Hardware solutions – Guide-ID Knowledgebase

Syncbox manual

1. General

1.1. Overview

The Syncbox is a compact computer, designed by Guide ID to charge and synchronize Podcatcher audio guides. You can connect up to 10 dockingstations (100 Podcatchers) to one Syncbox. If you have more Podcatchers on location you will need multiple Syncboxes.

1.2. Connections

The following connections are available:

Power: 85 – 250 VAC, 47 – 63 Hz, 275 W, 1.2 A @ 230V (EU C14 connector)
Ethernet: 100 MBit (RJ-45)
USB front: 2.0 (type A)
10 x USB rear: 2.0 (type A)

1.3. Package contents

In the Syncbox packaging you should find:

Syncbox
AC Power cord, country specific

1.4. Safety instructions

The Syncbox is IEC 62368 certified. However the following safety requirements apply:

Use the Syncbox only within the specified operating temperature range (0-50 C).
Do not cover the ventilation openings. Risk of overheating.
Use the provided AC power cable only.
Connect AC cable to an earthed mains socket outlet or extension cord.
Mains socket outlet must be easily accessible to allow disconnecting the cable.
Ethernet port is intended for LAN connection installed wholly within the same building structure.

The Syncbox contains a Lithium-Ion battery (750 mAh, 3.7V, AA format). The battery is IEC 62133 certified.

Caution:

Do not replace the battery. Risk of explosion if the battery is replaced by an incorrect type.
Disposal of the battery into fire or a hot oven, or mechanically crushing or cutting of a battery, can result in an explosion.
Leaving the battery in an extremely high temperature environment can result in an explosion or the leakage of flammable liquid or gas.
Subjecting the battery to extremely low air pressure may result in an explosion or leakage of flammable liquid or gas.

1.5. Requirements

Important: The Syncbox must be connected to power and internet 24 hours per day, 7 days a week.

To connect the Syncbox you will need:

Available power outlet (country specific AC Power cord is provided)
Internet connection, by means of either:
- Ethernet cable or free socket (CAT5 or CAT6 standard)
- WiFi network (IEEE802.11n / g / b, 2.4 GHz bands)

1.5.1. Power

If power is removed, the Syncbox will continue on battery power for about half an hour. It will indicate this by beeping periodically. See Running on battery power.

1.5.2. Internet

If internet is disconnected, the Syncbox will remain functional for a maximum of 2 days. However contact with the Portal is not possible.

The internet connection has the following requirements:

Fully functional internet access to websites (HTTPS).
If you have multiple devices, a Router with DHCP is required. For multiple Syncboxes built into cabinets, a network switch is provided to make them share a single connection.
If you have a firewall, outgoing access to HTTPS (TCP port 443) is required. The Syncbox uses only outgoing connections on that port. No port forwarding is required for incoming connections. Whitelisted domains should include:
- syncboxapi.guideid.com
- syncboxlogs.guideid.com
- syncboxdebug.guideid.com
Using an Ethernet cable is recommended above using a WiFi network. Connecting the Syncbox to your WiFi network requires manual configuration. Please refer to advanced network configuration.
Internet access through proxy servers is supported, but may require manual configuration. Please refer to advanced network configuration.

2. Installation

2.1. In a cabinet

On the rear of the cabinet, remove the cabinet holder (2 screws)
Place the Syncbox in the cabinet holder
Guide the 10 dockingstation USB cables out of the cabinet, and connect them to the rear of the Syncbox (see Notes on USB cabling)
Mount the cabinet holder (2 screws)
Connect the Ethernet cable (or USB WiFi dongle, to the USB port combined with the Ethernet connector)
Connect the Power cable

Note that when a cabinet is placed on top of another, cables may be guided internally as visible in the image below. In this case:

Power cables are combined using a (European) extension cord. The extension cord is provided by Guide ID and has a country-specific power cord
Ethernet cables are combined using a network switch, which is provided by Guide ID

2.2. Tabletop

Place the Syncbox on a flat surface, not obstructing any of the ventilation holes
Connect one or more Dockingstations to the rear of the Syncbox (see Notes on USB cabling)
Connect the Ethernet cable (or USB WiFi dongle, to the USB port combined with the Ethernet connector)
Connect the Power cable

2.3. Notes on USB cabling

In both installation cases, note that the following is required for USB cabling between the Syncbox and Dockingstation:

USB Hubs are not supported. You cannot use them when connecting the Dockingstations to the Syncbox(es).
Use the USB cables supplied with the Dockingstations. When using the Syncbox to charge the Podcatchers, these cables should be less than 1m in length.
Do not use the front USB port. The Syncbox supports one Dockingstation on each of the 10 rear ports only.

