

Technically, any physical cable used to transfer network information is a network bus, but in our documentation we use this term to refer to the standard manufacturer installation appearing in new boats. If, however, you have a sonar display unit (with sonar bottom lock) connected to the NMEA bus, it will share the digital depth with all display units on the network. Every sonar display unit requires its own transducer.

Fuel Remaining data along with engine information like oil pressure and fuel efficiency are among a large number of data options that may be shared on the network.įull Sonar Chart returns CANNOT be transmitted on a NMEA 2000 network, because they take too much bandwidth for the network.

Location, speed and temperature, however, are not the only kinds of information that can be shared. Before connecting a T connector to another T connector or a NMEA 2000 device, apply a small amount of dielectric grease on the pin connectors of both male and female connectors.Įvery display unit, gauge or sensor attached to the network can communicate with all other devices on the network. This will prevent moisture from corroding the connector terminals. We recommend applying dielectric grease to all NMEA 2000 backbone and device connections. The network MUST be installed in an area where it WILL NOT be submerged in standing water during normal operation of your vessel. That is the advantage of a NMEA 2000 network. Play units attached to the bus would have access to information from every sensor attached to the network. The network could share information with a sonar-GPS combo unit mounted in the dash, a sonar-only unit mounted at the stern and another display unit mounted on the bow. You can easily expand a network bus by adding multiple NMEA 2000 devices, even adding the same type of device more than once. On the other end of the scale is a large network bus. This is a simple form of a NMEA 2000 network. The connectors and cables that came with your LGC-3000 function as a dedicated NMEA 2000 network, passing GPS data along the network to the GPS display unit. If you have a Lowrance display unit with a LGC-3000 GPS module installed, you have a NMEA 2000 network. A NMEA 2000 network gives you the flexibility to view engine diagnostics and fuel level data on digital gauges or display units located anywhere on your boat. In similar fashion, a NMEA 2000 network allows multiple display units to receive data from a GPS antenna or multiple sonar units to receive messages sent by a temperature sensor. If, for example, you pick up a phone in the living room you will be able to hear the conversation someone is having on a phone in the bedroom. A NMEA 2000 network functions like the phone wiring in a house. LowranceNET is the NMEA 2000 networking system developed by Lowrance Electronics. Read the next few pages to become familiar with some of the following terms: NMEA 2000 Network/LowranceNET, NMEA 2000 Bus/Network Bus, Network Backbone, Network Nodes and Linear Architecture.Ī NMEA 2000 network is a communications link between two or more devices that transfer NMEA 2000 information. This instruction sheet will show how a NMEA 2000 network is created, configured and installed. Lowrance has introduced a line of products that can communicate over a NMEA 2000 network, helping you get the most out of this technology. The NMEA 2000 Network DeviceNet is the communication bus standard developed by the National Marine Electronics Association (NMEA) for use in boats.
