Author Topic: New to me 998c software question (Read 20349 times)

j_wireman · « **on:** March 03, 2015, 04:23:27 PM »

I just got a 998c that is an older model with version 5.7 software. Should I upgrade? If so, what version should I upgrade to? The latest from Humminbird is 7.51. I have read many post on this site about failed updates, and am now almost afraid to upgrade at all. I haven't installed the unit on my boat yet, but have it hooked up inside my house and have been using in in simulator mod to get used to it. This is my first Humminbird unit in over 10yrs. I have always used Lowrance. Any input is welcome.

Humminbird_Greg · « **Reply #1 on:** March 03, 2015, 04:30:13 PM »

Welcome to the Humminbird Side imaging Forums j_wireman.
Personally, I would update the software. Make sure your power supply is good so you have a steady source of power to the unit. Make sure the plugs are not loose and let the unit finish updating before you move it. There are some good instructions on how to update your unit on this and the Humminbird web site.

j_wireman · « **Reply #2 on:** March 03, 2015, 05:25:22 PM »

Thanks. Does the current software seem to be OK? I mean, are there any known problems. I haven't read anything negative about this release, like I have on some of the other ones. How long has it been out?

Bob B · « **Reply #3 on:** March 03, 2015, 06:48:28 PM »

The latest release for the 998 has just been released for the 98 series, so little testing has been done with it yet.....The features in that release have been in the 99 series newest release for a while now, and so far I have seen almost entirely positive response......but the release came out in the middle of winter.

I would wait for a little longer and watch the forums for reactions to this release on the 98 series......It would also be good to get some time with your unit so you can gauge for yourself how the unit is working on the new release.

For the 998, software version 6.49 is a tried and true release.....You could upgrade to that release first and then go to the newest release at a later time. That release should be available in the download section of this forum.
If you don't have one of the accessories that require the newest release, there is no need to go to the newest release and 6.49 would be a very good level to be at.

I have never had any problems doing a software update.....just make sure to follow the instructions .... reset defaults on the unit before and after the updates .... and, as Greg noted .... MAKE SURE YOU HAVE GOOD STABLE POWER......I have a 12VDC power supply that I run my unit on in the house, but I connect it to a fully charged battery when I am doing a software update.....Stuff happens and a power brown out during the update would be A BAD THING if just using the power supply.

j_wireman · « **Reply #4 on:** March 03, 2015, 08:24:49 PM »

From what I have read the 6.49 is the one to use. I looked in the download section, and didn't see it listed for a 998c, only for the 998c hd. Will this work the same?? Also, at the present I do not have any thing else connected. I am trying to obtain a 798 or 898 to put on the bow, but haven't gotten to that yet.

j_wireman · « **Reply #5 on:** March 03, 2015, 08:28:22 PM »

another question. When I have it connected in the house as i do now, I can't see the map. Is this normal? I know that you won't see sonar unless it is in the water. Does the receiver need to see the sky before the map will show up in normal mode while indoors? Make sense??

Bob B · « **Reply #6 on:** March 03, 2015, 09:00:07 PM »

I am 99% certain the 998HD release will work fine for the 998ci model......but not 100% since I don't have one. The unit won't try to load the software unless it is for that unit........Maybe Greg will check in and verify that.

I am assuming you have the GPS antenna connected to the unit.......Mine will work in the house, but it depends a number of factors whether it will or not....You could try getting close to a window to see if that helps.
I haven't tried to view mapping without having a GPS antenna connected, but I don't think the chart / mapping options are there unless it recognizes the GPS antenna connected.

j_wireman · « **Reply #7 on:** March 03, 2015, 09:02:51 PM »

The antenna is connected but in my basement. No way to get it near a window. The weather here is not good so it will be a couple of weeks till I get it installed. Just want to make sure nothing is wrong.

Bob B · « **Reply #8 on:** March 03, 2015, 09:04:45 PM »

That's a good plan.......You can learn a lot by playing with it in simulator mode......maybe try to get it where you have a clear view of the sky before you do the final install.

j_wireman · « **Reply #9 on:** March 03, 2015, 09:07:54 PM »

So you say it is normal for the map not to show without a view of the sky? Everything works in simulator mode. Just solid black or white screens in normal mode.

