Hate Adobe Flash? We've got options

Comrex products like ACCESS, BRIC-Link and STAC-VIP each serve a rich webpage that functions as their main user interface. For a variety of reasons (that were perfectly sound at the time) these pages were designed with the Adobe Flash tool.

But Flash has gotten a (not entirely undeserved) reputation in recent years. Its constant need for updating the client to patch security exploits makes IT people nervous, and the browsers that support it are in the process of trying to actively minimize its use by throwing up warnings, and requiring it be manually enabled.

Flash is so embedded in the web that it's not going anywhere soon, but it's time to consider alternatives for driving Comrex products. For ACCESS and BRIC-Link, we're providing a free Windows and Mac app called Codec Commander.

Codec Commander is based on the premium Fleet Commander app we introduced last year. It has all the same features, and is compatible with the new 4.0 firmware we've been shipping with our codec hardware for the past year. So it will provide all the same utility as the web interface, including the really useful Crosslock stats and delay setting bar.

Codec Commander is available in beta form by contacting our support team at techies@comrex.com, and should be available universally on our web site within weeks.

Update 12/7/16: CC and FC are now available on the Comrex Website!

Broken Wifi Adapters got you down?

With our ACCESS portable and LiveShot portable codecs, we ship a a high gain Wifi adapter, the Edimax EW7811-UAC. It has an in-built antenna, conforms to all the latest high throughput standards, and is dual band.  It also sticks up a bit, which can result in a broken USB port (as shown) if the adapter is whacked or if the codec is dropped.

If your Wifi application doesn't require a lot of range or all these fancy standards, (e.g. you're using a wireless Hotspot fairly close to your codec) you might consider changing to something that isn't "out there" asking to be broken.

We've tested the Edimax EW7811-Un (pictured) and it works well, but on a single band and with the lower range you'd expect given it's form factor. But if that's all you need, it's available from lots of online retailers.

OnSIP/Comrex WebRTC issues by Codec Answer Guy

Q: I use OnSIP to bridge web calls to my codecs via this technote. It doesn't work anymore! What happened?

A; OnSIP (our favorite VoIP company) made a change to the way they bridge WebRTC to SIP calls. They now offer a new app at app.onsip.com to allow for this function.

Q: So I can just use the new app?

A: Not yet.  The app functions fine, but it changes a technical detail of how the call gets treated on the VoIP end of things. ACCESS and BRIC-Link can not answer these calls. STAC-VIP can answer them, but only using the narrowband G.711 protocol, so it sounds like a phone call.

Q: Give me all the details, I can handle it.

A: The old GetOnsip app offered VoIP calls with an "early offer" SDP protocol, and our hardware liked that fine. app.onsip.com uses a "late offer" scheme that we don't support.

Q: What's the fix?

A: The answer can only come in a firmware upgrade from Comrex. We’re working on it and hope to have something by the end of 2016. Until then, you can use SIP softphone apps, or one of the premium Hosted WebRTC Gateway services like ipDTL and Callme.fm.

Look here for updates as they develop!
Update 10/26/16: That was fast! Test code available. Contact Comrex support at techies@comrex.com

Update 12/9/16 Firmware 4.0p11 released today has this fix.

When the backup becomes the primary

It was nice to read this Radio World blog about Westwood One's operations during the Rio games. We're used to seeing big-time broadcasts like this done via ISDN, with IP codecs being relegated to the backup role. But it seems the script has flipped, and IP is now considered reliable enough to be the primary with ISDN taking backup. That's six of our Comrex BRIC-Link II's pictured in the remote rack, above the ISDN codecs.

Also of note was the ability of WW1's roving reporters to use local 4G LTE on ACCESS portable to be totally mobile.

Here in New England, we're excited for a different backup to take on the primary role this fall. Here's hoping he's just as reliable!

Copper is out, VoIP is in

If you're looking for every relevant fact ever known about Voice Over IP in an easily digestible format, check out our new primer available here. Pass it around, we worked hard on it, and hope you enjoy it.

Nifty BRIC-Link Accessory from the UK

Much like the US has a "special relationship" politically with the UK, we at Comrex work closely with our UK partners, Vortex, on special projects. Their latest one is the VX-4901 panel. It turns a BRIC-Link II codec into a full-featured intercom system, allowing the easy connection of ten sites and connection of a speaker an microphone within the panel. Have a look and contact Vortex directly if it meets a need.

NAB 2016 is a wrap

Putting the finishing touches on the NAB stand 2016

It was great getting out to NAB (my 29th consecutive!) and talking about everything we've been working on all year. The VH2 Hybrid garnered a lot of attention, as well as the new 4.0 CrossLock firmware for ACCESS/BRIC-Link. But what was that shiny black object? Could it be a preview of things to come?

It was hard to make the decision to show the next gen ACCESS Portable at the show, especially since it won't be available for some time. But in the end we decided it was probably best to tip our hand. Our customers deserve it. And judging by the reaction and valuable feedback, it was a good call.

