Logitech pulls plug on Squeezebox line

[david1234]

Originally Posted by routerunner

I see, maybe your HD100 is suffering from the "famous" power supply capacitor issue?

Anyway, the squeezeslave player is free to try and it wont mess up your extender as nothing get changed or replaced.

I already changed out the caps once, although my soldering could have been better.

If my extender was anywhere (2 rooms away from the stereo) that the squeezeplayer could be used, I'd be all over throwing it on there.

[routerunner]

Originally Posted by david1234

If my extender was anywhere (2 rooms away from the stereo) that the squeezeplayer could be used, I'd be all over throwing it on there.

You can still use a very long optical fiber cable, or like I did a couple of PC desk amplified loudspeakers , just joking of course...

[Skybolt]

Originally Posted by briands

This post makes it look like our devices will continue to operate.... we'll see.

I just called Logitech Support to verify that the "MySqueezeBox" system will stay in place and I was assured it will, in fact I was also told tha tht enew UE system uses that service as well.

So I guess we will be safe for quite a while, according to Tech support anyway.

[mkanet]

I just saw this thread just now. I had no idea! Our family uses the Slimplayer plugin for sageTV almost as much as we watch TV!

I curious which will stop first, Squeezebox servers, SageTV's EPG, my clear QAM tuners (when Comcast encrypts locals), or my old R5000 based tuners. Im guessing its going to be like a domino effect one after another that will stop working.

The sad thing is there's no good replacement for any of these technologies; every alternative I can think of is a step backwards.

[KryptoNyte]

Originally Posted by mkanet

The sad thing is there's no good replacement for any of these technologies...

I see this comment quite a bit around the Sage forums. I was under the impression that as long as the Sage EPG data holds out (or some alternative if it doesn't) that the HD-PVR connected to a set-top-box component HD is a fail-safe alternative. It's not perfect and I understand the image is just a tiny bit softer than direct packet data from unencrypted QAM, but it still looks great on a 70" television.

Is there something about the HD-PVR solution that I'm missing?

[mkanet]

Although, this is a bit off topic, I dont mind responding. There is already an EPG replacement in case our "Premium" EPG goes out one day. So, in theory, people could keep their setups going for many years to come.

HD-PVR/Colossus based TV recording is probably the most popular way to record TV on sageTV since its pretty easy to setup.

A lot of people dont know this; but, it is still possible to this day to have crystal clear "bit-perfect" digital HD cableTV (or DishNetwork) recordings on ALL TV channels you're subscribed to without the problems and restrictions related to cablecard tuners. R5000 based TV tuners designed to work specifically with SageTV. It requires spending time to find the right equipment that does it and is definitely not cheap. But, it's basically the best TV recording option available. It was the best thing I ever did on my sageTV setup back in 2006.

Having said that, great technologies like R5000 based tuners, Logitech Squeezebox (for sageTV "Slimplayer" plugin), and the SageTV system itself are getting replaced by significantly lesser-capable products; which really is a shame. My brother has the same functionality at his house; but, requires a pile of different/unlike set-top-boxes in each room (XMBC, appleTV, direcTV, airplay, slingboxHD, Squeezebox Classic) to do what a tiny sageTV extender would do in each room.

Originally Posted by KryptoNyte

I see this comment quite a bit around the Sage forums. I was under the impression that as long as the Sage EPG data holds out (or some alternative if it doesn't) that the HD-PVR connected to a set-top-box component HD is a fail-safe alternative. It's not perfect and I understand the image is just a tiny bit softer than direct packet data from unencrypted QAM, but it still looks great on a 70" television.

Is there something about the HD-PVR solution that I'm missing?

[KryptoNyte]

Many folks don't have the option of putting up a dish for sat television, myself included, but I see where you're going with this.

Companies whose sole purpose was/is [originally] to simply transmit [paid] data seem to believe that their new job is to rent hardware, as much as possible, and clear profits by locking down the data. It's frustrating, especially when it could be so easy.

I have no problem paying for the content, but renting hardware is becoming a real racket.

So what does a lowly person like myself do about it? Write a letter?

[mkanet]

That's the exact reason I chose cableTV R5000 boxes.

Comcast in my area still has compatible boxes for lease. Unfortunately, not all areas stock the old DCT6xxx/DCT5xxx boxes anymore.

Originally Posted by KryptoNyte

Many folks don't have the option of putting up a dish for sat television, myself included, but I see where you're going with this.

Companies whose sole purpose was/is [originally] to simply transmit [paid] data seem to believe that their new job is to rent hardware, as much as possible, and clear profits by locking down the data. It's frustrating, especially when it could be so easy.

I have no problem paying for the content, but renting hardware is becoming a real racket.

So what does a lowly person like myself do about it? Write a letter?

