I have an issue with an interface cable on my boat which goes between my electronic gauges and my Suzuki engine which is causing inaccurate information to be displayed. The fix, through searching the internet…, is to downgrade the firmware on the cable. Easy enough to do if you have the right equipment, which I do not. It requires either a Lowrance HDS unit or a Navico USB to CAN Gateway. Does anyone know of anywhere local to Charleston that could help with this process? I am not looking to buy a HDS unit or the gateway as they are both pretty expensive for one time use.
Any help or suggestions is greatly appreciated.
Thanks!
Jason
So you need to use/borrow an HDS unit to put in line with your unit? I’m a little confused here. Can you elaborate some?
Fishing Nerd
“you win some, you lose some…but nothing beats getting some!”
Sorry for the confusion.
I am looking to borrow/rent a Lowrance HDS or a Navico USB to CAN bus gateway to put inline on my NMEA network. Once the device is on the network it can be used to “push” the files that need to be updated onto the Suzuki interface.
Alternatively, if anyone has experience doing this, I am willing to pay them for their assistance.
Thanks,
Jason
I am in Chapin and have a Simrad NSS installed on my boat. You’re correct Lowrance or Simrad can be used to downgrade your firmware. It seems you have done all the reading, I found this thread to be very helpful when I installed mine: http://www.thehulltruth.com/marine-electronics-forum/286406-suzuki-nmea-2000-newtork-standard-suzuki-gauges-can-done-84.html There are also links in there for the earlier versions of firmware, 2.3 being the best as far as I can remember. If you end up in Chapin you’re more than welcome to use my Simrad, pretty good ways from Charleston though.
Are you only interfaced with the Suzuki gauges?
2006 23 SeaCraft, 2008 Suzuki 250.
Ok so not the head unit itself but the cable that ties the unit to the NMEA2k network? If it were only the head unit I have an HDS5 gen 2 that you would be able to use but I don’t have the NMEA2k network or cables. Hopefully someone will be able to help ya, good luck man!
Fishing Nerd
“you win some, you lose some…but nothing beats getting some!”
@drippin Wett – Thanks for the offer but yes, you are a bit too far. My engines are integrated on my NMEA network but are only interfaced with the LMS400 gauges. I have a Raymarine chart plotter and sounder but it does not integrate with my engines.
@StumpNocker – Thank you for the offer. I might have an extra set of the cables at the house. I will look tonight. If that is the case, I will PM you to see if I can use your hds5 gen 2. I really appreciate it!
Thanks!
Jason
This proprietary stuff kills me…I dont understand why the NEMA protocol requires a cable interface and the depth finder manufactures dont offer a simulator. Wireless or bluetooth are very present and stable technologies. The comms frequency on Nmea is very low too…very much serial. Any info on the technologies would be helpful. It should not be this hard for Jason to get his problem resolved.
Mark Ingle
NauticStar 1810 Merc 90
Yes, it is killing me too. I think that some of it is due to the age of my equipment. Much of it came out just as NMEA 2000 was coming out. I am pretty sure that the newer versions of what I have include usb connections on the back of them which would be way better than what I dealing with.
I am currently waiting to receive the update file I need since it too is no longer available online… this is fun…
I did find the hds connection cables (power and NEMA drop) that I need at the house. Once I have the file that need, I am going to attempt to update it with an LMS330c I have laying around. If that does not work, I am going to reach back out to stumpknocker to borrow his HDS5.
I’ll keep you all posted with my results.
Jason
Yea, definitely keep me posted. I’m located in Hanahan.
Fishing Nerd
“you win some, you lose some…but nothing beats getting some!”
Thank you for the offer to let me use your hds stump knocker! I was able to get the required update file to transfer with my lms. Everything seems to be working fine now. Hopefully the fuel flow is accurate but I can’t tell that with it on the trailer. 
Good deal. Glad it worked out for ya! Good luck out there, catch em up!
Fishing Nerd
“you win some, you lose some…but nothing beats getting some!”