To verify the cabling, after powering on the Syncbox please inspect the LED indicators on the Dockingstations. Lights should be white or green. See section Charging (5.3) for possible other LED colors.

3. Activation

The Syncbox must be activated before it becomes operational.

Notice:

Important: you cannot use a Syncconsole and a Syncbox at the same time. If you are replacing your syncconsole(s) by a Syncbox make sure to delete the syncconsole(s) first.
Beware that when switching from a Syncconsole to a Syncbox, all the published content will be re-synced on to the Podcatchers. This may take a while when you have a lot of content / multiple languages.

Activation steps:

Power on the Syncbox by briefly pressing the ‘shutdown’ button
1. A pen may be required to reach the button
2. This is only required if the Syncbox was previously shut down using the button
Open the Podcatcher Platform and login to your account
Select the Sync module on the left
Click the button “Add new Sync Device”
Select Syncbox as device type
Fill in the details in the dialog. Both the Serial number and the Link key can be found on the label on your Syncbox
Your Syncbox is now ready for use!

After activation, it may take a few minutes before the Sync now button becomes available.

Select device type

Select the Syncbox

Enter Syncbox details

Enter Sync time

This represents the time that starts the automated daily sync

Enter location name

When adding multiple devices it will help you distinguish the syncboxes.

4. Usage

4.1 Power on

Briefly press the push button (labelled shutdown) to start the Syncbox, if it does not automatically switch on when power is connected. On power on the Syncbox will beep and switch on the system LED.

To verify that the Syncbox can connect to the Portal, please verify that the connection LED becomes green after connecting the Ethernet cable (or USB WiFi dongle). This can take a few minutes.

Note that when using WiFi, connecting the Syncbox to your WiFi network requires manual configuration. Please refer to advanced network configuration. Also please check this page if your network forces the use of a proxy server and does not support automatic configuration.

4.2. Service Podcatchers

Once connected and linked to your site, the Syncbox will automatically charge, synchronize and service your Podcatchers.

4.3. Shutdown for transport

When disconnected from power, the Syncbox will continue on battery power for a while. Before returning your Syncbox to Guide ID, please shut it down. In order to do so:

Press the ‘shutdown’ button for 10 seconds, until the system LED starts flashing
Wait until the system LED stops blinking
If the Syncbox is placed in a cabinet block, make sure to disconnect the USB cables and to take the Syncbox out of the cabinet holder before sending the equipment back.

5. Troubleshooting

5.1. Lights

The Syncbox has 4 dual-color LED indicators. Each of the LEDs has a separate function. If all is well, all of them should be green or green blinking. Specific information can be found in the sections below.

5.1.1. Power

Color	Blinking	Indication	Action required
off	–	No power, battery is empty or Syncbox switched off	Connect power, press push button
green	no	Power connected, battery full	–
orange	no	Power connected, battery charging	–
orange	yes	No power, battery discharging	Connect power
red	yes	Power connected, battery unable to charge	Contact support

5.1.2. System

Color	Blinking	Indication	Action required
off	–	System off	Connect power, press push button
green	no	System on	–
green	yes	System starting	Wait for startup
orange	no	System about to start	Wait for startup, or press button to cancel startup
orange	yes	System shutting down	If unexpected, contact support
red	no	System recovery mode	Contact support
red	yes	System overtemperature or boot error	Check temperature, if persistent contact support

5.1.3. Connection

Color	Blinking	Indication	Action required
off	–	No connection (no IP address)	Check Ethernet connection and DHCP server
green	no	Connected (inactive)	–
green	yes	Connected (active)	–
orange	no	Internet (not connected to Guide ID)	Check firewall
orange	yes	Connecting	Please wait for connection. This could take a minute.
red	no	Error authenticating	Contact support
red	yes	No internet	Check internet connection or firewall, or complete WiFi configuration when dongle connected

5.1.4. Sync

Color	Blinking	Indication	Action required
off	–	Sync disabled	Activate the Syncbox in the Portal
green	no	Sync finished successfully	–
green	yes	Sync running	–
orange	no	Sync scheduled	Wait for scheduled sync, or press button “Sync Now” in the Podcatcher Portal
orange	yes	Sync updating	Wait for update to complete
red	no	Sync finished with errors	Check dockingstation connections, replace faulty USB cables

5.2. Sounds

5.2.1. System state change

When the Syncbox is started or restarted, a short beep sounds once.

