Unoffical empeg BBS

Quick Links: Empeg FAQ | RioCar.Org | Hijack | BigDisk Builder | jEmplode | emphatic
Repairs: Repairs

Page 1 of 2 1 2 >
Topic Options
#251366 - 09/03/2005 10:52 Squeezebox2
andy
carpal tunnel

Registered: 10/06/1999
Posts: 5916
Loc: Wivenhoe, Essex, UK
http://www.slimdevices.com/index.html

The new Squeezebox2 looks interesting; the screen looks like it might actually be readable across the room, decoding is done in software on the player, supports FLAC (also decoded on the player), 54G WiFi and can act as a wireless bridge.

Apart from the 54G part it is exactly what the Rio Receiver Mk2 could have been.

It might be time to dump my Rio Receivers and get something I'm actually more likely to use.
_________________________
Remind me to change my signature to something more interesting someday

Top
#251367 - 09/03/2005 10:54 Re: Squeezebox2 [Re: andy]
Cybjorg
addict

Registered: 23/12/2002
Posts: 652
Loc: Winston Salem, NC
"Mamma's got a squeezebox. Daddy can't sleep at night."

Top
#251368 - 09/03/2005 11:14 Re: Squeezebox2 [Re: andy]
tahir
pooh-bah

Registered: 27/02/2004
Posts: 1919
Loc: London
I'm still on slimp3's, excellent devices from an excellent company.

Top
#251369 - 09/03/2005 12:28 Re: Squeezebox2 [Re: tahir]
DWallach
carpal tunnel

Registered: 30/04/2000
Posts: 3810
I've got the wireless (802.11b, I believe) Squeezebox, and it pretty much works as advertised. The only issue I've had is that the Squeezebox doesn't recover well if I put my computer to sleep and wake it back up again. I usually have to power-cycle the Squeezebox. Likewise, I'd like to see wake-on-LAN support, so I could use the Squeezebox to remotely kick my computer. Otherwise, I'm very happy.

Top
#251370 - 09/03/2005 13:23 Re: Squeezebox2 [Re: DWallach]
julf
veteran

Registered: 01/10/2001
Posts: 1307
Loc: Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Quote:
I've got the wireless (802.11b, I believe) Squeezebox, and it pretty much works as advertised. The only issue I've had is that the Squeezebox doesn't recover well if I put my computer to sleep and wake it back up again. I usually have to power-cycle the Squeezebox. Likewise, I'd like to see wake-on-LAN support, so I could use the Squeezebox to remotely kick my computer. Otherwise, I'm very happy.

Second that. Just wish I could use the same server for bith the squeezebox and the Rio Receivers. The slimserver is a huge blob of perl...

Top
#251371 - 09/03/2005 15:00 Re: Squeezebox2 [Re: julf]
tahir
pooh-bah

Registered: 27/02/2004
Posts: 1919
Loc: London
Quote:
The slimserver is a huge blob of perl...


Uses very few resources though

Top
#251372 - 09/03/2005 15:41 Re: Squeezebox2 [Re: julf]
time
enthusiast

Registered: 20/11/2000
Posts: 279
Loc: Pacific Northwest
I'm pretty sure you can use the same server if you're using xPLRioNet as your server AND if you're running Windows as the server.

There are a host of other great features there too, including web based control of the remote devices.
    Check it out:
  • Support for Rio, ExStreamer, SliMP3, MVP and WinAmp.
  • xPLRioNet uses the Riot 0.1.6 client of tRio (written by Paul Noffke).
  • Multi Unit MVP support.
  • Built-in customisable web interface.
  • Support for MP3, WMA, WAV, FLAC and OGG.
  • Support for synchronising multiple Rios
  • Shoutcast support (including support for DabBar/Wavefinder MP2 streams)
  • RioCast server(s) for local Shoutcasting
  • Text-to-speech announcements (via xPL messages)
  • On-screen messages (via xPL messages) e.g. for caller ID etc.
  • Generates Pronto/Pronto Pro csf files (for quick album/artist/playlist selection)
  • Generates Voice Recognition files (for use with xPLRioNetTTS and xPL_Voice)
  • Uses any ODBC-compliant database (ships with a Microsoft Access database)
  • Can be fully controlled and monitored using xPL messages
  • Installs as a Windows service using Microsoft .NET technologies

And it is under active development. There are even efforts to integrate TiVO control through xPL as well. Great stuff. You can plug in via the Yahoo message board which has you directly connected to those in development. It kind of reminds me of the early days of this forum...

