Troubleshooting

Can’t find server in local network#

Your mobile device must be in the same local wireless network as the computer running Reeltime Pro. Make sure your WiFi settings confirm that you are connected to the correct network. Reeltime Pro must be running on the server’s machine.

If the server still does not appear in the settings view, check if Reeltime Pro is allowed within your server machine’s macOS “Privacy & Security” settings under “Local Network”.

In certain network configurations, automatic server discovery may not work as expected. In that case, you can connect to a server manually if you know its IP address.

To do this, tap the plus (+) button in the servers section of the settings view. This opens a connection dialog where you can enter the server’s IP address and password.

I’m connected to a server, but there are no streams#

Reeltime Pro must be running to make streams available in Reeltime Viewer. To add a stream in Reeltime Pro, configure an output slot as a local stream. This makes the stream available in the Reeltime Viewer app.

In Reeltime Viewer, all local streams configured in Reeltime Pro are selectable in the settings view under the layout section.

I can connect to the server, but my streams remain grey#

In rare cases, you might connect to a server but still see grey streams because the video data cannot be transmitted. In this case, check whether a VPN connection is active, as it may block local streaming.

Stuttering or interrupted video with suboptimal network quality#

The quality and reliability of wireless networks heavily depend on your location and the environment between the device and the nearest Wi-Fi base station. If you experience stuttering, interrupted images, or dropped frames, try changing your position first.

You can ask your video playback operator to monitor the round-trip statistics of your connection in Reeltime Pro and, if necessary, reduce the stream’s target bitrate to adjust to reduced wireless network capacity.

If the wireless network itself or the frequency spectrum is too crowded, for example due to many connected clients or parallel data transfers, the available bandwidth may not be sufficient for reliable video streaming. In Reeltime Pro you can reduce the video bitrate of each stream to improve stability under such conditions.

My network quality is good but I’m still experiencing jittering or frame drops#

If the overall network quality appears to be good and you still experience jittering or frame drops, try the following steps:

Disable AirDrop on all devices#

If you still experience jittering or frame drops, disable AirDrop:

  • On the server Mac
  • On all connected iPhones and iPads

We have found that disabling AirDrop can resolve jittering, even if the Mac is not connected to the router via a wired connection.

Use a wired Ethernet connection on the server side#

For best stability, we strongly recommend connecting the Mac that generates the streams to the router via Ethernet instead of Wi-Fi.

For optimal results:

  • Disable Wi-Fi on the Mac.
  • Connect the Mac to the router using a wired Ethernet connection.
  • Create or recreate the streams while Wi-Fi is disabled.

If you are using Reeltime Viewer on iPhone or iPad:

  • Remove the existing server using the “Forget” option in the server configuration.
  • Recreate the streams on the Mac (with Wi-Fi disabled).
  • Set up the server again in the app.
Restart the app on the client device#

If problems persist, restart the app on the iPhone or iPad:

  • Open the App Switcher
    • On devices without a Home button: swipe up from the bottom of the screen and pause in the middle.
    • On devices with a Home button: double-press the Home button.
  • Find the app in the list.
  • Swipe it up and off the screen to close it.
  • Return to the Home screen and tap the app icon to open it again.

Your video playback operator can verify whether a stream is running smoothly by checking the round-trip time statistics in the output slot within the Slot Manager in Reeltime Pro. As long as the round-trip time remains below 40 ms, the stream should be stable. If sufficient headroom is available, the bitrate can be increased accordingly.

If problems persist after these steps, contact the person responsible for the network setup for further troubleshooting.

Local streams and low-latency monitoring#

The local streaming feature is designed to minimize latency and adds only about one frame of delay in its current implementation. Because of this low latency design, a fast and stable network connection is required. Standard consumer Wi-Fi networks may not always provide the necessary performance.

If the wireless network is heavily used or operating in a crowded frequency environment, performance may still be affected. In such cases, consult the person responsible for the wireless network setup to further optimize bandwidth, access point placement, and configuration.

I don’t hear audio#

Local streaming including audio is not yet supported.

Last updated: February 2, 2024