Cruisers Forum
 


Reply
  This discussion is proudly sponsored by:
Please support our sponsors and let them know you heard about their products on Cruisers Forums. Advertise Here
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Rate Thread Display Modes
Old 27-02-2019, 08:08   #1
Registered User

Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Channel Islands, CA
Boat: Lagoon 400 S2
Posts: 127
B&G Zeus upgrade to v18.3 broke WiFi GoFree

Just checking if anyone else experienced this:

Our Zeus2 chartplotter reported an available software upgrade to v18.3. This downloaded and installed (using WiFi adapter) successfully. This required several reboots during the process.

After the process was over, the chartplotter no longer finds the WiFi GoFree module (reports the error "No WiFi adapter installed"). We have power cycled everything several times, no effect.

I've inquired to B&G technical support, but no response.

I might have tried downgrading to the previous version using the SD card, but I cannot the image for the previous version (v18.2)

Any similar experiences?
Whomda is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 28-02-2019, 00:36   #2
Registered User
 
blubaju's Avatar

Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: where my little boat is ;-) now Philippines
Boat: Catamaran Schionning Wilderness 1320, built myself
Posts: 475
Re: B&G Zeus upgrade to v18.3 broke WiFi GoFree

No connection problem - updated about a week ago.

Annoying, it can only be used for LINK, the proprietary remote control app, not for any other data transfer, eg connection to a PC, same applies to the Bluetooth transmitter, only good for the AP-remote control. Would not buy it any more as, when connected to my phone, internet is cut, better OpenCPN on the phone, have all data & internet
blubaju is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 28-02-2019, 00:41   #3
Registered User
 
blubaju's Avatar

Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: where my little boat is ;-) now Philippines
Boat: Catamaran Schionning Wilderness 1320, built myself
Posts: 475
Re: B&G Zeus upgrade to v18.3 broke WiFi GoFree

Quote:
Originally Posted by blubaju View Post
No connection problem - updated about a week ago.

Annoying, it can only be used for LINK, the proprietary remote control app, not for any other data transfer, eg connection to a PC, same applies to the Bluetooth transmitter, only good for the AP-remote control. Would not buy it any more as, when connected to my phone, internet is cut, better OpenCPN on the phone, have all data & internet
Sorry, a mistake, updating with gofree was not successful, i downloaded the update to an unused microSD and installed from there without problem. Almost forgot that already ;-)
blubaju is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 28-02-2019, 05:45   #4
Registered User
 
Suijin's Avatar

Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Bumping around the Caribbean
Boat: Valiant 40
Posts: 4,625
Re: B&G Zeus upgrade to v18.3 broke WiFi GoFree

I updated through the gofree’s connection to a WiFi network and have had no problems.
__________________
"Having a yacht is reason for being more cheerful than most." -Kurt Vonnegut
Suijin is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 28-02-2019, 09:16   #5
Registered User

Join Date: Jul 2017
Posts: 474
Re: B&G Zeus upgrade to v18.3 broke WiFi GoFree

Thank you for posting this thread, I have the upgrade in my todo list (actually, was thinking of doing it this coming weekend).

I have not done it yet, so I cannot tell directly, but when I did the previous upgrade, the dealer recommended to do it via the SD card, rather than via GoFree, and it worked without issues. So, it is possible that there are some glitches using GoFree and they know them but do not tell. It is also very likely that success or failure using GoFree may depend on the system configuration, so some people succeed while others don't... The SD card is likely a much more predictable method.

I would say try that venue and see if it resolves the issue.

Please let us know what happens, I for one am very interested, for obvious reasons...
FabioC is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 28-02-2019, 09:26   #6
Registered User

Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Channel Islands, CA
Boat: Lagoon 400 S2
Posts: 127
Re: B&G Zeus upgrade to v18.3 broke WiFi GoFree

Quote:
Originally Posted by blubaju View Post
No connection problem - updated about a week ago.

Annoying, it can only be used for LINK, the proprietary remote control app, not for any other data transfer, eg connection to a PC, same applies to the Bluetooth transmitter, only good for the AP-remote control. Would not buy it any more as, when connected to my phone, internet is cut, better OpenCPN on the phone, have all data & internet
My GoFree (last week when it was still working) absolutely works with OpenCPN and any number of other android apps to display instrument data in addition to LINK. You just need to be sure to use the right connection settings.

