1. About Squeezebox
2. Setup
3. Supported Formats
4. Networking
5. Using The Remote Control
6. Advanced Features
7. Troubleshooting
8. More Information

#### About Squeezebox

- Can I use multiple Squeezeboxes with a single server?
- What's the difference between Squeezebox Wired and Squeezebox Wireless?
- Can I play the same audio the Squeezebox is playing on my computer at the same time, synchronized?
- The fluorescent display looks great, but aren't those pretty expensive? Have you considered using a cheaper LCD display?
- Does Squeezebox support DHCP?
- What kind of wireless networks can Squeezebox connect to?
- What kind of impact will Squeezebox have on my wireless network?
- Does SlimServer support synchronization between SLIMP3 and Squeezebox?
- What kind of ethernet cable do I need? How long can it be?
- How fast does my network need to be to use Squeezebox?
- Which operating systems are supported?
- What are the minimum hardware requirements for the server computer?
- How can I get the source to the SlimServer software?
- Can I connect Squeezebox directly to my computer (without a hub)?
- 220V power supply? Will you ship internationally?
- Does Squeezebox have an integrated amplifier?
- Does Squeezebox have a digital S/PDIF output (Coax or TOSlink)?
- Can I use Squeezebox as an alarm clock?
- Does Squeezebox use file names or ID3 tags?
- Does Squeezebox have a random mode?
- Can the signal from the remote control be used for other things?

#### About Squeezebox

##### Can I use multiple Squeezeboxes with a single server?

Yes, you can have any number of Squeezeboxes on your LAN, using a single instance of the SlimServer software. Thanks to the efficient design of our software and streaming protocol, even a low-end PC can service more than a dozen Squeezeboxes. Each player operates completely independently of the others, so you can have different music playing in your garage, kitchen, bed room, living room... wherever! In addition, if you have multiple Squeezeboxes, you can synchronize them so that they play back the same audio in every room of your house.

##### What's the difference between Squeezebox Wired and Squeezebox Wireless?

Squeezebox Wired and Squeezebox Wireless share all the same features, including a built-in ethernet port. Squeezebox Wireless adds a built-in 802.11b wireless adaptor to connect to wireless networks.

##### Can I play the same audio Squeezebox is playing on my computer at the same time, synchronized?

Yes, this is possible through a program by Richard Titmuss named SoftSqueeze. Please note that SoftSqueeze is written in Java and requires Java 1.5 in order to synchronize, but for more information please see Richard's SoftSqueeze web site. SoftSqueeze is also now included in SlimServer. For more information on this, see the WebStart documentation.

##### The fluorescent display looks great, but aren't those pretty expensive? Have you considered using a cheaper LCD display?

We simply are not willing to compromise on the Squeezebox's interface. We evaluated several LCD displays from different manufacturers, but none came remotely close to the VFD in brightness and readability. Many were completely unreadable at a distance of just five feet. Fluorescent displays cost a bit more, and you get what you pay for!

##### Does Squeezebox support DHCP?

Yes, Squeezebox supports both DHCP and static IP addresses. It also has a feature called Slim Discovery Protocol, which automatically locates the SlimServer on your network. For LANs which already have a DHCP server, Squeezebox is ready to run out-of-the-box, without having to do any configuration. If you don't have DHCP, you can enter the IP addresses manually.

##### What kind of wireless networks can Squeezebox connect to?

Squeezebox can connect to any 802.11b compatible wireless network including Apple Airport, 802.11g, 802.11b/g, and 802.11a/b/g networks.

##### What kind of impact will Squeezebox have on my wireless network?

While streaming music, Squeezebox will use some network bandwidth. The amount of bandwidth depends on the bitrate of the audio file. MP3 files use up to 320k bits per second, AIFF, WAV, AAC and other formats may use up to 1.5M bits per second. A solid 802.11b network can generally support around 5M bits per second of data, even though it's rated for 11M bits per second. This means that you can support more than one Squeezebox on an 802.11 network, but the number depends on the audio data rate.

If you have an 802.11g network, adding 802.11b devices (including Squeezebox) will cause the overall performance of your network to drop. The overall network speed does NOT drop all the way to the speed of 802.11b devices, but the specific amount of that slowdown depends on the devices in your network.

##### Does Squeezebox support WEP? What about computer-to-computer or Ad Hoc networks?

Yes, Squeezebox supports both 128 bit and 64 bit WEP encryption. Squeezebox also supports both Infrastructure and Ad Hoc (aka computer-to-computer) wireless networks. Squeezebox does not yet support WPA security, but it's something we hope to support soon.

##### Does SlimServer support synchronization between SLIMP3 and Squeezebox?

Yes, SlimServer can sync multiple SLIMP3 and Squeezebox players. Software MP3 players cannot be synced with the hardware players due to the inability to control delay through the software players.

