Article: Extending A Network For HiFi

[unbalanced output]

I was going to comment in the same sense as garrardguy60. I'm considering to add a second router and add just it to the network. However, since I've got good WiFi reception at the location (just want wired connection to TV, NAS and stereo) I would have it hanging via WiFi. Don't see why it wouldn't work.

[marce]

Power line communications works by adding noise to your power lines... some EMC advisers, notably Kieth Armstrong (EMC club) would like to see it banned... It is adding extra noise (EMI) to an already dirty mains, just worth thinking about.

[The Computer Audiophile]

20 minutes ago, marce said:

Power line communications works by adding noise to your power lines... some EMC advisers, notably Kieth Armstrong (EMC club) would like to see it banned... It is adding extra noise (EMI) to an already dirty mains, just worth thinking about.

 

Wow, I never thought about it that way. I always think about what the power line could do to the Ethernet signal, not what the powerline networkign could do to the power line. 

[feelingears]

I know it's "crazy" to think different devices could sound different, but I trust my ears since it's so obvious. I had an Apple Airport Extreme connecting to my Airport Express and between my home's awful lath and plaster and neighbors with increasingly multiple wi-fi access points, dropouts went from none to several on some nights. I had to find a new solution. Tried a couple well-regarded consumer units but the sound quality was worse than the Airport Extreme. Not supposed to happen, right? Sure, except it did.

 

Bit the bullet and crossed my fingers and bought a Netgear Orbi. Thankfully, problem solved on both counts: solid signal, solid sound quality. I compared it with direct optical from my laptop into my W4S Remedy and overall I still preferred the wi-fi.

 

Just my $0.02 to suggest you (still) have to trust your ears and "everything counts in large amounts." We should rewrite the lyrics of that song for audiophiles.

[marce]

Its not just home internet, smart meters are read from the power companies, somewhere I have an article showing how much noise is being added as communications, I will dig it out when I'm at work. I do know Radio hams do suffer problems with it, EMC UK banana skins has many a tale.

 

[Paddlefoot]

Thank you Chris for this article, i took a chance and bought the TP-Link AV2000 Powerline Adapters to solve some drop out i was having with WI-FI and the MicroRendu. Beautiful Music, no drop out and ......Damn if it didn't sound better too. thanks you sir!!!

[The Computer Audiophile]

Great to hear.

[frederick184]

Would love to try the Eero solution, but I just moved to an old house with no Ethernet wiring, so need to find a solution that will work with my Micro Rendu.  I've looked at some range extenders that have an Ethernet port, but the Eero doesn't seem to offer that, unless I misunderstood.  It looks like the Eero has two Ethernet ports, but one in from the wall and one out.

 

Colin

[Booster MPS]

@jtwrace, @The Computer Audiophile, buddy in IT sent another option my way similar to EERO.  Looks very similar.

 

https://portalwifi.com/technology

[jventer]

5 hours ago, Booster MPS said:

@jtwrace, @The Computer Audiophile, buddy in IT sent another option my way similar to EERO.  Looks very similar.

 

https://portalwifi.com/technology

This looks good.

[jtwrace]

8 hours ago, Booster MPS said:

@jtwrace, @The Computer Audiophile, buddy in IT sent another option my way similar to EERO.  Looks very similar.

 

https://portalwifi.com/technology

Looks good but I have no knowledge of using them. However, I've used eero from day one and and can say that they work flawlesss for all audio needs.  Also, look at the Gen 2 eero.  That's insane!  

[realhifi]

I will add to the praises of the Eero solution. I have used them in many difficult older homes where there was no Cat5 infrastructure and they had been using any number of Apple or other extender solutions and the Eero totally smokes them. I have seen instances with ZERO loss of speed going from one area to another with up to five combining to make a mesh network that completely covers a house. Wired AP's still are better (and lower cost) overall but the Eero's are remarkable. The technology behind them is now showing up in a number of other companies offerings and my guess is it will become the new standard for wireless broadcast in homes. Would not be surprised to see Apple come out with products in this sector to replace their aging AirPort line. 

[realhifi]

14 hours ago, frederick184 said:

Would love to try the Eero solution, but I just moved to an old house with no Ethernet wiring, so need to find a solution that will work with my Micro Rendu.  I've looked at some range extenders that have an Ethernet port, but the Eero doesn't seem to offer that, unless I misunderstood.  It looks like the Eero has two Ethernet ports, but one in from the wall and one out.

 

Colin

The port that goes out can be used even if the unit is wirelessly tied to original wired unit in another location. Meaning, use first Eero plugged into your modem and the next one wirelessly near your Micro and use the Ethernet port out of it into Micro. 

[The Computer Audiophile]

More info on the newer Eero stuff - http://linuxgizmos.com/linux-based-eero-mesh-router-adds-tri-band-plus-wall-pluggable-eero-beacon/

[frederick184]

5 hours ago, realhifi said:

The port that goes out can be used even if the unit is wirelessly tied to original wired unit in another location. Meaning, use first Eero plugged into your modem and the next one wirelessly near your Micro and use the Ethernet port out of it into Micro. 

