This topic

Need to hardwire a Roon music server

womaz — Tue, 22 Dec 2020 10:04:11 GMT

Looking for some guidance. I have moved into a new home and the BT Hub must go in my hallway under the stairs as this is where the BT Fibre connection is

However my Roon music server needs to be hardwired to work. I know I can have this in my hall , but my Hifi is in my living room, and I prefer the Music server to be connected to my amp with a USB cable as it sounds better this way.

So could I buy the BT black wifi disc, pair it with my router and then move the disc into my living room? I could then have my Roon music server in the living room and attach it by USB cable to my Devialet amp.

Any suggestions or help would be really useful

Re: Need to hardwire a Roon music server

Keith_Beddoe — Tue, 22 Dec 2020 10:23:38 GMT

@womaz

This would be a better and cheaper option.

https://shop.bt.com/products/bt-mini-wi-fi-home-hotspot-600-kit-084288-BVFF.html

Re: Need to hardwire a Roon music server

womaz — Tue, 22 Dec 2020 10:42:07 GMT

Thanks for the reply.

So one of these is connected to the Smart Hub 2 by ethernet, the other plugs into a socket near my hifi?

I can then have my music server in the hifi room and attach it by ethernet cable to this ?

Re: Need to hardwire a Roon music server

Keith_Beddoe — Tue, 22 Dec 2020 10:47:16 GMT

@womaz wrote:

Thanks for the reply.

So one of these is connected to the Smart Hub 2 by ethernet, the other plugs into a socket near my hifi?

I can then have my music server in the hifi room and attach it by ethernet cable to this ?

Yes, the two ends communicate over the mains.

If you do not need wifi at the far end, then there is a cheaper alternative which is Ethernet only.

https://shop.bt.com/products/bt-broadband-extender-600-kit-084284-BVFL.html

Re: Need to hardwire a Roon music server

womaz — Tue, 22 Dec 2020 10:57:16 GMT

Sorry Keith now a little confused.

I am not very technical but I understood the first product . This one you say will work if I do not need Wifi at the far end. So just to clarify ....the only reason I want this product is to be able to put my Roon Music server in the same room as my Hifi. The Roon music server has to have a wired Ethernet connection .

Will this product allow this .....I am not sure what the difference is between the products apart from cost.

Thanks again

EDIT does this product require a wire run between the two ?

Re: Need to hardwire a Roon music server

Keith_Beddoe — Tue, 22 Dec 2020 11:04:10 GMT

The fist one has two Ethernet ports and will also transmit a wireless signal if you have devices that need to connect in that area, and are out of range of the home hub.

The second cheaper one, just provides an Ethernet connection, and does not transmit an extra wifi signal. That is the one that would do, in your case.

No wire is needed between the two units. One end connects via a short cable to the home hub, and the other end connects to your music server via another short Ethernet cable. Look at the diagram on the product description, which shows a TV connected.

Re: Need to hardwire a Roon music server

pippincp — Tue, 22 Dec 2020 12:22:21 GMT

Has the developer not fitted ethernet sockets in the rooms?

Is there anything like this in the cupboard?

Re: Need to hardwire a Roon music server

womaz — Wed, 23 Dec 2020 07:56:11 GMT

Thanks for the reply. There is a phone line behind my TV i think so are you suggesting this may take my Hub?

I have asked the after sales girl about this and she just looked lost 😉

My hub arrives today so I will see if it goes into the socket behind the TV......but everyone I speak to seems to think it has to go into the hallway where the main connection is

Re: Need to hardwire a Roon music server

womaz — Tue, 29 Dec 2020 16:57:25 GMT

The product arrived today, but it does not work.

Apparently they have to both go into a direct socket into the wall. Unfortunately where my BT Fibre point is only has 2 sockets and one is used for the BT fibre box and the other for the Smart Hub.

So frustrating.

Re: Need to hardwire a Roon music server

Keith_Beddoe — Tue, 29 Dec 2020 17:03:48 GMT

@womaz wrote:

The product arrived today, but it does not work.