5.2.1. System software updates

An automated restart can happen during a system software update. This will only occur if the Syncbox is idle. In the unlikely event of a failed software update and the Syncbox being unable to continue, a long beep will sound once and the System LED will turn red. It has then entered recovery mode, requiring service from Guide ID.

5.2.2. Running on battery power

If the Syncbox becomes unpowered due to a power dip or disconnection of the main cable, it switches to battery power and will remain running for about 30 minutes. A long beep will sound every 10 seconds during this time.

If the battery is completely depleted, the Syncbox will shut down.

Note that the Dockingstations will be disconnected from the power if the Syncbox becomes unpowered (also while it still runs on battery power). The light on the top of the dockingstations will be switched off and the Podcatchers will start blinking their orange light. Once power is restored, the Syncbox and the dockingstations will automatically resume operation.

5.2.3. Temperature range exceeded

If the Syncbox exceeds its operating temperature range, it will automatically shut down. A long beep will sound every 3 seconds during this time.

Once temperature is restored to within operational range, the Syncbox automatically resumes operation.

5.3. Charging

The Syncbox can supply power to Dockingstations through the USB cable. If Dockingstations are supplied with power, their LED on top should be green or white. If it is red, there is a problem with the connection between Syncbox and Dockingstation. Please refer to the notes on USB cabling.

Note that only newer Dockingstations support USB charging:

Labelled Dockingstation 1.3. The Dockingstation version can be found on the bottom of the Dockingstation
Serialnumber of DS.005.000 and higher. The Dockingstation serial number is shown in the Sync view in the Portal.

If the Dockingstation does not support USB charging, the DC adapter must be connected.

The table below lists possible dock LED indications.

Color	Indication
off	Dockingstation is off
green	Dockingstation charging and operational
white	Dockingstation charging, not communicated yet
red	Dockingstation not charging
blue	Dockingstation locator function on (user request from Portal)

In afwachting van PP4 info- 5.4. Finding a Dockingstation

5.4. Finding a Dockingstation

If there is a problem with a specific Dockingstation, it may be required to find out where in a cabinet it has been installed. Using the portal, the LED of a Dockingstation can be temporarily set to the color blue. To accomplish this:

Check if the Dockingstation is hardware version 1.3 (supports USB charging). Please refer to section 5.3 to identify it. Dockingstation indication is not available on older hardware versions.
Open the Sync overview in the portal.
In section “Details from most recent synchronization”, beneath the Dockingstation serial, click the button labelled “ON”.
Wait until the button stops blinking. It can take up to 3 minutes for the Dockingstation LED to become blue.
The LED will remain blue for 15 minutes. You can optionally switch it off earlier using the same button on the portal. Note that again it can take up to 3 minutes for the Dockingstation LED to respond.

5.5. Helpdesk

If you have any questions, or require assistance with your Syncbox you can always contact our helpdesk.

See http://www.guideid.com/site/Contact on how to do so.

6. Frequently asked questions

6.1 Generic

Is the Syncbox protected against theft of customer data?

The Syncbox utilizes encrypted SSL transfers only. Periodic security patches are installed. User data is encrypted in an secondary way.

Will the Syncbox automatically power on after power loss?

The Syncbox will automatically power off when the battery is empty, and power on as soon as power is restored, unless it was switched off by the user using the push button.

6.2 ICT related

Will we ever need console access to this machine?

No. The Syncbox is a standalone device without a keyboard or monitor (headless).

Will GuideID or any 3^rd parties have remote access to this machine?

No 3^rd parties have access to the Syncbox. From our helpdesk, we have an option to enable remote access to the device. This will only be enabled if we need to service the device.

Can the Syncbox be put in a guest VLAN to restrict access to my Intranet?

Yes. The Syncbox only requires access to the servers listed in the Further requirements section.

Do we only need outbound internet access, no inbound NAT?

Correct. Please refer to the Further requirements section.

My network forces the use of a proxy server. Does the Syncbox support this?

Yes, but manual configuration is required if the network does not support automatic configuration, for instance because credentials must be entered. Please refer to advanced network configuration.

