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View Full Version : Is this the cable I need?


Statsman
6th September 2011, 10:58 PM
Ok, so I'm getting annoyed at the uneven wi-fi performance of my squeezebox so I'm thinking of running it through an ethernet cable instead.

To do that, I'll need to run a long cable ~15m upstairs and through the roof cavity to allow me to reposition the modem next to the squeezebox. Just double checking that a phone extension cable is the right one for the job? Something like this:

http://dicksmith.co.nz/product/F9103/phone-extension-lead-reel-15-metre

Or would it be better, performance wise, to have a short run cable between the phone line and modem and instead run a 15m ethernet cable to the squeezebox??
jcooze
6th September 2011, 11:07 PM
That's the right cable, but you run the risk of a performance drop on your Internet. Better to run a longer ethernet cable than a longer phone line.

Cheaper too! :)
mycenius
6th September 2011, 11:08 PM
That's the right cable, but you run the risk of a performance drop on your Internet. Better to run a longer ethernet cable than a longer phone line.

Cheaper too! :)

Indeed! (on both counts)
Statsman
6th September 2011, 11:26 PM
ok, thanks guys.
crazydiamond
7th September 2011, 10:40 AM
Is the problem with signal drop out or general sound quality? I had major problems with Airport Express just not connecting via wifi. So much so that I sold it. Ended up with HRT Music Streamer connected via long run of USB cable. I was thinking of SqueezeBox for the future but I'm worried that the wifi side of things might be a bit uneven after my last attempt.
mycenius
7th September 2011, 10:46 AM
I've had SqBx running via Wi-Fi for about 9 months now and it's performing well. My average signal strength is only about 60%. While I had a lot of initial issues I gradually eliminated them as due to other factors (e.g. Multi-Channel tracks can be down sampled to Stereo by SqBx but had too much bandwidth either for the Wi-Fi's 54Mbps (802.11n) or SqBx's Processor, and some issues on my PC host with system lock ups unrelated to the music or networking (i.e. disc/memory/OS issue).
Statsman
7th September 2011, 10:51 AM
Is the problem with signal drop out or general sound quality? I had major problems with Airport Express just not connecting via wifi. So much so that I sold it. Ended up with HRT Music Streamer connected via long run of USB cable. I was thinking of SqueezeBox for the future but I'm worried that the wifi side of things might be a bit uneven after my last attempt.

the problem is with signal drop out. It hasn't been a problem up until the last couple of months for some reason. I had thought about trying a wi-fi signal booster, but then realised that it was possible to re-route my cabling so that I wouldn't need the wi-fi altogether.
mycenius
7th September 2011, 11:03 AM
Cable is always better than Wi-Fi unconditionally. But sometimes its not always as practical...
jcooze
7th September 2011, 11:06 AM
the problem is with signal drop out. It hasn't been a problem up until the last couple of months for some reason. .

Bought a new microwave? Had new neighbours move in recently? Had a Steel Cranial plate inserted after a nasty accident? Any other changes to the household in the last couple of months?
Statsman
7th September 2011, 11:13 AM
Bought a new microwave? Had new neighbours move in recently? Had a Steel Cranial plate inserted after a nasty accident? Any other changes to the household in the last couple of months?

Nothing comes to mind. We have had new neighbours move in but we have decent separation between the houses (~10-15m). We have been running the heat pumps regularly during the colder months, but cant see how that would affect the wi-fi. Does modem performance degrade over time?