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

Looks great Michael! (Reminds me that I need to order some of those handy PCB racks. )

Also reminds me that I have been meaning to ask you why you went with 50-ohm BNC jacks for the S/PDIF output. 75-ohm is typical for most all DACs.

Best of luck with the rework and shipments. Guess you are going to be a busy elf over the holidays!

--Alex C.

 

The BNC used is the TE 6-1634622-0 which is 75 ohm. And the BNC output is AES Single Ended. S/PDIF is the RCA connector. Often confused with each other!

 

Alvin from Vinshine has just unboxed the Mercury V2 on Youtube.

Happy Festivus everyone !!!

 

Thanks for clarifying. Was not the RCA jack I was looking at. It is just that virtually all 75ohm BNC jacks do not have any Delrin insulator around the center pin. That's what threw me. The TE one you are using is the rare exception. Of course a 50ohm BNC has a much larger diameter Delrin insulator around the pin.

Congrats again on getting units out the door! I know how challenging it can be...

Best wishes for the holiday and New Years!
--Alex C.

 

Hi,

I just got my v2 from Alvin this afternoon and tried to install Picoplayer 8.2 but the player stuck at the Pi splash screen forever. I tried 8.2,8.1,8.0 both 32/64bit ver all similar. Using the Meanwell psu that comes with the unit and tried 2 other SD card too.

Finally just put back the original Volumio SD card that comes with the unit and it does boot into Volumio.

Been using Picoplayer for many years and managed to install on v1 few weeks back without any issue. Just cannot figure out what special about this v2 CM4.

Hope someone can help me out here.

regards

ck

 

what driver did you select?

 

BTW we have just today shipped the 30th Mercury V2. Only 75 more to go!

 

Hi Michael, for Picoreplayer there is no need to select any driver. it will bootup into the webgui at pcp.local where u can choose the playback device. Fyi I chose hfiberry digi+ pro. Been using picoreplayer for many yrs since Pi2 and done picoreplayer setup hundreds of time.

My problem is v2 refuse to boot up from the SD slot. So this morning i put the sdcard into an USB card reader and try t bootup on the usb slot instead. and indeed it bootup. Configured everything inlcuding 1TB of Nvme samsung 970 with zero issue. Playback on all output into Terminator no issue at all.

So the problem is why only the original Samsumg 32GB volumio card can be bootup in the sd slot? I tried to download the volumio image on your website and burn into a Sandisk 32GB card. plug into the sd slot also no cannot boot. I read back the original sd card image and clone it to the sandisk 32gb card and also cannot boot.

Is v2 only works with Samsung evo+ SDcard? I will go grab one and try tonight when I have time and report back if any luck.

Is the CM4 pi firmware has any customisation? I am tempted to try to update the CM4 firmware using SSH and rpi-eeprom-update command but I am afraid I will bricked the v2. Any advice on this?

regards,

ck

 

I am afraid I have no idea why it would not boot the SanDisk. We are using the exact same circuit connected to the CM4 as we did on the V1. I have some other brand cards here that I will try to see if they work.

Please keep us posted on your results as well.

[EDIT] if you plug a monitor into the HDMI 1 connector you may get some useful status about why the boot failed.

 

Hi Michael,

yes I did plug in a monitor into HDMI 1. The screen only shows rainbow colour. normally when u boot a Pi it will show this colour screen and then into the text mode. But it just stuck at this colour screen forever.

When I move the same SD card to the usb slot using a usb reader it will show this colour screen briefly then into the text screen already.

I never have such issue with v1. Is the CM4 default boot order same as the v1 also? BTW is the Volumio image on the website working?

ck

 

I am playing around with different cards (various sizes and vendors) and getting the same issues. I have no idea what is going on since the circuit did not change from V1 to V2. Although the SD Card location moved slightly. Perhaps a noise issue?

Unsurprisingly the Samsung Pro 32GB also works (we use the Samsung EVO 32GB)!

For now I will put an errata notice on the web site and also indicate that booting from a USB card reader works reliably.

