- Installation Help
- Boot-up Issues
- Display Issues
- Audio Issues
- Time Syncronization
- Singlewire InformaCast Help
Installation Help
How do I install and setup an IP display or speaker device?
Installation only requires access to an Ethernet cable connected to a PoE switch. Once connected to the network, the device will power up automatically. For detailed installation and setup instructions, download our Full Installation and Setup Guide for AND IP Devices.
Can AND devices run without software?
If you only need to tell time, show date, and a logo, then the device will work without software (it displays the time automatically, and you can configure the date and logo via the web server interface). If you wish to send text or audio to it, or wish to inter-operate with your paging or phone system, then you will need some more control to device functionality via ClockWise Campus or other third-party software. AND ClockWise Campus applies well for smaller scale networks and simpler operations. Large scale operations and thorough phone system integration typically require third-party software.
How do I access the status and settings for a device?
If using ClockWise Campus, double-click on any device listed to access its web server (or right-mouse-click and select View Devices Webpage).
If you have Apple’s Bonjour Services installed, you may use a URL with the name of the speaker (based on its serial number), such as http://ipspeaker2046f9001234.local. Find the serial number imprinted on a sticker attached to the board.
If using third-party VoIP software, contact them directly. Some disallow this functionality this for security reasons.
If using no software, you can find the IP address for the device in your router’s address table, and then type that into your browser address bar (for example: http://192.168.1.203/). You can also use Apple’s Bonjour or other general application to find the IP address of a given device.
If using no software, you can also use the device’s link local IPv6 address. Type the IPv6 address of the device into your browser address bar using the following syntax, where xx:xxxx is the last 6 digits of the device’s MAC address: http://[fe80::2246:f9ff:fexx:xxxx]
How far away can a viewer reasonably read the displays?
- Small IP display devices – 40 feet
- Large IP display devices – 150 feet
- Large IP display device (white LEDs) – 300 feet
- Outdoor IP Sign (IPSIGN-O) – 400 feet
**orange text appears the brightest for reading
What maximum cable length do the IP devices support?
Can I use the device to make a phone call?
When not using a SIP server, units can contact one another via their MAC addresses, or units can contact one another or SIP phones by use of a direct IPv4 address (consider an intercom connection).
When using a SIP server, you can program the device to dial to any available SIP extension or a valid number reachable by the SIP PBX. Generally speaking the SIP server/PBX must reside on the same side of any firewalls as the device in question in order for the registration process to take place.
Can I access any logs to assess issues or look at status?
See how to access the device’s web page (link).
From the device’s web page, you can select Device Status to get access to General Status, Configuration Information, Non-Volatile Log, and Audio Packet Log. Alternately, you can access the device’s IP address as follows (replace the example IP address of 10.10.6.100 with your IP address):
http://10.10.6.100/status
http://10.10.6.100/config
http://10.10.6.100/log
http://10.10.6.100/packetinfo
Accessing ClockWise Campus Logs
In ClockWise Campus, click the “Log” button near the bottom left, and you will have access to errors, warnings, and event logs as reported or discovered by ClockWise Campus. Do not confuse these logs with the device logs mentioned above. Those device logs correspond to each endpoint, and this ClockWise Campus log corresponds to ClockWise Campus, as it tries to operate and talk to devices.
How do I update an expired ClockWise Campus license?
Before your ClockWise Campus license expires, you will receive a warning message when you open the application. Once you decide to update the expired license, the application will direct you to the Configure License dialog.
Make sure your Portal Account Email Address and Password fill into the boxes. Click on the Request License button to the right.
If you have access to multiple licensing options, you will see an additional menu to select which license you would like to apply to the current machine. Otherwise, the Standard license will apply by default. For more information on the available licensing packages, please contact AND Support.
After a few moments, you will receive confirmation from our licensing server the license updated. The License Code will automatically fill in the box for you. If any errors occur during this process, they will show in the red box at the bottom of the licensing dialog with a description of the issue.
