TimeZero/IBoat, Furuno, Vesper Network Install

[MikeHoncho]

I wanted to replace my elderly wind indicator so after doing some research I decided on the following objectives; 1-new wind indicator 2- having the data show up on my I-Pad/TimeZero I-Boat plotting app, 3- expandable for future additions, 4- class B ais
I already have a Furuno wireless radar that links to I-Boat that I am very happy with. Vesper makes the xb800 which is a class b with integrated wifi network. So I went with a Furuno analog wind sensor, Furuno analog to nmea 2000 converter, Nmea 2000 backbone which ties together the wind sensor, Furuno Fi70 display (needed to program the converter and wanted a stand alone display also) and the Vesper xb8000. I also installed the optional alarm and kill switch for the AIS along with the VHF antenna splitter so I could use the existing antenna.
Got it all hooked up and fired up. Using this article available through Milltech Marine, I programmed the AIS to use the Furuno Radar network then changed the settings in I-Boat to read the nmea 2000 data from the network. I have to give Milltech props on this, I would not have done any of this without the article. I then programmed the the converter to read the wind sensor using the Fi70 . I think this is a first but it all work on the first try! I-Boat now overlays radar and AIS information as well as shows all wind data while I also see it on the Fi70 display I mounted on my cabin bulkhead. Total price for everything was $2300 with about 10 hours for installation to include 4 times up the mast. I have mast steps so no biggy. The longest part of the project was the research and running the cable through the mast step and making it all look not like a hack job. I'll attach pictures when I get back down to the boat tomorrow.

 

[MikeHoncho]

Used it for a extended time over the past 3days. I have ran into a issue when I turn my radar/WiFi network off it assignes the Vesper a different IP address on occasion which makes me go into the IBoat settings and change the IP. I’ve seen three different number options so far so I’ve been able to do it without hooking my laptop to the vesper to see it. I’m not sure how to fix this since I don’t get access to the radar WiFi settings that I know of.

 

[Davidasailor26]

Sounds like the radar isn’t saving the leases it gives out for future reuse. Are the changes just in the last byte (the digits after the last dot) or further than that? You might be able to configure the Vesper to use a static IP so it doesn’t rely on an assignment from the radar. That should work as long as the radar doesn’t try to assign the same address to some other device. Usually a server will only assign addresses in some part of a subnet, so you could safely give the Vesper an address in an unused part. The trick will be figuring out what the unused part is.

 

[jssailem]

Mike if you get frustrated trying to resolve the programing issue, reach out to Vesper. I have found them very responsive (even though it takes them a day to respond what with being on the other side of the date line). If they don nto solve the problem, you may just have to compromise by resetting the system and configure as a part of powering up.
When I board I find my iOS hardware automatically connects to Vesper. Perhaps you need to quit the auto connect to Vesper on your iPad.

 

[MikeHoncho]

Mike if you get frustrated trying to resolve the programing issue, reach out to Vesper. I have found them very responsive (even though it takes them a day to respond what with being on the other side of the date line). If they don nto solve the problem, you may just have to compromise by resetting the system and configure as a part of powering up.
When I board I find my iOS hardware automatically connects to Vesper. Perhaps you need to quit the auto connect to Vesper on your iPad.

the iPad is connecting with the radar which Vesper is connected to and I get radar overlay but the nmea data isn’t coming across and I find the IP for it to be different from the network the radar is assigning to it

 

[jssailem]

No nmea data, would suggest that the vesper is not connected to the radar network as that would be the source.

I think you explained you needed to connect the vesper and the iPad to the radar gateway to use the chart app.

 

[MikeHoncho]

I’ll have to confirm that the AIS data isn’t working when I have the issue. The Vesper is configured to not be the primary network and it uses the Radar network ( wireless ). When the system isn’t showing the data on my IPad I can go into the vesper program and see it is connected to the radar network I then go into my Timezero app settings in the Nmea configuration and can see that data isn’t transferring to it due to a different IP address that is showing in the vesper connection with the radar network. I don’t change anything within the Vesper settings but change the IP in the Timzero to match the IP address listed in Vesper and data starts flowing. That’s probably very confusing and I apologize. Given all of this I’m assuming this is a Timezero or Radar setting problem. When I get down there again I will take a look at the previous posts input on dedicated IP addresses. Appreciate your input.

 

[Davidasailor26]

If the radar network keeps giving unstable IP’s I wonder if you could switch it to just be a client and have the Vesper manage the network instead?

 

[MikeHoncho]

If the radar network keeps giving unstable IP’s I wonder if you could switch it to just be a client and have the Vesper manage the network instead?

Might be a option. The radars network doesn’t give any see’able access to its settings.

 

[jssailem]

From what I understand about your situation, the TimeZero App has to connect to the Radar wifi in order to overlay the radar data on the timezero chart display. That is why you are not using the Vesper wife connection to the laptop. You are connecting the Vesper to the Radar wifi which provides the NMEA data. Timezero app then reads the NMEA data from the Radar.

That is the way I drew out the flow chart from your first post. If the iPad is not displaying NMEA data then it is the Vesper Radar connection that is having a problem. Vesper is likely not using the correct ip address. to connect to the radar gateway.