Updated 3/3/2010
Note: The current version of the ENDEC software is 1.0g, Board rev 4/36. Containing several new features for seeing the status of your ENDEC, such as alerts being received and pending alerts waiting to be sent, as well as new features for multi station relay panel users, this update is available on our firmware update page.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1) Can’t access ENDEC web server2) Uploading firmware updates without access to the update web page
3) How do I know what version of firmware is loaded on the ENDEC
4) "ActiveX control failed to load" on Show Input Levels
5) Can't hear audio from the streams page
6) Can't "Retrieve Settings" if my station call sign contains a '/' character
7) Email doesn't seem to be working
8) FTP doesn't seem to be working
9) Email not working, mailerr.txt shows FROM failed
10) Assigning a relay to "MSG" doesn't do what I expected
11) ENDEC's time isn't synced
12) Email not working, mailerr.txt says "invalid address"
13) How do I specify a DNS address?
14) How much voltage/current can I switch through the relays?
15) What LED Signs work with the ENDEC?
16) Setting a static IP address doesn't appear to work
17) What network/USB printers are supported?
18) I can't get ENDECSETD to work over a serial connection
19) Does the ENDEC support the post 2007 Daylight Savings Time changes?
Can’t access ENDEC web server (firmware version 1.0a or 1.0c)
First make sure you have enabled the web server with the menu.network.web server command.
If that does not solve your problem: for enhanced security, the ENDEC uses the “Digest” form of password protection for its web server.
An incompatibility exists with Microsoft Internet Explorer version 5 and 6 in ENDEC firmware versions 1.0c or less.
Please update your firmware to the latest release:
1) Use Internet Explorer version 7, or Firefox, to access the ENDEC’s web server
- or -
2) Refer to Uploading
firmware updates without access to the update web page for information.
Version 1.0d - ENDEC Resets
The ENDEC will reset (unexpected restart) when it attempts to send email in some cases. Install the latest version of the firmware.
Back to FAQ or SupportUploading firmware updates without access to the update web page
You can update your ENDEC if you have a USB flash drive. It can not be a “U3” type drive with security. It must be a non-encrypted flash drive.
1) download the firmware update from www.sagealertingsystems.com/support
2) rename to file to updateusb.x, and copy it to the top folder on your flash drive.
3) Shut down your ENDEC.
4) plug the flash drive into the top USB slot on the back of the ENDEC.
5) power up your ENDEC.
6) After several seconds, the ENDEC will update, you will see status messages on the ENDEC’s LCD display.
7) Follow the instructions on the screen. You will eventually be asked to remove power from the ENDEC
(pull the plug, don’t use the power switch), then remove the flash driver, then plug in the ENDEC again.
How do I know what version of firmware is loaded on the ENDEC?
The version information is in the message buffer on the front panel when the ENDEC starts.
Use the “MSG” soft key and scroll with the down arrow.
System Startup at 12/15/08 08:49:15, Digital ENDEC 1.0d
In version 1.0f or greater, the version is avaiable by clicking the version button on the left of the main ENDEC web page.
Back to FAQ or Support"ActiveX control failed to load" on Show Input Levels
You need to download the VU meter ActiveX plugin from the PC Software page.
Can't hear audio from the streams page
Problem – you click one of the "mon buttons" on the ENDEC’s "streams" page, and you don’t hear any sound. Like many streaming audio applications, the audio is not "instant on". It will take several seconds for the audio to start. If your audio never starts, you may not be using a browser that can handle an embedded player object. Try using Internet Explorer. If you are using IE, but you see a hour glass, or the green progress bar on the bottom of your browser screen is moving, it means that you don’t have the ".mp3" file tag pointing at a player that knows how to handle mp3 streaming. Use the Windows Explorer "tools" menu, select folder options, then the "file types" tag. Scroll down to the "MP3" extension. Use the "change" button to change to a player that can handle mp3 streaming. Windows Media Player works.
