Luv2fish
Well-known member
I recently installed my HDS-7. Because I have a pilot house I need an external GPS receiver. I had a Lowrance GPS 3000 external antenna that plugged in to a NMEA 2000 network. This came as part of a kit when I bought the antenna. There was no power connector on the network and it worked fine with the HDS-5. When I installed the radar and HDS-7 I could not get a signal on the external GPS (nor the internal since it is blocked by the cabin). If I reconnected the HDS - 5 it would get a signal from the external GPS antenna. I called Lowrance and they informed me that all NMEA networks require a separate power source. This seemed very odd since both head units are supposed to be identical except for the size of the screen and the HDS 5 worked but the 7 didn't.
I found that to be odd that it had been working for 3 years with the other configuration but I went ahead and ordered the extra NMEA 2000 parts to add power to the network.
I decided to take the boat for a run on Sunday. Shortly after I left the dock I received the error that the GPS could not get a signal. I expected this but used the sonar on the HDS -7 and my backup GPS for navigation. While I was on the water playing with the new gadgets I noticed that the system had found a signal. The only thing I can figure is that the GPS 3000 (an older antenna) takes longer to get a signal than the newer GPS - 4000 and thus caused the system to shoot an error message.
I do believe that if you have more than one device fed off the NMEA network, it needs a separate power source. My configuration is basically a direct plug in from the external antenna to the back of the GPS through the network. No other devices are on the network.
Don't know why this works but it works. Now that the HDS -7 knows the antenna is there it takes very little time to find the signal and location. I was able to cancel the order for the VERY expensive additional NMEA network connections.
Steve
I found that to be odd that it had been working for 3 years with the other configuration but I went ahead and ordered the extra NMEA 2000 parts to add power to the network.
I decided to take the boat for a run on Sunday. Shortly after I left the dock I received the error that the GPS could not get a signal. I expected this but used the sonar on the HDS -7 and my backup GPS for navigation. While I was on the water playing with the new gadgets I noticed that the system had found a signal. The only thing I can figure is that the GPS 3000 (an older antenna) takes longer to get a signal than the newer GPS - 4000 and thus caused the system to shoot an error message.
I do believe that if you have more than one device fed off the NMEA network, it needs a separate power source. My configuration is basically a direct plug in from the external antenna to the back of the GPS through the network. No other devices are on the network.
Don't know why this works but it works. Now that the HDS -7 knows the antenna is there it takes very little time to find the signal and location. I was able to cancel the order for the VERY expensive additional NMEA network connections.
Steve