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Wireless videoconference with the Modena desktop app

Modena Hub Wireless USB connects your UC software with the room’s AV equipment, enabling attendees to wirelessly participate in remote conferencing.

Modena Wireless Conferencing from Biamp on Vimeo.

 

Modena App minimum requirements

Windows 

  • OS: Microsoft Windows 10, Microsoft .NET Framework 4.5, Microsoft Direct3D
  • CPU: Intel i5 or faster
  • Wi-Fi: For Presentation: 802.11n 2.4 GHz wireless network adapter, for Presentation + Wireless USB: 802.11ac 5 GHz wireless network adapter


MacOSX

  • OS: MacOSX version 10.11 (El Capitan) or higher
  • CPU: Intel i5 or faster
  • Wi-Fi: For Presentation: 802.11n 2.4 GHz wireless network adapter, for Presentation + Wireless USB: 802.11ac 5 GHz wireless network adapter

Connect to the Modena device

Either the company LAN or Modena Hub+ embedded access point can be used for network connectivity.

LAN connection

In case of LAN connection, the task of installing and configuring the Modena unit to make it visible to all users on the LAN is the Network Administrator’s responsibility. Under this configuration, your personal device will be able to access Modena unit through the standard network configurations you already use to access your company LAN. 

Embedded access point connection (Modena Hub+ only)

Modena Hub+ offers the possibility to directly connect to the unit, provided that you are in the range of its embedded WiFi access point and that it's been configured to allow such a connection. To do so, on your device select the WiFi name (SSID) of the Modena Hub+ you want to connect to. By default, the radio band in use is 5Ghz, the SSID is "modenahub" and the password is "modenahub", but they may have been changed (recommended!). Ask your Network Administrator for the Modena Hub+ credentials. 

Windows and MacOS apps installation

Downloading the apps for Windows and Mac

You have two download options: 

  • From Biamp's website
  • From your Modena unit. The apps and drivers for Mac and Windows devices can be downloaded directly from the Modena unit internal repository. Click on the three dots in the top right corner of the Modena home page and select the Apps entry.

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The download page appears:

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Click on the download button for downloading the Windows or MacOS app. These are installable clients and must be installed on the Mac or Windows computer. 

Installing the apps for Windows and Mac

Before installing the client software, close all browsers and VC software. Launch the app set-up with a double click, the Modena app checks if a new version is available. In that case, it shows a link that you can click to download the updated version. When the download ends, a small window will prompt you asking if you want to update the installed app (if it was installed), install it (if not installed) or simply launch it. The Modena app can also be copied on a USB memory stick and launched from it. Unless you changed your default setup, the Modena app is configured to start at boot and should be ready for you to be used. If this is not the case, you can start it from the icon you can find in the apps repository. The actual appearance of the Modena app icon depends on your OS and on your screen settings, but it will be similar to the following:

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When active, you can find the Modena app in the Tray Area (Windows systems) or in the Status Menu (MacOS systems), identified by Modena's nine-dots icon. 

The Modena drivers

The Modena virtual device drivers allow the computer, Mac or Windows, to believe that it has a USB microphone, speaker, and camera connected to the USB ports. Actually, they are virtual drivers, receiving the AV streams not from a physical USB connection, but from the network. This trick transforms the drivers into the interface between the Modena system and the UC/VC software.

The two driver packages

The Modena system can be used with proprietary apps or with the browser, a flexible client-less solution: 

  • The proprietary apps have embedded AV drivers that can be installed during the app setup, or later, from the app settings. These are the drivers used for the wireless USB feature when the app is in use. 
  • A stand-alone app drivers set is available when the user prefers to use the browser instead of the app.

Starting or joining a session

To start or join a session, you must have Modena App installed and running. Unless you changed your default setup, the Modena App is configured to be started at boot and should be ready for you to use. If this is not the case, you can start it from the icon you can find on your desktop or from your default applications folder, according to your installation preferences. The actual appearance of the Modena app icon depends on your OS and on your screen settings, but it will be similar to the following:

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When running, you can find the Modena App in the Tray Area (Windows systems) or in the Status Menu (MacOS systems), identified by Modena system's nine-dots icon. Here is how it appears on different backgrounds:

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After clicking the Modena App icon, a Toolbar similar to the following appears:

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It lists the available rooms, together with icons that inform you about the availability of a display or a webcam. By clicking on the stars left of the room names, you can add or remove any room from your favorite list (favorite rooms show on top of the list). If you have a long list of rooms and you want to search one by its name, you can type next to the magnifier to filter the rooms by name. In the same area, you can also enter the IP address of the Modena unit you want to connect to: if the IP address is correct and the unit is reachable, you will get the corresponding room. You can now start a new session by simply clicking on any available room in the list. Rooms whose name appears in bold, have a session in progress, and if you click on them you join that session. When joining a passcode protected session started by someone else, a small window will ask you to enter the passcode. After you started/joined a session, the nine-dots icon in the tray area will turn blue.

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Share your desktop with the room display/projector

When you start a session, the Toolbar changes like in the following image:

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The passcode appears only if the room has been configured to be passcode protected. In this case, you have to tell the passcode to the other participants in order to allow them to join your same session. If some other participant is already presenting his/her screen, you can:

  • become the presenter (replacing the current one)
  • add your screen to the presentation

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Start your wireless videoconference session

Start your VC platform software. Please, double check the VC software compatibility list before.

Once started, select the Modena microphone, Modena speaker and Modena camera from the Audio Video settings of the VC software. See below some example of audio video settings from the most popular platforms:

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The system is now ready for a wireless videoconference using the USB devices connected to the Modena Hub.

Troubleshooting

Connected USB devices

On Modena Hub web console configuration, webcam page, double check the connected USB peripherals.

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Take a look at the compatibility list before connecting your USB devices. 

If you wish to utilize both a USB camera and a USB audio device, use a powered USB 3.0 hub to avoid power leak. Look for approved USB hubs on the hardware compatibility list. Use previously tested USB cables.

Camera preview

Click on the three dots of the Modena App toolbar (Tray area for Windows and Status bar for MacOS) and select Camera preview for double checking the set-up.

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On the VC software, audio video settings window, the camera selection usually shows a camera preview.  In case the camera preview shows the nine dots logo on a black background, probably you didn't start or join a Modena room session.

Audio test

On the VC software, audio video settings window, select the audio test (if available) for testing the audio output. Look at the microphone level meter (if available) to verify the microphone connection and record a sample call to verify the system. 

Internet connectivity

In case you're connected to the local AP of the Modena Hub+ and when you start the VC client you don't have internet connectivity, double check the network configuration of Modena Hub+.

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