Step 4. Install the MobileConnect Station

There are two versions of the MobileConnect Station (MCS) hardware:

MCS v1

MCS v2

Note

In order to use a MobileConnect Station v1, you need to upgrade its firmware. For details, see section Upgrading a Legacy MobileConnect Station.

Connect the Station

Connect your Station to the network

• Use LAN2 (MCS v1) or PoE/Stream (MCS v2) port to connect your streaming network.

• Use LAN3 (MCS v1) or Ctrl (MCS v2) port optionally to connect a second network for configuration. If you do not wish to use a separate network, and the port is not connected, the system will use the streaming network for control as well.

Note

The network ports use DHCP by default. To configure a static IP using the local admin interface see Configure Your Station Using the Local Admin Interface.

Warning

• If you configured a static or dynamic IP address in the 192.168.0.x subnet -> you need to connect both the streaming and control port to the same network, for the Station to be able to connect to the Manager.

• Do not use the address 192.168.0.10 on your streaming or control interfaces.

• If you use DHCP and 192.168.0.x/24, make sure that your DHCP-Server is not leasing 192.168.0.10.

Connect your audio inputs

• For MCS v1 you can connect any of the inputs.

• For MCS v2 you can use the analog or Dante inputs.

Note

The MCS v2 analog inputs without gain allow for a maximum input level of +18dBu and the input impedance is 10k Ohm. For input signals with lower levels the analog input with gain offers a 15dB gain which could be used if the signal level does not exceed +3dBu.

Power on

• For MCS v1 press the power button.

• For MCS v2 provide a PoE source on the PoE/Stream port.

Configure the MobileConnect Station in your Manager web interface.

• Open the MobileConnect Manager interface (e.g. at https://mc-manager.yourdomain.com or https://your-manager-hostname).

• Your MobileConnect Station should be shown on the MobileConnect Stations page.

• Depending on the firmware version you may be required to update it and authorized it. Click on the Station to proceed. For more information see Security & Authorization.

• Once your Station is authorized it will have Status Running.

• Select your Station to enter the Station’s page. Here you can configure the Station’s network and audio. For more, see Configure Your System Using the Manager.

• Next you can set up your audio streaming channels, for more see the next section Audio Channel Set-up and Access Methods.

• Finally, since Manager release 1.3.0 you are able to get the channels’ QR codes using the MobileConnect API.

Note

The Station is configured in Manager Mode by default. In case it is not connecting to your Manager, check that the Manager Mode is selected by following the instructions in Change the Integration Mode.

Note

The Station uses DNS discovery to find the Manager by default. In case you are using two separate networks for streaming and control, you can configure the fixed Manager IP address on your Station, instead of using DNS discovery. To do that, follow the instructions in Configure the Manager IP Adrress on the Station. You still need DNS configuration or fixed Manager IP in the streaming network, for the apps to access the streaming channels. For more see Configure Your Manager without DNS.

In case of problems, see section Troubleshooting.

Audio Channel Setup, Access and Security

Methods for joining an audio channel

MobileConnect offers three different ways of joining the right audio channel for the end-user:

1. A click on a visible channel within the app.

The app user has to open up the MobileConnect app and select the right channel within the discovered list of channels and the audio distribution starts instantly.

2. Joining a channel by scanning a QR code

The app user clicks on the QR code icon within the app and scans the provided MobileConnect QR code and the audio distribution starts instantly. Note that the app user has to enable the camera usage for the MobileConnect app on their phone to make this possible. Hidden and visible channels can be accessed with this method.

Note

If you are using the Manager mode with DNS for service discovery, this is the only available channel access method. For more see Configure Your Manager without DNS.

3. Joining a channel by entering the channel ID.

The app user enters the channel ID within the app and the audio distribution starts instantly. Hidden and visible channels can be accessed with this method.

Methods for securing an audio channel

MobileConnect offers the possibility to add a PIN code for each audio channel. The app users have to enter the provided 6 digit PIN, in order to listen to the audio. The PIN code feature can be used together with any of the channel access methods described above.

Note

The PIN code feature is available for Manager versions 1.4.0 and higher and Station versions 6.4.0 and higher. For more see the release notes.

Audio Channel Setup

Step 1: Configure the audio channels

After the MobileConnect Station is completely integrated and visible within the MobileConnect Manager it is possible to configure the audio channels for the app users.

1. Select the MobileConnect Station that should be configured from the MobileConnect Stations page.

2. Select the audio channel that should be configured for the app users.

3. Name the channel so that it represents the distributed audio in a clear way to your app user.

4. Enable the channel if not already enabled.

5. Download or Regenerate the QR code/Channel ID if required.

Note

Since Manager release 1.3.0/1.4.0, you can use the MobileConnect API to download and regenerate channels’ QR codes and channel IDs.

Note

When you regenerate a QR code, all currently streaming app users will be disconnected from the stream and shown a notification that the channel is not available anymore and they have to scan the new QR code.

6. Hide/Unhide the channel if you want to make the channel invisible/visible within the MobileConnect App when it gets started on the app user’s device.

Note

With this feature it is possible to restrict the access of the channel to a specific group of app users that the QR code/Channel ID gets shared with.

7. Select if the channel should distribute a mono or stereo audio signal.

8. Select the audio input that should be used for the channel.

9. Click the SAVE button once you are done.

Step 2: Secure the audio channels

By default the PIN code is disabled for all channels. In order to enable security:

1. Select the desired MobileConnect Station from the MobileConnect Stations page and select the channel you want to configure (as shown in the previous section).

2. Select the toggle switch to enable PIN code protection.

3. Use the generated PIN or enter a different one by clicking on any of the PIN fields.

4. Click the SAVE button once you are done.

5. Provide the configured PIN code to your app users.

Note

Since Manager release 1.4.0, you can use the MobileConnect API to enable, get and regenerate the channels’ PIN code.

Step 3: Arrange/Order the channels for the MobileConnect App

Once the audio channels are configured it is possible to arrange in which order they appear on the MobileConnect App.

1. Open the Mobile App Configuration Page.

2. Arrange the audio channels using drag&drop of the list elements in the desired position. Changes will be visible in the app preview on the right side of the page.

3. If required, it is possible to change some channel configurations directly within this view, by clicking on the channel.

Proceed with Step 5. Test with the MobileConnect App to install and test with the MobileConnect apps.