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Topic: New Squeezebox released (Read 16734 times) previous topic - next topic
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New Squeezebox released

Reply #25 –
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You don't need a wireless router, just a wireless card.  I have my SB2 connected directly to my laptop's internal wireless card via an Ad-Hoc network connection.  A few things about that are:  1) As far as I know only WEP is allowed that way, no WPA  2) it's also 802.11b only

With my laptop and SB2 in the same room I have no dropouts whatsoever.  BTW, my internet connection is wired.
...[a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=337733"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

2) it's also 802.11b only???  What, the SB2 only works with 802.11b with a wireless card?  Surely that's not right???

Having looked at wireless routers over the past few days, it seems that they might be my best bet to help reduce the chances of dropouts.  Perhaps one that has a directional antenna would be best --> so that it can be directed at the room that needs the connection.  That makes sense right?
 

New Squeezebox released

Reply #26 –
i have a squeezebox (had it since february) and can honestly say its one of the 2 or 3 best items i have ever purchased. it has changed my life, quite literally. here's how:

i had about 500 or so cds that were collecting dust and REALLY bothered me just looking at them taking up space on a spinner rack in my living room. i got wind of the squeezebox and put in place my project to rid myself of cd's for good. i had a pc that i keep running 24/7 anyway (pretty damn fast too as i used it for lan gaming). i went out and bought two 250 gig hard drives and ripped my entire library over the course of a month or so to apple lossless format using itunes. everything fit quite nicely on one of the hard drives, and i used the second hd as a redundant backup in case disaster struck. hooked up the squeezebox, ran slimserver and the rest is history. i have 6000+ songs available within a few seconds at my fingertips, and they are perfectly recorded and sound bit for bit as they do on the cd. i boxed up the cds' threw them in the attic, and destroyed my spin rack. i am the toast of the town when we have guests, and everyone is left speechless by it all. i like to play games with them like ask them to name 2 or 3 artists and within a few seconds i'll have a song by that artist up and running to their delight.

the only other testimony i can offer other than the above story is from my wife. throughout the entire process i was pretty much screamed at, with comments like this is ridiculous, it will never work, don't touch MY cd's, stop wasting your time, this is too expensive, stop hogging the pc, etc. once i got everything up and running she not only apologized and admitted it was the coolest damn thing she'd ever seen, but she brought me every one of her cd's to convert as well...

as for wireless vs. wired playback, for me it was easy since i have a nice wired ethernet connection in the living room. wired is also between $50 and $70 cheaper than the wireless version.

New Squeezebox released

Reply #27 –
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However in the interim I've become addicted to Foobar2K -- is there any way to make the Squeezebox work with F2K instead of slimserver software?

probably.  there is slimserver protocol documentation in the distribution.

Josh[a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=337769"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]
SlimServer is more than just a simple media file server and "protocol."  The Squeezebox UI is almost entirely running on your system/PC as "SlimServer."  Think of the Squeezebox as a kind of audio-centric dumb terminal.

This is different than what most similar media playback boxes do.

New Squeezebox released

Reply #28 –
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Ok, thanks.  Do you or anyone know which companies will be selling the SB3 in the UK?  I know that dabs & advancedmp3players do sell the SB2, but a heads-up on those that are gonna sell the SB3 would be useful to know.

[{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]


[a href="http://www.cooltopia.co.uk/]http://www.cooltopia.co.uk/[/url] are taking advanced orders.

New Squeezebox released

Reply #30 –
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http://www.advancedmp3players.co.uk/shop/a...s=squee&x=9&y=5

These guys supply it in the UK and I have bought MP3 players from them in the past and they are very good!
[a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=337810"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

Ok, thanks guys.  I guess I was a little quick in looking for UK retailers given that SB3 had only just been announced.

Perhaps veering slightly off-topic, but can anyone recommend some wireless routers that would be perhaps more suitable to the SB3 (I guess a strong signal that can be directed to the area where the SB3 will be sitting would be useful).  I'm on Telewest cable and so I've seen some routers saying they're ADSL or Cable - I assume this is one or the other, or is it just the manufacturers' naming terminlogy not syncing up right??

As you will have been able to tell by now, I'm not well versed in Wi-Fi, but I'm slowly getting there.

