ARCHIVED FORUM -- March 2012 to February 2022READ ONLY FORUM
This is the second Archived Forum which was active between 1st March 2012 and 23rd February 2022
I'll keep this short as to say i'm disappointed with this product, and for B&O for launching something so half baked is an understatement.
1. Connection to my wifi wasn't easy using the App, as after an hour it still was not recognising my router. Did it with cable and it was somewhat easier(put a bloody screen on it and just ask for a code B&O, this costs £600 ffs)
2. Sound quality considering it's size is excellent. The best in it's class(when it works)
3. In the last 21 hours i have lost reception from the router about 13 times. This means turning the device off and then letting it reboot to find the network. This takes a staggering 2-3 minutes. If your off in the morning this then means that the traffic report is coming through just after you have left, not whilst enjoying your coffee! Iphone-instant, PS Vita-instant, Apple tv-instant etc etc
http://store.apple.com/us/reviews/H7355LL/A/bang-and-olufsen-beolit-12-airplay-speaker
Essentially i wanted a high quality Airplay device that was portable, so that i could reposition it around our house. The sound is fantastic for a small device, the battery facility is almost unique, but for it to have so many reception problems in a medium that is so universal is to me, and as a fan, criminal.
Beosound Stage, Beovision 8-40, Beolit 20, Beosound Explore.
Hi Chris,
This is so sad that you are having problems and really explains why i'm so scared to buy into the BANG&OLUFSEN name again after i've had so many problems with them over the years.
I agree with you, it sounds great, but it is criminal that a designer priced brand can allow such faults in their products.
I hope things get better with it Chris as that is a lot of money for a funky little box!
Is the most recent SW version 1.02.10 installed ? If not, update the Beolit.
Paul W:This is so sad that you are having problems and really explains why i'm so scared to buy into the BANG&OLUFSEN name again after i've had so many problems with them over the years.
Sorry...
I don't recall you ever mentioning anything specifically wrong with any of your gear -some stuff from the early 90's and some older stuff from the 70's.
What is wrong? Start a new thread and I am sure someone here can help!
OT: Vienna, what changed in the most recent SW rev?
ɓʋɾɑɳɫɘɮ: OT: Vienna, what changed in the most recent SW rev?
Approx different 20 issues have been solved / improved by SW 1.02.10.
- Easier setup with new Beolit Setup app
- Many WiFi related problems, slow connection, stability & range, switching off Wi-Fi after 10 min. without signal, even when connected to mains, - ect., ect.
More often than not faults like this are a direct result of the router. Airplay is not perfect technology (Not sure where it even got that reputation) so if you really look around at any device from any manufacturer you'll see that nearly everyone has similar issues. Most routers do have problems handling uPnP correctly (ie. Cisco/Linksys, Belkin to name a few) and all of your issues can likely be remedied by just switching to an Apple Time Capsule/Airport Extreme/Express. If that doesn't work then you probably will want to try tweaking the settings on your router (channels, etc.) because more than likely the interference is a result of other wireless networks in the area hogging up your bandwidth. I've been using a BeoLit 12 at home for months and can count on one hand how many times it's dropped the wireless connection.
Chris Townsend:Wasn't this thoroughly checked before being released to retail??? My goodness
One can not complain about their new product release consistency the last decade!
Rumor has it that there will be a Playmaker Encore released about a week after Xmas 2012.
Chris Townsend:We did think about the router so I placed the 12 over it and checked its connectivity. Excellent. Took 2 paces back. Good. 3 now sideways. Minimal. 5 towards by kitchen. Poor. 10 feet away in a different room but with only a wooden door as a shield. Poor. First floor. Minimal(modern paper thin floor!) Apple Touch, 3 x P Vita, 2 x Apple tv right at the top of the house, no problems or disconnections even when simultaneously downloading HD content/streaming music. Too many people even in small flats are having this problem for it to be fluke. Devices a sixth of its cost are blazing away on my same network using the same router,for that to be an acceptable excuse.
Complain on their website - B&O rarely makes excuses.......................................... they normally ignore you!
Sorry!
Ban boring signatures!
