YachtDevices Router and Hotspot wifi at same time

[markxengineerin]

I have been using a YachtDevices NMEA 2000 Wi-Fi Router YDNR-02N to get AIS, wind speed, depth into OpenCPN running on my Macbook M1.

But in order to do this, I have to join the YachtDevices wifi network, so I lose connection to my iphone hotspot and therefore internet access.

In the YachtDevices user manual, there is mention of using the router as a Client rather than a Host, that sounds like it could allow both at once?
90% of these terms are things I'll need to look up, so would be great if someone can say "yes that's possible" or "don't waste your time, do this instead"

In this mode, the Router connects to an existing Wi-Fi network....
The Router must have a fixed IP address. This can be done in the wireless access point (network router) settings; you can assign a fixed IP address by the MAC address of the Router printed on the «Wi-Fi Client» page. In this case, you can leave the default «Use DHCP» setting in the IP address configuration.
Note that the Router has two different MAC addresses, one for the internal Access Point and one for connecting to other networks. You should use the MAC address from the «Wi-Fi Client» page.
Or you can choose «Static IP» address and enter an IP, subnet mask and network router address. In most cases, you can open the settings of the Wi-Fi network on a smartphone or PC, and copy the mask address and network router address and select a free IP address from this subnet. For example, if the router has the address 192.168.4.1 (see Figure 1 on the previous page) and a smartphone has the address 192.168.4.3, you can try 192.168.4.100. This is far enough from the address assigned to smartphone.

I

[markcouz]

Yes its possible.

I am NO specialist, so apologies in advance if it goes pear shaped but here goes...

Get a WiFi repeater and set it up so that it is using your iPhone as internet source, then connect the Mac to the repeater (not directly to the iPhone) and make sure that you are able to access the internet via the repeater.

Check the IP address of the repeater router (e.g. 192.168.1.1), you will need this later to set up a static IP address for the YDxx.

Next disconnect the Mac from the repeater and connect to the YDxx, and then login to the web server using your browser (probably 192.168.4.1).

In the menu on the left choose WiFi Client, then go to IP Address settings and set up a static IP. For example if your repeater IP is 192.168.1.1 then...

IP Address: 192.168.1.100
Network Mask: 255.255.255.0
Gateway: 192.168.1.1

Click SAVE

Then go to WiFi Association, find your repeater signal and select it, type in the WiFi password, then click connect.

At this point you will be kicked out of the web server because the YDxx WiFi is no longer available.

Connect to repeater WiFi and using your browser agan login to the YDxx web server using the new static IP address that you set up. If you are able to login then all is good and OpenCPN should receive UDP data as before.

If not then reset the YDxx using the magic button and ask someone smarter than me (I cant afford a Mac or an iPhone).

Good luck!

[s/v Jedi]

Where Mark writes “repeater” I recommend you get a GL.iNet slate router instead. You can tether your iPhone to it as uplink or any other system, while it stays the same for the rest of the network.

All your devices as well as the Yacht Devices gateway connect as clients to the slate router.

https://www.amazon.com/GL-iNet-GL-A1.../dp/B0B4ZSR2PX

[markxengineerin]

Thanks, it makes sense and I'll give it a try when the router shows up. I was thrown off by thinking maybe I might get the Yacht Devices router to do something similar and not need more hardware.
It looks like this device runs off of USB-C and uses basically no power, so that's great. Will this also bypass Visible Mobile's "1 device tethered at a time" limit? That would be a bonus, to watch TV and use the laptop at the same time

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SS_OVZtVa4E

[markxengineerin]

I will also use this thread to solicit ideas for extending the Wifi range of a gopro camera.

https://www.cruisersforum.com/forums...ct-260303.html

The this project's one remaining problem is that I have to go on deck and hold the ipad at the mast to get it to connect and turn the camera on or off. On/off is the only function that the connection is needed for, so it's not that inconvenient, but I wonder if this router might somehow help. I have tried a cheap wifi booster and it made no difference because I'm trying to avoid running any more wires through the deck/mast. It might help if I had it outside.

[s/v Jedi]

Originally Posted by markxengineerin

I will also use this thread to solicit ideas for extending the Wifi range of a gopro camera.

https://www.cruisersforum.com/forums...ct-260303.html

The this project's one remaining problem is that I have to go on deck and hold the ipad at the mast to get it to connect and turn the camera on or off. On/off is the only function that the connection is needed for, so it's not that inconvenient, but I wonder if this router might somehow help. I have tried a cheap wifi booster and it made no difference because I'm trying to avoid running any more wires through the deck/mast. It might help if I had it outside.

No experience with gopro…. but: https://gopro.com/en/nl/shop/mounts-...TE-002-EU.html

[Chotu]

Originally Posted by s/v Jedi

Where Mark writes “repeater” I recommend you get a GL.iNet slate router instead. You can tether your iPhone to it as uplink or any other system, while it stays the same for the rest of the network.

