networking

[TEXAS PIGS]

just bought an hds 5 combo, to be strickly used for the gps on the bow of the boat. i have a lcx 27 on dash. the question is--is there a kit available to network these two together or will i need to put it together myself. if there is a kit is it easy to install i want to use the same puck as the 27 also where do i buy it.

[PRD1]

There are two networking options for the units.
Ethernet, just adding the ethernet cable between the HDS-5 and LCX-27 will allow sonar sharing, the ability to display the sonar image from one transducer on both units. Can be done for the cost of the Ethernet cable, available from LEI Extras or dealers, he 25' cable runs $60.
http://www.lei-extras.com/store/cart.asp
NEMA 2000, adding a NEMA 2000 network cable with the required T's and terminators will provide the ability to add waypoints to both units when you punch one in on either unit. It also allows adding sensors for your outboard, speed/temp and other sensors if you are interested in such things. Will cost about $100 to set this up. Again just go to LEI Extras and slect the network option on the drop down then Lowrance Net Red.

This should get you started.

[acar555]

If all you want to do is share waypoints and sync the waypoints on each unit, use the ethernet network. If you want to share the gps antenna or any other sensors you will need to set up the NMEA 2000 network.

[TEXAS PIGS]

let me see if i understand this i can share way points without sharing pucks. can i share trails and icons as well or do i need to goto the gps thing? also if i share gps pucks and way points will i need to buy another nav chip or will the one in the dash cover both. in my opinion it should be able to share the information, just like networking computers. if one computer is showing a certain program the rest of the computers that are networked to that computer will see the same program or maybe not.:banghead:

[PRD1]

If your HDS 5 Combo has a puck (LGC4000) and your LCX 27 has it's puck (LGC2000) then they will operate independently and do not need to share a puck. I am not sure about the ability to share a puck given the different pucks each unit uses. I could not provide any info on the topic on the Lowrance support web site. Clearly within generations (all hds units or all LCX or LMS units using the same type puck) you can share one puck between two units (the GPS positioning data goes to both units).
By having the NEMA 2000 cable you can automatically duplicate waypoints as they are added providing of course both units are powered on. Waypoints that are already in a unit or added to a unit while the other is powered off are NOT synchronized and ICONS are NOT shared. Each unit maintains it's individual tracks and trails.

I have an LCX-27C and LMS522i hooked up with both networks, in my experience all the Ethernet gives you is sonar sharing (a real nice capability) and all the NEMA 2000 gives you is waypoint duplication/sharing plus the other NEMA sensors if you choose to use them.

If anyone has experience on the GPS puck compatability across generations I would like to hear it.

[hiwayman]

with the NMEA 2000 network you can use the internal antennae from the Hds unit for the gps signal for both units, or if the 27 had the LGC 3000 and it's also in the NMEA network the units will use the best signal of the two.

[Catch'nRelease]

If anyone has experience on the GPS puck compatability across generations I would like to hear it.

I was talking to a salesman at Cabela's yesterday and he seemed very knowledgeable about this topic. He indicated that the LCX units (I have the 37C) can use and will benefit from a LGC4000 puck as they update 5 times a second vs. the 3000's 1 time per second (I have the 3000). The 4000 will display a smoother track (a lot less herky-jerky movement of your position on the screen) especially at higher speeds.

I also just purchased an HDS-5 for the trolling motor and he said its internal antenna also updates its position just one time per second, like the 3000's, although it is 16 channel vs. the 3000's 12 channel. So it should be a little better/smoother in terms of maintaining a lock of its position when transitioning between satellites.

So from what I've been able to gather, when using both an LCX and HDS unit, the most cost effective solution would be to install and use a single LGC4000 puck and share it between both? It would also seem to be true that the ideal and best solution would be to have separate LGC4000 pucks installed (one for each GPS) and be able to have each GPS automatically use the puck that's pulling in the best signal. Not sure what the extra benefit of this would be in a practical sense (may be overkill), and am not sure if this would even be possible, but at least in theory it seems to make sense.

[hondo]

If you have an NMEA network set up you can use external pucks, internal antennas, or any combination of them on the network. And you can set up the units to automatically use the gps receiver that is giving the most accurate position fix, which is likely to be the LGC-4000 if you have one in your network.

IMO a setup like that ----- having all units on the network use the best signal ---- is the best way to go. In that setup all of your GPS units will show the same location, and the same position on the contour maps.

Another option is to have each GPS unit use its own GPS antenna to determine its own position --- some guys like this approach, and like having their GPS antenna as close to their transducer as possible, to make their position on their map displays be more accurate. IMO this is overkill ---- I like knowing where my boat is, I don't want to know where my bow is and where my transom is ----- but some guys feel better having that level of precision.

[acar555]

I was talking to a salesman at Cabela's yesterday and he seemed very knowledgeable about this topic. He indicated that the LCX units (I have the 37C) can use and will benefit from a LGC4000 puck as they update 5 times a second vs. the 3000's 1 time per second (I have the 3000). The 4000 will display a smoother track (a lot less herky-jerky movement of your position on the screen) especially at higher speeds.

I also just purchased an HDS-5 for the trolling motor and he said its internal antenna also updates its position just one time per second, like the 3000's, although it is 16 channel vs. the 3000's 12 channel. So it should be a little better/smoother in terms of maintaining a lock of its position when transitioning between satellites.

So from what I've been able to gather, when using both an LCX and HDS unit, the most cost effective solution would be to install and use a single LGC4000 puck and share it between both? It would also seem to be true that the ideal and best solution would be to have separate LGC4000 pucks installed (one for each GPS) and be able to have each GPS automatically use the puck that's pulling in the best signal. Not sure what the extra benefit of this would be in a practical sense (may be overkill), and am not sure if this would even be possible, but at least in theory it seems to make sense.


The LGC-4000 puck with the faster updates only updates faster on the HDS units. It doesn't update faster on the LCX units. The ethernet setup will only add and snyc waypoints if you have 2 HDS units, not with a HDS and LCX setup. You will need to set up the NMEA network for waypoint sharing, but the ethernet will allow you to share transducers between units.

[Catch'nRelease]

The LGC-4000 puck with the faster updates only updates faster on the HDS units. It doesn't update faster on the LCX units. The ethernet setup will only add and snyc waypoints if you have 2 HDS units, not with a HDS and LCX setup. You will need to set up the NMEA network for waypoint sharing, but the ethernet will allow you to share transducers between units.

Thanks for clarifying. I'm going to go with what I've got for now, spent enough $$ already!