Click the links below to reveal the Frequently Asked Questions for that product. Then click on the link within the desired question to reveal the answer.
Question 1: I am getting a warning message that indicates my IP Address is not in the same Subnet Mask.
Answer:
The following steps will show you how to change your computers IP information:
- Locate the Start button on your Windows PC. Click on the Start button and locate the Network Connections of your computer.
- In the Network Connections window, locate the LAN connection you are using. Right click on the LAN connection and select Properties.
- You will now be in the Local Area Connection window. Scroll down the window list and locate the Internet Protocol (TCP/IP). Highlight the Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) and click on Properties.
- You will now be in the Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) Properties window. Select Use the following IP address: option and enter in your network information. Once the network information is entered press OK to close each open window.
Your computer's IP settings have now been changed to allow you to connect to the Encom Broadband Radio.
Collapse this question.
Question 2: My ENCOM Broadband radio is showing an IP address of 0.0.0.0 when there used to be an IP Address before.
Answer:
In order to fix your 0.0.0.0 IP Addressing issue you will need to access WinBox from the ControlPAK software.
- Open the ControlPAK software and double click on the Green Square that is in the bottom left hand corner of the menu. A text entry field will appear. Type in the access password: radio.
- Next, log into your Encom Broadband Radio. Click on Ethernet, and then select All Ethernet. You will be taken to the ControlPAK - LAN Search Home.
- Locate and click on the WinBox button that is now present above the dialogue box in the ControlPAK software. You will be taken to the WinBox Loader page.
- At the WinBox Loader page, locate the drop down menu that is denoted by three dots (...). Locate your radios MAC Address from the list, select it and click the Connect button. You will be taken into WinBox at this point.
- You will now be in the Admin page of WinBox. You will see a list of buttons on the left hand side. Click on IP which will open up a sub list of buttons, and then click on Addresses. This will open up the Address List window.
- If you see an IP Address in the Address List window, delete it by highlighting the specific address and pressing the Minus button.
If you do not see any IP Address in the Address List window, press the Plus sign to add in your IP Address to use. Type in your IP Address that you are using followed by the CIDR "/" designation (i.e. /24).
- Press Apply and the other fields will be filled in automatically. Press OK to accept these changes and then exit out of WinBox.
- Disconnect your laptop from the radio and power cycle the radio. Now connect your laptop back up, enter ControlPAK and log into the radio. The radio will now be back online and will be using the IP address that you had assigned to it in WinBox.
Collapse this question.
Question 3: I need to reset my ENCOM Broadband radio back to the factory default settings.
Answer:
In order to reset your Encom Broadband radio back to the factory default settings, you will need to access WinBox from the ControlPAK software.
- Open the ControlPAK software and double click on the Green Square that is in the bottom left hand corner of the menu. A text entry field will appear. Type in the access password: radio.
- Next, log into your Encom Broadband Radio. Click on Ethernet, and then select All Ethernet. You will be taken to the ControlPAK - LAN Search Home.
- Locate and click on the WinBox button that is now present above the dialogue box in the ControlPAK software. You will be taken to the WinBox Loader page.
- At the WinBox Loader page, locate the drop down menu that is denoted by three dots (...). Locate your radios MAC Address from the list, select it and click the Connect button. You will be taken into WinBox at this point.
- You will now be in the Admin page of WinBox. You will see a list of buttons on the left hand side. Click on New Terminal, which will open up a new Terminal window. Type in: system reset then press the Tab key. A –configuration will be added. Press the Enter key and then follow the on screen prompt to complete the reset. Exit out of WinBox.
- Log back into the radio from the Scan List in the ControlPAK software and follow the onscreen prompts to set your radio back to the frequency and mode it uses.
Collapse this question.
Question 4: What are the features that are located in the Radio 1 Tab?
Answer:
The following shows the various settings found on the Radio 1 Tab:
- Radio Network Setup
- Radio Mode Setup
- Radio Parameter Setup
- Wireless Security Setup
Radio Network Setup:
NOTE : All the settings in the Network Setup field will need to match in each radio in your network in order for a communication link to be established.
Network Type:
- Static - Recommended for all fixed location radio networks. This "Static" mode will provide the best radio throughput and lowest latency. The trade off is that you have to know the radio network upfront and assign a "Repeater", as needed, in the system.
- Mesh - Use this mode if "minimum" radio configuration is expected. With "Mesh" mode selected, the radio will reconfigure itself to adopt network change and re-route data to provide "end-to-end" communication between each radio node within the network.
|
Network Name (SSID): This name must be the same for all radios within your network and is case sensitive. Change the default name to a personal unique name for your network. If you have multiple networks having a unique network name for each area can minimize undesired data exchange between them.
Hide SSID: Put a check mark in this box if you want your Network Name to remain hidden to outside users.
Channel Mode: This feature allows you to change the channel size in which you are transmitting at. A smaller channel size will give you less bandwidth but a farther distance for communication.