New Squeezebox released

Reply #31 –
Quote
Perhaps veering slightly off-topic, but can anyone recommend some wireless routers that would be perhaps more suitable to the SB3 (I guess a strong signal that can be directed to the area where the SB3 will be sitting would be useful).  I'm on Telewest cable and so I've seen some routers saying they're ADSL or Cable - I assume this is one or the other, or is it just the manufacturers' naming terminlogy not syncing up right??

As you will have been able to tell by now, I'm not well versed in Wi-Fi, but I'm slowly getting there.
[a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=337811"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]


I'm also on Telewest cable and have 2 wireless Squeezeboxes.  I use a Netgear WGR614 wireless router that supports 802.11g and have had no problems with it. 

If a router says ADSL then that means it has an integrated ADSL modem - so you don't want this type of router if you have cable.  Telewest only support cable modems that they provide so you need a router that uses ethernet on the WAN side to connect to your cable modem.  UK dealers may advertise this as "cable ready" router.

The Squeezebox has a measurement of received wireless strength.  One of my Squeezeboxes is the other side of a thick wall from the router and is at about 80% while the other is in a bedroom upstairs and through several walls and is about 40% but I've had no problems with cut-offs.

I would also echo the comments made about how great a product the Squeezebox is.  I'm visiting the Mac Expo in London tomorrow where they are exhibiting the Squeezebox 3 and the chances are I'll order a Squeezebox 3 as well to equip another room with music.

I'd also recommend a software application called Music Magic Mixer from www.predixis.com to go with the Squeezebox.  Even with 1000's of tracks available from your remote control, it is still easy just to listen to the same stuff.  Music Magic Mixer automatically generates playlists of "similar but different" music based upon the acoustic properties of a selected track and you can do this from the Squeezebox remote control or browser interface.  I've found it an excellent way of highlighting music that I've forgotten or never really listened to.

One problem with the Squeezebox (+ iPod) is that the amount of money I've spent on CDs and downloads has increased massively since getting them as both products have made it so much easier to listen to music at home and on the go.

New Squeezebox released

Reply #32 –
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However in the interim I've become addicted to Foobar2K -- is there any way to make the Squeezebox work with F2K instead of slimserver software?

probably.  there is slimserver protocol documentation in the distribution.

Josh[a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=337769"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]
SlimServer is more than just a simple media file server and "protocol."  The Squeezebox UI is almost entirely running on your system/PC as "SlimServer."  Think of the Squeezebox as a kind of audio-centric dumb terminal.

This is different than what most similar media playback boxes do.

I know, I've been in the code a little bit.  I didn't say it would be easy, my point was that depending on the foobar api it might be possible to write a proxy plugin to allow a squeezebox to play through foobar. it would be a lot of extra work to implement the exact same UI and everything else slimserver does (internet radio, plugins, etc) but not necessary to get basic playback working.

Josh

New Squeezebox released

Reply #33 –
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You don't need a wireless router, just a wireless card.  I have my SB2 connected directly to my laptop's internal wireless card via an Ad-Hoc network connection.  A few things about that are:  1) As far as I know only WEP is allowed that way, no WPA  2) it's also 802.11b only

With my laptop and SB2 in the same room I have no dropouts whatsoever.  BTW, my internet connection is wired.
...[a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=337733"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

2) it's also 802.11b only???  What, the SB2 only works with 802.11b with a wireless card?  Surely that's not right???

Having looked at wireless routers over the past few days, it seems that they might be my best bet to help reduce the chances of dropouts.  Perhaps one that has a directional antenna would be best --> so that it can be directed at the room that needs the connection.  That makes sense right?
[a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=337782"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]



Sorry, I should've been more clear.  If you connect directly to the Squeezebox via Ad-Hoc connection (No Router), then it's b only.  But if you use a router, of course you can use g.  I don't have a router so I have no choice regarding connection type.

I want NBC's Ed on DVD/Blu-ray!

New Squeezebox released

Reply #34 –
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Sorry, I should've been more clear.  If you connect directly to the Squeezebox via Ad-Hoc connection (No Router), then it's b only.  But if you use a router, of course you can use g.  I don't have a router so I have no choice regarding connection type.


