Possible Raspberry Pi network audio solutions

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Dave the bass
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#76

Post by Dave the bass »

Ha! Just done exactly that, doh! The chipset it uses is Ralink MT7601U, I was searching for a fix, its very long winded... erks x 2! http://raspberrypi.stackexchange.com/qu ... ifi-driver

Thanks Stephen, I'll try another type.

My current install takes up slightly more real-estate than it should at the moment..... :)
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... but its throwing out Shpongle at wonderful SPL's at the moment. Sonic Bliss (bruv!).
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izzy wizzy
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#77

Post by izzy wizzy »

In the early days of Pi streaming, I went through all kinds of workarounds to get wifi dongles to work and it just ain't worth it. Time and money and all that. Better to spend a tenner or less to get a proper one :)

cheers,

Stephen
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Dave the bass
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#78

Post by Dave the bass »

Kerrrrrzoweeeeee! It works! I popped over to Mappers and looked through the WiFi dongles available, cross referencing with my Mobile phone which haz Interwebz I found a TP-Link TL-725N which seemed to be mostly in favour with the picoreplayer wifi dongle list.

Installed, tweaked settings, rebooted and whahey! WiFi-ness toons.
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Thats more like it.
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Running on a wallwart 12V 1A SMPS at the mo, swinging the previous bench supply revealed a better sound (IMO) at around 16V or so. Pity max 18V limit excludes using old/discarded Laptop PSU's which seem to be around the 19V mark. There's trillions out there.

Thanks to our-SimonC for inspiration and Stephen for Wifi dongly advice.

<cracks open an ale and cranks more Shpongle>
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simon
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#79

Post by simon »

I presume one 12V (to 16V) PS will run the lot including the Rpi our Dave?
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#80

Post by SimonC »

Dave the bass wrote: Running on a wallwart 12V 1A SMPS at the mo, swinging the previous bench supply revealed a better sound (IMO) at around 16V or so. Pity max 18V limit excludes using old/discarded Laptop PSU's which seem to be around the 19V mark. There's trillions out there.
You could always bolt on a tracking pre-reg type arrangement to lose a volt or two and add a bit more filtering to the laptop SMPS output. Wouldn't put out much heat dropping a couple of volts...

Mines on a 0-15 variable supply, I'll try cranking it up and see what happens up in Yorkshire :-)

Well done on sorting the wifi dongle, thinking about it I've always got mine at the same time as the Pi from the Pi shop so its not been an issue.

Simon, to answer your question, yes the Pi is run from the amp so you only need the one supply. No faffing around with micro usb...

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Dave the bass
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#81

Post by Dave the bass »

Yeah, also a DC-DC convertor crossed my mind to facilitate the use of a spare Laptop PSU, summat like -> http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Mini-360-DC-D ... 566b2ac900

Raising the PSU voltage a smidge did seem to make the sound rosier IMO when running it from a LV bench PSU like we had set up last weekend our-SimonC. Remember how we were giggling at getting the current peaks up to ~600mA.... well, I achieved the dizzy heights of 1A peaks driving it hard into 2x 4R speakers. <evul laff>. Maffiss Attack, 'Angel' natch!

@our-Simon (not C!), yups, single 12 to 18V DC PSU to do both Pi and Amp module.
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Tony Moore
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#82

Post by Tony Moore »

I use these Dave:



They work a treat on RPi. You can also use them in master mode to provide access point which is a bit fiddly to set up but I managed to get one Pi acting as a standalone wireless LMS server and another using piCorePlayer to connect and play music through the IQAudio DAC. Phone connected in via wireless to control it.

(I wanted it as a mobile solution while away from home)

However, it was a bit clunky and so I tried Volumio which it has to be said worked a lot better for the standalone solution.
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Dave the bass
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#83

Post by Dave the bass »

Thanks Tony, the TP Link adaptor is still working well. The other wifi adaptor that didn't work has some application software on a mini CD ROM that I think has an access point client or summat. Now that could be handy on Hols when I take the Tablet and Laptop to provide music replay. Some cottages dont have Wifi (erks! We're doomed!) but to be able to remotley control JRiver Playback on the laptop via the Tablet would be handy.

I need to do more 'finding-out' about this.
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#84

Post by simon »

I'm still trying to see if we can, er, squeeze one of these in by minimising complications for the boss. I presume you turn these on and off at the wall when not in use? How much leccy do they use if left on all the time? Is that wise even?
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Dave the bass
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#85

Post by Dave the bass »

I run mine off an old 15V 4A (16.2V actually on the tiny current draw of the Pi) LCD Monitor SMPS, I'll measure power pulled tonight if you want.

I turn mine off when not in use as it only takes less than 60 seconds to boot and log into the WiFi from cold when I want toons.
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#86

Post by simon »

Thanks Dave, that would be appreciated.

60 seconds to us is nothing, but to a technophobe that just wants to press a big Radio 4 button it's a barrier sadly. And the reason for the question about plugging it in is that the best location is probably on top of the tall fridge freezer, but the socket's above it so would need a stool or a remote switch of some kind. All reasons why it wouldn't get used :-(.
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#87

Post by Dave the bass »

4.4W in standby/not playing toons mode.
12 to 14W totally flat out playing heavy Dub.

Hark at the power utility share-holders groaning!
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#88

Post by simon »

Erk! My GM70 amp draws 400W alone...

Cheers Dave, I guess 4.4W isn't the end of the world, but 0.4W would be better.
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#89

Post by simon »

Out of interest I finally got around to checking my SB3 and Duet's consumption with my cheapo meter. They both consume more energy in standby than the Rpi combo, the SB3 just over 5W and the Duet just under 5W. Interestingly they consume very little more in operation - the SB3 about 6W and the Duet 5.2W. In that context why worry.
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Dave the bass
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#90

Post by Dave the bass »

*Sort of Thread sideways shift*

When we go on Hols to a nice Country cottage we like to take a music system which over the years has gone through various forms varying from 2 x Fonkens + 6EM7 SET Amp + CD Player to the latest Hi Tech version which is Laptop running JRiver (License purchased) being remote controlled by an Android Tablet running Bubble uPnP. The laptop has a library of fave Holiday-flacs (120+GB) loaded which feeds a USB DAC which then on the last occasion fed a Denon SS amp -> FH3's because the Cottage was blummen hooge and detached and we could make a proper racket (and did)!

The next one we've got lined up is smaller. So I'm adjusting the Holiday system a bit.... and thoughts turn to RasPi + HiFiBerry amp -> Fonks.

Is it possible to get JRiver to stream to Raspi via a Wireless LAN provided by the WiFi adaptor on the Laptop? Y'see the next cottage doesn't have WiFi either so I was thinking around the idea of using JRiver and the library on the Laptop streaming to the Pi direct but am I right in thinking I need to set the Laptop WiFi adaptor up as an 'Access Point'?
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