SMIS Firmware update Versions??

[Racereddie]

Man if I have not read too many posts on this and THT about the SMIS versions so here goes my questions

Between the gauges and the fluid levels and engine interfaces the numbers seem to jumble together in the different post. I got to the Lowrance Suzuki page and downloaded the latest AND previous versions but the latest may not be the latest and the previous may not be the most previous. Can someone help me get this straight. (Hoping Moonlighter will chime in as you do seem to be the resident expert)

SMIS 4" Gauge the software sequence of versions is 1.0-1.5-2.3-2.5

Suzuki Engine Interface, the software sequence of versions is 2.0-2.2-2.7

EP-15 Fluid Level the software sequence of versions is 1.2-2.1

So when the talk comes up about the fuel flow errors are we talking about the Engine Interface having the issue or is it the Gauge software having the issue.


I know some of the numbers are correct because my 2nd owner boat has twin DF140s 2010 & 2012, my EP-15's have 1.2.0 FL162D software which I can read of my Garmin 4208, my Engine Interfaces have 2.0.0 FL691D software, also via my 4208, the three SMIS gauges, two of them have 1.00 Build CA1319 software listed by the gauge and Garmin and the third one has 2.3.0 RZ701 listed by both the gauge and the Garmin. They all work which from my reading seems to be a fluke.

Thanks
Eddie

[Harper]

Hi Eddie,
Moonlighter will probably check in and have a more comprehensive answer, but not until overnight, since he's on the other side of the planet.

To answer a couple of your questions...the fuel flow issue is with the engine interface versions. Seemingly, the 2.7 is causing some troubles for some users, especially with engine models over a couple years old. On my '07 model DF150, I originally had an interface set up specially by Browns Point Marine. It had version 2.3 on it, but was modified by Browns Point, and for some reason would not read trim, even though the trim wires were plugged in. I had been warned that this might be the case when Browns Point did the setup. There were two reasons that I purchased a new interface last year. First, as I said, it was a specially configured interface, having been set up that way because for about a year, Suzuki left out the '07 model as eligible for the interface. There were interfaces for '06 and older and interfaces for '08 and newer, but not for '07s (a transition year, I guess, later solved with the reverse K-8 adapter and possibly some software changes). Also, with the lack of trim info, and the fact that the boat ran out of gas when my Garmin said it had 15 gallons left on a 60 gallon tank, and I could not calibrate the fuel flow with Garmin, I decided to buy an SMIS gauge, along with a new engine interface. So I ended up replacing the specially configurated 2.3 engine interface with a new 2.5 version interface, which was also way off on fuel consumption, albeit in the other direction (this 2.5 version would show me running out of gas when the tank was still 9/10 full. It showed me burning 3.2 GPH at idle and 40 GPH at cruise). I am finally getting fairly accurate fuel flow readings from that interface now, having recalibrated 4 or 5 times with the SMIS gauge. One calibration was not enough.

As far as I know, there are no inherent problems with the several software versions of the gauge itself, but I did have a faulty gauge replaced under warranty. The fuel problems have all been with the interface. I have no experience with the EP-15 , but it can also be calibrated by the SMIS gauge.

You say all three of your gauges work, and there's no reason to consider that a fluke. The important thing is to assure that all three are giving you accurate information. How many interfaces are you running with the two engines and three gauges? I would assume two interfaces, but there's no reason to think that any of the three gauges would read the info from the two interfaces any differently, since the same information is sent by the configured interfaces to the gauges, and all three gauges are reading that information the same, along with your Garmin, whether the information is accurate or not (man, I hope that's all clear). Of course, as you are implying, there might be a reason to think that with two different software versions on the SMIS gauges, they might for some reason read the data differently, but that appears not to be the case.

[Racereddie]

Hi Eddie,
Moonlighter will probably check in and have a more comprehensive answer, but not until overnight, since he's on the other side of the planet.

To answer a couple of your questions...the fuel flow issue is with the engine interface versions. Seemingly, the 2.7 is causing some troubles for some users, especially with engine models over a couple years old. On my '07 model DF150, I originally had an interface set up specially by Browns Point Marine. It had version 2.3 on it, but was modified by Browns Point, and for some reason would not read trim, even though the trim wires were plugged in. I had been warned that this might be the case when Browns Point did the setup. There were two reasons that I purchased a new interface last year. First, as I said, it was a specially configured interface, having been set up that way because for about a year, Suzuki left out the '07 model as eligible for the interface. There were interfaces for '06 and older and interfaces for '08 and newer, but not for '07s (a transition year, I guess, later solved with the reverse K-8 adapter and possibly some software changes). Also, with the lack of trim info, and the fact that the boat ran out of gas when my Garmin said it had 15 gallons left on a 60 gallon tank, and I could not calibrate the fuel flow with Garmin, I decided to buy an SMIS gauge, along with a new engine interface. So I ended up replacing the specially configurated 2.3 engine interface with a new 2.5 version interface, which was also way off on fuel consumption, albeit in the other direction (this 2.5 version would show me running out of gas when the tank was still 9/10 full. It showed me burning 3.2 GPH at idle and 40 GPH at cruise). I am finally getting fairly accurate fuel flow readings from that interface now, having recalibrated 4 or 5 times with the SMIS gauge. One calibration was not enough.

