Recently I purchased a Logitech Squeezebox Duet to allow me to wirelessly stream music from my Windows Home Server. I ran into a number of problems, so I decided to document the steps I took to get this working.
Steps Overview:
- Verify your wireless connection can stream music(optional)
- Upgrade your Windows Home Server hardware(optional)
- Setup the SqueezeCenter software on your Windows Home Server
Step 1: Verify your wireless connection
The main problem was that while streaming music I would get intermittent stops in the music. The signal strength meter on the Squeezebox remote was good but at random points the music would stop.
It turns out that it was wireless interference. This is no problem is you are using a laptop but streaming requires more from your wireless signal.
To fix it I changed the Wireless Channel number on my wireless router from the default of 1 to 3.
Step 2: Upgrade the Home Server hardware
My HP EX 470 came standard with 512MB RAM. This is really inadequate for the SqueezeBox software. I found some excellent instructions on how to upgrade to 2GB of RAM and also on how to upgrade the virtual memory.
Step 3: Setup the SqueezeCenter software
- Install the Squeeze Center software on the Home Server
Follow these instructions on how to install the SqueezeCenter software on your Home Server. Those instructions recommend running the SqueezeCenter under a different account than the Administrator account. I setup a User Account called Squeeze that runs the service as well as iTunes - Install iTunes on your Home Server under the Squeeze user account
The SqueezeCenter software can read your music from a disk location(the default) or use iTunes. I prefer iTunes. Now we want to have SqueezeCenter read the music information from iTunes - Load the music you want to play in iTunes
Start with a small number of music files to test - Set SqueezeCenter to use iTunes
Run the SqueezeCenter software. Open the Settings screen.
Under the Basic Settings tab clear the Music Folder and Playlist folder settings.
- Sync SqueezeCenter to your iTunes library(optional)
If you want to immediately see the music in SqueezeCenter go to Basic Setting tab and manually ReScan the Music Library.
You should now see your music in the SqueezeCenter music list - Test your connection to the SqueezeCenter
On your SqueezeCenter remote go to Settings—>Music Source. You should see the name of the your home server as a new Music Source. Select that as the source. You should now see your music in the list.
{ 7 comments… read them below or add one }
Got the Duet and it works great with my computer/iTunes
thanks Scott! did u get the Walmart pix?
Scott –
I see that the Duet does have the scroll wheel I need. I am currently using a Logitech Harmony 1000 remote to control my home theater system, which I still wanto be able to use (it works via infra-red).
If I hook up the duet so I can use its remote to control the ipod, will it interfere withte Harmony, or vice versa?
Rev Thunder
THANKS!
The Duet uses the 802.11 standard which is different from infra-red. The interference I had experienced was due to two 802.11 devices.
Thank you Scott! Does the Squeeze Box Duet have a “wheel” like an iPod classsic so I can get thru the iTunes library quickly?
Yes the Duet has a scroll “wheel” like the iPod.
Has anyone tried the avaiable Beta vesion of the Squeece Center Server for Windows Home Server, wouldn’t this resolve the install issues(other then the wirless conflicts) and therefore be a lot easier?
Great article. Thanks for the tip on the wireless interference, I have been having the same problem.
FYI the latest beta version of SqueezeCentre has a WHS add-in installer. Very easy, don’t have to worry about remoting to the server and setting up, also handles services too. I’ve been using the beta for a while, with no real problems.