Configure Vocera Smartbadge Using the Standalone BPE

Configure Vocera Smartbadge using the 5.0.0 Standalone version of Badge Properties Editor (BPE), to reflect the 5.0.0 Firmware Release. If you do not have the standalone version of BPE, contact Vocera Customer support or open a case in the Support Portal.

Update Smartbadge Properties

The BPE is installed on both the configuration computer and the Vocera Voice Server computer. If you are performing initial badge configuration, use the Badge Properties Editor on the configuration computer.

To update the Smartbadge properties, perform the following tasks:

Locate and double-click the Vocera BPE Launcher icon on the desktop to login for the first time. For subsequent logins, access the Vocera BPE Launcher using the URL, http://127.0.0.1:8011/#!/, where 127.0.0.1 is the localhost, and 8011 is the Voice Server IP port for BPE.
The Badge Properties Editor appears.
Select Badges>V5000.
The V5000 Smartbadge Properties Editor opens.

For specific instructions on how to configure your badge using BPE, refer to Vocera Device Configuration Guide.

Smartbadge Properties

Following are the properties required for the Badge Property Editor:

Mandatory Settings

V5.ServerIPAddr <CorpServerIPAddr OR LocalTestServerIPAddr>

Wireless Settings

Wireless settings are dependent on the configuration settings of your environment.

V5.AuthenticationType = WPA-PSK
V5.PreSharedKey = <64 Char HEX Key or ASCII Passphrase>
V5.SSID = <SSID>
V5.EncryptionType = CCMP

Custom Settings

There are few settings to control specific functions that can be applied through the Customer Settings fields. For information on the custom setting appropriate for your environment, contact Vocera Technical Support.

Installing Vocera 5.0.0 Firmware

This section includes installation instructions for the Vocera version 5.0.0 Firmware release. This release applies to Vocera Smartbadge only.

Download the 5.0.0 Vocera Firmware installer V5000_FWR_Update_5.0.0.76.exe by following the instructions included in the email you received from Vocera Customer Support.

Installing Firmware on Vocera Smartbadge from a Standalone Vocera Server

To install Firmware on Vocera Smartbadge from a standalone Vocera Server, perform the following tasks:

Shut down the standalone server:
1. In the Vocera Control Panel, choose Run>Shutdown.
  A confirmation dialog box appears.
2. Click OK.
  The dialog box closes. Subsequently, the Control Panel also closes.
Install Firmware on the standalone server:
1. Click V5000_FWR_Update_5.0.0.76.exe at the location you have downloaded the installer to launch it.
2. Follow the instructions on the installation pane workflow and select Yes to start the Vocera Services when prompted.

Result: The Firmware is automatically downloaded to the Vocera Smartbadge after the Smartbadge reconnect to the Vocera Server.

Installing Firmware on Vocera Smartbadge in a Vocera cluster

In a cluster environment, you must install the following:

Firmware on the Standby Server
An active server

This workflow is designed to reduce the downtime in your environment and update your Smartbadge quickly.

To install firmware on Vocera Smartbadge in a Vocera cluster, perform the following tasks:

Shut down the Standby server:
1. Choose Run >Shutdown, in the Vocera Control Panel.
  A confirmation dialog box appears.
2. Click OK.
  The dialog box closes. Subsequently, the Control Panel also closes.
Install on the Standby server:
1. Click V5000_FWR_Update_5.0.0.76.exe at the location you have downloaded the installer to launch it.
2. Follow the instructions on the installation pane workflow and when prompted select Yes to start the Vocera Services.
3. Allow the remote restore to finish so that the server returns to standby status.
Note: Do not proceed to the next step until the Standby server switches to standby state.
Note: When the Standby server becomes active, and the Smartbadge connect to it, the firmware is automatically updated on the Vocera Smartbadge.
Shut down the Active server:
1. Choose Run>Shutdown, in the Vocera Control Panel.
  A failover on the Active server initiated to make it inactive and causes the Standby server to change to active state.
Perform the following tasks on the inactive server (that you shut down):
1. Click V5000_FWR_Update_5.0.0.76.exe at the location you have downloaded the installer to launch it.
2. Follow the instructions on the installation pane workflow and when prompted select Yes to start the Vocera Services.
3. Allow the remote restore to finish so that the server returns to standby status.

Note: Vocera recommends that you reboot the Vocera Voice Server to remove the temporary font files that exist inside the firmware folders. The temporary font files can cause different master hash values between VS cluster nodes to start infinite update loops.

Uninstalling 5.0.0 Firmware

To uninstall 5.0.0 firmware, perform the following tasks:

Click V5000_FWR_Update_5.0.0.76.exe at the location you have downloaded the installer to launch it.
Follow the instructions on the installation pane work flow and when prompted select Yes to start the Vocera Services.
Allow the remote restore to finish.
Firmwares from both active and standby servers are uninstalled.

What's New

This section summarizes the new features in the Vocera Smartbadge 5.3.0 release.

What's New in 5.0.0

This section summarizes the new features in the Vocera Smartbadge 5.0.0 release.

