Difference between revisions of "FAQ"

How do I configure a Instreamer-Exstreamer audio connection over the Internet (known as STL connection)? Please read the STL connection over Internet guide.

When using the Instreamer 100 to encode / feed a Shoutcast Server, how do I insert Artist / Title / Station-name text ? Please read how to send metadata

Can i distribute IP Audio over a SCA channel with an Instreamer ?

Exstreamer related questions

How to use the Exstreamer 1000 as a PCM STL ?

How do I play an AAC stream? What version of AAC do you support?

How do I know what the LED blinking means ? Please find that information in the "Exstreamer Technical Manual". (Faster Green and Red LED)

Can I download audio files from a remote server to be played ?

How do I configure the Exstreamer 100 to play files from a flash drive attached to the USB port when the Internet goes down ?

How do I stream from a PC to an Exstreamer ?

How can I monitor an Exstreamer ?

How to listen Barix Radio with Exstreamer ?

What is the capacity of contact of the relay in an Exstreamer-1000 ? 24V - 0,5A

Annuncicom related questions

Can I build an intercom system with Annuncicom?

What are the ratings for the relay on the Annuncicom ? The ratings for the relay are: max 50V/1A

Does the Annuncicom feature SIP functionality ?

Is an Annuncicom 100 with standard firmware able to receive audio using RTP protocol ?

How do I use the Annuncicom with Sureview Immix ?

How do I use the Annuncicom with Milestone XProtect ?

What is the typical power consumption of Annuncicom 100 ?

IPAM related questions

What is the difference between IPAM 200 and IPAM 300?

Control FAQ

X8 related questions

How do i update an X8 with the latest firmware ? You need a Barionet to do this. Please read a detailed howto X8-Update

