[BFitz]

I also just saw this beer can wifi antenna booster last weekend, tried it, and it works great.

http://www.wikihow.com/Make-a-Wi-Fi-Booster-Using-Only-a-Beer-Can

I had my wifi setup in the basement in the corner, so positioned it so the antenna is pointing up on a diagonal from the corner.
On a wifi signal app the readings went up by 5-10db in some problem areas of the house.

[BFitz]

OK, one more comment on upgrading from LMS 7.7.0 to 7.7.2

For some reason, after the upgrade, addressing the Pogo based LMS server from a PC web browser would send it into a tailspin. The "loading" symbol would just keep spinning, regardless of whether the browser was Firefox or Chrome. But IPeng and other non-PC interfaces were very fast, and had no problems.

So I checked into the LMS browser based "settings" area, and delved into the "information" tab, then the "log files". I found lots of errors there, many related to artwork, etc. I realized the LMS install was likely in a state of crap.

So I took a clue from what Randy described earlier, and shut down the Pogo, then pulled the front Vamp 0.3 4GB USB stick.

I'm a belt and suspenders kind of engineer, so I did the USB stick cleaning dance described earlier - delete partition, create new partition, format FAT32, then re-imaged it to VAMP 0.3 again. The cleaning takes like 2 minutes. The image write takes more like 20-30 minutes.

Then rebooted the Pogo on the new Vamp .3 image, and ran "setup" from putty, and did Randy's instructions to reference the USB drive as the media server.

Then rebooted the Pogo and ran setup to install a clean new copy of LMS 7.7.2

Then did a LMS PC web based browser re-scan of the music USB drive, which was 64GB and took maybe 30 minutes.

Wow, huge difference. Now the PC based browser interface is behaved and quick, with fast response to inputs. Before it would just hang, giving no response, while the "loading" symbol would rotate. Hope this helps someone. If it doubt, re-image and re-load.
Bob 

 

[BFitz]

Quick update - I replaced my hub with a new switch, and all works well now. I misspoke earlier when I said I had 2 switches - I really had a switch and a hub. The Pogo VAMP did not work hooked to the hub. 
Now I have it setup like this -
Router > Switch > Switch > Pogo VAMP
And it works fine.
BTW, using an Encore 8 port switch, a good value, 13. from Amazon
http://www.amazon.com/Encore-8-Port-110V-Switch-ENH908-NWY/dp/B000KL7H28/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1361053040&sr=8-1&keywords=encore+8+port+switch

[randytsuch]

I just updated my blogger instructions page and the "using your pogoplug" page.

I am now using version 7.8, so I added now to do that.

But the biggest thing is I added some info to make a backup image.  I had a problem recently when I shutdown, and tried to startup again, and it wouldn't start, so I had to remake the stick to get LMS working again.
I think I was not waiting long enough after a power down, which I also added a warning about.

But once you have a working LMS that you are happy with, you can take that stick, and copy it with the USB image tool, and if you have any problems you can just recopy the image to the stick.  I bought an extra stick, so I now have a backup which I can just use if I need to.

Just takes a few minutes to make the copy, and then you have an easy way to recover if you ever do have any problems.

EDIT
I was thinking about buying another "backup" Pogo, and I noticed to price has crept up the $25 now at adorama, for the "guaranteed" E02 model.  It was $22 for the E02 when I bought it before.


Randy

[Bob in St. Louis]

I noticed to price has crept up the $25 now at adorama, for the "guaranteed" E02 model.  It was $22 for the E02 when I bought it before.

That's because (due to you guys) they found the unit was "audiophile approved". 

[BFitz]

Randy;

Thanks for your continued help, I appreciate the tip on doing the image backup of the USB stick.
You can buy the EO2G direct for $22.50 from Adorama if you want
http://www.adorama.com/COCPOGOE02G.html

I agree, get a spare or two while you can, they won't be around forever.
Bob

[BFitz]

Out of curiosity, I took a this Pogo EO2 thing apart. To do that, you need to slide off the clear plastic cover (there are 4 tabs holding it) and then pry apart the white plastic enclosure.

Here's a picture of the interior, with the power supply removed and to the left. It would be quite easy to replace the switching supply with a 5V linear one, just as with the logitech SB. But the supply that comes with it is actually pretty nicely done, a cut above the normal cheap switcher wallwart that you normally see (like the one that comes with the SB). Also easy to remount it in a nicer audio style case, with a linear supply, USB DAC  etc. inside for the VAMP only version.   