As far as I know, there are no inherent problems with the several software versions of the gauge itself, but I did have a faulty gauge replaced under warranty. The fuel problems have all been with the interface. I have no experience with the EP-15 , but it can also be calibrated by the SMIS gauge.

You say all three of your gauges work, and there's no reason to consider that a fluke. The important thing is to assure that all three are giving you accurate information. How many interfaces are you running with the two engines and three gauges? I would assume two interfaces, but there's no reason to think that any of the three gauges would read the info from the two interfaces any differently, since the same information is sent by the configured interfaces to the gauges, and all three gauges are reading that information the same, along with your Garmin, whether the information is accurate or not (man, I hope that's all clear). Of course, as you are implying, there might be a reason to think that with two different software versions on the SMIS gauges, they might for some reason read the data differently, but that appears not to be the case.

Mike
Thanks for the answer, I did realize that Grant is down under. I just replaced one of my EP-15 which is just a fluid level, since my tanks are simple retangles that don't need to be calibrated like the manual says with those kind of tanks. So far the EP-15s seem to read just fine and are fairly accurate in reporting the levels to the gauges and to the Garmin as everything is on a NMEA 2000 network.

The engine interfaces are v2.0 and the update that was listed on this forum gives both the v2.2 and the v2.7, but because of all the reading I wanted to stay away from the v2.7 however I could not find the v2.3 so I wanted to make sure I was not confusing the Eng Interface v2.3 with the SMIS v2.3.

As for the gauges, I made the statement about the fluke because two of them are ver 1.0 and one is ver 2.3. Again looking at the lowrance page it gave me the v1.5 as the previous and the v2.5 as the latest so where has the 4" gauge 2.3 version gone?

So as it stands now I have a Port side tank and Port Engine System and STBD tank and STBD Engine system. Both EP-15s and both Eng Interfaces tie into the NMEA 2000 network so, everything is being read as individual sensors on the gauges and the Garmin. I use the fluid level on the SMIS and not the fuel flow as I get fuel flow on my Garmin 4208. My biggest push is that the SMIS 4" gauge with the v2.3 software gives me more options in the system setup function of the gauges than the v1.0 and since I am trying to update that I figured I might as well update the EP-15 and the Eng Interfaces. Is there a place I can find v2.3 and also what got updated in the SMIS 4" gauge in going from v2.3 to v2.5if I just to go straight to the v2.5?


Again thanks
Eddie

[Harper]

Here's the site with the updates Suzuki - LOWRANCE | Marine Electronics including previous update versions.

You'll have to borrow a Lowrance HDS unit to do the updates, since your Garmin has no such capability. Or you can get with Browns Point Marine and they will do custom programming for $40. Their online information is sketchy on this service, so you'd need to probably call them with your requirements, but I'm sure they could do whatever you requested.

[Racereddie]

Here's the site with the updates Suzuki - LOWRANCE | Marine Electronics including previous update versions.

You'll have to borrow a Lowrance HDS unit to do the updates, since your Garmin has no such capability. Or you can get with Browns Point Marine and they will do custom programming for $40. Their online information is sketchy on this service, so you'd need to probably call them with your requirements, but I'm sure they could do whatever you requested.

Found that web page which is where I found the different versions I have now but they do not have the v2.3 for the SMIS gauge nor does it have the v2.5 for the Engine Interface.

I went to my local boat shop and they are getting an updated emulator so once I find the different versions and he gets the emulator we are going to work through it. His current set up only connects to the engines and not to the NMEA 2000 network.

Eddie

[Harper]

Gee, you're right. I just checked it again, because I got the 2.5 engine interface off that site before, and have the file in my computer now. But I've not seen the 2.3 gauge interface at all. I know Moonlighter has the 2.3 engine interface file on hand, and he might have the 2.3 gauge interface, if such an animal exists. I can email you the file for the 2.5 engine interface if you'd like.

[Racereddie]

Gee, you're right. I just checked it again, because I got the 2.5 engine interface off that site before, and have the file in my computer now. But I've not seen the 2.3 gauge interface at all. I know Moonlighter has the 2.3 engine interface file on hand, and he might have the 2.3 gauge interface, if such an animal exists. I can email you the file for the 2.5 engine interface if you'd like.

Having the 2.5 for the Engine Interface would be great. I will PM you my email address. I hope the Gauge 2.3 is still out there because it is on one of my gauges and I would like to bring the other two up to that before I jump to 2.5.

[vilarinov]

Hi

I wanted to do the shopping (Brownspointmarine) interface cable to connect the PC to NMEA 2000 software version change SMIS engine interface.

You do not sell me my money back.


I have seen on the Internet a PC interface cable (USB) NMEA 2000 "Actisense NMEA 2000 Gateway with USB PC to NGT-1-USB".

It is compatible with the emulator HDS (Lowrance)?.