Barionet related questions

Back to Main Page#Support - FAQ & Troubleshooting

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-== FAQ ==
+== General questions - IP, Addressing, Multicast etc ==
+* '''[[Are there any known security vulnerabilities with Barix devices]]'''
+* '''[[So, I have purchased an Instreamer and an Exstreamer. And now what?]]'''
+* '''[[How do the devices get their IP address ?]]'''
+* '''[[What if my routers don't have a fix IP address from the ISP (Internet service provider) ?]]'''
+* ''' How do i connect a Barix device to HSPDA, UMTS, CDMA, EVDO, wireless networks ? Please see [[Connecting to 3G Networks]]'''
+* '''Ho do I do a web update of a device ? Please see [[FW Update]]'''
+* '''[[How do I set the device back to factory defaults ?]]'''
+* '''How do I perform a "Serial Rescue" of the device if it becomes unreachable ? Please see [[FW Update]]'''
+* '''[[How do I get the "status page" of any device ?]]'''
-This is a list of common questions and answers, for most of the answers a detailed description is linked
+* '''[[What if the device is still unreachable after a serial rescue ?]]'''
-'''
+* '''[[The device already has a password either I don't remember or I don't know, how do I erase it ?]]'''
-== General questions - IP, Addressing, Multicast etc ==
+* '''[[What is SonicIP?]]'''
+* '''[[Redundancy]] - how do i use Barix devices for a high availabilty application'''
-* '''What is SonicIP?'''
-SonicIP is a feature of all Barix audio devices which at the start-up announces the device's IP address to the attached headphones/speakers. This is useful for the technician in the installation phase before the device gets a fixed IP address; e.g. when it is attached to a DHCP network for the first time after unpacking. Typically after the device is configured the SonicIP is switched off not to disturb the listeners in the operational environment if the device is eventually reset.
-* '''What is AutoIP, IPzator, etc.and how do I use them?'''
+*'''SonicIP Voice - can I change this and record my own ?''' Yes, to do so follow this [[SonicIP Howto]]
-These are methods to automatically obtain an IP address if the device is not configured to a fixed address. Read more in this [[AutoIP Howto]]
-* '''Do the Barix products support Multicast and IGMP ?'''
+* '''[[What is AutoIP, IPzator, etc.and how do I use them?]]'''
-Yes, the Barix products do fully support Multicast and IGMP. However, depending on the firmware and application used, there maybe are some caveats. Read more here: [[Multicast]]
-* '''Do the Barix products support IPv6 ?'''
+* '''[[Do the Barix products support Multicast and IGMP ?]]'''
-No, at the current time, no IPv6 support is implemented in the Barix products
-* '''I want to set up a local network with more than 250 devices, what do i have to do ?'''
+* '''[[Do the Barix products support IPv6 ?]]'''
-No Problem - but you will not be able to use a "class C" address (192.168....). A "private" range well useable for larger networks is 172.16.x.x, with the default netmask 255.255.0.0. This gives you roughly 65000 possible hosts ... should be sufficient ?
-* '''I want to do a broadcast over different subnets, is that possible ?'''
+* '''[[I want to set up a local network with more than 250 devices, what do i have to do ?]]'''
-A broadcast is a local function, read here: [[broadcast]]. Broadcasts can not be sent over different subnets. However, you may be able to use [[Multicast]]. Barix devices can also provide "rebroadcasting" functionality, which means that a device in a remote network receives a stream and sends it back out to the local network as broadcast or multicast. Using that functionality, a broadcast can be sent to a remote network.
-* '''How do the devices get their IP address ?'''
+* '''[[I want to do a broadcast over different subnets, is that possible ?]]'''
-When you plug the power supply into the power jack of the device and the other end into the power outlet of the wall, the Barix devices, when using their default configuraton, will search for a DHCP server to get an IP address. If no DHCP Server is found, the device will try to sniff the network to find a "free" IP address. If that does not work either (because there are no other devices generating traffic), the device will pick an IP address of 169.254.x.x, according to the "Auto-IP" standard.
-In any case, after max. 5 minutes the device will have an IP Address and announce it via the audio interface (headphone interface on encoding products).
-* '''How do I configure the devices ?'''
+* '''[[Which port/s do your devices commonly use ?]]'''
-You can adjust network settings, streaming destinations, monitoring settings and more with the Web interface. To enter the configuration mode you will need:
-** the IP address announced over the audio outputs (see the Quick Install Guide)
-** a standard web browser
-* '''The device already has a password either I don't remember or I don't know, how do I erase it ?'''
+* '''[[What does RTP stand for ?]]'''
-Enter 25 characters to erase the current password and click on the "Apply" button. Then you can create a new one of up to 24 characters.
-* '''How do I set the device back to factory defaults ?'''
+* '''[[AND what does BRTP stand for ?]]'''
