XXHighEnd

This idea was mentioned by Peter in an earlier thread. "Best remote app for iPad".

In that thread Peter suggested an Apple Airport Extreme WiFi interim router might work. Since wifi is "not allowed" on the machine running XXHighEnd.

This solution seems to be working well for me and I prefer it to the solution using an interim PC and blu-tooth dongles.

If you connect an Airport extreme to your ethernet network and the machine running XXHighEnd to the same ethernet network, your wifi devices connect to the wifi network provided by that airport extreme. The wifi devices and your XXHighEnd machine are all using the Airport Extreme as their router and their IP addresses are all served up by the Airport Extreme.

Now your iPad can talk to your XXHighEnd machine, because they are on the same network. WiFi is disabled on the XXHighEnd machine, so can't pollute it. :)

On the iPad I've currently experimented with PocketCloud and Splashtop.

So far I'm liking Splashtop better.  PocketCloud can connect via RDC. With all bells and whistles of XXHighEnd activated, including Phase Alignment and MinOS, PocketCloud can remain connected when the music starts to play in unattended mode. This is not good, because in my case I heard some pops and ticks along with reduced SQ. This I think is the objection to having the LAN switched on. Note though, that I was also pulling the music from a NAS Drive connected to this LAN.

Splashtop relies on a server app (Splashtop Streamer) running on your XXHighEnd machine.

When you start the music in unattended mode using the Splashtop client on your iPad, Splashtop complains that the network connection is "weak" and it can't keep it up. Poor Splashtop  :(

This is good though, because XXHighEnd continues to play the music you selected on your iPad, sans ticks and pops, with great SQ.

Hopefully you will be able to reconnect, once your selected music has stopped playing. I'm waiting until I get to the end of the Madredeus album I'm currently enjoying.

Hope this helps anyone who's looking for a similar solution and has an external wifi/ethernet router like the Airport Extreme.

geoff

Geoff,

I know this must be the most difficult subject for people to grasp, but what you do is not special at all, and as bad as any WiFi connection through a router.


I never said such thing and can't even spell the word "Airprot" (see ? haha).

All IOW : Anyone with an access point can do what you do. I have that myself here too. Nothing wrong with *that* as long as you keep the access point at safe distance from the DAC and PC. This doesn't pollute in a measurable fashion.
In the mean time though your audio PC is busy as hell with that LAN. And so the whole thing comes down to this :


So this is key;
Once you do that you can just as well setup your iPad or anything through any Access Point means, that being an Airprot (see) Express or any other means (as long as it is not in the Audio PC).

I hope it is clear !!
Peter

"The problem I would have with this, is that it requires WiFi in the audio PC. In this is not "allowed" ... says me.
Maybe with some intermediate product, like an Apple Airport (Extreme) (a wrireless router). But I don't know much about it."

Peter, this is your text I was referring to.

I don't claim to be doing anything special. It's a configuration I've used for years, to for example hook up my AppleTV to a high speed reliable ethernet connection whilst still being able to control it from an iPad via wifi.

...and I'm sorry; but no your conclusion is not clear to me at all. Are you saying that my PC will be screwing up SQ because XXHighEnd is pulling the files from the NAS? That's not what my ears are telling me.

Not even any ticks or pops despite Phase Alignment being definitely engaged.

Hi Geoff,

You make a nice story of it, since you quote something from me from early 2010. This is out of all context of course since back then we didn't have anything like shutting down the LAN and other services. ( http://www.phasure.com/index.php?topic=1199.msg10935#msg10935 )
But luckily back then I didn't say anything different than I do today.


Not explicitly. But it's implied as a good solution (start a topic about it etc.) and while it is perfectly allowed to have no problems with it, I'll allow myself to publically disagree before others too think it is harmless to SQ. But remember, once you have to have the LAN on for other reasons (like using a NAS), it won't deteriorate further while using your iPad like this. Well, I think it won't.
Also, how can I be diplomatic about it while I have been working yesterday for the whole day to get rid of one (only one !) stupid service in Windows 8. It would look like a complete waste of my time. But luckily I see SQ improving from it again, and so in that context you have to see my response(s) about this subject.

Regards and thanks,
Peter

OK Thanks Peter, it's getting clearer.

Now if you don't mind, here's a list in order of worst to best.  Please advise if you agree or disagree in whole or in part.

1/ Wifi enabled on machine running XXHighEnd. Files pulled from NAS via wifi LAN, XXHighEnd controlled via iPad or similar via wifi or similar using RDC. (I haven't tried this and assume it's truly evil for sound quality and may not even work)

2/ Wifi disabled on machine running XXHighEnd. Files pulled from NAS via ethernet LAN, XXHighEnd controlled via iPad or similar using Airport or similar access point into the LAN.

3/ WiFi disabled on machine running XXHighEnd, files pulled from locally attached USB HD. LAN used only for XXHighEnd control via iPad using Airport or similar access point to the LAN.

4/ As 3; but LAN off. XXHighEnd is either not remote controlled or is remote controlled via bluetooth dongles and an additional PC.

geoff

Hi again Geoff,

Sequence is OK.

2 and 3 would bear the same result in my view.

Peter

Edit : Officially it needs a 5 :

5/ Not any connection - also not Bluetooth.
I never checked for the difference though, but it will matter (somewhat).

Thanks again Peter. That's clear

geoff

No even bluetooth - telepathy then... ? At least BT is less harmful than standard networking - even through wire ?

Alain

BT through wire ?

Haha.
Maybe ?

No, sorry I was unclear. I mean "bluetooth even if it is wireless, will be less harmful than standard networking (even standard wired networking)".

I hope this makes sense :)

Alain