Anyone locally using a Neptune Apex controller?

mpoletti

mpoletti

You'll never walk alone
Premium Member
I recently bought my Neptune apex and I got the basics hooked up. Now I need help in getting it online (web access) and I really have no idea in regards to technical language.

We have our main router in the back room, lets call it 80 ft from the tank, so I have really no chance of directly hooking up the usb from the power bar to the airport extreme router.

option a, I find a usb extension cable that is long enough :)
option b, I use a second router to "daisy chain" possibly using my old Netgear RangeMax WPN824v2 router :idea:
option c, please help me get my new apex online :lol:

Thanks for any and all suggestions :)
 
Good to know I'm not the only one that buys neat stuff but can only figure out half of what it does :-)
 
so the apex has a usb port for communication? maybe I'm under-thinking this, but they make usb network adapters. just a thought, I'm no network admin :lol:

183471.jpg


edit: I'm rethinking my statement, I'm not sure this works. Sorry!
 
That's pretty gangster if you're a mac maniac. That devices looks like it does more of what I was trying to accomplish with the above post.

Meh, what's another $100? :thumbsup:
 
Hey Mark

If I understand you correctly, your Apex only supports a wired network connections or USB connections and you have neither close enough to reach it.

If your Apex supports it then a USB-WIFI adapter (shown in previous post) is probably the simplest solution.

The most versitile solution is to install wireless to wired converter (AKA wireless access point or WAP, e.g. NetGear WAP54g) near the tank. This will allow you to install any wired network device, e.g. cameras, etc, on the tank. That's what I did with my Neptune AC3.

Another versitile option is to setup a wirless computer, e.g. laptop, permanently near the tank and connect the Apex to it.

Once you get LAN access at the tank then you have to expose that to the world if you want to monitor the tank away from home. The simplest approach is to pay your ISP for a fixed IP address. That typically costs about $5/mo. That's what I do.

The other approach is to configure your Apex to use one of websites that route to the dynamic address your ISP provides now.

Call me (Seven2Five9Nine4Seven) if you have questions.

EDIT: It doesn't look like your WPN824 has a WAP mode.
 
Thanks Brian. I'm going to pick up the airport express this weekend and I'm sure we'll be talking shortly after that ;)
 
That is it costs more and that it has a "cool factor"

I'm just trying to make this thing work as simply as I can. I know that the airport express will support the airport extreme. With a couple other projects I'm working on or that are on the agenda, I just want to be able to cross this one off my list :(

Are you saying that you have an extra adapter laying around for me :D
 
Even though your ISP most likely uses dynamic IP's, if you have your setup running all of the time(like most people) you will tend to re-lease the same IP forever.
Leases are typically for 3 days, and when your router requests a renew it will typically receive the same IP.
You can save yourself the $5 per month for a static IP by using DynDns. I have setup hundreds of systems using them and haven't had any problems.

Just my .02. :)
Donovan
 
Man, it's as if you guys are talking another language! LOL, my puter skills are real limited. I do know that in order to use it via ATT 3g, you have to open up a port on your router. Currently, I have it hooked up to my router but there is a long ugly cord that connects to it from the Apex. I really have to learn how to set it up wirelessly.
 
Maximus said:
Man, it's as if you guys are talking another language! LOL, my puter skills are real limited. I do know that in order to use it via ATT 3g, you have to open up a port on your router. Currently, I have it hooked up to my router but there is a long ugly cord that connects to it from the Apex. I really have to learn how to set it up wirelessly.
Click to expand...

Even that is too techie for me Sang :lol:
 
Maximus said:
Man, it's as if you guys are talking another language! LOL, my puter skills are real limited. I do know that in order to use it via ATT 3g, you have to open up a port on your router. Currently, I have it hooked up to my router but there is a long ugly cord that connects to it from the Apex. I really have to learn how to set it up wirelessly.
Click to expand...


Damn Sang you get deeper and deeper every time you come back to the hobby:lol2:
 
I was in the same boat as you are Mark, I have wireless at my house so I don't have network anywhere near my tank. I used two NetGear wireless bridges to get my Apex controller hooked up to my network. I would be careful trying to use anything in the USB ports on the EB8, it does have a sticker that warns about voiding your warranty if you plug non Apex devices into it. I am sure that it wouldn't hurt it but who knows? You are on the right track with the Airport express I think. The Apex forum here has also been a huge help in getting some of my network issues staightened out.
 
I know that I am a little late getting in on this but the Airport Express is exactly what you need. It is going to create the wireless access point you need for the Apex and will seamlessly connect to your Airport Extreme. I'm not sure the Express comes with a network cable so make sure you measure the distance Apex to wherever you are going to plug in the Express and tell the Genius at the Apple Store, or the oh so very helpful staff at BestBuy, how long of a cable you need.

Sure you are paying more for that little Apple logo but it is definitely worth it when all you have to do is plug it in and everything works the way it should.

You'll have to post a review of the Apex after you get it all set up.
 
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