Thank you for bringing this to my attention. I will continue to try some other cards to see if there are more options for customers to use.

 

Added to the FAQ
Q: Does Mercury V2 support other SD Cards besides the Samsung EVO?
A: Unfortunately some other cards do not boot reliably. The Samsung EVO and PRO boot reliably so if possible use those. This is a known issue and we are investigating. In the mean time, you may also boot a wider variety of cards using a USB SD Card reader plugged into one of the USB ports. Simply push in the SD Card to pop it out and Mercury V2 will then boot from the USB. This is also an excellent way to try other OS's.

 

Just received my Mercury V2 today as well. I ran into the same issues as the previous user, trying to load the Ropieee onto my SanDisk 128GB ultra and there is no loading screen. Connected via HDMI 0 and 1 both no signal, load the stock Volumio got screen on HDMI 0 for login and password.

Just purchase Samsung EVO plus 32gb off Amazon will report back if any other finding.

Using the Etcher image flasher software - Ropieee website not sure if that is the problem.

 

Very sorry about this. It is a complete head scratcher. In the mean time if you have a usb card reader you can boot from that and that seems to be much more flexible on the type and maker of the card.

 

Even with my usb card reader I wasn't able to boot into the screen. Tomorrow I will get another monitor to test it out.

Not a big problem for me, Michael. I don't mind dealing with some technical problem.

 

If it helps anyone here.. the usb card reader I am using is Kingston MobileLite G4 with Sandisk Ultra 32GS microsd. Do note I an running Picoreplayer and not Volumio.

https://www.amazon.sg/Kingston-Digital-MobileLite-Multi-Function-FCR-MLG4/dp/B00KX4TORI

Since the card reader is too big, I have switch over to a tiny Sandisk Ultra Fit 32GB thumbdrv to run my Picoplayer. I have tested also the bigger Sandisk Ultra 32GB works too. All USB3.0 thumbdrv. Been running whole 24hrs no issue.

Nvme 1TB Samsumg 970 SSD full of wav inside also no issue. Warning: the SSD can gets real hot while copying all these file into the drive and i did it in an external usb m.2 enclosure. After copying then i install the SSD into the box and I use it without any heatsink now as I dun have one on hand. While running its not even warm since only small transfer is made. If u do move large amount of data over long period take note of the heat, it may fail the transfer or worst kill the ssd.

BTW Michael, I think the Samsung EVO SDcard does not work also. (the one that comes with box is EVO+). I have an older Samsung EVO 32GB SD I tried to install Picoplayer also not booting. I do not have any EVO pro to test now, ordered some EVO+ on the way.

ck

 

Mercury V2 SD Card Boot Issue - FIXED
When the CM4 boots it talks to the SD CARD very early and depending upon the card it is not yet up. The enable pin from the CM4 is driven kind of late so only the cards that come up fast will work. But he fix is simple. Adding a pullup to the enable pin starts the card up as soon as 3.3V is up, not waiting for the CM4 to get around to driving enable. In essence not using the enable!

We are implementing this fix on all units as of today 12/30/2022. Prior units can be sent back for the fix, but since the Samsung cards we supplied work, it is not a warranty fix. You'll need to cover shipping to us, but we'll cover the return.​

 

After more testing, apparently Ropieee does not boot with HDMI that is the reason I don't see any boot up screen.


So, after using Moode OS I was able to boot up with the usb reader. However, after initial boot up I can't seems to change the setting as the mouse cursor is missing.


My intention was to use any OS for roon end point then Qobuz as streaming service and my local m2 storage. Anyone who has a similar setup, would you able to shred some assistance? Thanks in advance.

 

Use a web browser and go to moode.local/. That should give you complete control.

 

In anticipation for the arrival of my Merc V2, may I ask what the process will be to run Roon via Ropieee as an endpoint?
I've picked up a 2nd Samsung Ultra to install it on. And I anticipated setting it up using my TV's HDMI first
So with the above posts, does that mean I can't? Sorry for the noob question