Volvo Penta easy connect

I had this of a fashion with Mereton boxes that I needed to get programmed.

The default engine code is O

The other engine is 1

In my case I sent them away to get it changed to 1 and it all worked.

I assume Volvo have implemented it only for their own software and not other plotters.
 
confused!

you guys are buying two of these kits? one per engine?
as J says, typically port engine is 0 and stbrd engine is 1.
now if both kit report as engine 0 you're buggered, but should be dead easy for them to correct it, curious.
would be also quite easy to do a converter box that goes on the stbrd engine and picks up the N2K signal and translates it to engine id1 from id0...

V.
 
vas said:
confused!

you guys are buying two of these kits? one per engine?
as J says, typically port engine is 0 and stbrd engine is 1.
now if both kit report as engine 0 you're buggered, but should be dead easy for them to correct it, curious.
would be also quite easy to do a converter box that goes on the stbrd engine and picks up the N2K signal and translates it to engine id1 from id0...

V.
Click to expand...

Hi Vas....no just one box plugged into the EVC cable.

On the Volvo app it shows both engines but the n2k output doesn’t. The info must be in the Volvo connect box but they have cocked up with n2k output.

My original post was for guido999.......but I forgot to tell him :) That made things super confusing!
 
FARSCO said:
Hi Vas....no just one box plugged into the EVC cable.

On the Volvo app it shows both engines but the n2k output doesn’t. The info must be in the Volvo connect box but they have cocked up with n2k output.

My original post was for guido999.......but I forgot to tell him :) That made things super confusing!
Click to expand...

OK, got it now...

worth a shot trying to configure the MFD for 3 (or 4!) engines and see if you do get that other engine data on engine 3 most likely (id2) or 4 (highly unlikely) anyway it's a two min job, might as well.
Very poor from Volvo anyway though and delaying a simple firmware update to August is way ott!

cheers

V.
 
Hi All,

This is an update on my situation with the Easy Connect kit in my boat. It is now fully sorted! As per the previous posts, the unit worked fine with the Easy Connect Application, but the starboard engine data wasn't feeding into my Simrad MFD via N2K. Curiously, I also noticed that the one part of the Easy Connect application that wasn't working was rudder position - this was only reporting the correct angle when turned to Port.

Well, the long and short of it was that Volvo supplied me with a new unit to replace the old one & the new unit is now reporting all data perfectly to the plotter and the Easy Connect iPhone app is also correctly showing all rudder angles (although I still haven't quite figured how Easy connect actually gets the rudder position in the first place as I have a really old simrad autopilot that I thought was only outputting NMEA0183 to the plotter)...so I'm now actually rather impressed with the Easy Connect kit.

Alindquist, if you (or anyone else reading this) are struggling to get anywhere with Volvo, then Andy, the Sales Director at Volspec Ltd in Essex will help. Andy and Volspec were absolutely brilliant in remotely helping me figure the problem out and in dealing with Volvo in Sweden to get the issue reported and get their hands on a new unit that fixed the N2K addressing problem (Many thanks Volspec!),

Many thanks all!

best
Guy.
 
Having the same issue with only the port D12D EVC motor showing on the displays. I can connect from an Android phone but the passcode box pops up so fast on my iPad then it disappears that I cant type in the passcode. Passcode box and keyboard disappear.

I tried updating the gateway software via my droid but that fails over the air, wifi and through the phone. States make sure I'm connected to the device but I can see all data during and after.

The IPad app seems much nicer than the Android app but the Andriod app let's my enter the passcode in the App so I can connect. The iPad doesnt have that option to enter a passcode in the app v4.2.0. One thing to note, I cannot see the gateway in the normal IPad bluetooth settings but I can see it from the app. Just can't connect.

The theory here is nice but its certainly flakey. I was hoping I could upgrade the gatewat to the latest software and it would fix it but thats a no go.

Last issue was very strange, anywhere I connect it in my nmea network as soon as I turn on the ignition my garmin nmea GPS drops and 7212s displays lose connection. Shut off the ignition and it comes back.. Scratching my head on the GPS 17 dropping no matter where I place the volvo gateway in the bus. Everything else seems to work. Key on, gps lost, key off gps shows back up.
 
Sounds strange! Can you confirm how you’ve connected the interface into the NMEA2000 network?

Which model of nav display have you got? I’ve just re-read your post & you’ve said ‘GPS 17’...I’ve looked online & the manual doesn’t mention supporting NMEA2000, only 0183, which may well explain the GPS dropping out!

Is the app up to date? Version 2.0.4 is the latest as of 1st April (or at least it is on my iPhone)

What are your engine serial numbers?
 
Last edited:
shielrl said:
Last issue was very strange, anywhere I connect it in my nmea network as soon as I turn on the ignition my garmin nmea GPS drops and 7212s displays lose connection. Shut off the ignition and it comes back.. Scratching my head on the GPS 17 dropping no matter where I place the volvo gateway in the bus. Everything else seems to work. Key on, gps lost, key off gps shows back up.
Click to expand...

hi and welcome to the forum,

I have to admit that I almost have no clue what you were talking about in the previous paragraphs, however I've played a lot with N2K. I'd check the wiring on the new device (Volvo thing?) and check with a multimeter if there's a V dive when you fire the thing up although I'd guess it's the two data cables getting something wrong and blocking messaging traffic on the bus.

good luck!

