How to Set Up Your Wireless Network for iRFR or aRFR Classic with Cobalt Family Consoles

Choose Your Wireless Equipment

Wireless routers are by far the most common WiFi networking device. These devices typically have an Internet or WAN (wide area network) port on them as well as some local network ports. Their function is to operate a local network, wired and wireless, and route data as needed between that network and the bigger network connected to the WAN port.

Wireless access points are also acceptable. These act as a translator between the wired and wireless, with very little filtering or processing. Devices that connect to the access point are essentially on the same network as the wired devices.

Topology

The recommended setup varies based on your system.

• If you have an existing lighting network, use one of the Existing Network examples.
• If you have a single console with dual network ports and wish to use the second network port for the wireless network, refer to the Single Console with Dual Network Ports example.
• If you have a single console and no network, refer to the Single Console example.

Existing Network with a Router

 
Connect the router's WAN port to a core switch in your system. If two switch ports are not available next to the console, ETC recommends installing a small unmanaged switch between the console, wall port, and router. The goal is to keep the router from being a point of failure for show-critical level information like sACN, EDMX, or ArtNet data. The switch will provide access to the network while not placing the router in-line.

Existing Network with an Access Point

 
Connect the access point to your core switch in the system. If another switch port is not available in the location where you want to set up the router, ETC recommends installing a small unmanaged 5-port switch. The goal is to have the router not between the console and the main network, in particular its show-critical level information like sACN, EDMX, or ArtNet data. 

Note that access points will typically end up transmitting all multicast or broadcast information on the network. This means that level data from sACN, EDMX, and ArtNet may be sent over wireless, consuming bandwidth. In larger installations, this can become problematic and affect WiFi remote connection, performance, and responsiveness.

Single Console with Dual Network Ports on an Existing Network with a Router or Access Point

Newer consoles in the Cobalt Family Consoles have two network ports available for use. One application of the second network port is to allow for WiFi remote traffic to be separated from the rest of the lighting network. In this case, be sure that the DHCP service is turned on for the second network port and connect the router's WAN port or access point to the console. Since the two network ports are on entirely separate networks, this setup works in scenarios where you have a single console in the system or only wish to use a WiFi remote with that console alone.

Single Console with a Router or Access Point

 
Some systems do not transmit lighting levels over the network. In these cases, connecting the router's WAN port or access point directly after turning on the DHCP service on the console will be completely fine.

Find the Console’s IP address

An important detail for configuring the app will be the IP address of the console.

ETC has a set of standard network IP addresses, including appropriate defaults. 
Standard IP Addresses Support Article Link

DHCP

One console in the system should be configured to hand out IP addresses to other devices in the system. This service is called DHCP, or Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol. In an ETC system, the DHCP service is run on either a console or Net3 Conductor appliance. Net3 Conductor is preferred. If you have multiple consoles and no Net3 Conductor appliance, we recommend choosing the console assigned as Primary Server (for Congo and Cobalt Family devices). 
Net3 Conductor article on setting up DHCP 
Eos and Cobalt Family article on setting up DHCP

Enable WiFi Remotes

Configuring Your Access Point or Router

We recommend the following settings. Refer to your hardware’s manual or documentation for the specific terminology and method for setting up the system.

• Most routers out of the box are running a DHCP server for their local ports and wireless devices. This is not the same as the DHCP server that we chose earlier. Leave this on.
• The WAN port should be set to listen for a DHCP address (receive internet address automatically).
• Turn off wireless security features, like securing the network with a passphrase, while configuring the network. Once you have the system up and running, you may feel free to turn these on to keep unwanted devices off the network. This simplifies the initial setup and removes extra variables.
• Turn off any settings like “Broadcast Storm Detection” or “Block Multicast”.

Bring the Network Online

After you have chosen a topology and configured the router, it is time to bring the network online.

Be sure that the DHCP server is on the network and running, whether this is a Net3 Conductor or console. Consoles should be powered on but waiting in the Welcome Screen.

Plug the router or access point into the network and plug it in to power. The router or access point will boot and receive a valid IP address from the DHCP server to communicate on the lighting network.

Start the console software. In most systems, this means launching as Primary or Server.

Connect Your Wireless Device

Connect to the new wireless network as you would any other WiFi network.

Android

• Click on the Settings icon
• Choose Wi-Fi
• Click on your network to connect. If you have enabled a passphrase, enter it when prompted.

iOS

• Click on the Settings icon
• Choose Wi-Fi
• Click on your network to connect. If you have enabled a passphrase, enter it when prompted.

The device will connect and acquire a DHCP address from the router. If using an access point, the console or Net3 Conductor appliance will supply an address through the access point.

Configure the iRFR or aRFR Classic Application

Once you are connected to the network, you will need to configure the iRFR or aRFR application.

iRFR and aRFR Classic are no longer supported on the App Store or Google Play Store.

iRFR

1. Launch the iRFR app on your iOS device
2. At the Welcome screen, click {Settings}
3. The Console settings shows the selected console that the iRFR will connect to. Click “Add Console” to add a new console if this is your first time configuring the app.  
4. Choose a display name for the connection and enter it in the Display Name field. This can be any logical name for you to know which console you are intending to connect to and does not need to match the console’s device name. 
    
5. Enter the console’s IP address under IP Address.
6. Finally, enter the password. 
   1. For Cobalt Family devices, this is left blank. 
7. When you enter the IP address of the console, an icon next to the IP address will show you the connection status. 
   1. If you see a bar graph indicating signal strength, the iRFR app is able to see the console online.
       
   2. If you see a red circle with a slash through it, the iRFR app cannot reach the console. (See Troubleshooting Section below for tips on how to correct this) 
      

aRFR

1. Launch the aRFR application on your device.
2. At the Welcome screen, click {Settings}.
   
3. Click {Consoles}. 
   
4. Enter a name for the console under name. Press the [Back] button on your device to exit to the next field.
   
5. Enter the console’s IP address. Press the [Back] button on your device to exit to the next field.
6. Enter in the password. For Cobalt and Congo Family consoles, leave the password blank.
7. Press {Save} and press the [Back] button twice to return to the welcome screen.
8. In the welcome screen, select the console from the dropdown menu. If the app doesn’t see your console online, it will display offline next to the console’s name in the dropdown menu. (See Troubleshooting Section below for tips on how to correct this)
9. Press the {Connect} button

Note: The aRFR stores the configuration linked to the IP address. Therefore, you can only have one entry for each IP address even if they have different names.

Troubleshooting

• Console is shown as (offline) on aRFR or is shown with a red circle with a slash on iRFR
  • Verify that the console’s IP address was entered correctly
  • Verify that you are connected to the correct wireless network
  • Make sure the console and access point or router are connected and running
  • Verify the console’s network port shows activity lights, indicating an active connection
• An error message appears when trying to connect, such as “Connection Refused” or “Connection Failed” or “Disconnected by console (Invalid password)”
  • Verify that the password was typed correctly. This is case sensitive.
  • Verify that you are entering the console’s name as found in the “Console Name” section above.
  • Verify the console is currently running and launched into Cobalt software.