F3 Set up

Setting up your new F3

Step 1:

Carefully remove your F3 and its accessories from the box and confirm you have all of the following
(check off as you go*):

*Please check each to confirm you have all the necessary components, before attempting to install this server.

F3 Server

Ethernet Cable

Null-Modem Serial cable (F/F)

USB to IR Receiver Dongle

Credit Card Remote (Green)

Y-cable: Stereo M to RCA F

CR2025 Remote Battery

Power Brick

Power Cord

Quick Start Guide

Warranty Card

Next Step:

Connect the server and get it online. Connect the necessary cables to the F3 server before you power it up. Check below after you connect each cable.

Connect the power cord to the power brick. Connect the power brick to the DC Power Connector on the F3 server. Plug it in to your outlet.

Connect the Ethernet Cable to the F3 server and connect the other end into your network.

Connect the USB to IR Receiver Dongle

ONLY IF YOU ARE USING A 3RD PARTY, RS-232 CONTROL SYSTEM: Connect the Null-Modem Serial Cable to the server and the other end into your control system.

Next Step:

Press the power button on the front of the F3 server. Does the light turn on?

Yes

Next Step:

Is there a power light on the Power Brick?

Yes

Give the F3 a few moments to boot up completely. On your computer, open your internet browser. Navigate to the following website:

www.request.com/findmyserver

Step 5:

Did this applet find your server on your local network?

Yes

Great! Double click on your server to open the webserver.

On the bottom tool bar, click on Settings.

From the drop down menu select Network.

Here is where you set your server's Network Configurations. We highly recommend setting the server to a Static IP that is Outside the DHCP Range* of your router. This way the server can always be found at that address. This is especially important if you are using a MediaPlayer, NetSync for iTunes, or Maestro.

It is also recommended that you set the DNS address to a known-good, open DNS such as 208.67.222.222, as the DNS address obtained from the router can change and become invalid. When your server is set to static, it will not update to your router's new DNS settings and this will prevent your server and MediaPlayer from accessing web content such as the streaming features and metadata look-up. More information on public DNS addresses can be found online by clicking here.

*Please do not skip this step. It is very important to find the DHCP range of the router and make sure the server's static IP is set ourside of that range. If the IP is within the range of the router, the router will assume that IP address is available to hand out to other networked devices, and you will have an IP conflict which will interfere with your use of the server. Our online guide to this setting and finding this range can be found on our website by clicking here.

Once you have configured the server for your network, you can proceed to the next step.

Each of our units are thoroughly QC tested before they are packaged to ship, however things can shake loose due to extreme handling during shipping.

If you have followed all the previous steps and are still having issue, please contact ReQuest Tech Support.

Be sure to have the server serial number when you contact ReQuest (this is the number that starts ARQ or IMS and is found on the server itself).

Phone: 1-800-236-2812

Email: customerservice@request.com

Online: http://www.ReQuest.com/support/default.asp?helpdesk/contact_us.htm

Next Step:

If there is no light on the Power Brick, then please double check the power supply on the outlet and the connections between the outlet, the cord, the brick and the server. After verifying these connections, push the power button on the front of your server. Is your server now powered on?

Yes

Next Step:

If there is a light on the Power Brick, then please double check the connections between the brick and the server. Make sure the Connector is firmly seated in the DC power connector jack on the back of the serverand push the power button on the front of the server. Is your server now powered on?

Yes

If the applet is not finding the server on your network, please check the following:

Confirm the ethernet connection is firmly seated in your server on one end and your router or switch on the other.
Confirm your router and/or switch has power. Reboot your router and/or switch.
Confirm your computer is on the same local network as the F3 server.
Try a different internet browser on your computer.
You can try downloading our JavaRemote to locate your server by clicking here.

Next Step:

After checking all of the above, are you seeing the server on your network now?

Yes

Next Step:

Connect the VGA out to a video monitor. Do you see an IP address on the screen? Can you connect to the server at this IP address?

