Problem with Wireless Streaming with Uniti
Posted by: Steeve on 17 August 2009
Hi
Anyone had any experience of wireless streaming with the Uniti?
I am using Foobar2000 as a uPnP server on a modern and pretty well-specified PC laptop through a BT Internet Hub.
The laptop and Uniti are one floor almost directly above the router.
I am trying to stream 16-bit FLAC tracks but on almost every track it will stop halfway through and then start again at the beginning which is rather annoying to say the least.
The wireless connection to my laptop has always seemed very good. I am in rented accommodation and have no control over the internet connection or routers. I am the only person using the network 95% of the time so this is not an issue.
So, is it just an inadequate wireless connection or is it due to something else and are there any possible remedies? I am living down in Swindon during the week but am planning to try it out back at home in Northampton with my Virgin Media (up to!)10Mb cable broadband connection when I get the chance to see if there is any difference but this won't be for a couple of weeks.
Thanks
Steeve
Anyone had any experience of wireless streaming with the Uniti?
I am using Foobar2000 as a uPnP server on a modern and pretty well-specified PC laptop through a BT Internet Hub.
The laptop and Uniti are one floor almost directly above the router.
I am trying to stream 16-bit FLAC tracks but on almost every track it will stop halfway through and then start again at the beginning which is rather annoying to say the least.
The wireless connection to my laptop has always seemed very good. I am in rented accommodation and have no control over the internet connection or routers. I am the only person using the network 95% of the time so this is not an issue.
So, is it just an inadequate wireless connection or is it due to something else and are there any possible remedies? I am living down in Swindon during the week but am planning to try it out back at home in Northampton with my Virgin Media (up to!)10Mb cable broadband connection when I get the chance to see if there is any difference but this won't be for a couple of weeks.
Thanks
Steeve
Posted on: 21 August 2009 by pcstockton
Eloise,
Please ask for any help, if needed.
try here for some info.
http://nerdlets.org/2009/05/07...ver-with-foobar2000/
don't be overwhelmed, its easy if you can follow directions.
-patrick
Please ask for any help, if needed.
try here for some info.
http://nerdlets.org/2009/05/07...ver-with-foobar2000/
don't be overwhelmed, its easy if you can follow directions.
-patrick
Posted on: 22 August 2009 by David Dever
quote:Originally posted by garyi:
Had you considered chatting the landlord up to plug one of those ethernet plug jobbies by the router and one in your lounge?
No wires, no holes, no fuss.
And it'll sound awful–not a great idea with the NaimUniti, I'd probably sort out the network first. The noise from the Ethernet-over-mains, IMHO, will really affect the performance of the system.
Posted on: 22 August 2009 by garyi
Maybe so but it will work 
Posted on: 26 August 2009 by Steeve
Hi
Just a quick update....
Managed to get access to the BT Home Hub Settings thanks to obliging landlord. Have tried two different wireless channels which don't seem to have made any difference. Spoke to BT as well who even told me which two channels they thought would be best.
Will see how the Uniti fares with my connection in Northampton at the weekend.
There seems to be quite a few reports on the internet suggesting the BT Home Hub 2.0 (which is the router in my rented accommodation in Swindon) does not support WSD and therefore will not work with a repeater. If anyone else has any info on this I'd be grateful, but this idea would appear to be a non-starter.
I spoke to Naim at the BBQ last weekend and they confirmed that in their experience, mains ethernet wiring caused a drop in sound quality with the Uniti.
This seems to only leave a network switch option at the moment. I'll be speaking to Gary at Naim to see if he can advise further on this or any other solutions next week.
Steeve
Just a quick update....
Managed to get access to the BT Home Hub Settings thanks to obliging landlord. Have tried two different wireless channels which don't seem to have made any difference. Spoke to BT as well who even told me which two channels they thought would be best.
Will see how the Uniti fares with my connection in Northampton at the weekend.
There seems to be quite a few reports on the internet suggesting the BT Home Hub 2.0 (which is the router in my rented accommodation in Swindon) does not support WSD and therefore will not work with a repeater. If anyone else has any info on this I'd be grateful, but this idea would appear to be a non-starter.
I spoke to Naim at the BBQ last weekend and they confirmed that in their experience, mains ethernet wiring caused a drop in sound quality with the Uniti.
This seems to only leave a network switch option at the moment. I'll be speaking to Gary at Naim to see if he can advise further on this or any other solutions next week.
