Total Newbie - Apologies in Advance

[simoncn]

(02-05-2014 10:50)gnomus Wrote:  I could move the location of the Router - to a room that is downstairs with only 1 partition wall and 1 solid wall. It will be still be some 20-30 feet away, though.

What about getting another router and setting up a music only network? I could get another router (hard wired the NAS) within 15-20 feet (but with the signal passing through a door that is timber/glass. All I would need then is a way of getting the music-Router to talk to the main router for the times it needs to get access to the Internet. Would something like this be possible.

Failing that I suppose I could attach my NAS directly to the Streamer, but I am not sure if this would allow MinimWatch and MinimStreamer to function as they are installed on the PC in my upstairs room.

Having shelled out for an Akurate, I want it to work flawlessly.

Is the NAS close to the streamer? If so, you could solve the problem by buying a switch (not router) and attaching the NAS and streamer to the switch using Ethernet cables. This will handle your local music streaming with no dropout problems.

For radio streams, you need an internet connection from the NAS. The homeplugs are probably adequate for this, as the maximum bandwidth you need (currently) is only 320 kbps.

MinimServer and MinimStreamer are running on the NAS, not the PC. MinimWatch is running on the PC, and the homeplugs will be adequate for communication between MinimWatch and MinimServer/MinimStreamer.

I am told the NETGEAR GS108E ProSafe Plus (see this page) is a good switch. I have had good experience buying things from Ballicom. Their free delivery is supposed to take 7 days, but it always seems to arives much sooner. If you prefer to buy from Amazon, see this page.

This approach doesn't require a wireless bridge. The only issue is the possibility of noise from the NAS interfering with your enjoyment of listening to music from the streamer. If this is an issue, you would need to put the NAS and switch in an adjacent room and use an ethernet cable (through the wall) or wireless bridge to connect the streamer to the switch.