Iadea HMP-505S User manual
Iadea HMP-505S is an industrial-grade, network managed, high-definition media player suitable for large format digital signage displays such as LCDs and projectors.
The HMP-505S uses a USB mass-storage device, a removable CF card, or over the Ethernet to sync your contents. Simply export to a removable storage device and connect the device to the player to initiate automatic update. The player can update contents without any disruption to your current playback.
The IAdea media players feature a web browser configuration interface, similar to one you might see in your network router, to greatly simplify the setup process. It is compatible with standard Internet browsers such as Internet Explorer or Mozilla Firefox. Simply connect your player to the same network as your PC and type in the player’s assigned IP in the browser URL field.
For advanced scheduling features, try the Adfotain Manager Express bundled solution.
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HMP-505S
User’s Manual
November 2008
Contents
2.2 On-screen display (OSD) messages ........................................................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
2.3 Setting up the HMP-505S on a network.................................................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
2
Revision History
2.0
Revision #
1.0
1.1
Change logs
First manual release revision
Added Adfotain Manager Express management tool
Frequently used references
Please fill in the following data for future reference.
MODEL
SERIAL (COA):
LOG IN USER*:
PASSWORD*:
MAC ADDRESS:
HMP-505S
DEVICE IP:
The device IP may change after player restart. The actual IP can be seen on your display for 10-
20 seconds during player startup.
Default Account*: admin
Default Password*: digiSignage
*Denotes a case-sensitive field (paSSwOrd≠PASSword)
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1 Introduction to the HMP-505S
The IAdea HMP-505S media player is an industrial-grade, network managed, high-definition media suitable for large format digital signage displays such as LCDs and projectors.
Configuration in a web browser
Network Hub
Connect player to a PC via network or directly using a cross-over
Ethernet cable to set time zone, access player logs, set video output, perform configuration backups and more from your web browser.
Essential digital signage software included
Adfotain Manager Express lets you harness the full signage potential of the
HMP-505S in high definition. This bundled PC application is designed to deliver dynamic HD-quality videos, photos, and PowerPoint slides (stills) for public viewing anywhere on a network. For details on management features such as day-parting and content distribution, please see the Adfotain
Manager Express Software User's Manual.
USB
Disruption –free content update
The HMP-505S uses a USB mass-storage device, a removable CF card, or over the
Ethernet to sync your contents. Simply export to a removable storage device and connect the device to the player to initiate automatic update. The player can update contents without any disruption to your current playback.
MZ
For large networks, the optional Adfotain Central Management MZ Server lets you group-manage an entire network of cost-effective IAdea media players anywhere in the world using a powerful web-browser interface. Learn more at www.IAdea.com.
1.1 Package Contents
HMP-505S media player
Quick start guide (not shown)
Installation and Documentation Kit CD
12V DC output AC Power Adapter and Power Cord
Video Adapter: DVI to VGA (not shown)
Audio Adapter: RCA male to 3.5 mm female (not shown)
Audio Cable: 3.5 mm male to 3.5 mm male (not shown)
Standard Ethernet cable (not shown)
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2 Hardware Setup
2.1 Physical Features
2.2 On-screen display (OSD) messages
Connect the player to your display monitor and switch on both. Set your display monitor to the corresponding video mode: DVI, VGA (sometimes labeled as “RGB”), S-video, or Composite.
When you see on screen text messages on the corners of your display, you are ready to configure networking and device settings (such as time and date) from your Internet browser.
2.3 Setting up the HMP-505S on a network
Connect the player to a screen and a network router using the supplied cables and adapter.
Network router
Retrieving the player IP address
When your player starts up on a network, it will acquire an IP address from your DHCP server or network router. The assigned IP is shown on the lower left of the display for 10-30 seconds during boot up. Use this IP address to log in to your player for initial set up from a web browser.
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3 Initial Device Configuration
IAdea media players feature a web browser configuration interface, similar to one you might see in your network router, to greatly simplify the setup process. It is compatible with standard Internet browsers such as Internet Explorer or Mozilla Firefox. Simply connect your player to the same network as your PC and type in the player’s assigned IP in the browser URL field.
3.1 Logging in to the HMP-505S
Using your web browser, type in the following data:
Assigned player IP: (
DISPLAYED ON
-
SCREEN
,
SEE PREVIOUS SECTION ON RETRIEVING THE
IP
ADDRESS
)
Default Account: admin
Default Password: digiSignage (Note the upper-case “S”)
The device Information area on the top right corner of the page shows
device ID
network MAC address
network IP address
model name
player firmware version
player clock’s time
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3.2 Selecting a mode of operation
Once logged in, you will see this screen:
First, choose the mode of operation in the grey bar above:
LAN mode is the default setting for HMP-505S. Keep the device set to this mode for all management operations except when using Central Management Adfotain MZ Server
WAN mode is ONLY for large network usage with Adfotain Central Management MZ Server (optional)
A reboot is required following each device mode change.
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3.3 Device configuration table
The browser configuration options are described in this table. You should begin with ones in green first, and use the ones in red with caution!