In OpenCPN, add a connection (Options->Connections):
Type: Network
Protocol: TCP
Address: 192.168.x.y (x and y to whatever you set it to on the main chartplotter)
DataPort: 10110

Unfortunately, it sounds like my GoFree has other problems now
Whomda is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 28-02-2019, 09:40   #7
Registered User

Join Date: Aug 2018
Location: San Diego
Posts: 14
Re: B&G Zeus upgrade to v18.3 broke WiFi GoFree

Yes 18.3 upgrade disabled my WiFi GoFree........, don't know if it can be restored via a hard reset. After some fumbling I was able to get the Zeus 3/18.3 to talk to the Link app on my IPAD.

Also be careful with the CMAP Embark app and the sync function included in 18.3; I tried this on a whim and found that upon syncing all my stored waypoints were removed from the Zeus 3 file and were transferred to the Embark app under "places".......a one way only result.
RobertJ is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 28-02-2019, 10:13   #8
Registered User

Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Channel Islands, CA
Boat: Lagoon 400 S2
Posts: 127
Re: B&G Zeus upgrade to v18.3 broke WiFi GoFree

Quote:
Originally Posted by RobertJ View Post
Yes 18.3 upgrade disabled my WiFi GoFree........, don't know if it can be restored via a hard reset. After some fumbling I was able to get the Zeus 3/18.3 to talk to the Link app on my IPAD.
Could you be a little more specific about what "some fumbling" you did to get it working?

I did do a complete power cycle on the unit to no avail.

And thanks for the Embark tip. I had already installed that app, but would hate to lose the waypoints so I'll avoid.
Whomda is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 28-02-2019, 10:25   #9
Registered User
 
wrwakefield's Avatar

Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Meandering about the Gulf of Alaska coast [NNE Pacific]— where the internet doesn't always shine... [Even Elon's...] Homeport: Wrangell Island
Boat: Nauticat 43 [S&S Staysail Ketch]
Posts: 1,662
Re: B&G Zeus upgrade to v18.3 broke WiFi GoFree

I updated two Zeus2 MFDs to 18.3 the beginning of Feb.

I downloaded the firmware update to a micro SD card and transferred it between MFDs to apply the update.

The GoFree WiFi1 unit works as expected [as it did before this upgrade] but I did notice there are more wireless settings available now...

While it is unlikely in your case, I have had 2 different early version GoFree hardware units fail in different ways: Wifi failed on the first, and pass-through ethernet failed on the second... There was no warning in either case. It was like someone through a switch...

I'm on my 3rd warranty GoFree WiFi1 since 2014. The 3rd unit was put into service in early 2016, and I have had no issues since then...

Since your MFD is not seeing the GoFree [if you haven't already...] also confirm your ethernet connections are sound...

Best wishes resolving this issue.

Cheers! Bill
__________________
SV Denali Rose
Learning every day- and sharing if I can.
wrwakefield is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 28-02-2019, 11:09   #10
Registered User

Join Date: Aug 2018
Location: San Diego
Posts: 14
Re: B&G Zeus upgrade to v18.3 broke WiFi GoFree

Whomda--I unfortunately don't recall all the steps I tried, but the bottom line is that I had to manually enter a network key in the IPAD link app. I found the network key somewhere in the wireless page on the Zeus (under system) but I don't recall where. The network key associated with the GoFree WiFI was "stored" in the IPAD but was no longer valid for linking to the Zeus following the 18.3 upgrade.
RobertJ is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 28-02-2019, 19:07   #11
Registered User
 
blubaju's Avatar

Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: where my little boat is ;-) now Philippines
Boat: Catamaran Schionning Wilderness 1320, built myself
Posts: 475
Re: B&G Zeus upgrade to v18.3 broke WiFi GoFree

Quote:
Originally Posted by Whomda View Post
My GoFree (last week when it was still working) absolutely works with OpenCPN and any number of other android apps to display instrument data in addition to LINK. You just need to be sure to use the right connection settings.



In OpenCPN, add a connection (Options->Connections):

Type: Network

Protocol: TCP

Address: 192.168.x.y (x and y to whatever you set it to on the main chartplotter)

DataPort: 10110



Unfortunately, it sounds like my GoFree has other problems now
Thank you, I'll try to learn about the new features now, those similar names are confusing and switching client/accesspoint mode a pain in the ... as then my S7 samsung will tell me: either wifi or 4G.

