My Northstar NS100 VHF is a POS!

T

timinfla2

New Member
Sep 22, 2008
578
POS means piece of...Excrement, for several reasons. Below is a letter I wrote to my original sales guy up in MI. Has anybody else had these issues with their NS100?

Can anybody recommend a replacement? I don't want a similar form factor, I'd rather go with a more traditional type, i.e. Icom M604, or something to that effect.

Thanks,
Tim

Hi -

I'm having an issue with my radio. Several actually. The mounting bracket is in a horrible position and is made of very weak material, so now the handset won't stay latched on because the lug is broken. The connector itself is VERY temperamental to put on as you have to very carefully slide it over an inane series of pins that seem to almost want to bend.

I'd never take the darn thing off the pins in the first place but because of it's position and how it juts out into the walkway between the helm seat and the aft cockpit area, you will inevitably knock it out of the connector walking by it - and since the locking mechanism isn't working because it's very weak plastic and won't grab, even the slightest touch knocks it out of the socket.

So now I'm using a cheap handheld because my VHF that came with the boat is only a paperweight.

I spoke with the folks at Marine Max and they said Sea Ray wouldn't do anything about it and that I should talk to my original dealer, so now I'm asking you if you have any ideas.

I don't want to replace it with the same model as the model itself has serious design flaws - instead, I want to go with a traditional VHF radio.

Please let me know your thoughts.

Thanks,
Tim
 
Yeah dude, I agree - A very expensive, and even more so, disappointing paperweight.

I'll take pics of the install today & post.

-T
 
Never, never, never, never buy any VHF other than an Icom (first choice) or a Standard Horizon (second, but very close to first choice).

Best regards,
Frank
 
So here are the pics - in the first pic, you see the broken mounting lug - and I should mention that the 'lug receiver' on the handset itself is made from cheap, weak plastic and is broken as well - forgot to take pics of that.

The second picture shows the mounting position of the handset and it shows where the connection for the handset cord is - right above the speaker in a high traffic area. Just an awful design and it keeps getting knocked out of there. So there you have it.

We'll see what happens once folks start reading their emails this morning.


IMG_0144.JPG



IMG_0145.JPG


-Tim
 
Never had a problem with my Northstar. My Raymarine on my 260 was a huge disappointment. The problem you have is the problem I had with my 260. It would get bumped. My 320 has a safer install where it doesn't get bumped.
 
Well don't get me wrong - Technologically, I'm sure it's a fine piece of gear - so long as the sub-par install and components used to install aren't going to get in the way of the operation of the unit.

My issue isn't necessarily with Northstar, it's more directed at the application of the unit and how it was mounted. Terrible decision making there...
 
My Northstar NS100 just stopped working. I have a 2006, and just had the GPS rewired. Apparently, when the GPS was rewired, the power to VHF was bundled with it, and the inline fuse was removed (i.e. no fuse protection for the VHF).

Should I replace my Northstar NS100 with a different unit, or buy another. I would love to get anyone's feedback. Thanks.
 
x2 on the mounting bracket. My problem is the hangar on the back of the handset...it snapped early on so now the handset is loose. Thought I would fix it as part of my project list this year, but they won't sell a new plastic back for the handset - just a whole new handset. :smt013

One other thing with the Northstar...I didn't read the manual until a marina told me that I was broadcasting weak...turns out the radio was set to 'LO' (not sure how that could have happened). Northstar works fine now that that issue is worked out.
 
Here is the part number for teh clip. you should be able to get it from Nolrthstar. Mine was broke when I took delivery and they just replaced the clip. the only issue I have had is wishing the speaker was mounted higher.

Northstar Part # APNSBB2E8050
 
I'm happy with my NS100 with 2 years of use.

In your case, I do agree the way it was installed is not the best for the mic. Try calling Northstar to get a replacement clip.

