One of the lesser known facts about our 4GXtream, is that it has a built-in GPS receiver and is supplied with a passive GPS antenna. This is primarily for position logging or for enabling a geo-fence alarm function. However, this GPS data can also be transmitted out on the NMEA 2000 network.
Assuming that the 4GXtream GPS antenna is connected, it is getting a good position fix and the NMEA 2000 cable is connected to a fully powered up and operational NMEA 2000 network, the notes below will configure the 4GXtream to become an NMEA 2000 GPS position source.
From a device that is wirelessly connected to the 4GXtream, open a browser and bring up the web interface at http://192.168.1.1, and then login to the 4GXtream web interface. If the 4GXtream is in BASIC mode, click on the word BASIC and you will be asked if you want to go in to ADVANCED mode, confirm that you do. Now go to SERVICES>GPS>GENERAL and make sure the GPS is enabled…
Now go to the SERVICES>GPS>MAP and make sure that your current position is being shown correctly on the map…
Now we need to send the GPS data to the USB port which is connected to the 4GXtream’s NMEA 2000 gateway. This is done by creating an internal “loopback” TCP connection and then sending the output to the USB port as a Serial data stream.
First go to SERVICES>GPS>NMEA and configure the NMEA Forwarding settings as shown…
Scroll further down and in the NMEA Sentences Settings, turn on the GPGGA and GPRMC sentences with an interval of 1sec…
Click SAVE & APPLY and then move on to the SERVICES>USB TOOLS>USB TO SERIAL settings and set them as follows, noting that the ID has already been automatically set and will be different to the value below (DO NOT CHANGE IT)…
Click the SAVE & APPLY button and now your GPS data will be sent to the NMEA 2000 gateway and on to the NMEA 2000 network. If you have other GPS Position sources on the NMEA 2000 network you will need to make sure that you select the 4GXtream as the preferred position source when you wish to use it – it will appear on the NMEA 2000 as a Digital Yacht N2Net NMEA2000 Serial Gateway.