Lowrance HOOK Series

[jimh]

Lowrance has announced a new lower-tier series of chart plotter and SONAR combination devices with internal GPS receiver they are calling the HOOK series. The HOOK series is perhaps best described by what it does not have.

The HOOK series devices do NOT have:

--a touch screen display and touch screen user interface

--Ethernet

--NMEA-2000

--the xSonic connector for TotalScan transducers

The HOOK series device appears to be intended for anglers who will only have one SONAR on board. (This is hard to believe because it seems like most anglers have at least three SONAR devices on their boats today.) It doesn't connect very well. I don't think it has even a NMEA-0183 interface. [Update: NMEA-0183 may be available if you buy a different power-data cable. See below.]

The HOOK-9 does have "CHIRP". Apparently in today's market it would considered suicidal to bring out a sounder that did not have the term CHIRP associated with it.

See more at Lowrance's new web page on the HOOK.

[Hoosier]

The HOOK-7 is the same price as the Elite-7 but the Elite-7 has NMEA-2000 capability and the software to read and display AIS. The two units appear to be in identical cases, so my guess is the Elite series is going to get a refresh to bring it up to the level of Simrad's GO7. The Elite 7 and Simrad GO7 both have NMEA-2000 but GO7 has the software to read engine and sensor data off of the network; the Elite can only get some waypoint data and the AIS feed from a radio.

[jimh]

David may be correct. There are many models in the Lowrance and Simrad product line. Figuring out exactly how all their features are tiered would be quite a project.

An interesting aspect of the HOOK series is found in the marketing jargon Lowrance is using to promote it. Lowrance uses words like "just the basics" to describe the device and "honest" and "makes good sense" to describe the price. But they also say the device has "no skimping" and "no shortcuts."

[porthole]

Is anyone on here actually using a Hook series?

I will be putting my 17 Outrage up for sale and was looking at this unit as a not too expensive chart plotter/GPS/sounder. Not wanting to go crazy with the boat, but do want to add navigation and sounder capabilities to make it more enticing to a possible boating newbie.

[porthole]

Well I ordered one of these to fill a hole in the dash of my 1997 17 Outrage.
Don't know if I will get to sea trial it, but should be able to at least do a side by side compare to a HDS Gen3

[jaymoussy]

A related question, or observation: I was looking at the Lowrance Elite-4 CHIRP on display at West Marine, this Monday.
No Hook in sight, BTW.

I found the display unit's built-in map offering confusing, possibly misleading.

Display unit menu offers "Lowrance' and "Navionics".
When on "Lowrance", you get a nice map rendering.
When on "Navionics" you get a rough vector rendition (i.e., no Navionics card in?)

I think I finally figured that the "Lowrance' shown is some flavor of Insight, which is a Lowrance pay add-on. I compared that with the nearby SIMRAD running Navionic+, and it was different.

Am I seeing this wrong?

[porthole]

I don't think you are.

It is the same with the HDS Gen3 - until you put a Navionics card in.
The Navionics is my preference, the charting is much clearer among other things.

[jaymoussy]

Why not bundle their Insight product in the package, or discount it some, then?

The basic Insight is 99 dollars retail.

[porthole]

I got my Lowrance Hook 7. This is a chart plotter I purchased as a not-too-expensive item to put on my 1997 17 Outrage, which I plan on putting up for sale. I realize some buyers may care less what electronics are on a boat--I never did, always put my own stuff on--but I plan on presenting a turn key boat.

This Hook 7 leaves out a few things to keep the cost down apparently, although the items left out would seem to offer little cost savings. The device is capable of being flush mount, and includes instructions and a template, but no flush mount screws.

000-10979-001 $13

I had also planned on connecting the NMEA 0183 output to my existing Icom M-402 so that the future customer has DSC already set up. Although the Hook 7 has a NMEA output, Lowrance chose to include a power cable with power only, not the power and NMEA cable. And the power and NMEA cable part number is a dead number 000-0127-47.

[porthole]

http://www.lowrance.com/en-US/Products/ ... en-us.aspx

The Hook 7 comes with the MFD, transducer, gimbal bracket, screws, knobs and "power only" cord with a red color coded connector.



Here is the Hook 7 next to a HDS Gen3 7. Same size screen, but different size housings. But, the back side appears to be almost the same in cutout size, which is good since my 17 Outrage already has a flush mount panel cut out for the HDS Gen3.



Backside, Gen3 on the left. Lowrance color codes it wiring connections, I guess it makes it simple. But they do not have a readily apparent standard. The far right connector on each unit is the power-NMEA port: one is blue; one is red.



Lowrance does not include a NMEA interface cable. The Interface cable included with the HDS Gen3 is a single connector, dual cable, one side power, one side NMEA interface. Both connectors, although different colors, are the same physical item. I don't see where there is a cost savings, having to build and stock two different power cord assemblies, when one cord with just some extra wire would suffice for all the units.

It looks like I only have to purchase the flush mount screws to do my install. I already have a second power cord for my Gen3 to use it in the house (with the data wires). I'll just swap those out.

[porthole]

Some screen shots and info on the Hook 7.



