ProSoundWeb Community

Sound Reinforcement - Forums for Live Sound Professionals - Your Displayed Name Must Be Your Real Full Name To Post In The Live Sound Forums => LAB Lounge => Topic started by: Lance Richens on January 17, 2013, 11:40:15 PM

Title: What Wireless Router Are You Using For Mixer Control Via A Tablet?
Post by: Lance Richens on January 17, 2013, 11:40:15 PM
My Linksys wrt160n sucks. I'm looking for something small enough to sit in the case, behind my x-32 that will stay connected within at least 100'. I am looking at the airport express. I'd like to hear from others what they're using, the performance, range, and any helpful tips.....
Title: What Wireless Router Are You Using For Mixer Control Via A Tablet?
Post by: Mark Olsen on January 18, 2013, 05:30:58 AM
Airport Express for me .. Works great
Title: Re: What Wireless Router Are You Using For Mixer Control Via A Tablet?
Post by: Geri O'Neil on January 18, 2013, 07:44:51 AM
Airport Express for me .. Works great

Netgear RD6300.

But I might move up to the Asus RT-AC66U. It claims to be a little faster, but I like the idea of external antennas. However, the Netgear has been rock-solid out to 200ft.

My previous unit, the Netgear WNDR4500 was rock-solid as well and it's still available and cheaper.

G
Title: Re: What Wireless Router Are You Using For Mixer Control Via A Tablet?
Post by: Scott Harris on January 18, 2013, 09:34:43 AM
Before you blame the router, have you made sure the antenna is sitting in open air away from all RF producing equipment?  I suggest putting it as high as possible on a table a couple feet away from your rack.  In other words, are you treating the wifi router the same as you do a wireless mic receiver?  If it's buried in a case don't blame the router.
Title: Re: What Wireless Router Are You Using For Mixer Control Via A Tablet?
Post by: Steve Anderson on January 18, 2013, 09:39:36 AM
[...] something small enough to sit in the case [...]
Might not fit in the case but you can't go past these (http://"http://www.ubnt.com/unifi") and these (http://"http://www.ubnt.com/airmax#bulletm") from Ubiquiti (http://"http://www.ubnt.com")

On putting them in the doghouse? I don't understand the scientific pros and cons (perhaps someone else can authoritatively comment), but I'm not sure I'd want a bunch of microwaves firing into my console and cabling from 6" away...

[...]have you made sure the antenna is sitting in open air away from all RF producing equipment?  I suggest putting it as high as possible [...]

The bullet is perfect in a big mic clip... and because you run the cat5/6 cable to the device there is no RF loss.

Cheers!
Title: Re: What Wireless Router Are You Using For Mixer Control Via A Tablet?
Post by: Bob Cap on January 18, 2013, 10:13:05 AM
My Linksys wrt160n sucks. I'm looking for something small enough to sit in the case, behind my x-32 that will stay connected within at least 100'. I am looking at the airport express. I'd like to hear from others what they're using, the performance, range, and any helpful tips.....

I use the Netgear N900 with my IPad 2. I connect to either my Yamaha LS9/32's or the Presonus mixers.

Works great. The only hassel is I need to tie up my laptop when I connect to the presonus for the firewire feed.

Bob Cap
AAI
Gilbert, MN
Title: Re: What Wireless Router Are You Using For Mixer Control Via A Tablet?
Post by: Daniel Lozada on January 18, 2013, 10:33:39 AM
Airport Express (new/current generation) with my Mackie DL1608 - no issues whatsoever and very small footprint.
Title: Re: What Wireless Router Are You Using For Mixer Control Via A Tablet?
Post by: Chris Eddison on January 18, 2013, 11:53:43 AM
I'll echo the concerns on a wifi device within the dogbox. I know it probably wouldn't cause an issue, but i'm not one for taking risks.

Personally I use a Belkin N600 DB. It doesn't have an external aerial but it does seem pretty rock solid and also has a fully functioning USB port which is really useful for sharing a device. My Roland M480 doesn't have an ethernet port but it allows me to remote control it anyway via USB over wifi. Similar would maybe be possible for radio mics with USB (Trantec S5.3) - i'll have to give it a try.
Title: Re: What Wireless Router Are You Using For Mixer Control Via A Tablet?
Post by: Tim McCulloch on January 18, 2013, 12:03:55 PM
I'll echo the concerns on a wifi device within the dogbox. I know it probably wouldn't cause an issue, but i'm not one for taking risks.

Personally I use a Belkin N600 DB. It doesn't have an external aerial but it does seem pretty rock solid and also has a fully functioning USB port which is really useful for sharing a device. My Roland M480 doesn't have an ethernet port but it allows me to remote control it anyway via USB over wifi. Similar would maybe be possible for radio mics with USB (Trantec S5.3) - i'll have to give it a try.

I've had a 2.4GHz access point in the doghouses of both SC48 and M7 with no ill effects to the console or audio.

It works fine for setup, but in most situation there are too many bags of salt water between it and me if I go out into the audience at show time... the WAP antennae need to be up in the air for reliable use in the situations I've encountered.