Select OK or Close the Configure License window, and ClockWise Campus will immediately launch. Refer to the Quick Start section for basics on using ClockWise Campus, available in the Customer Portal.
Boot-up Issues
Why does my device show a blank display or seems not to boot?
Make sure you have a PoE-enabled switch. Even PoE-enabled switches will often only include a combination of some ports for PoE, and other ports not.
Ensure your device connects to a PoE-enabled port. Ensure the cable connects fully to the port. You will generally hear the AND jingle within a few seconds of applying power (i.e. connecting the CAT5 cable, or applying power to your switch or injector). If you do not hear this sound, the device most likely is not getting any power. Check into your cable, and switch/router. On switches that support it, make sure to enable LLDP, which will allow the connected devices to negotiate for PoE or PoE+ power.
Some Cisco switches can benefit by configuring the power management on the port to “2x-mode” to handle the inrush current. Set this mode on each switch interface using the command “power inline port 2x-mode”. Also, try a different known-working PoE port (PoE ports often go bad over time on some vendors’ equipment).
Why does my device reset periodically or continually after boot (playing the boot-up sound often)?
Another possible cause results from a unit configured to register to a particular server, but it cannot connect to that server. Check that the server is running and accessible from the subnet on which the unit resides. Access the unit’s Device Status web page, and verify the unit is successfully registering to the server. If the registration is failing, check the cause reported on the status page, as well as the end of the Device Status –> Non-Volatile Log for details on failure causes.
Another possible reason for the rebooting unit comes from an incorrectly specified firmware filename in the configuration file. An incorrect filename or inaccessible file on the server that hosts the configuration file would cause the unit to lock into a constant reboot cycle. The cycle will continue until it finds a correct filename, until you remove the reference from the configuration file. Check the spelling of the filename, and make sure it resides in the same directory as the configuration file.
Why does the boot process seem stalled before completing?
The two common ways the device may appear stalled during bootup: Stalling at “Network Init/DHCP”: If it takes a long time at the “Network Init” stage, then the network may have a connection problem. Either the device cannot get an IP address, DHCP is malfunctioning, or you may have a bad network cable or switch.
Stalling at “Looking for Config”: In some cases, a bootup may take over five minutes, especially after a power disruption during a a previous bootup sequence, or during the first power-up when receiving the unit from the factory – both considered normal behavior situations. However, this behavior should not occur regularly.
Display Issues
Why does my device display a blinking colon, but not the time?
Configure the NTP server on the device’s web page server in Device Settings –> General. You can set the NTP server to nearly any NTP server (see some examples below). Note that you should really use the first two listed.
NTP Server | Description |
Static IP of the PC running ClockWise Campus | ClockWise Campus uses a built-in NTP server – the machine running ClockWise Campus must have a static-IP to properly use this feature |
0.anetd.pool.ntp.org | An AND-created server – the preferred server for non-static-IP installations |
1.anetd.pool.ntp.org | Another AND server |
131.107.13.100 | Microsoft, Seattle, WA (time-nw.nist.gov) |
132.163.4.101 | NIST, Boulder, CO (time-a.timefreq.bldrdoc.gov) |
130.126.24.53 | Urbana-Champaign, IL (ntp-0.cso.uiuc.edu) |
64.236.96.53 | AOL, Dulles, VA (nist1.aol-va.truetime.com) |
64.90.182.55 | New York City, NY (nist1-ny.witime.net) |
Why does my display not appear bright enough?
Possible Causes
An incorrect default brightness setting in the device’s Device Settings –> General web page or configuration file. An incorrect scheduler brightness setting in the device’s Device Settings –> Scheduler web page or configuration file.
