Dave S Question

[240da]

Dave:

Yesterday we exchanged a few comments regarding upgrading your chartplotter from the Navman 5500 to the (as they are now called) the Northstar 550.

I wanted to know a few things about that if you don't mind:

1. Did you have to drill any new holes or did it just drop in?
2. Did your antenna connect the same (SMA)?
3. Did the Smartcraft engine gateway just plug in to your tach (what was involved)?
4. What card are you using (MAX or NT+)?
5. Any issues/problems?


As we discussed my 5500 wont support the Smartcraft and that would be really nice, but, I'd like to know what I'm getting into before taking the plunge.:smt001

Thanks so much for your response.:grin::grin:

 

[Dave S]

The 550 is a drop in. You can use you the same power cable that is attached to the 5500 and the GPS antenna connection is the same as well and will plug into the 550.

You need a Navman or Northstar single engine gateway AA005020R, a Mercury Cable 84-879982T. and a 4 port connector. You unplug the Smartcraft Cable from the back of your tach, plug it into the 4 way connector, plug the new Merc cable into the four way and then back into the tach. Then plug the Gateway into the four way connector and then into the 550. Then enable Smartcraft on the Chartplotter and pick the gauges you want to display. I have the NT card in mine.

There are two software bugs that I identified for Northstar and they won't be fixed. The both occur only if Smartcraft is enabled. The first one is the Chartplotter will no longer accurately track total mileage between power on cycles. Quite often it zeros out the mileage. The second bug only occurs if you enable the NMEA interface such as with your VHF radio if you wish to pick up GPS location. When NMEA is turned on, the smartcraft gauge readings on the Chartplotter go off and on intermittently. Neither problem will be fixed so if those functions are important to you then just be aware of it. The intermittent gauge problem was fixed on the 557 but not the mileage problem. Besides that the 557 has a different hook-up and requires another cable, and a different GPS antenna. Plus the 557 has a screen display that is much more difficult to see in bright sunlight compared to the 550.

 

[240da]

Dave:

Thanks so much for all of the details; I really appreciate it!!

Where did you get the 4 port connector? I assume the Mercury part is avail. from any dealer; correct?

Does the plotter still retain all track data OK?

Thanks so much!:smt001

 

[Dave S]

The cable and connector I got from my dealer and there is no problem with tracking data (or bread crumbs as I call it).

 

[240da]

Thanks for all of your info!

Now how can I make my 5500 "accidently" die.:wink:

 

[dpvandy01]

Thanks for all of your info!

Now how can I make my 5500 "accidently" die.:wink:

Sell it...... does it still function? What are it's capabilities and specs..

 

[islandhopper00]

Feed it some voltage with a little bit of amperage...should do the trick nicely!!!!!LOL

 

[240da]

Sell it...... does it still function? What are it's capabilities and specs..

It works fine. I think if you "Google" Navman 5500 you can find specs. It essentially has all of the capabilities of the Northstar (Navman) 550 except that it works with NT+ cards only (not MAX) and does not support SmartCraft.

I'm still trying to decide what I want to do.:huh:

 

[240da]

Dave:

One more question, please. Does your tach still have all of the functionality (SmartCraft data) as it did before putting in the gateway?

Thanks!

OK I guess two more questions, do you need to use the Mercury Cable 84-879982T because it has two terminators, just curious do you need 2 terminators or will the Mercury Cable 84-879981T (with 1 terminator work). I'm just trying to understand the requirement.

As always thanks!!

 

[Dave S]

Dave:

One more question, please. Does your tach still have all of the functionality (SmartCraft data) as it did before putting in the gateway?

Thanks!

OK I guess two more questions, do you need to use the Mercury Cable 84-879982T because it has two terminators, just curious do you need 2 terminators or will the Mercury Cable 84-879981T (with 1 terminator work). I'm just trying to understand the requirement.

As always thanks!!

Yes on the functionality................it works just as it did before.

I don't think I can answer your second question because I am not sure I understand it. I can only tell you what cable I used. However, if memory serves me right, I do believe you leave the second (smaller) connector that is on the original Smartcraft Cable hooked to the instrument cluster and only remove the large connector that is hooked to the tach to plug into the four way connector. So if that other cable only has the two large Smartcraft conectors (one on each end), it may work.

Another option for your 5500 is to sell it on ebay. You can include the GPS antenna that comes with the 550 so it wil be a fully functional chartplotter.

 

[240da]

Yes on the functionality................it works just as it did before.

I don't think I can answer your second question because I am not sure I understand it. I can only tell you what cable I used. However, if memory serves me right, I do believe you leave the second (smaller) connector that is on the original Smartcraft Cable hooked to the instrument cluster and only remove the large connector that is hooked to the tach to plug into the four way connector. So if that other cable only has the two large Smartcraft conectors (one on each end), it may work.

Another option for your 5500 is to sell it on ebay. You can include the GPS antenna that comes with the 550 so it wil be a fully functional chartplotter.

Thanks again Dave!

You have been very helpful. I think I'll follow the KISS principle and use the same cable you used -- go with a known quantity.

I really appreciate all of your help.:smt001

 

[240da]

The 550 is a drop in. You can use you the same power cable that is attached to the 5500 and the GPS antenna connection is the same as well and will plug into the 550.

You need a Navman or Northstar single engine gateway AA005020R, a Mercury Cable 84-879982T. and a 4 port connector. You unplug the Smartcraft Cable from the back of your tach, plug it into the 4 way connector, plug the new Merc cable into the four way and then back into the tach. Then plug the Gateway into the four way connector and then into the 550. Then enable Smartcraft on the Chartplotter and pick the gauges you want to display. I have the NT card in mine.

There are two software bugs that I identified for Northstar and they won't be fixed. The both occur only if Smartcraft is enabled. The first one is the Chartplotter will no longer accurately track total mileage between power on cycles. Quite often it zeros out the mileage. The second bug only occurs if you enable the NMEA interface such as with your VHF radio if you wish to pick up GPS location. When NMEA is turned on, the smartcraft gauge readings on the Chartplotter go off and on intermittently. Neither problem will be fixed so if those functions are important to you then just be aware of it. The intermittent gauge problem was fixed on the 557 but not the mileage problem. Besides that the 557 has a different hook-up and requires another cable, and a different GPS antenna. Plus the 557 has a screen display that is much more difficult to see in bright sunlight compared to the 550.

Dave:

I need to revisit this; it seems that the shortest 84-879982T cable (resistor both ends) is 20 feet! I see they make the 84-879981T cable (has only one resistor end) down to a 10 foot length. Do you know if it matters which cable is used? The existing Smartcraft cable in our boat from the engine to the tach has a resistor at both ends. I would like to keep the cable as short as possible.

Thanks.

 

[Dave S]

I know my cable wasn't 20 feet long.

I would think your dealer ought to be able to tell you what would work and whether there is something shorter in length. Just explain to them what you are trying to do and they should be able to find a suitable cable in the Mercury parts catalog. Your other option is to call Northstar and ask them.

Sorry I can't be of more help.

Dave

 

[240da]

Thanks Dave! I'll follow up with the aforementioned.