Enable eMax Protocol: Check the Enable eMax Protocol box to ensure you have the highest possible throughput on your system. The eMax Protocol is a proprietary protocol which only allows communication with other eMax enabled radios.
Radio Mode Setup:
In the Radio Mode Setup you can select what type of radio this will be:
Master:
- There should only be one Master radio assigned per network
- Assign the radio that is closest to the network operations end as the Master
- Place a check mark in the “Repeater Use” if you are using a repeater in your network
Repeater:
- If you check the Enable Roaming checkbox, the “Remote” radio will look for the Parent radio it communicates with automatically.
(In some cases, you want to limit a Remote so that it only communicates with a specific “Master” or “Repeater” radio for better radio path control. You then need to enter the “Parent Radio MAC” in the box adjacent to the “Enable Roaming” option. You can also click on the button to display the list of “Parent Radio MAC” found in the system).
Remote:
- Place a check mark in the “Repeater Use” if you are using a repeater in your network
- If you check Enable Roaming, the “Remote” radio will look for its Parent radio it communicates to automatically
(In some cases, you want to limit a Remote so that it only communicates with a specific “Master” or “Repeater” radio for better radio path control. You then need to enter the “Parent Radio MAC” in the box adjacent to the “Enable Roaming” option. You can also click on the button to display the list of “Parent Radio MAC” found in the system).
NOTE: If "Mesh" mode is selected as the "Network Type", there will no longer be a Repeater option present.
|
Radio Parameter Setup:
Frequency Band: This will display what frequency band you are allowed to operate in with this radio. You cannot change this option and it will be greyed out.
Channel:
- This setting allows changing the frequency Channel that you operate in within your Frequency Band. This can only be done from the Master Radio. A Remote or Repeater radio will always show Auto Frequency.
- The number of available fixed channel frequency options is dependent upon your channel size (i.e. in the 4.9 GHz band 40 MHz channel mode, there is ONLY ONE channel (4995 MHz) available. In the 5.8 GHz band 40 MHz channel mode, there are FIVE channels available)
|
Output Power:
- If your radios are in very close proximity to each other, you can turn down your power output on the radios to reduce RF interference to other radio system in close proximity
- You can adjust your output power of the radios to one of three settings:
- Maximum
- Medium
- Low
|
Advanced Button: These settings should only be used by an experienced network user.
Wireless Security Setup:
In the Wireless Security Setup section, you can enable various degrees of Security on your Wireless Network:
Disable: With this option selected there is no security on your network (not recommended)
Static:
- You can enable various degrees of encryption: 64 bit-WEP, 128 bit-WEP or 128 bit-AES
- You can have up to four different Encryption Keys and you can select which will be the Active Key
- 64 bit-WEP (Using this option, all encryption keys need to be 10 characters long)
- 128 bit-WEP (Using this option, all encryption keys need to be 26 characters long)
- 128 bit-AES (Using this option, all encryption keys need to be EVEN number and 32 characters long)
|
Dynamic:
- Using this option provides the highest security possible
- You enter a Pre-Shared Key that must be between 8 to 64 characters long which is the same on all radios in the network
|
Collapse this question.
Question 5: I am getting a "Ping Test Failed" error message.
Answer:
The "Ping Test Failed" error message can occur when configuring multiple radios with the same IP Address on each Encom Broadband Radio. This occurs due to the Address Resolution Protocol (ARP) table not being cleared and there is an attempt being made to connect to the MAC Address of the previous radio.
The Address Resolution Protocol (ARP) is used to find the radio's link layer address based on the IP Address.
Reboot the Encom Broadband Radio by power cycling the unit and then performing the ping test.
Collapse this question.
Question 6: My ENCOM Broadband Radio will not power up.
Answer:
Check the lights on the Power over Ethernet (PoE) Adapter and ensure that it is working. Try changing out the PoE, if possible. As well, check all external connections to and from your Encom Broadband Radio to ensure that there are no loose connections present; tighten all loose connections. In addition, power-cycle the radio and re-test to see if the Encom Broadband Radio will power up.
Collapse this question.
Question 7: I am directly connected to the radio but I cannot log in.
Answer:
When you are connected to the radio via the POE and no switch is present, it is recommended that a crossover Ethernet cable is used. If there is a switch present in the system, it is recommended to use a straight through Ethernet cable.
Collapse this question.
Question 8: I have forgotten my User Name and Password and cannot log into my Broadband Radio.
Answer:
The Broadband Radio will need to be sent back to Encom in order to reset the forgotten User Name and Password. Please contact your dealer who will setup an RMA to have the unit shipped to us for the necessary repairs. Alternatively, Encom can also setup a Remote GO TO Meeting to reset the Radio.
Collapse this question.
Question 9: I am unable to connect up wirelessly to a new radio in my network.
