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
Yendys:Has anyone else experienced dropouts over wifi and unreliable direct ethernet connectivity? I replaced my initial device which definitely had issues, even during the initial setup it didn't behave as instructed. Unfortunately I think I'll be returning my 2nd playmaker. I have a very reliable and robust Cisco network without any issues at all with numerous windows and apple devices all being available when required. Never any issues with any airplay device, select it and it just works. This is not the case with my playmaker, if/when it appears in the airplay list it doesn't always play, no sound... What is most disappointing is the complete lack of interest, concern or support from my dealer, I have had to chase them on this journey. I'm completely over it now! You can't complain about the service when there isn't any!
I replaced my initial device which definitely had issues, even during the initial setup it didn't behave as instructed.
Unfortunately I think I'll be returning my 2nd playmaker. I have a very reliable and robust Cisco network without any issues at all with numerous windows and apple devices all being available when required. Never any issues with any airplay device, select it and it just works.
This is not the case with my playmaker, if/when it appears in the airplay list it doesn't always play, no sound...
What is most disappointing is the complete lack of interest, concern or support from my dealer, I have had to chase them on this journey. I'm completely over it now!
You can't complain about the service when there isn't any!
sorry you have had the product AND the dealer issue - the combination leads to unhappiness.
I have "acquired" a loan Playmaker and started playing with it this afternoon after a visit to the dealer to borrow some of the new speaker cables.
So a good dealer story ....
As for the box, it was easy to unpack, but prising off the cover took a 10 cent piece and left some marks
Setup was surprisingly easier than I expected - I was puzzled as to how I would get it working wirelessly when I have a password protected network.
But all I had to do was "tune" my iPhone into the network that the Playmaker was broadcasting ("Playmaker_AP") and then select the real network and enter the password, and then switch my iPhone back to the secure network and *bingo* I was playing music
Then I started fiddling with re-arranging the cables, and I lost the WiFi connection.
I tried resetting via the setup button, via power off/on, via the stable into the reset hole.
All to no effect ... I could not find the "Playmaker_AP" network.
So then I hard wired the Playmarker to my laptop and following the manual's instructions I got the Playmaker connected via the browser and was then able to check the configuration and found one "problem" ... the name was not longer "Playmaker_AP" but "Playmaker_xxxxxxxx" which I suspect is the serial number once the Playmaker has been configured.
Actually getting the Playmaker to restart seemed to be triggered by refreshing the configuration page in the browser .... not just clicking the save button so the documentation / interface prompts could be improved.
So we were back to playing music, but when I removed the ethernet cable from the back of the Playmaker it went on the blink again.
Eventually I was able to reset it by simply doing a power off/on restart.
The issue I think is that the device seems quite susceptible to its cables being wiggled -- the space for where the power cable crosses over the ethernet cable is quite constrained.
It also does not like being handled - not sure if my hands block the wifi signal or whether the cable got wiggled and there was a power drop out -- but it has happened twice.
So far we have played music from an iPhone, an iPod Touch, and a Macbook. The Playmaker "Playmaker_xxxxxxxx" shows up on the lists of airplay speakers along with our two ATVs. It does have a different symbol
We have tried splatting it while it plays with a burst of microwaves -- and there was no interruption.
The small light at the bottom and its states (white, green, orange, sold, flashing) are quite informative.
The central light flashes when you press [A.MEM] on a Beo4 indicating that it has recognised the command, Beo4 volume up, down, mute and un-mute then work.
You have no other Beo4 controls -- not even standby (the orange dot) has any success !!
The touch control volume control works and is not too bad a touch.
I don't think it looks too plastic ... its a dull textured finished, not shiny at all.
The box states that it is made in the Czech Republic.
So I would say my product experience may be a bit like yours, but I have persevered -- if it proves to be intermittent I think I would get frustrated, But after several hours of play time it has not dropped out.
FYI my network is driven by an Apple Time Machine.
BeoNut since '75
elephant: ... but prising off the cover took a 10 cent piece and left some marks
... but prising off the cover took a 10 cent piece and left some marks
Dear friend, you don't need a coin to dismantle the unit :
Procedure, tested and veryfied on my Playmakers:
- Towel on the desk- Playmaker "face down" - buttons and white LED towards you- One thand holding the unit on the "top side" and simultanously (using one finger - I prefer the thumb ) pushing the hook in the cable outlet "upwards" - Other hand (free choice of finger you're using) to lift the cover on the bottom side ...
Vienna: elephant: ... but prising off the cover took a 10 cent piece and left some marks Dear friend, you don't need a coin to dismantle the unit : Procedure, tested and veryfied on my Playmakers: - Towel on the desk- Playmaker "face down" - buttons and white LED towards you- One thand holding the unit on the "top side" and simultanously (using one finger - I prefer the thumb ) pushing the hook in the cable outlet "upwards" - Other hand (free choice of finger you're using) to lift the cover on the bottom side ...
