Sep
23

New Binary High-Performance 4K HDR Extenders

We�re excited to announce the release of our new Binary B-660 series 4K HDR HDMI high-performance extenders for the ultimate entertainment experience. With the ability to deliver stunning 4K HDR 4:4:4 content up to 300 feet or 1080p up to 400 feet, you can now deliver a reliable picture in more places than ever before. They support bi-directional IR pass-through, CEC pass-through, RS232 pass through, and ethernet pass through, all in a low-profile design at a budget-friendly price. Some models even support audio breakout, EDID control, scaled loop-out, and ARC. Learn more.

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Sep
23

Technical Bulletin: Apple iOS 14 Release and Impact on Network Services

Overview

On September 16th, 2020, Apple released iOS 14 for the apple iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, and Watch. This release introduces ‘private Wi-Fi address,’ a feature that assigns the iOS device a randomized MAC address for each Wi-Fi network. To learn more, check out Apple’s Support Article.

Background

Apple has introduced ‘private Wi-Fi address’ to further protect users’ privacy. MAC randomization increases user privacy by preventing outsiders from using MAC addresses to build a history of device activity. Initially, Apple announced plans to generate random MAC addresses every 24 hours, which would have caused greater disruption to network services. Apple’s final iOS 14 release delivers a softer approach while delivering user privacy.

This article serves to inform you of Apple’s new ‘private Wi-Fi address’ feature and how it may impact you and your customers. 

How 'Private Wi-Fi Address' is implemented on Apple devices

  • After the Apple device is updated to Apple iOS 14, 'Use Private Address' is turned on by default.
  • When a user upgrades to iOS 14, a randomized MAC address is generated for all existing SSIDs
    • Note: If your home network has separate 2.4GHz and 5GHz networks, your Apple device will generate a MAC address for each.
  • The randomized MAC address will not change over time, even if you force the Apple device to forget the Wi-Fi network and connect again.
  • Toggling between ‘Use Private Address’ on and off will cause the Apple device to switch between the real MAC and the randomized MAC for that Wi-Fi network.

How 'Private Wi-Fi Address' is implemented on Android devices

‘Private Wi-Fi address’ is already supported on Android devices version 10 and newer. The feature is implemented the same way as Apple devices; however, with one key difference:

  • When a user upgrades from a previous version of Android to Android 10, ‘Private Wi-Fi address’ will be turned off and saved SSIDs will stay configured without randomization.

Symptoms

When your Apple device updates to iOS 14, a new 'private Wi-Fi address' is generated for each network and causes the Apple device to be treated as a new device. This may cause some OvrC and MAC address-based network services to be interrupted for these Apple iOS devices, including:

  • Apple iOS devices appear twice in the OvrC device list
  • OvrC Home client services including wireless device profiles created for Apple iOS devices
  • DHCP reservations, whitelist/blacklists & Access Control lists

Workarounds & Next Steps

Below covers the new expected behavior caused by 'private Wi-Fi address.' There are several workarounds available if you and your customers are impacted by this change.

Important Note: If you are using Wireless Profiles in any of your projects, we encourage you to review the potential impact this may have on your customers and determine a suitable solution.

1. Apple iOS devices appear twice in the OvrC device list
When an Apple iOS device is updated to iOS 14, the initial instance of the device will show offline, and a second instance of the device will appear. Since the new MAC address assigned is random, OvrC has no way to identify the type of device this is. As a result, the device will appear as "Unspecified" with the device type as "Unknown."

Identifying the new MAC address on the Apple device

  • To learn the new MAC address of your phone, go to:
    Settings > Wi-Fi > Wi-Fi Address.
  • To view the original MAC address of your phone, go to:
    General > About > Wi-Fi Address.

Identifying the second device in the OvrC device list

  • First instance of Apple device (now showing offline):
  • Apple device with new MAC address (now showing online):

2. OvrC Home parental controls assigned to Apple devices
Manually going through each customer project and identifying the matching Apple devices in the device list may become time consuming and largely not necessary. However, projects where Apple devices are assigned to OvrC Home ‘Wireless Device Profiles’ for parental controls will require special attention.

Assigning Wireless Device Profiles

Apple and Android devices are assigned to OvrC Home Wireless Device Profiles in order to set up client services. The MAC address of an iOS or Android device is used to identify the device through OvrC. If the ‘private Wi-Fi address’ feature is enabled, the MAC address will change and the device will no longer be recognized in OvrC Home client services.