Chris,
I have had my Beolit 12 for about 2 months. I agree the setup process is a little clumsy but I never had any dropouts. The only problem is playing music that is being retrieved from Apple's iCloud simultaneously. Playing from the cloud works well but the stopping and starting of music or trying to advance to a different album there is some delay. This is probably how Airplay works. I live in apartment where there are about 15 wifi networks within range. My wifi network is setup for 5 GHZ. The B&O instructions don't mention the Beolit 12 is only 2.4 GHz. My dealer didn't know what I was talking about. I setup an Airport express at 2.4 GHz specifically for Beolit 12.
The sound is very good but there is too much bass. I did learn one good thing about the Beolit 12. If it is running using the battery, you can dock your iPhone using the USB and it will charge the iPhone. This might be handy if the power is out and you need to charge the phone. Beolit 12 as an emergency charger is an unadvertised bonus!
We had a netgear router, and it dropped the BeoLit fairly regularly.
Our friendly IT guy turned off wireless on the netgear, and used it just as a router with an airport extreme doing the wireless. Never had a problem since.
I would try another router before blaming the BeoLit. Many people are using them without any issue. As stated above, google for problems with b and w air devices, or any other, and find the same issues
I would try that then. If (when) you get a new wireless setup and it starts working, hopefully you will modify your rather critical initial post which may well put off many potential purchasers who don't even bother to read the rest of the thread.
linder:I did learn one good thing about the Beolit 12. If it is running using the battery, you can dock your iPhone using the USB and it will charge the iPhone. This might be handy if the power is out and you need to charge the phone. Beolit 12 as an emergency charger is an unadvertised bonus!
same with the A3 ... sacrifices its battery power to keep the iDevice alive
BeoNut since '75
rednik:I would try that then. If (when) you get a new wireless setup and it starts working, hopefully you will modify your rather critical initial post which may well put off many potential purchasers who don't even bother to read the rest of the thread.
Chris i'm with you 100% on this issue. Rednik you are wrong with your statement. When I buy my BeoPlay A8 I expect ABSOLUTE PERFECTION from it, just like I do when I buy a MacBook or a Paul Smith suit, Dolce&Gabbana suit or Audi A4. If the B&O doesn't perform, I will go absolutely mad!
When people buy a premium product, it is an absolute insult for it not to deliver 100% - especially in these recession times when everyone is working twice as hard!!!
Chris shouldn't have to buy an WiFi equipment just to get Airplay working when everything performs well! Our lives are far too busy to experience something that doesn't perform!!! It makes me very angry when something doesn't do what it says on the tin!
Paul W: Chris i'm with you 100% on this issue. Rednik you are wrong with your statement. When I buy my BeoPlay A8 I expect ABSOLUTE PERFECTION from it, just like I do when I buy a MacBook or a Paul Smith suit, Dolce&Gabbana suit or Audi A4. If the B&O doesn't perform, I will go absolutely mad! When people buy a premium product, it is an absolute insult for it not to deliver 100% - especially in these recession times when everyone is working twice as hard!!! Chris shouldn't have to buy an WiFi equipment just to get Airplay working when everything performs well! Our lives are far too busy to experience something that doesn't perform!!! It makes me very angry when something doesn't do what it says on the tin!
My beolit 12 does exactly what it says on the tin.....l.since I replaced my old net gear wifi network with a new apple one.
My apple tv still drops when streaming music and a fairly regular basis.
Wifi is inherently unstable and unreliable. Bowers and Wilkins, and every other airplay device have similar issues. All I can say is there are users here who have stated they love their bl12. I love mine since I put a proper network in, try a new router as the dealer has suggested And if it still doesn't work slag it off all you like. As long as there is a chance your own existing equipment is the issue, i'd be keeping quiet
rednik: My beolit 12 does exactly what it says on the tin.....l.since I replaced my old net gear wifi network with a new apple one. My apple tv still drops when streaming music and a fairly regular basis. Wifi is inherently unstable and unreliable. Bowers and Wilkins, and every other airplay device have similar issues. All I can say is there are users here who have stated they love their bl12. I love mine since I put a proper network in, try a new router as the dealer has suggested A nd if it still doesn't work slag it off all you like. As long as there is a chance your own existing equipment is the issue, i'd be keeping quiet
Wifi is inherently unstable and unreliable. Bowers and Wilkins, and every other airplay device have similar issues. All I can say is there are users here who have stated they love their bl12. I love mine since I put a proper network in, try a new router as the dealer has suggested A nd if it still doesn't work slag it off all you like. As long as there is a chance your own existing equipment is the issue, i'd be keeping quiet
I'm looking at the router to see if this will help. I didn't isolate this as the problem as we often have 4 other devices all using it with no problem at all. Apparently AirPlay does have unique problems though.
rednik: Our friendly IT guy turned off wireless on the netgear, and used it just as a router with an airport extreme doing the wireless. Never had a problem since.