All your devices as well as the Yacht Devices gateway connect as clients to the slate router.

https://www.amazon.com/GL-iNet-GL-A1.../dp/B0B4ZSR2PX

USB Question:

Can I use a splitter with that USB data source port, hooking up the mobile hotspot as internet source and USB drive as a network storage device?

Is that even valid? I’m not sure how the hardware addressing works on a USB port.

[s/v Jedi]

Originally Posted by Chotu

USB Question:

Can I use a splitter with that USB data source port, hooking up the mobile hotspot as internet source and USB drive as a network storage device?

Is that even valid? I’m not sure how the hardware addressing works on a USB port.

I have no idea. I recommend to use a MacMini M1 as a NAS, entertainment system, OCPN server etc. and let the router do it’s routing.

I also tested a Raspberry Pi for the same tasks and it will do it but barely. The MacMini M1 is so power efficient, you can just leave it on 24/7.

The GL.iNet slate router is pretty good. You can also connect to public wifi as a client or of course Ethernet and use that with the whole network, but the USB tethering is really neat, especially when you have unlimited data on a phone

[Chotu]

Originally Posted by s/v Jedi

I have no idea. I recommend to use a MacMini M1 as a NAS, entertainment system, OCPN server etc. and let the router do it’s routing.

I also tested a Raspberry Pi for the same tasks and it will do it but barely. The MacMini M1 is so power efficient, you can just leave it on 24/7.

The GL.iNet slate router is pretty good. You can also connect to public wifi as a client or of course Ethernet and use that with the whole network, but the USB tethering is really neat, especially when you have unlimited data on a phone

Damn! I was really counting on that USB knowledge for a minute. I also thought that was a really cool feature with the device you linked to. I like the fact that you could plug a USB drive into it and set up NAS. That’s so simple.

Basically I do want to put together a NAS system for serving video and audio. Still trying not to get starlink.

But at the same time all of my data goes through my phone. The unlimited plan.

Really was hoping both could function at the same time. Because I don’t need another computer. Just NAS and a WIFI router.

[s/v Jedi]

Originally Posted by Chotu

Damn! I was really counting on that USB knowledge for a minute. I also thought that was a really cool feature with the device you linked to. I like the fact that you could plug a USB drive into it and set up NAS. That’s so simple.

Basically I do want to put together a NAS system for serving video and audio. Still trying not to get starlink.

But at the same time all of my data goes through my phone. The unlimited plan.

Really was hoping both could function at the same time. Because I don’t need another computer. Just NAS and a WIFI router.

Then try to find a raspberry pi, connect a USB drive or ssd to it and configure as NAS. It works perfectly, I have been running this for 2 years non stop without a hickup.

The problem is that it is hard to find raspberry pi for sale.

[markxengineerin]

I just bought a Raspberry Pi 4 8GB on ebay for $65, not too bad. I think the prices are coming down because they say inventory will recover in the 2nd half of 2023.

Re the gopro remote, I have tried them all, go pro genuine's + aftermarkets and they are all flaky (as are GoPro's in general). The ipad + app has actually been the best. Effective range was similar, slightly better with the remotes, but not good enough to be 100%. I found a trick on youtube that allows "wireless" to work underwater by using a coax cable stripped at each end as a long "pipe" of sorts for a wireless signal, may try that next.

[markxengineerin]

@Jedi, this GliNet device must be the most frustrating product I have ever purchased. It resets itself randomly to factory settings. It bricks itself during attempted updates. To un-brick it requires an ethernet port, which is inconvenient. The software is full of bugs, things can only be done in very specific orders or it freezes. Do you use this device with the factory software? I have not been able to get it working, wondering if it's me, but I'm just following the instructions posted above, which should be easy!

Edit, the Amazon 1 star reviews provide the same exact same feedback- so I think it's a defective product with no QA.

Suggestions for something else? I've already been through two of them, good thing for Amazon's generous return policy.

[s/v Jedi]

Originally Posted by markxengineerin

@Jedi, this GliNet device must be the most frustrating product I have ever purchased. It resets itself randomly to factory settings. It bricks itself during attempted updates. To un-brick it requires an ethernet port, which is inconvenient. The software is full of bugs, things can only be done in very specific orders or it freezes. Do you use this device with the factory software? I have not been able to get it working, wondering if it's me, but I'm just following the instructions posted above, which should be easy!

Edit, the Amazon 1 star reviews provide the same exact same feedback- so I think it's a defective product with no QA.

Suggestions for something else? I've already been through two of them, good thing for Amazon's generous return policy.

Which onedo you have? I have a Slate and a Mango and both work perfectly.

[markxengineerin]

GL-A1300 (Slate Plus)

I am continuing to experiment with it because I think I'm close, following markcouz's instructions. I get to the final step

Connect to repeater WiFi and using your browser agan login to the YDxx web server using the new static IP address that you set up.

But I can't connect to the YD web server. Just to make sure, I'm doing this by trying to get to 192.168.1.100, which is the new Static IP address of the YD router? Here is how I configured it:


and the Slate Plus

[markxengineerin]

status

Selected mode