Bob B · « **Reply #10 on:** March 03, 2015, 09:10:40 PM »

I think so, but I haven't ever had that situation.

j_wireman · « **Reply #11 on:** March 03, 2015, 09:23:41 PM »

OK. At the risk of exposing myself to extreme "global warming" I took my power supply xducer and GPS antenna outside to test. The map loads just fine. Seems odd to me because my Lowrance would show the map, but no position, just a flashing "?" till it had a fix, like in my garage. Anyways, all is good and thank you for your answers. I can't wait to get this installed and take it for a spin. I hate being bound in the house with a new toy like this waiting for better weather.

Bob B · « **Reply #12 on:** March 03, 2015, 09:34:06 PM »

Yeah .... We are going to be getting down back around 0 here in the next couple of days......

Glad you got it tested ....and good luck with the install.....Let us know how it works out for you.

If you get an 898 ..... Try to get the HD version. It makes a lot of difference in direct sunlight to have the LED display.....Actually it helps at night also because the LED version has greater range.

rnvinc · « **Reply #13 on:** March 03, 2015, 09:34:36 PM »

It takes my 1197 upwards of 5-7 minutes to see the satellites in my garage ...

It is normal for the chart views to be absent until the GPS connects to the satellites ...

If you have GPS data set as one of the Readout boxes ... That readout box will not be available until the GPS connects to the satellites (setting GPS data to one of the readout boxes must be done while the GPS is connected on my 1197) ...

Then as soon as the GPS connects ... That readout box will pop in with the chosen data for that readout box position on the display ...

I have Position set as one of my Readouts ... As soon as that data pops into the readout box ... I know I have GPS connection ...

Rickie

j_wireman · « **Reply #14 on:** March 03, 2015, 09:54:41 PM »

It seem all good. I hear ya on the HD, but got this one (non HD) at a great price. Should be OK for the console. Once outside, the chart loaded very quickly. The time it takes to go back inside to get my drink

it had a GPS fix and showed the map. I'm happy about that. As far as software updates go, I think I will try the 6.49 first then upgrade from there.

Thanks again!!!

Humminbird_Greg · « **Reply #15 on:** March 05, 2015, 11:20:24 AM »

Quote from: Bob B on March 03, 2015, 09:00:07 PM

I am 99% certain the 998HD release will work fine for the 998ci model......but not 100% since I don't have one. The unit won't try to load the software unless it is for that unit........Maybe Greg will check in and verify that.

Be 100% on this Bob. The 998c Si and 998c HD Si units use the same software downloads (as do the other HD/non-HD 800 and 900 series units).

Bob B · « **Reply #16 on:** March 05, 2015, 11:32:06 AM »

Thanks Greg ..... I'll be 100% sure .....Until I forget again.

Humminbird_Greg · « **Reply #17 on:** March 05, 2015, 12:29:44 PM »

Me too Bob!

Humminbird_Greg · « **Reply #18 on:** March 05, 2015, 12:31:04 PM »

j_wireman,
The unit has a few different operating modes. If all you want to do is play with the unit and not have to remember any settings, just power it on without a transducer or GPS Receiver connected and it will go into the point of purchase Simulator mode. If you want it to remember any settings, like maybe the Set Simulation position menu setting (allows you to set the area that the Simulator map starts on), you need to force it into the Simulator mode (we call the “forced simulator” mode). I uploaded a pdf file that tells you how to go into this mode and what it does. Look for the Operational Modes.pdf file in the downloads section, miscellaneous files:
http://forums.sideimagingsoft.com/index.php?action=downloads;sa=view;down=197

j_wireman · « **Reply #19 on:** March 05, 2015, 05:20:09 PM »

Thanks for the link Greg.

j_wireman · « **Reply #20 on:** March 05, 2015, 10:55:15 PM »

Quote from: Humminbird_Greg on March 05, 2015, 11:20:24 AM

Be 100% on this Bob. The 998c Si and 998c HD Si units use the same software downloads (as do the other HD/non-HD 800 and 900 series units).

