Bummed about my GPS/Chartplotter

[At Ease]

When we bought the boat this year it came with a Northstar 6100i. Very nice unit, so I have been chomping at the bit to use it. Invested in a Navionics Platinum Card and found out that the GPS does not work. Checked the connectors to the antenna, they are good and the cable is good. Called Northstar and they said we should have 5 VDC at the back of the unit and then at the antenna. That checked good. Northstar asked me to sent the antenna to them. They bench tested and all is ok with the antenna. Now I call for the unit and they tell me it could be up to 20 business days before they can look at it. :smt013 Has anyone else had any problems with this exact unit?

 

[Dave S]

Where is your chartplotter mounted? The 6100 seems to be an awfully big unit for a 260DA.

 

[At Ease]

Where is your chartplotter mounted? The 6100 seems to be an awfully big unit for a 260DA.

Dave,

It is mounted just to the left of the steering wheel next to the guages. It has a custom mounting block where the bracket for the 6100 attaches.

 

[rbihn2]

When we bought the boat this year it came with a Northstar 6100i. Very nice unit, so I have been chomping at the bit to use it. Invested in a Navionics Platinum Card and found out that the GPS does not work. Checked the connectors to the antenna, they are good and the cable is good. Called Northstar and they said we should have 5 VDC at the back of the unit and then at the antenna. That checked good. Northstar asked me to sent the antenna to them. They bench tested and all is ok with the antenna. Now I call for the unit and they tell me it could be up to 20 business days before they can look at it. :smt013 Has anyone else had any problems with this exact unit?

I have a 6000i that didn't work with my new Navionics Gold Card. After trying to boot up - my screen said to call Northstar. (Mine takes a CF format card). Northstar said all I needed to due was a software upgrade. I went to their web page, copied all 9 files as instructed onto a blank CF card - turned on the unit, used the menus to get to software upgrade instructions - very easy - 7 minutes later I'm done - I reboot with a Gold card and I'm in business. Send me a PM if you want more specific info. I suspect having a 2008 edition gold card and a 2006 model 6000i has something to do with the issue. Good Luck - Mine is great now. Ray

 

[At Ease]

I have a 6000i that didn't work with my new Navionics Gold Card. After trying to boot up - my screen said to call Northstar. (Mine takes a CF format card). Northstar said all I needed to due was a software upgrade. I went to their web page, copied all 9 files as instructed onto a blank CF card - turned on the unit, used the menus to get to software upgrade instructions - very easy - 7 minutes later I'm done - I reboot with a Gold card and I'm in business. Send me a PM if you want more specific info. I suspect having a 2008 edition gold card and a 2006 model 6000i has something to do with the issue. Good Luck - Mine is great now. Ray

Thanks Ray. I may need to upgrade mine as well. The GPS should work without the CF card, but it doesn't. I called Northstar and they are trying to put a rush on it. Suckes not having this nice piece of gear...

 

[rbihn2]

Mine did work w/o the CF card (no details for what we need) - it was only after trying to boot-up with the gold card that I ran into trouble. I understand about not being able to use the device - we have some very shallow areas to navigate around. Good Luck!

 

[Michel Vromen]

Hi, I have a 6000i but updating to version 7.76 does not seem to work. I downloaded the files from their site but no luck. Which file have you used?

Thanks
Michel