As others have said, common issues that users come up against can often be traced to networking problems, such as the use of Apple networking products and managed switches. I would certainly start with replacing the Airport Extreme - I have used a Synology RT2600AC router for the last 18 months it has great wifi range, has excellent software, and it performs flawlessly. Highly recommended. NAS and Roon core are connected to it by ethernet. If your switch is managed, you can pick up something like a Netgear GS108 for a song. I would also use reserved IP addresses for your NAS and Roon core. Another general recommendation is to not attach the Roon core direct to to a DAC - rather use some sort of bridging device - although there are lots of users who do this without issue.
Also, you can remote access your Mac mini from your MacBook using screen sharing rather than running up and down stairs. Another thing to try would be to use a full Roon install on the core rather than Roon Server - this is how mine is set up and it works just fine all the time.
Thanks for the useful advice. The Cisco switches are not managed, so thatās off the table. Also, the NAS and server Mini already have static IPs. Yes, Iām aware that I can access the headless Mini from the MB Air using Screen Share but not from the iPad or iPhone, which are my usual controllers. Ditching Roon Server for the full version is probably what Iāll try next, but that doesnāt give me much confidence: I am using Roon Server in exactly the way it was designed to be used. If Server doesnāt work as intended, Roon should retire it.
Clearly Iām going to have to experiment with a replacement for the Apple router. That will be disruptive, as my wifi and multi-room sound mesh is based on Airport Express devices and my system backups use AE Time Machines. Everything else works flawlessly and Roon did too until recently. Frankly it may not be worth reconfiguring my entire LAN just to suit Roon.
Question: You recommend using a ābridging deviceā between server and DAC. What does that mean? Are you talking about a digital to digital converter? Seems unnecessary.
Sorry if I wasnāt clear - some sort of network music player that will act as a Roon ready endpoint. These normally take an ethernet connection from the Core and turn it into a signal (analog or digital depending on design) that can go to your DAC or amp. Often this is via USB, but if they have a buildi in DAC it can be analog). Currently your Mac mini is both core and endpoint - not always the best idea. Some examples would be a Sonore ultraRendu (ethernet -> USB), Cambridge Audio CXN v2 (streaming DAC) and streamers or streaming DACs from the Lumin range. Can also be something as simple as a Raspberry pi.
Iām no network engineer, but my understanding is that reserved IP addresses are preferred over static in such a setting.
Thanks for the clarification, but Iām still a bit fuzzy on some of your points. Yes, I am having this problem when I use the DAC connected by USB to the Mini running the server (Core) as an endpoint, but Iām having the same problem using every other endpoint on the network. Iāve tried four others, some wireless and some hardwired. Following your suggestion, I just now tried to start Roon after switching off the power to the DAC and got the same disfunctional result.
Regarding setting up a range of reserved IPs, I donāt see how that could matter. You still have to assign static IPs to devices from within the range, which I have already done. Those static IPs are āreservedā in the sense that they are not available for dynamic assignment by DHCP.
Not trying to be argumentative here. I understand you are trying to help, but to implement your recommendations I need to fully understand them.
Hi @tLea ā I split off some off-topic discussions about Apple networking gear and move them into a new thread.
As mentioned above, this definitely seems to be related to the performance of the network, but we are continuing to investigate what more we can do to alleviate these symptoms for customers who are facing these issues with TIDAL login. Weāll be sure to keep you updated as we continue to investigate!
Hi Tracy, if you ever wanted to do screen share from your iPad of iPhone, you can use an app called VNC Viewer. itās will see your Mac Mini screen share via bonjour and you can use your iPad to control your Mini.
Your Tidal account can only be logged in too 3 devices with a hifi account, unless you have a family account? un-log from tidal from all sources that you use. If you get the immediate error message, that is usually the issue.
2. I recently put my old apple time capsule at the back of the house and set up to extend the signal, My media room Mac mini is always on logging into the service provider router, The rear of the house on the Apple. If you have any extenders etc in the house you will get the log in issue and poor signal with dropouts.