Back to FAQ or SupportCan't "Retrieve Settings" if my station call sign contains a '/' character
Problem – you get a browser error when you try to Retrieve Settings from your ENDEC, if your ENDEC's call sign has a / or a space in it. This problem is fixed in version 1.0e. If you don't have that version yet, you can avoid the problem by using the front panel to change your callsign to remove the '/' or the space. Once you do that, you can use Retrieve Settings.
Back to FAQ or SupportEmail doesn't seem to be working
You need to set the right combination of user name, password, domain, server/port, and auth type on the EMAIL tab of ENDECSETD. You may need the help of your IT staff. Tell them yes, you've turned it off and back on again. You can see the error log file from the ENDEC's email program from your browser, use http://your_endec_address/mailerr.txt
The ENDEC will try to resend a failed email every 5 minutes. You can resend sooner by sending another alert (if you are bench testing), or by in fact turning the ENDEC off and back on again.
Common problems are:
- If the mailerr.txt file says "invalid address" followed by your SMTP server address, you may not have a DNS server specified, and the ENDEC can't resolve the server name. See Specify a DNS.
- Your server might require a particular domain. Enter just the domain portion of your address in the ENDECSETD "Email Domain" field.
- Your server might require a particular user in the "from" field. The ENDEC uses your callsign-ENDEC as the name. For example, if your callsign is WENN, and your domain is mydomain.com, then the from address the ENDEC will use is WENN-ENDEC@mydomain.com. You will need to add this address to your server's list of valid accounts.
- Your server might use a non-standard port. Enter it in the "Email SMPT Server" line, for example, smtp.myisp.com:2525.or example, smtp.muisp.com:2525.
FTP doesn't seem to be working
The ENDEC can use FTP to send a file containing an individual alert log to an FTP server . You need to set the right combination of user name, password, and server on the FTP tab of ENDECSETD. You may need the help of your IT staff. Tell them yes, you've turned it off and back on again. You can see the error log file from the ENDEC's FTP program from your browser, use http://your_endec_address/mailerr.txt (this file is shared with email errors).
If you are using names (rather than numeric IP addresses) for the FTP server, you need to have a valid DNS server. See Specify a DNS.
The ENDEC will try to resend a failed FTP file every 5 minutes. You can resend sooner by sending another alert (if you are bench testing), or by in fact turning the ENDEC off and back on again.
Back to FAQ or SupportEmail not working, mailerr.txt shows FROM failed
This is caused by a improperly formated "Email Domain" in the ENDECSETD Email tab. This field should contain only a domain name, for example, "sage.com". It should not contain an email address like "harold@sage.com". The Email Domain is used to make the "@domain" portion of the from address in the email sent from the ENDEC, and for the ELHO command in the SMTP protocol."
Back to FAQ or SupportAssigning a relay to "MSG" doesn't do what I expected
The relay doesn't exactly track the msg key. The relay comes on when a new message is added, and goes off when the msg key is pressed. If you do not clear the buffer, then the msg soft key label stays on, but the relay will be off. This is so you can clear whatever alarm you have on the relay, but still retain the message buffer. The relay will turn on again when a new message is added.
If the msg soft key is on when you enable the MSG relay from the front panel, the relay won't turn on until a new message is added.
Back to FAQ or SupportENDEC's time isn't synced
We recommend that you use the Network Time Protocol to keep your ENDEC's clocked synced to the correct time. You can use any NTP time server you like, more than one is better. We supply some defaults, but you can use a local source as well, see the NTP Servers setting on the Network tab of ENDECSETD.
If you are using a valid NTP server address but your time still isn't synced, check these:
- If the time is off by an exact number of hours, your UTC offset is not correct, or you need to change the Daylight Saving Time enable. Use the Date/Time menu on the front panel, or the Config tab in ENDECSETD.
- If you are using names (rather than numeric IP addresses) for the NTP servers, you need to have a valid DNS server. See Specify a DNS.
- Make sure your firewall allows NTP packets to reach the ENDEC. The NTP protocol uses UDP port 123.
- The ENDEC can take up to 20 minutes to sync to the server the first time you use it. If you have made configuration changes from the front panel, turn the ENDEC off and on, and wait 20 minutes - the time should then be correct.
