Connecting Cerbo to RayMarine network

DIY
,
1

My Cerbo is currently connected to my wifi network (ie internet) via hardwire. I’ve had very poor luck with wifi. I now want to connect it to my RayMarine network to display a lot of Cerbo info on my Axiom+ MFDs. Apparently I can use either NMEA2000, or Ethernet. Pro’s and Con’s but I would like to use the Ethernet method.

The problem is there is only 1 Ethernet connection on the Cerbo, so at first glance it either has to connect to the internet (as now) OR the RayMarine network. I am told that I can add a network switch (like Amazon.ca) and run Cat6 from my router to the switch, then from the switch to the Cerbo, and from the switch to the RayMarine network. And in that configuration Cerbo info will find its way to the RayMarine.

  1. is that true?
  2. if so, do I need an unmanaged switch or a managed one?
  3. other thoughts/comments/suggestions?

Thanks….Randy

2

Did you read the Victron manual?

It says that a switch doesn’t work but if the Axiom is connected to the internet via WiFi it will share the internet with the Cerbo over ethernet.

3

Thanks for the reply Matthias. Yes I did read the manual, more than once actually, but was still confused due to some somewhat contradictory information. The reason this is so important to me is that the wireless performance of the Cerbo is just terrible. I already have a BT dongle installed to compensate for the poor BT. I need it so I can reliably pick up some of my Ruuvi tags. But I cannot, no how no way, connect to my boat network via the Cerbo’s wifi. It just tries for a second or two and then the wifi indicator goes out. The password field does not even stay populated. Works perfectly with hard-wire connection. Just updated the Cerbo f/w to 3.54 and no change. I removed the BT dongle and still no change. I had already done the Cerbo antenna repositioning workaround from a few years ago, but it never worked reliably and I moved to wired connection. That worked fine for a couple years but now I want to integrate the Cerbo into the bridge network to be able to monitor things while underway.

The Axiom+ units do connect to my boat network via wifi, but this is not a viable solution overall because I need to access the Cerbo via VRM 24/7 from around the world. The Axiom+ network is only powered up while underway - a fraction of overall time.

I saw your note about changing assigned IP address range and may give that a try. To be clear, I am not trying to connect the Axiom to the boat network through the switch. I am only trying to connect the boat network to the Cerbo, and the Cerbo to the Axiom.