Top
#251373 - 09/03/2005 15:54 Re: Squeezebox2 [Re: andy]
Cris
pooh-bah

Registered: 06/02/2002
Posts: 1904
Loc: Leeds, UK
Wow! I almost ordered a couple of the older model the other day !!! Good job I waited !!!

Anyone in the US willing to ship one to me so I can avoid customs ??? Maybe 2 depending on what the dollar is doing at the time of purchase.

Cheers

Cris.

Top
#251374 - 09/03/2005 16:41 Re: Squeezebox2 [Re: Cris]
andym
carpal tunnel

Registered: 17/01/2002
Posts: 3996
Loc: Manchester UK
My god, you must listen to a heck of a lot of music to justify spending 300 quid on that.
_________________________
Cheers,

Andy M

Top
#251375 - 09/03/2005 16:51 Re: Squeezebox2 [Re: andym]
tman
carpal tunnel

Registered: 24/12/2001
Posts: 5528
I use a Squeezebox1 as a bedside clock if that counts?

They're quite nice and the server software is easy to use. Squeezebox 2 fixes a lot of the flaws with Squeezebox 1.

Top
#251376 - 09/03/2005 17:18 Re: Squeezebox2 [Re: andym]
Cris
pooh-bah

Registered: 06/02/2002
Posts: 1904
Loc: Leeds, UK
Quote:
My god, you must listen to a heck of a lot of music to justify spending 300 quid on that.


If I get one imported it should only cost me £150ish, not bad compared to a seperates CD Player. And I need one for the kitchen, one for the living room and then the bedroom (but I use the software emulator on the Mac mini for the time being).

I don't think they are expensive, I can control them from my PDA, which goes just about everywhere with me while I am in the house. It does music (SlimServer), CCTV (Geovision), DVD (DVDLobby) and maybe in the future a bit of home automation and X10/remote control when I can be bothered to set it up.

The Slim devices offer a very neat solution to my music problems, I don't like having PC's cluttering up the living areas, they are all hidden in "ground zero" under the stairs. 2 of them will finish off the masterplan and also look very nice too.

When it is all finished I will invite you and the misses around to have a play with all the gadgets

Cheers

Cris.

Top
#251377 - 09/03/2005 17:24 Re: Squeezebox2 [Re: Cris]
wfaulk
carpal tunnel

Registered: 25/12/2000
Posts: 16706
Loc: Raleigh, NC US
Quote:
When it is all finished I will invite ... the misses around to have a play with all the gadgets

My God, man! How many do you have? And I've never heard them called "gadgets" before.
_________________________
Bitt Faulk

Top
#251378 - 09/03/2005 17:43 Re: Squeezebox2 [Re: tman]
ninti
old hand

Registered: 28/12/2001
Posts: 868
Loc: Los Angeles
> I use a Squeezebox1 as a bedside clock if that counts?

If only it had a snooze button. I would pay a lot of money for an alarm clock with a snooze button that played mp3s.
_________________________
Ninti - MK IIa 60GB Smoke, 30GB, 10GB

Top
#251379 - 09/03/2005 17:44 Re: Squeezebox2 [Re: Cris]
andym
carpal tunnel

Registered: 17/01/2002
Posts: 3996
Loc: Manchester UK
Quote:
I don't like having PC's cluttering up the living areas


Me neither, the shuttle lives under the TV and everything else is in the study. I suppose I just don't get it. I had a Rio Receiver but never used it. I'm either in the living room with the hifi, in the study in front of the PC or in the kitchen with the radio.
_________________________
Cheers,

Andy M

Top
#251380 - 09/03/2005 17:46 Re: Squeezebox2 [Re: wfaulk]
JBjorgen
carpal tunnel

Registered: 19/01/2002
Posts: 3584
Loc: Columbus, OH
I haven't messed with the server too much, but is there a way to get multiple clients to play the same music synchronized, so that as you move from room to room, the sound is continuous?
_________________________
~ John

Top
#251381 - 09/03/2005 17:54 Re: Squeezebox2 [Re: ninti]
tman
carpal tunnel

Registered: 24/12/2001
Posts: 5528
It's not built in but you could add a button via the Geek Connector and then write an alarm clock plugin...