OK, thanks, that's what I was hoping.  I'll wait until Gen 2 is released at the end of the month.

 

Colin

[feelingears]

On 6/13/2017 at 10:57 AM, marce said:

Its not just home internet, smart meters are read from the power companies, somewhere I have an article showing how much noise is being added as communications, I will dig it out when I'm at work. I do know Radio hams do suffer problems with it, EMC UK banana skins has many a tale.

 

 

Here in Seattle, I was able to opt-out of the Smart Meter program. Of course, I have to pay for the right to do so...

http://www.seattle.gov/light/ami/opt-out.asp

 

[feelingears]

15 hours ago, realhifi said:

I will add to the praises of the Eero solution. ...it will become the new standard for wireless broadcast in homes. Would not be surprised to see Apple come out with products in this sector to replace their aging AirPort line. 

 

As I understand it, Apple fired/transferred their wi-fi engineers a couple years back. This was written about in the Apple-centric media quite a bit. Apple is not the "pro" company they used to be which is too bad, really, because many people (myself included) appreciate the "more-plug-n-play-than-pray" nature of their gear compared to the PC masses.

[realhifi]

19 hours ago, feelingears said:

 

As I understand it, Apple fired/transferred their wi-fi engineers a couple years back. This was written about in the Apple-centric media quite a bit. Apple is not the "pro" company they used to be which is too bad, really, because many people (myself included) appreciate the "more-plug-n-play-than-pray" nature of their gear compared to the PC masses.

 

I suppose.

 

I remember taking two different classes a number of years ago that were different but very similar in that both used computers for the main thrust of the classes. One was learning AutoCAD in DOS and not only doing plans but getting into 3D modeling and simple textures and the other was a graphics class utilizing Illustrator on Macs to do simple graphics for illustration and ads.  There was no contest as to which computers had more problems and issues with crashing, graphics, printing, you name it. The Macs had problems nearly every day I went to that class whereas the geeky PCs chugged along spitting out complex working drawings for mechanical tooling, scaled plans for both residential and commercial buildings, 3D models of complex parts, buildings, etc. with nary a hiccup in day to day to use. Of course they could bog down if something simply had too much information for the ram and hard drive to quickly render but that was simply taking their computing power to their limits. 

 

For ME Apple didn't really get my attention until their forays into mobile devices and once I started there was no going back. They simply rule in that area and darned if it isn't reflected in their rise in the last 10 or so years. 

 

PS.  I wouldn't count them out of the wireless device / router arena just yet.  For them to totally turn that over to some of the awful companies making that type of gear today doesn't make sense and if I'm betting (and I am) they are not finished in that area. 

[Dan Gravell]

For the TP-Link... if:

 

Quote

the real benefit is to place an Ethernet port near an audio system, without requiring an Ethernet cable run to anywhere else in the house

 

Then why not just use a wireless bridge? They're about $30.

[The Computer Audiophile]

1 hour ago, Dan Gravell said:

For the TP-Link... if:

 

 

Then why not just use a wireless bridge? They're about $30.

 

That's what the TP-Link RE650 is. It's the best one available. 

[Cornan]

12 hours ago, Dan Gravell said:

For the TP-Link... if:

 

 

Then why not just use a wireless bridge? They're about $30.

 

I wish they could come up with a general name for it. Wireless bridge, wireless adapter, wireless media bridge and client mode is a few examples of one and the same thing. Bottom line is that it works great! ?

Ever tried to connect it to a network switch?

[mikey8811]

Has anyone tried the Google wireless mesh routers that are competing with the Eero's?

 

They are slightly cheaper.

[mourip]

On 6/9/2017 at 2:24 AM, Pedro Romão said:

Been there, tried both before and in my case went for a third option (although only valid if you have a pre-installed tv-cable: MoCa (Ethernet over Coaxial).

Works perfect, no speed issues and unlike the solution over power line, I cannot detect sound degradation.

 

+1

I have found MOCA to be the most solid solution next to wired ethernet. As stated above you do need to already have coax into the room. For many this is a good choice for your den or basement TV room since cable will already be there. Also not all ISP router support it. I have Verizon FIOS and MOCA solved both my TV buffering issues and for getting solid Internet into my basement.

[Kal Rubinson]

42 minutes ago, mourip said:

+1

I have found MOCA to be the most solid solution next to wired ethernet. As stated above you do need to already have coax into the room. For many this is a good choice for your den or basement TV room since cable will already be there. Also not all ISP router support it. I have Verizon FIOS and MOCA solved both my TV buffering issues and for getting solid Internet into my basement.

Even if your ISP's router does not support it (as does FIOS), you can add MoCA by connecting two of their boxes to your coaxial lines, one for input and the other for output.  You can even add more.

[mourip]

4 hours ago, Kal Rubinson said:

Even if your ISP's router does not support it (as does FIOS), you can add MoCA by connecting two of their boxes to your coaxial lines, one for input and the other for output.  You can even add more.

 

Excellent. Good to know.