Neptune classic, help with internet

cboberg

New member
Hi guys, I've been a Neptune fan for many years and used to have one of the old aqua controller jrs. Recently got back in the hobby and purchased an Apex classic model. I live in a very rural area and we don't have a landline or satellite internet. All we have are cell phones that we can hot spot. I realize the firm ware updates will need to be hard wired to work. I can do those at a friends house. Can I set up my controller to run fusion through my iPhone? Via a Ethernet wireless adapter? Or another method? I also own an iPad and laptop. Please help. I've looked through the threads and can't find a solution. Posted on Neptune forum too but you guys are quick to respond .Thanks!
 
I think that using a wifi adapter or basestation I forget what they are calledbut basically your would have:

Apex>ethernet cable>wifi device<>wireless signal<>iPhone Hotspot should be no different than plugging the apex directly to a wired router. Connect your computer to the same hotspot, install the app, it should pick up the apex on the same network. I would do this setup first. Not sure how you would use fusion if your iPhone hotspot has to be set up (and I assume you will be there near the apex) in order for it to communicate.
 
Hi guys, I've been a Neptune fan for many years and used to have one of the old aqua controller jrs. Recently got back in the hobby and purchased an Apex classic model. I live in a very rural area and we don't have a landline or satellite internet. All we have are cell phones that we can hot spot. I realize the firm ware updates will need to be hard wired to work. I can do those at a friends house. Can I set up my controller to run fusion through my iPhone? Via a Ethernet wireless adapter? Or another method? I also own an iPad and laptop. Please help. I've looked through the threads and can't find a solution. Posted on Neptune forum too but you guys are quick to respond .Thanks!

You could tether to your phone, but a better choice might be to use a mobile hotspot to set up a WiFi network in your home, including the Apex. See, for example
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2400503,00.asp
 
This can be done a few different ways depending on what you want to accomplish

Apex Classic dashboard with LOCAL connectivity:
You could pick up a TP link travel router, advantage is that it is tiny, smaller than a deck of cards. Set it up using client mode. The travel router will hard wire to your Apex giving you wireless connectivity to it.

The travel router is configured using the SSID and password you have created on your phone/hotspot. Once you have this setup, the tp-link travel router will receive internet from your hotspot tether (same as hooking up a laptop, choose the wireless network you want to connect to (SSID) enter the password, and boom, internet).

Then you will be able to connect to your apex CLASSIC dashboard by connecting to the IP address listed in the network setup on your apex display controller

Apex Classic Dashboard with REMOTE Connectivity:
now... remote connectivity is a different situation
You will still need the TP-LINK router, BUT you will most likely be unable to use the mobile hotspot tether on your phone for remote connectivity because you need to have port forwarding capabilities. To do this you would need to purchase a jetpack hotspot, I am providing the example of Verizons 6620L Jetpack. With this you will remotely connect to the WAN IP of your hotspot and it will forward your connection to your apex. To do this you can buy a Jetpack hotspot from your cell phone provider. See link below, the jetpack MiFi 6620L offers the ability to configure port forwarding. The advantage here is that hotspots (if you have an unlimited plan) are extremely affordable to tack onto your monthly bill and can provide you with constant connectivity remotely and while at home.

If you go this route, you will still configure the TP-Link Travel router the same as listed above, however you will configure the port and IP address listed in your Apex display/controller in the port forwarding on your jetpack. Then when you connect remotely, it will be to the WAN IP address and the port you are configuring. ex: if your WAN IP is 123.123.123.123 and you set it up to port 8800, then your URL to connect to the Apex Classic Dashboard would be 123.123.123.123:8800

With either of these configurations you will be able to use Apex Fusion, however, it would be best to use the jetpack so that fusion does not disconnect every time. You will want your DHCP set to not be auto, and hardset the IP address in your apex. If you do not do this, the Apex could be issued a different IP address every time the hotspot connects which would require your changing the configurations every time.

TP-Link Travel Router: https://www.amazon.com/TP-Link-Wire...coding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=5F9A1VE6KKJ60QC49A60

Verizon Hotspot Jetpack: https://www.verizonwireless.com/internet-devices/jetpack-mifi-6620l/

how to configure port forwarding on the 6620L: https://www.verizonwireless.com/support/knowledge-base-122749/
 
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