2 GPS units:will the front unit talk to the back unit? Help!

[Big Ed]

Please help;

I am very happy with my new Champion boat i bought at Anglers marine and only have one regret. Not having GPS/Mapping on the front unit. Im taking it back in for a little livewell pump fix on monday and intend to have Jordan install a new GPS unit up front.

Im going from a straight sonar LCX510 to the LMS520 GPS. I got tired of asking the non boater to help navigate me to a saved location or piece of structure from my console LCX27 unit. Does anybody recomend a different unit for this application? I ultimatly would like to see the same type of mapping on the front unit that i can see on the console unit and somehow share information back and forth. I dont even know if it is possible.

My question is will i be able to see on my new front LMS520 what i can see on the console LCX27 unit? They will be linked together via Lowrance network cables sharing the same module antenna.

Also i have a Navionics hot maps premium chip in the console. Will i need to purchase another chip for the front unit or is there a way to share info from that unit to the front unit? I would like to know if i can send waypoints from one unit to the other and visa versa?

Thank you for your help.

[tunaman]

Not sure if this will address your specific questions, but a.) you can share a GPS antenna between Lowrance units, but there will be a deviation between readings; b.) you will need separate chips for each unit, as that data can't be shared.

I have three GPS antennas on my boat (one for each meter), as I want the antenna to be as close to the meter as possible to reduce the variance. On a 20' bass boat, your readings can be 20' in circumference off course when sharing an antenna on the stern, as example, when reading from the front meter. For some of the waypoints that I mark, this can mean some serious deviation IMHO.

Roger

[JW Wheat]

Big Ed,

Yes! If you have the two units linked, they will share way points. They use on antenna. When you set a way point on one unit the information is sent to the data link and the sesond unit picks it up. You can get more info on how this works, by going to the Humminbird web site. The Lowrance web site probably has some info as well.

Hope this helps

Jon Wheat

[tunaman]

You have to go through a couple of steps to enable Waypoint Sharing, presuming you have the current firmware installed. Once it is enabled on both units, a waypoint set on one unit will automatically be added to the other.

Roger

[Ray L.]

You would have to check with lowrance. Not all units can be linked. My last boat had 2 lms 520,s and they were able to be linked and it was really cool.

[tunaman]

The 520 and the 27c do both have the capability. For the 27c it was added with firmware revision 2.1.0 as I recall, and if I'm not mistaken the 520's came out the gate with it.

[Scott Robertson]

Ed I bought my units from anglers and for 100.00 they linked them into one puck, talk to Jordan he'll hook you up, any Q pm me. Scott

[Brian D.]

one thing that you need to made aware of and I didnt see anyone make reference to is.... Mapping. The front and back can not share the same map. You will need a separate chip or buy a unit with a harddrive. For example: console unit has a HD with mapping, and bow unit has either a HD or or map chip installed.

I think there is a broadband solution (separate box) that would solve the map sharing issue, but its pretty expensive.

[tunaman]

b.) you will need separate chips for each unit, as that data can't be shared.

Um... yeah, mentioned it in my first response. Significant point though, and worth repeating as I know it's been a bone of contention for many. NO, you can't 'back up' or make copies of your SD (at least that will function), at least not without a high-dollar duplicator.

Get back to work BD!!!

Roger

[Brian D.]

nebulous term.... data.

data = mapping
data = waypoints
data = schmeda

I stand corrected.

[Big Ed]

Thank you guys for all of the great information.

Im doin the upgrade monday. I guess i'll have to get another hot maps chip for the front unit right?

Oh geeze, since i have to purchase a new chip for the other unit should i get the nautic path chip that would show more lake contours and possibly tides at the delta or should i just keep it simple and go with another hot maps chip?

Later; Big Ed!

[scottsweet]

I emailed Lowrance to check, but I don't think you can share any data...just the sensors, etc that are plugged in to the network.

On my units, I can have the two meters on the one gps antenna, but, all units must be plugged in for it to work properly. I cannot share any data between the units. The units don't have to be turned on, just plugged in.

This may have changed with some of the newer units. Also, you cannot share the maps as Brian said...got to have two chips.

I move my waypoints between the units by copying them on to a chip and moving them between the bow and console and back.