Why is Roon so demanding of Wifi

You have unleashed a beast that has evolved into its own lifecycle now. Let it go… :rofl:

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I have tried to let it go :grinning:
Seriously though I have learned a lot from this thread.

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Nobody warned me about how WiFi and MQA thread’s take on a life of their own… :rofl:

Thank the Lord that you didn’t put the words audiophile switches in the title as well :+1:

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If you hunt around you can find audiophile wifi routers too that claim reduced jitter, lower noise etc :slight_smile:

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Thank you to original poster for starting such a vibrant discussion ))

Just liked to share my own experience with wifi endpoint. Surprisingly enough, switching from wired Ethernet to wifi gave me improvement in sound quality. I had a wired connection to my player (Cary DMS-600). When playing over the network SQ was significally worse as compared to the locally attached storage. I was even thinking of EtherRegen, SOtM or something like that… But then I remebered that wifi is also supported by my player. Plugged off Ethernet, turned on wifi – and voila! It sounds much better over wifi (not an "audiophile wifi router " ))) – just a decent 5G AP with MU-MIMO support).

Ethernet devices are powerful noise sources and it turned out that sometimes it’s a greater evil than wifi. Maybe RAAT is somewhat greedy about bandwith, but in my case it’s not an issue, considering that going wireless allowed me to improve SQ.

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@Simon_Arnold3 what router and access points do you use? I tried hard wiring my Orbis and had a lot of problems. I then unhooked them and started using the wireless mesh and the performance now works great. My Bluesound flex speakers even move around with me with only minor problems Like you, I spent a lot of time fine tuning my wifi. However, I would prefer to hard wire and back haul my communication from the access points to the main router.

A cynic might suggest that too many “high end” audio vendors still fail to design and implement their source connections to the level that their device’s price and intended uses require. Same story with so many “high end” DAC USB receivers…

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I use Ubiquity Unifi products for all my network as it gives me all the control under one application and their sofware gives me all the info I need to let me know how to best set it up as it scans local area and shows status of each AP and how its being utilized on each bandwidth.

I use my ISP router purely in modem mode and then use Unifi USG Router, Unifi Switches and Wifi Access points. 3 Ap’s cover my house. 2 downstairs and one upstairs and I have another in my outside office/Movie room at back of garden. They are all hardwired in as they are not mesh per se, they can be wireless back hauled but as there is no dedciated channel for this it reduces the throughput so wired is best.

I keep all aps on lower power output to aid with roaming and not have each one shouting to every device I am here. Each one inside is on its own channel either 1,6,11 for 2.4ghz and then non overlapping AC channels 36 , 52 and 60. I have to use some DFS channels for 5ghz if I want the speed and reliablity as my area is so saturated now that even standard channels on 5ghz are over used. Not helped bu eveyone keeping their routers and mesh stuff on auto channels and auro power (which is always full).

I tend to get max 400mpbs throughput on these aps on 5ghz. 2.4ghz lmax of 54mpbs if I am luck as my area has so much interefrence its just not great unless its the ap in the office as its fsr away from other ones it doesnt get as much neighbour interefence. The others in the house do and as a resutl have very high rx frames all the time, which affects performance as airtime is being eaten by not my kit. But as its only a few devices on that some are old, but surprisingly Sonos Arc still only supports 2.4ghz,. This high level of rx frames is purely down to all the the wifi around me and nothing can be done to get rid of that and i try and avoid it for any streaming at all.

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Move up north mate …its the only solution :grinning:

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Aint going back other to visit the family,. Lived here longer than I was in the North now. Also no work for me up there so I’ll stay and have the better weather. :wink:

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Ok just would like some clarification as I am keen to learn

My Pi is now connected by Ethernet Cable into the back of the BT Wifi Disc.
So technically am I using Wifi?
What is it called when I am using it in this way?

Steve this is a bridge mode solution that many of us use.
Technically you are using Ethernet, but it is delivering it over the Mesh WiFi device’s backhaul channel.

This is exactly what I have set up at my house. All of the Roon and NAS gear is plugged in over Ethernet and then my Orbi Mesh WiFi router delivers it over the backhaul wifi channel to the the other Mesh system’s.
This is invisible to the main WiFi network though.

I hope that makes sense to you.

BTW is everything working more reliably for you now?

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It’s using WiFi as a bridge and is only as good as that WiFi connection from the hub to base station. It can’t still have all the same issues we discussed further up and be affected by your environment.As it uses a dedicated channel for this.and not the same one devices use it’s better than a normal WiFi bridge. If your streaming device has WiFi that’s a little on the susceptible side then being able to use the ethernet port into the disc can make it work better as it’s using a hardwire for its connection, but the backhaul data is still reliant on WiFi. Not all wifi devices are created equal but this can give you the best of both worlds.

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Sort of makes sense Michael. :grinning:
So I am using a backhall Wifi channel.
The Pi has worked flawlessly for weeks now so all is good.
I am however still looking at options to make my Wifi better, however I cant even find an electrician who will do the cable run into my Office. This would give me another data point as I think long term this would be beneficial and future proof. However I have contacted 6 electricians so far and none of them do it.

Another option is a Mesh system , bit as the Office is the only place I need it , then is that not surely what the BT Disc is doing

You have a mesh system already with the BT discs.

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Looks like I am sorted then …until I can find an electrician to do another permanent data point

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Steve yes as Simon says, the BT is a Mesh WiFi system and is fine for probably all your needs (at least this far). It also helps push the WiFi signal further into the house.

If you want to add some additional devices to the Ethernet in that room, then a very simple Netgear GS108 will do the trick. But I think you have got the perfect and easily managed solution for you.

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Yes I agree.
I am looking to add a streamer soon I think so I guess I was looking into getting the data point as a rock solid solution.

The Pi works but I have not got a clue for how long. I am a total novice and ultimately I would like a product where I can get support when I need it.

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If the BT disc works then I would not rush to getting a cable installed. You might get the odd hiccup with a Mesh router, but generally they are rock solid.

One of the benefits of the backhaul is that it keeps Traffic off your main WiFi network and allows the WiFi devices to use it, so it’s a win win for everybody.

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Hi Steve, Don’t mean to interrupt but I have a comment on your comment. I contacted my local audio video store to come out and wire my house. Maybe its different at your location.

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