Email not working, mailerr.txt shows "invalid address"
If the mailerr.txt file says "invalid address" followed by your SMTP server address, you may not have a DNS server specified, and the ENDEC can't resolve the server name. See Specify a DNS
Back to FAQ or SupportHow do I specify a DNS address?
If you are using names (rather than numeric IP addresses) for servers such as CAP, FTP, SMTP, NTP, etc., you need to
have a valid DNS server. If you used DHCP to get an IP address for your ENDEC, your router must provide a DNS server to use.
If you provided a static address for the ENDEC on the Network Tab or in the Network front panel menu, then you need to
provide the DNS server(s) there as well. To do so, use the Network TAB (DNS server 1/DNS server 2) or the Network menu (DNS1/DNS2) on the front panel.
If you don't know what DNS address to use, do this from a PC that is on the same network segment:
open a CMD window, type ipconfig /all. You will see one or more DNS servers.
How much voltage/current can I switch through the relays?
The relays on the ENDEC are intended for use as "low signal relays", primarly to ground a contact on some other piece of equipment. They can also be used as a switch for a low power device. Before you hook up your throbatron-4000, however, here are the limitations:
| Rated load | 0.50 A at 125 VAC, 1A 24 VDC |
| Max. operating voltage | 125 VAC, 60 VDC |
| Max. operating current | 1 A |
| Max. switching capacity | 62.50 VA, 30W |
You can also read the full datasheet.
Back to FAQ or SupportWhat LED Signs work with the ENDEC?
The ENDEC supports the serial version of the Beta Bright from Adaptive Microsystems, now called the "BetaBrite Classic". Adaptive's info page for that sign has more information. The software protocol used by that sign *may* work with other Adaptive "alpha" signs, it is worth a try if you already have one, but we've never tested any. We have tested the BetaBrite on both the original ENDEC 1822 and the Digital ENDEC 3644. If you have tested a different sign model with the ENDEC, please email us at support@sagealertingsystems.com and let us know.
Back to FAQ or SupportSetting a static IP address doesn't appear to work
The default static IP address is 192.168.1.50. If you set the network address type to STATIC, and you change the IP address to something else, but your GATEWAY and NETMASK don’t match up properly, then no matter what you change the IP address to, the ENDEC will continue to show 192.168.1.50 when you select "show IP Addr" from the network menu.
Your GATEWAY address must be on the same network as your ENDEC’s UP address. The ENDEC will tell you if your GATEWAY and IP addresses are not on the same network when you set them from the front panel.
Back to FAQ or SupportWhat USB/Network printers are supported?
The Digital ENDEC supports many types of HP printers on the USB and Network interface.
To see if your printer should be supported by the ENDEC's printer driver, check
this list.
Note: we have not and cannot test every printer on that list. All information provided is believed to be accurate but is not guaranteed. If you verify that your printer works, let us know at support@sagealertingsystems.com.
Back to FAQ or SupportInstalling final 1.0e
The final version of revision 1.0e differs from the beta test version of 1.0e. A problem with updating some configuration parameters was corrected. To tell which version of the update you have, reboot the ENDEC, the use the “MSG” soft key and scroll with the down arrow. Look for "Board rev". The beta version of 1.0e will say Board rev 4/21, the final version will say Board rev 4/22. If you have 4/21, download and install the final version.
Back to FAQ or SupportI can't get ENDECSETD to work over a serial connection
Things to check:
- You need a null modem cable.
- You need both ends to be at the same baud rate.
- You need to have the ENDEC comm device set to ENDECSET - use the devices menu, select a device, then select ENDECSET as the device type.
Does the ENDEC support the post 2007 Daylight Savings time changes?
The answer is yes for the Sage Digital ENDEC,
there are no
special steps required for the "new" DST rules - the ENDEC will switch at the
right time if you have set it up to enable Daylight Savings Time adjustments.
If you have the original Sage ENDEC (1822) with ROM version 6.2, the same is
true. However, if you have older model 1822 firmware, then the issue is a
little more complex.
Read the complete DST documentation for details.