EtherREGEN: Installation, Usage, Difficulty, Questions thread

[thotdoc]

I just received the ER.  In the unit I received, the optical cage is an optical cave...ie there is no connecting SFP mechanism...just a mounting hole.

Help.

[thotdoc]

12 minutes ago, MrDerrick said:

The eR does not come with an SFP module installed.

Thank you. I took the cage out of the optical module and put it in the ER.

[thotdoc]

This has occurred two times: The entire system has been idling. I go to play music and Roon shows that it is playing or doing something as the little bars next to the song I'm trying to play are moving up and down, but the music does not play and the indicator of the music playing is not moving across the bottom of the screen.

 

the set up is Cisco 2690 switch into 15 Sonic transport into ER into Optical Rendu into DAC.

 

The last time this occurred I rebooted the entire chain and it worked.

 

Help please

[thotdoc]

2 hours ago, thotdoc said:

This has occurred two times: The entire system has been idling. I go to play music and Roon shows that it is playing or doing something as the little bars next to the song I'm trying to play are moving up and down, but the music does not play and the indicator of the music playing is not moving across the bottom of the screen.

 

the set up is Cisco 2690 switch into 15 Sonic transport into ER into Optical Rendu into DAC.

 

The last time this occurred I rebooted the entire chain and it worked.

 

Help please

If I reboot the entire system from the switch to the renderer works again.  I tried just rebooting the sonic transport and that didn't work. So I rebooted the whole chain.

[thotdoc]

On 11/16/2019 at 9:33 PM, Superdad said:

 

Glad to hear you have it running steady now! 

 

We are convinced that for the handful of users having connectivity problems, it has something to do with loss of IP address lease with DHCP server/router. 

We are looking for common denominators, and so far the most obvious one is use of OrbiterOS (with SonicTransporters or Rendus).

Also, there have been a couple of instances of Ethernet DACs which use the Conversdigital mconnect input module (Ayre and PS Audio) where it took a while before they and the router would settle down and keep a stable IP address. But both those folks have reported being good now. 

 

I’m not a networking expert so I confess that I don’t fully understand what is going on. But John is very sharp with this stuff and there is veteran network engineer (here on this forum) who has stepped forward to assist in researching the matter. Once there is a conclusion and a consistent remedy procedure, we’ll share that here as well as post it to our website. 

 

We appreciate the patience—and the detailed information reports—of those who are experiencing difficulty. None of this showed up with any of our beta testers, that’s why we are caught a bit short with this issue now. 

Anything new on this. I was listening tonite and the music just stopped.

 

[thotdoc]

1 minute ago, Superdad said:

 

We think we have it figured out. Will report more and deliver a solution as quickly as possible. So far the issue has affect only about 6-8 users.

Thanks for your patience.

--Alex C.

Thanks

 

G

[thotdoc]

2 hours ago, Superdad said:

 

Oh, okay, now I understand what you are getting at. Namely you are questioning how computer/streamer/renderer/DAC endpoints--that might not themselves have the very best (or any) attention paid to clocks and power regulation--can benefit from the EtherREGEN.

Well there is a world of those devices out there, ranging from NUCs and Raspberry Pi, to Aurender, Lumin, Auralic, dCS (DACs and bridge), PS Audio, Ayre, etc.  As well of course as your fine micro/ultra/opticalRendus. And already hundreds of people are using EtherREGENs with all of those and liking what they hear.

Seems it might be time for me to send you one to check out first-hand. 

Superdad: You have the patience of Job...and a really long fuse. I admire your restraint. :-)

[thotdoc]

Re firmware installation...,

 

I had no micro USB...many mini USBs, but a trip to the AT&T store took care of that.

 

The installation of the firmware was very easy...just follow the directions one step at a time. The whole thing takes only a few minutes.

 

When I put it back into the system the first thing that happened was that Roon could not find my OR. I went through several machinations...then just rebooted the whole set-up. That worked.

 

I'm listening to music...ahhh...now.  Diana Krall: Live in Paris....A case of you.  

 

Roon-Tidal latest version it's doing fine...

 

The ER is cold still, but the music sounds so great.  I'll post again and to Alex directly after seeing that it no longer drops out.

 

Does it sound better? I DK really...It seemed more open with more detail when I started it up after the upgrade....I can hear DK's tongue managing her breath and her lips controlling the sounds she is making...Her intentions are clear. I heard this before the firmware upgrade, but I don't know if it was this distinct. Maybe I'm psyching myself...I didn't take specific notes. 

 

I'm just thankful it's working and I have music. Last night my wife was listening...she loves music, but is not into the equipment or the minutiae, typically...just loves the blues and R&R. She volunteered that the system "sounded sweeter...and never sounded better or more clear"...and then she started t talk like one of us...describing minutiae...never happened before. 🙂

 

 

[thotdoc]

5 hours ago, FrankMA said:

I'm still having a bit of an issue. Have to do some digging to see if this could be Roon 1.7.

