For those following this thread, I incorrectly thought that the license key was associated to the operating system on the SD card, but it actually creates an association to the Raspberry Pi hardware being used. While troubleshooting during the set up process, I inadvertently moved the SD card to another Zero 2w device and that created the licensing issue I was having.
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Another helpful suggestion - if you have a mesh network set up with multiple satellites (or nodes), try connecting your Raspberry Pi device to the ethernet connection on a nearby satellite (assuming there is one). This will increase the responsiveness of RooDial and create a more consistent connection to the Surface Dial.
One important note: this suggestion assumes you followed the original instructions to set up RooDial and have it working correctly over a wireless connection.
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New Long Range Bluetooth Adapters
Hi rooDial users,
recently I got a complaint from a rooDial user that he bought the Long Range Double Antenna Bluetooth Adapter from ZEXMTE and it did not work 
I could not believe so I bought these two currently available adapters for debugging purposes:
I found out that both of them did NOT work. Further work showed, that they both need an updated firmware.
I built a patch that I will include in the next rooExtend release. This makes these adapters work like charm. 
So if you like to bridge a longer distance between your Pi and the Surface Dial you can get one of these adapters now and ask me for the patch.
I also ordered this adapter which has a single antenna only to give it a try:
Donât buy it!
This gadget did not work at all and probably never will. It has a completely different hardware inside that is not supported by Linux.
Best DrCWO
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And, as the complaining user, a big thank you to @DrCWO for fixing this Seems to be working well so far.
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Hey DrCWO -
I have a lifetime licence- Used for years - but currently not working (happens from time-2-time) -
The license field is now empty for some reason - but entering my license code doesnât work and isnât accepted -
How can fix?
⢠Roon settings show L / R when dial moved - so its sensing movement
⢠I have 2 âdefiniteAudio GmbHâ listed in Roon / Extensions - code doesnât work in either
⢠I have 5 items listed inside âExtension authorizationsâ
- definiteAudio GmbH rooDial x 3
- definiteAudio GmbH roo6D x 2
Hope you can help - friends coming over for a music night, nice if this working
In your screenshot you show the authorizations. They have nothing to do with the running Roon Extensions. What do you see if you open Roon Settings/Extensions. There should be only ONE definiteAudio GmbH entry!
If there are many of them after a reboot something is completely wrong and you should start with a fresh SD-Card image.
Please send me the Screenshot of Roon Settings/Extensions and a screenshot of the Settings of the rooExtend License Manager. Here the beginning and the end of the dialog.
Please also send your License Key to info@definiteaudio.de.
Best DrCWO
Email sent
You got a reply from me
Hello Dr. Oehlrich,
Would a Pi 5 work ok with RooDial?
Thanks
Pi5 is not yet supported by rooExtend and therefore no Pi5 for rooDial!
Will come this year with a new Linux Linux release under the hood.
Best DrCWO
Hi Dr. CWO,
Please can I ask for your assistance.
I have had RooDial working for about 1.5 years with no issues, using Pi-W.
My RooDial recently wasnât being recognised - status Sleeping.
I replaced the RooDial batteries, but this did not fix the problem.
I re-imaged the Pi-W micro-SD, removed and reapplied my perpetual license for rooDial.
Set up RooExtend on the Pi-W again, this is seen in Roon.
Re-paired the Surface Dial but the status would not change from sleeping.
To prove that the Surface Dial was working, I paired it to my Win11 laptop, and movement of the dial can scroll pages etc, so I am certain it is not broken. I then removed the surface dial from my Win11 client.
Roon extensions > rooDial reports that the Dial is Unpaired (as expected). When I attempt to re-pair with the button on the dial, nothing happens. Is pairing a one-time action when the RooExtend is run for the first time after installation? Do I have to re-image the SD-card and start all over again to get into pairing mode?
Many thanks
Hi @"Neil_Goddard,
I think best you first re-flash your SD-card with the latest image for Pi ZeroW (PI ARMv6) from my download area.
As you connected the Dial to your PC it wonât connect to the Pi without issues any more. Also in the download area you find the rooExtend-Box manual. Starting at page 53 you see a chapter âMicrosoft Surface Dial Connection Issuesâ. Please follow the steps outlined there.
Please keep in mind the pairing of the diel only works for a limited time after rooDial shows up in Roon Settings/Extensions.
Best DrCWO
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Dear Dr CWO, many thanks for the details.
I am pleased to report that I have the rooDial back up and running again.
Regards
Neil
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Thank you for your response. Iâve now bought a Pi4 and am trying to write your software to a Micro SD card using a Mac. I am struggling to have belenaEtcher âseeâ the downloaded file, Pi ARMv8 (ZeroâŚâŚ). Is this the correct file? I cannot open the folder this file is in. I am wondering if this needs to be done on a PC rather than a Mac?
Please bear with me as I am right on the edge of my seriously limited ability.
Best wishes
The file you downloaded is a ZIP file. Put it to a place on your PC where Balena Etcher can find it. Probably the download folder is a place Balena Etcher canât access.
Do NOT decompress the ZIP. Balena Etcher will do this for you. Just select the file and go.
Best DrCWO
I havenât been able to locate one, but does anyone know if there is a supported devices list which shows all devices that the Surface Dial has been successfully tested with?
I have an opportunity to purchase a PS Audio DirectStream DAC Mark 1 which is Roon Ready, but unsure if Iâd be able to use the Surface Dial with it (currently use the Dial directly through my Hegel H390).
Cheers,
Chris
The roodial operates via Roon extensions & is therefore independent of the player and will control the volume of whichever playback zone is configured in the extension settings.
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Yep, but it canât control the volume if the DAC only has DSP-level volume controls instead of hardware volume control.
I actually have a Gustard A26 DAC and came up against this issueâŚso currently to use the Surface Dial (or any other dial) I have to use the H390 as the Roon Endpoint, then use the DAC loop functionality to send the audio signal via a BNC cable to the Gustard, then back to the H390 via XLR. So Roon ROCK > LAN > Hegel > BNC > Gustard DAC > XLR > Hegel > Speakers.
I would like to have a DAC as the Roon endpoint which feeds directly to the H390, so the path is simplified to Roon ROCK > LAN > DAC > XLR > Hegel > SpeakersâŚbut if the DAC doesnât have hardware volume control I canât use the Dial to adjust the volume 
Hence the question about what devices are tested with the Surface Dial (i.e. via the RooDial extension).
Why not use DSP volume?
DSP volume is absolutely perfect. Please check out my research paper here.
Best DrCWO
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