Yes

No - Displays 0.0.0.0

If your server is pulling the IP address of 0.0.0.0, then the server is not communicating on your network. Please check your network connections, and cables, and switches and confirm all are plugged in and working. Try a different port on your switch or a different cable.

Next Step:

Were you able to resolve your network issue and get a connection to your server?

Yes

If the server has pulled IP information but your computer can not open the webpage, then your computer is either not on the same local network as the server or you have an IP conflict on your local network. There are a few things you can check:

Find your computer's IP address. Confirm the IP for your computer and the server are from the same router.
Unplug the ethernet connection to that server. See if you get a response from that address when you ping it on your computer. If you do then there is something else at that address, set to a static IP but is within the DHCP range of your router. You will need to find that device and adjust its network configuration.

Next Step:

Were you able to resolve your network issue and get a connection to your server?

Yes

Next Step:

How will you be controlling this server?

Maestro

3rd Party Controller

Next Step:

Now it is time to connect your audio cables. Your options for each zone are below. Please check off each zone you will be using before proceeding.

Zone / Output 1 (Digital only - Optical or Coaxial)

Zone / Output 2 (Standard Analog RCA)

Zone / Output 3 (Standard Analog RCA)

Zone / Output 4 (Analog Mini Jack w/ RCA "Y" adapter - BLUE jack)

Maestro can be set up on your Apple iPad and iPod Touch, or your ANDROID Tablet and ANDROID phone, as well as other hand-held devices that navigate the internet using Safari or Google Chrome (including your computer) internet browsers.

For information on setting up Maestro to run on your handheld device please visit our website by clicking here.

Next Step:

Are you able to hear music out of all the zones you have connected?

Yes

Please vist our website for the modules and protocol guides for IR and IP control by a 3rd-party system by clicking here. Once there, you will need to select "ReQuest Audio Servers" from the drop-down menu.

Next Step:

Are you able to hear music out of all the zones you have connected?

Yes

If you are going to be controling your F3 with IR, using the onscreen GUI, you will need connect the VGA port on the F3 server to your TV or monitor. If your TV is not enabled with a VGA connection you may have to purchase a 3rd-party converter. We recommend the Grandtec VGA to TV converters.

You will need to enable the onscreen GUI on the webserver. Click on Settings, then select Hardware from the drop-down menu. Change "GUI Displayed on VGA" to Enabled. You will have to reboot the server after making this change.

By default, once rebooted the HD GUI should appear on your screen after the server boots. If you see a different GUI than the black-background HD GUI, you will need to go to the webserver, click Settings and select GUI Theme from the drop-down menu. Only the HD GUI can be controlled by the IR commands on the F3.

Next Step:

Are you able to hear music out of all the zones you have connected?

Yes

No - the IR control is not working

No - the IR control starts something playing but there is nothing coming out of the speakers

Next Step:

Great! Do you have a NAS to connect to this server?

Yes

No*

*Keep in mind, you can always connect upto 3 NAS devices to expand this server's hard drive space. This will be particularly important if you are adding a MediaPlayer to the system, as a DVD collection will fill this internal hard drive very quickly (roughly 100 standard DVDs or 25 Blu-rays per TB).

Next Step:

Please check the physical cables from the server to your receiver (if applicable) and speakers. If able, check the receiver for activity. Check that the correct source for your F3 is selected on your receiver. You will have to do a bit of trouble-shooting for your sound system if you are not hearing audio. If after reviewing the connections and settings on your receiver and amps, you still have no audio, you will need a simple set of speakers (inexpensive computer speakers work well for this) to plug directly into the back of the server. Check each output to confirm you have audio. Do you have audio in your system?

Yes

No, not getting audio out of the outputs when connected directly to the server

Yes / No - Yes, there is audio when connected direclty through to the ReQuest / No, there is no audio coming from the ReQuest through my sound system

Please keep in mind, just because, another device, component, or receiver work with a particular device, component or receiver, does not mean that they are compatible with the ReQuest Servers.

