Software updates: Navigating marine technicians to distraction for too long. Rant loading.....oh #@%& there's no coverage.
The most important tool lately to a marine technician is not a top of the line multimeter, screwdriver, socket set or really any tools that would go in a box, it goes in a pocket, its the mobile phone, often more than one. The reason for this is simple, so many software updates.
From stereos to plotters, NMEA 2000 converters that take engine data and make it available to view on a multi function display, all of these devices have periodic software updates, but, it doesn't end there. The apps, the endless apps, that also need updating, apps for configuring devices, chargers, charge controllers, battery monitors, all configured by apps.
The root (programmer joke) cause of this weeks post (read rant) is, I have had two weeks of non stop nonsense with software updates, allow me to explain. Been preparing some new boats to go out to clients, as preparing boats has changed dramatically, it is no longer a case of checking the motor, pumps, any missing items, any defects etc. All of the electronics need checking for updates and configuration, sometimes this is a really quick process, other times it would be quicker to just draw a nautical chart, such is the reliance on Wi-Fi connections.
Some previous versions of multi function displays and plotters, it would detect there was a software update and you could perform it is more than one way, wireless or copy a file onto a microSD card and perform the update that way, now many units will only update via wireless. To add insult to injury performing these updates is not just a case of connect to a hotspot and let the device do its thing. It can involve many menu options, setting up connection points and networks.
The beginning of my stint of software updates actually went as smooth as possible, the reason being the first couple of boats were still in the large showroom with its mass of Wi-Fi repeaters and signal strength to reach Jupiter, marvelous, sadly and irritatingly this was not to continue. The yard where I work has large metal buildings, machinery and very variable signal strength, even the exterior repeaters are not going to cover the whole area, and, of course the others boats that needed software updates were in the Bermuda Triangle of the yard. No panic I thought, we have a portable router (a must have), this made life much easier, not much quicker but it allowed me to leave it to work autonomously whilst I dealt with other things, this was until someone switched off the boats batteries during the software update.
It should be noted as I am sure many of you have experienced, when things start to cause technical issues, the first thing that that you will be asked is if the latest version of the software has been installed, talk about going in circles.
The fear
Slow modern electronics, but not only are some of the plotters slower than previous generations, especially on startup (probably checking if there is a software update and wireless coverage), its made a lot of people paranoid, if they do not have the latest updates or they are made aware that there is a newer version available, they get scared, some to the point that they become reluctant to use their boat in case something should happen. I personally have never known not having the latest software cause any problems, sometimes, even with the latest updates there is no noticeable difference.
The fear doesn't stop there, its caused me to have an irrational fear too, the fear of running out of battery power. I have portable battery packs, various adapters for mains electricity, cables, USB cables and adapters, it will not be long before I start lugging around a portable generator. I am single handedly keeping lithium mines in business. Running out of battery is not only embarrassing as it shows lack of forethought, its annoying too. Its also a must for a lot of people who need to be fully charged and connected all of the time or who bring guests on board who need to be connected and looking at their devices all the time instead of living the boating life.
Driving old technology
As I work in the marine industry, I know a lot of mechanics, salespeople, technicians, electronics installers and so on, there is a trending theme amongst us, we want to go old school, no electronic control boxes, no digital only dashboards, physical switches, mechanical diesels, the reasons are straightforward, its just less hassle.
Mechanical diesels need battery power during the start cycle, they don't need it to keep running. Older outboards are another example, moderate electrical demands, some even have the pull cord for manual starting, the marine equivalent of kickstarting a motorcycle. Mechanical switches, they don´t care if your hands are dirty or wet, there are no electronics inside them to get damaged by humidity, rarely susceptible to high ambient temperatures. Mechanical analogue gauges, some manufacturers of modern electronic diesel engines still have a bank of analogue gauges on the engines themselves, manual battery switches, there are lots of examples, the best bit is none of them require software updates. As the saying goes, "simplicity is the hallmark of genius".
We all agree that many modern navigation electronics have made life more comfortable and safer, there is absolutely no questioning that, but, they also cause us no end of stress (some self induced) and hassle, the polar opposite of what boating should be about. this is where restorations and refits work well, we can update some things and renew many others that have worked for the past however many years to keep them working way into the future.
