Garmin software update via Lowrance?

Erin · 31 March 2009, 19:00

I've just bought a Garmin NMEA2000 gps aerial to connect to my Lowrance LMF400 digital engine gauge so that I can see the mpg etc of my suzook (sadly my plotter only outputs NMEA 0183 so I couldn't get it to talk to the LMF). However, being NMEA2000 although it's easy to mix and match makes, I've hit a small snag.

The aerial came with a software update card (SD), but I don't have a modern N2K Garmin plotter that I can plug this into to update the aerial. So the question is, can I borrow my parents Lowrance plotter, plug the new aerial into it and then pop the Garmin SD card in to update the aerial? Seeing as the NMEA 2k protocol is standardised, would the update process be interchangeable too?

Keith

Chris · 31 March 2009, 19:12

Keith,

I have updated my Lowrance LMF400 guages using my Lowrance plotter and tghe process was fairly simple. I would suggest you should be able to do what you are suggesting as the files are just sent over the network.

See what happens

Erin · 31 March 2009, 19:47

Thanks. I may have a play.

Where did you get your LMF400 update? I can't see anything on their website. I did get sent an update for the Lowrance EP20 engine adaptor by a ribnetter some time ago, but I haven't loaded it. It was meant to resolve incorrect fuel consumtion readings but I don't seem to suffer that so thought best left alone.

Chris · 31 March 2009, 20:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by Erin

Thanks. I may have a play.

Where did you get your LMF400 update? I can't see anything on their website. I did get sent an update for the Lowrance EP20 engine adaptor by a ribnetter some time ago, but I haven't loaded it. It was meant to resolve incorrect fuel consumtion readings but I don't seem to suffer that so thought best left alone.

PM me you email address

geoffs · 03 April 2009, 14:40

I think you would need to have a Garmin plotter to do an update to the GPS antenna, I believe there are some proprietary commands that they send to each other that are not N2K.The updateis more likely for the plotter and not the GPS anyhow.If the LMF is seeng the data then give it a miss.

Erin · 05 April 2009, 19:00

I tend to agree Geoff. I had a play this afternoon, and although the Lowrance head unit I borrowed could see the Garmin aerial, there was no screen option to start an update.