Simple solution for intermittend WiFi disconnect of Squeezbox Radio

[Gie]

After sooo many years - found a simple solution!!!

Have been using SqBx for more than 10 years or so.
Mainly as an internet radio - SqBx connected to WiFi box of my telecom provider.
Nothing special.
Since 2, 3,4 years WiFi connection cutting out in an unpredictable manner.
Well known problem.
WiFi broadcasts next door....

Restart SqBx to regain connection.
5 to 10 times a day.
Pain in the ......

Looking around on the internet, the forums, etc.
Spend hours, days to look for a solution that does not involve Linux, server software, etc.

Finally found a SIMPLE remedy.
(OK - estetically it is not ideal - but it works)
Cover the top, the back and the 2 sides of the SqBx with alu foil.
Only the front is free.
That way one creates a Faraday case around the SqBx.
Shields the SqBx from interference by other WiFi boxes next door and accross the street.
It works! Really.
Signal is OK (max).

Since yesterday evening my SqBx has been running non stop.
Now for 24 hours - no WiFi drops, nothing....
Just like old times!

[Gie]

Follow Up - after 58 hours

Still going strong.
No more WiFi drop outs or disconnects.

Next step : find the area that has to be shielded.
Top? Left side? etc.
Does anybody know where the antenna is located on the inside?

[KeBul]

Does anybody know where the antenna is located on the inside?

I think... as viewed from the front, right hand side, above the headset socket - looks to be the other side of the circuit board to the three right hand side preset buttons.

Further thoughts on this,

I would have thought it is possible to fit the shield inside the case.
I wonder if it's the aerial that needs shielding from the interference or the wifi chip/circuitry
I wonder if a different aerial type would also improve matters (current one looks to be just a strip of metal soldered onto the pcb).

Kev

[JJZolx]

I suspect that works because that's the primary direction of the interference.

I experience dropouts when I place the Radio on top of my fridge and use the microwave. It sits about 3 ft away. Never had to actually restart the Radio, but it does usually require pressing 'Play'.

[Gie]

Right hand side needs to be insulated

Today I removed the alu foil from the right hand side.
Wi-Fi loss as before.
Tomorrow: cover right hand side and right hand side top and see what happens.

[Gie]

Result next iteration - cover only right hand side, half top, half back right

Alu foil covers area 1/2 of top, 1/2 of back and 100% of the side next to screen.
Doesn't work.
Wi-Fi loss and restart 3x in +/- 24h.

Next step
Cover right hand side and top completely.
Leave back uncovered.
See what this does.


By the way - how to open a SqBx?
Take off front panel? How?

[Apesbrain]

Does anybody know where the antenna is located on the inside?

https://fccid.io/JNZXR0001/Internal-Photos/Internal-Photos-1156865

By the way - how to open a SqBx?

https://radio.slimdevices.narkive.com/Yhi3HFKr/take-apart-squeezebox-radio-case

[Gie]

Partial insulation doesn't work Back to full cover Thanks for pics!

Partial insulation with alu foil doesn't work.
So back to a full alu cover: top, the 2 sides and the back.


Now that I know how to open a SqBx - would it be possible to connect an external arial to the small arial inside?

[chrisinparis]

Any update on this idea?

Came across the dreaded bug last week. wlanpoke helps a lot, but still too many drops, so looking for further enhancements. Might try the foil outside trick, but wondering about the idea for inside... has anyone tried this?

[Gerry E.]

Any update on this idea? Came across the dreaded bug last week.

Same here (upstate NY, USA). My four SBRs have worked well for years without any significant problems. Sure, there was the OCCASIONAL internet connection loss but no big deal. However, within the last week or so, the connection is lost at least several times a day. No pattern detected. Has something changed? Thanks!

[Redrum]

Same here (upstate NY, USA). My four SBRs have worked well for years without any significant problems. Sure, there was the OCCASIONAL internet connection loss but no big deal. However, within the last week or so, the connection is lost at least several times a day. No pattern detected. Has something changed? Thanks!