I have no Ethernet connection and have inserted a USB WiFi dongle. How to connect to my WiFi network?

Please refer to advanced network configuration, but note that not all WiFi dongles are supported, and can only be inserted in the USB slot combined with the Ethernet connector. Please only use the WiFi dongle supplied with the Syncbox.

Warning IDentifier manual

Preventing your Podcatchers from going missing

Introduction

When a visitor uses a Podcatcher, you can expect them to return it after use. However, some visitors may neglect, or simply forget to do so. To lower the amount of Podcatchers ‘disappearing’ over time, there are two ways to activate a warning signal built into the Podcatcher to alert visitors they should return the device. The first is a special IDentifier called the Warning IDentifier, the second is a Podcatcher setting namely the “idle time Alarm”. You can use either, neither, or both, depending on what you think is appropriate.

Warning IDentifier

The Podcatcher can sound its warning signal when it receives a Warning IDentifier code. This is a special IDentifier that is typically placed near the building exit so visitors should be notified at the right time.

The advantages of this method are that Podcatchers are more likely to be dropped off over time (especially if you have a lanyard or wristband attached), and your staff will know to ask specific visitors to return the player before leaving the building.
The disadvantage is that the IR signal doesn’t go through much in the way of cloth or leather, meaning Podcatchers won’t sound the warning signal if it’s been put in a bag or pocket.

Installation of the Warning IDentifier

CAUTION: Avoid looking directly into the Warning IDentifier’s front at close range! The infrared LEDs in the device are invisible to the human eye but are very bright, especially at close range.

Testing:

Plug the adapter into a power socket and the adapter plug into the 9V DC input on the Warning IDentifier. Although there also is a RCA connector on the back, you only need to connect the 9V DC adapter plug and nothing else.
The 2 LEDs on the back will blink green for a couple of seconds.
Then the Warning IDentifier will start transmitting alarm codes. The top LED should be red and the bottom led should flash green every time an warning signal code is transmitted (about 4x per second).
Take a Podcatcher from the Docking Station. The warning signal should sound when you are in range of the Warning IDentifier. It will sound for about 120 seconds. You can stop the warning signal sound by pressing any of the buttons on the Podcatcher, but when you are still in range it will sound again!

Configuration:

You can change the Warning IDentifier transmission power by setting the red/white switches at the back of the device.
The change takes place immediately and each increase adds about 2-3 meters of range.

Switch 1 up, all others down = 25% intensity

Switch 1 and 2 up, all others down = 50% intensity

Switch 1, 2 and 3 up, all others down = 75% intensity

Switch 1, 2, 3 and 4 up, all others down = 100% intensity

Mounting:

Podcatchers can only react to the warning signal when they are in visible range of the Warning IDentifier. The Warning IDentifier sends infrared signals and infrared cannot pass through objects, therefore the Warning IDentifier works best when the Podcatcher is aimed directly at it. It is wise to place the Warning IDentifier in such a way that it is most likely to ‘reach’ a Podcatcher.

When mounting the Warning IDentifier near an exit, it is best to place it at the ceiling facing towards the visitors inside the building, so visitors that are walking towards the exit are most likely to get in range of the Warning IDentifier. When mounting near an entrance it is best to place the device in the other direction,thus facing outside of the building, because if it is facing inside, it is very likely that the Warnng IDentifier would trigger Podcatchers at the handout desk as well.

Please experiment which location and direction/angle works best to reach the Podcatchers, but not interfere with normal operations.

Warning signal after idle time

The Podcatcher can also sound an warning signal when it is engaged in a Tour but has not played audio for a while. By default this functionality is turned off, but you can set it up in the Podcatcher Site settings, under “Podcatcher idle time before alarm starts”.

The advantage of this method is that the warning signal will always sound after a while, unless properly handed in. The disadvantages are that if you set it to sound the warning signal too quickly, visitors may become annoyed; if you set it to sound the warning signal too late, the visitor may already be on the bus back home by the time it goes off. Further, if your site doesn’t collect Podcatchers in docks after visitors finish the tour (such as a drop-off box), they may start to produce a very annoying chorus over time.

Post-Alarm trigger

The Podcatcher can be made to play audio after sounding the warning signal using the Post-Alarm trigger in a stop. This will make the stop play its audio after the warning signal has stopped playing (either due to it playing for its full duration or a button being pressed). This is – as all content is – localized to the language of the tour.

