Wi-Fi equipped MFDs not communicating with public hotspot using Class A Private Network Addressing
With the exception of the recently introduced CAM220IP, CAM210IP, and CAM200IP (these products support DHCP), all Raymarine products featuring Ethernet communications interfaces manufactured since 2005 have been designed to function in a Class A Private Network (IP address range 10.0.0.0 - 10.255.255.255). During production, Raymarine products are each programmed with a unique IP address within the IP address range listed above to create a plug and play installation experience for the installer. The IP addresses within all products except for the CAM220IP, CAM210IP, and CAM200IP, are not designed to be changed by their owners.
Communications products such a the Wirie Pro Access Point employ Class A Private Network IP addressing which will cause a conflict with the Raymarine products described above. Additionally, out of concerns of latency, bandwidth, and compatibility, Raymarine recommends that its Ethernet network not be combined with any other Ethernet network(s) installed onboard a vessel. This same conflict may arise in marinas and other public locations which have installed Wi-Fi using Class A Private Network IP addressing. A feature request has been submitted to consider support for connecting via Wi-Fi to third party networking products using Class A Private Network IP addressing within a future a/c/e/eS/gS-Series MFD software update as well as withing future product designs.
As workaround to this limitation, one may configure one's smartphone as a portable Wi-Fi hotspot and then command the MFD to connect to the smartphone's portable Wi-Fi hotspot to access the Internet for software updates, Theyr weather, etc.. To exercise this workaround, the smartphone's Wi-Fi will need to be configured OFF (this action will occur when the smartphone's portable Wi-Fi hotspot is configured ON). The smartphone's Internet access will be via wireless mobile telecommunications technology (ex. 3G, 4G). While this alternative means of checking for Raymarine product software updates, downloading Theyr weather GRIBs may be satisfactory with respect to downloading smaller files, you may want to consider other software update options (ex. download to computer and then copy software update files to a microSD memory card) for more very large data downloads such as MFD software update files.
Regarding conflicts with marina Wi-Fi utilizing Class A Private Network IP addressing, Raymarine occasionally receives complaints of such conflicts, but they are relatively few in number when compared with the total number customers owning a/c/e/eS/gS-Series MFDs. This is because overwhelming the overwhelming majority of public Wi-Fi hotspots utilize Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) rather than Class A Private Network IP addressing. Accordingly, the overwhelming majority of Raymarine's customers using the Wi-Fi features of their a/c/e/eS/gS-Series MFDs to check online for updates and for Theyr Weather downloads are not encountering public Wi-Fi hotspots using Class A Private Network IP addressing. Such incompatibility with public Wi-Fi hotspots utilizing Class A Private Network IP addressing is considered a limitation of the Wi-Fi communications features of Raymarine a/c/e/eS/gS-Series MFDs rather than a bug. That said, Raymarine has logged a feature request to address such conflicts with Wi-Fi hotspots using Class A Private Network IP addressed and is investigating options for elimination of such conflicts via a software update to the a/c/e/eS/gS-Series MFDs.
Please click here more information concerning product and feature suggestions.
CRAFAQ#
With the exception of the recently introduced CAM220IP, CAM210IP, and CAM200IP (these products support DHCP), all Raymarine products featuring Ethernet communications interfaces manufactured since 2005 have been designed to function in a Class A Private Network (IP address range 10.0.0.0 - 10.255.255.255). During production, Raymarine products are each programmed with a unique IP address within the IP address range listed above to create a plug and play installation experience for the installer. The IP addresses within all products except for the CAM220IP, CAM210IP, and CAM200IP, are not designed to be changed by their owners.
Communications products such a the Wirie Pro Access Point employ Class A Private Network IP addressing which will cause a conflict with the Raymarine products described above. Additionally, out of concerns of latency, bandwidth, and compatibility, Raymarine recommends that its Ethernet network not be combined with any other Ethernet network(s) installed onboard a vessel. This same conflict may arise in marinas and other public locations which have installed Wi-Fi using Class A Private Network IP addressing. A feature request has been submitted to consider support for connecting via Wi-Fi to third party networking products using Class A Private Network IP addressing within a future a/c/e/eS/gS-Series MFD software update as well as withing future product designs.
As workaround to this limitation, one may configure one's smartphone as a portable Wi-Fi hotspot and then command the MFD to connect to the smartphone's portable Wi-Fi hotspot to access the Internet for software updates, Theyr weather, etc.. To exercise this workaround, the smartphone's Wi-Fi will need to be configured OFF (this action will occur when the smartphone's portable Wi-Fi hotspot is configured ON). The smartphone's Internet access will be via wireless mobile telecommunications technology (ex. 3G, 4G). While this alternative means of checking for Raymarine product software updates, downloading Theyr weather GRIBs may be satisfactory with respect to downloading smaller files, you may want to consider other software update options (ex. download to computer and then copy software update files to a microSD memory card) for more very large data downloads such as MFD software update files.
Regarding conflicts with marina Wi-Fi utilizing Class A Private Network IP addressing, Raymarine occasionally receives complaints of such conflicts, but they are relatively few in number when compared with the total number customers owning a/c/e/eS/gS-Series MFDs. This is because overwhelming the overwhelming majority of public Wi-Fi hotspots utilize Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) rather than Class A Private Network IP addressing. Accordingly, the overwhelming majority of Raymarine's customers using the Wi-Fi features of their a/c/e/eS/gS-Series MFDs to check online for updates and for Theyr Weather downloads are not encountering public Wi-Fi hotspots using Class A Private Network IP addressing. Such incompatibility with public Wi-Fi hotspots utilizing Class A Private Network IP addressing is considered a limitation of the Wi-Fi communications features of Raymarine a/c/e/eS/gS-Series MFDs rather than a bug. That said, Raymarine has logged a feature request to address such conflicts with Wi-Fi hotspots using Class A Private Network IP addressed and is investigating options for elimination of such conflicts via a software update to the a/c/e/eS/gS-Series MFDs.
Please click here more information concerning product and feature suggestions.
CRAFAQ#