-** Look for the "Defaults" button in the configuration page. This procedure will NOT erase the network settings.
-** To revert ALL settings (including the network settings) to factory defaults the “Reset” button has to be pressed for about 5 seconds while the Barix Instreamer is powered. Use this method if a connection to the Barix Instreamer cannot be established. If this fails we recommend to perform a “Serial Rescue”
-* '''How do I perform a "Serial Rescue" of the device if it becomes unreachable ?'''
+* '''[[How much latency should I expect in an Instreamer/Exstreamer setup using BTRP ?]]'''
-First of all you have to do this not by web browser but using a serial crossover cable.
-Download the corresponding firmware package of the device from Barix' website as usual. Once the firmware is downloaded and unzipped, you will find the file called "_readme1st.txt". Please follow the instructions contained there.
-* '''What if the device is still unreachable after a serial rescue ?'''
+* '''[[How do emergency messages work ?]]'''
-You can still use the "ARP" method to address the device, but for that you need a LOCAL connection.
-After doing factory defaults, you can ALWAYS use the ARP method or serial method to set up an ip address to the unit and enter the configuration and re-enable it.
-To use the arp-command to set an IP address to the Exstreamer manually, please do the following:
-** connect power, loudspeaker and the cable to the device
-** open a cmd console at your PC, using Windows do the following: "Start Button" --> "Execute" --> "cmd"
-** type in "arp -s <ip address> <MAC address> (e.g. arp -s 192.168.0.201 00-08-e1-00-6c-e7)
-** type in "telnet <ip address> 1 (e.g. telnet 192.168.0.201 1)
-A connection will be initialised. After a short period (app. 2 seconds) you'll get an error message, that´s ok !!
-Now the device has learned the ip address and you should be able to configure the device through your browser.
 == Audio FAQ ==
+=== Questions related to audio formats in general ===
+* '''[[What is the difference in using PCM MSB and PCM LSB?]]''' (e.g. in the STL application)
+* '''[[Bit-reservoir issues]]'''
 === Instreamer/ Encoding related questions ===
-* '''Can the Instreamer also encode WMA ?'''
+* '''[[How are measured Input Peak Levels]]'''
-No. The Instreamer can encode only MP3, PCM or G711.
-* '''Can the Instreamer also encode AACplus ?'''
+* '''[[Can the Instreamer also encode WMA ?]]'''
-No. The Instreamer can encode only MP3, PCM or G711.
-* '''Do you have a product to encode AACplus (or a plan to do this ?)'''
+* '''[[Can the Instreamer also encode AAC+ ?]]'''
-No. There are no current plans to provide a product with AACplus encoding
-* '''What kind of streams does the Instreamer produce ?'''
+* '''[[What kind of streams does the Instreamer produce ?]]'''
-It converts audio from any analog or digital (optical/coaxial S/P DIF) source into:
-** G.711 (aLaw/uLaw) streams at 8 or 24 kHz sample rate,
-** PCM (16 bit) streams at 8 or 24 kHz sample rate or
-** high-quality MP3 streams at adjustable bit rates (VBR) between 35 and 192kbps
-** Encoding up to 48kHz PCM/stereo is possible with alternative firmware.
-The audio is encoded in real-time, and the generated audio stream can be distributed, via an IP-based network or the Internet, to one or more receivers or Shoutcast / Icecast-servers.
-* '''How much bandwidth do I need to stream audio ?'''
+* '''[[May I configure the stream EXACTLY at 64 kps (or some other value) on Instreamer 100 ?]]'''
-The amount of bandwidth depends on the parameters you select on the Instreamer regarding encoding, quality and protocol. The range is between 30 and 210 kbps. Example: At CD quality, each stream is approx 192kbps. FM Stereo is 128kbps.
-* '''How many destinations can I stream to ?'''
+* '''[[How much bandwidth do I need to stream audio ?]]'''
-There are up to 8 direct destinations to stream to (or 32 in a specific configuration). Each one can be directed to a device, or a multi- or broadcast
-address (destination connection types) or be set up as a listener waiting for a connection to be initiated by the other side (listener connection types). Each entry has its own IP address and Port. See [[Stream To Considerations]] on how to set the “Stream to” entries.
-* '''But I need more than 32 destinations, how can I do ?'''
+* '''[[How many destinations can I stream to ?]]'''
-There are ways to address this, depending upon your situation and requirements:
-For example, FM Stereo quality requires 128kbps of bandwidth so, for 100 destinations it will demand quite some bandwidth!
-** If you do not have such capacity / don't want the headache of providing it and managing it, there are specialist firms such as Streamguys (www.streamguys.com) who can help - you send them the feed, they rebroadcast it.
-** If you have the capacity, you can set up a shoutcast server and stream yourselves.
-** A third option is our 'Replicator' software - this runs on our Barionet device, receives one stream and replicates it in real time 120 times.
-** A final option, if bandwidth is a problem only during the day, is 'store and forward', using our FTPMP3 player. In this configuration content is sent 'as and when' to the stores Exstreamer device, which saves it to a local USB. Playback is from the USB, the device can simultaneously receive updates and be playing a playlist. Up to 20 playlists can be maintained and prioritised and scheduled (hence advertising could also be sent and played on schedule).
