HDS with LGC 4000

Is anyone running an HDS unit with the LGC4000 receiver? I’m wondering if there is a significant improvement in GPS performance over the internal receiver. In particular does the gps map screen update faster when you make a change in course? It seems like my HDS updates slower than previous Lowrance units I’ve used with external receivers. I have no issues with the internal receiver locking on or staying locked, I’m quite impressed with that. It always locks on within a few seconds, even when the boat is in the garage.

I was talking to one of the Lowrance gurus and yes it is faster and more detailed, if you are working a small hump it will show your movement, so if you are a fine deatail guy yes.

I currently run a LGC 4000 networked to 2 HDS 10’s & a 8. The difference is remarkable, especially at slower speeds. There’s a huge improvement when using track up, versus north up.
I see Lowrance has a $50.00 rebate going until end of March on the LGC 4000. Here’s link for rebates

http://www.lowrance.com/specialoffers/Ultimate-Upgrade/

http://www.lowrance.com/upload/Lowrance/Documents/Rebates/Ultimate%20Upgrade%20Products%20012611.pdf

There’s other factors in updating your gps screen too.

Running Navionics, In-sight, over zooming a higher speeds.

Turning off items the gps has to redraw will help too…such as Hiways, points of interest, ect.

On a side note I’m going to upgrade to the 4000 for navagational reasons.

Thanks for the link Mike!

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I currently run a LGC 4000 networked to 2 HDS 10’s & a 8. The difference is remarkable, especially at slower speeds. There’s a huge improvement when using track up, versus north up.
I see Lowrance has a $50.00 rebate going until end of March on the LGC 4000. Here’s link for rebates

http://www.lowrance.com/specialoffers/Ultimate-Upgrade/

http://www.lowrance.com/upload/Lowrance/Documents/Rebates/Ultimate%20Upgrade%20Products%20012611.pdf

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Mike, I have an HDS 8 & 7 & LSS-1 networked with ethernet cord. How & what would I need to network the 4000 into my system?

Thanks!

Stinkycat,
Quite easy if you want to spend a little $.
it would all be connected via NMEA 2000 cables (red connectors). You would locate a place for the 4000, run the “red cable” to as close to your 1st unit as you can and put a red tee there. Run a short cable to your 1st unit (off the center of the tee) and then run another cable (off other end of “tee” close to your second unit, and agin, run a short nema 2000 cable (red) to second unit. On the end of the second tee you need a 120 ohn terminator. Please make sure your aware if the terminator needs to be male or female. This will save you a few bucks and a second trip to store.
Basically saying you need 2 red tee’s, 2 shorter cables, 2 longer cables, and 1 terminator. I beleive the 4000 comes with 1 cable and 1 tee.
You may need a 3rd tee and a second terminator depending how long of a run it is to your 1st unit from the LGC 4000.
Most how carry Lorance will be able to steer to to which exact cables, tee’s, and termiators you will need.

It’s really pretty easy. Hardest thing is running cables.

Hope this makes some sense.

Thanks Mike. I also have an in-line fuel sensor wired with the NMEA, so I figured It would be similar to that. The fifty dollar rebate is nice!

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Stinkycat,

Quite easy if you want to spend a little $.

it would all be connected via NMEA 2000 cables (red connectors). You would locate a place for the 4000, run the “red cable” to as close to your 1st unit as you can and put a red tee there. Run a short cable to your 1st unit (off the center of the tee) and then run another cable (off other end of “tee” close to your second unit, and agin, run a short nema 2000 cable (red) to second unit. On the end of the second tee you need a 120 ohn terminator. Please make sure your aware if the terminator needs to be male or female. This will save you a few bucks and a second trip to store.

Basically saying you need 2 red tee’s, 2 shorter cables, 2 longer cables, and 1 terminator. I beleive the 4000 comes with 1 cable and 1 tee.

You may need a 3rd tee and a second terminator depending how long of a run it is to your 1st unit from the LGC 4000.

Most how carry Lorance will be able to steer to to which exact cables, tee’s, and termiators you will need.

It’s really pretty easy. Hardest thing is running cables.

Hope this makes some sense.

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You’ll always need two 120 ohm terminators on a network.

You’ll also have to power the network. The power node

may have a built-in 120 terminator,(119-78), or it may

not, (119-75).

Good points Dandorn,
Thats what happens to me in the winters, I forget things. It will all come back once covers are lifted from 620 and get to start playing.

1 question on the terminators. I can’t remember on my set up, and I did it.
If the 4000 is ran to a tee, a cable from center of tee is ran to unit, a second cable is ran off other end of 1st tee to another tee, cable from second tee to unit, and termiated on 3rd end of second tee, wouldn’t that work, or would it require 1 tee for the 4000 and 1 for every head unit (and sensors if so desired).

Yes, agreed, nmea netwrok needs to be powered. That can be done off power cord connector using the 2nd red, black, & shield.

