Squeezebox is officially the worst purchase I have ever made

[snarlydwarf]

Yes all streams above 128k are re-buffering. I tried a 320k stream and it wouldn't even start playing, got stuck on 10%. I downloaded a 720kbps file from online to my PC's shared files and that plays OK on Squeezebox. As I have pointed out Ian down the road can't stream the 160kbps station either but my reciva does. The reciva's were unable to cope with the 320kbps station.

Which, again, makes it sound like your Reciva has a larger buffer than your Squeezebox.

A larger buffer is able to mask dropouts and delays. It also has a slower startup time.

It has nothing to do with MySB.com at all: it has to do with how many seconds of audio are stored on your player. Clearly, having an hour worth of audio stored there would mean you could drop offline for 20 minutes without a problem... but the startup time would suck.

Having no buffer at all would mean -any- network delays would drop your signal completely, which is also not good.

The size of the buffer depends on the memory of the unit and the bitrate and format of the stream. A FLAC stream is going to burn through buffer space like candy. An 8kbps stream is going to have lots of buffer.

As I stated earlier, you can proxy streams through SBS and tune the buffers accordingly.

This has nothing to do with MySB.com, which does -not- send the stream to you. The stream is a direct connection between your player and the remote site, or if using a local server, there is a possibility to have the much larger memory of the local server be used as a buffer... there is no way for MySB.com to buffer more to your player (nor would it serve any real purpose).

MySB.com is simply a 'matchmaker': you request a stream, and MySB says, "go to http://example.com/something/audio to get that". It does not sit in the middle of the stream, and only communicates 'controls' like volume, pause and menus.

[toby10]

Yes all streams above 128k are re-buffering. I tried a 320k stream and it wouldn't even start playing, got stuck on 10%. I downloaded a 720kbps file from online to my PC's shared files and that plays OK on Squeezebox. As I have pointed out Ian down the road can't stream the 160kbps station either but my reciva does. The reciva's were unable to cope with the 320kbps station.

If a 320k stream is an issue for even your better buffering Reciva then your ISP throughput is pretty bad.
With such low throughput I think you can expect problems.

What ISP speed/throughput are you paying for? It is usually listed on the bill.

Does your ISP do any throttling/bandwidth shaping of connections? Higher demand on the network = everyone's speed gets knocked down?
A less than scientific way to test this is to try the problem streams at around 3am when the demand on your ISP is very low (like after a night out with your buds).

[brucegrr]

Ozbrit,

What are your internet speeds? Not what you are paying for but an actual speed test? Does it differ according to time/day?

Describe your network. Router(s) Switches Anything else accessing the internet?(Netflix, Xbox, Hulu,Cable/Satellite DVR,On-demand movies, multiple music streams, etc, etc,) Bittorent?

Lots of things that can compete for bandwidth. If you don't have a lot of bandwidth to start with, and it seems you don't, it doesn't take much to cause buffering, lost connection problems.

IMO adding the Reciva radios to the discussion complicates the issue. (since this is a Squeezebox forum)They are only relevant to the degree that they have a problem too at 320k.

The lack of Logitech server capacity would most likely cause a failure to connect to the various music streams. (choking on the hand-off) Buffering is a problem most often associated with either the end-users network, ISP, or the actual streaming service (not Logitech)

I concur with Toby's comment. If your, super duper, better than Squeezebox Reciva equipment chokes too.......that ought to tell you something.

Bruce

[ozbrit]

Yes I described my connection in an earlier post to this thread.

It's been suggested that comparing reciva to logitech isn't helpful. Whatever it is, the reciva based radio's are clearly better at handling web based streaming audio.

@snarlydwarf. I have adjusted my buffer time to the max, it takes 30 secs to get any sound. I've also indicated show buffer fullness on SB display and all I see are diminishing values until it's spent (only a couple of mins). The reciva radios take 10 secs to load a station and that's not tweakable, but the buffer doesn't run out on a 160kbps stream, same home network, same internet connection.

A few of you have had a crack at this and no one can resolve it, I might not have the best internet connection, there is no fixed line alternative at my location. Thanks for trying.

[toby10]

........
....... I have adjusted my buffer time to the max, it takes 30 secs to get any sound......

And again, for comparison, my buffer and station timeout settings are also at MAX, but it only takes about 5 seconds to start playing any stream.

Take your struggling Boom to any network that is not starved for bandwidth and it will play for days on 320k streams.

I just wonder, with your service, if even your computer can play 320k streams without issue. Have you tried doing so using WMP or WinAmp or the like?
If a full board computer can't deal with such streaming then a simple network player will certainly choke attempting to do so.

[ozbrit]

And again, for comparison, my buffer and station timeout settings are also at MAX, but it only takes about 5 seconds to start playing any stream.

