06 Wired or Wireless Network

Although network setup is part of the general Setup menu, it is important enough to have its own section.
In addition to the technical benefits, connecting the MDA to a wired or wireless network offers more flexibility than only using the hotspot.

Contents

06.1 Advantages of an internet connection
06.2 Hotspot only or advanced network setup
06.3 Home or enterprise networks
06.4 Firewall requirements
06.5 FTP access
06.6 Multiple MDAs on one network
06.7 Network connections overview
06.8 Wired connection
06.9 Wireless connection (home network)
06.10 Wireless connection (enterprise network)
06.11 IP address access
06.12 Potential problems and solutions
06.13 Alternative connection methods

06.1 Advantages of an internet connection

When the MDA is connected to a network with internet access, the following additional functions become available:

• Full MDA registration.
• Notifications about updates and new developments.
• Automatic software updates.
• Access to MyImages.
• Access to map-making functions.
• Access to manual sections directly from the MDA.
• Internet browsing through the connected device via the MDA.
• No need to switch repeatedly between networks.

06.2 Hotspot only or advanced network setup

If you only wish to access the MDA through its own Wi-Fi hotspot, no further network setup is required.
To connect using the hotspot:

• Open the Wi-Fi settings on your device.
• Select mda-hotspot.
• Enter the password: 12345678
• Open a browser.
• Enter: http://mda/

To connect the MDA to another network
For wired or wireless connection to a home or enterprise network:

• Open the Setup page.
• Sign in using the default password: admin

(or the password set by the administrator).

06.3 Home or enterprise networks

Home network

Setup is usually straightforward.

Enterprise network

Please contact your IT department. They may need to provide:

• Network username
• Password
• Security certificates
• Firewall permissions

06.4 Firewall requirements

The MDA web interface communicates with Thinkable services, including online manual pages.
During registration, your device registration details are sent securely to Thinkable. (Network login credentials are not stored.)
For internet access, outgoing web traffic should be permitted.
Typically:

• Port 80 (HTTP)
• Port 443 (HTTPS, if used by network policy)

Most organisations already allow this.

06.5 FTP access

The MyImages feature uses file transfer services.
Your IT department may need to allow:

• Port 20
• Port 21

If external database access is required:

• Port 3306

06.6 Multiple MDAs on the same network

In the lower part of the Network Setup section, you can change:

• Device name (default: mda)
• Hotspot name / SSID (default: mda-hotspot)
• Hotspot password (default: 12345678)
• Two-letter country code

Important
If more than one MDA is used on the same network, each device must have a unique:

• Device name
• Hotspot SSID

Otherwise conflicts may occur.

06.7 Network connections overview

The upper section of the Network Setup page shows whether the MDA is using:

• Wired connection
• Wi-Fi connection
• Hotspot mode

If connected to Wi-Fi, the network name (SSID) is shown.
If not connected, available Wi-Fi networks are listed.

Select a network and enter:

• Password (home network), or
• Username and password (enterprise network)

06.8 Wired connection

To connect:

• Plug a LAN cable into the MDA.
• Plug the other end into your router or network socket.
• Switch on the MDA.

The MDA will normally configure itself automatically.
Then, on another device connected to the same network:

• Open a browser
• Enter: http://mda/

Wired speed note

The MDA RJ45 port supports up to: 100 Mbit/s
Most switches detect this automatically.
If a switch port is manually fixed to 1 Gbit/s, the connection may fail.
If necessary, set the switch port to:

• Auto negotiate, or
• 100 Mbit/s

06.9 Wireless connection (home network)

• First connect to mda-hotspot.
• Open the Setup page.
• Enter password: admin
• Select Network Setup.
• Choose your local Wi-Fi network.
• Enter the Wi-Fi password.
• Select Add Wi-Fi Network.

The MDA will now connect to your Wi-Fi network.
Any device on the same network can then access the MDA.

Notes

• The hotspot will be disabled while using your Wi-Fi network.
• If a USB stick is inserted during startup, the MDA may reset to hotspot mode.

06.10 Wireless connection (enterprise network)

The MDA automatically detects the type of Wi-Fi network.

Supported types

WPA / WPA2 Personal

Uses a standard Wi-Fi password.

WPA / WPA2 Enterprise

Uses a RADIUS server and requires:

• Username
• Password

Your IT department can provide these details.

06.11 IP address access

If the MDA name has been changed or cannot be found, use the hotspot IP address:
http://192.168.50.5
When connected through your router, the current IP address can usually be found in the router’s connected devices list.

06.12 Potential problems and solutions

1. http://mda/ does not open

Your device may have cached an older connection.
Use: http://192.168.50.5
or clear DNS cache.

Android / iPhone / iPad

• Turn Airplane Mode on
• Wait 10 seconds
• Turn it off
• Reconnect Wi-Fi

Windows

Open Command Prompt as Administrator and enter: ipconfig /flushdns

Mac

Open Terminal and enter: sudo killall -HUP mDNSResponder

2. Wi-Fi connection unstable

Too many nearby networks may cause interference.
Try:

• Moving the MDA
• Moving your computer or phone
• Reducing distance between devices

3. Device reconnects to another network

If hotspot connection drops, the device with which you are accessing the MDA may have automatically reconnected to another known network.
Reconnect manually to mda-hotspot.

06.13 Alternative connection methods

Bonjour service

You can often connect more easily using: http://mda.local
This works by Bonjour network discovery.

Supported by default:

• Mac
• iPhone
• iPad

Windows

Bonjour may need to be installed separately.