[mca]

It's widely stated that fversion 15 firmware is the best sounding. Problem is, I can't get it to work with either of my Bolder modded SB3's. When I try to play a song, it just st-st-st-stutters through it and won't play correctly.

Since I can't get v15 to work, what is the next best version to use? Both my SB3's are fed directly to my amps, so I am using the digital volume control

[tonyptony]

mca, are you using a wireless link to feed the SBs?

[mca]

Yes, a Netgear WPN824. It's at one end of the house where the computer is and the two SB3's are at the other end. Signal strength is 51% on one and 62% for the other, not very high...

[Double Ugly]

Yes, a Netgear WPN824. It's at one end of the house where the computer is and the two SB3's are at the other end. Signal strength is 51% on one and 62% for the other, not very high...

I have a very similar set up and similar signal strength numbers, but I've never encountered the problem you're experiencing.  That being the case, I don't see how signal strength could be the culprit.   

My router is different (Belkin PreN), but I'm not sure what - if any - difference that would make.  I'm no LAN expert by any definition, but AFAIK, signal strength is signal strength, and a Squeezebox is a Squeezebox.  If I don't have a problem with a given signal strength, I don't see why you should.

Good luck in figuring it out.  Wish I could help.   

-Jim

[tonyptony]

There have been a number of reports over the time that the SB2/SB3 has been around regarding problems like this with different brands of routers. If it's at all possible to try, I would recommend testing one or the other of yours via a wired connection to see if the problem goes away.

If you haven't already done so go to the Slimdevices forum on their website (slimdevices.com > community > forums). You find a lot of info about wireless problems, and - depending on whether this Netgear is part of that pack - indications usually that the newer FW releases do improve on wireless connectivity.

Of course, if trying wired makes no difference then something you may want to try is reburning the FW.

What version of Slimserver are you using?

[mcgsxr]

If it is not what is being described, perhaps this experience of mine may help.

What type of cordless phone do you use?  Does the use of the phone exacerbate the issue?

I had to move to 5.8Ghz phones, as my 2.4Ghz phones disrupted the signal to my SB3.

The other experience I have, is that the SB will sometimes act as you describe, when I first start using it - I suspect the buffer is not filling fast enough, so I let it go for 30 seconds, then hit the BACK key, allowing the song to start over, and then the buffer is ahead of what is playing - this solves the issue 90% of the time for me.

Good luck!

[mca]

Tonypony:

I suppose I could rig a system up in the same room as my computer and see what that does. It would also allow me to try a wired connection.

Slimserver is version 6.2.2. I know there is a new version out, but don't know what changes or improvements were made.

mcgsxr:

I do use a 2.4ghz phone, but the result is the same if I use it or not. I suppose I can try unplugging it and see what that does. 

[Wayne1]

mca,

You may want to try a different version of SlimServer first. I tried out 6.2.2 when it was first released. I had drop outs through out my wireless network. None of the computers could stay on for more than an hour. This is not talking about the SB but the computers.

I switched back to SlimServer 6.2.1 and all the problems went away.

Some of the newer versions of SlimServer may work better with your system, but all have some kind of bug. What the bug is, may or may not matter to you.

If you use mgalusha's firmware selector, you can use a goodly number of the newer versions of SlimServer with Firmware 15.

[DeadFish]

In an echo to what mcgsxr said, I've had similar battle only a few days ago.
I set up my stock SB3 in the bedroom and got the same kind of stutter, trying the full-buffer trick, then taking it next to the router to make sure it still worked.  Oddly enough, I hung up the phone (which is between bedroom and computer room) AND in a brain fart, I turned off two sets of low voltage lights I have under kitchen cabinets and the like.  THAT made the difference between playing music and choking on it.
UNfortunately wish I were scientist enough to say exactly why this seemed to work, except maybe those little wall-wart power supplies were mucking the airwaves.
Hadn't ever heard anyone mention low-voltage lights as a possible culprit, but in my situation it seemed to have worked.

Good luck, and please let us know what fixes it for you.

Best Regards,
DeadFish

[avta]

I've had that problem in the past but not with the newer versions of SS. I'm currently using the newest version 5.0 with no wireless connection problems and good sound.
Guy

[Scott F.]

Hadn't ever heard anyone mention low-voltage lights as a possible culprit, but in my situation it seemed to have worked.

Hiya Bill,

I can't say I've had any problems with connectivity but I can say one thing for sure about those puck lights, they absolutely pollute my interior wiring with noise. Anytime Laura turns them on you can hear an audible buzz even with the DeZorel doing it's job filtering the mains. The trasnformers in those things must dump all kinds of DC back onto the mains. It's even worse without a mains filter.

When is somebody going to invent an audiophile dimmer switch that blocks DC from leaking back into the mains? I'd pay good money for one. I know it can be done with a variac but the trouble is it ends up being the size of a 12" cheese wheel hanging off your wall? Can't something be done with diodes to block it?