Steeve
Posted on: 26 August 2009 by garyi
Well you have two choices a switch or the mains ethernet.
The mains ethernet is not a repeater it sort of sets its own shit up. Plug one in close to the bthome hub and plug in with ethernet and plug the other end near your uniti with an ethernet lead. Job done. You shouldn't even need to configure.
Granted it may not be the last work in fidelity, but then I am pretty confident shared accommodation will bring its own problems anyhow.
And yes BT home hubs are the cheapest pieces of shit with three flashing LEDs. Sadly most of the public believe they need this device in order to get internet.
The mains ethernet is not a repeater it sort of sets its own shit up. Plug one in close to the bthome hub and plug in with ethernet and plug the other end near your uniti with an ethernet lead. Job done. You shouldn't even need to configure.
Granted it may not be the last work in fidelity, but then I am pretty confident shared accommodation will bring its own problems anyhow.
And yes BT home hubs are the cheapest pieces of shit with three flashing LEDs. Sadly most of the public believe they need this device in order to get internet.
Posted on: 26 August 2009 by fixedwheel
Steeve
Channels 1, 6 and 11 do not overlap, but it depends on what else is in your location.
If you have XP on your laptop google netstumbler for an easy way to see what is in the area.
Another poss might be a seperate access point, plugged in to an ethernet port on the BT one.
Something like the Linksys WRT54G2 or Netgear WGR614 if you can locate them in the same area as the BT hub. Ethernet cable to the BT, and your kit hides behind it's own firewall.
Good to have a natter Sat morning.
John
Channels 1, 6 and 11 do not overlap, but it depends on what else is in your location.
If you have XP on your laptop google netstumbler for an easy way to see what is in the area.
Another poss might be a seperate access point, plugged in to an ethernet port on the BT one.
Something like the Linksys WRT54G2 or Netgear WGR614 if you can locate them in the same area as the BT hub. Ethernet cable to the BT, and your kit hides behind it's own firewall.
Good to have a natter Sat morning.
John
Posted on: 27 August 2009 by Steeve
Hi John
Yes it was good to meet you and Mr & Mrs Seagull! I did feel a little sorry for Mrs. Seagull though who seemed to have the patience and disposition of a saint! I had a great time on the Friday and Saturday anyhow.
I was using Channel 1 and have tried Channels 11 and 10 but they all seem much of a muchness. Fine for general internet access though and streaming MP3 - it's just the bigger files that seem to be the problem. If I understand you correctly, by plugging a router directly into the BT Home Hub you are simply suggesting trying to substitute the BT Home Hub for an alternative router and thereafter it's business as usual?
Garyi, I am only going to consider mains ethernet as a last result as I think there is still some mileage in the network switch idea. I'm visiting Cymbiosis on Saturday to discuss this further and if a plan of action can't be thought out there will speak to Naim as well.
Steeve
Yes it was good to meet you and Mr & Mrs Seagull! I did feel a little sorry for Mrs. Seagull though who seemed to have the patience and disposition of a saint! I had a great time on the Friday and Saturday anyhow.
I was using Channel 1 and have tried Channels 11 and 10 but they all seem much of a muchness. Fine for general internet access though and streaming MP3 - it's just the bigger files that seem to be the problem. If I understand you correctly, by plugging a router directly into the BT Home Hub you are simply suggesting trying to substitute the BT Home Hub for an alternative router and thereafter it's business as usual?
Garyi, I am only going to consider mains ethernet as a last result as I think there is still some mileage in the network switch idea. I'm visiting Cymbiosis on Saturday to discuss this further and if a plan of action can't be thought out there will speak to Naim as well.
Steeve
Posted on: 27 August 2009 by fixedwheel
No Steeve
Imagine your own private wireless network, but instead of an ADSL modem to the outside world it uses an ethernet cable to the BT unit.
If you think I am talking gibberish, drop me an email(address in profile) with a phone number and we'll have a natter and try and nail this down.
John
Imagine your own private wireless network, but instead of an ADSL modem to the outside world it uses an ethernet cable to the BT unit.
If you think I am talking gibberish, drop me an email(address in profile) with a phone number and we'll have a natter and try and nail this down.
John
Posted on: 28 August 2009 by Eloise
You should be able to just use cables and hub between laptop and NaimUnity - manually set IP addresses on each (Laptop to 192.168.100.1 and NaimUnity to 192.168.100.2). Set the NaimUnity to use the Laptop as it's gateway and run ICS (internet connection sharing) on the laptop.