Your application requires a better chosen color scheme. For example, long distance viewing works best with the brightest colors, orange and yellow. If using AND ClockWise Campus software, check to make sure each time of day shows the correct brightness on the Chimes tab, and also ensure that ClockWise Campus has not triggered an event or alert that modifies the brightness down inappropriately. If using third-party software (such as Singlewire, IPCelerate, Syn-Apps, etc.), ensure that the settings in the respective application has not modified the brightness inappropriately. As part of power management, if using only PoE (as this issue should not occur with PoE+), very loud sounds sent to the device may cause the display to dim during the audio playback.
Solutions
Turn the brightness to the maximum setting in the device’s Device Settings –> General web page or configuration file. Use the brightest colors of orange or yellow (orange as the brighter of the two). Choose these colors for scrolling text and/or the time, or you can even change the default text and/or clock color in the device’s Device Settings –> General web page or configuration file. Use ClockWise Campus to turn up the brightness on the Chimes tab, or use an Alert or Event to modify the brightness. If the unit dims due to loud sounds (power management), power the unit with PoE+ (25.5W) instead of PoE (15.4W) to improve brightness. Consider using AND’s bright-white model, which allows for the maximum range viewing (although they do not have color as an option). On a large clock, the time can be viewed as legible at 200+ feet. Un-clutter the display (since cluttered can make viewing difficult at long distances) by using large fonts and/or removing AM/PM or seconds. This approach can greatly increase the viewing distance.
Why does my display dim sometimes?
However, in a situation with all factors at a maximum, the device must make trade-offs, which can occur in the following scenarios.
Possible Causes
Very Bright Display with Maximum Audio: using only PoE (as opposed to PoE+), while setting the display bright and sending very loud audio, can exceed the power available on PoE. Very Bright Display with Flashers / Strobes and Loud Audio: using only PoE (as opposed to PoE+), while setting the display bright and using flashers or strobes, as well as sending loud audio, can exceed the power available on PoE. Basically, the common factor involves using only PoE (instead of PoE+), along with other high power features.
Solutions
Using PoE+ switches or injectors to connect an AND device completely eliminates this issue. So, if you need to set a display to maximum brightness, and you intend to send very loud audio or use other high power features (flashers or strobes), AND recommends using a PoE+ switch or injector (instead of PoE).
If you cannot use a PoE+ switch or injector (you must use PoE), and you wish to minimize dimming of the display, consider the following mitigation techniques: Don’t set the display to maximum brightness. Lower settings will save significant power, and because how power in LEDs works, minor tweaks can result in big power savings. Don’t send audio at the maximum volumes settings. A few notches lower, and the display will not dim. The audio will play quieter, but perhaps acceptable. Don’t set the flashers to maximum brightness. A few settings below maximum will require significantly less power. Use PoE+ switches or injectors whenever possible. All major manufacturers make them, and they experience widespread use.
Why can’t I see all the elements on the ClockWise Campus interface?
Audio Issues
Why do clock chimes and other sounds from ClockWise Campus seem out of sync with my devices?
Method 1 – Use Internet Time: Click the time display in Windows, click the “Change Date and Time Settings” link, and select the “Internet Time” tab. Verify that the setting shows the PC will synchronize with an Internet time server, and check that it successfully synchronized recently. Note: this option is not available for PCs part of a Windows domain.
Method 2 – NetTime App: If you cannot use the option above, you can install NetTime, a free third-party application, which will synchronize the PC time periodically with an Internet time server: http://www.timesynctool.com/
Method 3 – Set Manually: You can also set the time manually, if you don’t have an Internet connection, or need to update it quickly. Make sure the PC time comes very close to the correct time (i.e. the time displayed on AND devices, or some other accurate reference). Usually, you can use this method by clicking the time display in Windows, clicking the “change date and time settings” link, and then setting time. Avoid this method unless necessary, as the PC clock will drift out of sync over days or weeks.
