BHPian Jeroen recently shared this with other enthusiasts: I’m chuffed to bits; I’ve found the root cause of the problem I was experiencing with my iPad/iPhone converter. See previous post, yesterday was a bit of a breakthrough. After all this troubleshooting shooting, I finally managed to get a better understanding of what was causing the problem. My findings suggested Sirion had something hardwired into the Instrument Master Switch circuit. As soon as that Master switch was thrown, which is needed to power all the instruments, the WiFi signal on both my converter devices disappeared. I went back to Sirion first thing this morning. I wanted to figure out which device was creating this problem. Now, I you recall I had earlier done several tests where I powered down everything, including actually pulling power cables and fuses. Even so, when all was said and done, my first suspect was the reverse view camera. For no other reason that thing uses a wireless connection, not being a WiFi signal, but it does operate in the 2.4Ghz. These convertors all use a WiFi signal in the 2.4Ghz band as well. So I created the same little test environment as yesterday. I simply power one of the converter with a 12VDC/220VAC transformer. This is not about the data going across the WiFi, I just need to be able to observe whether the WiFi signal from the device is present. Sure enough, when I powered up the transformer and thus the WiFi device with the master switch in the off position, I had a WiFi signal. When I put the master switch to the ON position, I lost the WiFi Signal. Next I pulled the power cable connector to the reverse camera, like so: Sure enough, with no power to the camera, the WiFi signal was back on. I repeated it a couple of times. And sure enough, a very consistent correlation between applying power to the camera and losing the WiFi Signal from the converter!! I checked the notes I had from the previous owner, Ad. It appears the camera is fused separately and in a different circuit from the display unit. I double checked, but the display unit was not causing any interference. Just the camera. The camera is wired, with a fuse, directly behind the Master Switch of the Instrumentation. The display on the steering stand is wired into the same circuit switch as the Raymarine Axiom Plotter. So you need to throw the Master switch and the circuit switch. It just confirms all my previous observations and measurement results. Very happy with it all. I decided to test out my new devices thoroughly and took Sirion for yet another bunker run to Drimmelen. Here you see my iPad with the Waterkaarten (Waterway chart) App. And now also position, speed and AIS information from the NMEA/Raymarine network. The same overview but on the Raymarine Axiom. Very happy with all of this. I have been working on this problem ever since the beginning of the new year. I haven’t kept track of the amount of time, but I must have spent at least some 10-12 hours, if not more, doing all kinds of test and trials. So far, I have only used one of the two Convertors. They each need a different configuration on the App. Next week I will try out the other one. I know it works, I did a quick trial. I still need to figure out a few more details and settings. I have also noticed that using this Wi-Fi setup is a huge drain on the iPad battery. And for some reason, worse when floating about, or tied up to a dock. It was a decent day, but a lot of wind and waves on the river Merwede. Very choppy! Siron took on almost 230 litres of bunkers! So 2/3rd empty. Almost back home. At the Merwede Lock. Strong wind from port/behind. I just use one stern line. No need for anything else. I am just waiting for the lock to be readied. This one line, with the wind, will keep Sirion safely tucked against the jetty. Next Monday, my grandson Ben is coming for a little sail with his parents. More fine tuning of the two convertors will probably take place some time next week. Jeroen Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.
