SB3 and Netgear DG834PN....Issues

[Big AAC]

Hi Guys, newbie so please go easy

I picked up an SB3 yesterday and generally i'm really happy, however i seem to be having issues sustaining a connection between my SB3 and my router (at least i think thats what the problem is). The SB is now sitting about 2 feet away from the router and still it seems to drop every 5 minutes, sometimes the screen will go blank and come bck to life after 10-20 seconds, other times it goes blank and stays blank until i hit the arrow keys on the remote which then takes me back to the Squeezebox Setup page where i have to connect again.

Strangely i have gone through a new setup a couple of times and each time it connects to the wireless network (WPA password is correct etc.) but it fails to find the IP address automatically(DHCP) and i therefore i have to self assign.

So basically my question is......what are the best settings to use with the Netgear DG834PN and SB3, i'd REALLY(!!!!) would like to get this up and running consistantly.

I must also say i'm having the same issue with internet radio, the stream seems to cut. buffer quite a bit, but i'm not sure if this might not be my internet connection (although BBC listen again works fine when used directly on my PC??!?)

Any help from you guys would be really appreciated, thanks



Andrew

EDIT: I'm using Vista Ultimate 32 and the frmware version on my NETGEAR is V1.03.25

EDIT2: Wireless signal is constantly at 100% by the way.

[Big AAC]

having read through the forum it now seams that NETGEAR are very hit and miss with the SB3, there are plenty of threads regarding problem between the BG834PN and SB although none seem to result in a solution

Does anyone know of any setting which can improve connection? I've updated the firmware to V1.03.30 on the router but thats made no difference. even changing to WEP doesn't seem to result in any improvement?!?

[Koenraadr]

I have exactly the same setup, DG834PN and SB3. These work fine for me. I used to use them wirelessly for well over a year using WPA and no problem at all. The WiFi signal used to run at 45 % roughly with no problems.
A need for media streaming means I now use Homplug to get the data round the house at higher rates.
I would recommend using a utility such as Netstumbler to see if any nearby networks are using the same or similar channel to you as this can cause the symptoms u describe. Or if u suspect encryption, turn it off for a while to see if the problems go away. However, for me the DG834PN is the best router i've ever had, it regularly runs for 500 hours between restarts.

[Big AAC]

I have exactly the same setup, DG834PN and SB3. These work fine for me. I used to use them wirelessly for well over a year using WPA and no problem at all. The WiFi signal used to run at 45 % roughly with no problems.
A need for media streaming means I now use Homplug to get the data round the house at higher rates.
I would recommend using a utility such as Netstumbler to see if any nearby networks are using the same or similar channel to you as this can cause the symptoms u describe. Or if u suspect encryption, turn it off for a while to see if the problems go away. However, for me the DG834PN is the best router i've ever had, it regularly runs for 500 hours between restarts.

Hi, thanks for the reply. Do you have a static IP address? as this isthe only difference i can see that could be cusing the issues. the wireless signall is constantly 100% (as it should be stodd two feet away!!)

i think the lack of a static IP address may be a problem because when i search for a new network it fails on the DHCP and the auto assign IP starts with 169.xxx.xxx.xxx ??

[Empgamer]

I have same set up.

Have it working after a fashion now. I have had to disable WEP and then then it will go through on wireless, get the resrved IP address I set aside for it and connect OK. I may have to figure how to get some security working with it now. Currently using only mac address controlled access.

Only issue I have now is that after playing for around an hour or so the SB3 sounds through the speakers like it's sufffering from interference for a while and then seems to clear, the volume drops by about 50% then as well, as if you're tuned in with a radio to a station with really rubbish reception. It goes away after a while. When I connect an Ipod to the speakers it's fine so i don't think it's them (Audio Engine A5).

[Big AAC]

its never ending mate. You've got further than i did. as MAC filtering didn't work for me at all last night.


Totally drained of any energy to deal with this now unfortunately. REALLY wanted to get it working as it looks like it really could transform the way i listen to music (and radio) but alas it seems the technology has beaten me!

[Empgamer]

Are you UK based? I can pm you with a phone number and I can talk you through each and every page of my router settings if you like? Or we can try to do by e-mail but that will not be so easy. I got my solution in the end by addressing a number of things in sequence which you may well have already done. As we seem to have had similar problems it might not hurt to just list what I did. Couple of times I noticed that despite saying it was connected to the Netgear, checking 'attached devices' (or somewhere similar) showed it actually wasn't.

1) Enter the mac address of the SB3 as a trusted device on the router (I named it for ID purposes too).

2) Reserve it an IP address

3) Have you got the various 'addresses' right that it asks for in sequence when programming wireless? I really botched these at first. I used the 'cmd' command at the Run prompt in Windows and on the DOS screen entered 'ipconfig' and took settings from that. Took me while to realise 'Default Gateway' was the router (and NOT the ADSL gateway listed in the router screen), I entered the subnet wrong at first too. Not enough 255s.

4) Have you tried the original firmware (18)? That's what I have working. Bit loathe to try the latest at the mo.

5) Have you given it the SB3 the first key in the pass key list? Someone has also advised that the devices seem to like 128 encryption better than 64 too.

6) Have you a reserved address for slim server so that doesn't change?

Sure you have done all these things, apologies if you have already. These are the bits that once I got sorted, allowed it to suddenly spring to life. Powered everything down last night too. Powered up this morning (PC and router first). Connected no problem, played instantly. Wireless.

It seems that the sound performnace I had may have been connected to speakers overheating and something to do with a thermal cut out. Anyway, it's not happened since.

All now sorted, SB here to stay, router not going anywhere, NAS now ordered to make life even easier. If I can help at all I will try. Really hope you get it sorted. May not check forums again until tomorrow now. Need a night off and a good drink!!!!

[Big AAC]

Empgamer,thanks for the kind offer.

I am working through the points you have listed there and i'm currently in the process of downgrading to the firmware you are using (V1.03.18) We;ll see how that goes.

I now have it stable working connected via ethernet (with WPA enabled) which is progress.

1. I have entered the SB3 MAC adddress on the trusted devices and under the 'wireless settings' tab by clicking on the 'setup access list' button. I also switched on 'turn access control on'

2&3) i've attached an image from my IPconfig screen, hopefully that will help..

4 have now downloaded V1.03.18 and will upgrade (downgrade) my router in a bit.

5. When have tried WEP i have used 128 and entered a random a random passphrase (the same password that i usually use for WPA) which is 8 letters followed followed by a number. I then just take the first key and enter that when the SB3 is trying to connect.

6. not sure how to do this, interestingly though the player setting in slimserver is always 192.168.0.3

Enjoy the drink!!! i know i will WHEN i get this sorted.

Thanks again

Andrew

[Mark Lanctot]

I now have it stable working connected via ethernet (with WPA enabled) which is progress.

Do note that this setting should have no effect - WEP, WPA and WPA2 are wireless encryption standards and are not used over ethernet.

Also try not to use WEP, it is very easily crackable.

You look to be good to go - your router appears to be at 192.168.0.1 (which is also your gateway), your PC is at 192.168.0.2, which is also your SlimServer, and your SB is at 192.168.0.3 as you indicate.

[Big AAC]

Do note that this setting should have no effect - WEP, WPA and WPA2 are wireless encryption standards and are not used over ethernet.

Also try not to use WEP, it is very easily crackable.

You look to be good to go - your router appears to be at 192.168.0.1 (which is also your gateway), your PC is at 192.168.0.2, which is also your SlimServer, and your SB is at 192.168.0.3 as you indicate.

If only it were that easy though