My Year with Roon: Week 2

[Reuben_Grote (Reuben)]

Continuing the discussion from My Year with Roon: Week 1:

Hello everyone, Reuben here!

This is a few days late, but this is week 2 of My Year with Roon!

This week was primarily me using the software (Primarily Arc) as one might on a regular basis.

The main issues I experienced concerned issues with roon’s connectivity, and issues with playback.

Connection wise, experiencing the poor connection and similar problems when using CarPlay, which were fixed by USING MY PHONE WHILE DRIVING! This has been a regular issue for me while using Roon, and makes it seem where I don’t even like using Arc in CarPlay as it’s so buggy where I have to use my phone while actively on the road. Granted, I drive a 2025 Mini Countryman, which has adaptive Cruise control w/lane correction, it’s also one of the safest cars in the world according to the IIHS, and practically drives itself, but self driving capacities won’t hold up in court when I get pulled over for using my phone because Arc decides to not work.

I’ve also had issues with music stopping randomly, primarily when using navigation when DoorDashing (yes, fun times), and there’s also problems with music having issues starting back up, followed by starting up and skipping 5-10+ seconds before starting, which can be combatted by starting the song or skipping it entirely. I’ve also had issues with my queue and played tracks appearing and disappearing at random within Arc, which is fixed by restarting the app and all.

I think that’s all I have though for this week. To all who celebrate, Merry Christmas, Happy Festivus, and see you all (hopefully on time!) for next weeks report!

-Reuben

[Jim_F (Minimalist)]

I use my iPhone 13 Pro Max plugged into my CarPlay device and it supplies data for navigation and music with no issues. My cellular provider is Verizon 5G. It always works well with my portable CarPlay device in 2016 Nissan and my wife’s 2019 Honda built in CarPlay.

[Reuben_Grote (Reuben)]

Interesting. My issue could be I’m using wireless CarPlay, and cellular does go on and off when doing long drives across the state of Ohio. Though, things do seem to work most of the time.

[Mike_O_Neill]

Disclaimer : I do not use ARC and have no need for ARC

Since you will be at home for Xmas (?) try using Roon NOT ARC.

While a part of the Roon Eco System you are evaluating ARC not Roon.

Take some time to read the forum and you will see that what you are seeing is not uncommon, ARC is a relatively new addition to the Roon portfolio and to be honest has not exactly shone for all the reasons you are outlining. You will also note that most of the fixes in Release notes refer to ARC , which with the best will in the world is work in progress !!

Is ARC that bad that it needs to soak up all the development effort of Roon Labs?

Every time I see a software update is due ,I rush off with baited breath to see what goodies we are going to get AND oh calm down its only ARC OK bit exaggerated but no too much , other than a list of performance updates a month ago I “feel” it’s pretty accurate. I have no use for ARC ,I still use my old iPod Classic in the car . I never wanted ARC but being a good quiet user I watched as virtually all dev effort went into making it and then much of the support effort going into making it wor…

@Reuben_Grote

Connection wise, experiencing the poor connection and similar problems when using CarPlay, which were fixed by USING MY PHONE WHILE DRIVING! This has been a regular issue for me while using Roon, and makes it seem where I don’t even like using Arc in CarPlay as it’s so buggy where I have to use my phone while actively on the road.

The inclusion of cellular, 3/4/5 G connectivity etc is adding variables into your evaluation that Roon has little or no control over eg stabillty of cell coverage over large areas

ARC is a extra to Roon, so condemning Roon because ARC doesn’t work is a bit like criticizing your Mini’s engine because the car radio doesn’t work !!

I’ll start a thread “my 10th year with Roon” , and tell a completely opposite story of an infinitely stable server / transport system working on ethernet in my home using 2 completely different server protocols (Windows 10 and ROCK). In 9 years I have never experienced a connectivity issue or any other technical issue

Just a thought

[Arlen]

@Mike_O_Neill

ARC is a extra to Roon

On Roon’s main page, ARC is listed as the second most important feature (“listen anywhere, at home or on the go”), so I wouldn’t call it an extra anymore.

[Jim_F (Minimalist)]

Roon ARC is important to people who use it, meaningless to those who don’t.

[Mike_O_Neill]

My take is that Harman are big in the car audio business , ARC fits their bill, they acquired Roon for ARC . Harman are pursuing ARC at he expense f the main UI

@Jim_F has it right , I am retired , don’t drive much other than local shopping ARC has no real use for me . I can last the 10 minutes driving daily without access to my main library !!

[Jim_F (Minimalist)]

I use Roon ARC anytime I’m in the car and the wife isn’t. I also use it when walking Lucy, my Miniature Schnauzer, with iPhone in my pocket and Apple AirPods Max on my ears.

I use it to stream Tidal and Qobuz with no music to download.

[Mike_O_Neill]

I use an SD card in my phone or my aging iPod

[ged_hickman1]

ARC at least hasn’t suddenly disappeared all the downloaded music for a while but still behaves much worse than all the other apps I use in the car.
Luckily I can use an SD card in my head unit for when ARC is having an off day.
I almost exclusively use it in offline mode anyway as leaving it online is just asking for extra trouble.

[Mike_O_Neill]

What has happened to weeks 3 & 4 have we put him off ??