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Posts: 331
Location: Stevens Point, Wisconsin | Just a couple questions on Lowrance networking.
My plan this spring is to move my counsel GPS/sonar unit to the bow and install a new GPS/sonar unit on the counsel.
I understand that with Lowrance networking whenever you add a waypoint or icon to one unit it automatically duplicates the entry on the second unit. But I do have a couple questions for those of you who have networking installed already.
1)I will need to connect my bow unit to the existing GPS antenna, understanding that without Lowrance networking this can be accomplished with a splitter T. However with networking installed do you use the networking cables and T’s to accomplish this?
2)If installing the networking, does the system need a separate power supply or processor to coordinate all the accessories?
3)What is the cost of adding networking?
4)Is installing the network a relatively easy job?
Thanks for any help
Ed
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Posts: 512
Location: Appleton | You can find some of these answers at Lowrance.com. I recently sent them a question about which models units this will work with. I have a two year old Lmx 18c and it isn't listed on the site so I'm hoping I don't need 2 new locators. Check the site to make sure you're unit is listed. As for cost I can't answer that yet as I also asked them where I can purchase the equipment since I haven't seen it anywhere yet. I can post what I find when they answer back. Sorry for the little help.
http://www.lowrance.com/ |
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Posts: 69
Location: oak lawn IL | Great question, I was thinking of doing the same with my electronics!! As far as the networking prices I seen Cabelas is selling the parts needed. They also are selling a kit to install a second unit but it only comes with 2' cables.
jim
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Posts: 331
Location: Stevens Point, Wisconsin | Hi Jeff,
You know I should have read more about it before posting. I got my answers from the site.
Thanks! |
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Posts: 412
Location: Waukesha, WI | It doesn't look like the lcx-18c is NMEA 2000. This might be the first obstacle.
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Posts: 512
Location: Appleton | According to the site the 18c isn't NMEA 2000 but I wasn't sure if that meant I can't link with another or I just can't get the other info that NMEA 2000 would get me. I guess it's just wishful thinking as I want to add the 2nd locator but don't really want to buy 2 locators to take care of this. Seems like a nice system though. |
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Posts: 412
Location: Waukesha, WI | You can run the current GPS receiver and the new one so that you wouldn't need to buy two new locators. Another option would be feeding GPS location to the older locator from the serial communication off of the newer. I use this feature to feed GPS location to my Lowrance marine radio. I do like the ability to add a waypoint on one locator and have it appear on the other using LowranceNet. Doc mentioned that the delete process would have to occur on both locators though. With that said, another option is just saving the waypoints off one locator and load on the other. |
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Posts: 551
Location: Columbus, Georgia | PLEASE BE CAREFUL.
Make sure that both Lowrance units are equipped to utilize the one antenna. I have a Lowrance 337 unit at the helm and wanted to network an LCX15 up on my bow. I had previously used the LCX15 for (universal) sonar only.
Well, low and behold -- my local electronics wizard informed me that the antenna's for each unit were completely different when it came to frequencies (or something to that effect ... I'm really challenged when it comes to the specifics with electronics).
The long and short was that I could not network them because the GPS systems on the two Lowrance units were not compatible.
I never liked my LCX15 anyway. Gonna replace it with a friends 102C that he is looking to unload.
I also recently purchased the Lowrance 3600 mapping unit (sure I'd love a Lowrance 112, but did not want to spend $2000+) I thought I could network that to the 337. Once again, the electronics maven suggested installing it as a stand-alone unit. He said networking was great when it is possible, but there are so many units (by Lowrance) that simply cannot be networked together that he thought it was more trouble than it was worth (if it possible at all).
Not trying to be negative here about networking. I thought it would be a piece of cake and purchased a nice kit from Cabela's that was supposed to make it a very simple proposition to bring another unit into an already existing circuit.The networking kit cost around $35.
Craig
Edited by cjrich 2/19/2007 9:50 AM
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Posts: 5874
| Hold on cjrich! You can get GPS data to your X15 from your 337!
Through the NMEA 0183 interface, you can do this. I posted on this a couple times.
Same thing with the 3600. I'll post more when I have some time. |
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Posts: 551
Location: Columbus, Georgia | Thanks Shep!
I will follow this thread closely.
Craig
Edited by cjrich 2/19/2007 2:31 PM
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Posts: 5874
| OK, the 3600C and your 337 can be networked on the LowranceNet(NMEA200). You'll need a total of 3 network tees, two 120 ohm terminators, and a couple network cables. The kit comes with the terminatores, a 10"? cable, and one tee. Get to more tees, and a short cable to fit. That should complete that setup.
To get GPS info on you X15 up front, you would need to run a cable from the 3600 or 337 to the X15. This is done through the NMEA 0183 serial connections. Do a search here, or on WalleyeFirst, for NMEA 0183, and you should find the directions. They are also in your Lowrance manuals.
You can get the cable at a Radio Shack. Ask for 2 twisted pair cable, with 24 ga conductors.
Hope this helps. |
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Posts: 5874
| I found the link I explained the NMEA 0183 connections and setup.
Here it is.
http://walleye.outdoorsfirst.com/board/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=6...
The 3600C only has one NMEA comm port. It can both receive and transmit GPS data through this port.
Edited by Shep 2/20/2007 4:10 PM
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Posts: 551
Location: Columbus, Georgia | Shep,
Thank you very much for this detailed blueprint. I appreciate your taking the time to research exactly what is necessary in my case. It would have been easier if I could have installed a 111 or 112, but the decision to use the 3600 (separate mapper) was one of economics.
I don't feel comfortable going back and forth between the sonar and GPS screens, and I find it difficult to easily read when the 337 screen is split to provide both GPS and sonar functions.
Your post has helped a lot.
Craig |
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