NMEA info



Didn't know this was a feature on this chart plotter until I came upon this screen



Base mapping included with the unit



Base mapping of my inlet (zoomed in area of above chart)



How my inlet really looks

[jimh]

Thanks for the update on the NMEA-0183 features of the Lowrance HOOK device. I hope that when you get the other power-data cable installed there will actually be some data on the wires.

[porthole]

Started my Hook 7 install today.
Anyone interested in this GPS chart plotter MFD should note that the transducer cable length is sufficient for my 17 Outrage, but I doubt it would be long enough on my 21 Outrage.

[porthole]

But they also say the device has "no skimping" and "no shortcuts."

H'mm, let's revisit this

No sun shade
No data cable
No flush mount screws

I'd say that is skimping.


NMEA 0183
Apparently the pins are standard on Lowrance chart plotters. I'm using the power data cable from my HDS Gen3. Before trying the 0183 connection I looked up several Lowrance chart plotters online and they all use the same 5 color data wires.

I used the yellow "transmit A" and the shield-ground to my antique by today's standards Icom M-104.

Within a minute or so I had LAT-LON displayed on the VHF. Although it was only 4 digits.

Maybe tomorrow I'll connect my Standard Horizon GX-2200 and see how AIS vessels are displayed.

[porthole]

NMEA 0183
Apparently the pins are standard on Lowrance chart plotters. I'm using the power data cable from my HDS Gen3. Before trying the 0183 connection I looked up several Lowrance chart plotters online and they all use the same 5 color data wires.

Apparently NMEA 0183 specs are not standard amongst Lowrance chart plotters. After I got my Hook 7 and Icom radio interfaced I looked at the instructions for the Hook 7

Lowrance HDS Gen3 NMEA 0183 wiring diagram



Lowrance Hook 7 NMEA 0183 wiring diagram




I received from Lowrance tech support the correct Lowrance power and data cable product information, part number, and pricing. [The same cable] is listed as being for HDS and Elite series chart plotters.

[jimh]

The information in the two sketches regarding the NMEA conductors looks consistent to me. They both indicate when translated to the proper NMEA terminology, not the mangled and mixed terms employed by Lowrance, that the wiring color code scheme is

TALKER A = Yellow
TALKER B = Blue

LISTENER A = Orange
LISTENER B = Green

Further, this employment of wire insulation color is also consistent with the HDS. See

http://continuouswave.com/whaler/refere ... A0183.html

For help in identification and conforming of signal names in NMEA-0183, see the above linked article and read the section under the heading "Identification and Conforming of Signal Names." Once you conform the signal names and identify the wire color, NMEA-0183 devices can be interconnected with very simple rules. Again, see the above article for the details of the very simple rules.

[porthole]

I couldn't find your NMEA post when I made the above post, although I did remember it.

Some standardization would be nice. I'm sure to the totally unaware types, the + and - will really throw them off.

You have to wonder, both of those pictures I posted are from Lowrance's newest MFD's, makes me wonder.

[porthole]

Hook 7 as installed on my 1997 17 Outrage



You cannot "pick your" screen layouts, only choose from a pallet of displays programmed in.
This is probably the screen I would use mostly. No chart cartridge installed.



Another version
Transducer is listed as:
455/800 kHz (DownScan Imaging™), Med, High (CHIRP), 83kHz/200kHz

[jimh]

ASIDE: you really need to get a cover for the center hub of the steering wheel. That is one esthetic of the Boston Whaler boat that cannot be overlooked!

[robb28]

porthole (Duane)--I really like the flush-mount electronics installation you've done on your 1997 Outrage 17. I am thinking of doing the same thing with a 1996 Outrage 17, installing a faceplate in the console, and flush-mounting electronics and a USB charger.

Do you have any tips or words of advice on setting this up? I was thinking of using 1/2-inch-thick KING Starboard or equivalent. Did you mechanically fasten your place to console at the top and bottom? Thanks

Rob
Red Bank, New Jersey

[porthole]

Rob--I used:

--1/2" black KING Starboard

--template made out of cardboard until I got it right

--I had some 3/4" plastic stock that I ripped to 3/4" square and made cleats that run across the bottom and top of the console

--the cleats are set so that when the flush mount panel lays in, it does so at the same angle as the console front

--two pieces of cardboard were used

--both pieces of cardboard were the correct height and each piece was about three-fourths the length needed

--the cardboards were slid into position and then taped together for the final template

The finished panel just lays against the cleats. It is held in by fillers I made for each end that are a press fit against the cabinet, between the cabinet front and the panel, they are then secured with the screws from the outside. May be hard to visualize, I can take pictures tomorrow. Or, you're only 10-15 minutes away you can come look for yourself.

And here is a tip: see the radio? The plexiglass door latch just hits the radio. It bothers me, but not enough to make another panel to correct it.

Found some pictures I already had.

The red arrows point to where the fillers go. I spray painted the visible areas black where it may be visible with the panel in place.
The yellow arrows point to where the two screws holding in the fillers are.

The upper and lower cleats are the white pieces.



Yellow arrow here is the filler.

[robb28]

Duane - Thanks for the great info and the generous offer of pictures or a visit. I think your description covered it for now and I like the cleat system you used. I will hopefully start a separate post with my results in a few weeks once I get the project going.
Thanks
Rob