Next Step:

If you are getting audio out of the server when speakers are connected directly to the server, then the server is outputting audio. You will have to run through your receiver / surround sound / audio system to find why it is not passing the audio through. The ReQuest only has audio settings for zone 1, the digital output. If this is the zone you are not hearing, you can make adjustments to the Output Sample Rate and the Output Bit Depth, which may allow your audio system to receive the audio from the server. These are found by selecting Audio from the drop-down menu of your webserver's Settings menu. If you are not hearing the analog outputs, then there is something in your audio system not passing the audio through. Would you like to continue setting up the ReQuest?

Yes

Please keep in mind, just because, another device, component, or receiver work with a particular device, component or receiver, does not mean that they are compatible with the ReQuest Servers.

Next Step:

Make sure your MediPlayer has all of the following accessories. Check off each as you go.

MediaPlayer

USB to IR Receiver Dongle

Credit Card Remote (Blue)

Y-cable: Stereo M to RCA F

CR2025 Remote Battery

Power Brick

Power Cord

Warranty Card

Toslink Adapter (F/m)

6ft HDMI Cable (M/M)

Ethernet Cable*

*Ethernet cable not included with MediaPlayer purchase

Thank you for purchasing a ReQuest Multimedia Server!

Now you can enjoy your Music and Movies all over again!

Next Step:

Are you connecting a MediaPlayer to this server?

Yes

Next Step:

Connect the MediaPlayer and get it online. Connect the necessary cables to the MP server before you power it up. Check below after you connect each cable.

Connect the power cord to the power brick. Connect the power brick to the DC Power Connector on the MP. Plug it in to your outlet.

Connect the Ethernet Cable to the MP and connect the other end into your network.

Connect the USB to IR Receiver Dongle

Connect the HDMI* cable to your MP and to your TV or TV distribution.

*If you need this to output Component instead of HDMI, you will need a converter. We recommend the HDFuryII or HDFuryIII. You can purchase these converters directly from HDFury.com. Though other converters exist on the market (some of which we have tested), this is the only one we recommend. If you choose a different converter, video may not pass though successfully.

Next Step:

Power on your MediaPlayer. Allow it to boot and watch for the video to show up on the screen. Are you getting video on your screen?

Yes

Next Step:

The MediaPlayer will scroll through the resolution options. Use the remote to select the appropriate resolution for your TV. Next it will try and loacte the F3 server on your network. Did the MP find the F3?

Yes

Next Step:

Is the MediaPlayer securely connected directly to the TV with the included HDMI cable?

Yes

Next Step:

Great! If your device has a DVD-ROM drive on it, you can archive your library there. If it does not, you will need to archive your library on the F3 server. If you have a MP+, to be able to archive all of your discs (CDs, DVDs etc.) you will need to follow the guide printed and found in the box with the MP+. After archiving one of your movies are you able to stream it to your TV?

Yes

Next Step:

If the MP can not find the F3, it will revert to the Network page. Confirm the IP address shown for the MP is on the same network as the F3. If they are not on the same network or your MP IP is showing all zeros, you will need to check your network settings and configurations. If they are on the same network and your MP can not find the F3, confirm the server is still booted and accessible on the network. Does your MP now find it server?

Yes

Next Step:

Is your MP connected directly into an HDMI converter or into your video distribution?

HDMI -> HDMI converter

HDMI -> Video Switch

Next Step:

Are you using the recommended HDFury Converter?

Yes

Next Step:

Please connect the MP directly to an HDMI TV or monitor, with the provided HDMI cable. Are you getting video out?

Yes

If you are using a video switch or converter or anything other than the provided HDMI cable and you aren't seeing video out of the MP, the first thing ReQuest Tech Support is going to ask you to do it to connect the MP directly to an HDMI TV with the provided HDMI cable. If this outputs video, then there is a failure point beyond the ReQuest MediaPlayer. You will need to systematically plug in and test each component and device beyond the MP's HDMI output. There are a variety of possible reasons including a faulty switch, faulty converter, faulty or overly long HDMI cable, or an improperly configured TV or switch.

