Sync Devices for Podcatcher Classic
This page explains the Sync page in the Platform: how to add, monitor and remove the Sync Devices that keep your Podcatcher Classic devices up to date.
While the devices sit in their Dockingstations, the Sync Device:
- loads the latest published content onto them,
- collects their logs, which feed your analytics and show device problems,
- charges them (through the Dockingstations).
There are two types of Sync Device for Podcatcher Classic:
| Sync Device Type | What it is |
|---|---|
| Syncbox | A dedicated syncing device supplied by Guide-ID. Up to 10 Dockingstations per Syncbox. See the Syncbox User Manual. |
| Sync Console | A Windows computer (for example an Intel NUC) that runs the Podcatcher Sync application. See Syncconsole installation. |
All Sync Devices on a site sync the same content, so it does not matter at which hand-out point a device is docked.
Find your Sync Devices
Section titled “Find your Sync Devices”- Log in to the Platform.
- Go to Hardware → Sync.
The page shows every Sync Device linked to your site.
Totals
Section titled “Totals”| Tile | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Linked | The number of Sync Devices linked to this site |
| Online | The number of Sync Devices that are online |
| Up to Date | The number of Sync Devices that have the latest published content |
The list
Section titled “The list”Each Sync Device shows its online status (hover over it to see the last contact time), its serial number, the number of devices in it, its description and its content status:
| Status | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Up to date | The Sync Device has the latest published content |
| Sync scheduled | A sync has been requested and is waiting to start |
| Out of date | You published content that this Sync Device has not downloaded yet |
| Downloading / Syncing | A sync is in progress |
| Offline for … days | The Sync Device has not been in contact for more than 2 days (shown as an error after 7 days) |
Buttons
Section titled “Buttons”- Add new Sync Device — link a new Syncbox or Syncconsole to your site (see below).
- Change Daily Sync Time — set a default daily sync time for the Sync Devices on this site.
- Sync all — start a sync on all Sync Devices at once.
- Sync (per row) — start a sync on that Sync Device only.
- The ⋮ menu per row — Settings (edit the location and daily sync time) or Remove (unlink the Sync Device from your site).
Add a Sync Device
Section titled “Add a Sync Device”- Go to Hardware → Sync and click Add new Sync Device.
- Under Sync Device Type, choose Syncbox or Sync Console.
- Enter the serial number:
- Syncbox — the serial number and the Link Key are both on the label on the Syncbox.
- Sync Console — the serial number and the Authentication Key are shown on screen by the Podcatcher Sync application on that computer.
- Under Description, enter a location or name (for example “Front desk”), so you can recognize the Sync Device in the list.
- Click Finish, or Save & add another to add the next one.
It can take a few minutes before a new Sync Device shows as online and before you can start a sync on it.
Daily sync time
Section titled “Daily sync time”Every Sync Device runs one automatic sync a day. Pick a time when all devices are back in their Dockingstations, usually after opening hours.
- To change it for one Sync Device: ⋮ → Settings, then set Daily sync time or switch on Use site default.
- To change it for several at once: Change Daily Sync Time. You can apply the new time to all Sync Devices, only to those that use the previous site default, or only to Sync Devices you add later.
Sync Device detail page
Section titled “Sync Device detail page”Click a Sync Device in the list to open its detail page.
Buttons
- Settings — edit the description and the daily sync time.
- Start Sync — start a sync on this Sync Device now.
- Reboot — restart the Syncbox. This button is only shown for a Syncbox, not for a Sync Console.
- < Back to Overview — return to the list.
Status bar — whether the Sync Device is online, how many devices are in it right now, and whether all of them are available for use or how many are not working.
Info — the Name / Description and the Daily Sync time.
Metrics
| Metric | Meaning |
|---|---|
| In Syncbox / In Sync Console | The number of devices currently in this Sync Device |
| Content | Whether the content on this Sync Device is up to date |
| Last Download | When the Sync Device last downloaded content from the Platform |
| Last Sync | When the Sync Device last synchronized the devices |
For the status of each device and Dockingstation slot, go to Hardware → Podcatchers.
Remove a Sync Device
Section titled “Remove a Sync Device”Use ⋮ → Remove in the list, or Delete this Syncbox / Delete this Sync Console on the detail page. You can link it again later, but while it is not linked, the devices in it are not synced.
Remove a Sync Device you no longer use. Otherwise the Platform keeps reporting it as offline.
Related articles
Section titled “Related articles”- Synchronizing Podcatcher Classic — when content reaches the devices and how long a sync takes
- Syncbox User Manual — install, activate and read the LEDs of a Syncbox
- Syncconsole installation — set up a Windows PC as a Syncconsole
- Dockingstations and furniture — where the devices charge and sync
- Troubleshooting Podcatcher Classic — fix an offline Sync Device or a failed sync