Take your struggling Boom to any network that is not starved for bandwidth and it will play for days on 320k streams.

I just wonder, with your service, if even your computer can play 320k streams without issue. Have you tried doing so using WMP or WinAmp or the like?
If a full board computer can't deal with such streaming then a simple network player will certainly choke attempting to do so.

Yes I regularly watch 512kbps football video with Utube, the download bar gets to the end before I've viewed 75% of the clip.

If you read through my earlier posts you will see my friend has wired adsl 1500/256 and he also has re-buffering with same 160kbps file.

I can listen to it on winamp no probs, I often do and turn the speakers up as my Squeezebox classic (not boom) fails to cut the mustard.

I assumed it must be an Aussie thing, obviously I'm wrong Winamp and reciva are fine streaming at 160kbps, Squeezebox in Oz does not.

I'm not bagging the unit, I love it - even recommended it to a friend, but the streaming audio side sucks. This is the last post I'm making on the subject, it's becoming tedious and no one has the answer. Thanks for trying.

[brucegrr]

Yes I described my connection in an earlier post to this thread.

It's been suggested that comparing reciva to logitech isn't helpful. Whatever it is, the reciva based radio's are clearly better at handling web based streaming audio.

@snarlydwarf. I have adjusted my buffer time to the max, it takes 30 secs to get any sound. I've also indicated show buffer fullness on SB display and all I see are diminishing values until it's spent (only a couple of mins). The reciva radios take 10 secs to load a station and that's not tweakable, but the buffer doesn't run out on a 160kbps stream, same home network, same internet connection.

A few of you have had a crack at this and no one can resolve it, I might not have the best internet connection, there is no fixed line alternative at my location. Thanks for trying.

Your answers are still vague, IMO. (and what answers you give show up as part of another person's comment. Maybe you can fix that....post #25 )

You have no other piece of hardware, software,service accessing the internet besides the Squeezebox? Or are there other streaming devices accessing the internet? To understand this issue you need to COMPLETELY describe your network and what is connected to the internet.

You say you have a 3g connection so I will assume it is wireless broadband? With a wireless network. Is everything wireless?

[ozbrit]

G'day Bruce,

I said I wouldn't be returning but here I am )

A quite simple system which comprises of:

Netcomm 3G wireless router with Huawei (dongle type) e1762 USB modem attached.

Desk top PC via ethernet from Netcomm

On wifi network:

Squeezebox always connected when network is on showing date and time in standby. Currently reporting 86% signal from router.

Laptop and Internet radios used from time to time.

Only my wife and myself living here.

Here is the current speed test I've made:

[`[*Test Results from <a href="http://www.ozspeedtest.com/bandwidth-test/results/11319091">Oz Broadband Speed Test</a>*]`]
[(----------------------------------
Test run on [*28/04/2010*] @ [*07:13 AM*])]

[(Mirror: [*Exetel*]
Data: [*9 MB*]
Test Time: [*22.88 secs*])]

[(Your line speed is [*3.3 Mbps*] (3304 kbps).
Your download speed is [*413 KB/s*] (0.4 MB/s). )]

Still not able to stream this url: http://tx-magic.bauerdev.com/magic

Sounds great on winamp )

[brucegrr]

Ozbrit,

If your test is atypical (and I know with Time Warner here speed tests can vary as much as 80% depending on the time of day)you certainly have more than enough bandwidth to adequately stream audio.

Here is the one issue that stands out to me. Forget the Squeezebox for a moment. You said previously that your Reciva player had a problem playing a 320k stream, yes? Wouldn't this point to a problem outside of the player (s)? Granted your Reciva performs better than the Squeezebox BUT both have problems. The likelihood of 2 players from different manufacturers being a problem is quite, well, unlikely.

When I read all of this I see wireless broadband, wireless connection for the players......and my gut tells me the problem lies there. Of course I can't tell you for certain. If you hardwire the hardwire, as a test, and still have problems with both of the players, then I would look at the ISP or the router. I see little evidence or reason for it to be the Squeezebox (or Reciva)

Of course...there is always the possibility I am wrong.

Bruce

[ozbrit]

Thanks Bruce, I suspect you are correct to a point. You are definitely correct with regards the variability of bandwidth depending on time of day/congestion at tower and 7.13am is a quiet time. I take this into account when appraising Squeezebox v Reciva when streaming audio.

When I carry out the same speedtests from my laptop via my home network the speeds are not greatly different from those achieved on the ethernet connected desktop.

3G is definitely not as reliable as fixed line, I've had 1500 adsl myself and know what I'd pick if given the choice. I use voip over 3G and it's not the same experience due to the inherent poor latency, pings of ca. 120ms.

Once again thanks for your interest and ideas.