Garmin or North Star?

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05-12-2009 | 11:30 AM

#21

Uncle Dave

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Joined: Jul 2008

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Quote:

Originally Posted by SDFever

Don't quote me as it's been a while since I reviewed the menu but if you scroll through the comm menu of the Garmin, it has a list of protocols to use. It should have the comm protocol for just about everything.

I agree most everything from Merc is proprietary but the list in the Garmin is robust enough that you may get lucky. I'm not sure. I'll post if I find it in mine. It would certainly have to be one of the later models..

Merc is in a bad place at the moment- and needs to get on board with the NMEA standard.

Smartcraft started before NMEA 2000, in late 99- but is now superseded by it as a standard. BEfore NMEA 2000 proprietary made sense, but it doesnt anymore because-

NMEA 2000 is more robust as a whole than "smart craft"
Hundreds to thousands of theirs party products are now NMEA 2000 compliant
Every other major engine mfgr is now NMEA 2K compliant-
(Ilmor, Yamaha, Evinrude, Suzuki, Honda)

I think Merc will turn around pretty quick but an older engine is still probably locked to Northstar.

Uncle Dave

05-12-2009 | 01:01 PM

#22

Wobble

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Joined: Apr 2004

Posts: 6,984

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From: 29°50'49.74"N 95° 5'17.55"W.......TEXAS

Quote:

Originally Posted by daredevil

GARMIN,,NORTH STAR ARE VERY UN ACCURATE !!!

The MPH on the northstar says 8 mph slower then the garmin and Gaffrig !!!

you might be reading knots

oops, uncle Dave already suggested

58mph = 50knots

Last edited by Wobble; 05-12-2009 at 01:07 PM. Reason: dup

05-12-2009 | 01:12 PM

#23

The Menace

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Joined: Nov 2002

Posts: 3,029

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From: Bonita Springs, Florida

I have both. The Northstar will be history this year.

Garmin much easier to operate and graphics are detailed better.

Anybody want to purchase a slightly used Northstar?

The Northstar came with the boat.

05-12-2009 | 07:56 PM

#24

Kenny Whitmire

Thread Starter

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Joined: Oct 2008

Posts: 52

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From: Hollywood, Fl

Is there any after market face plates for garmin?

Thanks for all the input

05-12-2009 | 08:13 PM

#25

omerta one

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Joined: Apr 2006

Posts: 2,966

Likes: 9

From: LOTO

Quote:

Originally Posted by salesmanship

The only reason to use the Northstar is to interface with the Mercury Smartcraft. You can display analog style gauges on the screen. Other than that my unit of choice is the Garmin.
Much better display and ease of use.
In addition you can update the software with downloadable updates to an SD memory card. BTW they just released 5.0 May 1st for anyone that needs it.

That is a nice feature and is the main reason I originally choose the Northstar over Garmin...unfortunately when running at high speed for any length of time would cause activation of the alarms. The eventual cure was to disconnect the digital gauges. I also had a lake chart that would lock up when zooming in...took them and Navionics over 12 months to figure out that problem. I now have the Garmin.

05-12-2009 | 08:42 PM

#26

Jassman

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Joined: Oct 2000

Posts: 9,398

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Quote:

Originally Posted by SDFever

If your depth sounder has the output capability, just run a signal wire to the input of the Garmin. They both need to support that feature in order to work just like DSC.

thanks..Jeff