Recommended network components

[pär]

Now I have also tested the alien router kit. Can only say thanks for the tip. The difference between my old routers is huge. Everything got better. the voices became clearer and easier to understand , new instruments that had not been heard before emerged from the speakers. So happy 5/5 😀

[Peder]

Now I have also tested the alien router kit.

Hi...
I sent you a PM.
/Peder

[Spannko]

When comparing routers, are people doing anything to eliminate the effect of different power supplies, or are the routers and supplied power supplies auditioned as a complete unit? The reason I ask is because in my experience the power supply can often be more influential on the sound than the router itself.

[matthias]

The reason I ask is because in my experience the power supply can often be more influential on the sound than the router itself.

Agree,
but with the Alien you have no choice since it is integrated.

[Peder]

The reason I ask is because in my experience the power supply can often be more influential on the sound than the router itself.

Agree,
but with the Alien you have no choice since it is integrated.

Hi 🙂...

What are the specifications of the router you mention, 12V or .?

Asking,.because the router I use now has 12V DC, and I feed it with a Sean Jacobs DC3 power supply (see picture).
Thinking,.if it is 12V on the one you mention, maybe I can disconnect the internal power supply, and use my Sean Jacobs DC3 instead.

[matthias]

What are the specifications of the router you mention, 12V or .?
Asking,.because the router I use now has 12V DC, and I feed it with a Sean Jacobs DC3 power supply (see picture).
Thinking,.if it is 12V on the one you mention, maybe I can disconnect the internal power supply, and use my Sean Jacobs DC3 instead.

Sorry, I don't know. AFAIK, most routers use 12V so it might work. But then you have to do a bit surgery.......

[Peder]

What are the specifications of the router you mention, 12V or .?
Asking,.because the router I use now has 12V DC, and I feed it with a Sean Jacobs DC3 power supply (see picture).
Thinking,.if it is 12V on the one you mention, maybe I can disconnect the internal power supply, and use my Sean Jacobs DC3 instead.

Sorry, I don't know. AFAIK, most routers use 12V so it might work. But then you have to do a bit surgery.......

Hi again...
A little surgery is no problem 😁.
Maybe someone else here knows the specifications of this router.?

[jpneat]

Has anyone found a good sounding mesh system that’s available currently in the US? The Amplifi stuff seems to be gone here- out of stock on their site. Amazon only sells used, but for crazy new prices, so I don’t really want to go that route.

[lejonklou]

Nothing I have tested comes even close to the Ubiquity Amplifi mesh systems in terms of sound quality.

Are you saying that Amplifi Alien is also out of stock in the U.S? Thomas OK just bought one, I’m waiting for his impressions.

[jpneat]

Nothing I have tested comes even close to the Ubiquity Amplifi mesh systems in terms of sound quality.

Are you saying that Amplifi Alien is also out of stock in the U.S? Thomas OK just bought one, I’m waiting for his impressions.

Yes, unfortunately the Alien is out of stock on their site. Apple and Micro Center have the Alien but they are selling the router only for the price that the Amplifi site has for the router plus Mesh Node ($379).

[fatjulio]

Ebay has some second hand.

[ThomasOK]

Yes, I bought the kit a couple of weeks ago, I just haven't had the time to connect it up yet. So their stock shortage must be very recent. When shopping I also was surprised that everyplace else selling them was asking much higher prices than Ubiquiti was.

[Peder]

Now I have also tested the alien router kit.

Hi 🙂...
I repeat this.
I have sent you a PM (two).
/Peder

[jpneat]

Looking at Ubitiquity's site the do have the Amplifi plus two mesh nodes in stock, so at least they still have some items in the US. It seems like using two routers rather than mesh points is the better way to go though, right?

[lejonklou]

I assume you mean Amplifi Alien, jpneat?

If so, I am familiar with the main unit and a similarly looking mesh unit; same size, but no screen. This combination is fabulous. The mesh unit has one port, so enough for Källa.

I haven’t spoken to anyone who’s tried two main units instead of main unit+mesh. So whether that is better or worse is unknown.

If you are talking about Amplifi HD+, all that we’ve tested is several main units. They sound fantastic, work flawlessly and are so easy to install. In terms of musical performance when used for streaming, the HD+ is so far only beaten by Alien.