 

I started streaming at 9:30AM yesterday. Before I went to bed at 10:30 or so it had stopped.  Got it running again by hitting Play Now at the top of my Roon queue.  The odd thing is Roon looks like it is playing (meters near the song working, in Play mode) but the song is not incrementing (on 0.00 and I'm getting no output). But I do get Track Not Available in Tidal/Qobuz (connectivity blip?) when I see this.

Same condition when I woke up this AM.

 

Each time I have searched for my player I still see it on the network (prior to the fix I didn't) so I'm not sure it's the same network connectivity/ER issue because before once the music was stopped the player was not on the network.

 

Still at the drawing board

 

Same symptoms that seemed to be taken care of with the firmware upgrade for me.

[thotdoc]

19 minutes ago, Ehsu said:

You using Roon? I had similar issue once last week but it was because of Roon I believe. It was also only an issue for 1 zone, no problem with others

 

Roon is what I'm using. I'm not set up with another software player. And honestly, I don't want to have to use another as Roon manages my library, Tidal and Qobuz. And, I do not get pleasure from playing with the software...used to...but I'm working too hard and want to relax, not take on another project when I get home to relax.

 

Without setting up another player, is there a way I could tell it is Roon?

[thotdoc]

2 minutes ago, stevebythebay said:

Seems the only thing you might try is to swap the eR for another switch to prove either the music source (Roon Server) or the eR is creating the problem.  What I'm assuming is that your were using a switch or the switch function of your router.

Thanks. I can switch back to the optical module.

I'll try that tomorrow.

[thotdoc]

1 hour ago, octaviars said:

 

Have updated Roon to latest version 1.7 build 505?

Interesting. After I changed the FW the system worked for several days. Tonite when I started up, there was a download of a new version of Roon software...then this happened. I'll have to check.  Thank you 

[thotdoc]

I'm tracking down the dropouts and the loss of music altogether...as I've been chronicling here. I just replaced the ER/Uptone standard PS with the OM/LPS 1.2.

 

The sound has lost its magic. It is thicker and more homogenized. I am not compelled to listen to this as I was with the ER in the chain. 

[thotdoc]

The FW update did not cure the dropouts and the music completely stopping in my set up. I've stated this before and people have made suggestions, which I appreciate. But I have a question: Am I the only one who continues to have the drop out problem following the FW update?

 

Setup: Mac running Roon app (managing Tidal and Qobuz) over wifi sends data to ATT modem, data sent from ATT modem by ethernet metal cable to Cisco switch (2960 8TC) to Sonic Transport by metal ethernet back to Cisco, from Cisco metal ethernet to ER, A side in and B side optical cable out to OR. 

 

I've tried a different zone on Roon and there were dropouts on the 2nd zone, suggesting Roon is the problem.

I've replaced the ER with the OM setup...but no drop outs so far.

 

My system seems so common Roon, Cisco, ER, OR...so it seems others would be having the problem.

 

I'm communicating with Roon

 

BTW Happy Thanksgiving. Family get together later. I hope the same for everyone...

[thotdoc]

1 hour ago, ogs said:

B side is 100 megabit ethernet only so an opticalRendu won't work. Do you mean B side ethernet to ultraRendu?

Sorry.

B side in using metal ethernet cable.

A side out using the SFP transceiver and optical cable.  

 

The SFP transceiver is the transceiver from the Sonore optical module that I was using before the etherRendu came out. It is 1000Base if I remember correctly. I'm assuming 100 megabit is different than 1000base (please get how illiterate I am in this...it is plug and play for me). If that is the case, then the transceiver may be the problem.

 

But, further, you are saying that the etherRendu optical out won't work with the opticalRendu under any circumstances. I think you are wrong in this assertion...though I'm OK with being wrong.

 

Why?

Because using these 2-together, connected optically, has been discussed repeatedly.

 

Thank you

G.

[thotdoc]

19 hours ago, Superdad said:

 

In addition to John’s suggestion of eliminating the Cisco switch, I suggest that you adjust to have only one Ethernet connection to your SonicTransporter. Your description makes it seem that you have two connections to the ST. Not sure why you would. The whole “bridging” trick is not necessary in an “EtherREGEN world.” 

There is only one ethernet connection to the ER.

 

Thank you

 

I'm working on John's idea and will respond back to him when it is implemented.

Thank you to John also.

 

Gordon

[thotdoc]

22 hours ago, JohnSwenson said:

A few things, first are you sure about the sides of the ER you have connected? The SFP cage (For the optical connection) is on the A side, if you are running an optical out from the ER it IS connected to the A side. Thus the B side would be connected to 2960.

 

The 2960 model you have is a 100Mbps Ethernet on all the ports on the left, the only port that is gigabit is the one on the far right. Is there anyway you can try the system without the 2960? For example do you have enough ports on the router to plug in the Sonic Transporter and B port of the ER? Or if not enough ports do you have a normal gigabit switch you can use instead of the 2960? I have seen a couple reports that Roon does not always like a 100Mbps connection to a server. I would like you to see what happens if the Sonic transporter has a gigabit connection to the router rather than through the 100Mbps 2960.

