Smartcraft, Troll Control, Northstar 557 GPS

[estebanj]

I had read about this feature, but had not tried it yet until this weekend.

From my 557, I was able to easily engage troll control for the engine and it works nicely. The max RPM on mine is 800, which is OK for some of the many no wake zones we have here in South Florida (in others I go up to about 1,500).

Just thought I pass this on as FYI for others who have the same setup. I believe this works with many other Navman/Northstar GPS units as well.

Esteban

 

[Dave S]

It works directly off the Smartcraft Tachometer as well the Chartplotter. I don't use it at all on either. It's really intended primarily for fisherman.

BTW Esteban..............I now have a 557 Chartplotter because Northstar did not have a software fix for the two bugs I had on my 550. I completed the install today. The Smartcraft Guages work fine now on the 557 but I did have to install a new GPS antenna because the connections were different from the one the 550 used. So now I am still debating whether to re-install the 550 up on the dash as and have two functional chartplotters. :grin:

 

[estebanj]

How many connectors does your 557 have on the back? Mine has 2: black for power/NMEA, and yellow for the antenna. I had to get a splitter that splits the yellow to yellow and white so I could connect the gateway to the white in the splitter. Not sure if this was your case with your previous unit as well or not.

I take it your 557 still resets the trip meter after power off? That seems to be the only "bug" I have with mine. My other complaints can be categorized as "wish list" items: depth and water temperature from/via Smartcraft.

That sucks that the antenna connector is not the same. Hopefully you can easily do the pulling of the cable.

I have thought of having another display on the dash, but I think it would be overkill (overcrowded). However, consider putting one in the cabin. Not sure what for, other than playing with the display while trying to sleep in the vberth or maybe put it in the head and have something to look at while you sit. :grin:

Esteban

 

[Dave S]

They sent me the splitter cable as well. I mounted the new GPS under the dash cowl so you can't even see it and it seems to work fine there. I didn't run the boat so I am not sure about the mileage issue but I suspect it will reset just like the last one. :smt021 I still have another Gateway too so I can easily have both Chartplotters Smartcraft enabled if I choose. It was nice getting all this stuff for free. :grin:

 

[estebanj]

And you can now also use DSC in your VHF without the gauges disappearing! :smt038

I finally completed my DSC connection this weekend. I had the NMEA cables connected, and was able to show Lat/Lon on the VHF, but had not entered my MMSI number. Now the VHF also shows DSC working. Don't want to test it though...

Now if I could only find a way to keep my 1 year old from pressing MOB and Mark every 30 seconds I would have a clean Waypoint list. :smt018

Esteban