Leave the wireless connection on the laptop and set ICS to use the Wireless as the gateway.
This should work. (Sorry wasn't easy to explain)
Eloise
PS. it's a bit sacrilegious as you got the Unity so you could do streaming I'm sure ... but have you considered connecting the laptop via SPDIF as a stop-gap measure?
Leave the wireless connection on the laptop and set ICS to use the Wireless as the gateway.
This should work. (Sorry wasn't easy to explain)
Eloise
PS. it's a bit sacrilegious as you got the Unity so you could do streaming I'm sure ... but have you considered connecting the laptop via SPDIF as a stop-gap measure?
Posted on: 28 August 2009 by spacey
ive just resolved a similar issue for a friend. it was the router. but if you have good signal then bad, it seams to be another issue such as another device on the same network. if you have anything else thats not N rated it will drag the network speed down to its level.
Posted on: 28 August 2009 by garyi
r-tee its a BT home hub. IN general removing this from the equation will make the world of difference, they really are poor devices.
Posted on: 28 August 2009 by spacey
garyi i agree. anything that comes free will be made to the lowest of low budgets. but why the signal starts to fade after a while is a strange one.... its worth swapping it out and giving a decent router a try. if its not that just return it to the shops.
Posted on: 02 September 2009 by Steeve
Hi all
Thanks for the replies and sorry for the delay in replying.
Ok, well my latest thought is this!...
As my problem, according to Naim, seems to be that I am wirelessly streaming on two legs, i.e from laptop to router and then from router to Uniti, I am thinking I may take a more expensive but in the long-term more worthwhile option.
As streaming will now most likely be a part of the rest of my life and I am thinking of buying a NAS with uPnP server either pre-installed or with the facility to install Twonky or similar software. (Yes I have been looking at 'the Scottish site'!)
All my music would be stored on the NAS. The plan is then to have this in the same room and hard-wired to the router. The Uniti would then still stream wirelessly to the router but one wireless leg would be elliminated.
This option would, although more expensive now, set me up well I think for any future streaming plans.
Can anyone see a flaw in this plan?
Thanks
Steeve
Thanks for the replies and sorry for the delay in replying.
Ok, well my latest thought is this!...
As my problem, according to Naim, seems to be that I am wirelessly streaming on two legs, i.e from laptop to router and then from router to Uniti, I am thinking I may take a more expensive but in the long-term more worthwhile option.
As streaming will now most likely be a part of the rest of my life and I am thinking of buying a NAS with uPnP server either pre-installed or with the facility to install Twonky or similar software. (Yes I have been looking at 'the Scottish site'!)
All my music would be stored on the NAS. The plan is then to have this in the same room and hard-wired to the router. The Uniti would then still stream wirelessly to the router but one wireless leg would be elliminated.
This option would, although more expensive now, set me up well I think for any future streaming plans.
Can anyone see a flaw in this plan?
Thanks
Steeve
Posted on: 02 September 2009 by Alfa4life
quote:Originally posted by Steeve:
Hi all
Thanks for the replies and sorry for the delay in replying.
Ok, well my latest thought is this!...
As my problem, according to Naim, seems to be that I am wirelessly streaming on two legs, i.e from laptop to router and then from router to Uniti, I am thinking I may take a more expensive but in the long-term more worthwhile option.
As streaming will now most likely be a part of the rest of my life and I am thinking of buying a NAS with uPnP server either pre-installed or with the facility to install Twonky or similar software. (Yes I have been looking at 'the Scottish site'!)
All my music would be stored on the NAS. The plan is then to have this in the same room and hard-wired to the router. The Uniti would then still stream wirelessly to the router but one wireless leg would be elliminated.
This option would, although more expensive now, set me up well I think for any future streaming plans.
Can anyone see a flaw in this plan?
Thanks
Steeve
Steeve
Looks like a plan, I have done the same thing as you are proposing.
I have a netgear readynas duo which comes with upnp installed on it. This is connected to my airport extreme and happily sits there streaming to my Naimuniti, it even powers itself off late evening and wakes up in the morning.
When you are in Swindon then you are only 30mins drive from me, if you would like to pop in for a listen, chat about setup and a beer feel free.
Graham
Posted on: 02 September 2009 by garyi
The flaw in your plan is the BT home hub.
Until this is rectified you basically have a world of pain to deal with. More complicated because you have other people in the flat. this means you need strong passwords and encyption on the NAS drive, after all the point of NAS is to be available to every one on the LAN.
