answered. The only way you'll get a call back is if there's no other callers on the phones. Sorry, but that's just the way it works when you handle all your own tech-support in house.
And I bet they don’t stay after work to catch up in missed calls.. almost 7 pm here and still no call back.
If a little on-hold time is enough to make you say you'll never buy another product from them, you really should cut down on the coffee. You're taking this little inconvenience way too seriously.
And just how do you value your time? Remember this is not the first time I have been on hold with them for a long time.. The first time was because my Iway died when the software was upgraded, rendering it useless before the only major trip I took where I really needed it. So it’s not just this one time, one hour long hold time…
Any other company would LOVE to make the upgraded maps available to their customers and reap a little profit at the same time. But Lowrance makes it near impossible.. No internet, mail order, FAX or other ordering allowed! You have to call them, if you can.. Why can’t they let LEI Products sell the card.. they seem to do ok.., or set up a simple Internet order form.. ever hear of eBay stores? ITS EASY!
Now; more cream in my coffee please..
|
Edited by - Donny on 13 mai 2008 01:22:57 |
|
|
|
ST-Bob
USA
3651 Posts |
Posted - 13 mai 2008 : 01:33:29
|
I sympathize with you, Donny, but don't let this turn into a product-bashing session. You are unhappy - we can all see that.
The unit itself works fine though and you're not without the unit so you're getting your money's worth out of it, aren't you?. I'd suggest you try calling them again and just try to understand their position.
There's a LOT of competition and Lowrance is a relatively small company. I don't pretend to know why they make the decisions they do. I'm just trying to help explain what I've seen over the last 3+ years I've been dealing with them.
Don't lose your temper over an inexpensive plastic and metal box. It's not worth raising your blood pressure over. |
Bob Peloquin - Moderator-Lowrance iWay forum
Massachusetts, USA
Various Iways, nüvi 750 |
|
|
|
Donny
14 Posts |
Posted - 13 mai 2008 : 02:22:40
|
For the life of me I can’t figure out what part of my posts leads you to conclude I am losing my temper.. I simply encountered a level of customer service which is totally unacceptable and with no reason that I can discern (since it would be so simple to improve it). And my response was to make a decision to buy from a competitor. Talking about my coffee consumption does bother me some, but I’m not going to lose my temper over that!
BTW, I got Lowrance on my boat, so I know the products are decent as a rule. That’s why I choose the I-Way. But in this case Lowrance seems to have done everything they could to not only abandon the Iway250 owner, but make it very very difficult to get any reasonable product life out of it (through map updates). Maybe that’s the plan; to force us to buy new hardware. Previously you stated that they were on a one year product cycle.. Sorry but some of us can’t afford to replace our GPS after only a year. I was willing to shell out $60 for the map update (which is needed because of a lot of inaccuracies in the Q1-06 maps), but they don’t seem to want me to do that.
|
|
|
|
Topic |
|
|
|
| This page was generated in 0,73 seconds. |
 |
|
- 
- 
updated maps for iway 250c?
