Lowrance HDS Setup Advice needed

themacleanfamily · Post by **themacleanfamily** » Thu Apr 09, 2015 11:20 am

Hi Folks
I'd really appreciate any advice from those in the know re wiring up the following units -

I have an HDS 10 (1st Gen) in the main bridge and an HDS 8M on the flybridge. They are connected together via an ethernet cable and both powered separately. The main unit in the bridge has an LSS1 Structure scan unit attached directly to it via the LSS1 black box. There is no external GPS antenna anywhere on the setup.

I am trying (without success) to set them up so that both units can see the structure scan data and that the internal GPS Antenna on the HDS 8m on the flybridge (which is open to the sky) feeds both units the GPS data so that both units can be used as plotters and or sonars. The main unit in the bridge doesn't seem to be able to pick up any satellites.

Pulling my hair out so i'd really appreciate any pointers.
Thanks in advance

Ken Sauret · Post by **Ken Sauret** » Sun Apr 12, 2015 8:34 pm

You will need to change the Data Sources for each unit to use the devices connected to either the ethernet network or the NMEA network. I haven't been on a boat such as yours and set it up so I can't tell you what settings to use. Go to System, Network and Data Sources. When you go to Data Sources, let the list populate and all the devices connected to the network will show on the list. If you highlight an item on the list and hit enter, you will see "Scope" which will be either Global or Local. Global means the unit will use any device on the network in the boat to do the job. Local means the unit will only use the devices plugged into the unit itself to do the job.

You will need to set each unit separately to use the devices you prefer. Set up the master unit first then set up the slave unit second. Then always start up the master unit first and the slave second. I have found that units networked with the ethernet cable can share settings and change themselves if the units are not started in sequence.

Good luck with your setup.

themacleanfamily · Post by **themacleanfamily** » Wed Apr 22, 2015 3:03 pm

Thanks Ken, apologies for delay in replying - ive been away at the boat (no internet!)
I have been tinkering with the settings and have set them up in the way you described. In the meantime I also installed an NMEA Backbone cable between both units and have discovered the following -

Structure scan data is being shared okay via the ethernet cable
Both units are now showing satellites
Only the unit with the Navionics card installed at the time shows detailed chart data

Rather than swap the card between the units I was hoping that the backbone cable would allow both units to share the detailed chart data from the one card, save waypoints, marks, MOB's etc whichever unit I was using.

I have been advised by the company I bought the backbone cable from that Gen 1 units may not have had that functionality and as the software version is up to date (4.1.36.68) that installing Gen 2 software might work!
Grateful for your thoughts.

Ken Sauret · Post by **Ken Sauret** » Thu Apr 23, 2015 2:25 pm

A Gen 1 units can not run the Gen 2 software. There is different hardware inside the units that prohibit that from working.

themacleanfamily · Post by **themacleanfamily** » Thu Apr 23, 2015 11:54 pm

Ok thanks. Does that mean my only option is to buy another Navionocs card? Or can I swap the card between the units while they are both on?

Ken Sauret · Post by **Ken Sauret** » Sun Apr 26, 2015 3:01 pm

You can remove any card from one unit and place it in another unit. Only the unit with the card inserted in it with the menu settings changed for the unit to read that card can read the card. The original unit that had the card in it will need the settings changed to read Lowrance mapping preloaded into the unit to have any mapping on screen.