Still millage in the ethernet over mains here, sorry to keep banging on. Put the plug at the bt homne hub end and one in your area.
It may well effect sound, but I doubt any more than what 4 fridges, 4 freezers etc in the house?
If you are determined not to do this then the NAS will have to be parked close to the hom hub as it has to plug into it, will you trust it in a communal area?
Until this is rectified you basically have a world of pain to deal with. More complicated because you have other people in the flat. this means you need strong passwords and encyption on the NAS drive, after all the point of NAS is to be available to every one on the LAN.
Still millage in the ethernet over mains here, sorry to keep banging on. Put the plug at the bt homne hub end and one in your area.
It may well effect sound, but I doubt any more than what 4 fridges, 4 freezers etc in the house?
If you are determined not to do this then the NAS will have to be parked close to the hom hub as it has to plug into it, will you trust it in a communal area?
Posted on: 02 September 2009 by Alfa4life
quote:Originally posted by garyi:
The flaw in your plan is the BT home hub.
Until this is rectified you basically have a world of pain to deal with. More complicated because you have other people in the flat. this means you need strong passwords and encyption on the NAS drive, after all the point of NAS is to be available to every one on the LAN.
Just another thought, if you are only concerned with streaming flac files, and not iradio, why not get another router and nas box which you could keep in your flat. Can't see why it would not work without the broadband connection, can check this evening if you want.
Graham
Posted on: 02 September 2009 by garyi
It will work, but would need some configuration (i.e. I have no idea how) in order to use the net on one network and also be able to access the NAS on another network.
Long and short is I think he is side stepping into another issue. Until such point as he has his own netowrk connecting to the www, then it will always be difficult.
Simply running the ethernet plugs will resolve his issue for forty quid.
Or indeed plug a harddrive into the uniti (did you try that yet?)
Long and short is I think he is side stepping into another issue. Until such point as he has his own netowrk connecting to the www, then it will always be difficult.
Simply running the ethernet plugs will resolve his issue for forty quid.
Or indeed plug a harddrive into the uniti (did you try that yet?)
Posted on: 02 September 2009 by BigH47
Garyi
Is it just with Distributed audio ,that you have a problem with the BT HH?
Is it just with Distributed audio ,that you have a problem with the BT HH?
Posted on: 02 September 2009 by Alfa4life
quote:Originally posted by garyi:
It will work, but would need some configuration (i.e. I have no idea how) in order to use the net on one network and also be able to access the NAS on another network.
Long and short is I think he is side stepping into another issue. Until such point as he has his own netowrk connecting to the www, then it will always be difficult.
Simply running the ethernet plugs will resolve his issue for forty quid.
Or indeed plug a harddrive into the uniti (did you try that yet?)
Garyi
Think you are quite correct about the problem persisting till he gets his own network, hence the suggestion about another router for streaming. I suspect you can connect to either network but not both at the same time.
I have not tried connecting a drive directly, but Naim were doing it when I first heard the uniti demoed at Bristol show. Also my dealer connected his NAS box wirelessly and also plugged directly into the uniti to show me both working.
Posted on: 02 September 2009 by Steeve
Garyi
All valid questions; just to clarify, my accommodation situation is that I am renting a room in a house belonging to a mature married couple not a house with 4 students! Consequently I am not too concerned with security and any hardware being outside of my room.
I'm really just trying to look at all the options and take a long-term view of what may be best. The NAS option cropped up upon speaking to Naim today and has some attraction as I don't feel it would be wasted in the future. They seemed to feel the real issue was the two legs of wireless streaming and if I could reduce it to just the one I should be ok. I guess I could test this theory out before taking the plunge by plugging my laptop directly into the router and leaving the Uniti wireless.
I haven't tried the external hard drive option yet. I do have a Seagate unit back in Northampton just for data backup which I could try although it is formatted for NTFS and from one of your earlier posts you said it had to be formatted as FAT32. I guess there's nothing on it I couldn't lose temporarily.
Graham,
Thanks for your kind offer; I may take you up on it if I decide to go the NAS route.
Also belated thanks to John (fixedwheel) for your offer.
My original plan was to have my own router in my room with Uniti and laptop hard-wired to and use it as a wireless repeater to the BT Home Hub. However there appears to be a lot of stuff on the web suggesting this isn't possible as 'the Home Hub v 2.0 does not support WDS'.
Then, the switch option with Internet Connection Sharing seemed to be the most attractive although through general ignorance I'm a little reluctant to try this. Also, talking to Naim they were unable to throw any light on this option or whether it was likely to work.
It seems there are so many variables with all this stuff. Frankly, I'm almost inclined just to get a big suitcase now and throw all my CDs into it!
All valid questions; just to clarify, my accommodation situation is that I am renting a room in a house belonging to a mature married couple not a house with 4 students! Consequently I am not too concerned with security and any hardware being outside of my room.
I'm really just trying to look at all the options and take a long-term view of what may be best. The NAS option cropped up upon speaking to Naim today and has some attraction as I don't feel it would be wasted in the future. They seemed to feel the real issue was the two legs of wireless streaming and if I could reduce it to just the one I should be ok. I guess I could test this theory out before taking the plunge by plugging my laptop directly into the router and leaving the Uniti wireless.
I haven't tried the external hard drive option yet. I do have a Seagate unit back in Northampton just for data backup which I could try although it is formatted for NTFS and from one of your earlier posts you said it had to be formatted as FAT32. I guess there's nothing on it I couldn't lose temporarily.
Graham,
Thanks for your kind offer; I may take you up on it if I decide to go the NAS route.
Also belated thanks to John (fixedwheel) for your offer.
My original plan was to have my own router in my room with Uniti and laptop hard-wired to and use it as a wireless repeater to the BT Home Hub. However there appears to be a lot of stuff on the web suggesting this isn't possible as 'the Home Hub v 2.0 does not support WDS'.
Then, the switch option with Internet Connection Sharing seemed to be the most attractive although through general ignorance I'm a little reluctant to try this. Also, talking to Naim they were unable to throw any light on this option or whether it was likely to work.
It seems there are so many variables with all this stuff. Frankly, I'm almost inclined just to get a big suitcase now and throw all my CDs into it!
Posted on: 02 September 2009 by garyi
Right then with a friendly family here is what you do.
Get the god damn ethernet plugs, they are forty quid!
Then, what happens see is all your problems stop.
Big H, I don't have any issues on my network. I have a Draytek doing the adsl and an airport extreme doing the wirless. I have a usrobotics 16 port gigabit switch handling the network.
I do have experience of installing a BT home hub for my sister, my friend, my mum and anecdotal evidence from many other people I know.
I general its the first stepping stone to people learning that they do not need to rely on BTs hardware in order to have a wireless home network, as home hubs are provided 'free' they are of dubious quality just like the products that BT delivered time and again before.
Get the god damn ethernet plugs, they are forty quid!
Then, what happens see is all your problems stop.
Big H, I don't have any issues on my network. I have a Draytek doing the adsl and an airport extreme doing the wirless. I have a usrobotics 16 port gigabit switch handling the network.
I do have experience of installing a BT home hub for my sister, my friend, my mum and anecdotal evidence from many other people I know.
I general its the first stepping stone to people learning that they do not need to rely on BTs hardware in order to have a wireless home network, as home hubs are provided 'free' they are of dubious quality just like the products that BT delivered time and again before.
Posted on: 02 September 2009 by JonR
Steeve, FWIW, I'd second garyi's advice about the BT thing and recommend you replace it with a decent Netgear, or similar wireless router. Then I would place it at as high up as possible relative to the other equipment on your wireless network, ie. your laptop, NaimUniti, etc. This, IME, will certainly help towards reducing the possibility of a network drop-out.
Posted on: 27 September 2009 by Steeve
Hi and apologies for delayed response on this.
Just to update this thought I'd let you know that I am now using a very cute QNAP 219P NAS with Twonky Media pre-installed sitting in the kitchen wired to the BT Home Hub and have kept the one wireless leg from the Uniti to the BT Home Hub.
Took about 10 mins to set up and is working flawlessly now! I would have needed extra storage anyhow at some point and am committed to streaming so went for it and am very pleased with the result.
Thanks for the replies anyhow....off to the other NAS in Towcester in a little while...
Steeve
Just to update this thought I'd let you know that I am now using a very cute QNAP 219P NAS with Twonky Media pre-installed sitting in the kitchen wired to the BT Home Hub and have kept the one wireless leg from the Uniti to the BT Home Hub.
Took about 10 mins to set up and is working flawlessly now! I would have needed extra storage anyhow at some point and am committed to streaming so went for it and am very pleased with the result.
Thanks for the replies anyhow....off to the other NAS in Towcester in a little while...
Steeve