Washington Watch dailys for next week aug 2-6 will sound familiar. Tony is on retreat so they’re repeating this week, tho they did switch the order. dave allen
We’ve sent new firmware to connected AMR-100 receivers this afternoon, 6/30/2010, at approximately 1435 eastern. The new firmware (Revision 1.89) addresses scandisk issues which were found to exist in about 2-3 percent of installed receivers. Receivers should re-boot after receiving the update and then resume normal activity. If your AMR was playing audio at the time the firmware arrived, the re-flash process will be inhibited until the next minute after the receiver stops audio playout. If you have problems or questions related to the firmware flash please call our helpdesk at 1.877.ambos2u or email us at support@amb-os.com.
We’ll be loading new firmware to connected AMR-100 receivers tomorrow, 6/30/2010, between 1430 & 1445 Eastern. The new firmware (Revision 1.89) addresses scandisk issues which were found to exist in about 2-3 percent of installed receivers. Receivers should re-boot after receiving the update and then resume its normal activity. If your AMR is playing audio at the time the firmware arrives, the re-flash process will be inhibited until the next minute after the receiver stops audio playout. If you have issues or questions related to the firmware flash please call our helpdesk at 1.877.ambos2u or email us at support@amb-os.com.
New firmware (Rev. 1.87) was sent to AMR-100 receivers this afternoon, 6/22/2010, at approximately 1432 Eastern. The new firmware sets the default symbol rate to be the value as recently changed by the CRC and implements several backfill/backload refinements.
After receiving the new firmware the AMR will re-boot and should re-acquire the satellite feed automatically. If your AMR should happen to be playing audio at the time the firmware arrives, the re-boot process will be inhibited until the next minute after the receiver stops audio playout.
As a result of past firmware upgrades we’ve fielded a few calls reporting that after the upgrade process their UI software stopped communicating with the receiver. Many times, this has been the result of the receiver, after re-boot, being served an IP address (by your local DHCP server) which is different than the one previously entered in the UI SYSTEM INFO section. If you are running with DHCP “on” on your AMR-100 and you experience a “connect error” in the lower diagnostic window of the UI after the upgrade process, you may need to check to see that the IP address of the AMR is the same as you’ve previously entered in your UI software. For details on how to access the IP settings of your AMR-100, please refer to the current AMR manual which is available for download at www.amb-os.com/support.html. If the address of the receiver has changed, simply note what the new address is and then enter and save it in the UI SYSTEM INFO section.
In many instances DHCP uncertainty can be mitigated by turning the DHCP client in the receiver OFF and then entering a static IP address, netmask & gateway as assigned by your local network administrator. If you adopt this scenario, you would also need to enter the static address in the UI SYSTEM INFO section. If you need help in changing to a static addressing scheme send an email to support@amb-os.com or call 1.877.AMBOS2U.
If, during day-to-day operation, you’d like to be notified if your local AMR-100 receiver experiences satellite reception or server connection problems an output closure can be used to activate a warning device. The AMR-100 receivers are shipped with output closure #6 defined as an “alarm” summary fault indicator.
By connecting an external audible or visual device (buzzer, light, etc.) to the AMR’s closure #6 (see pages 10, 15 & 16 of the current AMR-100 manual) you will be notified when the receiver is experiencing any of the following faults: 1. Loss of satellite lock, 2. LNB/RF cabling short detected, 3. Loss of Ethernet link, 4. Loss of Internet communications with our servers (for backfill/backload & status). Pages 27 and following of the manual, “Relay Specifications”, describe connection particulars.
Steve has just finished a new revision of the AMR-100 manual which adds more clarity to many topics. Revision 38, Firmware 1.87, 6/8/2010 was sent to your receivers this evening. The manual can be accessed by browsing to your AMR’s home page (at its IP address) and clicking on the receiver graphic near the bottom. The receiver’s IP address can be found by clicking on your UI’s System Info tab.
Although the manual carries a future firmware designation (1.87) new features detailed in the manual such as multi-site “Backfill/Backload” capability are already enabled in the current revision level (1.81).
Today we’ve added a document to the Support page of Amb-OS.com which details a peaking/cross-polarization technique for optimizing reception of the Amb-OS (as well as other CRC entities) satellite carrier on AMC-3 Transponder 17. As always, feel free to call our 24-hour support hotline (1.877.AMBOS2U) or email support@amb-os.com if we can help with questions or problems.
On March 5th, 2010 at 0915 Eastern, Amb-OS’s (as well as other CRC entities’) satellite uplink provider will change two of our signal’s characteristics. We will adjust our transmission schedule for that day so as to not be transmitting program files during the transition period. As the changes are made we expect that your AMR will de-acquire and then re-acquire within a few seconds.
The first change, FEC rate, will be auto-detected by your AMR-100. The second change, symbol rate, will be sent to your receiver from the Amb-OS head-end so under normal circumstances the manual change as detailed below will not be necessary. However, if a local manual change becomes necessary due to your AMR being offline when the command is sent (if you have spare AMR-100 units you may want to consider having them also connected to the satellite feed on March 5th) refer to the AMR-100 front panel LCD display and four associated pushbuttons to make changes to “Symrate” ONLY:
Press [ENTER] twice
Press [DOWN] three times to “Receiver Utilities”
Press [ENTER] once
Press [DOWN] twice to “Symrate” (old value is 07140000 new value is 03910000)
1. Press [ENTER] to select 0 (or the first digit of the symbol rate)
2. Press [UP] or [DOWN] to change the digit to the desired value (in this case – no change)
3. Press [ENTER] to move to the next digit
4. Press [BACK] to return to a previous digit to correct it
5. Press [ENTER] to go to each successive digit. When you press [ENTER] at the last digit, it will remember your new value and the cursor will return to “Symrate”
6. Press [BACK] to save the new setting or wait for the system timer to auto-save (about 15 seconds delay)
If you’d like to receive text messages when new items are posted to the Amb-OS status RSS feed check out this resource link..The service is free but depending upon your phone account’s features, you may be charged for receiving text messages..