Hidden electrical devices
As is often the case with my posts, I cannot resist a dig at boat manufacturers, why do you have to put devices in the most awkward of places? In order to connect to many of the apps (more on that later), a lot of them work with QR codes, very straightforward, but, in order to get to said QR code to take a photo of it to get things started, you have to be able to reach the device.
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| Image 1: A well installed electrical system, easy to reach |
Before I finish off on hidden devices, I would like to go on a sub rant. Please boat builders, think of the person who has to install the chart card in its slot on the plotter, it is not normal to have to remove the whole screen from the dash, or, worse still take the dash apart to get to the card slot, I do realize the boat builders can only install what the electronics manufacturers supply, but come on, what should be a five or ten minute job can turn into more than an hour of finding screws, nuts and bolts and very often cut to shreds on badly cut cable ties. This is especially annoying when the update is being performed using a MicroSD card, that said, I have noticed more screens with front loading card slots, hallelujah, even better, some of the higher end screens have remote card slots that plug into the back of the screen via a cable and allow you to fit card slot wherever is convenient.
A round of applause
Victron Energy - A huge company that as far as I know has not yet been acquired by another entity. They are big in battery charging, solar chargers, inverters, DC-DC chargers amongst other things. The app they have to control and set up their compatible devices is excellent, the "basic" mode will cover the needs for most users I imagine, the expert mode, which is still very easy to use, allows fine tuning for specific installations, such as battery charging profiles.
Fusion Link - Fusion make stereos, amplifiers and speakers for boats. They are probably the market leader, owned by Garmin, their app does work very well, from being able to perform software updates and configuring music profiles, zone naming and more. There is actually a noticeable difference in sound when you have told the system what speakers, amps and the location of it all, I use this app a lot, would recommend to anyone with a compatible head unit.
Simrad - The Simrad app is very useful for updating the software, it saved my bacon this week in fact, downloaded the update for the plotter I was setting up using the office Wi-Fi, went to the boat, connected using the screens built in hotspot function. For smaller boats if I am honest I find it harder to see need for the app except for updating software, the app in my opinion is better if you have a huge vessel and the app is installed on a tablet.
Mercury Mercruiser - Vesselview Mobile & Smartcraft Connect, two apps available from the marine engine manufacturer, the older of the two is Vesselview mobile, it works with the Vesselview Bluetooth module, which has been a standard fit on most of the brands engines for a few years. Limited in its functions as such, it does work remarkably well though, a prime example of its use is when the boat does not have any of the Mercury Smartcraft gauges or screens installed, just an analogue dashboard, especially handy when there is an active alarm of some sort.
Smartcraft Connect is the latest app to accompany the newer NMEA2000 converter box, the Smartcraft Connect module allows he newest Simrad NSX, Garmin & Raymarine as well as possibly other brand plotters and screens to connect to Mercury Mercruiser motors. When I first tried the app I did not do it justice as I was in the yard dead zone, even mobile coverage is skittish and I was getting madder as everything involved uploading and downloading from the cloud. Fast forward and I can say the options available to users are huge, almost too much if you are not careful, you can configure various tanks, accessories, tell the converter all about your boat, motor and so on. This will then tell the converter what kind of data to pass on the network. I was also thwarted by the fact that you need the converter serial number in order to get things started, the particular boat this was on had the converter behind a panel, in a locker under a seat back!
Mercury 1st Mate, if you have never seen this system before, I recommend giving it a look. 1st Mate is a wireless man overboard system and also functions as a remote engine shutdown and theft system, its available for use on other brands of motor too. Although the app is necessary to perform the set up, it has been written really well, guiding the installer through the process step by step. The really clever thing is that when a dealer installs the system, they can hand over control and ownership of the system to another user with the app. Although I have not had any problems yet, it has occurred to me before that the possibility exists that another user would not be able to use their own app after it has been paired with another user.
Conclusion
It did all work out in the end, it took far longer than it should, and, as always these things never happen at a convenient moment when you have a lot of time. This post was a cathartic experience for me, I have been wanting to get this off my chest for a while, technology only works when it is useful. This post should act as a heads up to boaters, we are so connected and, so used to being connected, that when something as stupid as a lack of coverage causes so much bother, perhaps its time to take a step back and think. One thing I would like to finish on, I am not sure if it is a glitch, why does the on board hotspot need access to my phone contact list?
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