OK, so I downloaded the 6.49 software from the dowload section of the forum and tried to update. The unit did not do anything when I inserted the card, as if I hadn't put it in at all. I tried both card slots, reformatted the SD card in a different computer, redownloaded 6.49, and same results.?? Am I doing something wrong? Followed the instructions to a T.

Bob B · « **Reply #21 on:** March 05, 2015, 11:02:12 PM »

If you look at the file size on your SD card, does it agree with the 27.3 Mb size shown in the download section?

Bob B · « **Reply #22 on:** March 05, 2015, 11:11:36 PM »

I downloaded that file to upgrade my brothers 998 about 6 months ago ..... The file size on my computer is 27,959 Kb.

Humminbird_Greg · « **Reply #23 on:** March 06, 2015, 08:45:20 AM »

Did you turn the unit on and let it start up before you installed the SD card or did you install it before you powered the unit up?
When you formatted the SD card, did you do a "full" format or a "quick" format?
Try saving and then viewing a Screen Snapshot on that same SD card to see if the unit will both write to and read from it.

j_wireman · « **Reply #24 on:** March 08, 2015, 08:53:10 PM »

The downloaded size does not agree with the file size. I did a full format. I also tried to put the 5.7 s/w just to confirm the card is OK and when I put it in the unit I got a message that no update is needed. So the card is OK and the 5.7 s/w seems OK. I'll try to download the 6.49 again. Thanks

Bob B · « **Reply #25 on:** March 08, 2015, 09:00:27 PM »

Let us know what fixes it for you ..... it will help others to know.

Maybe try a different browser....or temporarily disable the virus checker.

j_wireman · « **Reply #26 on:** March 08, 2015, 09:06:01 PM »

I just downloaded again and file size is only 16.5mb I am using Firefox on a Linux PC. I'll try again with Win 7.

j_wireman · « **Reply #27 on:** March 08, 2015, 09:40:59 PM »

no better with the win7 laptop. I don't know what I am doing wrong.

Bob B · « **Reply #28 on:** March 08, 2015, 09:48:30 PM »

I just put it here https://www.dropbox.com/s/y3ijp0q29ltwy6f/998cHD_v6_490%20.bin?dl=0 I know that file is 27,959 KB

If you get it to work from there, let me know, because I don't want to leave that file there.

j_wireman · « **Reply #29 on:** March 08, 2015, 09:59:31 PM »

That worked!! thanks!!

j_wireman · « **Reply #30 on:** March 08, 2015, 10:02:52 PM »

Downloaded and updated the unit no problems. Thanks for the help! I do wander why It would not download correctly from the link on here? Thanks again

Bob B · « **Reply #31 on:** March 08, 2015, 10:09:35 PM »

I don't know why ..... That is where I got it from to begin with???

Humminbird_Greg · « **Reply #32 on:** March 09, 2015, 11:30:50 AM »

Glad you got it sorted out there j_wireman.
I just downloaded it from the Downloads section and it was 27, 959KB... strange, very strange.

j_wireman · « **Reply #33 on:** March 09, 2015, 03:23:29 PM »

It seems something was going on with my computer. I downloaded it several times and it would be a different file size each time. It worked the first time when Bob linked it to me via Dropbox. I'm good to go now. Thanks again everybody!!!

BTW, what S/W version do I need to use Chart Select? I'm thinking I should go that route since my home lakes are covered.

Humminbird_Greg · « **Reply #34 on:** March 09, 2015, 03:49:22 PM »

That woukld be the last software version released : 7.510

998c SI (Version 7.510)
Release Date: 02/24/2015

Description:
New Features:

Added support for Humminbird Lakemaster Plus cards with Aerial Photography.

Added support for Humminbird ChartSelect.
Added support for Jigging Mode* in Side Imaging Models.
Added support for Navigation Show Routes.
Added support for Bluetooth Dongle and Bluetooth Remote.
Added support for iPilot Link features, which include:
Show Routes
Move / Copy iTracks
Prop Auto-on
BackTrack Distance

News:

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