Lowrance electronic M68I User's Manual
Contents
1. Strip the ends of the VHF radio s data wires Connect them to the pre stripped wires of the M68i s data cable shown right Twist the exposed wires together as shown in the following figures If you re using a Uniden or similar radio connect the radio s NMEA Wire to the M68i data cable s yellow wire and the radio s Ground Shield wire to the M68i data cable s black shield wire If you re using another radio brand or NMEA device see Wiring Diagram B instructions at the end of page 3 Yellow Transmit NMEA Wire Receive or NMEA Compot LT To Uniden to Mogi Shield Ground Ground Shield or NMEA radio or other device Com port wiring to transmit NMEA information to a Uniden or similar VHF radio or other device Twist the appropriate wires together making sure that the exposed ends make good contact Secure the wire ends with wire nuts then wrap each wire nut securely with electrical tape to protect against moisture as shown in the figure on the right After taping the wire ends individually wrap the entire connection with electrical tape as shown This will help protect from moisture and prevent the wires from breaking contact Wiring Diagram B If your VHF radio or other device requires true RS 232 you will need to remove the diode and resistor built into the end of the M68i data cable You will notice near the end of the cable a segment protected with black heat shrink To connect the M68i to2. 00 E Set Local Time Communications Port Reset Options Delete All My Waypoints r Popup Help Hide GPS Features Set Language Software Information NMEA Output a Configure NMEA r Popup Help Hide GPS Features Set Language Software Information CP Hide GPS Features Set Language Software Information Menus for changing Com Port settings 5 If you need additional assistance in configuring the unit to communicate with another device consult the factory customer service phone num bers are in the back of the unit s manual To set Com Port Configuration 1 Press MENU MENU J to System Setup ENT 2 Press 4 to Communications Port ENT A menu appears with a drop down Baud Rate selection box highlighted The menu also contains an on off checkbox to activate NMEA Output and a button that activates the Configure NMEA command described in the following section To set Baud Rate With the Baud Rate box selected the title bar should be highlighted in blue see the middle figure above press ENT A drop down list appears showing available baud rates Select the one that matches the baud rate on your VHF radio and then press ENT To activate NMEA Output From the Communication Ports menu press J to highlight NMEA Out put Press ENT to check turn on or uncheck turn off the NMEA Out put checkbox To exit the Communication Ports menu press EXIT EXI
3. E Pub 988 0152 061 L Addendum I Additional Instructions for Lowrance M68i S Map Your sonar GPS unit the M68i functions exactly like the M68 de scribed in the manual provided part 988 0152 031 In addition the M68i contains a communications port for NMEA 0183 output The in structions for connecting data cables and setting up the communica tions port appear in this addendum The back page also includes a cor rection note for an error in the M68 manual NMEA 0183 Cable Connections NMEA is a standard communications format for marine electronic equipment The M68i can send information to any device that receives NMEA 0183 data This allows the unit to work with VHF marine radios equipped with the Digital Selective Calling DSC distress call feature To send NMEA 0183 data the M68i has one NMEA 0188 version 2 0 communication port The com port can be used to send NMEA format ted data such as your current position The provided M68i data cable plugs into the accessory socket on the right side of the back of your unit s case This socket can connect either an accessory such as a speed or temperature sensor or a NMEA 0183 data cable The data cable ends in two wires that connect to your VHF radio or other NMEA device The M68i uses the yellow wire to transmit and the black shield wire for signal ground NOTE Some VHF radios such as the popular Uniden brand have input lev els which require use of an additional diode and resis
4. T EXIT Configure NMEA Once in the Communication Ports menu you can configure the unit to use specific NMEA sentences The default setting has all NMEA sen tences turned on Press J to CONFIGURE NMEA ENT Screen Sounds Configure NMEA GPS KA amp RMC and RMB KGGA GSA and GSV X APB Sonar DBT DPT KMTW et Language Software Information NMEA Sentences selection menu 6 A menu appears showing the prefixes of the available NMEA sentences A check mark next to a prefix means the prefix is in use Use 4 3 amp to select a prefix then press ENT to turn off the prefix Press ENT again to check the box and turn a prefix on NOTE The names of the NMEA sentences are abbreviated in this menu These are the functions of the various selectable prefixes e GLL transmits latitude and longitude of present position time of position fix and status e GGA transmits time position and fix related data e APB transmits autopilot information e RMC and RMB transmits navigation information messages e GSA and GSV transmits fix mode DOP values and satellites in view information e DBT transmits the depth below the transducer e DPT transmits the depth e MTW transmits the water temperature 4 When the desired prefixes are checked or unchecked press EXIT EXIT EXIT EXIT to return to the previous page Compatibility With Various VHF Radios The Digita