V
 
shielrl said:
Having the same issue with only the port D12D EVC motor showing on the displays. I can connect from an Android phone but the passcode box pops up so fast on my iPad then it disappears that I cant type in the passcode. Passcode box and keyboard disappear.
Click to expand...

Hi Shiel,

I actually had the same issue with the original Easy Connect that was sent to me. The issue with mine was that it was from earlier batch of the Easy Connects that had a compatibility problem with anything newer than iOS version 11, which didn't allow the phone to pair properly with the Easy Connect unit. Fortunately my daughter had an old iPad that was still running 10.x, which paired fine & then allowed me to upgrade the firmware (bluetooth to iPad; with the iPad using my iPhone's hotspot).

After doing that I was able to pair with the unit fine using the latest iOS version on my phone. Note though that even after the firmware upgrade, it was still not using the correct NMEA addressing, so only the port engine would show up. As per my post earlier in this thread, this second problem was *only* fixed by getting a brand new unit that Volspec tracked down for me.

Hope that helps!
best
g.
 
Sorry for the delayed response. I was on travel.
So I sent that Easy Connect gateway back and got another unit. Connected right up to the iPad Pro, updated the firmware on the gateway and see data on both motors from Easy Connect software. On both 7212's and both GMI 20s I still only see the port motor. Auto and manual config on the 7212s. Even if I hook the gateway up on the SB HCU I see port data. That tells me the EVC multilink is working, the app is working and data from both motors is making to the gateway and IPad. The issue appears to be the gateway not sending SB motor info on the NMEA bus.

As for the NMEA GPS issue, I have the same problem with the new gateway and GPS 17X (nmea 2k version, not HVS 0183) dropping out on all displays as soon as the gateway comes on. It returns as soon as I turn off the gateway.

2007 D12D-D MP's Chassis # 063061, Serial # 1012606994 EVC-C1/2
 
I'm in the US so I can't order from Volspec. I did explain the issue to Pacific Power and the route you took with Volspec. Did Volspec mention how or what they had to do or say to Volvo to get an updated unit?
 
shielrl said:
I'm in the US so I can't order from Volspec. I did explain the issue to Pacific Power and the route you took with Volspec. Did Volspec mention how or what they had to do or say to Volvo to get an updated unit?
Click to expand...

I’ll have a proper look at this tomorrow when I’m on the office. Are Pacific Power a Volvo Penta Dealer and if so, do you have an e-mail address for them, because I’ll send them the solution for the missing engine data from the interface to the nav gear.

The GPS dropping out is not something I’ve heard of though! How have you connected the interface to the plotter?
 
shielrl said:
I'm in the US so I can't order from Volspec. I did explain the issue to Pacific Power and the route you took with Volspec. Did Volspec mention how or what they had to do or say to Volvo to get an updated unit?
Click to expand...

I’ll ask Andy from Volspec what he had to do but he did mention that he had to get in contact with Volvo hq in Sweden to get them to recognise the issue and sort out a replacement. I’ll update when I hear back from him, best guy.
 
Andyroonot said:
I’ll have a proper look at this tomorrow when I’m on the office. Are Pacific Power a Volvo Penta Dealer and if so, do you have an e-mail address for them, because I’ll send them the solution for the missing engine data from the interface to the nav gear.

The GPS dropping out is not something I’ve heard of though! How have you connected the interface to the plotter?
Click to expand...

I'm working with Steve in the Volvo Dept.
At Pacific Power. He knows his stuff and has the same unit on his boat. Can I PM or send you his address directly? I dont want to post it openly without his approval.
 
Yep, send me his e-mail address by PM & I’ll get in touch direct to confirm how to sort the single engine data issue.

It would be useful if you could confirm how you have connected the NMEA2K output from the interface to the rest of your system, as I’ve never had the GPS drop out so can only assume something isn’t connected the right way?
 
Update from Volvo Easy Connect team..

Hello
Our support team sent the following answer:

If you have Gateway PN 23096384 then it belongs to GEN 1. PN 23489948 belongs to the Gateway Gen 2. There is a bug that is fixed in GEN2 which can explain what you are experiencing.

When it comes to HW so we ask the customer to turn to the dealer who has a service bulletin with all the information.

So they suggested that your case should be handled by dealer. Reason for that is they should have more knowledge about hardware equipment also, they can get support from Volvo Penta if they are unable to handle issue by themselves.

Sounds like I need a newer unit. Is that what your seeing Andy?
 
Yes, that’s correct. So you need to speak with your contact at Pacific Power-I shared the information I had and so he should be able to get the unit that works and supply it to you; that said, I haven’t actually had a response from him so don’t know for certain whether he got my mail?
 
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