Streamer and Network Package path

[neilbardsley]

Sorry a silly question. I just bought an IFi streamer. My WiFi in the room I have it is very poor. I'm looking at getting (another WiFi extender) so I can put an ethernet cable directly into the streamer.

I control the streamer from my Android phone. I have been connecting Tidal and Spotify (as a complete aside I find Spotify connects more often and feed better)

In my solution the streamer will be on the ethernet and my phone on the WiFi. Now my phone is the source. Is the software clever enough to send the network packages directly to the streamer. I would hope this is the case and the phone is just a controller. However, maybe the network packages are first going to the phone and then the streamer?

 

[thrillho]

assuming you're going through the ifi app/using tidal connect, it should be the streamer that's getting the data directly. if you're casting to it (i.e. airplay/bluetooth), it's coming from your phone.

 

[neilbardsley]

Thank you. Yes Spotify or Tidal connect. Means my ethernet cable to the streamer will work.

I decided against Bluetooth to the streamer as I thought BT might compress and if you walk away to a different room the connection isn't great

 

[neilbardsley]

Extender arrived and fitted. Now I have a solid white white on the streamer showing that is has a good connection.

Spotify finds the speaker. How Tidal can't. This is probably because my phone is connected to another WiFi that is another extender from the router.

Some googling needed to see if I can explicitly put the IP address of the streamer into Tidal to help it.

 

[thrillho]

is this the ifi zen stream? i would go through the app and make sure you have the latest firmware. i know they've made some improvements for tidal.

but yes, you do want everything to be on the same wifi (although if it's on the same network, it should be fine).

 

[neilbardsley]

Got it connected now but only a yellow connection frequency. Surely I should have green with ethernet

 

[Berwhale]

Got it connected now but only a yellow connection frequency. Surely I should have green with ethernet

From the quick start guide, it looks like yellow means it's still on wi-fi. Did you power the unit off before plugging the ethernet cable in and powering it on again?

The quick start guide says you can browse to http://ifi.local to check the network status and see if ethernet is being used.

Also, having the streamer connected to the wi-fi extender via ethernet may not be any better than using the streamers own wi-fi, if the extenders connection is not better than the streamer. Ideally, you want to place the extender closer to your primary router or access point to improve the connection quality and bandwidth.

Is the extender configured in bridge mode?

 

[dedobot]

Obviously you aren't network guy. Get a decent wifi mesh system and don't waste your time.
What is your internet entry point device?

 

[Berwhale]

Obviously you aren't network guy. Get a decent wifi mesh system and don't waste your time.
What is your internet entry point device?

That's a bit harsh; he came here for help. Why waste money on a 'decent' triband mesh system when you can flood wire your house with Cat5E and use 2.5GbE wired backhaul for your APs?

 

[dedobot]

That's a bit harsh; he came here for help. Why waste money on a 'decent' triband mesh system when you can flood wire your house with Cat5E and use 2.5GbE wired backhaul for your APs

This is the best option but not fast and easy.
Now I see OP is in completely different position of what we discuss.
p.s.
In this case he need to plug the extender somewhere between source and his room for better WiFi.

 

[GXAlan]

I do echo what I written by others. Some WiFi extenders act like routers and so you won’t get a unified network. A good mesh network lets you have one primary access point or router and then have a bunch of satellites which distribute the WiFi across your home. Better WiFi satellites will have Ethernet ports, where you take advantage of the superior antennas in the satellite and minimize RF traffic from having all of the devices in that room managed with Ethernet.

What would help is to share a bit about your home (number of stories, whether you have a ISP provided router, etc.). I have to admit that Xfinity’s hardware is pretty good and they sell wifi extenders that are also pretty seamless.

I have an overly complex home network, but it depends on your needs.

 

[neilbardsley]

I did consider a mesh but this solution was £18. I have a paired extender with one end connected to the router via an ethernet port. On the otherside I'm now running the TV and streamer with ethernet cable s. I'm definitely not on the WIFI as the connection light is always a solid white and the feed doesn't stop/start. Maybe sending this data through the cables isn't quick enough for a green light?

 

[neilbardsley]

Small progress. I found a Max rating track on Tidal and got a white light for it