Squeezebox Players

[garymc]

---

EddyV wrote:

...If I am trying to play music off of my local squeebox server, the router should not make any difference. ..

---

No, the router makes a major difference. The router is "creating" your local area network (LAN).  The computer running SbS talks to your router. The SB Player (touch or duet receiver) talks to your router. The CONTROLLER talks to your router. So the router is pretty important as it is managing all your traffic  (I know there is a way to create a setup where your CONTROLLER talks directly to the duet receiver, but that's not typically the setup....and even here, the SbS talks to the router and the duet receiver talks to the router).

I'm wondering if you have some DHCP or IP assignment issues. Can you try to setup your duet receiver so that it has a fixed IP address rather than one assigned by your router's DHCP.  This is fairly easy in the duet setup if I recall.

[garymc]

and have you used netstumbler or visstumbler to check on nearby WIFI networks. Make sure you are using a channel far away as possible from nearby networks.  and don't "hide" your SSID on your WIFI. This can cause some issues, and provides ZERO wifi security anyhow.

[EddyV]

The router does not "create" the network. In this case, for playing music off of my server, the only thing that the router does that is relevant is assign IP address via DHCP. Since I use a separate access point for Wifi, I could set up a DHCP server on my music server and toss the router and still should be able to play music off of the server. Unless squeezeboxserver has to hit logitech's servers anytime it does something, which would be incredibly stupid design.

I have tried with SSID broadcasting on and off. It does not seem to make any difference.

I don't run windows so I can't use netstumbler or visstumbler. I'll give Kismet a try, but that does't explain the problems I had using the receiver via ethernet. 

[garymc]

---

EddyV wrote:

The router does not "create" the network. In this case, for playing music off of my server, the only thing that the router does that is relevant is assign IP address via DHCP.

I don't run windows so I can't use netstumbler or visstumbler. I'll give Kismet a try, but that does't explain the problems I had using the receiver via ethernet. 

---

Agree regarding router. That's what I meant. And agree that the WIFI issue wouldn't impact your ethernet. The duet/radio doesn't need to accesses mysb.com to play your own music. I can unplug my router from the internet, but still play music all day on my LAN.

But my point is that something is wrong, and I'm guessing what's wrong is a setting or something in how your LAN is setup and/or how both these players are connecting. I'm assuming that your computer running SbS is wired to the router (not connecting via WIFI).  I'm also assuming a computer is running SbS, not a NAS of some sort.

The duet and radio work perfectly for many folks, including me, so what I'm suggesting to you is to really try to diagnose what "may" be wrong with how you have these players accessing the network. Not sure what it is, but if I had a dollar for every person that eventually figured out their problem was a network/firewall/virus program, etc. I'd be rich!

This could be IP addresses, firewall things, etc. It's your stuff, so if you prefer to assume that the duet and radio are junk and just don't work, that's fine of course. But I know lots of personal examples of these things working fine, including for me.  My two cents is that I'd encourage you to try to diagnose the issue. Something can likely be fixed and I can assure you that I can listen to my many SB players month after month with not a hiccup. And I have it on for hours at a time, sometimes 12 hours solid of listening.

You might try posting your problem here:

http://forums.slimdevices.com/

Lots of smart users there that can help diagnose. It will be most helpful if you briefly list exactly how your network is setup, type of broadband access, brand/type of router, how everything is connected, virus program running, type of OS, versions of SbS, types of players, etc.

[mps12345]

I got a Duet about a year ago. When I used it on wireless, I had some problems with drop-outs, so I switched to a wired network with great results ever since. I haven't tried the Touch, so I can't say which is better (although I suspect the touch is an even better choice), but I can say that I am very happy with the Duet.

[genebritton]

I'm thankful to your reply to my questions also on another post.  You have convinced me that Touch is the way to go for me.  How do I know that I have a robust network system?  I plan to go through my Verizon FIOS network modem and use a Yamaha receiver system.  Also if I purchase a Touch and find my system is not robust enough, can I return?  Sound quality is of great importance to me.  I cannot put up with skipping, noise, poor sound quality, etc.  Thanks for sharing your knowledge. 

[mps12345]

There is a network test on the Duet menu. Is there one on the Touch menu? I wouldn't worry about subtle sound degradation. If you have wireless network problems, it will probably be obvious (e.g., two seconds of silence while the system rebuffers).  Playing around with placement for best wifi signal can help. If you use a wired connection, you'll have way more bandwidth than you need anyways, so you'll probably be fine out of the box, but if you have problems, it would probably be misconfiguration in some way, which should be fixable.

[squeezeit]

Yes, there is a network test on the Touch.  I believe it is on all SB players, I know it is on Duet, SB3, Boom, Radio, Touch.

For the best WiFi coverage and greatly reducing the likelihood of WiFi issues there are a number of very basic and very simple WiFi tweaks and settings one can implement.  Like...

1.  use a unique SSID name (name of your network/router)

2.  if using a G WiFi:  set WiFi to G only (turns off a & b modes)

3.  if using an N WiFi: set to G Compatibility mode (if using G devices)

4.  change the broadcast channel to the least used channel near you

5.  choose only channels 1 or 6 or 11 (or 13 if available)

6.  router and WiFi antenna orientation adjustments can help signal strength

7.  keep router away from other electronic devices (cordless phones, ISP modem, computers)

8.  reboot WiFi router every once in a while (once a month is usually sufficient)

If your WiFi network card software already gives the ch numbers and the signal strength of all nearby networks, that's all you need.  But there are free programs like NetStumbler if needed.

[garymc]

---

genebritton wrote:

I'm thankful to your reply to my questions also on another post.  You have convinced me that Touch is the way to go for me.  How do I know that I have a robust network system?  I plan to go through my Verizon FIOS network modem and use a Yamaha receiver system.  Also if I purchase a Touch and find my system is not robust enough, can I return?  Sound quality is of great importance to me.  I cannot put up with skipping, noise, poor sound quality, etc.  Thanks for sharing your knowledge. 

---

Do you have a ROUTER in your system. That is "external internet to your house" > FIOS network Modem > WIFI ROUTER?  Most networks are robust enough, so I wouldn't worry about it.  As mentioned, the placement of your WIFI router is the key for getting a consistently strong WIFI signal to the TOUCH.

p.s netstumbler is good, but I couldn't get it to work on my WIN 7 machine. I use VISTUMBLER instead and also works well.

[genebritton]

I do have an old Linksys G wireless music bridge, that I never could get to work properly and it will not work with Windows 7 anyway.  So I suspect I will need a new router.  What I want to do is be able to hold the Touch in my hands about 10' away and use to control my music.  Will the Touch work like that or does it have to be wired directly to my receiver?  I may need to look at the Duet if that is the case.  What router, reasonably priced, would be recommended?  I probably don't know enough to even be asking, but any help is appreciated.