3. Internet connectivity
Connect the Cerbo GX to the internet to get all the advantages of the VRM Portal. The Cerbo GX sends data from all connected products to the VRM portal - from where you can monitor energy usage, view the current status of connected products, configure email alarms and download data in CSV and Excel formats.
To monitor this data from your smartphone or tablet download the iOS or Android VRM App.
In addition to remote monitoring, an active internet connection allows the Cerbo GX to regularly check for a new firmware versions - which will be automatically downloaded and installed.
There are several ways to connect a Cerbo GX to the internet:
Run a network cable between a router and the Cerbo GX Ethernet LAN port
Connect to the router wirelessly using WiFi
Via the mobile (cellular) network, using the GX GSM - a cellular USB modem or, with a 3G or 4G router.
USB Tethering on a mobile phone
This video explains how to connect LAN, WiFi and a GX GSM:
3.1. Ethernet LAN port
When you connect an ethernet cable between a router and Cerbo GX, the Settings -> Ethernet page of your Cerbo GX will confirm connection.
3.2. Wi-Fi
The Cerbo GX includes built in Wi-Fi. It is also possible to connect a supported external USB Wi-Fi dongle (to increase wireless range outside of a cabinet for example).
Using Wi-Fi it is possible to connect to WEP, WPA and WPA2 secured networks. There are five supported USB Wi-Fi dongles. Two of them are also available from stock at Victron Energy:
Partno. BPP900100200 - Cerbo GX WiFi module simple (Nano USB), small, low cost.
Partno. BPP900200300 - Asus USB-N14, slightly higher cost and also better reception than the Nano USB. Supported since software version 2.23.
Partno. BPP900200400GX - WiFi module long range (Netgear AC1200) - higher cost and also better reception than the Nano USB. Wireless AC, Wireless G and Wireless N; 2.4 Ghz and 5 Ghz.
WiFi modules that are no longer available, but still supported, are:
Partno. BPP900200100 - Startech USB300WN2X2D
Partno. BPP900100100 - Zyxel NWD2105
Partno. BPP900200200 - Gembird WNP-UA-002, slightly higher cost and also better reception.
Partno. BPP900200400 - Netgear A6210-100PES.
Although other Wi-Fi dongles may work, they have not been tested and we do not offer support for other dongles.
The Wi-Fi menu shows the available networks. When a network is selected, it is possible to fill in the password (if the password is not already known) to connect to the network. Setting up via WPS (Wi-Fi Protected Setup) is not supported.
When the Cerbo GX finds multiple Wi-Fi networks of which the password is known, the strongest network is selected automatically. When the signal of the connected network becomes too weak, it will automatically switch to a stronger network - if it knows the password of that network.
Wi-Fi is an inherently less reliable connection than a hardwired ethernet cable. It should always be a preference to connect via ethernet when possible. Signal strength should always be at least 50%.
3.3. GX GSM
Please see the GX GSM Manual.
3.4. Mobile (cellular) network using a 3G or 4G router
To connect the Cerbo GX to a mobile (cellular) network, such as a 3G or 4G network, use a cellular router. Connect the Cerbo GX to that router with either a LAN cable or the router's Wi-Fi network.
Make sure you use a router that is designed for unattended setups. Do not use low cost consumer-grade routers intended for business or leisure travel. A more expensive professional router will quickly pay for itself, and you won't have wasted journeys simply to perform a re-set. Examples of such professional routers are the H685 4G LTE from Proroute, as well as the Industrial 4G router range from Pepwave.
More information in this blogpost.
Note that the Cerbo GX does not support USB 3G/4G dongles, other than the GX GSM and GX LTE 4G accessories available from Victron.
3.5. USB tethering using a mobile phone
This is a useful facility when it works - but don't rely on it because it has not proved very dependable. Consult the internet for instructions about tethering for your phone and its particular operating system. We have heard of it working on:
Samsung Galaxy S4
…but not on:
iPhone 5s with iOS 8.1.1
3.6. IP Configuration
Almost no installations will need the IP address configuration to be inserted manually as most systems support automatic IP configuration (DHCP) - and that is also the Cerbo GX default setting. If you do need to configure the address manually, select the following template:
Complete details of IP requirements, as well as used port numbers will be found in the VRM FAQ - ports and connections used by the Cerbo GX
3.7. Connecting both Ethernet and Wi-Fi (failover)
It is possible to connect the Cerbo GX to both Ethernet and Wi-Fi. In this case, the Cerbo GX will try to determine which interface provides an active internet connection and then use that interface. When both have an active internet connection, the Ethernet connection is used. The Cerbo GX will automatically check again for active internet connections when something changes on the interfaces.
3.8. Minimize internet traffic
In situations where internet traffic is expensive, for example a satellite uplink or with roaming GSM/cellular charges, you may want to minimize the internet traffic. The steps to take are:
Disable auto-update
Do not enable remote support
Reduce the Logging interval to a very low frequency. Note that state changes (charging → inverting, or bulk→float) and also alarms will cause extra messages to be sent
To find out how much data allowance you need to buy the best way is to let the system run for a couple of days and monitor the internet RX and TX counters in your 3G or 4G router. Or even better, some mobile companies will report the data used via a website.
The amount of data used is also very dependent on the system:
More products connected to the Cerbo GX will generate more data.
A state change (from inverter to charger for example) will trigger a data transmission, so a system with very frequent state changes will also tend to generate more data. This is especially true in certain Hub-1 and Hub-2 systems.
We recommend setting-up your data plan in such a way as to avoid costly 'excess' charges. Make sure you put a cap on your data usage; or use a pre-paid plan.
One customer - burdened with global costs of between twenty cents and several euros per mb of data - invented a clever solution: Using a VPN he modified the IP to route ALL traffic to and from the GX device via his VPN. Using a firewall at the VPN server allows him to control traffic according to time, connection type, place and destinations. Although this is beyond the scope of this manual it works, and - with the help of a Linux and networking expert - it can work for you.