Check “Sync” on the Main Header in ClockWise Campus: ClockWise Campus needs to run as administrator on the PC for this option to work. Enabling this feature causes ClockWise Campus to tell Windows to update its time to Internet time (this feature forces the first method above periodically). This option may not work in all configurations of Windows (usually related to Windows permissions restrictions).
Configure the AND Device to Use ClockWise Campus’s Internal NTP Server: ClockWise Campus includes a built-in NTP server. To use it, go to the AND device’s Device Settings –> General web page, and change the primary NTP server to your PC’s IP address at port 8090 (the default NTP port for ClockWise Campus, which you can change to any port in ClockWise Campus settings). For example, for a PC with an IP address of 10.10.6.93, set the NTP server, primary field to “10.10.6.93:8090”. If using configuration files, set the NTPConfig tag to point to the ClockWise Campus NTP server, as follows:
Sync the AND Device’s Time Directly to the PC: Before using this option, realize that AND devices, usually very accurate, get their own time from an external NTP server. Enabling this feature will forego that functionality, and cause them to lock to your PC instead, regardless of the accuracy of your PC time. This option could prove advantageous if you want precise sound synchronization. However, for accurate time, you will need to ensure your PC keeps accurate time (possibly by the other methods discussed above). Method 1 – Point Devices to PC: Go to the AND device’s Device Settings –> Servers web page. Change the Server 1 URL to your PC’s IP address (adding the port 8089). For example, for a PC with an IP address of 10.10.6.93, change the Server 1 field to “http://10.10.6.93:8089”. Also, change the Server Type to “AND” or “AND_Exempt”. If using configuration files, add the ClockWise Campus PC address to the Servers tag as follows (replacing the example address with your PC’s IP address):
Method 2 – Easy Configuration: Right-click on a device in the ClockWise Campus Endpoints tab, and select “Perform Easy Configuration” from the context menu. ClockWise Campus will perform all the necessary configuration of the device(s) selected. This method only works on installations that do NOT use a config file.
Use ClockWise Campus Ping: Similar to above, this option syncs AND devices to the PC time (regardless of accuracy, but benefits in keeping devices synchronized with ClockWise Campus events). To enable this option, go to the device’s web page to access Device Settings –> General to make the NTP servers field blank, and go to Device Settings –> Servers to make the Server URL fields blank. Note: this method will not work correctly if multiple PCs on the same network have ClockWise Campus installed. Use a SIP Server: Configure a SIP server in Device Settings –> SIP of the AND device’s web page. Make sure to set the NTP settings field to blank in Device Settings –> General, and set the timezone field correctly. The device will get the time from the SIP server.
Can I make some devices quieter or louder than others?
You can set up default volumes for each device by configuring them as such in each device, and then sending all events/alerts at volume 0 (which forces the devices to use the settings that you configured in the device).
You can set up a custom stream in ClockWise Campus and add that custom stream as a permanent stream at a lower (or higher) volume on a device compared to others as desired. In this case, you would then include that custom stream in all your events/alerts and chimes (but do not select that device).
Why does my speaker seem too quiet or silent?
Verify the configuration shows the unit’s speaker volume setting as set to the desired level. Increase as needed. You must reboot the unit for the new default volume setting to become active. Find this and other settings in the device’s web server (accessible via the device’s IP address or through ClockWise Campus).
If commands (paging, background music, etc.) use the unit’s multicast permanent stream(s) for audio playback, the speaker will not use the volume setting. Verify the speaker settings include the correct permanent stream volume. Find this and other settings in the device’s web server (accessible via the device’s IP address or through ClockWise Campus). Increase as needed, and reboot to activate changes.
Commands sent to the unit can include a volume parameter. This volume parameter will override the default speaker volume setting on the unit, even if the unit’s volume setting is greater. Increase the value of the volume parameter as desired, or if using ClockWise Campus, set the volume parameter to zero, which tells the unit to use its default volume setting.