 

The wifi connection is just for control, right? The audio data is coming through the router to the 2960?

 

John S.

Connections are correct.

I ran the optical module in place of the Ether Rendu and there were no dropouts..Trial period may have been too short. So that is questionable data. I can go back to that set-up if your current suggestions don't pan out.

 

Roon also wants me to run Roon core from computer other than current Roon core in Sonic transport. Again, I'll work with your suggestions 1st.

 

I removed the 2960 from the chain completely. I moved the sonic transport upstairs to a gigabit switch.

 

The etherRegen is being fed directly by a metal ethernet cable coming from the wall, no switch. I do not understand if that is the correct connection speed, but it is playing without any intermittent dropouts, we'll see as it plays out. I will reconnect with you if this 'get the Cisco out' suggestion does not work.

 

That said, the sonic transport is not in a place it can stay for the long haul. You said there was a gigabit connection on the CISCO...on the far right. Do you mean the far right socket marked 8x....or the far right socket next to the FPS cage, both being surrounded in yellow line?

 

Thank you for helping me.

G.

 

[thotdoc]

58 minutes ago, Superdad said:

But how many actual Ethernet connections do you have to your SonicTransporter? That is where you description had me confused, making it sound like you are feeding the EtherREGEN just from your SonicTransporter.  You wrote:

"...data sent from ATT modem by ethernet metal cable to Cisco switch (2960 8TC) to Sonic Transport by metal ethernet back to Cisco, from Cisco metal ethernet to ER..."

 

I think you should try running this way:

--One cable from ATT modem to EtherREGEN 'B' side RJ45;

--One cable from ATT modem to SonicTransporter;

--Optical SFP module in 'A' side of EtherREGEN to your opticalRendu

Based on working through JS's suggestion, I ended up doing what you suggest.

The ATT modem is upstairs. It is connected to a gigabit switch...to which the TV etc are connected and the sonic transport is NOW connected.

Overall, I:

Moved the sonic transport upstairs to a gigabit switch driven by the ATT modem.

Completely removed the Cisco switch

Connected the etherRegen to the ethernet wall junction in the listening room, downstairs.

       EtherRegen is fed by EtherREGEN 'B' side RJ45

       Optical SFP module in 'A' side of EtherREGEN is out to my opticalRendu 

 

I get it what a huge time commitment it is for you and John to provide this level of customer service. Thank you seems not quite enough...but thank you.

 

I will get back to you if this doesn't stay stable.

[thotdoc]

11 minutes ago, Jud said:

The one next to the SFP cage.

So, I would use the one next to the SFP cage out and one of the 1x-8x in?

 

Thank you

 

G

[thotdoc]

2 hours ago, JohnSwenson said:

I don't know if this will work, it is just one thing to try. The problem is that all the other ports re still 100Mbps, the throughput is still 100Mbps even if the Sonic Transporter is connected to the gigabit port.

 

John S.

OK  Thank you.

 

[thotdoc]

17 minutes ago, Jud said:

 

Yes, my apologies to Gordon since I assumed the fact you couldn't get gigabit throughput was understood, and this is just to see if these two ports are "happier" being connected.

No apologies necessary.

 

This arcane corner of our audiophile hobby includes members who are, like me...completely without knowledge and who get by through plug and play...and others who really understand what the electricity is doing and going through to achieve the sounds that so please us..

 

Speaking for the former group, we would not have the wonderful sounds without you and others who create and help. Thank you. 

[thotdoc]

I want to try using the 1.2 PS with the ER.

 

I only use 1-RJ45 into side B and the SFP out of A.

 

Therefore there is no need for the ground wire.  Is that correct?

[thotdoc]

Impression (not balanced for sound level) after adding 1.2 PS to run ER: sweeter and a little more detail. More real. Not earth shattering detail, but worth if if (too me) if the sweetness is true .

 

I'm just listening after I turned the system back on and experience was, "Oh, this sounds sweeter" on top of the additional detail that I was getting before. I wasn't expecting 'sweetness'...didn't know I was missing it.

 

Re detail, Listen to Cowboy Junkies, Trinity Revisited, Mining for gold. The singer, Margo, sings a line at the beginning of the song that ends with ..".marching to the slope". 

 

How clearly you can hear the 'p' in slope, if you can hear it at all, and her mouth articulation will tell you something about your system's ability to discern detail. At least it has for me through the years. And, it is a great album for listening as well as discernment.

 

Over the week end, after listening for a few days, and going through my regular set of music files taking notes, I'll remove the PS and see if I feel like I'm missing anything.

[thotdoc]

The 1.2 supplying the ER is running hot...to hot to hold, set at 7. Is this norma?l

[thotdoc]

2 hours ago, Superdad said:

 

I'm surprised you can even get the 1.1A LPS-1.2 to run an EtherREGEN at 7V.  I can't here.

At 7V the EtherREGEN will draw nearly 1.3A.  Please set your LPS-1.2 to 12V. At that voltage the EtherREGEN will be drawing a little less than 0.8A and you UltraCap supply will be much happier--and a bit cooler, though still warm/hot.

Thank you