Workaround

  • Add the newly-identified (second) Apple device to the Wireless Device Profile to ensure the client services continue to operate as expected.

Alternative Workaround

Users can choose to disable 'Private Wi-Fi Address' on their phone for their Private Networks. This feature is designed to increase user privacy. We encourage users to understand the impact prior to disabling. Enabling this feature is encouraged at all times when connecting to Public Networks.

To learn more, check out Apple’s Support Article.

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Sep
15

Join us at CEDIA Expo Virtual!

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This year, CEDIA iscoming directly to you with a live and interactive virtual experience! FromSeptember 15th-17th, you can visit our booth to check outour latest products, watch on-demand product training sessions, view presentationsin our Meeting Lounge, or set up a time to chat one-on-one with a member of ourteam. With new products from Episode, ClareOne, Pakedge, and more, we can�twait to show you what we�ve been up to this year! Click hereto register and get access to our virtual booth.

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Sep
09

Register for Snap Pro Live!

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Mark your calendars for Snap Pro Live, a groundbreaking event that will change the way you think about virtual conferences. With a three-day live event from October 13th-15th and on-demand product and technical training content offered through October 30th, Snap Pro Live is bringing you everything you love about gathering together at trade shows directly to the comfort of your home or office. Interact with industry pros from around the world, get energized with roundtable discussions and networking opportunities, and tune into a keynote address from SnapAV leadership for the first look at yet-to-be-released products. Register Now

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Sep
01

August 2020 SnapShot

https://player.vimeo.com/video/451240099

Watch this short video for important details on recentproduct launches, or click the links below to see the featured productsdirectly.

PakedgeMS Series Layer 3 Switches

BinarySwitchers

Parasound

Wirepath RG6 Dual- and Quad-ShieldDirect Burial Coaxial Cable

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Aug
19

Parasound Audio Components are now at SnapAV

The legendary sound of Parasound, including the exclusive Halo line, is now at SnapAV! For over 40 years, Parasound has built the finest high-end audio components to meet every dealer need � delivering elite 2-channel and distributed audio, along with superior home theater systems. With an impressive line of speaker and sub amps, preamps, DACs, and crossovers, Parasound provides best-in-class sound that competes with the foremost brands on the market. Get all your audio components under one roof at SnapAV, Where Pros Buy Audio! Learn more.

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Aug
06

Impression Series Speakers and Subwoofer

We�re excited to introduce the new Impression Series speakers and subwoofer from Episode. These in-ceiling speakers feature a small footprint so dealers can work with interior designers to provide excellent total-home sound while adhering to aesthetic needs. The Impression Series offers custom configurations using our 6 1/2" bandpass subwoofer to provide full-frequency sound and can be run from only two channels of a standard amp or AV receiver. The Impression Series is also available in 2.1 and 4.1 kits for easy shopping. Learn more.

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Aug
04

July 2020 SnapShot

https://player.vimeo.com/video/442107942

Watch this short video for important details on recentproduct launches, or click the links below to see the featured productsdirectly.

Strong RazorFixed and Tilt Mounts

Episode100-Watt Mini Subwoofer Amplifier

EpisodeImpression Speaker and Bandpass Subwoofer

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Aug
04

Wirepath RG6 Dual- and Quad-Shield Direct Burial Coaxial Cable

We're excited to add RG6 Dual- and Quad-Shield Direct Burial Coaxial Cable to the Wirepath portfolio. Available in 500ft and 1000ft spools in a box, respectively, this cable utilizes a Polyethylene jacket and a water-blocking gel to inhibit water penetration, making this perfect for long runs between buildings or running from an outdoor satellite dish to an indoor receiver. Simply dig your trench, lay our direct burial coax, and cover and connect for a waterproof outdoor solution.

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Jul
30

New OvrC-Enabled Pakedge Switches Now Available on SnapAV.com!

We're proud to introduce the new lineup of Pakedge MS Series Switches, now available for sale on SnapAV.com! Pakedge MS Series Layer 3 Managed Switches with built-in OvrC remote management are designed to handle your most performance-demanding and complex luxury residential, commercial, and pro-AV projects. With five 12-, 24-, and 44-port models in a variety of PoE+ configurations and a range of 1Gbps Ethernet and optional 10Gbps SFP+ uplinks, there's an MS Series Switch to meet the needs of every install. Learn more.

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