Church Bell Remote app Requirements
- Chime Master bell control or electronic church bell carillon instrument
- Chime Master Management Suite for PC - full licensed version 4.9 or later with a network connection that is shared with your mobile device
- Android™ phones and tablets (including Kindle Fire) with Gingerbread (ver 2) or later
- iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch with iOS version 8 or later
FAQ
- Can I hear the bells ring on my phone?
- Church Bell Remote sends commands to your Chime Master church bell ringing equipment and receives status for the phone's display. No bell sounds are heard from the phone.
- Do you have church bell ring tones available?
- Download our Church Bell Soundboard from the iTunes or the Play Store. Bell ringing and favorite hymns can be played on your phone and saved as ring tones.
- Can I ring my bells when I'm away from the church Wi-Fi network?
- Yes, you can access your bell ringing system from your mobile device while away from the church using your 3G/4G mobile data, and home or public Wi-Fi connection that has access to the remote management PC. See Remote control from anywhere.
The Church Bell Remote Screen
Monitor Level and Active Zones
At the top left side of the screen is a digital indicator of the inside volume monitor level set for the inside monitor speaker for the carillon system. Displayed to the right of this level (if the amplifiers are active) a speaker zone indication of In, Out or Both to indicate which speakers/bells are currently active. Current Host
The name of the host bell system you are currently connected to is displayed with a gray background. If a number appears after the host name in parenthesis, you are not alone. The number of users currently logged in and able to control the system is displayed. If you have multiple bell ringing hosts to choose from, tap the host name to bring up a selection list. System Status
System status is displayed in blue characters. When the system is waiting for a command it will say, "Standby." If you tap a function button that is programmed to wait for the Play button, the status will read, "Ready to Play." If active, it will display the selection currently playing. If it is counting down a repeated selection like a funeral toll, it will display the remaining number of tolls.
Error messages also appear in the status window.
Function Select Buttons
The buttons are arranged with programmable function buttons at the top. There can be from zero to eight of these depending on their programming and your user permissions. The ringing action for each button is set up using the Settings-Remote Buttons panel of the remote management software. User permissions for each button is granted in the remote management software Administrator panel.
Volume Buttons
Two volume level buttons are displayed in the app unless the app setting Use Phone's Volume Buttons option (Android only) is selected. These buttons (or the phone volume buttons while the app is active) control the volume of the inside speakers that monitor the ringing system, including the church PA system if it is connected to the Audio Inside line output jack. You must have the administrator's permission to be able to adjust the level.
Millennium Carillon Keyboard Buttons
Two keyboard buttons are displayed if you are connected to a Chime Master Millennium Carillon (and have authorization to access the keyboard). The blue keyboard button activates the keyboard for playing live through the outside speakers or bells (as well as the inside monitoring system). The red keyboard button activates the practice mode that allows you to play inside only.
In the keyboard modes, the system status line at the top will display the currently selected keyboard bell voice.
While the practice mode is active, you will also have access to the recording control buttons, allowing you to record and playback your performance. If you have the optional recording storage memory, you will also be able to permanently store your recording for future use. The selection number assigned to the recording will be displayed for a few seconds after tapping the save button.
The Voice button sequences through your available bell voices, and re-activates the keyboard after performing the recording and saving operations. Stop and Play
The programmable buttons can be set to either play immediately or wait for the Play button. If set to wait, the system will suspend its automatic schedule for an hour while it waits for thePlay button. While the system is playing the Stop button will cancel the currently playing selection. If you wish to stop an entire concert, tap the Stop button twice.
Selection Entry
Tapping Selection Entry provides a window that accepts any selection you want to hear. For example, tap Selection Entry, then tap on the window for a numeric keypad and enter 1225 to queue Amazing Grace. Then tap the Play button when you're ready. Tap Selection Entry again to close the window.
Auto Off
You can suspend the automatic schedule for special events by pressing the Auto Off button. The button icon will change from an x to a calendar, and the text will change to "Resume Auto." Press again to resume the automatic schedules. There is a built-in delay to resume automation if you forget to manually restart it. This delay is set in the Management Suite Settings screen.
Exiting the App
Android
Like most Android apps, Church Bell Remote will save where you are if you suspend it using the Android Home button. When you return to the Remote, you will quickly be logged in to your bell system and the screen will update with the system's status. If you exit by tapping the Android Back button, you will be logged out of the bell system's host and the app will shut down and remove itself from your device's memory.
For newer versions of Android, you may need to open the recent apps and swipe the app out of the list to completely close the app.
iOS 7 and newer
To completely close the app when you are done with it and log out of the system:
- Double click the home button to get screen cards of apps still running
- Touch the Remote screen card and then toss it up and away
iOS 4 to 6
To completely close the app when you are done with it and log out of the system:
- Press the home button once to go home
- Double click the home button to get list of apps still running
- Press and hold the Remote icon
- Tap the little red (-) icon
Settings
Hosts
Tap the Add button (+ for iOS) for a new host or tap an existing host to edit it. Give your host a name that will used to select it. If you plan to access the same host locally via wifi and also through the public internet you should include 'Local' and 'Away' in the host name.
Enter the IP address and port used by the host computer running the Management Suite remote management software. The local IP address and port will be displayed in the Administratorpanel of the software. You must close the Administrator panel in order for the app to connect to the host. If port forwarding is used on your firewall for public access, enter the public IP of the firewall (Google "my ip" in your PC's browser to see the public address).
The default port should work unless you find another application is using it, so tap Save to close the Edit host window.
