rooExtend – The easy start with Roon Extensions

Audio Gear Talk rooExtend
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:exclamation::exclamation::exclamation:rooExtend v3.0.2 is Out:exclamation::exclamation::exclamation:

I took me quite a while to make this happen but now HERE IT IS.

In the download area you also find an updated version of the Quick Installation Guide and three folders for the software. The folder Pi ARMv8 (Zero_W_2, 2_Mod._B_v1.2 to 4) is the one with the new V3.0.2 release.

This release is for all Raspberry PIs with an ARMv8 core. These are:

  • Raspberry PI Zero 2 W
  • Raspberry PI 2 Mod. B v1.2
  • Raspberry PI 3/4
  • Raspberry CM 3/4
  • Raspberry PI 400

All other PIs will not be able to boot this image. For those elder PIs I will continue support of the v2.x.x release and will update it from time to time. This means new functionalities like the upcoming rooHead will also show up there but delayed and there will be no OTA update and no Application Manager.

Despite the new Linux (rooExtend uses DietPi now) there are some few enhancements in this release:

  • OTA update functionality at night between 2AM and 4AM. You can watch its activity via the rooExtend HTML configuration page if you press the button “Show Update Log”.

  • Integrated Application Manager from @Jan_Koudijs. It can be activated/deactivated via the rooExtend HTML configuration page. All Roon Extensions that are not bound to ARMv6 (like the Deep Harmony extension :cold_sweat:) can be used

  • Additional language support for Spanish and French. Please manually select the according language for yor country. The automatic selection works for Germany only at the moment.

  • Shows Status of the Raspberry Radio transmitters (BT, WiFi) in Systeminfo. You can see it via the rooExtend HTML configuration page if you press the button “Show Service Info” at the End of the page.

Included in the v3.0.2 release are also some fixes:

  • The HDMI output of the Roon Artwork is more stable now as it runs as a service independent from rooExtend. This results in staying active even if the Roon Core drops the rooExtend Roon Extensions.

  • A small SpaceMouse issue got fixed.

  • Most changes on the rooExtend html configuration now enforce a shutdown of rooExtend. This means after those changes you have to power off and on your PI. I did this because the ZEXMTE BT antenna needs a power off to initialize properly.

Recommended procedure for upgrade to v3.0.2

  • Plug a USB-Memory-Stick into your Raspberry Pi so save your settings and licenses.
  • remove the Stick if the License Manager status lines tells you to do so.
  • Get a fresh SD-Card and Balena Edger to copy the v3.0.2 image on it.
  • Boot your Raspberry with the v3.0.2 SD-Card
  • Enable the License Manager in Roon Settings/Extensions
  • Power off the Raspberry
  • Insert the USB-Memory-Stick in the Raspberry
  • Power on the Raspberry. It should get the saved settings and licenses
  • If the status line of the License Manager tells you to remove the USB-Stick do so.
  • Watch Settings/Extensions in Roon. If all your Roon Extensions come up after a while you are fine.
  • If not try to reboot the Raspberry and see if this helps.

Hope The new release behaves well.

Have fun
DrCWO

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