Here’s a link to general NMEA 2000 network setups.

http://www.lowrance.com/upload/Lowrance/Documents/Manuals/NMEA2000NetworksGeneralInfo_0154-173_112006.pdf

I have to get my boat uncovered and un confuse myself.

Thanks

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1 question on the terminators. I can’t remember on my set up, and I did it.
If the 4000 is ran to a tee, a cable from center of tee is ran to unit, a second cable is ran off other end of 1st tee to another tee, cable from second tee to unit, and termiated on 3rd end of second tee, wouldn’t that work, or would it require 1 tee for the 4000 and 1 for every head unit (and sensors if so desired).

One Tee for every device.

Yes, agreed, nmea netwrok needs to be powered. That can be done off power cord connector using the 2nd red, black, & shield.

An HDS power cable is different than an LCX power cable. There aren’t any network power leads.

Here’s a link to general NMEA 2000 network setups.

http://www.lowrance.com/upload/Lowrance/Documents/Manuals/NMEA2000NetworksGeneralInfo_0154-173_112006.pdf

I have to get my boat uncovered and un confuse myself.

Thanks

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***An HDS power cable is different than an LCX power cable. There aren’t any network power leads***.

I did not realize this. I used the existing power cable set up for my 2 LCX 112’s and LCX 38 when swithing over to the HDS units. Now I will have to look into my boxes and see what’s different with power cables.

An HDS unit does not “bridge” the power to the network as
an LCX unit would. I found this out trying to power my
network off of a LCX power cable to a HDS unit.

I had to install a power node and disconnect the LCX network
power leads.

You must have had to do the same???

This I am 99.99% positive of, and that’s my LCX power cables and nmea networks were not touched when switching over to the HDS units.
I also take one of my HDS 10’s and 1 of the 2 LGC 4000’s out of my boat before storing and use for big water ice travels.
I have an old LCX power cable that I set up with main power, and NMEA power to a cig adaptor, and it works great!

I know a couple of my HDS boxes have new power cables in them and will look tonight, but as mentioned, the old power set up is working fine with my HDS. setup.

Mike

My guess would be your puck isn’t working on your mobile
setup. You still have signal with the internal antenna
of the HDS-10.

If your still running your network power through your LCX-38
then you would still be able to power your network and
the LGC-4000’s.

Just guessing…………….

I’m now guessing you are maybe right with your evaluation. I do still have a LCX 38 in dash and run a HDS 10 in consol along with a HDS 10 in bow. I must have gotten lucky being as the 38 probably is powering the network.

Now, if you don’t mind, question. My kid would love my 38, which would mean Dad has to upgrade… again. If I replace that with a HDS 8, can you explain, without me having to search, how I would then power the network?

I’m sure my manuals will tell me, but if it becomes headache to help him out, he maybe SOL.

I love my current set up, everything works great, and why fix something that’s not broke!!!

I love expanding my knowledge, so this is all good stuff.

Thanks

P.S. Not sure about the mobile set up. I was just sure I went to active antena and it showed LGC 4000, but would have to confirm that, which I’m going to do for my curiosity.

It looks as though the power node with the built-in terminator has been discontinued. I used this style and removed the terminator at the end of the backbone closest
to the battery, connected the power node into the tee (side) and ran it to a switch and then to the battery.

The available style comes with a Tee so you’d need to attach the Tee to another Tee and connect the power node off the bottom leg and run it to a switch.

Remove the LCX network leads from the 12v source or at least remove the 3 amp fuse.

Pretty easy to do.

Its worth every penney! Being a muskie and walleye guy the tracking is way better and quicker at low speeds.

I know everyone here trys to support IDO sponsers, and I’ll 100% for that, if not, I buy local, but ebay has a deal one can’t hardly turn down on the LGC 4000. $206.00 free shipping + $50.00 rebate from Lowrance. Link below.
Make sure if you were to go this way that you request a dealer receipt, which I beleive this is.

http://cgi.ebay.com/LOWRANCE-LGC-4000-GPS-ANTENNA-5HZ-SENSOR-NEW-UNITS-/230584780996?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item35afec88c4

Thanks for the info guys, that’s what I was hoping to hear. I went ahead and ordered one from the link Mike provided, that is a great price.

would you be able to hook up LGC 4000 to one unit and then access it from the second unit over the ethernet network?

Jeremy

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would you be able to hook up LGC 4000 to one unit and then access it from the second unit over the ethernet network?

Jeremy

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Nope. It has to be connected
to the same NMEA 2000 network.

Something for everyone to remember is that a NMEA 2000 network transfers/shares GPS information. The Ethernet network transfers/shares sonar information. These are two completely different types of cables that carry different information through them.

Justsonar info… How come you can share waypoints from one unit to other over the ethernet?

It’s too bad they didn’t make it so you could share gps, it would make it easier. I figured since you can share waypoints maybe you it would share gps, too.

Jeremy