Networking Conflicts with Airplay 2 network. System description: Router: ASUS AX5700; RT AX865 Roon core: Dell laptop Processor: Intel(R) Core(TM) i3-4010U CPU @ 1.70GHz 1.70 GHz; RAM 16.0 GB 64-bit operating system, x64-based processor. Running Windows 10 Pro Version 22H2; OS build: 19045.5247. This PC: System Output set as default device. Roon: Mac Mini running Mac OS X 10.15.7 Roon Ready Devices; Blusound Node N130; Blusound Pulse Flex 2i -16B7 speaker. (Both these devices appear twice on the Audio setup menu with and without an AirPlay2 network designation. I have only enabled the non-AirPlay2 version on the setup menu.) Network connections: The Dell laptop, Mac Mini and Blusound Node are all connected to the router with ethernet cables. The Blusound Pulse Flex speaker and iOS devices connect via wifi Roon remote devices: iPad: Model: iPad; Version iPadOS 17.7.2; iPhone: iPhone 13; Version iOS 18.1.1
System will work fine until iOs devices are used as remotes, then only the Airplay2 network devices are available and the laptop that serves as the Roon core must be rebooted to restore normal operations. I cannot find any settings or instructions on how to keep this from happening. Please help!
Describe your network setup
Router: ASUS AX5700; RT AX865 Roon core: Dell laptop Processor: Intel(R) Core(TM) i3-4010U CPU @ 1.70GHz 1.70 GHz; RAM 16.0 GB 64-bit operating system, x64-based processor. Running Windows 10 Pro Version 22H2; OS build: 19045.5247. This PC: System Output set as default device. Roon: Mac Mini running Mac OS X 10.15.7 Roon Ready Devices; Blusound Node N130; Blusound Pulse Flex 2i -16B7 speaker. (Both these devices appear twice on the Audio setup menu with and without an AirPlay2 network designation. I have only enabled the non-AirPlay2 version on the setup menu.) Network connections: The Dell laptop, Mac Mini and Blusound Node are all connected to the router with ethernet cables. The Blusound Pulse Flex speaker and iOS devices connect via wifi Roon remote devices: iPad: Model: iPad; Version iPadOS 17.7.2; iPhone: iPhone 13; Version iOS 18.1.1
Thank you for your post. Reading through the description, it sounds like several of the devices in this setup are connecting to separate networks created by the ASUS AX5700 and RT AX865 routers respectively.
How are these routers connected to one another? Is one of them in Access Point or Bridge mode?
Please describe the network topology, along with any other network hardware that is involved (like mesh nodes, access points, etc.).
Please verify that RAATServer.exe and RoonServer.exe, along with any other Roon-related processes, have been added as exceptions in your Windows Defender firewall. This is in the system setup network settings on your Dell Windows machine.
We also see that your Mac Mini hasn’t been updated to the latest available build for Roon, 1496. Please make sure that Roon instance updates so recent bugfixes apply.
Hi Connor- Thanks for your reply. There is only a single router in my system. The RT AX865 is the specific model number of the ASUS AX5700. There is no other network hardware involved other than some ethernet switches, which are all: TRENDnet Gigabit Switches TEG S50g. I have confirmed all Roon-related processes are exceptions to my Windows Defender firewall and have updated the Mac Mini to Roon build 1496. The problem seems to be the AirPlay2 network that the Apple devices automatically set up at times (not always) preempts the Windows network where the Roon core resides. Are there settings in Roon or on my Mac or iOS devices that will prevent this from happening?
It sounds like your Apple devices are occasionally prioritizing the AirPlay 2 network over your primary network where the Roon Core is running. Unfortunately, Roon itself does not have settings to control how Apple devices connect to networks, but here are some steps you can take to prevent this from happening:
On Your Mac Mini:
Check Network Priority:
Go to System Settings → Network.
Click Wi-Fi (if enabled), then Advanced.
Drag your preferred Wi-Fi network (the one used by Roon) to the top.
If your Mac Mini is wired via Ethernet, consider turning off Wi-Fi completely to avoid any interference.
Disable AirPlay Receiver (if not needed):
Go to System Settings → Sharing.
If AirPlay Receiver is enabled, turn it off.
On your iOS device:
Disable Private Wi-Fi Address (if applicable): Some AirPlay networks may be prioritized due to Apple’s Private Wi-Fi Address feature.
Under Wi-Fi settings, tap the (i) next to your connected network and disable Private Wi-Fi Address.
Disable Auto-Join for AirPlay Networks: If AirPlay 2 is setting up its own network at times, you can go to Wi-Fi settings and ensure Auto-Join is turned off for those networks.
Benjamin- thanks for the follow up. All was working fine until the other day I was using an iOS device to control Roon with the output going to another Roon ready device. Then when I went to the browser on the iOS device the music cut off and the device would not revert back to the Widows network where the Roon core is located. The only Roon audio devices it would see were on the AirPlay 2 network. Frustrating! Then I have found the “Keep Screen Awake” setting in the Roon setup menu in the iOS Roon apps and have now switched that to the “yes” position on both my iOS devices. For now that seems to keep the problem from occurring. We’ll see if that is really the solution.