I was getting ready to install my Garmin 440 which I just got and needed some help. Should i connect the postive and negative to the battery or the box underneath the helm? Im also a little confused when I was reading the directions as to NMEA 1 out and in and things like that? What is NMEA and does anyone have an easier explanation like does that go to the speedo or something? Also is there anything else to use when hooking up the antenna for example can I use anything else as far as location is concerned? I have heard that the batteries on the antennas go bad and my boat has an antenna from a GPS it had before but I'm a little worried that one probably has a dead battery as I don't know how long it has been there. Sorry for all of the questions I'm just a little confused. Any help would be greatly appreciated thanks!

I know someone out there can help me!!

272,

I just got done putting a 440s in my new instrument panel. You should connect the power to a fused or breakered accessory circuit, such as the one your VHF or other instrumentation is on.

The 440s has an internal antenna, so as long ad you are mounting it in a place that has a reasonable view of the sky, it should work fine, just like modern car navigation GPS units. A unit at a lowe helm station in a motoryacht would need the external antenna.

NMEA is a communications protocol that allows integrated bridge systems to work together. For instance, it supplies your radar unit with position, course and speed. Back when electronic chart units didn't have their own GPS, the position info was sent over the link. There most likely isn't much of a need to use it on a speedboat.

Someone else on here may know if any of the Livorsi GPS Speedo's can take NMEA, or if their receiver-display head is a different type of setup. It would be nice if you could just plug the speedo up to your 440, instead of paying the $200 or whatever it is for the separate antenna.

Hope that helps, and hopefully others can chime in with more info.

I don't have the 440s I have the 440 since I already have a depthfinder gauge on the boat i didn't really need the sonar. Do you know if the 440 has the gps antenna built internal? So your saying I just have to hook up the positive and negative that the gps has? What about all the other little cables that came with it that are blue green and such in color they have to go somewhere or no?

Yes, just the red and black will make it work. all the others are for linking unit to other electronics,(VHF Auto pilot, Radar Ets.) Just tape them back and forget them.
If your unit has internal antenna it should have a round piece sticking out of the top about an inch tall.
If all else fails, READ INSTRUCTION BOOK!!(Only as a last resort!!!)

I read the instruction manual first that was the first thing i did but it kind of confused me a little bit when it talked about NMAE and where the blue brown green and all these other cables go. But it makes sense now, basically all i need is just to hook up the power and ground to a fuse in the fuse box and it should be good to go. So it should read the gps and all that good stuff by itself correct me if im wrong? sorry if the questions seem a little dumb but Id rather ask than have something worst happen if you know what I mean