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Pub. 988-0154-172
Setup and Installation of
NMEA 2000
Networks
General Information
NMEA 2000 is a communication bus network specifically designed for
boats. This is an industry standard developed by the National Marine
Electronics Association(NMEA). To help you get the most out of this
technology Lowrance has introduced a line of products that can com-
municate over a NMEA 2000 network.
This instruction sheet outlines the basics of what it takes to create a
NMEA 2000 network. It also will explain how to use this network to
connect your Lowrance and LEI products and provide some tips on con-
figuring and using the operational network.
Terminology
There are several key phrases you will need to know before we can ex-
plain how the NMEA 2000 system works. Some of these are technical
terms, some of them are names taken from the NMEA 2000 standard
and some of them are our own names developed for clarity. All of them
will help you understand what we are saying.
"NMEA 2000
Network" or "LowranceNET "
When we talk about the NMEA 2000 network we are talking about the
communications link between two or more devices that transfer NMEA
2000 information. "LowranceNET" is the NMEA 2000 networking sys-
tem developed by Lowrance Electronics. Think of this as a computer
network or the phone wiring in your house. If you pick up a phone in
your living room you can hear someone talking into the phone in the
bedroom.
A NMEA 2000 network is a way to let more than one display unit "lis-
ten in" on the GPS antenna's conversation or to let more than one sonar
display unit overhear the messages being sent by a temperature sensor.
You can even view engine diagnostics and fuel level on digital gauges or
display units located anywhere on your boat.
If you have a Lowrance display unit with an LGC-2000 GPS module
installed then you have a NMEA 2000 network. The connectors and
cables that came with your LGC-2000 actually function as a dedicated
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Summary of Contents for Lowrance General information Pamplet
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Page 1: General Information
This instruction sheet outlines the basics of what it takes to create a NMEA 2000 network. It also will explain how to use this network to connect your Lowrance and LEI products and provide some tips on con- figuring and using the operational network. - Page 2 NMEA 2000 network passing GPS signal information along the net- work (that is, the extension cables) to the GPS display unit. This is a very limited application of the term "network." The other end of the scale is a network bus (described in the following segment) built into your boat with nodes at intervals allowing you to connect several GPS or sonar display units, temperature or water speed sensors, digital gauges or any other NMEA 2000 device.
- Page 3 That is the advantage of a NMEA 2000 network. Every display unit, gauge or sensor attached to the network communicates with all the others. Of course location, speed and temperature are not the only kinds of infor- mation that can be shared. Other capabilities include the ability to share the amount of fuel remaining in your tanks, detailed engine information such as oil pressure and fuel efficiency and much more.
- Page 4 T con- nector from LEI (ordering information appears on the back page of this booklet). If you are adding a Lowrance or LEI NMEA 2000 sensor it will come with its own T connector making the process even easier.
- Page 5 "Linear Architecture" NMEA 2000 networks are designed using a linear architecture and it is important for you to maintain this pattern whenever you modify your network (such as adding nodes). When we say "linear architecture" we are referring to the way the net- work's backbone is assembled and to the way you attach T connectors along it.
- Page 6 Wherever you want to add the new node simply separate the sockets of the old connection and attach your new T connector be- tween them. Lowrance or LEI device con- nects to new T connector. Existing network node...
- Page 7 them on your boat. Every extension cable has a male connector on one end and a female connector on the other allowing you to insert it any- where the network has a connection. For instance, you might have a cluster of T connectors at the bow of your boat and attached to the last T on the cluster is a 15' extension cable running to your console.
- Page 8 NMEA 2000 bus make sure you do not connect the display unit's NMEA 2000 Power cable to another power source. All Lowrance display units with blue connectors come packed with a three-branched power/data cable that includes wires to power a NMEA 2000 bus.
- Page 9 In addition to the three-branched power/data cable that comes with Lowrance display units Lowrance and LEI provide two other methods of powering a NMEA 2000 bus. These include a Powered Terminator and a Power Node. Many manufacturer-installed networks use one of these al- ternate power sources.
- Page 10 Setting up a Network Lowrance and LEI provide all the cables you will need to create a NMEA 2000 network on your boat. We provide T connectors and extension ca- bles so you can add devices along the backbone wherever you want. Once you have a working network every sensor you add to it will come with its own T connector for easy expansion.
- Page 11 When you want to expand that connection into a more extensive NMEA 2000 network with multiple nodes, you'll need to buy a LowranceNET "Node Kit." The Node Kit comes with two 120-ohm terminators (to re- place the single 60-ohm terminator that came with the original kit), a T connector and an extension cable.
- Page 12 (that is, a GPS display unit, an LGC-2000, two T connectors and 120-ohm terminators on both ends). If your boat came with a Lowrance NMEA 2000 network installed it will be set up in much the same way although it will probably already have additional devices at- tached.
- Page 13 120-ohm terminator Lowrance NMEA 2000 network with display unit, Or you could connect two sonar-GPS combo display units to the net- work, an LGC-2000 and a temp sensor. To do that simply add another node to the network as we discussed earlier.
- Page 14 120-ohm terminator Attach all four T connectors side- by-side, or insert extension cables between them. 120-ohm terminator Network with two sonar-GPS display units, You can continue expanding with new network nodes until your net- work contains everything you want to include. The following figure shows the extensive example network we described in the introduction to this booklet.
- Page 15 (to a switched power source), to power the whole network. The display units at bow and stern should connect only the units' power. Connecting to a non-Lowrance Network Some boats will come with a manufacturer-installed NMEA 2000 net- work that does not use LowranceNET T connectors.
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Page 16: Looking Ahead
With this adapter cable you can connect the Micro-C plug (shown left in this figure) to an available network node on your boat's NMEA 2000 bus. The Lowrance plug (shown right) connects to a Lowrance display unit or NMEA 2000 sensor. - Page 17 Lowrance often offers free software updates for their display units on the web site, www.lowrance.com. As NMEA 2000 technology evolves you can count on Lowrance to evolve with it, constantly developing to help you get the most performance possible from your products.
- Page 18 Notes...
- Page 19 Notes...
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Page 20: Accessory Ordering Information
800-324-1354 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Central Standard Time, M-F Lowrance Electronics and Eagle Electronics may find it necessary to change or end their shipping policies, regulations and special offers at any time. They reserve the right to do so without notice.