Northstar GPS Quit Receiving Engine Data

[skolbe]

So dewinterized engines yesterday, turned on the GPS and I am not getting any data from the engines to the GPS. The Northstar GPS units of this era display Smartcraft data. It worked fine when I winterized. GPS seems to be communicating fine. Could the gateway die over the winter? Mine is the old Northstar dual engine gateway. Any ideas on how to test what is not working. GPS communicates fine with the radio with NMEA and everything else works fine.

They don't make this gateway anymore and I am not sure if the new gateway would work with the older Northstar GPS. Also not sure how to test whether the gateway is fried or the problem is with the GPS.

 

[rondds]

I don't have an answer for you but I'm interested to see what people say. The new Merc Gateway converts the smartcraft data to NMEA2000. Is your Northstar GPS NMEA2000 capable?

 

[skolbe]

I am not sure if it is. Still researching it.

 

[dpmulvey]

Northstar was a lone company. Brunswick bought Northstar and according to some I know in the electronics business, that is when Northstar became a POS to own. Navico bought Northstar as part of a package from Brunswick.

Northstar for for all intents and purposes does not exist.

If affordable, go with a new SmartCraft Merc Monitor as a gateway. I hear it's head and shoulders above the prior versions but have nothing to personally compare it to.

 

[skolbe]

I guess, I am wondering if it feeds the old Northstar gear? I may try emailing Mercury. Surely someone there would know.

 

[rondds]

Don't email. Call Merc 920.929.5040. Press 2, then press 1. I spoke to a guy named Greg.

What model Northstar do you have? If you google it you may find a manual. OR take a look at the back of it to see if it has a NMEA2000 input. If it doesn't the Merc Gateway will not work with it. But remember, the Gateway converts Smartcraft to NMEA2000. If your northstar speaks "smartcraft," maybe you don't need any gateway (?)


Do you have one of THESE?

None of the four they show are NMEA2K. Only NMEA0183 and all are listed as discontinued.

 

[skolbe]

Mine is NMEA0183. Thanks I will call Merc. I actually use the engine data more than the Chartplotting feature. I like to run split screen.