If a permanent stream holds a higher priority (lower number value) than the audio stream you are sending (the default priority level is 50), the device may prevent the audio stream from playing. Lower the priority (increase the number) of the permanent stream to give the desired audio stream proper priority, or stop sending audio on the permanent stream when desired.
Power management limits the maximum volume based on the unit’s available power budget. Using PoE+ (25.5W) will increase the available power, and hence increase the maximum attainable volume. Check the audio file itself. If the file was not normalized properly, or it only contains very low frequencies, it may not sound loud.
Why can’t I hear the sound masking pink noise on my device?
Why can’t I hear audio on my device from a PTT channel broadcast of a Polycom phone?
Time Synchronization
Why does the time seem incorrect and/or appears to drift over time?
Possible Causes
The most common reason results from the wrong time zone setting. Configure the time zone in the device’s web server (see the bullet point above under “General Questions” on how to access the web server).
The second most common cause results when the device cannot find the NTP server, or a lost network connection, in which case the clock will free-run, and thus drift over time. You can check the device’s logs to check for this situation (see question below). You should also see #1 above on NTP settings.
If you use ClockWise Campus or a PC as your NTP server, verify and correct the computer clock if needed. The updated time will reflect on associated endpoints within a minute.
If the device is running older firmware (1.4.0001 or older), and the NTP server rejects the NTP request, the incorrect time can display based on the last data exchange with the failing NTP server. Often this failure mode will show up as the device reporting the incorrect time and resetting to the same incorrect time every 20-60 minutes. Update the device firmware to the latest version to fix this and/or change your NTP servers to use a known good server. We recommend the following NTP servers:
0.anetd.pool.ntp.org
1.anetd.pool.ntp.org
2.anetd.pool.ntp.org
3.anetd.pool.ntp.org
How often does the clock synchronize to atomic time?
How do I make sure my system synchronizes time?
Direct from the factory, the unit arrives programmed to receive its time from an Internet NTP time server, and its time zone is set to Chicago time.
The time zone must be set appropriately for the location of the unit. Some standard timezone names available in the USA include the following:
EST5EDT
EST
CST6CDT
MST7MDT
MST
PST8PDT
HST
When not using a configuration file, find the time zone setting on the Device Settings –> General Settings page, along with the NTP server configuration.
When “registering” your unit with certain software packages (see Device Settings –> Server Settings page) the unit’s time will set automatically via the server registration process, and this time may take precedence over the use of NTP for configuring the time. The registered server’s time is considered of a higher precedence because synchronized events coming from the server should occur at a specific time at the endpoint.
Without a server configured as described above, or when your server type does not set the time on the unit, we advise configuration of the primary (and secondary) NTP server settings. The device may automatically find additional NTP servers via DHCP option 42. In the case of available servers via DHCP option 42, you do not need to configure the unit for other NTP servers, unless you prefer other NTP servers.
If the network configuration does not allow access the internet, you may need to provide internal (i.e. intranet-based) NTP servers for use by the unit. You can configure ClockWise Campus as an NTP server if convenient, especially in cases where MS Windows time does not always closely synchronize with the outside world. When using ClockWise Campus as an NTP server, Windows may block use of the standard NTP port, in which case you can use a secondary port available via the ClockWise Campus settings page. You must use an explicit port number (by appending a colon and the port number after the NTP server address) in the unit’s settings when using a non-standard NTP port.
You may also use a SIP server to set the time on the unit. Some SIP servers will send the time in the SIP registration response. However, the time from the SIP server is not available at a sub-second accuracy as with NTP, and therefore the time from NTP servers configured will take precedence over the use of SIP server time.
Singlewire InformaCast Help
How do I configure the devices to register with InformaCast?
1) Verify the InformaCast SLP parameters.
On the InformaCast server, from the Admin –> Network Parameters –> SLP Parameters page:
– check that Publish Configuration File Service is set to Yes
– check that SLP Scope is set to Berbee Applications
– check that the URL of Configuration File Server is set to http://10.10.6.241:8081/InformaCast/resources where 10.10.6.241 is the IP address of the InformaCast server
2) Verify the devices are finding the configuration file.
