Northstar/Navman Fishfinders

[Coota9]

Just need some feedback from any-one that has these fishfinders
Or anyone that has a Northstar/Navman Fishfinder

Looking at Explorer 457 info below


Display Size 5 in \ 127 mm Display Resolution 640 x 480 (H x W) Display Type 256 Color TFT LCD Backlighting Color White Backlighting Levels 16 Resize Display Window Yes Sonar Overlay Data Yes Multilanguage Display Yes Split Screen Presentation Yes Languages Supported 13 SONAR / SOUNDER


Sonar Frequency 50 kHz and 200 kHz Transducer Type Various: See transducer selection table Sonar Output Power Max 600 W Sonar Depth Max 2000 ft \ 600 m Sonar Alarms: Fish, Max and Min Depth Yes Depth Alarm Yes Temperature Display Yes Depth Units Yes Fish Detection Yes Sounder On/Off Yes

Specs above look ok 640x480 Display and 600w power

[gawby]

Mate,

I had a black and white 5110? Navman chartplotter and i found
it to easy to use and reliable.
I just bought a 550 Northstar colour chartplotter and looks a treat with the sea map in it. Happy at the moment.
Not exactly the answer you were looking for but i am happy with the
Navman Northstar products.
I would not hesitate in buying a sounder.
Graeme

[Coota9]

Any one else have any experience with these Fishfiners???

[Coontakinta]

Coota, I have what I think is the equivelant FISH4600. I gotta say that initially I wasnt impresed with my decision to buy NAVMAN as I had nothing but problems with each component I purchased except the Tracker (chartplotter), and the local rep here in Adelaide and the dealer I purchased it from were next to useless in getting the problems sorted out. It took a lot of pestering to finally have things looked at and confirmed that the problems were with the product and not the user.

HOWEVER!

After being fortunate to have stumbled across a rep from Navico on another site and having some on-line instruction of what my FISH4600 is showing I have to say that things have defineatly improved. I'm still having trouble deciphering the broken bottom I like for our King George Whiting (when compared to the Lowrance X65, I'm used to) but I'm getting there and since having the issues sorted I havent had any problems with any of the equipment since.

Hopefully the pictures I'm about to post here will help in your decision. The tabs on the pics were from the rep (sorry but I think it best if i give him some anomymity) and used to help me decipher what it is the images are showing and what I was doing wrong in an attempt to get more from my unit.

[Coota9]

Coontakinta,
Thanks for your reply,i went with with Northstar Fishfinder 457 and
i am currently in the process of installing it at the moment.
Have you got your Navman plotter & fishfinder hooked up via NMEA
or Navbus connections and is there any benefit between the two-as
what can be displayed. Cheers Coota

[Coota9]

Coontakinta,
Thanks for your reply,i went with with Northstar Fishfinder 457 and
i am currently in the process of installing it at the moment.
Have you got your Navman plotter & fishfinder hooked up via NMEA
or Navbus connections and is there any benefit between the two-as
what can be displayed. Cheers Coota

[Coontakinta]

M8 somewhere in your computer there is a parrot hiding. Ha Ha Ha!

Coota, the units are not connected, well at least not to my knowledge anyway. The connections at the back if this is what you are referring too (and I doubt it) are the standard coloured ones.

Sorry, I couldnt be of anymore help to you.

[Mindi]

I have a Navman sounder and it has water/moisture inside it just out of warranty. I have emailed Navman a number of times asking if I can get it repaired and they do not reply.....so for me ..? I am not so sure.

[Coota9]

Jgranger,
I am pretty sure that there is a Navman tech that is a member in this forum who may be able to help you out,if not PM me as i may have a contact you can try that should be able to help you out with your problem unit.
Good Luck!!

[Last Cast]

Coota, have you taken the boat out yet & tested the Navman Unit? I am looking at purchasing the same unit or the lowrance x515 but the Navman has more pixels & more power, would be intersted on your thoughts, especially if youve seen runnig in the flesh !!!

[surftravel]

Just purchased (from a fellow Ausfisher via the forums) a second-hand, but "as new", Navman 4507 (same as a Northstar 457) and have installed it today ... will water test / fish test one arvo this week or next weekend.

What are others' thoughts on this sounder?

I was surprised how large the transducer is!

I also purchased and installed the fuel sensor, but will have to fiddle a little to callibrate I think.

Screen looks nice and bright - even in direct sunlight.

Will post another report after I water test.

Cheers,
Mick

[Malcolm W]

I have the 6600 combo, bit bigger screen but the same pixels and power as the 457. I use it as a sounder only and it compares well with the furuno 620 looking over the same depth and ground, with both showing similar results. Mine suffered from fogging when I first got it, and a few months later the plastic protective cover came off on the way to the ramp. About 2 weeks later with no cover kept on my fogging issues went away and have been that way for more than 2+ years. I am a high user now, 3-400hrs+ a year and find the unit easy to use and reliable. It had a fuel flow meter on when I purchased the boat but I took that off as I could not see any value in it. Great pics from coontakinta and the third one showing stucture is what I mainly dive on in 30-35m as its normally plate coral (yellow and orange with blue/green on top) and holds fish in my area. I tend to run it with a bit more gain until there is a bit of clutter than that picture and increase the gain a little as the depth increases. Cheers Mal.

[rosco1974]

i have 2 660 combos.use them as separate units.1 on sounder and 1 on gps find them great..no probs so far 18 months old...wont be dissapointed with a northstar in my honest opinion.....
cheers rosco

[danny412]

I got the 657, no probs so far, seems to work very well

[Coontakinta]

I also purchased and installed the fuel sensor, but will have to fiddle a little to callibrate I think.

Mick doubt you''l have much trouble calibrating it as its dead easy. Trust me. The biggest problem with the fuel sensors in my view is / was the fact that it was a bit of a gamble as to whether the one you get was a dud or not.

Its a bit ambiquous in your post, but if the fuel management system is new, install and test it ASAP so as to ensure that any problems with it are addressed well within any warranty period. It took me around 6 months to have the fact that mine was near enough DOA. I had to endure every reason under the sun as to why it was my fault it didnt work and not the units. Think that had more to do with the dealer and the rep in my state more so than anything else.

I should point out that since then, I have had much success with the unit and continue to receive continued technical support from Navico.

Best of luck with it