The Vocera Smartbadge redefines healthcare communication by combining smartphone usability with hands-free freedom. Vocera Smartbadge represents a new category of wearable communication devices that enable clinician agility and accelerate patient care.

Key Features

Secure messaging feature with a 2.4 inch touchscreen display and keyboard.
Smoother and more natural conversation with new audio technology.
Search Users, Groups, or both across the entire directory without scrolling the full directory.
Haptic touch enabled Call button.
Discrete volume keys.
A dedicated, one-touch panic button for faster and easier communication in case of emergencies.
DND setting with timer options.
USB charging with a headset port.
Audio options during an active call.
Intuitive user experience with a consistent design of Vocera Vina smartphone application for ease of use.

What's Fixed, Enhanced, or Improved

The following list contains fixes and improvements done in this firmware release and the V5000 product.

Release Fixes

Release 5.0.0.76

G5W-4175 —If a user tries to open a voice message while in an active call, a Restart UI message may appear.

Release 5.0.0.73

G5W-3598—When receiving an Urgent message, two entries may appear in the message history. One for the enunciated call and one for the message.
G5W-3564—When receiving an alert from a monitor alarm system, the subject may be truncated in the summary view.
G5W-3573—If a completely drained battery is inserted into the VoceraSmartbadge and a USB C charger is applied, the Smartbadge may fail to boot correctly. The workaround is to insert a battery that has some charge in it.
G5W-3559—When the calling party is put on hold by a remote party, there is no visual indication that the local user has been put on hold.
G5W-2187—Speech Zone Fallback has been integrated for V5000 Smartbadge.
G5W-3591—The internal Smartbadge prompts now use the same voice as the Vocera Genie (Jennifer.)
G5W-2970—Search result screens can be scrolled in portrait mode.
G5W-1753—Battery and charging status is displayed in an overlay when a charger is connected.

Known Issues

The following section lists the known issues in this firmware release and the V5000 Smartbadge product.

Known Issues in 5.0.0

As part of the resistance to dust and water ingress, the removable battery is a snug fit when initially deployed with the Smartbadge. When removing the battery after sliding the latch to the red position, it is recommended to apply a little pressure in the direction of the USB-C socket to ease the removal of the battery.

The following list provides information about known product issues in the 5.0.0 firmware and the Vocera Smartbadge:

G5W-3566—When deploying the Vocera Smartbadge with a standalone AP in a test environment, the Smartbadge may take several minutes to complete its DHCP transaction. This problem does not occur in a Wireless LAN environment.
G5W-3632—In certain circumstances, when using the Secure Chat functionality, a white box may conceal a portion of the display. Workaround: Dismissing the conversation and restarting or swiping to a new layer resolves this issue.
G5W-3364—When using a USB-C analog headset, a pop sound may sometimes be heard in idle mode.
G5W-3560—If an attachment is sent from a Smartphone client to the Smartbadge, there is no indication that there is an attachment.
G5W-3536—When selecting a timer for the DND feature, there is no indication which timer option has been selected.
G5W-3668—When viewing search results after searching for users in the Directory, the status of the search result may not be correct.
G5W-2942—On rare occasions when viewing a list of entries, Directories or Events on the Home screen, the top entry may be a blank field. Swiping to another layer will resolve this problem.
G5W-3026—When using Cisco WLC 8.3 where both 802.11ac and 802.11n are disabled, the Vocera Smartbadge ping messages are not passed to the Vocera Voice server. This problem is resolved with Cisco WLC 8.5.
G5W-3859—Urgent text messages may appear as urgent broadcasts.
G5W-2900—During an 802.1x association, the first attempt may fail due to a delay, causing a second attempt which is successful.
G5W-1609—When roaming frequently, the radio driver may restart.
G5W-3606—Text reminders may not present an audio notification when they are received.
G5W-3894—An alert containing an initial long string of characters may be truncated. Subsequent words in the alert are not truncated.
G5W-3825—While adding a participant to a chat conversation, and rotating the Smartbadge to portrait mode, to portrait, the Search key appears instead of the Add key.
G5W-3914—When receiving an alert through the VMI gateway, the header displays “VMI Message.”
G5W-3846—When verbally acknowledging a multiple-choice response alert, the display does not indicate that the alert has been acknowledged.
G5W-3850—When placing a Panic call on hold, the display does not reflect the held call status.
G5W-3476—When in a Conference call and placing the current call on hold to make another call, the GUI does not indicate that there are multiple calls in progress.
G5W-3379—Call log displays Urgent voice messages as normal voice messages.
G5W-3074—Messages received from the web console do not contain a subject line.
G5W-4198—On very rare occasions an incoming call may fail on the first attempt due to the radio not waking from a sleep cycle quickly enough. The call will appear as a missed call. A subsequent call attempt will succeed.
G5W-2809—LEAP Authentication may fail due to an incorrect size PMK

Vocera V5000 Release Notes

Version 5.0.0

Updated: April 23, 2021

Supported Versions of Vocera Voice Server and Messaging Server

Prerequisites