I do not want another lte router with its own sim & contract and a second gofree-wifi1.

No mfd, no gofree data. This is why I do not like gofree-wifi. To many times my former Raymarine mfd died on inconvenient places. B&G not yet. With gofree there is no data redundancy any more. Better a multiplexer on the nmea2000 bus with wifi capability.

I can have my b&g radar picture WITHOUT zeus in openCPN, but not navigation data?!

Link app: very disturbing for the person on the helm when the display changes without input and that small fisherman (or rock) suddenly disappears.

Embark: no anchor alarm, else what is better than plan2nav? Same charts, same display. I tried it, test period, but it did not erase my waypoints. I do use navionics and C-map sd's with my zeus˛, same waypoints, tracks, routes pop up in all charts.
blubaju is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 28-02-2019, 19:31   #12
Registered User

Join Date: Feb 2019
Posts: 14
Re: B&G Zeus upgrade to v18.3 broke WiFi GoFree

Quote:
Originally Posted by Whomda View Post
Just checking if anyone else experienced this:

Our Zeus2 chartplotter reported an available software upgrade to v18.3. This downloaded and installed (using WiFi adapter) successfully. This required several reboots during the process.

After the process was over, the chartplotter no longer finds the WiFi GoFree module (reports the error "No WiFi adapter installed"). We have power cycled everything several times, no effect.

I've inquired to B&G technical support, but no response.

I might have tried downgrading to the previous version using the SD card, but I cannot the image for the previous version (v18.2)

Any similar experiences?
Same same here. The only difference here is I did the update via SD card.

Gofree module is toast, confirmed by local agent. Luckily still in warranty.

Based on this it would seem firmware roll back won't help. (I have a copy of 18.2 on my SD card)
calm waters is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-03-2019, 11:40   #13
Registered User

Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Channel Islands, CA
Boat: Lagoon 400 S2
Posts: 127
Re: B&G Zeus upgrade to v18.3 broke WiFi GoFree

Update: I spoke on the phone to B&G customer support, this is a widespread issue they are seeing with multiple customers.

If you have an external Wifi GoFree unit DO NOT UPGRADE TO 18.3. Your Wifi unit may become disabled.

The newer units with bulitin wifi are not affected.

He said B&G is well aware of the issue, and to check back in two weeks to see if they have a fix yet.
Whomda is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-03-2019, 11:46   #14
Registered User

Join Date: Jul 2017
Posts: 474
Re: B&G Zeus upgrade to v18.3 broke WiFi GoFree

Thank you for the update!
If you do not mind, can you please let us know when B&G tells you that the fix is available?
I assume several people have the upgrade on hold after seeing this thread.
Thank you
FabioC is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 17-03-2019, 00:34   #15
Registered User

Join Date: Mar 2019
Posts: 2
Re: B&G Zeus upgrade to v18.3 broke WiFi GoFree

Quote:
Originally Posted by Whomda View Post
Update: I spoke on the phone to B&G customer support, this is a widespread issue they are seeing with multiple customers.

If you have an external Wifi GoFree unit DO NOT UPGRADE TO 18.3. Your Wifi unit may become disabled.

The newer units with bulitin wifi are not affected.

He said B&G is well aware of the issue, and to check back in two weeks to see if they have a fix yet.
Thanks very much for posting this. Exactly the same thing happened to me yesterday when upgrading to 18.3 on Zeus 2. Thought i was going mad/becoming a technophobe Please keep us posted on how you resolve....
Arkle400 is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
wifi

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes Rate This Thread
Rate This Thread:

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
B&G Zeus 3 Wifi and Iridium GO for Predictwind? BobL1981 Marine Electronics 17 06-12-2019 04:45
SIMRAD GoFree Wifi timohara Marine Electronics 4 11-07-2016 03:32
For Sale: WiFi BaseStation Navico "GoFree"WiFi1 Module for Lowrance & Simrad - $160 michele.vivas Classifieds Archive 3 13-10-2015 07:58
Hi Gain WIFI for GoFree? simonpickard Marine Electronics 6 10-08-2014 07:31
Adding High Power wifi to goFree Router simonpickard Marine Electronics 6 11-05-2014 16:54

Advertise Here


All times are GMT -7. The time now is 03:24.


Google+
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Social Knowledge Networks
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.

ShowCase vBulletin Plugins by Drive Thru Online, Inc.