Lowrance Iway 350

[Mr.Brownstone]

Been thinking about changing my current gps to the iway350. I like the mp3 capability along with the size and price. I was wondering if anyone has any experience with this thing?

[ST13Fred]

I have the IWay 500C and love it. I believe the 350 has a smaller screen. The 500 has a 6" diagonal color screen (about 12 sq inch). With the mapping hard drive, mp3 player and simple to use large touch screen, it is an encyclopedia of easy to access info.
Fred:04biker:

[Lucky 13]

I have the 500c too, but the 350 does look like a great value. I decided to spend the extra money on the 500 because of the bigger screen, and the larger 20 GB hard drive.

[Blrfl]

I think I'd wait about six months before getting a 350c. They seem to be having problems with them, same as the 500c did in the early part of its life. The GPSPassion iWay forum has some details of what people have run into at http://www.gpspassion.com/forumsen/forum.asp?FORUM_ID=163.


--Mark

[Blue STreak]

The 350 has a built in speaker. I'm pretty sure that renders it non-waterproof. If I'm correct, that wouldn't be a good choice on a motorcycle. Unless you only ride in Arizona and Nevada, maybe.

[ST13Fred]

In very cold conditions there have been reports of the screen being very dim until it warms up, maybe 10-15 min. I have experienced this a couple of times, but would be OK in less than a minute. Lowrance says the next software update will correct this. :04biker:

[Mr.Brownstone]

Thank you for all of the insight. With some if the things I have read, and my experience with my current garmin, I think I will opt for another garmin. Now I just need to decide on which one.

[Byron]

I've been weighting things out between the Garmin and Lowrance iWay 500C. I've seen pictures of the Garmin's mounted but not the Lowrance. Does anybody have one or more they can post? My next step is building a mock-up to see how it would fit/mount.

Thanks,

[Blrfl]

I've been weighting things out between the Garmin and Lowrance iWay 500C. I've seen pictures of the Garmin's mounted but not the Lowrance. Does anybody have one or more they can post? My next step is building a mock-up to see how it would fit/mount.

Help yourself to some photos of the real thing: http://archive.feitography.com/2005/11/06

I also highly recommend the Motorcycle Skin for the Lowrance (see link below), but I'm kinda biased. :)

--Mark

[Byron]

Mark,

I don't know if I should hate you or love you, and don't take it the wrong way, because your photos and detailed descriptions pushed me over the edge. The unit is ordered and the search for the mounting and electrical connections has begun.

Question: With regard to the sound, are you listening off the factory speaker or are you using a connection off the 1/8" mini-jack and connected to what?

I'm still waiting for that call from VISA security re: suspicious spending patterns recently.

[Blrfl]

I don't know if I should hate you or love you, and don't take it the wrong way, because your photos and detailed descriptions pushed me over the edge. The unit is ordered and the search for the mounting and electrical connections has begun.

Woohoo! Somebody else with a 500c and an ST! :)

Question: With regard to the sound, are you listening off the factory speaker or are you using a connection off the 1/8" mini-jack...

The unit is completely sealed, so there's no built-in speaker. (Although there is a little thing that goes "beep" when you turn it on or press the keys.) The lump they give you to plug into your lighter socket which has a cheesy little speaker that's good for navigation announcements and lousy for listening to music. I use that in the car with a cassette adapter into the stereo. They supply a hard-wiring cable that has bare leads for 12V and a mini-jack. As I have it installed, the audio comes out under the seat.

...and connected to what?

Mine's plugged through to an Autocom Pro 7 Sport in the tail section. I haven't used it a whole lot yet because I can't come up with an arrangement for the speakers and the pigtail that works for me. I may switch to earbuds. The 500c can supply enough juice through the jack to drive a set of headphones pretty loudly, too.

Here are a couple more things to read while you're waiting for your new toy:

GPSPassion iWay forum: http://www.gpspassion.com/forumsen/forum.asp?FORUM_ID=163
Advrider iWay thread: http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=80982
My development notes (click "Index" for a full list of topics): http://stwiki.notonthe.net/twiki/bin/view/IWay500c/

Enjoy your new toy!

--Mark

[Blrfl]

:crackup We'll get around to you (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deprogramming) eventually.

--Mark