Rangecast FAQ
[FAQ-1270] INDEX - Radio Receiver Site (feed site) - PC


Page Type: INDEX


OVERVIEW

Topics related to the PC physically connected to radio receivers (recording audio)


REFERENCE


[FAQ-1345] PC and Network Requirements for a Rangecast Feed Site

PCs called "Rangecast feed site PCs" connect scanners to the internet. Each PC typically supports 4 or more scanners. This document lists system, network, and operational requirements for Rangecast feed site PCs, and also covers the process for procurement of preconfigured PCs or setup of customer-supplied PCs.




[FAQ-1154] Feed Site - Network and firewall considerations when operating a Rangecast feed site

To operate a Rangecast feed site (a PC with scanners attached, providing audio for the Rangecast player on another PC), the feed site PC must have normal internet connectivity. No special network or firewall settings are needed for this software, it will work fine behind a firewall. Audio is uploaded to the cloud, and anyone hearing the recorded audio will obtain the content from the cloud (Rangecast players do not connect to your PC, or use your network bandwidth to hear content.)




[FAQ-1323] Installing Anydesk on a fresh PC (no Rangecast software loaded)

Anydesk is remote desktop software used by Rangecast to access PCs. When a fresh PC (no Rangecast software is installed), the first step is installing Anydesk, so that Rangecast can then access the PC to install software and configure/verify various aspects of the Windows environment.




[FAQ-1324] Installing Anydesk on a PC where Rangecast software has already been loaded

Anydesk is remote desktop software used by Rangecast to access PCs. If Anydesk must be installed (or re-installed) on a PC where Rangecast software has already been loaded, you can use an Anydesk install script that is included as part of the Rangecast software.




[FAQ-1175] How to get the Anydesk ID of a feed site PC

Anydesk is remote desktop software that may be installed on Rangecast feed site PCs to facilitate remote maintenance. Each PC is identified with a unique 9-digit number, called the Anydesk ID. On PCs where Anydesk is installed, the ID may be found in a text file. Alternatively, IDs may be found on the hub's Status Page.




[FAQ-1233] BIOS configuration for automatic power-up of PC when power is restored

If a customer supplies a feed site PC, for reliability of operation, the customer may need to adjust a BIOS setting so that the PC will automatically power up when power is restored after a power outage. BIOS settings cannot be made remotely, and the specific process varies by make and model, consult manuals that come with your PC hardware for more information.




[FAQ-1326] Use of Windows Administrator permissions

There are a few steps in initial PC setup requiring Windows administrative permissions, related to device driver installation, changing the password of remote desktop service, and registering Rangecast software to automatically launch when the PC boots. In addition, when the PC is in service, it is useful to have administrative permissions for maintenance related to these three issues, and also the ability to run certain Windows diagnostic or repair functions that require administrative permissions.




[FAQ-1054] How to set PC clock to the correct time, date, and timezone.

The PC clock is set through a Windows control interface. In addition to entering the correct time and date, ensure that the time zone is correct, and also the year. It is recommended that the clock be locked to a network time reference, to ensure continued accuracy.




[FAQ-1162] Installing or Uninstalling XYNT as Administrator

When installing or uninstalling Rangecast as a service (an unusual mode of operation that lets Rangecast operate at bootup even if the PC cannot automatically launch applications), it is sometimes necessary to run a command in a Windows command window with elevated privileges.




[FAQ-1084] Power cycle the USB system

On occasion, some element of the USB system (in either the PC or external hardware) may freeze (probably in firmware), and become unresponsive until it is power cycled. Simply turning a PC off/on may not clear the issue, since many PCs keep minimal power applied to some circuits. To ensure a clean power cycle of the USB hardware, physically disconnect the PC power cable for at least 30 seconds (with Windows safely shut down.)




[FAQ-1066] Identifying Windows Sound audio input corresponding to each scanner

The levels of each audio input can be observed and adjusted from the Windows Sound recording tab, but the inputs are not labeled or identified, making it unclear which input in Windows Sound corresponds to which scanner. The Rangecast Configuration screen, when searching for hardware, commands each scanner in turn to produce a loud signal. Observing the Windows Sound recording tab when launching Rangecast Configuration provides a way to identify which Windows Sound input is connected to which physical scanner.




[FAQ-1067] Adjusting Windows audio input levels

The Rangecast audio recording process compresses audio to support a wide dynamic range, but if the levels are too high or low, quality is compromised (and some transmissions may even be discarded). Also, if the level is too low, the Rangecast software may not reliably detect the audio port. A level control is available in Windows Sound to adjust the input levels from each scanner, and Rangecast provides information about observed levels to help determine when adjustments are needed.




[FAQ-1034] Automatic PC reboots to resolve technical problems (why, and how to enable/disable)

Sometimes there is a technical problem affecting Rangecast feed site performance that can be resolved by rebooting the PC. The Rangecast software package includes a watchdog application that runs alongside the senders monitoring performance, and if such a problem is detected, a reboot is automatically triggered to attempt to resolve the issue. For situations where a PC cannot successfully reboot and relaunch Rangecast without manual assistance, there is an option in Rangecast Configuration to suppress automatic reboots - but this places the feed site in a vulnerable state where Rangecast software cannot repair certain problems autonomously, usually causing degraded performance for the customer. Therefore it is strongly recommended that automatic reboots be suppressed only where absolutely necessary.




[FAQ-1141] Identify the reason for a Windows shutdown or reboot

In Windows Control Panel, there is a system log describing the general reason for all Windows shutdowns and reboots




[FAQ-1078] How to check that Rangecast has correct network permissions

Rangecast feed site software only uses outbound connections to the internet (similar to a web browser), with no inbound connections from the internet, so in general there is no need for special network permissions. However, two components of Rangecast software (multisync.exe and rc-awsd.exe) must have permission in Windows to communicate within the LAN; for example, multisync serves as a communication service between PCs on the same LAN to coordinate scanner tuning for maximum efficiency. The Rangecast software, when installed, should have the correct permissions in Windows. However, if these permissions are changed for any reason, it may be necessary to restore the correct Windows settings to allow Rangecast operation.




[FAQ-1033] Windows Sound Freeze

The Windows Sound system has become non-responsive. This is a Windows Operating System failure, not an application problem. However it may be triggered by a bad sound card, and may be cured by replacing it.




[FAQ-1099] Enable Windows Auto-Logon at Boot Time

Some Windows PCs require that the user to manually enter a username and/or password when the PC boots up, before taking the user to a normal desktop. This process describes a Windows configuration option that will skip this username/password step on bootup, and launch the Windows desktop for a specific Windows user on the PC. This is beneficial for having the Rangecast software, which operates under a particular Windows user account, launch automatically when the PC boots up.




[FAQ-1179] How to decommission a PC (take it out of service permanently)

When a PC is taken out of service (no longer intended to be used as a Rangecast feed site), it is necessary to take two steps. First, the Rangecast software configuration should be checked to ensure that Rangecast is not launched as a service, and if this command is present, it should be removed. Second, the process by which Rangecast is automatically launched on the startup of a Windows user account should be removed, so the Rangecast software does not relaunch itself. And of course, the Rangecast software application should be closed (not left running on the PC.)




[FAQ-1072] How to prevent Rangecast from automatically launching on a PC when it boots

To ensure reliable recovery of a Rangecast feed site in the event of a power failure, or if the PC automatically reboots for other reasons, a special file is placed in a Windows Startup folder triggering the launch of Rangecast software in the PC bootup process. To prevent Rangecast from automatically launching on a PC when it boots, delete this file.



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