Enlace internet :

Actisense NMEA 2000 to PC Gateway with USB NGT-1-USB | allGadgets Marine

Regards.


Jose Antonio.

[Harper]

I have no firsthand knowledge of this particular gateway, but I think it should work just fine with the HDS emulator.

[Moonlighter]

Having the 2.5 for the Engine Interface would be great. I will PM you my email address. I hope the Gauge 2.3 is still out there because it is on one of my gauges and I would like to bring the other two up to that before I jump to 2.5.

As noted in other threads, i have acquired the latest attempt from Lowrance/Suzuki to fix this issue with the engine interface software so that one version works with all model year and hp engines.

It is interface software version 2.8.0. The downside is that, to be safe, it is recommended by my local Zuke guru to be manually configured for every engine it is attached to, regardless of year.

Email me at grantbennett8@bigpond.com and i will forward it to you.

Easiest way to upload and configure it is via a HDS attached to the network.

But also most likely can be uploaded via a laptop computer running the HDS emulator and using a N2K to USB adapter cable. Jose is attempting to do just that so I hope he will come back and let us all know the outcome.

[Racereddie]

.

But also most likely can be uploaded via a laptop computer running the HDS emulator and using a N2K to USB adapter cable. Jose is attempting to do just that so I hope he will come back and let us all know the outcome.

Okay they got the Navico CAN to USB emulator (Suzuki SMIS Basic Components "Emulator Gateway" (990C0-88140)) at the shop and they let me take it home to get their laptop up and running with it. I ran it on Win XP and the software on the Lowrance page set up just fine and the emulator was recognized immediately. You do have to have the drivers that are on the Lowrance software page. Suzuki - LOWRANCE | Marine Electronics and loaded in the NMEA_2000_Emulator_XP_v1.2.2.exe file that you need to download.

The emulator comes with a Devicenet connect which is the smaller black one so it connected right to my garmin network which is connected to my Lowrance blue connector backbone.

The software on the laptop come up and saw both engines, it listed my two fuel levels, two engine interfaces, all three SMIS gauges, my LGC2000 GPS and all the Garmin equipment connected. You have to have the .luf files on your computer and the software lists those for you once you select the .luf file it give you the option to upgrade, at that point it will upgrade all the devices connected AND there goes the problem. It tried to update all three of my SMIS 4" gauges, two started and one failed. The help file tells you what to do, so I did that and two of the gauges were on the list but the third gauge disappeared. The help file tells you what to do if your screens go blank so I followed those and updated the two gauges all is good, I updated the two fuel level interfaces and that was easy. Back to the third gauge, the help file tells you do disconnect the other gauges, power up power down, nothing, did a hard reset, nothing. Called Lowrance, well that was a waste of time. Called Brownspoint and they went over the steps and we determined that the third gauge is in limbo and not able to be fixed. So the issue with the emulator is to update the firmware on the gauges one at a time, which means you have to disconnect them from the backbone, unless you have a way of powering them one at a time, not that most people have more than one gauge, my boat came that way.

So the emulator does work it just does not let you select each individual interface or gauge. I did not proceed with the engine interface because of the gauge issue and my burn rate is pretty accurate which just to but it out there, on my SMIS gauge I have the Fluide level selected and that gives me my Fuel remaining on the gauges and on my Garmin 4208, though I do not have Fuel Flow selected on my SMIS gauge I get a fuel flow reading on the bottom line of my Garmin when I am in Chart mode so I am getting info from both.

Sorry so long
AND if anyone is trying to get rid of a SMIS 4" gauge I am looking for one, blue or black connector works for me.

[Moonlighter]

Thanks for the update Eddie.

I was aware of the issue with updating more than one SMIS on a network at the same time, still, it is a pity that it is not mentioned on the emulator guide. As you say, all you need to do is disconnect them all from the network and then attach and upgrade one at a time, and only reconnect them all once they have all been individually updated.

I hear that there is a new SMIS gauge coming out later this year in full color and will fit in the same hole as the current gauges. Look MUCH nicer than the current version!! Plus, they have a SDS port on the back to enable easier updating of software, so they say. Guess we will have to wait and see.

So it might be worth waiting until they come out and see how they look and what $ they are asking.

[Racereddie]

Thanks for the update Eddie.

I was aware of the issue with updating more than one SMIS on a network at the same time, still, it is a pity that it is not mentioned on the emulator guide. As you say, all you need to do is disconnect them all from the network and then attach and upgrade one at a time, and only reconnect them all once they have all been individually updated.

I hear that there is a new SMIS gauge coming out later this year in full color and will fit in the same hole as the current gauges. Look MUCH nicer than the current version!! Plus, they have a SDS port on the back to enable easier updating of software, so they say. Guess we will have to wait and see.

So it might be worth waiting until they come out and see how they look and what $ they are asking.

If you do find out about the name or part # of the new gauge please post it.

[Moonlighter]

This is the only picture I have seen so far:

[Racereddie]

This is the only picture I have seen so far:

Thanks for that pic, it looks a little like the Garmin GMI 20