[a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=337953"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]


I've never heard of this before. Did someone at Slim tell you this, or is this first hand experience?  We use ad-hoc mode all the time for demos (with both Dell inspirons and powerbooks) and I'm pretty sure it always connects in .g mode.

Sean Adams
CEO, Slim Devices

New Squeezebox released

Reply #35 –
i know that some (if not many) wireless G cards will only support B in Ad-hoc mode.

New Squeezebox released

Reply #36 –
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Quote


Sorry, I should've been more clear.  If you connect directly to the Squeezebox via Ad-Hoc connection (No Router), then it's b only.  But if you use a router, of course you can use g.  I don't have a router so I have no choice regarding connection type.


[a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=337953"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]


I've never heard of this before. Did someone at Slim tell you this, or is this first hand experience?  We use ad-hoc mode all the time for demos (with both Dell inspirons and powerbooks) and I'm pretty sure it always connects in .g mode.

Sean Adams
CEO, Slim Devices
[a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=338205"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]



Hmm...While reading a bunch of articles trying to figure out how to set up a connection I thought I came across one saying that.  Looking them up again, all I found is one saying that the IEEE 802.11 standard requires a maximum speed of at least 11 Mbps.  Sort of a minimum maximum, I guess you'd call it.  Faster speeds are possible, but not required.  That's probably where I got the idea of Ad-Hoc being b only.  BTW, I just tried setting my card to g only and for some reason I can't connect.  It'll probably take some tinkering for me to get that right.

It's nice to see you posting here Sean, I have another username over in the Slim forums.  It's great to see how involved you and the staff are over there.  I hope that never changes!

I want NBC's Ed on DVD/Blu-ray!

New Squeezebox released

Reply #37 –
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Hmm...While reading a bunch of articles trying to figure out how to set up a connection I thought I came across one saying that.  Looking them up again, all I found is one saying that the IEEE 802.11 standard requires a maximum speed of at least 11 Mbps.  Sort of a minimum maximum, I guess you'd call it.  Faster speeds are possible, but not required.  That's probably where I got the idea of Ad-Hoc being b only.  BTW, I just tried setting my card to g only and for some reason I can't connect.  It'll probably take some tinkering for me to get that right.


Bug filed: http://bugs.slimdevices.com/show_bug.cgi?id=2436

Please add your email so you can automatically be notified of updates.

Quote
It's nice to see you posting here Sean, I have another username over in the Slim forums.  It's great to see how involved you and the staff are over there.  I hope that never changes!


I'm definitely a forum junkie. 

But for future reference, if you find a very specific bug or problem it will get noticed LOT a quicker on Slim's bugzilla (or our fora).  Also I'm not sure if hydrogenaudio wants this sort of traffic, but we're happy to pop in if we can help.

New Squeezebox released

Reply #38 –
I am also looking at adding a SB3.  It is my understanding, however, that 1) the DAC in the SB3 is an upgraded Burr-Brown 24bit unit from the SB2, and 2) that the more vertical form of the SB3 coupled with the two internal antennaes it contains should effectively address earlier reported drop outs with the SB2.  Are these understandings correct?
Doing my duty .. .. .. the way I see it.

New Squeezebox released

Reply #39 –
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I am also looking at adding a SB3.  It is my understanding, however, that 1) the DAC in the SB3 is an upgraded Burr-Brown 24bit unit from the SB2,[{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

Not true. The hardware internals of the SB2 and SB3 are virtually identical. See [a href="http://wiki.slimdevices.com/index.cgi?HardwareComparison]Slim Devices wiki[/url].

Quote
and 2) that the more vertical form of the SB3 coupled with the two internal antennaes it contains should effectively address earlier reported drop outs with the SB2.[a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=347660"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

Sorry, can't help you there. My Squeezebox is a wired one. From comments I've seen on the Slim Devices forums, I get the impression that the only people who get dropout problems are using wireless: if you can go for a wired connection, it's the sure fire way of guaranteeing trouble free operation. Your best bet would be to ask this question on the Slim Devices forum.

New Squeezebox released

Reply #40 –
Thanks for the response, the answers, and the link.  The link and SlimSys' forums moved me well up my learning curve.
Doing my duty .. .. .. the way I see it.

New Squeezebox released

Reply #41 –
Just got my SB3 today with wireless 'g' router.  I'll let you know how it goes.  So exciting