[MattHelm]

Originally Posted by mkanet

Comcast in my area still has compatible boxes for lease. Unfortunately, not all areas stock the old DCT6xxx/DCT5xxx boxes anymore.

Do you just go in an ask if they have any of these???

You can't buy them yourself anymore, correct?

[mkanet]

Comcast has local offices you can visit. There's a chance they have them in their warehouse (each Comcast region has one). There's a chance you may be able to even get a box from a Comcast office outside your area. You'll have to think of a very good reason why you want specifically older models when they already have brand new ones available to you. Comcast doesnt allow customer-owned devices to be added to their network anymore.

Originally Posted by MattHelm

Do you just go in an ask if they have any of these???

You can't buy them yourself anymore, correct?

[Fuzzy]

Originally Posted by mkanet

Comcast has local offices you can visit. There's a chance they have them in their warehouse (each Comcast region has one). There's a chance you may be able to even get a box from a Comcast office outside your area. You'll have to think of a very good reason why you want specifically older models when they already have brand new ones available to you. Comcast doesn't allow customer-owned devices to be added to their network anymore.

For example, I was able to request an older R-5000 Compatible ViP-211 boxes from dish network, buy saying I wanted to get the silver one to match teh rest of my components (the newer ViP-211k boxes, which don't work with R-5000, are black). Not sure if the same argument types would work with the cableco's, but it's worth a shot.

[valnar]

Instead of writing a new topic, I'll reply here.

I *just* found Squeezebox after looking for a music solution for the last few weeks. I have a bunch of local FLAC files and this is perfect. I guess it would be like someone discovering SageTV right now. It might be discontinued, but it is still the best solution.

I love the fact I can do it for free. LMS is free, and compatible Linux boxes can be used as players. I'm using this one now. I don't even own a real Squeezebox (yet) as this does everything I need.

[Fuzzy]

Originally Posted by valnar

Instead of writing a new topic, I'll reply here.

I *just* found Squeezebox after looking for a music solution for the last few weeks. I have a bunch of local FLAC files and this is perfect. I guess it would be like someone discovering SageTV right now. It might be discontinued, but it is still the best solution.

I love the fact I can do it for free. LMS is free, and compatible Linux boxes can be used as players. I'm using this one now. I don't even own a real Squeezebox (yet) as this does everything I need.

Even easier/cheaper than the linux box, I run old android phones as my clients. Works great!

[routerunner]

Originally Posted by valnar

Instead of writing a new topic, I'll reply here.

I *just* found Squeezebox after looking for a music solution for the last few weeks. I have a bunch of local FLAC files and this is perfect. I guess it would be like someone discovering SageTV right now. It might be discontinued, but it is still the best solution.

I love the fact I can do it for free. LMS is free, and compatible Linux boxes can be used as players. I'm using this one now. I don't even own a real Squeezebox (yet) as this does everything I need.

In case you're not aware of, you can make all SageTV extender models (including the MediaMVP) a Squeezebox player and sync them together too...

[valnar]

Originally Posted by routerunner

In case you're not aware of, you can make all SageTV extender models (including the MediaMVP) a Squeezebox player and sync them together too...

I was not aware! Wow...pretty cool. I'll look into it.

[routerunner]

Originally Posted by valnar

I was not aware! Wow...pretty cool. I'll look into it.

Please look HERE for a complete list of features and how to...

Eddy

[valnar]

Originally Posted by routerunner

Please look HERE for a complete list of features and how to...

Eddy

OK, looked at it and got it working. Pretty cool!

Question:

The Squeezeslave player currently support any audio bit-rate, 44.1KHz sample rate, stereo. If the media you're listening to has a different sample rate (i.e. 32KHz) then you'll get the so called "Chipmunks" audio output.

Is this still true of the latest release? How does the older Squeezeslave compare to the newer Squeezelite?

[routerunner]

Originally Posted by valnar

Is this still true of the latest release? How does the older Squeezeslave compare to the newer Squeezelite?

Yes it is, the Squeezelite is a spin-off the Squeezeslave project which I've extensively customized to make it working on the SageTV extenders, also Squeezelite doesn't support the OSS Linux device driver that I wrote for the SageTV extenders too. A part from that they provide equivalent functionality.

Please bear in mind that 99.9% of the music you normally listen is still based on the 44.1KHz CD quality, the issue is only happening on listening some Internet radio channels (I personally never came across one), but I know some users do, however there is a very easy workaround as posted in the Squeezeslave thread.

Hope this helps

Eddy

[david1234]

Originally Posted by Fuzzy

Even easier/cheaper than the linux box, I run old android phones as my clients. Works great!

What are you using as the client on android?

[Fuzzy]

Originally Posted by david1234

What are you using as the client on android?

Squeeze Player works great.