From the device’s web server, view the Device Status –> Configuration Information page (/config). An SLP DA announcement for the InformaCast server should appear in the top half:
SLP DA Advertisement received from ‘10.10.6.241’. Reported DA with scope list ‘Berbee Applications’ at ‘10.10.6.241’. Scope list matched our scope (‘Berbee Applications’). DA checked for service ‘InformaCastConfiguration’ and it reported 1 url(s):
- http://10.10.6.241:8081/InformaCast/resources/
In the bottom half of the Configuration Information page, the InformaCastSpeaker.cfg file should show as retrieved:
http://10.10.6.241:8081/InformaCast/resources/
- failed to retrieve from server: ‘IPSpeaker2046f90301d1.xml’
- failed to retrieve from server: ‘IPSpeaker2046f90301d1.cfg’
- failed to retrieve from server: ‘InformaCastSpeaker2046f90301d1.cfg’
- failed to retrieve from server: ‘IPSpeaker.xml’
- failed to retrieve from server: ‘IPSpeaker.cfg’
- config file retrieved: ‘InformaCastSpeaker.cfg’
- server used for all new files
How do I edit the speaker configuration file?
By default, the filename is InformaCastSpeaker.cfg. Editing this file will change the settings on all AND devices that register to this instance of InformaCast, unless a MAC-specific configuration file also exists in the same directory, e.g., InformaCastSpeaker2046f9034d2f.cfg, in which case the MAC-specific file takes priority over the general file. An aggregate speaker configuration file can also be added to include settings unique to each device on the network, such as SIP extension assignment, default volume settings, etc. See the Gen 2 Configuration Summary document in the Documents section for details on syntax and available settings.
How do I access the Device Settings pages on the device’s web server?
If access to the Speaker Settings pages is required, the configuration file(s) on the InformaCast server can be renamed temporarily to an unrecognized format that the device will no longer detect (i.e., InformaCastSpeaker.cfg.sav). Reboot the device and allow up to 5 minutes for the Speaker Settings link to return to the device’s web page.
How do I update the firmware for the device?
Add or modify the following lines in the speaker’s configuration file to reference the new firmware file:
<Firmware20 file=”ips20_1_6_0004.bin” />
<Firmware21 file=”ips21_1_6_0004.bin” />
<Firmware30 file=”ips30_0_0_0295.bin” />
Reboot the speakers and they will update to the desired firmware release. Do not interrupt the update process. The speaker may reboot 2 or 3 times and it may take up to five minutes for the update to complete.
See the Firmware Versions section to download the latest releases.
How do I utilize the three LED flashers on a device using InformaCast?
1. Configure the desired priority behavior(s) on the AND devices. Sign up or log into the AND customer portal in order to download the Gen 2 Configuration Summary document for details on configuring Priority actions on AND devices. This configuration information is also available in App Note 40.
2. In order to take advantage of these priorities with Singlewire’s InformaCast software, InformaCast version 9.0.1 or newer must be installed: Click here to update InformaCast if needed.
3. Next, InformaCast can be configured to match the priority range of AND devices. The default range of priority levels in InformaCast is only 1-3. Log into the InformaCast server and go to the Admin, Broadcast Parameters page. Set the number of priority levels to 100 and click the Update button to save the new setting.
4. When creating InformaCast messages, the Message Priority field in the Audio tab can now be utilized to activate the configured priority actions on the targeted AND devices. The default level is 50; 1 is the highest priority, 100 is the lowest.
How can I contact Singlewire for additional support?
Singlewire HQ:
1002 Deming Way
Madison, WI 53717
Mailing Address:
PO Box 46218
Madison, WI 53744-6218
Phone – (608) 661-1140 – Option 1
Email /Contact – www.singlewire.com/talkwithus