DIGITAL YACHT NAVLINK2 Quick guide

NAVLINK2 WIRELESS
NMEA2000 SERVER
Version 2.00

1. Introduction
Congratulations on the purchase of your NavLink2 Wireless NMEA 2000 Server.
This product replaces our original NavLink product and features a new smart web
interface for configuration via a web browser on your mobile device.
It is recommended that your product is installed by a professional installer,
particularly when it comes to interfacing with other equipment.
Before installing and operating this unit, please consult the user manual
of the navigation equipment that you are connecting this unit to.
2. Before you start
You will need the following items and tools to complete the installation:
•The Wireless NMEA 2000 Server (supplied)
•Spare/suitable connection to the NMEA2000 network
•M3 or M4 screws or other appropriate fixings (not supplied).
To receive/display wireless data from the NavLink2 you will need:
•Suitable navigation software running on a PC, iPhone/iPad, Mac or other
wireless device.
•A fully working and powered NMEA 2000 network.
3. Installation
The NavLink2 is IP54 rated (water resistant) and should be installed below deck in
a dry location. When locating the unit you should consider:
•Routing of the NMEA 2000 cable to the network.
•Sufficient space around the unit for cable connections.
•Maintaining the compass safe distance of 0.5m.
•Best location for Wi-Fi reception i.e. not inside a metal enclosure


3.1 –Connecting to NMEA 2000 Network
•Connect the NavLink 2 cable, to a spare connector on the NMEA2000 network.
•NavLink2 takes its power (LEN=2) from the NMEA2000 network so no
additional connections are necessary.
•If you are creating a new NMEA2000 network, then you may wish to consider
Digital Yacht’s NMEA2000 Starter Kit, that provides all of the cables,
connectors and terminators required for a basic NMEA2000 network.
•If you are connecting NavLink2 to a non-standard NMEA2000 network, then a
suitable adaptor cable will need to be sourced from the relevant
manufacturer;
>SeaTalkNG (Raymarine P/No A06045)
>Simnet (Simrad P/No 24006199)
3.2 –Mounting
•Using suitable fixings, attach the NavLink2 unit to a flat surface.
•Unit may be installed in any orientation.

3.3 –Powering NavLink2
•Apply power to the NMEA 2000 network and the NavLink2 the LEDs should
start to illuminate or flash, as per Table 1…
Condition
STATUS
LED
(Green)
DATA IN
LED
(Yellow)
ERROR
LED
(Red)
DATA OUT
LED
(Yellow)
LINK
LED
(Green)
ON (Solid)
System
Error
TCP
Connection
Fast Blink
No Wi-Fi
connection
Data
Data
Error
Data
Slow Blink
Data
Network
Error
Data
UDP
Connection
OFF
Wireless
device
connected
No Data
From N2K
All OK
No Data
From App
No Power
Table 1
3.4 –Setting up the Wireless Network
•By default, NavLink2’creates a wireless Access Point (hotspot) on-board
your boat. The Name (SSID) of the Access Point will be “DY-WiFi-xxxx”
where xxxx is the unique four digit code of your device.
•To connect to the NavLink2 you will need to scan for wireless networks, find
and select it in the network list and then when prompted, enter the default
WPA2 password, which is “PASS-xxxx”, where xxxx is the same, unique four
digit code that is in the hotspot name.
•As soon as a wireless connections is established, the Status LED will stop
flashing and stay permanently ON, whilst a wireless device is connected.
3.5 –Accessing the Web Interface
•The NavLink2 has a built-in web interface that can be used to configure the
unit and display the data that it is sending to apps.
•Any device, connected to NavLink2, can access its web interface by typing
http://192.168.1.1 or http://dy-wifi.local in to its browser’s address bar.

Figure 1
•This should bring up the web page shown in Figure 1.
3.6 –Configuration
•From the above web page, you can change the wireless network name (SSID)
that NavLink2 creates and/or the wireless password for better security.
•In Access Point mode you can also select the wireless channel you wish to
use, in case another onboard wireless device is using the same channel
frequency which can reduce performance.
•If you wish to make NavLink2 join an existing wireless network on the boat,
rather than create its own, you can select Station mode. The screen will
change, as shown in Figure 2, and you must select a network to connect to
and enter its wireless password. As soon as the settings are updated,
NavLink2 will now always try and join this network and not create its own.
•If you would prefer to have multiple devices all receiving the NavLInk2 data,
then you can change the communication mode from TCP to UDP and then
up to 7 devices can all receive the data. TCP mode is the best mode for
secure, single device connections and must be used for driving an autopilot.

