Broadband 3G Radar™ Software Upgrade

3G and HD radars occasionally require a software upgrade. This is generally to implement new features or improve functionality. The Lowrance 3G Broadband Radar and Lowrance HD Pulse Radars can be easily upgraded in the field using a Lowrance HDS Multifunction Display (MFD).

New Feature – Software Upgrade protection
Protection from older BR24 software being applied to 3G and causing potential crashes

  • 3.0.21 will fail if older BR24 software is applied. 3G is different hardware so is incompatible with BR24 software; however initial protection was not provided.
  • 3.0.25 will protect the 3G radar from this scenario and any upgrade attempt will be aborted.
NOTE: Please do not attempt to apply BR24 software to 3G radars

Download the upgrade file

  1. Click here to download the file
  2. If asked to SAVE or RUN select SAVE and save to your hard drive.
  3. Choose or create a folder on your hard drive to save the file to.
  4. Unzip (extract) the two files.

Note: A zip file is a compressed fi le format. Your computer may require a free download of Winzip software in order to manipulate Zip Files. You can find the free WinZip Software from the WinZip Website. http://www.winzip.com/index.htm

Do not rename the file or change the fi le extension. The two fi les are called radar.riw and radar.ri2.

Note: (Only the file Radar.riw is needed for upgrading using a Lowrance HDS display)

Copy the file "radar.riw" to the root of an SD Card

SD cards are a popular format of portable data storage, and very commonly used with digital cameras.
  1. Once the upgrade files have been downloaded, unzipped and saved to your hard drive, you will need to copy the file named "radar.riw" to the root an empty SD Card.
  2. The root of the drive is top most level of the folder structure. Do not place into a folder.
  3. Once the file has been copied to your SD Card you are now ready to upgrade your radar.

Upgrading your radar using your HDS

Important things to remember

  • DO NOT REMOVE THE PORTABLE DRIVE DURING THE UPGRADE PROCESS.
  • DO NOT TURN OFF THE DISPLAY OR REMOVE POWER FROM THE RADAR DURING AN UPGRADE.
  • DO NOT START THE UPGRADE WHEN THE RADAR IS IN TRANSMIT MODE.
1.
  • Start your HDS and wait for the radar to warm up (Pulse radars) then enter Standby.
  • Do not start the upgrade when radar is transmitting!
  • Note: Make sure the Portable drive with the upgrade file is NOT inserted when the HDS first starts.
2.
  • Open the Chart Card door on your HDS to expose the SD Card reader.
  • Insert your SD Card into the card reader.
  • Insert the card all the way in until it clicks and stays in place.
 
 
3.
  • Press the PAGES and use the left or right arrows to select the Waypoints, routes, trails menu.
  • Down arrow to highlight Files then press ENTER.
4.
  • Highlight the memory card then press right arrow to display the contents of the card.
 
 
5.
  • Select the file "Radar.riw".
6.
  • Press MENU and select Upgrade.
 
 
7.
  • Highlight the radar device in the list, then press enter to select the radar.
8.
  • Press MENU then highlight "Start Upgrade" Press ENTER.
 
 
9.
  • The upgrade process will begin.
  • The update will take about two minutes and display the following messages.


10.
  • After the upgrade has fi nished. Take the time to verify the upgrade has been successful.
  • Check the software version on the status page by pressing; MENU>MENU>RADAR> INSTALLATION>RADAR STATUS.