5. a true RS 232 radio first remove the Uniden adapter segment of the cable as shown in the following figures For Wiring Diagram B installations remove the Uniden adapter seg ment at the end of your data cable as shown at left Snip off the end of the cable protected by the black heat shrink At right we have used clear heat shrink for clarity so you can see the diode and resistor pro tected within Remove this portion of the cable After you ve removed the adapter segment use wire pliers to expose the ends of the five remaining wires in the cable Cut off the black blue and white wires then seal their ends with electrical tape Cut black blue and white transmit Bare wire shield After removing the adapter segment prepare to connect by removing and taping off unneeded wires Strip the end of the yellow wire Strip about 1 4 inch 6 35 mm of insulation from the yellow wire then follow the preceding wire nut and taping instructions to connect the wires from the radio or other device If you re using a true RS 232 radio or other device connect its Re ceive wire to the M68i data cable s yellow wire and its ground or Re ceive wire to the M68i data cable s bare shield wire Yellow Transmit Receive or Receive To another Com port to M68i Com port wiring to transmit NMEA information to another standard NMEA compatible device 4 Shield Ground R
6. eceive or ground NMEA device When the data cable is connected to your VHF radio all you have to do is plug it into the sonar GPS unit Attach the data cable s plug to the accessory socket on the right side of the back of your unit s case Communications Port Activation Now that you have your devices connected here s how to make them communicate This unit can connect to either an accessory such as a speed or temperature sensor or a NMEA 0183 data cable In order to use the Communications Port for NMEA data you first need to activate NMEA 0188 Output Press MENU MENU J to ENABLE NMEA 183 Output ENT lt to Yes ENT Screen Sounds Enable NMEA 183 Output Transparency Alarms Route Planning My Trails Gancel Wavidalion Sonar Setup GPS Setup System Setup Sun Moon Calculations Trip Calculator Timers 4000m N Enable NMEA command on the unit s Main Menu Communications Port Configuration Once NMEA 0183 Output has been enabled from the Main Menu the Com Port command appears in the System Setup Menu This command opens a menu that allows you to configure the communications port Screen Screen Screen Sounds Sounds Sounds Disable NMEA 183 Output Disable NMEA 183 Output Disable NMEA 183 Output Transparency Transparency Transparency Alarms gt Alarme gt Alarme Route Planning My Trails Baud Rate Baud f Units of Measure 48
7. l Selective Calling DSC feature in marine radios is rela tively new technology The U S Coast Guard for example imple mented its first DSC capable systems in Atlantic City N J and Chinco teague VA in September 2003 However the entire U S DSC rescue system won t be operational until Sept 30 2006 As more marine electronics manufacturers enter this growing market other connectivity issues with your unit may appear You can check for known compatibility issues by visiting our web site www lowrance com Look in the Manuals section for updated documents for your sonar GPS unit Correction On page 69 of the M68 manual part 988 0152 031 step 1 for entering Ice Machine mode is incorrect It should read as follows To enter the IceMachine mode 1 From the Full Sonar Chart page press PAGES J to FLASHER EXIT to switch to the normal Flasher page This addendum supplements the manual M68 part number 988 0152 031 Pub 988 0152 061 Copyright 2004 All Rights Reserved Printed in USA 022704 Lowrance Electronics Inc
8. tor built into the M68i data cable This is Wiring Diagram A which is described on page 2 The majority of the DSC radios will work with the resistor and diode as provided by Lowrance Electronics A few other radio brands and other electronic devices that meet the NMEA 0183 standard won t need these adapters and you will have to remove the resistor and diode to make those work This is Wiring Dia gram B which is described on page 3 Consult your other device s owner s manual then read through all of the following instructions before you begin Use the installation dia 1 gram most suited to your brand of radio or other device If your device manual indicates an RS 232 connection i e a computer remove the resistor and diode and connect using Wiring Diagram B Most other connection types TTL NMEA and NMEA differential will re quire Wiring Diagram A Recommended Tools and supplies Recommended tools for this job include wire pliers or wire stripper and a wire cutter Required supplies for this job include two gray 18 gauge or blue 16 gauge wire nuts and electrical tape Supplies are not included Wiring Diagram A Begin by stripping the wire ends of the device you re connecting to the M68i You ll notice the M68i s data cable comes pre stripped with wire ends exposed Use a pair of wire pliers to strip about 1 4 inch 6 35 mm of insulation from each of the radio s or other device s data wires
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