Patric;638956 Wrote: > I'm considering a Squeezebox Touch and an NAS. I currently have a mid > level home theater with an HTPC and FIoS home network @ 30 megs. I've > nearly completed my whole house audio. Ready to pull CAT5e to rooms > that have their own components and speakers. I have wired and wireless > computers and an iPod Touch 4g. I'll be moving a WD Live TV Plus to the > mbrm HDTV for netflix. > > For the Squeezebox Touch stuff, I don't want to go down a path that I > will regret later. It's not that I've got that many CDs, DVDs and BRs > but I feel like I have enough knowledge to be dangerous. I know a > little about Netgear ReadyNAS and Vortexbox appliance but not enough. > Aside from the fixed price of the SBT, I'll be concerned about the > costs. > > Will appreciate some initial guidance. > > TIA > Patrick
1. Put the computer or NAS running SbS somewhere out of the way connected via ethernet to your LAN. a. Lots of options here. I started with ReadyNas duo and worked fine but too painfully slow in terms of interface (browsing music, choosing songs, etc.). Then just ran off SqueezeboxServer (SbS) running on a dell laptop (Winxp or win7). But have since moved to a vortexbox appliance. Very nice (stuck in a closet out of the way, plug and play for most people, including me, and all controllable via a web browser on any machine also on your LAN (e.g, your laptop). You can also just take any old computer and install the vortexbox ISO on it (it takes over the machine, so can't use for anything else). Don't need the monitor or keyboard (well, might need the keyboard for initial install). b. with NAS do your homework. Some are powerful enough to run software, some are not, and some inbetween (sort of run SBS but not well). The vortexbox is a NAS too, just one designed to rip and stream music, dvds, videos, etc. And it works for streaming to SB players, Sonos, certain video,, etc. You can also store backup files on the vortexbox (I keep files, pictures, etc. there too). If you go with readynas, get one of the higher end x86 machines if you want to run SbS well. But you'll likely pay more than for a 2TB or 3TB Vortexbox Appliance machine. c. Plan on keeping your server running SbS on 24/7. Just makes life easier. You can also use the SB players attached only to mysqueezebox.com (mysb.com) without your own server. You get internet radio, pandora, etc. but not your own music. But in SbS, you also enter your mysb.com credentials and you never need to switch to mysb.com, just keep SbS running all the time. I prefer this approach. More options with plugins, my own music always available, and seems a bit more stable than just using mysb.com by itself. 2. If possible, wire the SB Touch or other players with ethernet (not required, but takes WIFI and interference, etc. out of the equation). Certainly want to have no more than one WIFI hop (that is, the server should be wired even if the player is WIFI). 3. Use ipeng app on itouch/iphone/ipad or squeezepad app on ipad, or android app on android phone to control everything about the SqueezeBoxServer (SbS). Can also control everything from any computer on your LAN (laptop, etc.) by simply going to the SbS webGUI from any browser software or you can install SqueezePlay on any computer on your LAN (squeezeplay is a software SB player that can act as a "player" on your computer or as a controller for other players. 4. In the meantime you can download squeezeplay as a player on your computer and download SbS and load up your music. You can play with all this right away to see how things work. But hardware SB players are better at somethings (synching, etc.). See here: squeezeplay (scroll to bottom) http://downloads.slimdevices.com/nightly/?ver=7.6 SbS (7.5.4) - choose version to match your OS http://downloads.slimdevices.com/SqueezeboxServer_v7.5.4/ -- garym ------------------------------------------------------------------------ garym's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=17325 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=88589 _______________________________________________ Touch mailing list [email protected] http://lists.slimdevices.com/mailman/listinfo/touch
