Rangecast FAQ
[FAQ-1069] How to set the Rangecast ID of scanners


Page Type: REFERENCE


OVERVIEW

Each radio scanner sending content into Rangecast is identified by a unique Rangecast ID, which is set through Rangecast software (configuration interface) on the PC connected to the scanner.


BACKGROUND

The Rangecast ID is built from three elements:

1) HUB: This is the name of the hub that controls the scanner's programming, and where audio transmissions are initially reported. The hub name is a maximum of eight characters, all lower-case.

2) SITE: This is a two-digit number uniquely identifying a particular programming configuration (set of channels to receive). Note: for site #s in the range 01-09, the leading zero must be included.

3) ID: This is a single letter (upper case) that uniquely identifies a particular radio within a hub/site. (Multiple radios with identical programming can be set to collaborate in receiving transmissions.)

Note that, in the user interface, the *column* "ID" on the Rangecast Configuration screen refers to the ID of the particular scanner within a hub/site (e.g. "A") -- while more generally the term Rangecast ID (or sometimes "ID") refers to the full set of three fields (e.g. "testsite-20-C").


METHOD

1. Launch Rangecast sender on the PC connected to the scanner(s).

2. Press Configuration.

3. The software will search for attached hardware. This process takes about 35 seconds on most PCs. When complete, the screen will say "Port tests complete" in the upper-left corner of the user interface. [img-configuration_screen]

4. Each radio found by the software will be shown on a line with both

a) three text entry boxes for Hub/Site/ID (highlighted in yellow) AND

b) the text "COM" in the data field (left column). Note: If the text "COM" is missing, then the line does not refer to a detected radio scanner, but is either a VOX sender (input source not associated with a scanner) or an "unlinked sender" (an expected radio that was not found in the hardware search.)

These three yellow-highlight fields together comprise a Rangecast ID. For example, in the illustration, the radio with hub 'kcnorth' site '10' ID 'A' is known as radio 'kcnorth-10-A'.

If the radio is presently configured for Rangecast, its current ID will be shown in these fields. If the radio has not been configured for Rangecast (or the radio has been reset to factory settings), these fields will be blank.

5. You may assign Rangecast IDs to scanners by changing the information in these yellow-highlighted text fields, and pressing "Save Changes".

If you are assigning a Rangecast ID that was previously used on a scanner attached to this PC, you may see the ID already listed on another line that says "Unlinked Sender" in the "Programming" column. This means a scanner with that ID was expected on this PC, but could not be detected. In this case, it is recommended that you uncheck the checkbox on the "Unlinked Sender" line with the identical Rangecast ID.

6. After saving changes, the Rangecast software repeats the process that searches for attached hardware (this takes anoher 35 seconds) to allow for human verification that the ID was saved successfully. When complete, the message "Port tests complete" will appear again, and the ID you entered should still be shown on the display.



EXCEPTIONS

This process is only for setting the Rangecast ID for a radio scanner with two-way data communications. VOX audio sources do not have two-way data communications, and the Rangecast ID for VOX sources cannot be set or changed in this manner.


EXPECTED PROBLEMS

In step #4, if you do not see the expected number of radios -- for example, if you have four scanners physically connected to the PC, but only three lines have text entry boxes with "COM" in the left column in this Configuration report -- this means that some of your radios were not detected by the Rangecast software when searching for attached hardware. For information about how to repair the problem, see


[FAQ-1010] Error Message: RADIO MISSING (Code 33)

"Radio Missing" means that a scanner expected at a certain PC could not be found by Rangecast Sender software, when searching attached hardware. This may be because (1) the scanner is powered off, (2) the scanner is not connected from PC, (3) the interface hardware (cable or interface box) is defective or not connected securely, (4) a USB problem - some aspect of the USB system may need to be power cycled to recover from an error condition, (5) configuration problem - the Scanner may have been moved elsewhere without updating the current PC's Rangecast's software, so the software is not seeing the expected scanner, or (6) a driver problem - A COM port driver may be wrong, not installed, or corrupted. In any case, Rangecast software on the PC is unable to identify the specific scanner assigned to this ID.



REFERENCE

In most cases, the Rangecast ID is stored in the radio scanner's memory, in the 'opening screen message' that is briefly shown on the scanner display when turned on.

The exception is the Uniden 536 model of scanner, which lacks this internal memory. For this model only, the Rangecast ID is stored in a file on the PC, associated with the scanner's electronic serial number.

Therefore, for the 536 only, if the scanner is moved to another PC, the Rangecast ID for that scanner will be forgotten (it will look like a new device). For all other models of scanner, the Rangecast ID is remembered, even if the scanner is moved to a different PC.


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