Updating Lowrance HDS software and geofenceing?

[Axl]

After reading a couple of threads on updating this software I have a question. If you update does this geofenceing thing become an isssue?I dont fully understand what geofenceing is as yet but I know I dont have this issue with my unit now and I dont want it either.I brought my unit Dec 2009 from Wynnum Marine so it was not an import.

[Captain Seaweed]

I am not sure what geo fencing is?

[trueblue]

geofencing is the biggest price gouging wank going, by LOWRANCE - they install 'firmware' on US lowrance gps products, which causes problems as soon as the gps crosses certain gps boundaries. ie, sail accross the pacific from the US to Australia, and 2/3rds of the way to new zealand the unit will no longer display chart details, goes into US units, and displays a big distracting and flashing bar accross the bottom of the screen stating that you have taken the gps out of the intended area of use.they have done this specifically to attack the 'grey import market' in Australia, to stop people importing US units and to maintain charging approximately 30% more for the same product in Australia. the alternative to geofenced units is the international unit, which costs the extra and allows the distributor etc to ream us at the checkout in Australia.australian purchased units are obviously not affected.
unfortunately, if we want to use Lowrance products, we just have to buy them in Australia

[Axl]

I am not sure what geo fencing is?

Me too Captain Seaweed but after reading a few more posts and searching the web on the subject I dont think doing a software update will bring it on well at least I hope not.

[honda900]

geo fencing, is lowrance's attempt to stop american units being sold to other countries. Basically the software in the unit triggers the unit to stop displaying the data if the unit travels outside a certain geographic area or region.

If you have installed or buy a unit with V3 of the operating system, then the unit is subject to geofencing, (yes the software update makes it active).

The international models dont have this limitation (as far as we are aware).

Hope that clarifies it a bit for you.

Regards
HOnda.

[Moonlighter]

To further clarify for Axl, since you bought your unit in Australia from a Lowrance dealer, your unit will not be affected in respect to "geo-fencing" by upgrading to the latest Lowrance software version. In other words, your unit will still work fine here and you wont get any of the nasty messages/issues described in the earlier posts.

The only HDS models adversely affected by this tactic from Lowrance will be USA designated units purchased in the States and which are then shipped out here to Aus.

The latest software release from Lowrance is getting pretty good press overall, I am very happy with the improvements it has made to my HDS5's. So Id recommend updating.

Cheers

ML

[honda900]

Grant,

Actually I suspect all models are capable of being geofenced, they just havent enabled it in the code as yet.

Regards
Honda.