Lowrance HDS Nmea 2000 Issue.

Hello all :-).
Been a big fan of this site for a long time, and now I have some issues you all might have a solution for :-).
I have just completed installing a Nmea 2000 network to my HDS-10 Lowrance unit. The only thing I have hooked up to that network is a Mercury gateway to show me engine data on my HDS unit. I have made sure the Nmea network has a constant 12V supply.
When I fire up the HDS unit and turn the ignition key to on I can see data coming into the HDS network and all data are showing up as they should. Also when firing up engine, which is a Mercury Optimax 90HP engine, all data are there. The funny part is now when I turn engine off for fishing or whatever, the nmea network shuts down cause no data are fed into the network. Which is ok I guess…but when I start engine again…the nmea network does not start up again, even though I see data on the can bus on gateway is on(light). Only way to get nmea network to communicate with gateway is to reboot HDS unit.
Also upgraded HDS unit with latest firmware update from Lowrance download section.
Any suggestions ?
Regards
Jannich

Power the network so it runs fro the same source as your HDS. Add a switch to turn the NMEA on before you power up the HDS. Leave it on until you are done for the day. Just my 2 cents but I run other things through the network.

Thx for reply Creek :-). The way the nmea network is powered now is directly from the main battery. But yes..I can see if I install a switch I can actually reebot the Nmea network without turning off HDS unit also. I just thought id the Nmea network had a constant 12V supply..it would always be online…even if the canbus from the Mercury gateway turns off when turning engine off.

Remember, the Nema network, if ran directly to a battery source, and using an external antenna will consitantly draw power. It is better to have switched to avoid low battery issues.

Yes ur right Mike….I will get that switch installed regardles now..:-). But just spoke with a friend of mine and he says that if another node is installed in the nmea network, the mercury gateway cannot shut down the nmea network…so maybe I should look into that. I just thought that whenever the nmea network is powered up…it would be on even though no data are fed to it…like when I turn engine ignition off. Or atleast power it up again when engine is on and data are fed into the nmea network from the gateway :-).