Prevent missing Podcatcher

There are a number of ways to minimize the risk of losing Podcatchers. Below in the spec-sheet you’ll find a number of tips and best practices.

Prevent missing Podcatcher

Network Requirements

This article explains the network requirements and setup options for Guide-ID services in your organization. Whether you’re preparing for a new installation, adding devices, or troubleshooting connection issues, you’ll find the necessary technical specifications and configuration options here.

You’ll need this information when:

Your IT department needs to prepare the network for Guide-ID installation
You want to understand the basic network requirements before purchasing
You’re experiencing connection issues with Guide-ID devices
Your organization has specific network security policies or restrictions
You need to set up multiple Guide-ID devices across your location(s)

Connection Requirements Overview

For a working connection with Guide-ID, there are two options:

Option 1 (Recommended)

Allow access to all Guide-ID services using a single domain:

*.guide-id.com

Option 2 (Alternative)

Allow access to these specific domains:

app.guide-id.com (web application)
api.guide-id.com (basic services)
platform.guide-id.com (platform)
account.guide-id.com (login)
syncboxdebug.guideid.com (diagnostics)

Technical Requirements

Internet Connection

No port forwarding required
Outgoing access for HTTPS (TCP port 443) required
No incoming ports need to be opened
Proxy servers are supported (additional configuration may be needed)

Network Infrastructure

Wired connection (Ethernet) is preferred over WiFi
- WiFi connection on the Basecamps requires manual configuration

Share this information with your IT department to ensure proper setup

Specsheet Syncbox

The Syncbox is a compact computer, designed by Guide ID to charge and synchronize Podcatcher audio guides. You can connect up to 10 dockingstations (100 Podcatchers) to one Syncbox.

Specsheets:

Technical info and measurements: Syncbox Specsheet
LED status quick reference: Syncbox LED Status sheet

Syncbox advanced network configuration

1. Wireless LAN (WiFi)

We recommend using a wired network connection whenever available. In cases where it isn’t, but you have a WiFi network available, you can connect the Syncbox to it using a USB WiFi dongle.

Only specific types of dongles are supported, so please contact our helpdesk if you are in need of one. Configuration must be repeated for each USB dongle. If you have more than one Syncbox, you may be provided with a WiFi access point instead, to simplify the configuration and provide the best reception.

1.1. USB WiFi dongle

Connecting the Syncbox to WiFi using a USB dongle is an easy one-time process. Follow the steps below.

1. Insert the USB dongle into the front USB port that is below the Ethernet port, and startup you Syncbox.
Note: Do not use any of the 10 USB ports on the rear of the Syncbox for the WiFi dongle. The device will not be found.

2. Wait for about 2 minutes, until the connection LED starts flashing red. This indicates that the Syncbox has started a WiFi hotspot.

3. Search for WiFi networks on you phone (or another WiFi capable device). Select the network named after the label on you Syncbox, and connect to it. The WiFi password is “podcatcher”.

4. When you are connected to the hotspot, a popup should be shown: “Sign in to network”. Click on it to open the WiFi configuration page.

5. Select your WiFi network from the drop down list. Enter the passphrase, and click “Connect”. The WiFi hotspot will be disabled, and the Syncbox will connect to your WiFi network.

To check if the connection is succesfull, observe the connection LED. The LED should be blinking orange, and become green after about one minute. If there is an error connecting to the WiFi network, the LED will return to blinking red and the hotspot will be restarted. You can then go back to step 3.

1.2. WiFi access point

Instead of using a WiFi dongle for each Syncbox, it is possible to use an access point in client mode to connect many Syncboxes to your wireless network at once. The Syncboxes connect to the access point by means of Ethernet cables, and the access point is configured to connect to your wireless network. To help plan your setup, please contact our helpdesk.

Configuration using a WiFi access point is similar to the procedure for connecting a single USB dongle. But, you will only have to configure the access point.

2. Proxy server

On some locations it is required to access the internet through a proxy server. The Syncbox supports proxy servers through automatic and manual configuration. There are however some requirements on the type of proxy server used.