##### What kind of ethernet cable do I need? How long can it be?

Since Squeezebox ethernet interface is 10 megabit ethernet, you can use either a CAT3 or CAT5 ethernet cable. If you are connecting directly to a computer you will need a crossover cable, otherwise a regular straight cable will work just fine. (Note: Some Macintosh computers will work with either a regular or crossover cable.) The maximum length for 10base-T and 100base-T cables is 100 meters or about 328 feet, assuming that the appropriate type of wire is used and it is laid correctly.

##### How fast does my ethernet network need to be to use Squeezebox?

An inexpensive 10Mbps hub has about 25 times the capacity needed to stream MP3 audio at the highest quality (320Kbps). Typically, MP3s are encoded at 128Kbps to 192Kbps. You do not need 10/100 Ethernet; Squeezebox is compatible with fast Ethernet LANS, as long as your hub/switch also supports 10Mbps (most do).

##### Which operating systems are supported?

Squeezebox and SlimServer is officially supported under Windows 95/98/NT/2000/Me/XP, Linux, and Mac OS X. It is also known to work on a wide variety of other operating systems, so it's safe to say that just about any modern OS will be compatible. Squeezebox has been tested on all of the following platforms:

BeOS, FreeBSD, Linux (X86, PPC, and MIPS), Mac OS X, NetBSD (X86), OpenBSD, Solaris (X86, Sparc), Windows 95, 98, NT, 2000, Me, XP

##### What are the minimum hardware requirements for the server computer?

We have users with single Squeezeboxes using Pentium 166 PCs as servers with 64M of memory. We generally recommend a 300Mhz Pentium II with 128M of memory. You'll need more memory if your music library is large, approximately 32MB for each 15,000 songs. You may also need a faster CPU if you wish to use multiple Squeezeboxes with a single server computer. Any Macintosh capable of running OS X should be able to be a SlimServer.

##### How can I get the source to the SlimServer software?

The SlimServer software is Open Source (GPL) and available for download from the Slim Devices website. If you make any improvements, we encourage you to post them to our developers list so that they can be shared with the rest of our community and possibly added to the standard release.

##### Can I connect Squeezebox directly to my computer (without a hub)?

Yes, you can connect the player directly to your computer using an Ethernet crossover cable. You can purchase a crossover cable at most retail computer stores. Once you have this connection, you'll need to set up your network adaptor and Squeezebox with static IP addresses so that they can find each other.

##### 220V power supply? Will you ship internationally?

Squeezebox includes a regulated power supply with the correct plug style and input voltage for your shipping destination.

##### Does Squeezebox have an integrated amplifier?

Squeezebox has a small built-in amplifier which will power standard headphones of at least 16 ohms. The 1/8" headphone output is also ideal for connecting powered speakers. For large speakers, an external amplifier or receiver is required.

##### Does Squeezebox have a digital S/PDIF output (Coax or TOSlink)?

Yes! Both!

##### Can I use Squeezebox as an alarm clock?

Yes! Squeezebox can play daily alarms with music of your choice.

##### Does Squeezebox use file names or ID3 tags?

Squeezebox lets you browse your collection by file name or by ID3 tags.

##### Does Squeezebox have a random mode?

Yes. Squeezebox lets you play MP3s by artist, album, genre, from a playlist, by file, from a single folder, or from a folders of folders. You can shuffle the list at any time, add new songs to the list of songs and unshuffle to play them in order.

##### Can the signal from the remote control be used for other things?

Squeezebox sends the decoded IR signals directly to the server. It's possible to write plug-ins for the server that can control other programs or network devices from your computer.

#### Setup

- How do I use multiple folders or disks with my Music Library?
- How do I synchronize two Squeezeboxes so they play the same audio?
- How do I control Squeezebox from another computer?
- How do I get back to the player's IP address configuration menu?
- Can I listen to streaming stations without the SlimServer software running on my computer?
- Do I have to re-enter the IP address configuration when Squeezebox is power-cycled?
- How do I stop the SlimServer service that's running in the background on my Windows NT/2000/XP system?
- Where is my Preferences File?
- What is the MP3 Tag Database?
- Where does the MP3 Tag Database store it's data?
- What file format does the MP3 Tag Database use?
- What is the difference between the "Rescan" and "Wipe Cache" buttons?

#### Setup

##### How do I use multiple folders or disks with my Music Library?

You can create links or shortcuts to other folders and place them in your specified Music Library Folder. The contents of the linked folders will then be part of your Music Library.

##### How do I synchronize two Squeezeboxes so they play the same audio?

Navigate into the Player Settings area with the remote control. Choose Synchronize, then select the other player you want to synchronize with and press the RIGHT button. Both will play the same thing and you can control their synchronized playback from either remote. Go back to the same place and press RIGHT again to unsync.

You can also set up synchronziation from the Player Settings page in the web interface.

