When the WiFi symbol is visible in the bottom right of the screen, it indicates that your player has lost its network connection. In this situation, the NowSignage App is operating in offline mode. Offline mode occurs when the device cannot access the internet, yet it continues to display previously cached content that was stored locally on the device at the time the PIN was last entered. This functionality allows for uninterrupted playback of essential information, even in the absence of a live internet connection. However, while in offline mode, the player will not receive any updates or new content, meaning that it will not be able to download any scheduled updates or changes until a stable internet connection is restored.
Offline mode is when your screen has lost its Internet connection but it will continue to play cached content stored on the device from when the pin was initially entered.
When a screen is in offline mode it will receive no content updates as it will be unable to download new scheduled content.
To resolve this issue, check that your player is connected to a stable internet connection. You can do this by using the device's web browser or any other internet-based applications to verify connectivity. Once the connection is restored, the NowSignage app will automatically load and begin displaying your content.
Note: Please allow 2 to 3 minutes for the NowSignage app to establish a connection, as it may take some time for the content to load.
Further Reading: Checking the Status Of Your Screen
Troubleshooting / Q&A
Q. Why is connection speed important?
A. Connection speed is crucial because it verifies the status of the device's network connection directly from the hardware. The NowSignage app requires a minimum internet speed of 5 Mbps to function properly and check for updates effectively.
Q. How does the NowSignage app check for updates within the Content Management System (CMS)?
A. The NowSignage app routinely connects to api.nowsignage.com and media.nowsignage.com every 5 minutes to check for any updates or changes to your content. For this update process to function effectively, it is essential to maintain a minimum internet connection speed of 5 Mbps. If there are no new updates available during these checks, the app will continue to play the cached content without interruption. This 5-minute cycle will persist, ensuring that your display remains current as soon as a stable connection is reestablished.
Q. What happens when an asset is removed from the playlist?
A. When you remove an asset from the playlist, it overrides the previous playlist and deletes the specified content from the device. This deletion occurs after the NowSignage app performs its scheduled 5-minute check-in with the server. The cached content for the NowSignage app will be automatically cleared after 24 hours, as long as the asset has not been accessed during that time. This clearing process requires minimal bandwidth, but it will only take place if the device maintains a stable internet connection with a minimum speed of 5 Mbps.
Q. When an asset is added to a playlist, will it be retrieved from the existing cache if it has been used previously, rather than being downloaded again?
A. If the asset has been removed from the playlist and then re-added within a 24-hour timeframe, it will still be available in the cache and will not require a re-download. The asset will only be pulled from the cache if it hasn't been accessed for over 24 hours and the device is connected to the network, at which point the cache is automatically cleared. If the cache is cleared after this 24-hour period, the asset will need to be downloaded again.
Q. When a large asset is being uploaded, will the network connection need to remain stable until the download is complete?
A. Yes, the download will proceed according to the device's current network speed. It is crucial to maintain a stable internet connection throughout this process to ensure the successful completion of the download.
Q. Are there any time limitations for downloads, such as needing to complete within 30 seconds, or will the NowSignage app disconnect from the network and attempt to reconnect in 5 minutes?
A. There are no time restrictions on downloads. If you are uploading a large file that takes 30 minutes or more, the app will continue the download process until it is fully completed, regardless of the duration.
Q. If the network speed decreases below the minimum 5mb requirement during a download, will the process continue at a slower rate, or will it halt and require a restart?
A. The download will proceed at a reduced speed; it will only stop if the device loses its connection to the network entirely.
Q. What happens if the network connection is lost while downloading a new asset? Will this cause a crash or black screen?
A. If the network connection is interrupted during the download of a new asset, the download will be halted. To resume the download, the NowSignage app will require a reboot. However, if the device reconnects to the internet, it will not automatically attempt to restart the download; a manual reboot is necessary to initiate the process again.