Please keep in mind that some components may simply be incompatible with ReQuest. Just because two other components work successfully in the setup is no guarantee that the ReQuest system will work in the same way. This is why we strongly recommend, for example, using the HDFury converters that have been successfully tested in numerous installations.

Suggestions for checking the Video Out (in no particular order):

(even if you havent changed anything). To do this, point the credit card remote at the MP and press, in quick succession, the EJECT and FRAME STEP (found directly under the EJECT button on the remote) 5 times each. The MP will reboot in factory default mode.
Confirm the switches and settings are all correct on all devices along the path, including your converter, your switch and your TV and that everything is powered on.
Plug the MP directly to the TV to check for video. Use the converter if needed. If the converter does not work, try your computer through the converter, do you see video on the TV?
Confirm your HDMI cable is not unidirectional and/or plugged in backwards.
Confirm your HDMI cable is not over 12'. If you need to run longer than 12' you may need an HDMI signal booster in the middle of the run. These products can be found online.

Next Step:

Were you able to resolve the issue and get the video to your TV?

Yes

Next Step:

If the IR is not working, please confirm the battery is in place correctly and securely. Confirm that the IR dongle is sercurely connected to the MP and try again. If you have a replacement battery or the MP remote handy you may also want to try either of those. Is the F3 responsive to the IR commands?

Yes

Before configuring your ReQuest server to connect to your NAS you will first need to set up your NAS on your network, with static IP outside the DHCP range of your router, as you did before with the server. Again, it is important to make sure the IP is set to static and outside the range of addresses the router has been authorized to hand out, so that once configured to the server, the server will always be able to find the NAS at that address without interference from other networked devices.

We also highly recommend the F3, the NAS and the MP (if applicable) be on the same, dedicated, 1Gb network switch to limit bandwidth competition from other devices on your network, when streaming from the hard drive.

You will also need to set up a share on the NAS that is dedicated to the ReQuest server. You may have performance issues, duplicated media, media loss and other database management issues if other devices are also using and manipulating the data in the ReQuest share on this NAS. You will not want iTunes to be connected to this share, especially if you are using NetSync for iTunes 2.

You will also need to determine the RAID settings for your NAS based on your library size and comfort level.

Be sure to disable any trash box options and set the date and time correctly for your time zone on this NAS.

Any and all information on how to configure these settings in your NAS device will need to be directed to your NAS provider via their owner's manual or online support.

Please keep in mind, we recommend the LaCie 2BIG and 5BIG network models as well as the Netgear ReadyNAS models 1100, 2100, 3100, 3200, and 4200, as we have tested with each of these models and know they integrate with the ReQuest server nicely. If you chose to purchase and use a NAS device from another manufacturer, you may run into performance issues, especially if the NAS device you have purchased to use is very feature rich. Please see our online guide to NAS devices and recommended settings on our website here.

Next Step:

Is your NAS configured and accessible on your network?

Yes

For assistance on setting up your NAS for your network, you will need to refer to your NAS manufacturer's guidelines. Once you have the NAS online and can access it with your computer, please proceed to the next step.

In your webserver, go to the NAS page from the drop-down menu in Settings. You can find our online guide to configuring your NAS on your F3 on our website here.

You should be able to click on the Locate NAS devices and Find share buttons to locate your NAS and ReQuest share. Follow our online guide for more information on the NAS settings, then run the Test to confirm it passes.

Next Step:

Does the NAS pass the network test from the server?

Yes

If the NAS does not pass the network test from the computer you will need to trouble-shoot the NAS on the network. The first thing to do is either remove the Username and Password entered in these settings, or include the Username and Pasword here. Otherwise, try accessing the NAS via SAMBA file sharing on your computer. Our online guide to using SAMBA can be found on our website here.

Next Step:

Does the NAS pass the network test from the server?

Yes

Session Summary

ReQuest Serious Play • www.ReQuest.com • 1-800-236-1254