Yacht Devices NMEA2000 display

[Slowboat35]

I've got one of these in my SeatalkNG system so I can display instrumentation on a tablet - speed, heading, depth, wind etc.
The instruction maual shows a link to doenload this facility at https://www.yachtd.com/products/web gauges.html but it doesn't work. I can't find the Web Gauges app/software anywhere which rather defeats the point of having the darn thing. Anyone able to find a workable link, or know a suitable app to display this info? I gather apps like Open CPN can show gauges but I'm unable to make it do anything at all as it seems to require programming skills,
Any ideas?

 

[Buck Turgidson]

I've got one of these in my SeatalkNG system so I can display instrumentation on a tablet - speed, heading, depth, wind etc.
The instruction maual shows a link to doenload this facility at https://www.yachtd.com/products/web gauges.html but it doesn't work. I can't find the Web Gauges app/software anywhere which rather defeats the point of having the darn thing. Anyone able to find a workable link, or know a suitable app to display this info? I gather apps like Open CPN can show gauges but I'm unable to make it do anything at all as it seems to require programming skills,
Any ideas?

It's not software you download. It's a web address for the device.
If it's connected and on you open your web browser and go to the address :
http://192.168.4.1
This opens the admin page in your browser.

Once connected you can display the data in any app you prefer. I use the Imray apps so I overlay AIS on Imray Navigator and could but rarely do look at instrument data on Imray Instruments. However you can see all the data on the inbuilt instrument web pages.

It's a great bit of kit.
Mine is N2K but the SeatalkNG version is exactly the same.

EDIT: in case you haven't found the manual this is the link and everything is explained in here: https://www.yachtd.com/downloads/ydwg02.pdf

 

[Slowboat35]

If only I could understand what on earth all that means.
Your 192.168 link gives exactly the same "can't open page" message as my link did...
The link I quoted is provided in the manual and described as a means to access 4 pages of instruments, complete with a picture of what they look like! - Well if not via that link then how? And why abnother app? Where does it say that? And why would they publish that link if it simply doesn't work?
Clearly as an airline pilot I'm mentally defective but the "logic" of this business entirely escapes me. Can someone please explain it in everyday words understandable to an utter technical dullard?

 

[Buck Turgidson]

If only I could understand what on earth all that means.
Your 192.168 link gives exactly the same "can't open page" message as my link did...
What's another app got to do with it? The link I quoted is provided in the manual and described as a means to access 4 pages of instruments - Well if not via that link then how?
Sorry, I fly airliners. Clearly I'm intellectually defective as I'm utterly baffled by this impenetrable contradictory nonense.
Please be patient with an idiot.
It would seem a simple ask to get instruments on a tablet by wifi...but clearly that's far from the case.

Take it easy mate.
1) Take a picture of the label on your unit, it has the wifi name and password on it.
2) plug the unit into your network and check the LED is flashing.
3) on your laptop or iPad or phone, go to wifi settings and join the device's wifi network using the information in 1 above.
4) When on the device network open your browser and go to the address in my post.
5) report back here for more hints and tips.

 

[Slowboat35]

OK, thanks - but what does it download/access? A display of instruments? An app?

 

[Pye_End]

This page gives some indications: NMEA to WiFi: NMEA 2000 Wi-Fi Gateway

There are 4 pages which can be customised, and the data can also be used by other apps/programs.

 

[Buck Turgidson]

OK, thanks - but what does it download/access? A display of instruments? An app?

 

[Slowboat35]

Thanks, that's in the instructions, but I post #2 said it didn't download anything which is why I was confused!

 

[Buck Turgidson]

It doesn't download anything, you are essentially looking at a web page. But that doesn't matter so long as you have it working.

 

[Slowboat35]

If you're looking at a web page how does it work when you're out of wifi coverage, as you are much of the time on a boat?

 

[Buck Turgidson]

If you're looking at a web page how does it work when you're out of wifi coverage, as you are much of the time on a boat?

Oh boy! I'm not a web developer but let me try to explain in basic terms, I'm sure there are many experts on this site who could explain it more accurately.
A web page is nothing more than a list of instructions which your browser uses to build a visual image with various elements like text etc.. Your browser receives those instructions from an address like the one in the posts above. If you are connected to the World Wide Web that address could point to any server hosted anywhere in the world but in this case when you join the wifi network made by your little dongle your phone or computer receives the instructions directly from the device. It's a local network and the device is a little server with the instructions to build the pages you see with instruments and all the other pages hosted inside the device.

You can in fact use the device to connect to another network that is connected to the WWW when in range but lets not get into that.

p.s. is this a wind up?

 

[Pye_End]

If you're looking at a web page how does it work when you're out of wifi coverage, as you are much of the time on a boat?

You aren't connected to the internet - you are connected to the device - assuming that is the nature of the question.

That is why your device's wifi must be attached to the device for it to work as BT says in post 4.

Hopefully it is clearer once you are up and running.

 

[Slowboat35]

Well, thanks for the explanations. Some people are internet geeks, some are not and I for one have never experienced obtaining something like this from a 'dongle' rather than an app or link over the internet. A "web address" is found on the internet as far as I (and most other people I know) are concerned. I don't think it would occur to any non computer expert that anyhing else could be the case.
Everything I use on my computer, phone ot tablet is a programme or app and has to be downloaded from somewhere, that somewhere - post CDs and such - being the internet/web whatever you like to call it as recognised by by the prefix http:// etc - but then I'm told it's not being downloaded at all...so how does it get to me if it's not downloaded? No wonder I was confused. "This code connects with your dongle, it has the stuff you need onboard" would convey the message without confusing the matter...but technical advice on computer matters invariably takes this form - experts employing expert's terminology to people who don't understand it because they're not experts and then getting frustrated when they're not understood. It's a bit like Englishmen shouting in English at foreigners because they don't understand English...
But patronising and belittling the ignorance and stupidity non-geeks though...
Anyhoo, thickhead here's got the idea now so it should all be OK.
Remind me not to ask how to make Open CPN actually work...!

 

[Buck Turgidson]

Well, thanks for the explanations. Some people are internet geeks, some are not and I for one have never experienced obtaining something like this from a 'dongle' rather than an app or link over the internet.
Everything I use on my computer, phone ot tablet is a programme or app and has to be downloaded from somewhere, that somewhere being the internet as recognised by by the prefix http:// etc but then I'm told it's not being downloaded at all...no wonder I was confused. "This code connects with your dogle, it has the stuff you need onboard" would have done the trick...
It's a pity some can't resist the temptation to spread their superior knowlege without patronising and belittling the ignorance of stupid non-geeks though...

Well I'm sorry if you found my response patronising and belittling. That was not my intention. Hope you get it up and running.