This is what I do, too. I switched off wifi on the router, using 802.11n on the Time Capsule and then various Airport Express devices, around the home, to extend the wifi network. Works well and gives you a stronger consistent signal around the home.
Thinking about it though, I'd lose this extended network facility if I moved over to the Playmaker as it won't offer the same function. Maybe the upgraded Airport Express devices (with the new DAC) could be a better option (for me).
moxxey:This is what I do, too. I switched off wifi on the router, using 802.11n on the Time Capsule and then various Airport Express devices, around the home, to extend the wifi network. Works well and gives you a stronger consistent signal around the home. Thinking about it though, I'd lose this extended network facility if I moved over to the Playmaker as it won't offer the same function. Maybe the upgraded Airport Express devices (with the new DAC) could be a better option (for me).
A time capsule has exactly the same networking funtionality as an Airport extreme. Neither of them support AirPlay in the way a basic airport does, ie you can't stream music to them directly. They will however allow you to create the wireless network you need to use AirPlay on your BeoLit 12.
Hope that makes sense? There is no need to buy any more kit if you already have a time capsule (assuming you can wire it to your router)
rednik: There is no need to buy any more kit if you already have a time capsule (assuming you can wire it to your router)
There is no need to buy any more kit if you already have a time capsule (assuming you can wire it to your router)
Absolutely. Wire it to the router, switch off wifi on the router, allow the Time Capsule to work in dual-band mode and set up the Express devices to extend the network.
BTW I upgraded my Time Capsule as the old ones don't do dual-band wifi, which is essential if you have 802.11n and 802.11b devices. It's the 802.11b devices that can slow and affect the network.
moxxey:Absolutely. Wire it to the router, switch off wifi on the router, allow the Time Capsule to work in dual-band mode and set up the Express devices to extend the network. BTW I upgraded my Time Capsule as the old ones don't do dual-band wifi, which is essential if you have 802.11n and 802.11b devices. It's the 802.11b devices that can slow and affect the network.
Just as an update i have bought a Netgear DGND3600 N600 router which is regarded as one of the more powerful, dual band routers..
http://www.pcpro.co.uk/reviews/wifi-routers/371293/netgear-dgnd3700-n600
http://www.expertreviews.co.uk/wireless-routers/1285564/netgear-n600-wireless-dual-band-gigabit-adsl2-modem-router
Powered up the Beolit, 13 feet away with just a wooden door in between.....zip. All other devices working fine and at 5 times the distance. Airport express next as a booster i guess. £200 to get a boody Airplay device to work
In my experience , stick with apple routers , there's a reason why they win so many pc magazine awards ya know
Chris, you're blatantly promoting two of our magazines there. Thank you.
I'll post the fiver to you tomorrow.
I also used to expect absolute perfection from anything I bought, regardless of from whom, or where it was made.
The trouble is, perfection is an idea that doesn't really exist in the real world - perhaps maybe for a nanosecond, - until the pollutants in the air start to do their work and your perfect device is on it's inevitable path towards entropy. And even worse things happen when you start to use it - it's on the inevitable path towards wearing out and is no longer 'perfect'!
The irony is, that mainstream mass produced items, made with little intervention from the human hand, are likely to be closer to 'perfect' re build quality and finish etc, than something relying on the vagaries of human interaction - remember the tales about a Monday or a Friday car on a production line? You don't hear that little tale much anymore because of CAD/CAM manufacturing, as robots can get it right, time after time after time in an manufacturing or assembly process.
I've come to accept that within the limitations of technology, nothing is 100% perfect; it's usually about finding the best balance of compromises to suit oneself.
For instance, CRT, LCD and Plasma TV's all have 'issues' or 'faults' relating to the limitations of the technology. Perhaps OLED may be the saviour, and give us the 'perfect' picture, but that remains to be seen.
Meantime, one can obsessively look for and most assuredly find fault in everything - even oneself if you take a look in the mirror!
