Connecting to a NMEA 2000 Network
A NMEA 2000 network is a communications link between two or more devices that transfer NMEA 2000 information. LowranceNET is the NMEA 2000 networking system developed by Lowrance Electronics. A NMEA 2000 network functions like the phone wiring in a house.
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.
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. A NMEA 2000 network gives you the flexibility to view information like engine diagnostics and fuel level data on digital gauges or display units located anywhere on your boat.
There are two types of LowranceNet red connectors: the single T
connector (left) and the double T connector (right).
Network Backbone and Network Nodes
A network bus backbone consists of network cabling, terminators and T connectors. Network nodes are made by fitting
Staying with the previous phone wiring example, T connectors on the backbone are the equivalent of phone jacks spread throughout a house. To pick up a phone and be able to hear a conversation from another phone in the house, both phones have to be connected to the main phone line. In similar fashion, only sensors and display units plugged into the NMEA network can share information. The network backbone is like the phone wiring that runs throughout a home.
It connects the network nodes, allowing them to communicate across the network. Connections found in the middle of the bus could have T connectors or backbone network cable plugged into one or both sides.
Connections at the end of a network will have the backbone cable plugged into one side and a terminator plugged into the other, as shown in the following figure.
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