Asleep at the Wheel uses a 900MHz data link that is much more robust than 2.4 (higher RF output, no phones/tablets trying to connect).  Joe mixes with a Motion Computing tablet, though, not an iFruit.  I think it all came from Ubiquiti....
Title: Re: What Wireless Router Are You Using For Mixer Control Via A Tablet?
Post by: Nitin Sidhu on January 18, 2013, 12:24:13 PM
Netgear N-150.

Cheap and no issues with very regular use.
Title: Re: What Wireless Router Are You Using For Mixer Control Via A Tablet?
Post by: Mark Oakley on January 18, 2013, 01:22:59 PM
This might be a good thread for me to jump into, as I have a few questions.

I'm using a Roland VM-C7200 board controlled by Emagic Soundiver via MIDI to a laptop. The Roland/Sounddiver connection works great, so no issues there. I want to use a program called RealVNC (www.realvnc.com (http://www.realvnc.com)) to enable an Apple I-Pad 1 to remotely control the laptop. The I-Pad has Wi-Fi and 3G.

I occasionaly do gigs outside far away from any Internet access. I don't need Internet access from the router, I just need it to create a "hotspot" that the I-Pad will find and log on to. The router will always be attached to the laptop. Should this work?

-thanks, Mark
Title: Re: What Wireless Router Are You Using For Mixer Control Via A Tablet?
Post by: Jerome Malsack on January 18, 2013, 01:41:25 PM
I would highly recommend that you should consider a WAP/router with a removable antenna that you can now treat like the wireless mic's and locate them away from the the other gear.  Place on a stand and get above head height, around 7 foot.  No walls or metal within around 2 feet.   

wifi  2.4 has problems around microwave ovens, garage door openers, and Hotels.  Try moving up to 5 gig wireless access point/router.   Also look into setting up security to prevent the would be hackers from getting in and playing around.  I have been to one show where they had two rooms at a hotel with each one running a presonus mixer and the wifi was crossed and they were adjusting the monitors in both rooms.  One of the groups wound up shutting down the wireless and all was resolved for the shows.
Title: Re: What Wireless Router Are You Using For Mixer Control Via A Tablet?
Post by: Geri O'Neil on January 18, 2013, 02:35:22 PM
I've had a 2.4GHz access point in the doghouses of both SC48 and M7 with no ill effects to the console or audio.

It works fine for setup, but in most situation there are too many bags of salt water between it and me if I go out into the audience at show time... the WAP antennae need to be up in the air for reliable use in the situations I've encountered.

Asleep at the Wheel uses a 900MHz data link that is much more robust than 2.4 (higher RF output, no phones/tablets trying to connect).  Joe mixes with a Motion Computing tablet, though, not an iFruit.  I think it all came from Ubiquiti....

Spent a day with Joe back this summer. I've been re-lusting for a Motion tablet again ever since.

Geri O
Title: Re: What Wireless Router Are You Using For Mixer Control Via A Tablet?
Post by: Tim Perry on January 18, 2013, 11:42:42 PM
My Linksys wrt160n sucks. I'm looking for something small enough to sit in the case, behind my x-32 that will stay connected within at least 100'. I am looking at the airport express. I'd like to hear from others what they're using, the performance, range, and any helpful tips.....

Airport Express... needs line of sight mostly. Go behind a wall in the back of a 2,000 seat theater and it drops out.  I wouldn't expect a greater range from any other unit as the tablet also transmits so you will be limited by that output also.
Title: Re: What Wireless Router Are You Using For Mixer Control Via A Tablet?
Post by: Chuck Simon on January 19, 2013, 11:00:18 AM
I have been using a Belkin N600 DB set up for 5 GHz with my SL, Win 7 Dell laptop, and iPad for over 6 months.  Totally flawless so far.
Title: Re: What Wireless Router Are You Using For Mixer Control Via A Tablet?
Post by: Mark Oakley on January 19, 2013, 11:28:50 AM
I have been using a Belkin N600 DB set up for 5 GHz with my SL, Win 7 Dell laptop, and iPad for over 6 months.  Totally flawless so far.

Is there a range of frequencies that the I-Pad can respond to? 2.4 to 5 GHz? More?

-thanks, Mark
Title: Re: Re: What Wireless Router Are You Using For Mixer Control Via A Tablet?
Post by: Tommy Peel on January 19, 2013, 11:41:33 AM
Is there a range of frequencies that the I-Pad can respond to? 2.4 to 5 GHz? More?

-thanks, Mark

Wireless "N" routers can operate on the 2.4ghz and the 5ghz bands and I know the iPad 2 and newer can use both bands (not sure if the iPad 1 can do 5ghz or not). 5ghz tends to be less "crowded" than 2.4ghz.

Sent from my Milestone X using Tapatalk 2

Title: Re: Re: What Wireless Router Are You Using For Mixer Control Via A Tablet?
Post by: Bob Charest on January 19, 2013, 12:18:29 PM
Wireless "N" routers can operate on the 2.4ghz and the 5ghz bands and I know the iPad 2 and newer can use both bands (not sure if the iPad 1 can do 5ghz or not). 5ghz tends to be less "crowded" than 2.4ghz.

Sent from my Milestone X using Tapatalk 2
I use my iPad1 on a 5GHz connection to a Ubiquiti Bullet access point with an L-Com HGV-4907U antenna. Really great result with this setup. The external antenna keeps things in line-of-sight - Important with 5GHz as the signal attenuates more rapidly with physical obstructions.