Function Name
Documentation
Online Help (www)
Device Information
Description
Link to IAdea online support page (Internet access required).
Device Name
IP Configuration
Extra Routing
Date/time setting
Video setting
Modify the device name.
Automatically obtain an IP from DHCP server or assign a static IP.
Advanced network function. Allows device to be configured under complex network environments. Please obtain the configuration data from your network administrator.
Set your time zone and synchronize time and date of the device. Clock settings run on built-in battery for up to several years, but initially you will need to set it to your time zone for properly scheduled playback.
Choose an output resolution that matches your display’s native resolution for the best results.
Security
Change password Change the web browser configuration login password.
Device Management (LAN mode only)
File manager
View logs
Add/delete media files for simple playback. For advanced scheduling features, try the Adfotain Manager Express bundled solution.
The playback logging feature allows you to check player activity and download data for analysis.
Sample Log format:
2008/11/18-13:11:20 play: CD99EC1F.MPG
2008/11/18-13:14:27 play: 3D26CCA8.JPG
2008/11/18-13:14:34 play: C7F240AD.JPG
OSD Display input text/text file using OSD (on screen display) function.
Service Management (WAN mode only)
Server configuration Select the server that provides Adfotain Central Management Service.
Configure network proxy settings.
Service settings (www) Link to Adfotain Central MZ Management server.
Maintenance
Upgrade firmware
Backup settings
Logout
Update device to latest firmware version.
Backup/restore Adfotain Foundation settings to PC
Sign out from Adfotain Foundation.
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4 Managing your player with Adfotain Manager Express
Once you have configured settings for your signage player and display system, you are ready to load content into the player for playback on a schedule.
4.1 Management options using Adfotain Manager Express
You have the following playback options when using Adfotain Manager Express:
Looping playback
You can select files, re-order them, and export via LAN, USB drive, or CF card for auto-repeating playback.
Weekly schedule playback
This mode plays specific files exported via LAN, USB drive, or CF card at specific times of the week.
Please refer to the Adfotain Manager Express User’s Manual on content scheduling and publishing functions of your HMP-505S.
4.2 Using the HMP-505S without an Ethernet network
You can use the HMP-505S in areas without Ethernet connections by synchronizing contents from a
USB device.
1. From Adfotain Manager Express, export your scheduled programming to a USB drive (in contrast to the Export to network option).
2. Insert the drive to the USB port of the HMP-505S.
3. Pay attention to the instructions displayed on screen. Contents will update in the background without interrupting your previous program, if there is a program already playing.
4. After the update is completed (from minutes to hours, depending on file size), the device will reboot and start to play the new program.
5. Remove USB drive.
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5 Specifications table
Video codec support
Image codec support
Management options
I/O ports
Local storage
Accessories
Power requirements
Environmental
Dimensions
Weight
Certifications
MPEG-1/2 MP@HL (720p)
MPEG-4 ASP@L5 AVI
VC-1/WMV9 MP@ML (720p)
JPEG 1280x720
Adfotain Manager Express via LAN or USB
Adfotain Central MZ Server
LAN mode API for development
DVI-I (up to 1080p for stills, 720p for video)
VGA (with included DVI-to-VGA adapter)
RCA Audio L/R
Ethernet 10/100 BASE-T port
USB 2.0 Hi-speed Host x 2
Internal 4GB CF Card
RCA male-3.5mm female audio cable
3.5mm male-male audio cable
DVI-to-VGA Adapter
Ethernet cable
VESA mounting kit (Optional)
Input: 12V, 2 ADC
Power consumption: Peak 24W; average 4w
Operating temperature: 0 to 40° C
Humidity 5 – 85% @ 40° C
230x155x 40 (mm) (excluding projections)
9.0 X 6.1”X 1.6 (inches) (excluding projections)
1.4kg
3 lbs.
UL-approved AC adapters
CE/FCC
RoHs
One-year limited parts & labor
Warranty
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Appendix 1: Troubleshooting and FAQ
What is a firmware? Should I upgrade my media player to the latest firmware version?
Firmware is the system software that makes the hardware work. For example, your personal computer stores its firmware (called built-in operating system or BIOS) on a chip in its motherboard.
Usually firmware updates provide bug fixes or adds new features to the system.
IAdea does not recommend installing firmware updates unless it addresses a critical operation flaw, outlined in each firmware's release notes. Since upgrades involve erasing an old firmware and replacing it with a newer one, a failed firmware upgrade will leave you without a working system software, rendering the device unusable. Therefore you should exercise caution when upgrading the firmware, and be ready to send the player back for repairs (under warranty terms) should failure occur.
How can I perform a proper firmware update?
IAdea player firmwares are upgraded via the browser configuration interface, as described in the manual. When you click on the “Update Firmware” button in the configuration web page, the BIOS files you acquired from IAdea are copied to its destination device and then used to initiate updates.
The process takes from a few seconds to a few minutes, during which time you
should keep the power plugged in
. Look for on screen display (OSD) for the “upgrade successful” message.
Could it play Flash, or MS PowerPoint Presentation file?