2.1. Proxy server requirements

Your proxy server must meet the following requirements:

Support HTTPS connections to websites. Or in technical terms: support the HTTP CONNECT method, where the proxy server sets up a direct connection between the client and the website.
As most websites today use HTTPS, most proxy servers support this feature. Some proxy servers however require clients to install a special certificate, instead of using HTTP CONNECT. This is currently not supported by the Syncbox.
If your proxy server requires entering a username and password to access the internet, this is supported by the Syncbox, but currently only through the HTTP basic authentication scheme. Other existing types (e.g. HTTP Digest, HTTP NTLM and HTTP Negotiate) are currently not supported.

2.2. Automatic configuration (WPAD)

The Syncbox supports automatic configuration of a proxy server by means of the Web Proxy Auto-Discovery Protocol (WPAD). If your network is configured to support this, proxy server configuration of the Syncbox is done automatically and will work out of the box.

For more information on WPAD follow this link.

If your proxy server requires entering a username and password to access the internet, automatic configuration will normally not provide the Syncbox with these credentials. To enter them you would need to resort to manual configuration. As an alternative you can include the credentials in the the proxy URL in the PAC file. An example PAC file in this format is shown below.

function FindProxyForURL(url, host) { return "PROXY username:password@192.168.1.1:8080; DIRECT"; }

Note: Including the username and password for the proxy server in the PAC file will make it available to all users on the network, unless access to the PAC file is regulated by for instance IP address. The MAC address of the Syncbox is printed on its label to allow to assigning it a specific IP address.

3. Manual configuration

Manual configuration of Syncbox network settings is possible using a USB mass storage device. Please follow the steps below.

3.1. Prepare the USB stick

Format a USB stick in FAT format.
Create a new text file on it named “config”. The file must not be placed within a directory.
Add configuration entries to the file as specified below.

3.2. Network configuration entries

The configuration file “config” can contain a combination of the following configuration entries, each on a separate line.

3.2.1. General

Clear all network profilesconfig_net_reset=1

Note: The reset can be combined with other entries and will be handled first.

3.2.2. Wireless LAN

WiFi ssid to apply settings to (if omitted, configure Ethernet)config_net_wifi_ssid=My WiFi Network

WiFi password to installconfig_net_wifi_pass=password

WiFi auth-alg:
– open: Open System
– shared: Shared Keyconfig_net_wifi_auth=open

WiFi key management:
– none: WEP
– ieee8021x: Dynamic WEP
– wpa-psk: infrastructure WPA-PSK
– sae: SAE
– wpa-eap: WPA-Enterpriseconfig_net_wifi_mgmt=wpa-psk

3.2.3. Proxy server

Note: Proxy configuration applies to wired Ethernet, unless it is combined with wireless LAN configuration entries. To manually configure a proxy server for WiFi, you must also manually configure the WiFi settings. If you have already used the hotspot method to configure WiFi, you must clear the existing profile using the reset option listed above.

Proxy server hostconfig_net_proxy_host=192.168.1.1

Proxy server portconfig_net_proxy_port=8080

Proxy server usernameconfig_net_proxy_user=username

Proxy server passwordconfig_net_proxy_pass=password

3.3. Apply settings on a Syncbox

Using the following steps you can apply the configuration to a Syncbox. You can repeat these steps on multiple Syncboxes, using the same USB stick.

Power off the Syncbox, by holding the “Shutdown” button 10 seconds until the system LED starts blinking orange and finally switches off.
Insert the USB stick into the front USB port below the Ethernet connector.
Note: Do not use any of the 10 USB ports on the rear of the Syncbox for the USB stick. The device will not be found.
Press and hold the “Shutdown” button for 10 seconds to start it in recovery mode. The Syncbox should apply the settings, and automatically reboot to normal mode.
Note 1: Release the button when the system LED becomes orange. If you hold it too long it becomes red and will start in a different mode.
Note 2: If applying the settings failed or no settings were applied, the Syncbox will stay in recovery mode and the system LED will stay red. In this case check the USB device, and restart at step 1 to retry.

Specsheet Warning IDentifier

The Podcatcher can sound an warning beep when it receives a signal from the Warning IDentifier, which might help preventing Podcatchers from going missing. In the specsheet you’ll find more information about the Warning IDentifier.

Specsheet Warning IDentifier

Specsheet Syncconsole (NUC)

The Syncconsole is the connection between the Podcatcher Portal and the hardware. Standard Syncconsoles delivered by us, will have TeamViewer installed so we are able to connect with the Syncconsole from a distance. If you would like our support, you can always contact our helpdesk. If we have to look into the Syncconsole to resolve a problem, we will inform you first.

