HLK-04 serial -> wifi

[hhmcsv]

Hi,
As an experiment, I am trying to make OpenCPN to connect to the HLK-04 serial to wifi module (http://www.hlktech.com/uploadfile/20...8402981701.pdf) This module is supposed to have the possibility to connect to the address 192.168.11.245, port 8080. But OpenCpn will not connect to this address, the red dot in the top right corner stays red
The only server I have been able to connect to from OpenCPN is a NMEA-server provided by the Seapilot firm in Stockholm Sweden. Address 176.34.124.10, port 9090.
Any clues to the cause of my problems?

[nohal]

hhmcsv...
Where did you get that IP address and port from? The document you linked does not mention anything like that.
Port 8080 is widely used by webservers, are you sure about it?

You unfortunately provide too little info to come with anything useful.

Before trying to connect OpenCPN to the module using total trial and error approach, ping, nmap, telnet, netcat and maybe even wireshark are your best friends to figure out what you have to deal with.

Pavel

[hhmcsv]

Hi Pavel
Thank you for your answer. The address I stated is coming from the setup function of the HLK-04 module. A picture of these settings should be here:

https://onedrive.live.com/redir?resi...nt=file%2c.pdf

[nohal]

OK, here's what to try:
Open the command prompt (Start menu, Run..., cmd.exe, Enter) and do

ping 192.168.11.245

If it will respond, try

telnet 192.168.11.245 8080

You should see the NMEA messages. If either of the steps fail, try to describe the topology of the network a bit - I'm a bit surprised that the web admin interface is running in a totally different subnet (192.168.16.255).
While describing your network, perhaps also post the complete output of

route print

and

ipconfig /all

Pavel

[hhmcsv]

Hi Pavel,
I am very thankful for the above suggestions, which hopingly will lead to a solution. Well, as I am sitting here in my house, I do not have any signals connected to the serial port of the HLK-04 module. In the boat however, the NMEA signals (GPS and AIS) are coming from my RO-4800 VHF at 38400 baud. This has worked well connected directly to a COM1-port which I have the laptop sitting in at the navigation table. However, it would be practical to avoid this cabled solution and instead use Wifi.

So here, I simply connect the PC to the wireless network provided by the HLK-04 module.

However, I have done the first steps of your suggestions, and the results can be found using this link:


https://onedrive.live.com/redir?resi...=folder%2c.pdf

Thanks again for the detailed help
Hans-Henrik

[hhmcsv]

Hi again,
So far the results are, that I can ping the address 192.168.16.254 but not 192.168.11.245. But OpenCPN will not connect to either. I have further tried again to change some of the parameters on the setup program at http://192.168.16.254/Serial2Net.asp, but to no avail.
Basicly, my problem may also be that I do not have a full understanding of what all the different settings mean to the problem at hand
I have also uploaded the manual for the HLK-RM04 module to OneDrive.

Hans-Henrik

[nohal]

HH...
OK. So your network is 192.168.16.255 and your machine gets the address in that range automatically from DHCP. An obvious question: Why do you try to place the NMEA server on 192.168.11.245 and not 192.168.16.245?

Pavel

[hhmcsv]

Hi Pavel,
I used that address because that is the default value for the module, and in "ser ver" mode that cannot be changed. But by shifting to "client"-mode I can change it to the value you stated.

But now the ping is just saying "client is unreachable" ?????

Hans-Henrik

[hhmcsv]

After a long time, where I frequently have tried "everything" I would like to ask whether anybody has made this or similar systems work with Opencpn!

[muttnik]

From looking at the UI images I'll take a guess (I stress this is a guess) that:
* The device can be set to "server" or "client" mode.
* The former is (a) what you've selected and (b) what you want in order to allow another device to connect to it and receive the serial data
* The latter would be used to connect to a remote server and bridge that to serial
* In "server" mode (as selected) the "remote address" is actually greyed out. So 192.168.11.245 is a red herring here.
* The address you actually want to connect to is that of the serial-wifi device. If this is working as a hotspot/router (rather than a station on an existing network) and is what your laptop is connecting to, then the address you want is 192.168.16.254.

So assuming the port is 8080 (it does say "local/remote" in the UI) which as nohal points out is a bit suspicious as that's usually where people run web servers when they don't have access to privileged ports....try:
telnet 192.168.16.254 8080
If it connects and you see NMEA-format data then happy days: if there's a problem with OCPN we next need to look at your data connection settings.
If it connects and there's no data then either there's an issue with data going into the device, OR perhaps the device is expecting you to connect with some protocol layered on top of tcp (websockets? http?). If either of the latter, then start searching for a program which runs on windows to bridge a connection of that type to pure tcp.
If it doesn't connect...well..that was my best suggestion :-/

[hhmcsv]

@ MUTTNIK: Thanks for your input, but unfortunately I have not been able to change the miserable state of affairs.

Just to sum up what I did last year to resolve the issue. After trying "everything" I concluded that the HLK-RM04 module could be faulty. So I ordered a new one, same result. So apart from the unlikely event that I now posess two faulty units, the problem must be elsewhere.

OpenCPN does connect fine to this server (when on the internet):176.34.124.10, port 9090 - this is a virtual boat sailing 30 knots i the Baltic east of Stockholm

But now, as the boat is on land in my garden, I can sit in the warmth of the house with the PC and communicate with the systems in the boat using the wireless module.
But no joy, no connection whatsoever
Another approach would be to buy a unit from vYacht.net, which claims to be able to do what I need. But - alas - at a rather high price

[ploubaz22]

hello
I have the same problem to connect routeur HLK RM04
Impossible to receive any dat nmea in open cpn
Perhaps you have solved this problem

[hhmcsv]

No, I never solved it. Instead, I bought a vYacht-router (vyacht wireless boat networks - open source marine hard and software.), but initially that would not connect to OpenCpn either. But after intense communications with vYacht, we found out that the router I had received was not able to receive signals at 38400 baud, as a low-pass filter in the input circuit was tuned to 4800, 9600 baud. But then exchanged the router for a modified version and that has been working beautifully ever since.
So I suspect, that the problem with the HLK-04 -router could be the same, but I have not attempted (and maybe I cannot) to modify it.

So the end conclusion is that I am up and running with wifi connection, albeit at a somewhat higher price.........

[ploubaz22]

Hello
This day a have solved the problem
The good configuration was
NETMODE WIFI AP SERIAL
Adresse IP 192.168.11.254
Mode serveur
Protocole TCP
Adress IP fixe PC 192.168.11.1

Test ok OPEN CPN version PC
For tablett it was very simply i have only put on config connexion this adress ip 192.168.11.254 pot 8080
I receive on the open cpn tablette data NMEA and Data AIS the speed was 34800 BD

This routeur is very good for low price only 12€ owith port on aliexpress