When should I use CAT or iCAT?

The MP-02A, network digital signage player and MP-02Z, network digital signage player with zoning comes with the CAT software and also iCAT. Pending on the user’s application and resources, sometimes, one software that is offered for the player can be more effective for our user over the other that we offer for Caltron’s Digital Signage Players. Caltron provides options for our players to make our players as easy to use as possible. Caltron’s technical support will always try their best in assisting with networking as well as product support, but please note that since networking is not an actual “product” of Caltron, sometimes full support can’t be offered and a third party would have to come in for assistance.

CAT is generally meant for an intranet setting (local area network [LAN]), but can also be used in an internet setting. There is one stipulation when wanting to do this. The user has to have a static IP address so that CAT can locate the same IP address for updates. There are ways of creating a static IP address through having a dynamic IP address, but Caltron usually recommends having a third party handle this portion of networking if the user is unfamiliar with networking themselves.

Caltron can usually assist our customers to a certain degree, but with networking, Caltron requires our customers to have some knowledge in networking or asks our customers to hire a third party that has knowledge with networking for assistance. Caltron can provide full support for our players and products, but we can’t offer full support for networking issues. If MP-02 users have trouble with acquiring a static address we usually recommend using iCAT as a viable alternative. This is basically like CAT, but it is the web based management system. This is a service that Caltron provides for free for the first year and if there is growth in players each year, then Caltron can waive fees for each future year. If there is no player growth and our customers would like to continue using the service, then there will be a small annual fee assessed. With this free service for iCAT, there are some restrictions and limitations, like a 100MB maximum file storage capacity.

For more information, please contact any of Caltron’s sales representatives.