We always recommend to connect the Sycconsole onto your ‘guest network’ so your internal network is protected at all times. Your system administrator will be able to do this for you as it’s his responsibility.

This specsheet gives you more information about the Syncconsole we deliver, a NUC.

Specsheet Sync-Console (NUC)

Specsheets IDentifiers

Underneath you find the specsheets of our newest model IDentifier (V3) and our older model IDentifier (V2).

Specsheet IDentifierV3
Specsheet IDentifierV2

Note; the IDentifier V2 will no longer be available in our product range as of the 1st of January 2021. Customers can keep using them on location, but we cannot replace them or send out additional ones.

Replacing the battery of IDentifiers

After a while – a year or two in indoor environments – an IDentifier’s battery will eventually run dry. When this happens, replacing it is fairly simple. This page aims to teach you how to do so.

Object IDentifier

The process of replacing batteries is as follows, depending on the type of IDentifier you have;

V2 – IDentifier

Remove frontside using a fine flat screwdriver.
Carefully take out the PCB with transmitter and batteries.
Replace the 2 CR2032 lithium coin cells (batteries) off the transmitter.
Re-assemble the IDentifier.

Instruction-sheet Instruction IDentifierV2 Battery

V3 – IDentifier

Remove frontlabel using a fine small knife.
Remove the 4 screws with a T6-screwdriver
Remove the top cover whilst keeping the sealing in the front side.
Carefully take out the PCB with transmitter and batteries.
Replace the 2 CR2032 lithium coin cells (batteries) off the transmitter.
Re-assemble the IDentifier.

Instruction-sheet Instruction IDentifierV3 Battery_

Done!

Syncconsole Specifications

Introduction

To synchronize content and usage data of the Podcatchers, a PC needs to be set up as a Sync Console near/at the handout desk which is connected to the Dockingstations and Internet. We will provide this PC to you, but if you need an extra Sync Console installed (for instance in the office or at a partner) you can install our synchronization software on a regular PC. Below you find the specifications a Sync Console must meet to work properly.

Specifications

The computer that will be set up as Sync Console must meet (or exceed) the following specifications:

Any new PC you find in a store is more than likely good enough.
Operating System: Windows Vista or Windows 7 (32-bit and 64-bit editions are both supported), Windows 8 (32- or 64-bit), Windows 10 (32 or 64 bit).
We recommend buying a (mini)computer or laptop that still has USB 2 connections to connect the USB HUBs or Docking Stations to, we have seen problems with USB 3 connectors (usually USB 2 connectors in a computer are black and USB 3 ones are blue).
Do not connect more than 30 Docking Stations (or 300 Podcatchers) to a single sync PC.
- When using USB hubs, connect the Docks only to the hubs, and the hubs only to the computer. Don’t plug hubs into other hubs, as we’ve experienced a lot of trouble with this in the past. If you decide to do this regardless, please mention this whenever you contact us for support on sync issues.
The PC needs to have an ethernet (wired) connection, only wifi is insufficient.
Internal memory (RAM): At least 512 MB.
Storage space (hard drive): At least 1 GB. It is strongly recommended to take a much larger margin in the amount of free space; preferably upwards of 100GB to allow Windows to continue installing updates for a long while.
USB connection: At least 1 free USB 1.1 port; typically you will have 10 Docks plugged into a USB hub, so the actual amount depends on how many Docking stations you have for a given Sync Console. Remember to limit the total number of docks connected to a single computer to 30.
The PC needs to be updated (automatically) with the latest Windows updates (using Windows Update).
The PC needs to be switched on 24 hours a day/7 days a week.
The PC needs to be connected to the Internet 24 hours a day/7 days a week.
The PC and connected Dockingstations need to be connected to the power 24 hours a day/7 days a week.
You need to have ‘Administrator’ privileges for the synchronization software to install.
Important for the IT Department; the Sync Console needs to be able to connect to our server via the website apps.podcatcher.eu on Port 80.

Note: The Podcatcher Sync software does not directly support connections to the Internet through a proxy server! There is a workaround for this, see the advanced setup page for more information.

Note: The Podcatcher Sync program does not run under Linux or MacOS.

Note: Never (!) use USB extension cords, only our provided USB cables (about 1.80m/6ft in length). If you need more length, place the sync computer closer or move the docks, you cannot extend the USB cables without running into serious sync issues that are very hard to diagnose and unsolvable for helpdesk.