Vesper AIS Watchmate app

[Knotical]

Hi all,

I have a Vesper XB-8000 unit which has been working fine.

For the past few weeks, I have noticed that the Watchmate app does not connect to the unit, it's wifi is on & connected and AIS targets show up on my RM MFD and Aquamap app on iPhone. It is also running the latest firmware.

Does anyone have any suggestions to get it to work? It is not a huge inconvenience as the unit works and I can use the anchor alarm on Aquamap but it bothers me since it was working fine before and now it's not.

Thanks.

[CaptTom]

I don't know if the iOS app is the same way, but the Android app has the annoying habit of trying to use the cellular internet connection if the local WiFi connection doesn't have internet access (which of course it wouldn't if it's just the XB-8000.) This isn't unique to the Watchmate app, but I don't know if that's stupidity on the part of the app developers, or something Android forces.

Anyway, I've found that I have to turn off cellular data if I want to use the Watchmate app anywhere I've got cellular coverage.

[LifesBetterWhenYoureBeating]

Originally Posted by CaptTom

I don't know if the iOS app is the same way, but the Android app has the annoying habit of trying to use the cellular internet connection if the local WiFi connection doesn't have internet access (which of course it wouldn't if it's just the XB-8000.) This isn't unique to the Watchmate app, but I don't know if that's stupidity on the part of the app developers, or something Android forces.

Anyway, I've found that I have to turn off cellular data if I want to use the Watchmate app anywhere I've got cellular coverage.

AFAIK Android apps can't choose whether to use wifi or cellular data, it's imposed by the OS. Also, every android phone manufacturer does things differently. My Samsung stops using cellular data as soon as it connects to a wifi, even if that wifi offers no internet access, so when I'm connected to my Vesper wifi I have no internet access

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[Knotical]

Appreciate the responses but it doesn't make sense that cellular has to be turned off to connect to wifi as the app was working before without turning off cellular.

I tried disconnecting and reconnecting power to the unit, maybe I will see if it works by deleting and reinstalling the app.

[Flatswing]

Originally Posted by Knotical

Hi all,

I have a Vesper XB-8000 unit which has been working fine.

For the past few weeks, I have noticed that the Watchmate app does not connect to the unit, it's wifi is on & connected and AIS targets show up on my RM MFD and Aquamap app on iPhone. It is also running the latest firmware.

Does anyone have any suggestions to get it to work? It is not a huge inconvenience as the unit works and I can use the anchor alarm on Aquamap but it bothers me since it was working fine before and now it's not.

Thanks.

We find this happens from time to time. Are you using its native WiFi or a boat router? If the latter, a fixed IP address for the router helps.
You can check the WIFi settings by plugging a laptop into the 8000XB. Most often, we have to power cycle the 8000XB, and turn device Wi-Fi on & off, then they may deign to reconnect. The anchor breadcrumb data is stored on the 8000XB so power cycling the phone or tablet doesn’t lose your anchor data, but power cycling the 8000XB wipes the data.

[Ziggy]

Originally Posted by Knotical

Appreciate the responses but it doesn't make sense that cellular has to be turned off to connect to wifi as the app was working before without turning off cellular.

I tried disconnecting and reconnecting power to the unit, maybe I will see if it works by deleting and reinstalling the app.

At least on the iPhone, you can control each app's permissions to use cellular data individually. Go to settings>cellular and scroll down to watchmate.