• What is BridgePal ?
• Hardware Requirements
• Setting Up the System
• SUMMARY
• PC Setup
• Download PC Components
• WiFi Network Setup
• Scoring Unit Setup
• Using Non-Android devices
• Scoring Programs
• Documents
• Users
• What Users Say
• Gallery
• Forum
• Useful Links
• BridgeScore
• Bridge Solver
• BridgePal on Bridgewebs
• Contact Us



WiFi Network Setup

Using a Router

Routers should work "out of the box" without any special setup requirements. If you are using a second hand router it may be a good idea to reset the router to factory settings in order to erase any configuration parameters which have been altered from their default settings.

You can use any name for the WiFi network - most routers will already have a default name. The router does not need to be connected to the internet in order for BridgePal to function.

Do not allow the scoring laptop (or scoring units) to connect automatically to any WiFi network other than the one used for BridgePal. If necessary erase the passwords for any other configured WiFi networks by selecting the 'forget' network option. This ensures that the BridgePal network is the only one that scoring units and the laptop can connect to. Then, if the WiFi signal drops at any time during the session, everything will automatically reconnect to the correct network, as there is no other network configured.

If you use an Ethernet cable to connect the PC to the router, make sure that there is no wireless connection between the router and the PC as well. Again, to reliably achieve this, delete the BridgePal network's WiFi password from the PC by using the ‘forget’ option. Simultaneous ethernet and wifi connections between the PC and the router are likely to cause BridgePal to fail to function.

And finally, last but not least, make sure that the router is positioned at least at eye level and preferably higher.

 

Using a Hotspot

A mobile hotspot can be used in smaller clubs. Hotspots generally have a limit on the number of devices supported, e.g. 5 or 10, and a more limited range than a wireless router, so may not be suitable for larger clubs.

Any iOS or android phone can be used as a hotspot in this way.

1. In Settings on the phone set Personal Hotspot ON (Mobile data must be ON) and set a password for Personal Hotspot
   
2. From visible wireless networks on the laptop choose the hotspot and use the password defined above to connect
   
3. From visible wireless networks on all BridgePal phones choose the same hotspot and login with the same password
   
4. If you wish, you can turn off the phone's mobile data connection to prevent internet access by conencted devices.