FAQ: Routers and Wireless Operation

[RoadRanger]

I'm real happy with the used dual band Netgear WNDR3700 V1 that I bought off of eBay for $50.

Others are using the Apple routers. Make sure you get a current version of these - older ones are known to have problems .

These support the mostly unused 5 GHz band vs the crowded and interference prone 2.4 GHz band . All iPads are dual band .

Note that you must let your router fully boot before you power on your DL1608 or the DL1608 will not "see" the router and you won't have wireless capacity . My router takes about 1-1/4 minutes to boot !

Also you might want to disable the 2/4 GHz if you aren't using it and I set the data rates at 56 Mb so that the router doesn't take up more RF channels than needed.

[TheVIPea]

I just got, from fleabay, a Apple AirPort Extreme so I can use it in 5ghz only, really because I have a Line 6 g50 guitar wireless system which operates on 2.4ghz, and since I got that the iPad kept loosing connection with the DL. I have tried changing channels, switchingthe g50 to low power, etc. but no improvement. Really annoying! I am going to plumb it in tomorrow and try it out live on Friday. Fingers crossed - what is the worst thing that can happen!

[WK154]

I have Netgear  WNDR3700 V2 a totally different chipset from V1 but works great. I mounted it on a Lexan plate where the iPad would be in docking mode hence the 3 ft cable that hasn't given me any problems. Caution on Linksys routers, some of their latest firmware updates included Cisco (Linksys) to shut your internet access down from their end and spy on you. Needless to say they got clobbered good by corporations and others and quickly produced alternate firmware. The Spy-firmware is still on their site. Make sure you get the right one! Could you imagine what a Hacker could do with this? Talk about a power trip!

[ChiroVette]

Hey, does the DL1608 have WiFi built in and can interface with the router over ethernet or do you have to plug it in? I ask because I am also going to be controlling my lights with the iPad using an ARTNet to DMX converter and an app and that needs to hard-plug into the router. If the DL1608 does as well, then is this doable with some kind of an ethernet splitter system?

[RoadRanger]

Yes, it needs to be plugged into the router too. Unless you need the AirPlay output on the AirPort Express you'd be better off getting one of the Netgear dual band routers (see above).

Here's some on fleaBay:
http://www.ebay.com/dsc/i.html?_adv=1&_from=R40&_ftrv=1&_ipg=50&_sadis=200&_sop=15&LH_TitleDesc=1&LH_SALE_CURRENCY=0&_sacat=0&_dmd=1&_ftrt=901&_nkw=%28wndr3400%2C+wndr3700%29+-antenna&_trksid=m194&ssPageName=STRK:MEFSRCHX:SRCH

[ChiroVette]

Not sure if I need the AirPlay option, but I doubt it would be a deal breaker either way. What about some sort of an Ethernet splitter. I used to use one for gaming on the XBox and the 360. I had a wired (not wireless) device that my Internet and router signal plugged directly into. Then I could plug up to four XBoxes into the unit and we could all play over LAN or even on the internet. Could something like this be adapted with the Airport Express so that I can plug both the DMX controller and the DL1608 into the router?

If not, I guess I could just go with another router and screw the Airplay. Though the largest advantage of AirPlay is that I can play music for our crowds between sets and not have to leave the iPad docked where it can be potentially stolen while I am in the restroom or something.

[RoadRanger]

What you describe is called an "ethernet switch".

[ChiroVette]

RoadRanger, what's the difference between the WNDR3400 and the 3700?

Amazon has a few WNDR3400 refurbs for like $40.00, which looks like a nice price. Also there is something called a 4 port WNDR3400, which I assume has four inputs available instead of the two of the unit you recommend or the ONE of the AirPort Express? But I am not sure.

Here is a link to one:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/NETGEAR-N600-300-Mbps-4-Port-10-100-Wireless-N-Router-WNDR3400-/130880775444?_trksid=p2047675.m1850&_trkparms=aid%3D222002%26algo%3DSIC.FIT%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D14873%26meid%3D6656711459173097028%26pid%3D100011%26prg%3D1005%26rk%3D4%26sd%3D271181197498%26

Thoughts?

[RoadRanger]

RoadRanger, what's the difference between the WNDR3400 and the 3700?

The former has 10/100 Mb ethernet and the latter 10/100/1000 - you only need 100 .

Amazon has a few WNDR3400 refurbs for like $40.00, which looks like a nice price. Also there is something called a 4 port WNDR3400, which I assume has four inputs available instead of the two of the unit you recommend or the ONE of the AirPort Express? But I am not sure.

All WNDR's have four ports plus a WAN port you won't be using.

[ChiroVette]

Ah okay, thanks! So does this mean that I can hook up to four devices to it, DL1608, the ARTNET to DMX device, plus two others?

[RoadRanger]

Ah okay, thanks! So does this mean that I can hook up to four devices to it, DL1608, the ARTNET to DMX device, plus two others?

That's the theory .

[Kevin]

Speaking of non-Apple routers - one of the reasons that I went with the Express (besides being able to use Airplay) is that a friend has a couple of PreSonus boards and he was not able to get a reliable connection to the iPad until he switched to Apple routers.  I figured that this was probably an Apple iPad/MacBook idiosyncrasy that was best avoided by buying one of their overpriced routers, but apparantly its not a problem with the DL. Has any one else heard of this with the PreSonus ? Maybe PreSonus uses more of the Wifi bandwith than Mackie and/or doesnt do error correction as well. Or possibly the first router was just flakey.

[RoadRanger]

Speaking of non-Apple routers - one of the reasons that I went with the Express (besides being able to use Airplay) is that a friend has a couple of PreSonus boards and he was not able to get a reliable connection to the iPad until he switched to Apple routers.  I figured that this was probably an Apple iPad/MacBook idiosyncrasy that was best avoided by buying one of their overpriced routers, but apparantly its not a problem with the DL. Has any one else heard of this with the PreSonus ? Maybe PreSonus uses more of the Wifi bandwith than Mackie and/or doesnt do error correction as well. Or possibly the first router was just flakey.

Many routers don't deal well with having nothing connected to the WAN port.

[nottooloud]

Took me quite a while to realize that you need to power cycle the DL1608 after connecting it to a router. It must pick some ip address of its own on powerup. My iPads could see it but not talk to it.

[Ram]

TheVIPea,
Did you get your issue resolved of connecting wirelessly to dl1608?
Is so, let me know what you did to fix.

I had a session, and myIphone Myfader disconnected consistently  after staying connected for 20 seconds.
Anyone else has any suggestions? I used Airport Express (second generation - the latest)
I was not brave enough to disconnect the Ipad from DL1608 to try it out for wireless (Anyways I was recording the session in Ipad)

-Ram