Best Router for Streaming Audio
Discussion
Already posted in the computers forum, but here is possibly better.
Looking to replace and aging DG834 router.
Main use is for streaming audio, (plus work of course).
Current problem is it loses connection to the squeezebox every once in a while, soemtime a few minute sometimes a few hours, useually during a track i'm particularlyl enjoying of course. Laptop will occasionally error on the VPN connection too.
Signal strength is showing around 80% on Squeezebox and laptop around 90% so signal strenght should not be an issue.
The server is connected directly wired to router.
As the router is now at least 8 years old it's due for replacement.
SO whats recommended? I'd like 1gb switch for local connections if possible, (to speed up transfers from laptop to server and backup using cable, all downloads etc are done on the laptop so server never touched the internet). and i see some routers have a USB port to plug in a hard drive which could be very handy.
Thoughts gentlemen please.....
Looking to replace and aging DG834 router.
Main use is for streaming audio, (plus work of course).
Current problem is it loses connection to the squeezebox every once in a while, soemtime a few minute sometimes a few hours, useually during a track i'm particularlyl enjoying of course. Laptop will occasionally error on the VPN connection too.
Signal strength is showing around 80% on Squeezebox and laptop around 90% so signal strenght should not be an issue.
The server is connected directly wired to router.
As the router is now at least 8 years old it's due for replacement.
SO whats recommended? I'd like 1gb switch for local connections if possible, (to speed up transfers from laptop to server and backup using cable, all downloads etc are done on the laptop so server never touched the internet). and i see some routers have a USB port to plug in a hard drive which could be very handy.
Thoughts gentlemen please.....
I use the Airport Extreme for video as well as audio. But due to the way the house is...my wifi signal degrades too much from the office at the front of the house (where the BT line enters) to the living room at the back of the house....a tiny distance relatively. It may be due to the other electrical stuff in the office though.
Using the Airport Extreme to 'extend' the wireless network, but it's still a little flakey for streaming to the AppleTV unit. So I use the Netgear mains ethernet to take a signal from the router in the office and plug all the ethernet devices into the Extreme in the living room (PS3, Wii, AppleTV and Sky+). Works perfectly, and use the extended wifi signal for laptops etc.
Long winded answer, but it still depends on the signal strength in the house. I used iStumbler (Mac) to check for signal strength around the house and the Airport Extreme was not much better than another router...but it's functionality and ease of set up did it for me.
Just read that it's regarding a Squeezebox...I had a Duet and it also lost signal pretty regularly, which was always at the worst time, so I gave up and tried the Apple TV. Much easier, and much better interface (ie on your TV).
Using the Airport Extreme to 'extend' the wireless network, but it's still a little flakey for streaming to the AppleTV unit. So I use the Netgear mains ethernet to take a signal from the router in the office and plug all the ethernet devices into the Extreme in the living room (PS3, Wii, AppleTV and Sky+). Works perfectly, and use the extended wifi signal for laptops etc.
Long winded answer, but it still depends on the signal strength in the house. I used iStumbler (Mac) to check for signal strength around the house and the Airport Extreme was not much better than another router...but it's functionality and ease of set up did it for me.
Just read that it's regarding a Squeezebox...I had a Duet and it also lost signal pretty regularly, which was always at the worst time, so I gave up and tried the Apple TV. Much easier, and much better interface (ie on your TV).
Edited by PlaneFan on Wednesday 16th February 10:01
could be interference...and if you get another router then you could have the same issues
try looking for obvious sources
change channel on the router
the later 802.11n routers I find are better, ive run a DGN3500 for many months, I have 2 squeezeboxes at the extrems of my property and it works great ...but im detached and not near other sources of local radio in the same band
try looking for obvious sources
change channel on the router
the later 802.11n routers I find are better, ive run a DGN3500 for many months, I have 2 squeezeboxes at the extrems of my property and it works great ...but im detached and not near other sources of local radio in the same band
After trying quite a few to stream audio including Netgear among others, including going to the length of purchasing aftermarket aerials etc, my new model Apple Airport Extreme is better in range, reliability and throughput than everything else I have tried.
And it does it automatically, out of the box.
I stream wav files at full CD rate, and it does it perfectly, not a single drop and the song starts instantly. Even better than that it *still* works perfectly when the wife is sat a foot away on her laptop surfing the net too...
And it does it automatically, out of the box.
I stream wav files at full CD rate, and it does it perfectly, not a single drop and the song starts instantly. Even better than that it *still* works perfectly when the wife is sat a foot away on her laptop surfing the net too...
JustinP1 said:
After trying quite a few to stream audio including Netgear among others, including going to the length of purchasing aftermarket aerials etc, my new model Apple Airport Extreme is better in range, reliability and throughput than everything else I have tried.
And it does it automatically, out of the box.
I stream wav files at full CD rate, and it does it perfectly, not a single drop and the song starts instantly. Even better than that it *still* works perfectly when the wife is sat a foot away on her laptop surfing the net too...
Does this work with FLAC files though?And it does it automatically, out of the box.
I stream wav files at full CD rate, and it does it perfectly, not a single drop and the song starts instantly. Even better than that it *still* works perfectly when the wife is sat a foot away on her laptop surfing the net too...
The Squeezbox used to work well, nothing has changed with my setup, though living in a small town there used to be no other networks in the area, now there are 5 or 6 i receive.
Guess this may be the issue?
Bloody annoying, may go back to my CDs at this rate, (much to the wifes annoyance who has packaged them off to the spare room)
The_Burg said:
Does this work with FLAC files though?
The Squeezbox used to work well, nothing has changed with my setup, though living in a small town there used to be no other networks in the area, now there are 5 or 6 i receive.
Guess this may be the issue?
Bloody annoying, may go back to my CDs at this rate, (much to the wifes annoyance who has packaged them off to the spare room)
Before shelling out in a new router, it's worth trying to change the channel it broadcasts on to reduce interference. Wifi has 13 channels available, however an amazing number if routers use channel 1 or 6 be default making interference a bigger issue than it should be.The Squeezbox used to work well, nothing has changed with my setup, though living in a small town there used to be no other networks in the area, now there are 5 or 6 i receive.
Guess this may be the issue?
Bloody annoying, may go back to my CDs at this rate, (much to the wifes annoyance who has packaged them off to the spare room)
pernod said:
Before shelling out in a new router, it's worth trying to change the channel it broadcasts on to reduce interference. Wifi has 13 channels available, however an amazing number if routers use channel 1 or 6 be default making interference a bigger issue than it should be.
I tried that no change. I've ordered a DGN3500 for delivery tomorrow so hopefully that will solve the issue.
excellent newsGassing Station | Home Cinema & Hi-Fi | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff