Laptop as a SB remote

randytsuch · « **on:** 9 Feb 2006, 06:11 am »

I now have the ultimate SB remote, my laptop.

I am using my desktop as the music server, and my wi fi equiped laptop to control my SB3. Figured this out last night, and I don't ever see going back to the standard remote, using slimserver to run things is SO much nicer.

And, it was easy to do. I just set up my desktop as the server, as usual.
Then, click start, then run, then type "cmd" to get a dos window (remember dos?

). Type "ipconfig" at the dos prompt, and it will display a bunch of networking information. Write down the ip address displayed.

Then, go to the laptop. Bring up your internet brower, and type
http://xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx:9000/
where the xxx's are your ip address from your music server.

This will bring up the slimserver window on your brower, and now you can use the laptop to control you SB.

I also have slimserver installed and running on my laptop, but I am not sure if this is a requirement or not.

Back to my sb now.

One potential issue before I go, my server PC is set up as with a dynamic IP, so it can potentially change, which would make you change the IP number you use for the laptop internet browser. It did not change tonight, but not sure about the future. It may depend if my kids or wife's PC's are turned on before I turn on my desktop.

Randy

Paul_Bui · « **Reply #1 on:** 9 Feb 2006, 10:30 am »

Thanks Randy for sharing your findings. Very helpful.

zybar · « **Reply #2 on:** 9 Feb 2006, 12:22 pm »

Quote from: randytsuch

I now have the ultimate SB remote, my laptop.

I am using my desktop as the music server, and my wi fi equiped laptop to control my SB3. Figured this out last night, and I don't ever see going back to the standard remote, using slimserver to run things is SO much nicer.

And, it was easy to do. I just set up my desktop as the server, as usual.
Then, click start, then run, then type "cmd" to get a dos window (remember dos? ). Type "ipconfig" at the dos prompt, and it will display a bunch of ne ...

Randy,

Highly suggest using a static IP address for your music server. It will make life much easier and eliminate potential connectivity issues down the road.

Personally, I think the best SB2/3 interface is by Telcanto. I run their software on my WiFi Dell PDA and it is great!

George

samplesj · « **Reply #3 on:** 9 Feb 2006, 01:46 pm »

As far as having to use the IP, you don't for many cases. On a small windows based network you can simply use the machine name and it will resolve with a WINS broadcast. That works with both dynamic and static IPs. My old server was set on dynamic IP, but the new one is fixed for other software.

Since we're talking about Telcanto, can some one try to sell me on it. I actually upgraded my PDA to get WiFi so I could control my office SB, but the included handheld skin seems to give me everything I need. I'm downloading it now, but from their webpages it doesn't look like it does much extra to justify an extra cost. Is it more of a speed thing because they are able to cache certain data?

zybar · « **Reply #4 on:** 9 Feb 2006, 01:52 pm »

Quote from: samplesj

As far as having to use the IP, you don't for many cases. On a small windows based network you can simply use the machine name and it will resolve with a WINS broadcast. That works with both dynamic and static IPs. My old server was set on dynamic IP, but the new one is fixed for other software.

Since we're talking about Telcanto, can some one try to sell me on it. I actually upgraded my PDA to get WiFi so I could control my office SB, but the included handheld skin seems to give me everything I need ...

Why don't you simply download it and try it?

You have 30 days to play with it before having to buy it.

George

randytsuch · « **Reply #5 on:** 9 Feb 2006, 06:27 pm »

Quote from: samplesj

As far as having to use the IP, you don't for many cases. On a small windows based network you can simply use the machine name and it will resolve with a WINS broadcast. That works with both dynamic and static IPs. My old server was set on dynamic IP, but the new one is fixed for other software.

Since we're talking about Telcanto, can some one try to sell me on it. I actually upgraded my PDA to get WiFi so I could control my office SB, but the included handheld skin seems to give me everything I need ...

So, I would go to the system properties page, and read the "Full computer name" from it?
For example, if my server is named "Randy" on this page, then would I use
http://randy:9000/

My knowledge if networking is rudimentary, I am a HW guy.
I will try this tonight at home, and see if I can figure it out.

George,
I did try to give my server a static IP, but then I broke it's internet connection completely, so I went back to dynamic. I think it was because I did not know what to put in for the DNS server address. So, I just set it back to dynamic.
If I can use the server's name as I described above, this is mute point, otherwise I will look at this again, and probably ask some questions.

As far as Tel canto, I have a palm, not a WIN CE machine, so I can't use Tel Canto. Regardless, you still have to deal with the little screen, it's nice to have a bigger laptop screen to control the SB. But, a PDA is smaller, and has a touchscreen, and I can see where that would be nice too.

The other nice feature of this for me was it was FREE. Very high bang for the buck

Randy

RDaneel · « **Reply #6 on:** 9 Feb 2006, 10:51 pm »

If you think Telcanto is cool, wait till you see Ben Klass's SlimServer skin for the Nokia 770 Internet Tablet.

As you can tell from my post on AV123's forum, I think THIS is the coolest remote ever for the SB!

http://av123forum.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=12566

zybar · « **Reply #7 on:** 10 Feb 2006, 12:05 am »

Quote from: RDaneel

If you think Telcanto is cool, wait till you see Ben Klass's SlimServer skin for the Nokia 770 Internet Tablet.

As you can tell from my post on AV123's forum, I think THIS is the coolest remote ever for the SB!

http://av123forum.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=12566

SWEET!

George

mgalusha · « **Reply #8 on:** 10 Feb 2006, 12:12 am »

I was already pining for 770 and this new UI is about enough to make me pull the trigger. Very nice.

RDaneel · « **Reply #9 on:** 10 Feb 2006, 04:59 pm »

I don't mean to, but I'm becoming such a 770 pimp thanks to Ben Klass's excellent skin...

ctviggen · « **Reply #10 on:** 10 Feb 2006, 06:09 pm »

That is nice! No IR, though. If it had IR and acted as a remote, that would rock.

JoshK · « **Reply #11 on:** 10 Feb 2006, 07:05 pm »

That is seriously f'in cool!

Too bad about the no IR, but I may be able to control the DEQX via its software and work around the issue....oh wait, nope its windows only.

RDaneel · « **Reply #12 on:** 13 Feb 2006, 11:56 pm »

I don't know much about it yet, but it looks like the SB3 headphone jack will also work as a IR blaster with a $7 cable from SlimDevices. I'm going to mess around with this and see what I can do...

Scott F. · « **Reply #13 on:** 18 Feb 2006, 10:32 am »

Quote from: randytsuch

I now have the ultimate SB remote, my laptop.....

Randy,

Excellent call! I finally found enough time to sit down and set this up on my laptop. It works like a champ (once I got past being a moron and re-read your instructions).

Now to download some album art

THANKS!!!

jermmd · « **Reply #14 on:** 18 Feb 2006, 01:09 pm »

I found the Tel Canto software to be very buggy and slow. For some reason, it had connection problems and when it did connect, it would often play the wrong music. The slimserver software works perfectly on my Axim. I haven't tried different skins though. When I have guests over and I want to show off my SB3, I will often use my laptop.