Top
#251382 - 09/03/2005 17:55 Re: Squeezebox2 [Re: JBjorgen]
wfaulk
carpal tunnel

Registered: 25/12/2000
Posts: 16706
Loc: Raleigh, NC US
According to their FAQ, yes.
_________________________
Bitt Faulk

Top
#251383 - 09/03/2005 17:56 Re: Squeezebox2 [Re: JBjorgen]
tman
carpal tunnel

Registered: 24/12/2001
Posts: 5528
Quote:
I haven't messed with the server too much, but is there a way to get multiple clients to play the same music synchronized, so that as you move from room to room, the sound is continuous?

Yep. You can sync all 3 types.

Top
#251384 - 09/03/2005 19:46 Re: Squeezebox2 [Re: Cris]
hybrid8
carpal tunnel

Registered: 12/11/2001
Posts: 7738
Loc: Toronto, CANADA
You need a music distribution system that doesn't involve having multiple decoders all over the place. But all things considered, the overkill of multiple Slim devices may still be cheaper than some multi-room distribution system controllers. Oh, what to do....

The problem multiple Slim devices doesn't solve is that you still need a set of pre and power amplifiers as well as speakers at each Slim-equipped location. With a proper distributed solution you'd only have speakers, perhaps a power amp (if the speakers weren't wired back to a central amplifier that supported multiple zones) and an IR sensor with an optional display unit (that could show your song information, etc...). Whether or not you could listen to different music at each location at the same time (as opposed to only controlling it) would depend on the distribution system installed (brand/model, etc..)

But then there's that wireless appeal (not having to run anything back to the main system location)...

Bruno
_________________________
Bruno
Twisted Melon : Fine Mac OS Software

Top
#251385 - 09/03/2005 19:51 Re: Squeezebox2 [Re: hybrid8]
andym
carpal tunnel

Registered: 17/01/2002
Posts: 3996
Loc: Manchester UK
Yes, If you've got to factor an amp and speakers into each position your costs will quickly rise. One of the good things about the Rio Receiver was the built in amp. What would you use? Decent self powered speakers aren't cheap, and if you're looking at buying a micro-system to plug it into then you might as just use that. A multi-zone system sounds far more cost effective.
_________________________
Cheers,

Andy M

Top
#251386 - 09/03/2005 19:53 Re: Squeezebox2 [Re: hybrid8]
andym
carpal tunnel

Registered: 17/01/2002
Posts: 3996
Loc: Manchester UK
Quote:
But then there's that wireless appeal (not having to run anything back to the main system location)...


You're replying to the man who's flood wired his house with Cat5, I doubt the wireless capabilities will be high on his list of requirements.
_________________________
Cheers,

Andy M

Top
#251387 - 09/03/2005 20:13 Re: Squeezebox2 [Re: andym]
Cris
pooh-bah

Registered: 06/02/2002
Posts: 1904
Loc: Leeds, UK
Quote:
Yes, If you've got to factor an amp and speakers into each position your costs will quickly rise. One of the good things about the Rio Receiver was the built in amp. What would you use? Decent self powered speakers aren't cheap, and if you're looking at buying a micro-system to plug it into then you might as just use that. A multi-zone system sounds far more cost effective.


Bedroom - Mac mini running through an old Kenwood Amp, with the B postsrunning speakers (soon to be) built into the walls in the ensuite. This is a compromise as I can't control audio from the ensuite, or at least I haven't found a cheap solution yet (PDA isn't water proof )

Living Room - Will run via spare digital input on my surround amp, cable already run from TV location back to amp to take the audio.

Kitchen - Use a until now disused set of PC speakers, with a sub. Sounds better than any kitchen radio I have ever heard!

Tenants Rooms - Up to them, there is a Cat5 running to their room for internet, and they can stream my music collection if they wish. As well as a spare for voice if they want to pay for their own line putting in there is no need to run cables.

