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Remote Control

Control r0astr from your tablet, phone, or any device on your network.

Overview

r0astr includes a remote control interface that lets you control panels from a secondary device. Perfect for:

  • Using an iPad as a control surface while coding on your laptop
  • Triggering panels from a phone during live performance
  • Controlling r0astr from across the room

Quick Start

1. Start r0astr

Run r0astr on your main computer:

npm run dev

Or launch the desktop app.

2. Find Your IP Address

Open Terminal and run:

ipconfig getifaddr en0

Or go to System Settings → Network → Your connection → Details → IP Address

Open Command Prompt and run:

ipconfig

Look for "IPv4 Address" under your active network adapter.

Open Terminal and run:

hostname -I | awk '{print $1}'

3. Connect from Your Device

On your tablet or phone:

  1. Make sure you're on the same WiFi network
  2. Open your browser
  3. Go to: http://YOUR-IP:5173/remote.html

For example: http://192.168.1.100:5173/remote.html

Network Requirements

Same Network Required

The remote device MUST be on the same local network as the computer running r0astr.

Requirements

Requirement Details
Same WiFi Both devices on the same network
Port 5173 Must not be blocked by firewall
No VPN VPN can interfere with local connections

Guest Networks

Most "guest" WiFi networks isolate devices from each other. If you can't connect, try the main network instead.

Remote Interface Features

The remote interface provides:

Panel Controls

  • Play/Pause buttons for each panel
  • Visual indicators showing which panels are playing
  • Panel numbering matches the main interface

Global Controls

  • Stop All - Immediately stops all panels
  • Connection status - Shows if connected to r0astr

Auto-Reconnection

If the connection drops:

  1. The interface shows "Disconnected"
  2. Automatically attempts to reconnect
  3. Reconnects when r0astr becomes available again

Troubleshooting

"Disconnected" Status

Cause: Cannot reach the r0astr server.

Solutions:

  1. Verify r0astr is running on your computer
  2. Check you're using the correct IP address
  3. Ensure both devices are on the same WiFi
  4. Try refreshing the remote page

Can't Connect Initially

Common issues:

Problem Solution
Wrong IP Re-check your computer's IP address
Different networks Connect both devices to same WiFi
Guest network Use main network instead
Firewall blocking Allow port 5173 in firewall settings
VPN active Disable VPN on both devices

Intermittent Disconnects

Possible causes:

  • Weak WiFi signal
  • Network congestion
  • Sleep/standby modes

Solutions:

  • Move closer to WiFi router
  • Keep devices awake during performance
  • Consider a dedicated WiFi for performances

Finding Your IP - Common Mistakes

Mistake Correct Approach
Using localhost Use your actual network IP (192.168.x.x)
Using 127.0.0.1 This only works on the same machine
Old IP after network change Re-check IP address after WiFi changes

Security Considerations

Local Network Only

The remote control is designed for local network use only. Do not expose to the public internet.

Current Security Model

  • No authentication - Anyone on your network can connect
  • Local only - Only accessible within your network
  • Trust model - Assumes trusted local environment

Recommendations

  • Use on trusted networks only
  • Avoid public WiFi for performances
  • Consider a dedicated portable router for gigs
  • Keep r0astr updated

Future Considerations

Future versions may include:

  • Optional PIN protection
  • Connection allowlists
  • Encrypted connections

WebSocket Protocol

For Advanced Users

This section is for developers building custom integrations.

The remote control uses WebSocket for real-time communication.

Connection

const ws = new WebSocket('ws://192.168.1.100:5173/ws');

Message Types

Type Direction Purpose
panel:start Client → Server Start a panel
panel:stop Client → Server Stop a panel
playback:stop-all Client → Server Stop all panels
state:get Client → Server Request current state
state:current Server → Client Current state response
event:panel-state Server → Client Panel state changed

Example

// Start panel 1
ws.send(JSON.stringify({
  type: 'panel:start',
  payload: { panelId: 'panel-1' }
}));

See API Reference for complete documentation.

Tips for Live Performance

Before the Performance

  1. Test the connection at the venue
  2. Note your IP address (it may change on different networks)
  3. Bookmark the remote URL on your device
  4. Disable auto-sleep on your remote device

During the Performance

  • Keep the remote interface visible
  • Use Stop All for clean transitions
  • Have a backup plan if WiFi fails
┌─────────────────┐         ┌─────────────────┐
│   Main Laptop   │ ◄──────►│   WiFi Router   │
│   (r0astr)      │  WiFi   │                 │
└─────────────────┘         └────────┬────────┘
                                     │ WiFi
                            ┌────────▼────────┐
                            │  iPad/Phone     │
                            │  (Remote)       │
                            └─────────────────┘