##### How do I control Squeezebox from another computer?

In any web browser, type in this URL: http://localhost:9000/. Replace "localhost" with the IP address for the computer running the SlimServer software.

##### How do I get back to the Squeezebox configuration menu?

Press and hold the POWER button on the remote for five seconds to reset Squeezebox and enter the configuration menu.

##### Can I listen to streaming stations without the SlimServer software running on my computer?

No. Squeezebox needs a SlimServer running in order to listen to streaming stations.

##### Do I have to re-enter the IP address configuration when Squeezebox is power-cycled?

No, you only have to enter it once. Squeezebox stores its configuration internally in flash memory. In the event of a power outage, Squeezebox will automatically connect to the server when the power comes back on, using its stored settings.

##### How do I stop the SlimServer service that's running in the background on my Windows NT/2000/XP system?

From the Administrative Tools folder, choose Services. You should see an entry in your service list for SlimServer. Right-click on it and choose STOP to stop the service. Right-click on it again to choose to start it.

##### Where is my Preferences File?

The location varies depending on the operating system you are using. The file which is found first will be the one that is used and changes will be written back out to this file.

Windows:

> The file will be c:\Program Files\SlimServer\server\slimserver.pref

Mac OS:

> The file is called slimserver.pref and located in $HOME/Library/SlimDevices

Linux:

> The server will use whichever file you specify on the command line using the --prefsfile option. If you use the supplied init.d script, this forces the file to be /etc/slimserver.conf .

> If no options are specified and the file /etc/slimserver.conf exists, it will be used, otherwise the file will be called .slimserver.pref and located in the home directory of the user running the Slim Server.

##### What is the MP3 Tag Database?

Instead of reading tags out of files every time the server is restarted, the tag database saves the data to a file and uses this when loading to speed up server start-up. This data is also used to speed up rescans.

##### Where does the MP3 Tag Database store it's data?

The data is stored in the same folder as the preferences file. Under Windows/Mac it will be called slimserver.db. Under unix it will be called .slimserver.db and stored in the home directory of the user running the Slim Server.

##### What file format does the MP3 Tag Database use?

The data is saved Perl's Storable module and is in that binary format. If you want external access to this data, we plan to export it as an XML file similar in format to the iTunes file but this has not been implemented yet.

##### What is the difference between the "Rescan" and "Wipe Cache" buttons?

The Rescan button should find any changes made to you music library. When the MP3 Tag Database is being used, it is possible that data in the cache can be corrupt. If that is the case, the "Wipe Cache" button can be used to make the server rebuild everything from scratch.

#### Supported Formats

- What ID3 tags and versions does SlimServer support?
- What compression format does Squeezebox use?
- Does Squeezebox support MP3Pro?
- Does Squeezebox support AAC?
- Does Squeezebox support AAC on Linux systems?
- Does Squeezebox support Windows Media or Real Player formats?
- Does Squeezebox support Ogg Vorbis?
- Does Squeezebox support AIFF or WAV?
- Does Squeezebox support FLAC?
- Does Squeezebox support Shorten (SHN)?
- Does Squeezebox support MusePack Compression (MPC)?
- Does Squeezebox support streaming protocols such as Shoutcast or Live365?
- Does Squeezebox support playlists?
- Does Squeezebox support CUE files?
- How do I get other file formats (transcoding) to work?
- Where do I put the lame, oggtools or other transcoding programs?
- Which versions of the transcoding programs should I use?

#### Supported Formats

##### What ID3 tags and versions does SlimServer support?

SlimServer scans MP3 files for ID3 tag versions 1.1, 2.2, 2.3 and 2.4. The tags it pays attention to include title, artist, album, comment, year, track number, disc set numbers, band/orchestra, composer and genre.

##### What compression formats does Squeezebox use?

Squeezebox supports MPEG 1/2, layers 2/3, for both VBR and fixed data rates up to 320Kbps (the maximum for MP3). Additionally, Squeezebox can play raw, uncompressed audio. This means that the original data from the CD is being played digitally, without any compression or loss of sound quality. The SlimServer software can automatically handle many formats, including Ogg Vorbis, Flac, and AAC.

##### Does Squeezebox support MP3Pro?

Squeezebox can play back MP3Pro files using the backwards compatibility feature of MP3Pro. Unfortunately, the audio quality in this mode has significantly reduced quality. We recommend encoding your music using standard MP3 format.

##### Does Squeezebox support AAC?

Yes. Unprotected AAC files (.m4a) that are created by iTunes can be played on Squeezebox. Squeezebox's hardware decoder supports MP3 and uncompressed formats for decoding. Under Mac OS X and Windows, SlimServer can uncompress AAC files and send the raw audio to the Squeezebox on-the-fly.

For use on some wireless networks where there is not enough bandwidth to stream uncompressed audio, please refer to this FAQ entry.