[BFitz]

Here's another image with the power supply in place - it has decent sized caps on that board.

[AB]

Well, those pictures finally convinced me. 
I just ordered two of these from the VB store.
I suppose I need a USB or ? DAC to get noise out of these.
So what are the, as we say, value leaders?

[Bob in St. Louis]

Out of curiosity, I took a this ....thing apart.

I love that. My kinda guy. 
"When in doubt, take it apart". That's fantastic!

[randytsuch]

Well, those pictures finally convinced me. 
I just ordered two of these from the VB store.
I suppose I need a USB or ? DAC to get noise out of these.
So what are the, as we say, value leaders?

Depending on budget,
http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=110299.0

Obviously you can spend more, and get a better dac.

I upgraded to the ifiaudio idac, and am happy with that one.

Randy

[AB]

Thanks for the link. I'll do some reading.

[charmerci]

OK - I've been semi-following this thread.

First thing, I have no wifi at my place - just a standard cable internet connection. (I just want to use this connected to my receiver and use the internet connection for my computer. I have only one cable outlet for the internet.)

So I get a Pogo2, an 8GB stick and one of these

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9SIA1M80KZ6690

and then I should be good to go?

(I've got a USB DAC.)

[HAL]

You would need a WiFi router to talk to the Android Tablet.

[charmerci]

You would need a WiFi router to talk to the Android Tablet.

Can't I just connect the tablet to the Pogo with a cable?

[BFitz]

Can't I just connect the tablet to the Pogo with a cable?

I don't think so. First, you need a router to multiply your one wired cable Ethernet outlet coming from the cable broadband modem into many wireless and wired DHCP Ethernet ports. If this makes no sense, you need to get some local help from someone who knows how to do this - it's not hard, but not really appropriate to give the tutorial *here* on how to set it up.

Once installed, you can use many different devices for either servers or SB controllers, depending on what you have on hand. Most recent smart phones will certainly work as controllers, as will any windows PC (XP on...) for both server and controller. That covers a LOT of devices. Linux too, if you can turn that tool.     

[charmerci]

I don't think so. First, you need a router to multiply your one wired cable Ethernet outlet coming from the cable broadband modem into many wireless and wired DHCP Ethernet ports. If this makes no sense, you need to get some local help from someone who knows how to do this - it's not hard, but not really appropriate to give the tutorial *here* on how to set it up.

Once installed, you can use many different devices for either servers or SB controllers, depending on what you have on hand. Most recent smart phones will certainly work as controllers, as will any windows PC (XP on...) for both server and controller. That covers a LOT of devices. Linux too, if you can turn that tool.   

Thanks. I already have my PC/JRiver hooked up. No sense in being redundant.

[randytsuch]

Thanks. I already have my PC/JRiver hooked up. No sense in being redundant.

What do you want to do with the Pogo?
Where you planning to run JRiver from the PC, and then use the Pogo to just drive the USB DAC?

If you gave us more information on what you want to do we could give you better advice.

[charmerci]

What do you want to do with the Pogo?
Where you planning to run JRiver from the PC, and then use the Pogo to just drive the USB DAC?

If you gave us more information on what you want to do we could give you better advice.

I just wanted an inexpensive alternative to having to open up and turn on my computer just to listen to music.

[randytsuch]

A few things then.

If you want to replace your PC for music, then the Pogo needs to act as a music server, and run LMS, aka squeezeserver.  For this, the Pogo would need a USB drive large enough to hold whatever music you want on it. 
I listen to Flac files, which take up a fair amount of space. 

The bigger problem is if you don't have a router, you can only connect one thing (your PC).  I kind of doubt you can connect the PC directly to the Pogo, or the Pogo to whatever kind of internet box you have.  Most people connect their internet box (I have a cable modem, others use DSL) to a wifi router, which also usually has some ethernet ports, so you can connect to it through wifi or ethernet.

Without a router, you won't be able to setup the pogo.

One more thing, for what you want, you may need two pogo's, one to run squeezeserver, and one to interface to the USB DAC.  I couldn't get one Pogo to do both reliably, and gave up after a while because for $20 it was taking too much time.

So basically, you need at least a usb drive to hold your music and a router, and maybe another pogo.

BTW, you can pick up routers cheap on ebay, if they are a little older technology, but that should be fine for what you would need.

Randy