So, one inevitably has a choice of either accepting that some things are not 100% perfect because of technology limitations, and accepting that there will always be faults if you go out of your way to find them, and obsess and obsess and obsess and give yourself a huge amount of grief because something is not 'perfect', OR enjoy said product for what it offers, and enjoy it's highlights, rather than worrying over it's faults.
In most cases, the faults are actually quite small, but blown way out of proportion by an obsessive and arguably at times unhealthy viewpoint stressing out over a lack of absolute 'perfection' where none literally exists or is possible on a technical basis.
Wifi works, but is not as 'perfect' as in 100% reliable, as a cable connection. Many large office corporations still use extensive LAN cable networks in preference to WiFi for reliability and security over the intranet.
If you want the convenience of WiFi, one has to accept a few inconveniences from time to time.
It is disappointing to hear that a new owner of a Beolit 12 is having WiFi connectivity issues - I've had similar issues with other bits and pieces of kit trying to join my home network from time to time.
Networking in itself is a big IT subject, and one I'm not totally familiar with, so that there is some difficulty from time to time is not at all surprising in the overall picture.
I'm sure the issue will be sorted, but with the greatest of respect, expecting or demanding absolute perfection in anything is a bit of an obsessive mistake in life IMHO - and speaking from personal experience - as it's rarely, if ever, achievable and one can almost make oneself ill trying to find it.
Kind regards
John...
Chris Townsend:I absolutely agree, but the fly in the ointment is that everything else works 99% of the time at much greater distances. This only works within cable distance which kind of negates wireless! I'll wait until I can add an airport express! Apart from it not working, it's great :-/
I trust that my post didn't come across as belittling your undoubted frustration, which I can will understand and to a degree relate to!
I have not as yet succeeded in getting my new V1 to join either my All Apple WiFi network or the one from my Billion ADSL 2+ VOIP modem/router.
Like you, everything else connects to either network with no issues.
Next to try will be WPS and/or changing the PW protocol from WPA2, to WPA, and maybe even WEP to see if that makes a difference.
Meantime, it's connected by cable to my network, I've updated the software to the latest and downloaded a couple of PUC tables.
As I have an Apple TV, getting the V1 on the network re the media browser is not needed - it's just for SW updates and PUC's.
Putting all that aside, - this seemingly less than 100% perfect state, - I am enjoying it's sound and picture enormously, and the fact that I don't have a reliable Wifi connection is not the irritant that it otherwise could be if I focused on it obsessively, whilst ignoring all the other pleasure that I can get out of the set.
That's not to say that I don't want to fix it - I do - but it's not the be all and end all of the V1
I appreciate though that with Airplay, your situation is a little different, and accordingly much more frustrating.
If it's not a reception problem, it's likely to be something else perhaps, maybe a protocol or some sort of setting mismatch twixt router and Beolit 12?
Networking can be a real pain sometimes.... I'm sorry that I can't be of more help...
Not all.
To be honest i've only recently mastered emails and porn, so changing protocols etc i'd better off calling in GCHQ! There are a lot of setting on the new router which i'm sure can help. My Beolit is currently working but i have had to put the router rather scuffily in the middle of the hall, with the Beolit on the end of a radiator! Even with line of site and a modern(ie crap) door to contend with, the reception is only marginal.
Listening to the soundtrack of the movie "The Way" If anyone rents this film and doesn't enjoy it, with a good bottle of Rioja, i'll pay
ps spoke to soon, i stood up and the signal went
I have heard of a few people with this issue. I also had some problems with drop-out. Was a dissapointed, but as I had already tried a zepplin air, which uses airplay, I was not surprised when the BeoLit12 suffered as well.
Got a better router... problem solved... rock solid now, even at the end of the garden.
Well, if it only works 10 feet away from the base station, it's possible you have a defective unit or one in which the wifi antenna was never connected inside. The antenna connections for wifi are about the size of a pin head, it wouldn't be the first time that someone had a laptop or phone, etc where it was not connected. Can your dealer lend you another unit to try?
Beolit on far left, router behind Beovision 10-46 9 paces away by window. Signal strength "marginal"!
ps yes i will paint that bloody Vulcan when i get round to it. Been saying that since December
Chris Townsend: Beolit on far left, router behind Beovision 10-46 9 paces away by window. Signal strength "marginal"!
One thought - have you made sure your router is using a different key than others in your area? A lot of routers come fixed with their key set to "1" or similar and a number of routers using the same wifi key can lead to a lot of connection issues.