NMEA 2000 And Humminbird Onix

Hey guys I am in the process of purchasing a new boat and I am having the Humminbird ONIX10ci NT SI Combo put in. One of the things I would like to do is hook up my engine stats ( rpm and full consumption) thru the NMEA backbone. I am curious if any of you guys have done this and how well it works.

Thanks for any help you can give.

I connected my 1199 and etec to the NMEA network. It was frustrating in that the Humminbird GPS antenna isn’t NMEA compatible, so I had to get a lowrance antenna to get my speed on the screen. Then I found out that Humminbird’s NMEA display doesn’t calculate MPG even if you do have a GPS antenna on the network (though it does show GPH). I ended up buying the Lowrance LMF-400 display and like it a lot.

I realize the Onyx is a different platform so it may not have these drawbacks, or maybe these issues don’t matter to you. If you want a Hummimbird NMEA adapter for half of retail (not sure if Onyx needs it?), let me know and I’ll pull it out of my boat for you.

The boat that I am getting is a Thunderjet Rio Classic with a 6.0L 360hp motor the reason for setting up the NMEA is to save full cost when I am just cruising around the lake. So I am after the GPH more then any thing.

Humminbird does sell the AS ETH NMEA2K | Networking | 408390-1
“Conserve valuable fuel and anticipate problems with an at-a-glance view of fuel consumption and engine performance. View multiple gauges at once for the complete picture. Waterproof black box connects to existing NMEA 2000® network. Distributes NMEA 2000® data to all Ethernet-compatible Humminbird® units on your Ethernet network. Easily customize data boxes. View data for up to two engines and two fuel tanks. To use this product a NMEA2000® backbone is required. We do not sell these parts.”

The ONIX is NMEA ready so I wont be needing the adapter from you, But thank you for the offer.

I have watched a few you tube videos and it seems relatively simple to install. I just can’t find any were that shows the full view of the Humminbird sensor. And do you have to get a sensor for fuel consumption rate and a sensor for RPM resulting in multiple sensors or does one engine sensor do it all.

I have also purchased the ULTERRA 112 LB 60″ US2/i-PILOT LINK that is all ready compatible with the onix so I am pretty sure I don’t have to put it on the NMEA network.

At this point I don’t even know what I don’t know LOL

I added it to mine too with an etec. With just the humminbird all you get is rpm’s and motor temp. I was disappointed with the available info. I searched for information before I installed it, but there was little to none at least for the Etec. If you got all of the potential readings it would be great, but I’m not sure with what you get it is worth it. Although I do like the motor temp.

I definitely got fuel flow with my etec, but it wouldn’t calculate MPG. Mojo, you might be able to get the fuel flow to show on yours via the setup menu. Without MPG, though, you’ll have to do some math to figure out your most efficient range.

The question of the fuel flow sensor is answered by your engine manufacturer. My etec (135HO) has one built in.

I think because I’m not running the Lowrance antenna the fuel flow doesn’t work. I’m just am running the humminbird. Do you think that is my issue, or should I check into it more?

You will need to install a fuel flow sensor, and a different GPS puck along with a nmea 2000 backbone network. Then you will be able to see MPG. I just gave up with the humminbird and the nmea link for my etec. To get the majority of info that humminbrd said it gets would cost over 1k in sensors, and I am not certain it would work because I didn’t try it. I bought a I-command gauge that links via the nmea 2000 and it works well. I did have to use a lowrance puck because as said earlier nmea doesn’t recognize it.

Jared Beerbohm wrote:

Hey guys I am in the process of purchasing a new boat and I am having the Humminbird ONIX10ci NT SI Combo put in. One of the things I would like to do is hook up my engine stats ( rpm and full consumption) thru the NMEA backbone. I am curious if any of you guys have done this and how well it works.

Thanks for any help you can give.

Like I mentioned, I had fuel flow and speed displayed on my 1199, but the bird wouldn’t calculate MPG. I ended up in the same place you did, mojo. Humminbird is really missing the boat on NMEA2K (pardon the pun). It reminds me of when HB insisted on having fish cartoons on their displays while Lowrance pulled way ahead of them on sonar performance. Maybe this is one of the issues that shows the pendulum swinging away from HB again.