COPYRIGHT © 2003 MERIT INDUSTRIES, INC.
work, including MP3, MMP, and graphics for-
mats stored within the memory of the juke-
box on location. At 11:1 compression ratio,
approximately 2,000 songs can be stored
on the 10 GB, ATA/IDE Hard Drive. The op-
erating system information can be stored on
the hard drive or a 64MB Flash Memory Card,
as needed.
Jukebox Communications
The jukebox calls out once a day with an
“I’m alive” call, typically during a location’s
off hours in order to avoid phone conflicts.
If you’ve placed orders for new songs, two
to three song files will download per hour
(based on average phone line speed), with
a 33.6 Kbps or 56 Kbps modem used to com-
municate with the server.
56 Kbps (V.90) modems are capable of
transmitting 33.6 Kbps to the server and re-
ceiving approximately 42 Kbps from the
server if digital lines are available on the ISP
(Internet Service Provider) side. This means
that this throughput cannot be achieved on
“Typhoon”. The modem basically acts much
like a D2A and A2D converter pair, convert-
ing digital signals so they can be transmitted
analogously on copper wires (with limited
bandwidth) and back to digital.
TouchTunes® Server and Database
TouchTunes® maintains two servers to
handle jukebox communications and data.
Two terabytes of disk space allow for an
extensive library of music selections and
for TouchTunes® to receive uploaded log
files from the jukebox network. One server
is used as a backup to the other.
There are two pathways that jukeboxes use
to connect to the server. Approximately 80%
of the jukeboxes connect to the
TouchTunes® server through the use of an
Internet provider. These boxes dial a local
POP (point of presence) radius server, which
verifies the user name and password pro-
grammed into the jukebox. From there, com-
munication is accomplished using the Internet
backbone.
The other method of connection to the server
is through a direct-dial toll free number. This
also requires the jukebox to verify its user
name and password to gain access to the
TouchTunes server.
Internet Service Providers
TouchTunes® uses UUNET™ and AT&T™
to handle Internet access for jukeboxes. In
some cases, jukeboxes have difficulty com-
municating due to a problem with the ISP
(Internet Service Provider) network and not
TouchTunes®. TouchTunes® monitors ISP
traffic and congestion, makes changes to
the jukebox as required, and will even notify
the ISP when problems are noted with their
services.
Local Point of Presence (POP)
The jukebox will call a local phone number
to connect to the Internet. TouchTunes®
makes every effort to ensure the jukebox is
making a local call.
Jukeboxes that do not have a local POP to
access the Internet are using a toll free di-
rect dial-up to access the TouchTunes® net-
work. It is not uncommon for jukeboxes
using the direct dial to experience periods
where they get a busy signal. This is due to
the volume of jukeboxes using the direct
access.
TouchTunes® has experienced better com-
munication results using the Internet for com-
munication and makes every effort to have
jukeboxes communicate in this manner.
How It All Works
New jukeboxes are programmed to call out
using the toll free number, but the phone
number information initially programmed into
the installation screen on the jukebox is far
from accurate. The first step requires
TouchTunes® to send a small command to
PM0378-07 MEGATOUCH COMBO JUKEBOX™ OWNER’S MANUAL 7