PC could play all formats, since each different media player software already reside in your PC. RISCbased Media Player only could play a limited of video formats. (Please see spec for details). While,
MS PowerPoint native file could not play directly on a RISC-based player, if the file is converted thru other software (i.e. Adfotain Manager Express) into a correct format, the converted file could be played on a RISC-based player.
Why won’t some media files play smoothly?
The video bit-rate may be too high. The bit-rate is the amount of video or audio data used per second to store or play the contents, usually expressed in Mbps (mega-bits per second). Video encoded with excessive bit-rates will not playback smoothly in the media player. Recommended bit rates for standard definition players (IAdea CMP-100S or NMP-200U) is 3~6 Mbps, while for high-definition video media players (IAdea HMP series) the recommended bit rate is 5 ~ 8 Mbps. You can try using a faster CF card or recompressing unplayable video files at lower bit rates using the free and open source Handbrake tool at http://handbrake.fr/ . Once you have found the right output settings for size and quality, save them in Handbrake profiles for future use. Then you can easily recompress any unplayable files you encounter in the future.
Why won’t some media files play at all?
Even though IAdea player license and conform strictly to industry standard video formats, sometimes videos you acquire may fall outside of the compatibility matrix. When files play on your PC but not on your player, you should recompress the file to ensure playback. For greatest compatibility, we recommend outputting to the MPEG2 format (3 to 5 Mbps bit-rate) for standard-definition players
(IAdea CMP-100S or NMP-200U), and the WMV HD format (5 to 8 Mbps bit-rate) for high-definition video media players (IAdea HMP, XMP series). You can try recompressing unplayable video files with recommended file formats and bit rates using the free and open source Handbrake tool at http://handbrake.fr/ . Once you have found the right output settings for size and quality, save them in
Handbrake profiles for future use. Then you can easily recompress any unplayable files you encounter in the future.
The media playback looks different on PC than on media player’s screen. (Wrong aspect ratio)
There are 2 major aspect ratios (width-to-height ratios) for video content, but many kinds of displays.
If you play 4:3 video on a 16:9 display (or vice versa), a circle becomes oval, and the picture takes on a squeezed or stretched look. To avoid this distorted look, adding black bars are a common technique.
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CMP and NMP players always stretch the video to the full extents of your display. If you wish to correct the distortion this introduces, you need to add black bars into the video file itself, using a video editing program such as Windows Movie Maker, which is included free with Windows XP or
Vista OS.
HMP and XMP players can be configured to automatically add black bars for certain types of displays.
You can set the output resolution in HMP-505’s browser configuration page to match the native
resolution of your display unit.
Some JPEG files cannot play on media player.
JPEG images can be created with either baseline or progressive compression. Baseline JPEG has better support among devices. Progressive method is specifically for web site images which allows large images to be displayed “progressively” as it downloads.
Make sure to save images as baseline JPEG in your photo editor, or resave them as baseline JPEGs using free tools such as Paint.net ( http://www.paint.net/ ).
Does my media player support video streaming?
No. IAdea media player downloads entire contents to player’s local storage before presenting them on screen. This ensures the best possible presentation and impact of your video message. Video streaming raises many playback quality issues such as stuttering, blocking, or blue-screens, costing you valuable “air time” and losing your audience's attention.
Could the media player be controlled by external input devices or interfaces?
No, unless specifically developed for. Touch panel, bar code scanner, and motion sensors are popular input devices for PC based digital signage media players, but RISC based players require considerable effort to develop special hardware drivers for each I/O device.
Can I use a password-enabled USB drive to update a non-password-protected media player?
No, the password.txt on USB flash drive must be identical to the one on device’s storage. If there is no corresponding password file on device side, the files will not be updated. In this case, delete or rename the password file on your USB device to continue updates.
The media player is not playing. What should I do?
Since RISC-based media player usually lack of input devices such as keyboard or mouse like PC does, troubleshooting are usually based on user’s knowledge and experience with the specific media player.
Always check on screen message and stats report (available to networked devices only). Bad play list and timing issue are two major causes of playback problem. To determine if the problem is caused by a bad play list, simply delete the play list and resume playback. The player should loop through all media files, thus you'll know the play list is at fault. If the playback is scheduled to play at specific time, check if device is set to right time zone. Wrong time zone setting delays or accelerates playback from the intended time.
What is multi-zone? Can the media player play one video on each zone?
Multi-zone means splitting a display into different zones for displaying different channels of information. Think of it in terms of a newspaper, which has different columns for different topics or stories.
Each IAdea media player can play only one video at a given time. For HMP players, the screen can be split up to 4 different zones for one video zone plus 3 text scroll or photo zones in any combination.
CMP and NMP players do not support multi-zone.
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Key Features
- Industrial-grade, network-managed, high-definition media player that supports a variety of display resolutions
- Uses a USB mass-storage device, a removable CF card, or Ethernet to sync content
- Supports content updates without disrupting current playback
- Web browser configuration interface for easy setup and management
- Compatible with standard Internet browsers such as Internet Explorer and Mozilla Firefox
- Bundled with Adfotain Manager Express for advanced scheduling features
