Help with networking 2 Lowrance Units

  • walleyewacker18
    Rice Lake, WI
    Posts: 620
    #1306605

    Hey guys,
    I have a Lowrance LMS 334Cigps, and also a LCX 37C. Both have a networking port on the back side. I have never done this before but I am looking into if for this year.
    1)What do I need to network the to.
    2)Will it work with these two units?
    3)What do I gain
    4)Does anyone use this and like it
    Thanks
    Jordan

    smithkeith
    Waterloo, Iowa
    Posts: 889
    #864197

    Call Wade at Jolly Ann. If it can be done, he will know and have the parts that you need. Great guy to deal with.

    tweak
    Posts: 128
    #864199

    You would need the appropriate NMEA2000 cables and T’s. If you connect them you can use one gps antenna for both, share waypoints if you want-so that if you add a waypoint on one you also add it to the other simulateously, you can display depth information of one unit on the other (digital depth, not the sonar image), and you can sync backlight settings. You can also add other sensors-temp, tank levels, fuel flow, etc to the network. And some adapters are offered for some outboards to display that info as well.

    wade_kuehl
    Northwest Iowa
    Posts: 6167
    #864227

    Quote:


    Hey guys,
    I have a Lowrance LMS 334Cigps, and also a LCX 37C. Both have a networking port on the back side. I have never done this before but I am looking into if for this year.
    1)What do I need to network the to.
    2)Will it work with these two units?
    3)What do I gain
    4)Does anyone use this and like it
    Thanks
    Jordan


    If I recall correctly, the LCX-37c has a red connector and the 334c has a blue connector. You will want to set up a red network and use the Red to Blue adapter on the 334c.

    Is your GPS puck a red connector?

    Depending on what you already have, this is an example of what you might need:

    Lowrance 2 foot extension cable (red) #119-88
    Lowrance 15 foot extension cable (red) #119-86
    Lowrance Red T connector #119-79
    Lowrance NAC-MRD2MBL NMEA Network Adapter Cable #127-04

    That would run you $134

    It will allow your 334c to share the external GPS puck you already have on the LCX-37C. You can share waypoints, etc. You can add other network components (radar, fuel flow sensors, engine data, speed and temp sensors, etc.) if you wish. You can share digital depth from one unit to the other to avoid interference issues.

    Dan, Does this look right to you… Or anyone else who has good knowledge of Lowrance networks?

    wade_kuehl
    Northwest Iowa
    Posts: 6167
    #864228

    I though of a cheaper option:

    NMEA Starter Kit #124-69 and
    Lowrance NAC-MRD2MBL NMEA Network Adapter Cable #127-04

    $84 shipped

    NMEA Starter Kit #124-69 details:

    Network starter kit. Includes 2 terminating resistors (TR-120M-RD, TR-120F-RD), two T-connectors (N2K-T-RD), one 2 ft extension cable (N2KEXT-2RD), and one 15 ft extension cable (N2KEXT-15RD), and a power node (N2K-PWR-RD).

    For use with all Red network devices.

    Compatible With: GlobalMap 5200C, GlobalMap 5300C iGPS, GlobalMap 7200C, GlobalMap 7300C HD, GlobalMap 8200C, GlobalMap 8300C HD, GlobalMap 9200C, GlobalMap 9300C HD, HDS-10, HDS-10m, HDS-5, HDS-5m, HDS-5x, HDS-7, HDS-7m, HDS-8, HDS-8m, LCX-112C, LCX-113C HD, LCX-37C, LCX-38C HD, LMS-520C, LMS-522C iGPS, LMS-525C DF

    walleyewacker18
    Rice Lake, WI
    Posts: 620
    #864275

    Sounds good, and thank you. I will give you a call in the near future!

    Brian Robinson
    central Neb
    Posts: 3914
    #864339

    The basics are that anytime you add an accessory to the network, you’ll need a ‘T’ connector. Also, you’ll need to get the common denominator taken care of too, i.e., red/blue connector adapters so that it’s all running on the same page.
    What will you gain with such a system? Make sure your units have the latest update from lowrance.com and you’ll be able to do things like waypoint sharing, and I think you’re able to share some other pertinent information.
    One thing I really like is the fuel sensor I have hooked up to my Yamaha 150 VMAX. It helps me find the sweet spot so I’m not burning too much gas at a given rpm. I can dial that in using that sensor. It’s relatively easy to manage once you get into it, you’ll see.

    I have had two units linked up before in a previous Crestliner, and it worked pretty well. The network is a good thing. It broadens the options you are able to add in your boat, and they are nice tools to have at your fingertips.

    John Shear
    Chippewa Falls, WI
    Posts: 205
    #864410

    Lowrance has some pretty good documentation on their website that
    describes all this NMEA2000 stuff. Gotta be careful when you just
    say “network” though, since my LCX-27C supports both NMEA and Ethernet
    networks. I have a NMEA network with two LCX-27c, the GPS receiver, temp
    sensor, and speed paddlewheel.
    Sharing the waypoints is really nice, and backlight synchronization comes
    in handy at times.

    Cannot share map chip data across any network. I expect that’s more of a
    licensing restrictions and not so much what the units or network are
    technically capable of. Kinda like when you buy some software for your
    computer you’re legally supposed to use it only on one computer.

Viewing 8 posts - 1 through 8 (of 8 total)

You must be logged in to reply to this topic.