Network considerations for the Dragon Remote Microphone application

To use the Dragon Remote Microphone Application as a wireless microphone, both your mobile device and the computer where Dragon is running must be on the same network. The mobile device must be connected over Wi-Fi and the computer can be connected over a Wi-Fi or wired connection.

Using the app in a home network

The Dragon Remote Microphone is supported on typical home networks with all computers and devices connected by a wireless-enabled router.

For iOS devices, the simplest discovery method is to use Find Computer with Bonjour on the Dragon Remote Microphone application. For Android-based devices, use either the barcode or manual connection method.

If your home network has multiple routers, you must enter the correct IP address and machine name of the target computer where Dragon is installed, or turn on multicast routing.

Using the app in public Wi-Fi hotspots

There are two general types of public Wi-Fi:

  • Networks where your computer or mobile device discovers the wireless network and logs on automatically. This is similar to a typical home networking setup with one router as described above.

    The Dragon Remote Microphone Application is designed to work in this type of network.

  • Locations such as Starbucks and Panera, which use service providers such as AT&T Wi-Fi, requiring that you log-on or accept the terms of service (fees may apply).

    The typical security configuration in these kinds of networks does not allow the mobile device to communicate with the computer, so these kinds of configurations are not supported.
Using the app in corporate environments

If the target computer and the mobile device are on the same network and multicast routing is enabled, use auto-discovery for iOS devices, and barcode or manual setup with Android-based devices.

Multicast network configurations are uncommon. Most IT departments disable multicast routing to reduce security threats and Wi-Fi bandwidth consumption. If multicast is disabled, Bonjour discovery will not work.

Sites with computers on multiple wired and wireless sub-networks must enable multicast routing to perform Bonjour discovery. This effectively puts all computers on the same sub-network. If multicast is disabled, Bonjour discovery will not work.

Sites which use unicast routing with a Domain Name Server with Bonjour should work as long as all machines have actual IP addresses, rather than 10.x, 192.x and 168.x addresses.

Users at this type of site may also use barcode or manual setup and rather than Bonjour.
Issues with Firewalls, Anti-virus software and Malware detection software

When you create a user profile for the Dragon Remote Microphone Application, Dragon automatically opens port 51001 on the Windows firewall.

Port 51001 needs to be open for the Dragon Remote Microphone Application to communicate with the computer where Dragon is installed. Some third party firewall, anti-virus, and malware detection software may disable this port. If they do, you'll need to configure the software to open port 51001.
HotSpot Tethering iOS 4.3 and later and Android 2.2 and later devices support connecting mobile devices to the Internet over Wi-Fi. The device can then share its Internet connection with the computer. These kinds of tethered hotspot configurations are not supported with the Dragon Remote Microphone Application.
 

Related procedures

Additional information

Using a barcodeUsing Bonjour with the Dragon Remote Microphone Application
Manual entry/Communication information dialog boxDictating over a remote desktop connection