Hi Gerry,

I'm currently just north of you, Glenfield (near Old Forge).

There are a ton of threads on this. I do not have the problem but both here and WNY (home) I am very rural. So, I speak from what other have said that wifi6 (802.11x) which is the "latest and greatest" in the new routers could be reeking havoc on the radios. Did you recently get a new router? If so, you may be able to disable wifi6. If not, you ask "what changed" it could be a neighbor has wifi6 (recently got it right when your trouble started)

A couple things you could test - If you have an android device, try wifi analyzer and see if their are neighboring networks that are strong in comparison to yours (at the location of the radio). You could try ethernet just as a test. If you have a basement, try your radio in the basement below your router. The ground attenuates 2.4GHz significantly (i.e. dampen your neighbors router).

You could also try wlanpoke https://forums.slimdevices.com/showt...light=wlanpoke which has helped for some.

<edit - there are other things to try as well, start here>

Jim

[Tony T]

Only an Ethernet dongle worked for me. I’m using a Vonets.

[Gerry E.]

Hi Gerry,

I'm currently just north of you, Glenfield (near Old Forge).

There are a ton of threads on this. I do not have the problem but both here and WNY (home) I am very rural. So, I speak from what other have said that wifi6 (802.11x) which is the "latest and greatest" in the new routers could be reeking havoc on the radios. Did you recently get a new router? If so, you may be able to disable wifi6. If not, you ask "what changed" it could be a neighbor has wifi6 (recently got it right when your trouble started)

A couple things you could test - If you have an android device, try wifi analyzer and see if their are neighboring networks that are strong in comparison to yours (at the location of the radio). You could try ethernet just as a test. If you have a basement, try your radio in the basement below your router. The ground attenuates 2.4GHz significantly (i.e. dampen your neighbors router).

You could also try wlanpoke https://forums.slimdevices.com/showt...light=wlanpoke which has helped for some.

<edit - there are other things to try as well, start here>

Jim

Hi Jim:

Thanks for your reply! I just got a new modem and router today (WiFi 6). I created a new network and connected my SQBX radios to it. I'm hoping the new network will fix the problem. If not, I will try wlanpoke.

Gerry

[Redrum]

Hi Jim:

Thanks for your reply! I just got a new modem and router today (WiFi 6). I created a new network and connected my SQBX radios to it. I'm hoping the new network will fix the problem. If not, I will try wlanpoke.

Gerry

Hi Gerry;

If your new router is indeed wifi6, your sbr might have difficulty with it. Again, I have no experience with this, but others have. .

If you do have trouble, consider disabling the wifi 6 aspect of it. I am sure you can research how to disable in your wifi 6 settings for your router. Of course, you would need to determine if you are giving up any benefits that wifi6 may or may not provide.

Jim

[rdeckard]

Funny you say that

Same here (upstate NY, USA). My four SBRs have worked well for years without any significant problems. Sure, there was the OCCASIONAL internet connection loss but no big deal. However, within the last week or so, the connection is lost at least several times a day. No pattern detected. Has something changed? Thanks!

I'm in the same boat.
Not that I'm close to you, but the onset of the problem was within the same timeframe, and I'm in Westchester County just north of NYC.
It got to the point where I was spending way too much time troubleshooting this, so ultimately added an Ethernet > WiFi bridge to the wired Ethernet port on the Radio.

My town installed wireless water and gas meters in everyone's houses (including my own) over the past few years, which presumably form a mesh network, making it easier for them to pull readings without entry to the house, but this has been in place for some time now, and I didn't notice any subsequent issues.
New 5G towers maybe? Supposedly shouldn't cause interference with 2.4/5GHz, but who knows.
Otherwise, I can't imagine everyone's neighbor ran out and got a WiFi 6 router over the past month.