Lowrance NMEA 2000, going red

Cool. Not only has Lowrance switched to standard style N2K screw connectors, but they’ve also added the nifty Double T fitting seen above, and they seem to be emphasizing NMEA 2000’s name and multi-manufacturer compatibility over “LowranceNet” in their new marketing (and, if interested, don’t miss their new PDF on the general N2K subject). To clarify, all new Lowrance connectors/cabling with red accents can plug directly to any standard NMEA 2000 device, which includes all of Maretron’s offerings, a few larger Garmins, and now all sorts of Lowrance displays and sensors. A simple patch cable will be needed to network with older blue-accented LowranceNet devices and/or cabling, or to Raymarine’s SeaTalk2, SimNet, etc. Apparently Lowrance’s cabling is not yet NMEA certified, but apparently that’s not stopping folks from using it beyond Lowrance gear. It sounds here like “yachtjim” used it to interface a Suzuki 250 outboard to a Garmin 5212 (guess they’re shipping now). He’s quite happy with the engine screens on the Garmin, but warns that since the Garmin doesn’t output any NMEA 2000 data, it won’t help do fuel calculations on his Lowrance LMF instruments. I’m just about to get back to my Garmin testing, by the way. And, finally, a Thanks! to Salvador Castellá for the head’s up about Lowrance updates. He works for the Spanish company Albatross Control Systems, which handles just about everyone’s NMEA 2000 gear under the Alba brand plus makes its own analog-to-N2K converters plus a system for collecting it on a computer and even sending it ashore.