See, I have it all planned out, Slim's devices are just what I need as I don't need to buy anything else apart from the units themselves

Andy is right, I do have wireless, but I fitted 24 Cat5e sockets around the house (most can't be seen!) all wired back to my own mini comms room, although this may seem a little overkill, I don't trust wireless lans. I am not sure of the average US house size, but mine is 90m2 (ish) I think that will be small compared to the US, so 24 covers most areas of the house.

I don't see the point in multi room dist systems, they are expensive, and are no where near as flexible as having them run off an open source server, I mean isn't that what all empeggers would see as an ideal platform?

I notice they are not shipping until the eand of March, so I guess I will have to wait a while.

Cheers

Cris.

Top
#251388 - 09/03/2005 20:17 Re: Squeezebox2 [Re: andym]
Cris
pooh-bah

Registered: 06/02/2002
Posts: 1904
Loc: Leeds, UK
Quote:
You're replying to the man who's flood wired his house with Cat5, I doubt the wireless capabilities will be high on his list of requirements.


I two spares in the loft, just in case, no idea waht I would use them for, maybe future mesh networking ???

Cheers

Cris.

Top
#251389 - 09/03/2005 20:19 Re: Squeezebox2 [Re: Cris]
andym
carpal tunnel

Registered: 17/01/2002
Posts: 3996
Loc: Manchester UK
We've got a Roberts radio in the kitchen and I think it sounds really good. I suppose most kitchen radios are cheap bits of crap so I can see where you're coming from there.

Stick the PDA in a ziplock sandwich bag, that should make it waterproof!
_________________________
Cheers,

Andy M

Top
#251390 - 10/03/2005 08:59 Re: Squeezebox2 [Re: JBjorgen]
tahir
pooh-bah

Registered: 27/02/2004
Posts: 1919
Loc: London
Quote:
I haven't messed with the server too much, but is there a way to get multiple clients to play the same music synchronized, so that as you move from room to room, the sound is continuous?


That was the killer feature for me when i originally bought my slimp3s, it was a bit flaky at the start but works fine now.

Top
#251391 - 10/03/2005 11:57 Re: Squeezebox2 [Re: Cris]
JBjorgen
carpal tunnel

Registered: 19/01/2002
Posts: 3584
Loc: Columbus, OH
Quote:
90m2


According to google, about 969 sq. ft. for all the USians.
_________________________
~ John

Top
#251392 - 10/03/2005 13:15 Re: Squeezebox2 [Re: time]
julf
veteran

Registered: 01/10/2001
Posts: 1307
Loc: Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Quote:
I'm pretty sure you can use the same server if you're using xPLRioNet as your server AND if you're running Windows as the server.


Ahh. Duhh. Windows on a workstation, yes, if I have to, but on a server? Nuuuu waaaay.

Top
#251393 - 10/03/2005 15:13 Re: Squeezebox2 [Re: Cris]
boxer
pooh-bah

Registered: 16/04/2002
Posts: 2011
Loc: Yorkshire UK
Quote:


I two spares in the loft, just in case, no idea waht I would use them for, maybe future mesh networking ???

Cat5's on special offer in Maplins, you could always run some out to a socket here!
Speaking of which, if a digital model railway system can potentially address 128 locos and accessories, couldn't I use it to run sound and vision round the house through the track instead of Cat5?......only joking!
_________________________
Politics and Ideology: Not my bag

Top
#251394 - 10/03/2005 17:56 Re: Squeezebox2 [Re: boxer]
Cris
pooh-bah

Registered: 06/02/2002
Posts: 1904
Loc: Leeds, UK
Quote:
Cat5's on special offer in Maplins


I know of a place where it is on an extra specail offer, my work van I found several full reels lying around in "skips" at work amazing what some people throw away!

Cheers

Cris.

Top
#251395 - 10/03/2005 20:28 Re: Squeezebox2 [Re: Cris]
andym
carpal tunnel

Registered: 17/01/2002
Posts: 3996
Loc: Manchester UK
When the BBC was flood wiring all it's buildings 7 or 8 years ago you could would quite often get a 500ft reel with 450ft still on it in the skip. Suppose it makes sense, they don't want to spend hours pulling cable through only to find its a meter too short. A lot of the runs were right at the limit of a single run of cable.
_________________________
Cheers,

Andy M

Top
Page 1 of 2 1 2 >