-* '''How much latency should I expect ?'''
+* '''[[I have set up multiple shoutcast destinations on my Instreamer. Can I use different passwords for different streams?]]'''
-................
-................
-................
+* '''[[How do I set the Instreamer to feed streaming audio to a stream hosting company ?]]'''
-* '''I have set up multiple shoutcast destinations on my Instreamer. Can I use different passwords for different streams?'''
+* '''[[I want to play the stream of an Instreamer with Windows Media Player, but it does not work]]'''
-No, there is only one password common for all shoutcast destinations. If you need multiple passwords use an external shoutcast server and configure the Instreamer as Shoutcast Source streaming to this server.
-* '''I want to play the stream of an Instreamer with Windows Media Player, but it does not work'''
+* '''[[Is there a way to connect to the Barix Instreamer directly? We would like to get the audio from the device with as little lag as possible.]]'''
-Windows Media Player can decode VBR MP3 streams as generated by the Instreamer, but in recent versions it does not calculate the buffering correctly. This is *not* a problem on the Barix side, it has been proven to be a problem with WMP.
-There is a simple workaround: when WMP starts with "buffering", press the play button a second time and the stream will start playing.
+* '''How do I configure a Instreamer-Exstreamer audio connection within the same LAN ?''' Please read the [[Instreamer-Exstreamer How To]] guide.
+* '''How do I configure a Instreamer-Exstreamer audio connection over the Internet (known as STL connection)?''' Please read the [[STL connection over Internet]] guide.
+* '''When using the Instreamer 100 to encode / feed a Shoutcast Server, how do I insert Artist / Title / Station-name text ?''' Please read [[how to send metadata]]
+* '''[[Can i distribute IP Audio over a SCA channel with an Instreamer ?]]'''
 === Exstreamer related questions ===
-*'''SonicIP Voice - can i change this and record my own ?'''
-Yes, to do so follow this [[SonicIP Howto]].
 *'''[[How to use the Exstreamer 1000 as a PCM STL]] ?'''
+*'''[[How do I play an AAC stream? What version of AAC do you support?]]'''
+*'''How do I know what the LED blinking means ?''' Please find that information in the "Exstreamer Technical Manual". (Faster [[Green and Red LED]])
+*'''[[Can I download audio files from a remote server to be played ?]]'''
+*'''[[How do I configure the Exstreamer 100 to play files from a flash drive attached to the USB port when the Internet goes down ?]]'''
+*'''[[How do I stream from a PC to an Exstreamer ?]]'''
+*'''[[How can I monitor an Exstreamer ?]]'''
+*'''[[How to listen Barix Radio with Exstreamer ?]]'''
+*'''[[What is the capacity of contact of the relay in an Exstreamer-1000 ? 24V - 0,5A]]'''
+*'''[http://wiki.barix.com/index.php5?title=Exstreamer_110_Power_Consumption_measurements What is the power consumption of Exstreamer 110?]'''
+*'''[[I have to feed the input to relay contacts? How much ? How can I transmit IO information (beside the audio) over STL Link ?]]'''
 === Annuncicom related questions ===
-* '''Can I build an intercom system with Annuncicom?'''
-Yes, use the PS16 as the central station. Follow this [[Barix Intercom System|howto]] to set up the system.
-* '''What are the ratings for the relay on the Annuncicom ?'''
+* '''[[Can I build an intercom system with Annuncicom?]]'''
-The ratings for the relay are: max 50V/1A
+* '''What are the ratings for the relay on the Annuncicom ?''' The ratings for the relay are: max 50V/1A
+* '''[[Does the Annuncicom feature SIP functionality ?]]'''
+* '''[[Is an Annuncicom 100 with standard firmware able to receive audio using RTP protocol ?]]'''
+* '''[[How do I use the Annuncicom with Sureview Immix ?]]'''
+* '''[[How do I use the Annuncicom with Milestone XProtect ?]]'''
+* '''[[What is the typical power consumption of Annuncicom 100 ?]]'''
+=== IPAM related questions ===
+* '''[[What is the difference between IPAM 200 and IPAM 300?]]'''
-* '''Does the Annuncicom feature SIP functionality ?'''
-Yes it does. To use the SIP application it is necessary to download the ABCL Kit. ABCL (Audio Barix Control Language) is a free programmable language like basic. The ABCL Kit includes a SIP Client for the Annuncicom. You can download it from the Download section of Barix website (Within "Software Solutions" category)
 == Control FAQ ==
 === X8 related questions ===
-* '''How do i update an X8 with the latest firmware ?'''
+* '''How do i update an X8 with the latest firmware ?''' You need a Barionet to do this. Please read a detailed howto [[X8-Update]]
-You need a Barionet to do this. There is a special application for the Barionet which helps in doing this.
-Here is a detailed howto page on this wiki describing this: [[X8-Update]]
+=== Barionet related questions ===
+* '''[[How do i read an I/O register using SNMP ?]]'''
+* '''[[How do i set an I/O register using SNMP ?]]'''
+* '''[[What is the typical Barionet Power Consumption ?]]'''
+Back to [[Main Page#Support - FAQ & Troubleshooting]]