Pi2 Design Idiot-Proof Ready-To-Go RPi/AES Streamer

Someday I will get better documentation. Volumio has an access point mode that is enabled by default. Once you turned it on you open up your phone and go to the Wi-Fi settings and look for a Wi-Fi named Volumio. From there you can connect to it and you’ll get an opening page, go to settings and set up the wireless for your router.

Obviously you don’t need to do any of that if you have a convenient wired ethernet accessible. But, I really want people to play with both so they can tell me if there’s any sound degradation with the Wi-Fi. Unlike the standard raspberry pi, the compute module allows us to have an external antenna which should significantly reduce any interference.

 

I tried the wifi direct method first, I was able to connect and access volumio's UI, then tell it to connect to my router's 5g ssid and input the password.. then it became inaccessible from a browser on my pc and my phone and the wifi direct ssid of volumio disappeared. I had to plug in ethernet and have it connect to my router's 2.4ghz ssid.. super weird. I didn't want to get into it because it seems like a volumio bug not a mercury thing

edit: I'm using it with wifi to a NAS full of flac files and I can't imagine the sound is degraded, it sounds incredible.. I'll A/B test it vs ethernet next

here's a pic of my setup, the mercury happily playing away

 

I got my Mercury last night, but will only get to test it later today...
Plan is to use wired Ethernet connection to the network, and stream from a 1-HDD dedicated (for storing my music library) NAS. I will use AES/EBU cable to connect to my DAC (Amber 3 by Lampizator).

 

Beta arrived. UP and running! I do not want to say too much yet, but all working and internet radio is good through my xDSD Gryphon.

Shared photo album: https://www.icloud.com/sharedalbum/#B0wGQD2D7GkMcKY

 

At that point, Volumio is rebooting and it should come up connected to your router. Change your PC and phone back to your regular wifi and you should be able to access it on a web browser at http://volumio.local (or the name you selected). I've done the wireless startup a couple of times on my Pi2AES and it worked well for me.

 

We plan to make a basic startup guide with all the feedback from the beta users. I am not sure if we should simply reference the volumio guide (which might be overwhelming) or integrate just the info on WiFi into our text. Opinions?

 

I would keep it as simple as possible with a link (or a short URL to the actual link) to the full docs.

 

Disagree with this. If the point of this device, as the thread title says, is to be “idiot-proof” (yes, I know there’s no such thing as fully idiot proof), then I think that ALL instructions to get started, in at least a basic way, should come in the box. Then if the person wants to go further in settings/config, provide a url to the Volumio guide. This unit needs to be treated as an integrated complete product, not a DIY project like the Pi2AES.

 

Ahh, my post wasn't clear. I meant, "Include the 'idiot proof' version of the text and have a link to the full docs for those that need/want them."

 

OK - got to power it up and it works, but I do have some issues (that are likely Volumio issues).
First, before getting to the actual Volumio hurdles I encountered - I saw in the setup screen that the output device is NOT what I expected... The selected DAC model is "HiFiBerry Digi+ Pro". There are 3 different PI 2 Design models in the drop-down list.
Michael - the issues I have (will elaborate later tonight in a separate post) are likely Volumio software issues. Music DOES play, so no idea whether or not that setting is important...

BTW, I wanted to attach a screenshot to show that, but only option I have is to use URL to attach images. What am I missing?! or do I need to be a more "active" user on SBAF to be able to just add photos to my posts??

 

If Voluonio is the default, I "feel" that really the best way to get started is to connect to ethernet and power it up. Then do the configuration. It avoids a lot of swapping things around on phones, etc. Volumio's startup is a bit slow. I changed nothing to start playing internet radio.

 

Using "HiFiBerry Digi+ Pro" is correct, Pi2AES isn't listed due to Volumio charging to add it (if I recall correctly).

For broader appeal, I don't think we can expect people to have an ethernet cable. I think combo modem/routers are included with many internet providers (assuming you pay the monthly lease) and their whole network will be Wifi. I agree ethernet is easier and the way I configure mine as well.

 

The wifi setup worked fine for me. I have added my own pre-setup 4TB NVME drive and made the changes to mount it on boot.

Playing local music with no issues.

Note that there was a volumio update that worked fine.

I have also set up SMB file sharing.

RJF

PS I will add pix to my iCloud share above.

I am going to "duplicate" this setup on another Pi4 with Pi2AES to compare with. I am listening as I am working and I am very happy with what I am hearing. Still need to A/B

NOTE my first level of testing will be with the Power Supplies that Michael ships.

 

My 2c on connectivity out of the box:

The guide for dummies should walk through the Volumio network version. Asking people to download Fing or some other app and then having to figure out what an IP address is and which one is the correct one is asking for a lot of trouble. Keep that info in the "big" manual.

 

Are you one of our beta users?

 

Negative. But I own a couple of Pi2AESs.

 

Any help on that one?
I would like to report my experience (thus far), and would like to add screenshots to illustrate...

 

Anyone here succeeded in Volumio 3 streaming from a NAS?
My beta unit came with Volumio version 3.175 pre-installed. Connecting wired to my switch - I could easily connect to my Synology DS118 NAS. Browsing by folder works, but that is where the problems start...
I am controlling the Volumio on the Mercury using the latest version of Volumio app running on my Samsung S6 tablet.
When browsing a folder with a bunch of FLAC files - I tap ANY of them, but nothing happens. Does not start playing.
There is a big play button on the top, but that one starts playing the 1st track in the folder. While it is playing - tapping ANY other track, and the playback stops.

I updated to the latest Volumio 3.198 (through the Android app) successfully, rebooted everything, still - the same!
I find it hard to believe such an obvious issue was not caught by the Volumio team, so I suspect a user error here... But I cannot figure out what I am doing wrong

So... back to my opening question:
Anyone managed to stream FLAC files from a NAS (using Volumio 3 on Raspberry PI)?

 

I added my synology NAS' smb share as a source in volumio and it's full of 6 TB of flac files, dsd etc and it's playing them with no issues over wifi.. took an hour to add all the files to my library

I think the method was.. settings, sources, network drive, add new drive:
from there just make sure you get the path, ip address, username/password right
I think sometimes I have to do path something like //Diskstation/music sometimes just music

beta report: tip: using tweezers can help pop out the microsd card a lot better than my super short fingernails. I like that the mercury uses spring popout microsd instead of the friction fit one that older raspberry pi's used

jriver idpi microsd card.. I tried it out today intending to set it up with monitor/keyboard/mouse but I couldn't get it to display an image on TWO different computer monitors or my movie projector.. the pi2design provided volumio microsd card had no issues with these monitors so I dunno what's up with the idpi microsd card.. guess I'll email them

 

Here is my Synology NAS setup using Volumio 3.198 and my Pi2AES, which works just fine:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/bqludmbuskbtxqq/Screenshot 2022-02-19 111754.jpg?dl=0