I'm not sure this can be termed a bug, but some users might find it so. Apparently Lowrance has put some code in their latest software to discourage grey market sales outside the USA. It seems that if a unit meant for sale in the US is used in, say, New Zealand, a message "Not valid for Area" will blink on the screen, and nav units will default to Feet, miles, etc.
Here's a discussion by Kiwis trying to figure out what's going on:
http://www.fishing.net.nz/asp_forums/lowrance-hds-reports-not-valid-for-area_topic55743.html
And this video, though in French, is interesting, and has english comments:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eWtFzv2s-mg
I think this issue only applies to HDS models with Insight U.S. charts included, but I'm not positive. I also think that Lowrance will let folks who buy such an HDS in the States use it overseas, but again I'm not positive.
Ben;
I for one am getting ready to buy a new Chartplotter/radar combo, with the usual trimmings. We currently have a Lowrance 7300hd, and I want broadband radar.
We also plan on cruising full-time starting sometime next year. Who knows where we will end up, and I won't buy a Lowrance (Or Simrad) unit until I know that it won't be crippled, or turned into an annoying flasher, until I KNOW that they have rethought this issue and fixed the fix.
Chris
The Norwegian Lowrance distributor informed about these changes in April.
All US (non CE marked) HDS units produced after some date mid April are affected when upgraded to a newer software version than 2.5.
I can help with hds gen3 and carbon Lowrance chartplotters.
Disabling geofence and Language pack unlocks.
Skype: Denisthegreatest