[tokenbrit]

My Apple Express can join a network in client mode, which doesn't extend the wifi, but allows me to use the AE's LAN port to connect switch & streamer... I take it HD+ & Alien don't allow that, so I'd have to get the Alien pair, or two HD+, or get one & connect "wired from both sides" like willem did.

Does the separation of a second Amplifi, via wifi, provide a significant musical improvement over one "wired from both sides", or have few tried that configuration, opting instead for the mesh setup with Kalla?

[Hermann]

I had provisionally set up a pure LAN network with the aim of determining a possible difference between LAN and WLAN. However, as there was no audible difference, I stuck with the WLAN setup and am very happy about it. The test was carried out at the time with the AVM repeaters. Perhaps a long BJC would be better than the network cable used, but given the current quality with the Aliens, I no longer care about this and recommend a well-configured WLAN mesh network just for audio.

[tokenbrit]

I have found a new router that sounds really good:
…
My initial impression is that FWA505 is a little more musical than Archer MR200…

.. the music benefits from adding two Ubiquity Amplifi HD and a switch to this router. Like this:

* More than 5 m away from the HiFi: FWA505 handling 5G reception with WiFi being switched off, connected with a 8.5 feet BJC cable to the first Amplifi HD (providing WiFi).
* Next to the HiFi: Second Amplifi HD connected to switch, switch connected to Källa…

…
I added the first Ubiquity Amplifi HD to the FWA505 and placed them both more than 5 m away from the HiFi system… This 5 m distance is important for the mesh system to work well. Your control point by the HiFi will always connect to the second Amplifi, which does sound a little bit better than if you move the control point to the first Amplifi.

Clearly better music with these two Amplifi's than running a cable directly … to Källa! More organic and natural sounding, easier to understand and get drawn in, just more music! Wow!
…
I am so happy with these changes, the music in the lab has improved a lot! 😃

Apologies for resurrecting an old post - I’m just hoping for a little clarification on the 5m distance and the mesh system working well: is the distance simply so that the control point connects to the 2nd HD, not the 1st, or are there other reasons such as WiFi interference / mesh system performance?

I don’t have an easy way to increase the separation to 5m - I see that the SSID can be changed on the mesh point, so maybe this could be a way of ensuring the control point connects to the preferred HD… Don’t know if anyone is utilizing this option, or if it has any unforeseen consequences?

[Sopper]

Amplifi Will give best distance in the app
There is a minimum and a maximum

[tokenbrit]

Thanks Sopper. In practical terms, how close is too close? AmpliFi suggest a spacing of "at least 25ft", which is a bit more than Fredrik's 5m, but I don't know whether that includes a wall so the signal strength doesn't measure 'too high'.

Both HDs would be in the same room, if I get them - not sure if I'll be able to position them far enough apart, or what the real world implications would be if I can't get the signal level into the green.

[Sopper]

Thanks Sopper. In practical terms, how close is too close? AmpliFi suggest a spacing of "at least 25ft", which is a bit more than Fredrik's 5m, but I don't know whether that includes a wall so the signal strength doesn't measure 'too high'.

Both HDs would be in the same room, if I get them - not sure if I'll be able to position them far enough apart, or what the real world implications would be if I can't get the signal level into the green.

I had 2 HD in my main room at approx 4 meter apart. 3 or 5 meters will work too, as I experimented with distances
The Alien routers, however, have much stronger signal and they are 6 meters apart with a wall between them, and still excellent connection

[tokenbrit]

That's very helpful information - thanks, Sopper.

[Kalle05]

I was wondering if any of you who has Amplifi Alien mesh kit has had problems with the ”backbone” connection, the connection between router and mesh point ?
I bought the mesh package and everything worked perfectly and i was very happy, but after about 4 weeks i noticed the backbone connection has dropped to 2,4ghz and it will not establish connection to 5ghz anymore.
I have tried every setting possible and tried moving the meshpoint closer to the router, but nothing helps, most likely a hardware fault that arised after only 4 weeks.

[Sopper]

Have you tried to reset it to fabric and add it again?

[Kalle05]

Have you tried to reset it to fabric and add it again?

I have done a reset several times and then tried different settings, nothing helps,
most likely a week/bad 5ghz chip that has ”died”