Apparently they have to both go into a direct socket into the wall. Unfortunately where my BT Fibre point is only has 2 sockets and one is used for the BT fibre box and the other for the Smart Hub.

So frustrating.

You can use a short mains extension strip, and they will work just fine. Just avoid extension strips that have surge suppression build in.

Re: Need to hardwire a Roon music server

womaz — Tue, 29 Dec 2020 17:14:52 GMT

Hi Keith

I think mine has surge suppression built in to protect my Hifi equipment and Music server.

The extenders are working but my Music Server cannot be found on my network

Re: Need to hardwire a Roon music server

Keith_Beddoe — Tue, 29 Dec 2020 17:26:02 GMT

@womaz wrote:

Hi Keith

I think mine has surge suppression built in to protect my Hifi equipment and Music server.

The extenders are working but my Music Server cannot be found on my network

Basic surge suppression devices do not cause any issues, provided they do not have any ferrite filtering components.

As for not being able to see the music server. Try plugging a computer into the end where the music server is, and see if it can connect to the Internet. That will prove whether the link is working.

The extenders will show up on your network as extra devices, in addition to the music server. You may need to restart the server so it picks up a new IP address.

Re: Need to hardwire a Roon music server

womaz — Tue, 29 Dec 2020 17:56:52 GMT

Sorry I am not very technical so a lot of this is going over my head

I cant connect my music server direct to a PC .

How can I see what is showing up on my network?

When you say restart the server ......what do you mean by server?

Re: Need to hardwire a Roon music server

womaz — Wed, 30 Dec 2020 08:01:10 GMT

I should have some time this afternoon to try and get this working.

Is there anywhere I can find more detailed instructions on how to set this up as the leaflet that come with it seems rather basic information.?

Re: Need to hardwire a Roon music server

licquorice — Wed, 30 Dec 2020 08:36:49 GMT

The devices are just plug and play, all they do is turn your mains wiring into an Ethernet cable.

To test if the devices are working, Keith suggested connecting a PC/ laptop to the extension device to see if it connects to the internet via the devices to narrow down the cause of the problem.

Re: Need to hardwire a Roon music server

womaz — Wed, 30 Dec 2020 15:49:31 GMT

Ok I have tried again this afternoon

The extender that is attached to my router has the Power light lit and the Ethernet light flashing.

The extender plugged into the wall near my hif has both the Power and Ethernet lights lit......but it still does not find my music server.

Really would apprecaite any further guidance.

Edit - I have now tried swapping the devices as it says to try this in the instructions, but the result is exactly the same as above

Re: Need to hardwire a Roon music server

licquorice — Wed, 30 Dec 2020 15:51:24 GMT

You haven't said which 'product' you have purchased. Which exact model of extenders do you have? Did you try connecting a laptop to the extender to see if you have internet access via the link. At the moment you don't know if the problem is with the music server or the extenders. If it makes it easier, just plug the extenders in adjacent mains sockets to verify they are working.

Re: Need to hardwire a Roon music server

womaz — Wed, 30 Dec 2020 15:59:13 GMT

I will plug them into the same socket and report back.

The music server is def working as I was using it this morning hard wired to my router.

Sorry the product is the one recommended above the Extender 600 kit

Edit - when you say plug them both in do you mean just exactly that , plug them into a socket next to each other and see what lights come on? How will I know they are both working?

Thanks for bearing with me as I am a novice with all of this networking stuff

Re: Need to hardwire a Roon music server

womaz — Wed, 30 Dec 2020 16:01:39 GMT

When plugged into a socket next to each other they both have the power light lit up so I assume they are both working.

Re: Need to hardwire a Roon music server

licquorice — Wed, 30 Dec 2020 16:05:03 GMT

They should have the data light lit as well.

Might be worth factory resetting the devices and starting again. Do you have the user guide, if not there is one here https://www.bt.com/help/user-guides/broadband-and-wi-fi-devices/wi-fi-and-home-networking/broadband-extenders/broadband-extender-600