The issue replacing the whole unit is what are you going to do with the big hole where the main speaker is now? If you decide to go this route, some options that I have thought about in case it ever happens to me:

* Dark Plexiglass panel (and mount a traditional VHF in it).
* Starboard panel (and ditto).
* Pay a fiberglass person to fill the big hole.

Esteban
 
For what it's worth, I bumped into the connecter on my boat and it broke off a few weeks ago. I needed to replace the entire speaker. I thought I paid over $100, but I just checked and it looks like it was $85. The new speaker is a different color and the little clips that cover the screws don't come with the speaker. You need to ask for them. At least Sea Ray attempted to recess the mount on your bulkhead. On my 320 it just sticks out in the walk way. Now I'm reluctant to leave it plugged in. I'm afraid someone will bump into it again and snap it off. So much for me monitoring Channel 16.


Dash.jpg


This is the old and new speaker. Colors are close, not the same;
NorthStarSpeakerConnections.jpg
 
estebanj said:
I'm happy with my NS100 with 2 years of use.

In your case, I do agree the way it was installed is not the best for the mic. Try calling Northstar to get a replacement clip.

The issue replacing the whole unit is what are you going to do with the big hole where the main speaker is now? If you decide to go this route, some options that I have thought about in case it ever happens to me:

* Dark Plexiglass panel (and mount a traditional VHF in it).
* Starboard panel (and ditto).
* Pay a fiberglass person to fill the big hole.

Esteban
Click to expand...

Since this boat didn't come with a 'glove box', I figured I'd make one there to hold wallet, keys, phone, etc.

I just found the right contact at SeaRay and I'm asking him to have some mercy on me and either re-fit the Northstar or pay for me to replace it with a real piece of gear, like an iComm.
 
bport said:
x2 on the mounting bracket. My problem is the hangar on the back of the handset...it snapped early on so now the handset is loose. Thought I would fix it as part of my project list this year, but they won't sell a new plastic back for the handset - just a whole new handset. :smt013
Click to expand...
Same here! Because of poor placement the clip on the back of the handset broke and they don't sell a replacement, even though it appears the back of it can just be unscrewed.:smt013 Now it seems like the radio is disconnected with the antenna as this is all I get when pressing the talk button.."Antenna RF problem TX limited to low power" I'm thinking of just replacing my back up VHF handheld with a nicer one and just using that. It is a POS!
 
That's the same problem I have - TX limited. F'n BS. I was told last time that it was a bent pen, so take a scribe in there and ensure all of your pins are nice and straight.

-T
 
timinfla2 said:
That's the same problem I have - TX limited. F'n BS. I was told last time that it was a bent pen, so take a scribe in there and ensure all of your pins are nice and straight.

-T
Click to expand...
Thanks Tim. I'll try that today. I just ordered a Standard Horizon (STDHX850S) from our forum sponsor Jim at BOE marine. I wanted a backup for my POS. Now my backup is better than my main unit. It has a built in GPS and floats and it was less than 20 "boat dollars". :thumbsup: Brian
 
That's the exact same one I went with. It's a pretty good unit from what I can tell having only owned it a month and done a grand total of 2 (successful) radio checks on it.

My buddy was telling me that he recommends getting a hard-wired backup VHF also. I think it's probably good advice and I'm likely to apply his advice; I just wonder about the intricacies of having 2 VHF's, i.e. can you share the same antenna?
 
That was a pi$$ poor place to mount the handset, especially with all of that verticle area to the right of the speaker. Who ever made that location decision at S/R had no clue....maybe their thinking was the owner would want to frequently monitor your VHF display....Mine is mounted to a verticle portion of the counsel facing away from the helm. It is tucked into a protected area as you enter the cabin.

I really like mine, it sucks when a 30 cent piece of plastic and a pour mounting location has to sour your experiences with it.

I disconnect the handset each week when we leave the boat because it begs to be stolen if I don't use the cockpit cover.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Forum statistics

Threads
113,116
Messages
1,426,371
Members
61,028
Latest member
ddbyrd329
Back
Top