Thank you !
I saw the mention of the towel in the instructions but did not read the rest very carefully ... my bad
I actually think your instructions are clearer than B&O's !!
You must remove the back cover from Playmaker to access the connection panel. > Place Playmaker on a soft cloth with the Bang & Olufsen logo facing downwards. > Remove the table stand (if already mounted). > Press firmly on the snap hook and lift off the back cover. BeoNut since '75
You must remove the back cover from Playmaker to access the connection panel.
> Place Playmaker on a soft cloth with the Bang & Olufsen logo facing downwards.
> Remove the table stand (if already mounted).
> Press firmly on the snap hook and lift off the back cover.
Interestingly Apple have just upgraded their ATV software to add support of Airplay speakers
And ... (drum roll) ... the PlayMaker appears on the ATV's list as a target speaker
But seems you can only have one set of speakers on at once, the native ATV or the Playmakers ... or the other ATV in the other room !
Yendys: Unfortunately I think I'll be returning my 2nd playmaker. I have a very reliable and robust Cisco network
Unfortunately I think I'll be returning my 2nd playmaker. I have a very reliable and robust Cisco network
This is a reason why I've not ditched my Airport Express network - something that has worked near flawlessly for years. I'd rather keep a system that's flawless, than move to something that is less flawless, but improves audio quality by a nominal level. The AE also extends the network, which is a bonus.
I'm annoyed with B&O at the moment. Our Beocom 5's, despite being replaced, still cause us embarrassing issues when on the phone to clients. They often crash and reset for no reason and sometimes the base crashes and the entire line goes down for ages. B&O just can't get some of the basics right when it comes to wireless management (Beolit 12, Beocom 5s, etc).
This morning, I was on an important call to a supplier and the base appeared to crash, then the phone reset. In the end, the supplier had to call me back on my mobile and ended up having the rest of the call - flawlessly - via the mobile.
I have experienced the same problem as yours exactly as you say and also elephant's. I almost gave up and want to return it. My dealer simply adivsed to manually change the channels on my wireless system as normally in the UK the BT home hub chooses the extreme channels in the default mode. Since then I have no dropouts for two weeks so far. I agree it is temperamental but the sound is very good in my opinion. I used to have the Sonos and sometimes I wished I kept that but I am a BO fan through and through.......
THe main criticisim of the PM i have is the lack of good software interface or a dedicated software app that can do all the functions of a Sonos (multiroom and multidevice control). All 3rd party apps are pretty crap. Try it and see............
Good luck
VInce
Beosound Stage, Beovision 8-40, Beolit 20, Beosound Explore.
vlohjr1: I have experienced the same problem as yours exactly as you say and also elephant's. I almost gave up and want to return it. My dealer simply adivsed to manually change the channels on my wireless system as normally in the UK the BT home hub chooses the extreme channels in the default mode. Since then I have no dropouts for two weeks so far. I agree it is temperamental but the sound is very good in my opinion. I used to have the Sonos and sometimes I wished I kept that but I am a BO fan through and through....... THe main criticisim of the PM i have is the lack of good software interface or a dedicated software app that can do all the functions of a Sonos (multiroom and multidevice control). All 3rd party apps are pretty crap. Try it and see............ Good luck VInce
So since you changed to a wireless channel which isnt the same as every one else uses, you haven't had any dropouts for two weeks? If that's he case, and I think it is from what you wrote, in what way is it "temperamental"
Yendys:Interestingly it is within a few cm of my wifi extender which shows up as excellent strength on the inSSIDer but playmaker led is red. Even when direct connected to the extender (bridge) with Ethernet cable it drops out too. With line In it percent it just unstable using airplay
With line In it percent it just unstable using airplay
Interesting -- so comments:
1/ I have not seen a red signal yet ... white, flashing white, flashing orange ... yes
2/ no drop outs today nor any yesterday since I stopped fiddling with cables etc
3/ I did experience a slight problem when I moved it today ... and I think it is my hand hold ... I now realise the two switches at the bottom are important (*doh*) and the mute is in the middle of the volume control dial:
3/ by the way scrolling the volume with the ridges is a nice tactile sensation
4/ I do not have line in attached ... maybe I should test that
5/ I did do the test of using an A3 as a TV in front of the Beolab 4s in the picture below but there was lag ... so maybe I will really test the line in except I now realise the A3 does not have a headphone/line out ... funny how one's perception of a product can change with new needs
elephant:Interesting -- so comments: 1/ I have not seen a red signal yet ... white, flashing white, flashing orange ... yes Beo-Ed :-)
moxxey: I'm annoyed with B&O at the moment. Our Beocom 5's, despite being replaced, still cause us embarrassing issues when on the phone to clients. They often crash