Lowrance electronic LMS-520C, LMS-525C DF Connecting to a NMEA 2000 Network

To use the module in an automobile, you may achieve good results by

simply placing the external antenna on the top of the dash, at the base of

the windshield. A piece of the rubber non-skid shelf liner material avail-

able in recreational vehicle supply stores will help hold the antenna in

place. This may not work well if you have a cab-over design pickup truck

camper or motor home. If dashboard reception is poor, simply relocate

the antenna module elsewhere on the vehicle for a clearer view of the

sky.

Connecting to a NMEA 2000 Network

A network bus is an installed and operational network cable (backbone)

running the length of your boat, already connected to a power supply and

properly terminated. Such a bus provides network connection nodes at

various locations around your boat. The NMEA 2000 network is similar to

the telephone wiring in a house. If you pick up a phone in your living room,

you can hear someone talking into the phone in the bedroom.

Lowrance and LEI provide all the cables you will need to create a NMEA

2000 network. Lowrance provides T connectors and extension cables so

you can add devices along the backbone wherever you want. Once you

have a working network, every sensor added will come with its own T

connector for easy expansion.

The simplest NMEA 2000 network is a GPS or sonar/GPS display unit

with the LGC-3000, one double-T connector, two 120 ohm terminators

and any extension cables needed to connect them. The diagram below

details how to set up that type of network.