Does anyone know of alternatives to these pieces of junk? I'm tired of crawling up in ceilings every few weeks to pull them out to put them back on my desk so I can replace the mysteriously missing configuration.
I can see them (XD232s) in BrightAuthor but 'unable to connect", and this happens over and over again.
I'm looking for something that holds a configuration that can be managed remotely.
We have found these to be the most reliable players in the business. My guess is that your problem is elsewhere.
Sadly the problem is these units. They keep losing the ability to connect to. I can ping them and BrightAuthor can see them but no way to publish. I'm so sick of having to pull them out of the ceiling and reconfigure their network settings over and over.
Are you setting the IP addresses manually, and have you blocked out these addresses from being assigned by DHCP on your network if other devices are on the same network?
The most common connection issue with the players is caused by using the "Obtain an IP address automatically" on a network that uses DHCP and rotates the IP addresses for devices often. Then the players keep getting different IP addresses from the DHCP server, and BrightAuthor can't find the players.
It is recommended to set the IP addresses for the Players manually, and then configure the DHCP server on your router to not give out IP's in the same range as your players. If you are on a corporate network, get with your IT Department and tell them you need a range of IP addresses that have to be manually set, and not have the network give those IP's out to any other devices. They should understand.
In almost all cases this should solve your connection problems.
I'm using static IPs from a completely exclusive range that is not in DHCP, and I can ping them, and see them in BrightAuthor on the local LAN with no firewalls ... but I cannot (as usual) publish to them after they've been running for a length of time. I have this problem no matter which site I have these installed.
The worst part is since the configuration is on an SD card and problems cannot be corrected without physically handling the units and cards these are time killers for me.
I am one of 4 system admins and I know for a fact that the IPs have no conflicts or anything blocking them. They work fine for the first little while we can publish no problem. But then something changes something and they are no longer able to be used until they are pulled out of the ceiling and re-reprogramed with the same IPs.
The problem is they are losing their configuration. When I try to hit them with a browser I get username / password ask from the site. I enter the username and password (same as I used all along) and I get not authorized. Sorry the problem is not me.
We use the model HD1023, XD1033, XT1143, XD1032/1132 and several of the gen2 4k units and I can't recall ever having an issue where they lost configs or presentations. I am not sure what would cause that and why it wouldn't be a common complaint if it were a common failing.
Sorry, not sure what to offer.
I've had these issues from day one that is why I'm asking if anyone knows of anything better. The idea that these can't be configured remotely that they have to be continually pulled from the ceiling to reapply the same IP and configuration should have been a red flag to begin with. I would think that if the software could see them it should be able to repush the missing configuration. But at this point I'm looking for a replacement because you are correct there are no solutions available from Brightsign.
I guess what I am saying is that I doubt this is an issue with the players. We manage thousands of BrightSign players and I would have seen this problem if it were a player defect. Almost always these sorts of issues are network.
I have used most signage players and platforms out there and I like BrightSign the best, by far. Only one other player comes close in reliability and it is 4 times the cost of the most expensive BrightSign player with 1/3 the features. And I wouldn't post that info. in a BrightSign forum anyway.
I hope you get this figured out.
Sorry, I do not know what else to offer. I've been using these since 2012 (HD, XD, 4K, Series 2, and Series 3), and while some times finicky, I have not really had any issues like you are having, as long as the IP space is clear, and you say that is the case.
Hi Brent,
I see you put in a few support requests today, so we'll respond to those, but adding this here for anyone who might come across this.
If you can reach the player's Diagnostic Web Server at its IP address, which it sounds like you can, then you can reconfigure the player remotely by delivering setup files.
http://docs.brightsign.biz/display/DOC/Editing+Network+Settings+on+a+Player
If the player's configuration has been reset, it would be back on DHCP and the DWS password would be the player's serial number.
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