Changing network settings on AREC Media Stations and network ports overview

All current AREC Media Stations (e.g. LS-210, LS-310, LS-410) feature two network ports: WAN and LAN. These network ports are separate and are used for different purposes, which we elaborate on further in this lesson, but it is possible to access the station using either its LAN or WAN port addresses for configuration, control, video management and other purposes.

The default IP address of all AREC stations through their LAN ports is 192.168.11.254.

The default setting of all AREC stations' WAN ports is DHCP. This means that when connected through WAN to a network, a station will try to get the IP address from that network/DHCP server in it.

You can find the default IP address and description of the ports on your Media Station in its user manual. Lastly, you can check the current IP address of your AREC Media Station via the station's graphical user interface (GUI). It is displayed on its mixed video output ("Display 1" HDMI output on LS-210, LS-310, LS-410).

Changing the station's network settings

To change your Media Station’s network settings, you need to log in the “Administrator” web page of your station. The default username and password for all AREC stations' web pages is "admin". Click on “System” → “Network”. You can make the station acquire its IP address automatically from the router of a connected network if you select DHCP, or configure the network parameters yourself by selecting “Static IP” under “IP assignment”.

In case you are not familiar with networking terms, here are their short definitions:

• IP address: the address of your device in a network.

• Subnet mask: determines how many addresses are available in a network.

• Default gateway: The IP address of a network device that serves as an access point for devices on a local network to communicate with external networks, including the Internet. This will typically be your router's IP address.

• Primary DNS server: the IP address of a server that functions as a "phonebook" for the internet. It translates domain names (e.g., www.example.com) into their corresponding IP addresses, enabling devices to locate and connect to the correct servers. If you are unsure which DNS server address to use, you can use public options like 8.8.8.8 (Google's DNS server) or consult your IT administrator for the appropriate configuration.

• Secondary DNS server: like the primary DNS server, this server acts as a "phonebook". It will be used if the primary server is inaccessible. If you are unsure of the purpose, you can use 8.8.4.4 (another Google DNS server), or consult your IT administrator for the appropriate configuration.

If your Media Station is set to DHCP mode and upon starting you see an IP address starting with 169.254.xxx.xxx, it means that the station received an Automatic Private IP Addressing (APIPA) IP address. This typically happens when the DHCP server is unreachable and can be due to a number of reasons: for example, the router does not have the DHCP function enabled and so the Media Station could not get the IP from it, or the network is unstable, or the network cable is faulty. It is normally resolved by reconnecting the network cable and restarting the station, or checking the router settings and enabling DHCP. If you are reconnecting the cable, make sure that you can see the LED lights on the network port.

The APIPA IP address will also be displayed if you connect a cable from the station's WAN port to a computer when the station is in the DHCP mode. As computers do not function as DHCP servers, the station will be unable to get a proper address and will automatically use an error address instead. Importantly, it is still possible to connect to the station using the address it displays. If you are unsure how to do this, follow the video below and simply adjust the values to match the subnets displayed by the station.

If your Media Station is set to a static IP and you can’t or don’t know how to access it, please refer to the short tutorial video below to learn how to put your computer in the same network as the Media Station.

Training Videos

Training Video – How to access the web interface via LAN port

(Español) Video de entrenamiento - Cómo cambiar la dirección IP en tu estación AREC

Видео на русском – как изменить IP-адрес и сетевые настройки устройств AREC и RADA (через LAN порт)

Видео на русском – Как изменить IP-адрес станций AREC (через WAN порт)

Network ports of AREC Media Stations

With that covered, let's take a look at the general purpose of WAN and LAN ports on AREC Media Stations.

WAN (Wide Area Network) ports are used to connect the Media Stations to the Internet for streaming and for control. In a simple room design, you will connect a network cable from the WAN port to your router or network switch. With this connection in place, computers, phones, and other devices in this network will be able to access the Media Station through the IP address it receives from this network, and similarly, the Media Station will be able to access cameras, network streams, and other sources in this network. On the current AREC Media Stations (e.g. LS-210, LS-310, LS-410), the default WAN port of the station is between the RS-232 and Display 1 ports (marked green on the image above).

LAN (Local Area Network) ports are used to connect devices directly to the Media Stations and for their configuration regardless of network access. These ports do not have access to the Internet. Devices connected through the station's LAN ports will only be accessible to the Media Station, thus preventing unauthorised access. Since the ports are used exclusively for connection with the station, other network traffic and bandwidth capacity limitations, firewall rules, and so on are removed, making the connections smoother. On the current AREC Media Stations (e.g. LS-210, LS-310, LS-410), the default LAN port of the station is above the USB port (marked red on the image above).

Note that Media Stations function as DHCP servers for their LAN ports — that is, they assign IP addresses automatically to devices connected via LAN ports. If you are connecting network cameras to the station this way, it is highly advised to put them in DHCP mode to simplify the connection and ensure that there is no IP conflict. If you connect a computer to one of your station's LAN ports, make sure that you use an IP address that is not currently used by another device, including the Media Station itself.

The fact that the Media Stations act as DHCP servers also means that you can connect network switches to the stations' LAN ports, thus extending the number of available ports. All devices connected to such switches can receive IP addresses from the stations.

Changing parameters of the station's LAN port

On all current AREC Media Stations (e.g. LS-210, LS-310, LS-410) running firmware version 1.1.0.13 and newer, it is possible to change the mode of the station's LAN port and make it into another WAN port. This can be used to connect the station to two different networks and disable its DHCP server function. To change the mode, select the mode you require under "LAN or WAN settings" on the "Administrator" → "System" → "Network" page. Note that Dante Audio inputs and outputs are available only on the station's default WAN port.

When the port is in "LAN" mode, you are able to change the third octet of the LAN address. This is important to do in situations where the station’s LAN network matches the connected WAN network. When the two networks share subnets, you may encounter IP conflicts, which can result in failure to connect a video source, dropping image, inability to open the device's web page, and other potential issues. Therefore, you must make sure that the station’s LAN subnet is different from your WAN network. You can change the LAN port subnet in "IP address" under "Network adapter 2 Settings".

Creating closed networks on stations without LAN ports

It is important to point out that even when your Media Station does not have a LAN port (e.g. LS-860), it is still possible to connect devices in a way that would restrict unwanted access. Some router models allow users to configure DMZ (demilitarised zone) or configure port forwarding. There are specific guides available online as to how to configure these settings. Furthermore, the way to do them can also differ from one model of router to another, so please refer to the documents provided by your router manufacturer to make this work. For your reference, we created the above diagram to show you the general connection idea.

That concludes the lesson. You can now answer the questions about this lesson’s material to test your knowledge and watch the linked video before moving on to the next lesson.

After you submit your answers, make sure to click “View Scores” to see if you answered correctly. You will also receive an email on the address you used when starting this lesson with your answers and “View Scores” link.

Training Videos

Training Video – Basic systems and network settings AREC Media Station

(Español) Video de entrenamiento – Configuraciones básicas del sistema y red en Media Station AREC

Видео на русском – Как изменить наименования и другие общие настройки устройств AREC и RADA

ADENA Hacks

Please read these ADENA Hacks on our website:

1. How to troubleshoot AREC Media Stations. https://www.a-dena.com/post/adena-hack-how-to-troubleshoot-arec-media-stations

2. How to search and change IP on AREC device. https://www.a-dena.com/post/adena-hack-how-to-search-and-change-ip-on-arec-device