[RoadTripper]

Every single time that I shut down my music server computer - and there are absolutely no exceptions to this - my SB3 squeezebox fails to locate the server and won't play. For the most part I leave the server, which is our household's main PC, up 24/7.

What I then have to do to get the SB3 running again is mostly irrational. It is the equivalent of kicking the coke machine. Basically, I switch back and forth from "64 Bit WEP" to "no encryption". It always fails at the "connecting to wireless network" step. However, at random intervals, occasionally it will work and it plays fine for weeks or months on end until I shut the computer down either due to a storm front, or a vacation or just because.

Any ideas what may be involved here? Since I have done this so many times, I am becoming fairly facile at some of the networking ideas involved.

[avta]

You may be having a problem with your router/wireless network. Would you be able to connect your computer to the SB3 with a cable?
Guy

[jakepunk]

What wireless router are you using and what squeezebox firmware version?  One of the more recent firmware versions was supposed to fix wireless weirdness.

[AphileEarlyAdopter]

The MAC address on the SB3 gets corrupted once in a while, you need to enter it thru the Settings Menu. The MAC address is listed on a sticker at the bottom of the SB.
This was the only reason my SB3 fails to connect at time. It is quite possible it is the same with you.

[RoadTripper]

Thanks for the replies. I don't know the SB firmware version other than I got what was the reigning version in  Jan of '06 and haven't changed it. Can I upgrade it without connecting first? Chicken and egg?

I will look for a MAC address, whatever that is, on the bottom of my SB.

[RoadTripper]

The firmware version is 28 and the MAC address checks out fine.

[RoadTripper]

My router is a 2Wire 192.

[avta]

I'm not familiar with that brand. As I mentioned you might get try connecting the SB to your computer with what is called a crossover cable. It connects the ethernet connection of the computer with a similar connection on the SB. It's quite distinct in appearance so you won't have trouble finding it. The cables are inexpensive and can be bought on ebay or probably Radio Shack. I got mine from ebay. You would then reset your SB to play with an ethernet connection by going through the set-up process again. This would clarify if your problem was with the wireless network.
Guy

[jakepunk]

Are the PC and squeezebox using DHCP addresses?  When you reboot your PC and it gets a different IP address, your squeezebox won't be able to find it.  Try giving both elements static IP addresses by configuring the 2Wire.  This is my guess as to what your problem is.

If that doesn't work:

The firmware you are using (firmware 28) came with Slimserver 6.2.1.  I would suggest upgrading to Slimserver 6.3.0 and see if its firmware fixes your problem.  Looking at the ChangeLog, there are a ton of networking fixes encapsualted in that version, and 2Wire is mentioned specifically.  It's not the same 2Wire model number as yours, but it's worth a try, especially if you can make things fail deterministically (i.e. every time you power down your PC).

[Grumpy_Git]

The SB3 wont play without a server ever.

Are your connection problems when you first turn the server back on? If so are you trying to play music before the server has booted up and is ready to go?

I have this problem with a NAS drive which takes its time to boot up and then initialise Slimserver.

Nick.

[RoadTripper]

I am up and running again. It took temporarily going to a wired configuration in order to connect and download the SB3 firmware that came with the Slimserver software version 6.5.0 that I installed Saturday. Of course it wasn't that easy because my router has only one port (I can thank SBCGlobal for being that cheap). I got around that by digging up a 10 year old 5 port hub from the garage.

Anyways, getting upgraded firmware enabled an easy wireless connection. I haven't tried the real test of shutting down the PC and restarting. That will no doubt come later.

Thanks for all the help. I really appreciate it!

BTW, I am also undergoing psychological evaluation because it seems to me the rig sounds better with the new SB3 firmware!? I think it is a by product of audio nirvana owing to the thrill of being back in the sweet spot after 3 days going without.