GPS on Lowrence 3500C

[steve6367]

Does anyone know why they put such a short piece of cable on this before the first plug / socket..........I want to mount it on a rail, but with only 30cm of cable the connector is going to be outside...........it is not clear in the instructions if this is ok. Great piece of kit, but this piece of the design seems to let it down!

Anyone got over this problem with theirs?

 

[Guest]

I too wondered the same ... but I think it may be something to do with the multiple connections you may have or can have ... ??

I in fact didn't need the extra length and wanted to connect direct with it ... but the plugs are different sizes.

If I was to mount outside - I would use amalgamating tape over the connection to make sure. At present my antenna is in the window of the main cabin and works fine ..... actually lodged between curtain and perspex ... I first of all placed it on the cabin top ... and signal strength of the sats rec'd was similar ... so thought what the heck !!

But yes - it is a good piece of kit ... and I haven't had any problems with the plugs and connections as another did. Only niggle I have is the stiff and difficult to run cables ...

 

[steve6367]

Agree on the cable, guess it must be one area they save money. Thanks for the advise, going to try leaving it inside then and see how I go.

 

[muckypup]

It's to do with the NMEA 2000 bus. The second connector on mine is outside (well wrapped in electricians tape) and is fine.

S.

 

[Brian_Moffat]

Oh! what a load of rubbish.

The antenna is a Bog standard unit from the PRC complete with a 300 mm tail. That is what is produced for the mass market (i.e. automobile - because automobile GPS is where the the accountants think that they are going to get their stock options from) and that is what Lowrance bulk ordered.

Lowrance ordered a basic automobile unit because it was cheap!

Don't blame Lowrance because the accountants have the mental capacity of a hazel nut -

A 300 mm tail is standard - if you want more - then you pay for the extra length.

Obviously Lowrance did not want to pay - so you pay -

Look you bought the bloody thing - can you not read the specifications? - Have you really no idea of what you are buying?

Any data engineer will replace your cable with a one-piece length = ON INSTALL = it does not affect your warranty because it it is done with Lowrance approval AND with the certification number of the installing engineer.

Look people, read the specifications before you buy your latest toy,

Yelping afterwards in public is only going to bring you a 'Rocket'
from the persons that you should have employed in the first place to tell you what to do.

This engineer has no knowledge of nor has had prior contact with any and all of the above persons to his knowledge and as submitted as at this DTG.

Brian Moffat IMO / UK / M359

 

[Guest]

So nicely put Brian ....

I'm interested to look at this deeper and where the module actually comes from ... as I can't find any reference to any option or alteration to cable available from anyone in the paperwork supplied. I can't find any reference on the web either to anything else than the module being Lowrance LGC-2000 ....

I believe you - as many things in life are re-badged from other sources and I don't doubt one minute that thne module is such ... As to being a Car design ... maybe - as the plotter series Lowrance have coupled it to has over-land mapping as serious option.

But what does it matter and why so rude about it ... The comments about the network 2000 and multiple connections is what is shown and drawn in the manuals ... so forgive users being mis-lead by it ...

And the comment "Look you bought the bloody thing - can you not read the specifications? - Have you really no idea of what you are buying?" ...... as you have no doubt found yourself on many occasions - reading the specifications doesn't actually tell you a lot other than what it will do and their own Label name for an item .... in particular on this item :

Receiver / antenna : External: LGC-2000 12 parellel channel NMEA-2000-ready GPS/WAAS receiver/antenna

Haviung googled / Yahoo'd - searched about LGC - all I come up with is Lowrance .....

So help us to find out the reality .... nicely ? please ?

/forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

 

[bluedragon]

Another related question...does anyone know where you can buy these NMEA 2000 connectors in the UK to enable DIY data looms be constructed? When I searched a few months back, couldn't find any obvious source of the web.
PS - the spec. says nothing about this 30cm cable...it came as a surprise to me also.

 

[steve6367]

Brian - I didn't buy the unit it was given to me by a supplier. I have had the feedback I needed and some of your points are useful but no need to be so rude.