NMEA 0183 to NMEA 2000 - The Hull Truth

myflatline · 02-05-2009, 07:28 AM

I'm trying to get my 3210 (nmea0183 )to work with my Zuke ( nmea2000 ). I've read about a converter but it seems quite pricey. Is there any other options? Garmin didn't have an answer.

Thanks

yachtjim · 02-05-2009, 05:20 PM

What are your expectations once they are hooked up? What data do you expect to share if I may ask?

myflatline · 02-06-2009, 07:44 AM

GPS Speed, MPG, Sonar Alarms, GPS position
Mostly for fuel management

mboy · 02-08-2009, 01:31 PM

Buy an NMEA 2000 guage like an LMF 400 and the Zuke conector and be done with it.

Cheaper, far easier and won't clutter the 3210 screen.

myflatline · 02-09-2009, 07:24 AM

How do I get get GPS speed to the LMF 400 from the 3210?

yachtjim · 02-09-2009, 09:33 PM

So you Zuke has a NMEA2000 Gauge already? If so then you can have some benefit by getting GPS info to your Zuke NMEA2000 gauge. In your case you will need a nmea0183 to nmea2000 converter which are still very pricey. Actisense is supposed to have one but it has not been released yet. Albatross controls in the UK is advertising a "actisense" sensor rebadged in their own packaging, but I am not sure if that one is shipping either. I have not got my nerve up enough yet to import albatross parts as the demand still doesn't quite feel like its there. Simrad makes a nmea0183 to 2000 converter called the AT20 (if memory seves me) but it to is pricey and you need some adapter cables to make it work in your case. If I was you I would simply get a nmea 2000 gps antenna. Garmin and Lowrance both make them fairly cheap, and it will be a simple plug in installation. Just plug the antenna into your nmea 2000 Zuke network.

mboy · 02-10-2009, 01:17 PM

Yes, if you aklready have the zuke (LMF) gauge, you are better off getting something like a Lowrance LGC 3000 Antenna that plugs right into the NMea 2000 BACKBONE.
That's what I did since my Standard Horizon Cp1000 GPS is 0183 as well.

A nice benefit to having the separate NMEA 2000 GPS Antenna is you will have a redundant GPS location avail to you just in case your main GPS craps out and you get in trouble, you can always rattle off your location after looking at it on the Zuke gauge.

Another minor, but nice thing I do is when I am drift fishing (a lot in NJ), I will set my LMF gauge to display speed so I can see in big numbers my actual drift speed.
1 less thing I have to set and clutter my Cp1000 with.
Minor, but convenient for sure.
I did get it for fuel management and having the MPG in real time has been a HUGE benefit to me.

If I did not have that, I would still be running my engine incorrectly, both engine trim as well as RPM's.
Money well spent for the LGC 3000!

myflatline · 02-11-2009, 05:39 PM

Thanks jim & mboy for the info. I was afraid that is where I was going to have to go, But as Mboy stated the fuel mgmt is important ( as it is to me ) I will be pulling the boat soon as most Florida fishing is closed for a couple of months and will survey where one might add a second Ant.

Jim

mboy · 02-11-2009, 07:56 PM

The LGC 3000 should be under $200 and just plugs right into the nmea network.
I already had a hole in my dash, so the cable is passed thru that right into the NMEA 2000 Backbone.
The antenna itself has a flat mount with a flat base so sits flush right on top of my CC dash (unlike my GPS antenna which has a "stem" to it.

It really was worth the $$ and the few mn. to install the LGC 3000.

PM me your email addy and I can send you a pic of what it looks like on my dash.