Thoughts on Security

Several stations using Barix codecs for STL have been diverted to receive an adult-oriented stream, then locked to that stream this week. Many theories are floating about the sophistication of the attack, but I'm a fan of Occam's Razor on this. I've seen enough web interfaces unprotected out there that I think this attack employed a simple lookup on an Internet-of-Things directory site, then login via default password.

For Comrex codecs, it's a good time to review security options:

Minimum: Change the default web interface password to something long and secure. Don't put the codec on an IP address with a searchable URL (this helps it not show up on google search).

Reasonably Cautious: Secure the web interface (port 80) behind a firewall with VPN capability. Use the connection password function to secure your BRIC normal connections. If not using them, disable SIP/EBU 3326, HTTP and standard RTP functionality (these are off by default).

Very Secure: Disable the web interface entirely and use only the local GUI (applies to ACCESS only). Turn off remote diagnostics via SSH (note: SSH requires a key from the factory that is never shared, therefore is already quite secure). Apply an encrypted VPN to the codecs on each end of the link, so your actual stream is encrypted.

And be careful out there!

Here comes the VH2

Debuting at NAB this month is the VH2, an audio telephone "hybrid" for VoIP. Hybrid is in quotes because it's not doing the traditional phone line cancellation (not required in the VoIP world), but functionally it acts like a traditional studio telephone interface. It's pictured with its companion VoIP phone, and like a traditional hybrid you can bounce calls between the devices, making outgoing or taking incoming calls on the handset and moving them to the hybrid with a single button push. Some other interesting stuff:

Dual Channel
Caller AGC and peak limiting
Conference or independent modes
G.711/G.722 support
remote control by web or contact closure
Dual "Hold" audio inputs
Balanced pro level XLR I/O
AES3 I/O
Integration with most IP PBXs

As deep background, we cut our teeth on VoIP with the STAC-VIP talkshow system a few years back. Having rung that out (and gained a lot of expert knowledge), it made sense to cost-and-feature reduce the idea down to a simpler two channel version without the fancy control surface.

And when we designed the BRIC-Link II codec last year, we did it in a way that would allow the hardware to support other projects. So the dual rack adapter and other accessories are the same. VH2 is a blend of several other products inside and out. Demos should be available soon.

Here's a Secret: Comrex Connect International Modems work in the USA

I've griped plenty in the past about the wireless situation in the USA, where each carrier uses completely different LTE bands, so no universal USB modems exist. But here's a secret: The Comrex Connect modem designed for International use includes virtually every LTE band in use in the USA.

What's the catch? If you go to your favorite carrier (at least Verizon and AT&T) and try to get them to register this modem, they won't be able to help you. The model is not in their database because it hasn't gone through their crazy tedious and expensive certification process. This is why we offer Comrex Connect modems specifically for Verizon and AT&T networks that carry these certifications.

Now, I'm not saying you should take a pre-registered data SIM and use it in the International Connect modem. I would never say that. I'm just saying that technically, this seems to work in our testing. And technically, this creates a scenario where you can simply move any convenient SIM card from any carrier (except probably Sprint, who put the kibosh on such things) worldwide into the modem, and off you go.

Technically.

Edit 8/12/2016- We're getting word that in some markets, International modems no longer work with Verizon SIMs. The SIMs we keep for testing in our lab are still fine, but there may be some changes in the works.

Verizon XLTE is terrible...except when it's awesome

If you're a LiveShot/ACCESS Verizon LTE user in the US, your wireless modems will likely have a choice between the "standard" LTE band 13 (700MHz) and the "XLTE" Band 4 (AWS-1700/2100MHz). When I say your modems will have a choice, I mean it literally, since you can't easily choose in software.

We've been conducting tests in the Boston area for an upcoming sporting event, (mid April, hint hint), and our results on Verizon have been disappointing. Conveniently, the codec firmware gives you an indication of which band your modem has chosen. And it seems that whenever offered the chance, modems along the "route" will gravitate to the higher Band 4. Our working theory is that Verizon is trying to keep it's primary Band 13 as clear as possible.

We ran some tests with our modems locked to the lower band 13, and performance was dramatically improved. So the next theory was that the XLTE band, due either to RF or backhaul limitations, was vastly inferior to the standard band.

Since our sales director works from the Atlanta market, we ran a test there as well. But the results were quite different. A single modem working the XLTE band there easily delivered HD video with low delay at around 6Mbps.

So much for theories.

So it seems to be a regional thing. If you're experiencing poor Verizon performance on Comrex Connect modems, you can lock out XLTE by going into the following location:
Network Devices->LE910-SVG->SIM (sim_number)->Show Advanced Items->Extra Modem Init

and adding the following:
AT#BND= , ,1000

Be careful because it will stay that way unless changed back.
To change it back to default, enter
AT#BND= , ,1008

(there is a space between the = and the comma and between the commas)

You only need to reboot the modem once with this setting, and you can clear the field after.