Remote Vessel Monitoring using SMB Navigator for Roku

SmartMyBoat Navigator lets you keep an eye on your vessel from anywhere. To enable remote monitoring, you’ll need to set up port forwarding for your NMEA network gateway, allowing external access to your network.

If you’re using a standard mobile hotspot, this can be tricky—most ISPs assign private IP addresses behind Carrier-Grade NAT (CGNAT), which blocks traditional port forwarding. However, if your vessel is equipped with a 4G/5G router, configuring port forwarding is straightforward.

Understanding Port Forwarding for Remote Vessel Monitoring

Imagine your router as a secure barrier around your boat’s network—like a wall with a few controlled gates. Some gates are open by default to let you access the internet, but most are closed for security.

To remotely monitor your vessel, you’ll need to open an additional gate (or “port”) in your router, allowing trusted outside traffic to reach your boat’s devices. This process is called port forwarding.

Important Notes:

• Port forwarding is not a feature of SmartMyBoat Navigator for Roku, and our support team cannot assist with setup. The following is a general guide to get you started.
• If you’re using a mobile hotspot, traditional port forwarding usually isn’t possible due to Carrier-Grade NAT (CGNAT). In this case, you’ll need a reverse proxy or a service that provides a public IP address.
• For 4G/5G routers, you can set up port forwarding by logging into your router’s web interface, creating a new rule with the device’s internal IP, port number (e.g., 80 for HTTP), and protocol (TCP/UDP). Your device should have a static IP, and you’ll typically need a Fixed IP SIM card from your carrier, as standard SIMs use dynamic IPs that don’t support port forwarding.

For further assistance, please contact your router manufacturer or internet service provider.

Step 1: Login to Your Router

Login to your router via the default gateway address.

Step 2: Enter Router Username and Password

Enter the credentials for your router on its login page.
Please Note: The credentials for your router should be found on a sticker located underneath or behind your router. If not, you can try the most common credentials below.

Step 3: Locate Port Forwarding Settings

Next, locate the port forwarding settings. Typically this will be under Advanced and then Port Forwarding or Virtual Server.

Step 4: Name Your Device

On the Port Forwarding page, you will be prompted to enter in a custom name for your device, enter your vessel name. Then you’ll enter the desired port you are forwarding in the port field. Select “TCP/UDP” under Protocol or “Both” if you are unsure of which protocol you are using. Next, enter the internal IP address of the device you are port forwarding to and click “Apply” or “Save” to store the changes.

Step 5: Confirm That Your Port Forwarding is Working

You should now be able to connect to your device via a web browser. Simply enter your hostname followed by the port number into the address bar. For example http://hostname.ddns.net:8000.

Please Note: If you are using a mobile application, you will need to use just your hostname to connect. The application should already specify the port when attempting to connect.

Solutions for External Access via Your Phone’s Device

Reverse Proxy (Recommended for Android): A reverse proxy establishes a connection from a public server (a VPS or server you control) to your phone. Your phone’s app then sends data through this established connection, and incoming requests are forwarded back through the tunnel.

Setup

Use an app or the Android Debug Bridge (ADB) to create a reverse tunnel. The ADB command looks like this: adb reverse tcp. ANother option is to set up a reverse SSH tunnel from your phone to a Virtual Private Server (VPS) that you rent. The VPS has a public IP address, allowing you to forward ports on the VPS to access your phone’s services. Connect to the VPS and use an SSH client to create a reverse tunnel from your phone.

Dedicated Data Device or Hotspot with a Public IP: Some specialized mobile devices, like certain LTE smart hubs, or dedicated mobile hotspots, allow you to purchase a public static IP address from the carrier. With a public IP, you could perform traditional port forwarding on that device’s router.

Once you have setup port forwarding of your NMEA gateway open SMB Navigator for Roku. Navigate to settings and enter IP address of the router installed on your vessel and enter port you just configured. Navigate back to any screen within Navigator. You are all set.

Note in some cases you may have to close the app and restart it for changes to take effect.