Figure 2
•The NMEA Mode setting sets what NMEA2000 to NMEA0183 conversions
the NavLink2 does –please refer to the table below for more information.
MODE Interface NMEA DATA Sentences
0 - Gateway Mode NMEA0183 GPS/Navigation/Instruments RMC, HDG, VHW, MWV, DPT, MTW, APB, RMB, VLW, XTE, ROT, RSA
1 - Gateway HS Mode NMEA0183 All Supported Sentences RMC, HDG, VHW, MWV, MTW, DPT, APB, RMB, VLW, RSA, ROT, VDO + VDM
2 - GPS Mode (1Hz) NMEA0183 GPS Only (1Hz) RMC, GSA, GSV, ZDA
3 - GPS HS Mode (10Hz) NMEA0183 GPS Only (10Hz) RMC, GSA, GSV, ZDA
4 - Wind Mode (5Hz) NMEA0183 Wind Only (5Hz) MWV
5 - AIS Mode NMEA0183 AIS + GPS Only VDO, VDM, RMC
6 - Heading Mode NMEA0183 Headin Only ( 10Hz) HDG
7 - Instrument Mode NMEA0183 GPS/Navigation/Instruments (1Hz) RMC, HDG, VHW, MWV, DPT, MTW, APB, RMB, VLW, XTE, ROT, RSA
8 - Depth Mode NMEA0183 Depth+Water Temp+GPS (1Hz) DPT, MTW, VHW, VLW, RMC
9 - For Future Use
10 - For Future Use
11 - For Future Use
12 - For Future Use
13 - For Future Use
14 - For Future Use
15 - RAW Mode N2Net RAW NMEA2000 data over se rial Not Appli cable

Figure 3
•To see exactly what data the NavLink2 is converting and sending to your
app, click the “View Data”button and the web page in Figure 3 will appear.
•Finally, on this page there are a “Choose File”and an “Upload Firmware”
button, to update the NavLink 2.
After changing any of the settings, click the “Update Settings” button to save and
apply your changes. If the changes affect the networking then the NavLink2 will
reboot and you will need to reconnect wirelessly to it.
If you make a mistake with a setting or forget a password, reset the NavLink2 to
factory defaults by pressing and holding the Reset button for 10 secs or more.
4. Normal Operation
The NavLink 2 is powered from the NMEA2000 network, so as soon as the network
is turned on, the NavLink 2 will boot up.
If it is in the default AP Mode, then within a few seconds you should see its
wireless network appear on your mobile device. If you have previously told your
device to automatically connect to this network, then it will associate with the
NavLink 2.

This association is indicated by the green Status LED, which flashes when first
turned on, staying permanently ON, all of the time that a wireless device is
connected to the NavLink 2 network.
If the NavLink 2 is in STA mode,and the wireless network that you configured it to
connect to is available, then NavLink 2 will associate with it and the green Status
LED will stop flashing and remain permanently ON, unless it loses wireless
connection with that network, at which point it will flash again.
Every time NMEA2000 data is received, the “DATA IN” LED will flash. On some
large networks, it is not unusual for the yellow LED to be constantly flickering. If
the navigation App sends out data the “DATA OUT”LED will flash.
In the event of wireless connection problems, press and hold the Reset button for
4-5 seconds which reboots the interface. In busy marinas with high levels of
wireless activity, reliable connection to the NavLink2 may be difficult, but once
underway (at sea) a strong and reliable connection will be achieved.
4.1 - Interfacing with Mobile Apps
The NavLink2 is compatible with any app that can receive wireless NMEA data and
we have created an online guide on how to connect to the most popular ones…
https://digitalyacht.net/configure-apps-software/
The IP address and port that the NavLink2 transmits data on are;
IP Address - 192.168.1.1
Port - 2000
By default the NavLink 2 is set to operate in TCP mode but you can select UDP
mode using the web interface. Most apps that support UDP connections do not
ask you to enter the IP address just the port number.
Please note that on both iOS and Android devices, it is best to always completely
close an app, as highlighted in this article.
Some apps, only support a limited number of NMEA sentences and do not like
receiving lots of data. Use the NMEA Mode selection in the web interface to
change the amount and type of data transmitted e.g. for the Navionics Boating
App we have found that Mode 5 “AIS and GPS only”is the best mode to use.