Virtual Matrix setup:

Virtual Matrix is a software application that runs on NetPlayManager or a single VRX20 device in your system.  This application creates a scalable distributed video matrix from all of the network sources and displays in your system.

Supported Network sources:

• VTX100 dual source encoders
• CastHD single source encoders
• HDHomeRun network cable and OTA tuners
• RSS feeds
• Manual support for network streaming capable devices
  • H.264/H.265 IP cameras (up to 4K)
• MJPEG/JPEG IP cameras (SD)
• Video files stored on network shares (nearly all formats)
• Image files stored on network shares (jpg/png)
• Playlist files (see Digital signage setup for how to write playlist files)
• RTSP cloud video streams
• 3rd party H.264/H.265 or MPEG2 video encoders

Supported Network displays:

• VRX decoders
• NetPlayTV devices (Android or Android TV streaming media boxes or TVs)
• NetPlayMobile devices (wireless Android devices)
• Store to network attached storage (via RTSP)
• Network gateways for remote streaming (via RTSP)

Setup:

• Install your NetPlayManager or VRX020 VMM
• Plug in the ethernet cable to your router or network switch
• The HDMI output should be left unconnected in most cases.  You can connect to a display to find the IP address if NetPlayMobile does not automatically find it.  Note that the HDMI cable must be connected when the power is OFF.
• Connect the USB power supply to power up the device.  If possible, use a UPS (battery backup) on this device.
• If using VRX020, you will need to locate the IP address of the device manually (press the ID button and view the ip address on connected HDMI TV).  Then go into "General Config" and enable "Virtual matrix manager".  Then reboot the device.
• Find the IP address of the Virtual Matrix manager
  • Install NetPlayMobile on a Android device
  • Open the app.  The first page will detect the Virtual Matrix on your network.  Select the "Connect" button to verify your connection.  The "A2" field is for a CMX-A2 switch (NetPlay Pro).  If you do not have this device you can ignore that field.  If your Virtual Matrix is not detected, verify your Android device is on Wifi and try again.  If this still does not work, use the HDMI output on the Virtual Matrix to find the address.
  
  • Select "VMM settings" to navigate to the Virtual Matrix config page  (vmm_ip_address/vm_index.php).  You can also just type the URL into a web browser on your computer if you prefer.
  
• Update the firmware on your NetPlay Manager / VMM
  • Select "Back to vrx index"
  • Select "Manual Control"
  • Select "Network Update"
  • Wait 10 minutes for the update to complete, then continue with setup
• From the main VMM config screen, the required setup items are REGISTER, SOURCE SETUP, and SINK SETUP.  Note that you can hover your mouse over any link or field to get contextual help.
  
• Select "Register" at the top of the page.
  • Full instructions
• Next select "Sources setup" from the VMM config menu
  • Full instructions
• Finally select "Sinks setup" from the VMM config menu
  • Full instructions
• Optional setups
  • Matrix control setup
    • Customize the source and sink names that appear in the NetPlayMobile and NetPlayTV apps
    • After making changes, be sure to "sync settings" in the NetPlay apps
  • IR/IP setup
    • Setup for using centralized IR control via NetPlayMobile and NetPlayTV. 
    • Full instructions for IR and IP setup
    • Video tutorial for IR
  • HDHomeRun setup
    • Required setup if using a HDHomeRun source device
    • Allows setting channel map, favorites, etc
    • Follow on screen directions
  • Video Wall setup
    • This allows you to configure groups of VRX decoders into video walls.  You can create up to 8 different wall formats, and a video wall can use one or more formats simulaneously.  Follow on screen directions.
  • Multidisplay setup  (Tiling)
    • Multidisplay is the ability to display multi video streams at once on a single screen.  The config screen allows you to define different screen layouts for this functionality.  Several default formats are already predefined.  Follow on screen directions to modify the formats.
  • Video OSD setup  (PIP)
    • Video OSD is PIP functionality which allows you to display any NetPlay source OVER the underlying selected source.  The config screen allows you to define different screen layouts for this functionality.  Several default formats are already predefined.  Follow on screen directions to modify the formats.
  • Mobile Streaming setup
    • Setup if you will be using full screen viewing on mobile devices.  Please see this page for instructions.
  • User Web Server setup
    • Setup if you will be using the virtual matrix to provide custom http/php web pages for digital signage.  Please see this page for instructions and examples.
  • Macros setup
    • Allows the creation of user defined macros and scheduling.  Please see this page for instructions.
• Live control and status
  • Live control of matrix switching and IR is available via this menu.  This is provided for debug/setup purposes.  Please use NetPlayMobile for general control.
  • Sink status, Source status, and Detected devices give information about your configured system.
  • System statistics provides long term monitoring statistics for this system.  It also allows you to setup an email for notificiations if any critical events occur.