To delete hosts you no longer need, go into the Settings > Hosts list. On Android, press and hold the host name to bring up the host menu. On iOS, swipe left over the host name for the delete button.
Login
After you set the IP and port for the host, you can return to the main screen and the app will attempt to connect to the host. If successful, the first time you connect to a host a login screen will prompt you for your user name and password. These are set in the Management Suite's Adminstrator-Users panel.
Button Size
The button size can be set by setting how many buttons you want on each row of the display. Lock Screen Orientation
The button sizes will change when you rotate the phone or tablet display, so once you determine how you want to use the app, you can lock the app's display orientation.
Timeouts
If you experience error messages indicating a loss of connection, try increasing the Connection Timeout. If error messages indicate a data problem, increase the Data Timeout. Default settings are 5 seconds.
Administration
Set up of each bell system is accomplished using the Administrator panel in the Management Suite remote mangement software. Refer to the help documentation provided with the Management Suite for making these settings for your particular system.
Button Icons
Each button can have up to four selections or system control macros programmed on it. You can also provide a long description that is displayed on the app screen below the button. Button programming is accomplished using the Settings-Remote Buttons panel of the Management Suite software on the host computer.
The pictographs shown below will be displayed when you program remote buttons with the system's four character label beginning with the two character code given in the table. Future updates will include more of these pictographs. Undefined codes will display the numeric number of the button.
If you do not provide a short label for the function macro beginning with one of the two character codes in the table below, the button will be numbered from 1 to 8 for the function.
| Icon | code | Description |
|---|---|---|
 |
sw | Single Swinging Bell |
 |
pe | Pealing Bells |
 |
to | Tolling Bell |
 |
hy (or) so | Hymn or Song |
 |
pr | Prayer Bell |
 |
tr | Trinity Bell or Hymn |
 |
fa | Favorite hymn or love song |
 |
al | Alma Mater |
 |
fi | School Fight Song |
 |
sa | Consecration Sanctus church bell |
 |
ta/bu | Bugle for Taps or other call |
 |
ba/pi | Bagpipe selection |
 |
wa | Warning Bell or Signal |
 |
sd | SD Card selection |
Error Messages
Errors appear in the blue status display window at the top of the app. In addition, a window may pop up suggesting troubleshooting ideas.
Connection attempt timed out
This generally involves the firewall(s) ignoring incoming connection requests.
- Did you set up the port exception in Windows Firewall? See below.
- Are other router firewalls preventing access?
- If you are trying to access through the public Internet with a slow connection, try increasing the Connection Timeout in the app settings.
Increase Connection Timeout if on a slow network.
Error Communicating
The app can reach the Management Suite host, but is not receiving status from the carillon. Check the USB connection and restart the Management Suite.
This may also occur when the app is suspended and the mobile device moves to a new location (obtaining a new IP address) before resuming the app. Tapping the message away should result in normal operation if this is the reason.
This error can also be caused by antivirus programs. Norton and Avast are known to block the incoming connection to the PC from the mobile app. The PC can be protected with Microsoft Security Essentials while supporting the app.
Firmware Update Required
The firmware version in the carillon does not support the remote app. Compatible firmware is distributed with the Management Suite, which us used to perform the update.
Host may not be running
The app is not able to reach the Management Suite host interface.
- Is the Management Suite running?
- Double check that your mobile device is connected to the same network as the host PC.
- If trying to access from public internet (4G), check network firewall settings and public IP, which may be subject to change (google "what is my ip" on the host PC).
Host suspended
You cannot control the bell system when someone else is locally using the Management Suite on the host PC. Return the Management Suite to the Main Menu window.
Login failed - No access at this time
Your username is not authorized to access the system at this time. Check the User Accounts Administrator option in Management Suite for Times to Access for the user. If starting and ending times are the same, the user has access 24 hours on selected days.
Request timed out
The Remote Control app is not able to reach the PC that Management Suite is installed on.
- Is the host PC running? Did it go to sleep? Check power settings.
- Has the IP address of the PC changed (DHCP instead of a static address)?
- Is a firewall or router setting preventing access to the PC?
Try increasing Data Timeout if on a slow network.
Initial setup
For a complete system setup tutorial see Remote Control Mobile App Setup.
Run as administrator
You must launch Management Suite as an Administrator to enable the remote control host server. Newer systems will ask you if you are sure you want to allow the software to make changes to your PC. See the Management Suite section on User Account Control for options.
Antivirus
Communications errors can be caused by antivirus programs. Norton and Avast are known to block the incoming connection to the PC from the mobile app.
Try re-installing the Management Suite with antivirus temporarily disabled.
Windows Firewall
Windows XP
- Open Firewall settings by holding the Windows key while pressing R, then type firewall.cpl (enter).
- Click the Exceptions tab, click the Add Port button and enter "Chime Master Remote" and enter the port displayed in the Host Administrator's window, and make sure TCP is selected.
- Click OK to create the exception. Click OK to close Windows Firewall.
Windows Vista, 7 to 10
- Open Firewall Advanced settings by holding the Windows key while pressing R, then type wf.msc (enter).
- Click "Inbound Rules" in the left column of the window. Select Rule type "Port" then click Next.
- Select TCP and enter the port displayed in the Host Administrator's window for the specific local port and click Next.
- Select "Allow the connection" and click Next.
- Type "Chime Master Remote" for the name and click Finish.
Setup the phone or tablet
- If you have problems connecting, try rebooting the host PC, your phone, and your WiFi access point if you made any changes to it.
- Review other possible issues below if you cannot connect.
- Look up error messages that you receive on the mobile app.