Note: Please make sure you add :2121 at the end of the ftp URL. That is the port number and it is required. Web browser FTP capabilities can be limited compared to FTP client software. It may be best to use FTP client software rather than a web browser. Some web browsers have FTP add-ons which work as well as dedicated FTP client software.
This past week we had a station pose a question pertaining to the usability of the AMR-100 clock as a reference source for their local automation..The short answer is yes, the AMR-100 clock is driven by a Stratum 1 source at the NC uplink and could be utilized as a Primary Reference Source (PRS) by a local station.
Version 015p contains code to change the size of the “install now” button in the system info window. After re-arranging that window (about 015n) it was partly covering the “ask me first” window such that you had to click on “first” to choose it.
Also, a routine was added to detect timezone change (e.g. November 1) and re-schedule the timed transfers. When a timezone or DST change is effected on the host PC the timed transfer list of the UI will flash (be cleared and re-written), and a message will appear in the activity window & log. Transfer times will be the same as they were before, but the important thing is that the system timers that will trigger each transfer have been re-programmed. They are set in terms of “milliseconds from ‘now’” so when the time changes, and ‘now’ was in the old time, the transfers were wrong. Transfer times are re-programmed based on the new ‘now’ after the time change. Transfer times or other UI operations for folks in zones that do not participate in Daylight Saving Time will NOT be affected by the move to 015p.
If your existing UI was running and was in contact with your AMR-100 at the time the update was received, the following action(s) should have taken place:
If, under the System info tab of your existing UI, the “Install it” button is selected as a response to the query “When a program update is available:” the system will suspend the current program, auto-load and then run the updated version. If “Ask me first” is selected, the update process can be delayed by up to 48 hours. If 48 hours have elapsed and the new version has not yet been accepted the system will proceed with the update.
If your existing UI was not running at the time the new code was received, the update process will commence at the next start-up of the software.
The update process retains all previously-entered data such as receiver IP, serial number, file re-names, transfer times/day offsets, etc. Since any playlists that might be running at your location are stored on the AMR, they should also be un-affected by the update process.
If issues or questions arise don’t hesitate to email support@amb-os.com or call our 365 X 24 X 7 helpdesk at 1.877.AMBOS2U.
We’ve just received word that if you’ve been receiving any of the HomeWord products via Amb-OS, distribution will cease effective this weekend (9/19/2009). Programs ending include: HomeWord Daily, HomeWord Snapshots (short feature) and both weekend editions.
If you have any questions, please contact the ministry at:
HomeWord, PO Box 1600, San Juan Capistrano, CA 92693
Just a quick refresher related to troubleshooting issues with your AMR-100 or UI..
The “Reset” button on the rear of the receiver (near the Ethernet connector) should be used if you feel the receiver needs to be re-initialized. A cold boot (unplugging then re-plugging the power cord) should NOT be executed unless instructed to do so by an Amb-OS technician. The cold boot process destroys valuable log data while the warm boot (Reset button) process retains the log information.
Also, a quick reminder to use our 365 X 24/7 toll-free support number (877.262.6728 or 877AMBOS2U) for questions or problems related to Amb-OS operations. If email works better for you send a description of your problem or issue to support@amb-os.com. Although several of us try to monitor the CRTech forum when possible, your question/problem will receive immediate attention if you call our toll-free helpline. No question is regarded as too trivial – Our support group is here to help!
most have hopefully heard thru official channels (i ain’t one) about Family News in Focus wkend changing. the half-hour pgm is gone.
starting this weekend, 3 short FNIFs will be available for the weekend (like the dailies) 1min, 2min, and 5min (actually 4:30). their amb-os names are: FOTF_N1W1 FOTF_N2W1 FOTF_N5W1 one promo will also be available, under the old name FOTF_FNP1
for the time being, all stations receiving the half-hour pgm are permissioned for all 3 new ones. but that may change. so let us know if you are using the new pgms, and which ones if you don’t want them all.
there is a new half-hour version of the weekend magazine also available for stations who need to fill the half-hour. FOTF_W301 it only comes as 3 parts, but your UI can combine them as it transfers them by leaving the %p or %1 out of their renames, and a playlist can of course play them back to back as tho it were one.
just wanted to “exhaust” all venues so folks would not be wondering wa-happen?
If you’d like to be notified via email if your local AMR-100 receiver experiences satellite reception or server connection problems you might want to utilize an external email server (add on) such as the ET-2 by Etherstuff.
The AMR-100 receivers are shipped with output closure #6 defined as an “alarm” summary fault indicator and can be easily connected to instruct the ET-2 to send a notification email to an address of your choosing.
By connecting the ET-2 to the AMR’s closure #6 (see page 10 of the current AMR-100 manual, “Relay Description”) you will be notified when the receiver is experiencing any of the following faults: 1. Loss of satellite lock, 2. LNB/RF cabling short detected, 3. Loss of Ethernet link, 4. Loss of Internet communications with our servers (for backfill & status). Pages 23 and following of the manual, “Relay Specifications”, describe connection particulars.
Responding to station requests for this type of alarm reporting, we evaluated the ET-2 in our lab and found it to be a good solution. The device’s interconnect board also includes a temperature sensor which can be programmed to email when user-set temperature limits are exceeded.
If I can help with questions related to your particular installation don’t hesitate to email me at dick@amb-os.com.
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