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XD1032 video wall - synchronization priority: Wired vs Wireless

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Monica Knutson
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Hello!

We have a video wall installation that uses six XD1032 devices.  Here are the details of the installation:

  • They have the BrightSign wifi cards installed inside.  
  • The content comes down to the BrightSigns via a 4G LTE remote Wireless access point which also serves content and provides BrightSign network health checks and management to another small 2-display video wall.  
  • Due to the installation position of the six screen display, it is not feasible to run ethernet cable from the WAP to either of the display board areas.  
  • We installed an 8-place switch and connected all six of the large video wall via ethernet cables to the switch.  The switch is just a switch, no DHCP.
  • We assigned via the Setup files, unique static IP addresses for both the Wireless and Wired network configurations.  They share the same router gateway IP as well as DNS and subnet.  
  • Network connection priority is set to Wireless
  • All checkboxes for the 'content' and 'health checks' on the Wired setup page were unticked.
  • All checkboxes for the 'content' and 'health checks' on the Wireless setup page were ticked.
  • Content is set to check frequency of every minute, and health every five minutes.  (we will be taking this down to much less frequent checks after testing)
  • Diagnostic web server enabled for all - logging in via direct static IP (wireless) shows A-OK for all networking checks.  PASS on everything.

With all of this said, we are using a video wall synchronization (Synchronize command) to play a single "sliced" video (1 video, six slices, one slice per XD2 unit), 40 seconds in length, H.264 MP4 files - no audio.

The videos do not remain in sync after just two-three cycles.  Sometimes on the first play through even.  I don't know if the BrightSigns are trying to send the UDP/Sync commands over the Wireless or the Wired... (or both?) but we want to be able to only send the Sync commands through the wired network.  We want to retain UDP on the Wireless network to be able to control the signage playback via the BrightSign App.

What is and what isn't possible with the Advanced Networking / Presentation network setup to control which network the UDP/Sync commands go out over?   We understand that the synchronization is not supported over wireless... which is why we installed the ethernet switch and cabling between the video wall.   Do we configure the setup to use separate subnets?  Separate ports for UDP?   

Please advise...

Thank you so much in advance for your assistance.

Cheers,
Monica

 

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  • 0
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    ^UD\_$

    Here is your problem:

    We assigned via the Setup files, unique static IP addresses for both the Wireless and Wired network configurations.  They share the same router gateway IP as well as DNS and subnet.  


    Configure the wired interfaces with static IPs to a different subnet, without gateway, nor DNS. That is on wired only!

    Wireless should stay the same in order to maintain internet connectivity.

    You would need to change the sync addresses accordingly.

    I wanted to recommend BrightWalls, but you are using the IOS app, which I'm not sure whether it works with BrightWalls...

    I hope that helped.

    Udi

  • 0
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    Monica Knutson

    Hi Udi!

    Thanks for the heads up.   So if I understand correctly - you advise the following:

    Wireless - which is setup as priority connection - should remain as is.  We are using the 192.168.2.1 - 255 range for the router locally.  Subnet is 255.255.255.0 and router is the .1.

    Wired Network Configuration - currently setup using the same subnet and DNS but different IPs - should be changed from this:

    IP: 192.168.2.26 (through .31 for each device)
    Subnet: 255.255.255.0
    Router: 192.168.2.1
    DNS: 8.8.8.8

    to new info with different IP range:

    IP: 192.168.10.20 (through .26 for each device)
    Subnet: 255.255.255.0
    Router: <blank>
    DNS: <blank>

    I am not sure what you mean by Sync addresses though.  It is broadcasting UDP to "all device on local subnet" - but I am not certain if that is the local subnet on Wireless or the local subnet on Wired.

    Cheers,
    Monica

  • 0
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    Monica Knutson

    Additional notes on the Synchronization...

    We did not enable the "Enhanced Synchronization" settings in the Presentation Properties.  Not quite sure what that does or how it speeds up or affects the Synchronize commands.   There is no really good explanation of the difference of the Synchronize vs Enhanced Synchronize in the BrightAuthor documentation.  What is the benefit of checking that box and assigning Master/Slave and domain?

    Thanks again!

    Monica

  • 0
    Avatar
    ^UD\_$

    to new info with different IP range:

    IP: 192.168.10.20 (through .26 for each device)
    Subnet: 255.255.255.0
    Router: <blank>
    DNS: <blank>

     

    Correct. The above was the intention.

    Not familiar with  Synchronize vs Enhanced Synchronize in the BrightAuthor.

    Once we went BrightWalls, we never looked back, although when interactivity is involved, BrightWalls is no good AFAIK

     

  • 0
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    ^UD\_$

    One more thing about syncing.

    Instead of broadcasting to all subnets, specify the address to be 192.168.10.255.

    That will ensure broadcasting UDP on the wired network only.

    I'm assuming you have two presentations. One for the master, and one for the five slaves. Correct?

    Feel free to share the presentations here.

  • 0
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    Lyndon

    I've never personally been able to get this to work reliably where the sync always stays on the wired connection if there's a good wireless present. Your results may vary.

    Another way you could do it is plug the players into a hub/switch, which is connected to a wireless bridge. The players local traffic would stay on the bridge, and only when they tried to get on the internet would they go through the wireless bridge. As far as the players are concerned, they are wired only.

    While standard sync uses udp, enhanced sync uses ptp for communication. The master unit maintains time. Also, instead of only sending a sync command at the top of playback, enhanced sends commands continuously throughout playback. Enhanced sync is what's used for brightwalls. Enhanced sync is frame accurate.  If you rebooted a save in an enhanced sync wall, it would  resync at boot vs waiting for the video to finish.  

  • 0
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    Monica Knutson

    To Udi:

    Six presentations, one assigned to each group.  Each of the six displays is assigned to its own Group.  Different piece of the video is showing on each screen.  :)

  • 0
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    ^UD\_$

    Not fun to maintain... :)

    Were you able to get it to work well?

    Support's bridge idea is interesting, and even more so, Enhanced Sync which we've been using with BrightWalls without knowing.

     

  • 0
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    ^UD\_$

    I recently used Image Play File which I found to be very powerful. There is an equivalent Video Play File, that you may want to explore. In your case I would use the video play file for all of the 5 salves, with one presentation for all of the salves.

    Although I've never tried it, there should be a way to use a System Variable set to the player's serial number as a Key. This way, every slave will always play one of the 5 videos, selected by the player's serial number.

    Thinking about, I would probably try to create a single presentation for all 6 players... :)

    This may seem hard at first, but long term it makes the project way more manageable.

  • 0
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    ^UD\_$

    Hi Monica,

    Were you able to get it to work?

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