Answer:
Connect up directly to the new radio in your network and verify the following:
- The Network Setup settings need to match in each Broadband Radio. If they do not, no link will be established.
- In the Radio Mode Setup, ensure that you have selected the correct option for your new radio: Master, Repeater or Remote.
Collapse this question.
Question 10: My ENCOM Broadband Radio that was installed during the Fall season has now lost communication during the Spring season.
Answer:
Check the line-of-site between the two Broadband Radios for any foliage that may have grown, disrupting the pathway. It is possible that the Broadband Radio will need to be moved to a new location if external factors in the area are hindering the wireless communication pathway.
Collapse this question.
Question 11: I am getting an error message that states "No wireless card detected. Please check your Encom Radio."
Answer:
If you are using an older version of ControlPAK, first update to the latest release.
If you are still unable to log into the radio, log into the radio through WinBox:
- Open the ControlPAK software and double click on the Green Square that is in the bottom left hand corner of the menu. A text entry field will appear. Type in the access password: radio.
- Next, log into your Encom Broadband Radio. Click on Ethernet, and then select All Ethernet. You will be taken to the ControlPAK - LAN Search Home.
- Locate and click on the WinBox button that is now present above the dialogue box in the ControlPAK software. You will be taken to the WinBox Loader page.
- At the WinBox Loader page, locate the drop down menu that is denoted by three dots (...). Locate your radios MAC Address from the list, select it and click the Connect button. You will be taken into WinBox at this point.
- You will now be in the Admin page of WinBox. Click on Interfaces on the menu on the left. If wlan1 is grayed out, right click on it and select Enable.
- If wlan1 isn't present, click on Wireless on the menu to the left, and then click on the Interfaces tab of the Wireless Tables window.
- Click on the Plus sign and then click on WDS.
- Use the default settings in the New Interface window and then click the OK button on the right side.
- You should now see the wlan1. Exit out of WinBox and go back into ControlPAK and see if the error message persists.
- If the error message persists, you can try resetting the radio to default using WinBox. The instructions for this are found above.
- If, after setting the radio to default, the error persists, then RMA the unit.
Collapse this question.
Question 12: I am getting an error message that states "ClientSocket1_Error..."
Answer:
- If you are using an older version of ControlPAK, first update to the latest release.
- If still unsuccessful, try connecting the radio to another computer.
- If the error message persists, you can try resetting the radio to default using WinBox. The instructions for this are found above.
- If the error message still persists, please contact Encom Technical Support for further assistance.
Collapse this question.
Question 13: My Encom Broadband Radio does not appear on the LAN Search Screen.
Answer:
There are a few possible reasons why your radio may not be appearing on the LAN Search Screen.
- Are the Radio Settings correct?
Connect directly to the Encom Broadband Radio that is not appearing on the LAN Search. Check the Radio settings to make sure they match the Master (or Remote) radio they will be communicating with.
These settings need to match each radio in the network.
- Are you able to see the Radio on the Antenna Alignment Screen?
The discovery process that the ControlPAK software uses may take some time to find the Encom Broadband radio that is not appearing on the LAN Search Screen. Log into the Master Radio of the system and check to see if you can view the Remote radio under the Antenna Alignment -> System View tab.
Also, check the Site View tab to see if the Radio in question appears on the drop down list.
I still cannot see my Radio. What do I do next?
If you are still unable to see the Encom Broadband Radio on the LAN Search Page, it is recommended that the radio be reset back to default in the ControlPAK software to its default settings. The Encom Broadband radio that this affected unit communicates to should also be reset back to the default settings.
Once both radios are set back to the factory defaults and programmed, communications are able to be established and both radios can be seen on the LAN Search Page. You are now free to manually input your settings back into both radios.
This reset is necessary as it is possible that a certain setting that was entered was not properly accepted on the radio unit. By taking the affected unit back to the factory default settings corrects the issue.
Collapse this question.
Question 14: I have upgraded my ControlPAK software to the latest version and my old Connect Lists no longer work.
Answer:
If you were using a version of ControlPAK older than version 4.3.0, you will have to create new Connect Lists. This is due to the amount of changes that were made to the ControlPAK software in version 4.3.0. Unfortunately, there is nothing that can be done to remedy this and the only solution is to create new Connect Lists.
Connect List as it appeared in ControlPAK version 4.2.2
Same Connect List as it appears when loaded into ControlPAK version 4.3.0 or later.
Collapse this question.
Question 15: My radio was tested on the bench and was working fine. Now that I've deployed it, it is not working correctly. I've replaced the radio with a known working radio, and the link is working fine. What should I do with the radio that was not working?
Answer:
It is recommended that you reset your ENCOM Broadband Radio back to the default settings using ControlPAK and re-test the Radio by setting it up in a link again. Use the Reset to Default button in the ControlPAK software and then Program the Radio to download the default changes to the unit.
Collapse this question.
Collapse this section.
