The interface can be accessed by using an internet browser on any PC, Mac, tablet or smartphone.
The easiest way to connect to the interface is via a wired Ethernet connection from your router to the MDA. When the MDA is switched on, it will automatically configure itself for your network, and you can then access the MDA’s interface by entering the following link into your browser: http://mda/.
The MDA also acts as a WiFi hotspot, with the default network name (network SSID) mda-hotspot. With a WiFi-capable PC, Mac, tablet or smartphone, you can search for this WiFi network and connect to it using the default WiFi password 12345678. When the connection is established, you can again access the MDA interface from a browser using the link: http://mda/. If you have modified the name of the MDA, and have forgotten this new name, you can always establish the connection using the MDA’s hotspot IP address and use http://192.168.50.5.
(Note on WiFi hotspot use, if your device is connected to a different WiFi network, this connection will be terminated, as your device is only able to connect to one WiFi-network at the time, meaning you will lose your internet connection as well).
Through the interface, you can also setup the MDA to connect to your own WiFi network. When this connection is established, the interface is once again accessible at: http://mda/.
Note that the default name of the MDA is “mda”. However, in the interface you can change this name. If you change the name, you must access the MDA under the new name http://newname/.
Potential problems and the associated solutions:
If you have connected to the MDA earlier through another connection, like for instance through a wired connection to a router before using the MDA hotspot, there is a possibility that your computer or smart device remembers the MDA on the previous connection (technical term for this is that the DNS records are cached).
In that case, the connection to http://mda may not be established (although the connection to http://192.168.50.5 will always work).
In order to clear the cache of your computer of smart device and connect using the name again, the following action should be taken:
- Android device, iPad or iPhone: before establishing the WiFi connection, switch Airplane mode on (in the Settings app), keep Airplane mode on for approximately 10 seconds, and then switch it off. Thereafter, establish the WiFi connection.
- Windows PC: open a command prompt window, by pressing the Windows Key or the search symbol, type “Command Prompt”, right-click the Command Prompt application and select “Run as Administrator”. Type the following command and press Enter: ipconfig /flushdns.
- Mac, open a Terminal window. Type the following command and press Enter: sudo killall -HUP mDNSResponder; sleep 2. You might be prompted to enter your administrator password.
Another problem can occur when there are too many WiFi networks in the immidiate surroundings (potentially transmitting on the same WiFi channel). The connection may then drop or be unstable. The only remedy is to to rearrange the MDA and PC or smart device setup, trying to find a location with less disturbance. When the MDA has dropped its hotspot connection for any reason, your PC or smart device will most likely automatically reconnect to another known network within range, such as your home or school network. When the MDA hotspot becomes available again, you will need to manually reconnect to it. On a Mac, you can alternatively set the order for automatic network connections. If preferred, you can put the MDA hotspot on top of the list (System Preferences –>Network –> WiFi –> Advanced settings).
Alternative method for network connections:
If you cannot find the MDA on your network using the MDA name (technically, your router does not support local DNS services), you can connect to the MDA using the IP address. For the hotspot, this is 192.168.50.5. For the MDA connected via a wired connection or your own WiFi network, you need to obtain the IP address from the router (by logging in to the router, where an overview of connected devices and their IP addresses is usually available).
Instead of using IP-addresses, a much easier way is to connect to the MDA using the Bonjour service. In that case, enter http://mda.local in your browser, and the connection to the MDA will be established. This Bonjour service is standard on iPad, iPhone and Mac, but must be installed (once) on a Windows PC. Installation can be done by using Microsoft Edge (not Internet Explorer). Go to https://support.apple.com/kb/DL999?locale=en_US and download and install the application. The name of the installer may be confusing (“Bonjour Print Service”), but this application enables the discovery of the MDA under the name mda.local (not mda) on the network.
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