Please note that music purchased from the iTunes Music Store ("Protected AAC" (.m4p) files) is encrypted and cannot be played back with Squeezebox until Apple provides the necessary hooks to enable this. In the meantime, it is possible to burn your iTunes Music Store songs to CD and re-rip them as unprotected .m4a files.

##### Does Squeezebox support AAC on Linux systems?

AAC files can be played from SlimServer on Linux using a program called FAAD2. To get this working with SlimServer you must do the following:

1. Download the FAAD2 source code, compile it, and install it. (Note: It has been advised to use their latest CVS due to some bugs)
2. Download and install the latest nightly build of SlimServer.
3. Edit your convert.conf file to use FAAD2 instead of mov123:
   Comment the lines "mov aif * *" and " [mov123] $FILE$"
   Add two lines beneath the commented lines reading: "mov wav squeezebox *" then " [faad] -w -f 2 $FILE$"
4. Restart SlimServer

##### Does Squeezebox support Windows Media or Real Player formats?

Squeezebox does support WMA CBR, WMA VBR, and WMA Lossless encoded files (but not DRM protected files) when SlimServer is running on Windows. We hope to add support for streamed WMA and Real formats in the near future.

##### Does Squeezebox support Ogg Vorbis?

Yes. SlimServer will automatically convert Ogg files to raw PCM on the fly for playback. On Windows, Mac OS X, and Linux, the Ogg Vorbis decoder is included in SlimServer.

##### Does Squeezebox support AIFF or WAV?

Yes, Squeezebox support playback of AIFF and WAV files in their native digital PCM format.

##### Does Squeezebox support FLAC?

Yes. SlimServer will automatically convert FLAC files to raw PCM on the fly for playback. On Windows, Mac OS X, and Linux, the FLAC decoder is included in SlimServer.

##### Does Squeezebox support Shorten (SHN)?

Shorten is supported on UNIX operating systems, when a shorten decoder binary is available. Unfortunately it is not supported on Windows at this time, but we're working on it.

##### Does Squeezebox support MusePack Compression (MPC)?

Yes. SlimServer will automatically convert MPC files to raw PCM on the fly for playback. On Windows and Linux, the MusePack decoder is included in SlimServer.

##### Does Squeezebox support streaming protocols such as Shoutcast or Live365?

Yes! SlimServer supports all of the popular MP3 streaming protocols, including HTTP, Icecast/Shoutcast, and Live365.

##### Does Squeezebox support playlists?

Yes, Squeezebox has a sophisticated, easy-to-use playlist management system. It lets you easily create playlists from the remote control or the web interface. In addition, Squeezebox can use .m3u and .pls files.

##### Does Squeezebox support CUE files?

Yes. CUE files are interpreted as playlists containging a number of songs, corresponding to the tracks within a single MP3 file. CUE files can also be used to refer to index points within a single MP3 song.

##### How do I get other file formats (transcoding) to work?

You need to download the programs needed to convert between the file formats. You then install these as detailed in the next question so the Slim Server can find them.

##### Where do I put the lame, oggtools or other transcoding programs?

Under Windows, they should be placed in the C:\Program Files\SlimServer\server\Bin or the C:\Windows folder.

On the Mac, you can place executable programs in your Library/SlimDevices/bin folder, or in the system path.

Under linux they should be placed in the system path. That probably means /usr/local/bin. Most rpm packages will take care of that for you.

##### Which versions of the transcoding programs should I use?

As these programs evolve, the options that can be passed to them change. Generally you should always try to use the most recent version of a program you can find. Specific cases known about are listed below:

- ffmpeg: at least version 0.4.7 as prior versions do not have support for required options.

#### Networking

- How do I set up my firewall to allow Squeezebox to communicate with the server?
- Can I use a Network Attached Storage (NAS) device with my Squeezebox?

#### Networking

##### How do I set up my firewall to allow Squeezebox to communicate with the server?

Macintosh: You will have to create a new exception in the built-in firewall to allow the Squeezebox to connect to Slim Server. To do this:

1. Open System Preferences -> Sharing, and click 'Firewall'
2. Click 'New...' to create a new rule
3. For 'Port Name:' specify 'Other'
4. For 'Port Number, Range or Series:' specify '3483, 9000'
5. For 'Description:', specify 'Slim Server'
6. Click [OK], and ensure that your new exception is checked on.

Windows: Windows XP Service Pack 2 turns on a built-in firewall by default. You will need to configure the firewall to allow access to Slim Server. To do this:

1. Go to Control Panel
2. Click Security Center
3. Click Windows Firewall under 'Manage security settings for:'
4. Click the Exceptions tab

You will then need to add three exceptions for these ports by clicking 'Add Port...':

- Port number: 3483 (TCP) - Name: SlimServer Control
- Port number: 3483 (UDP) - Name: SlimDiscovery
- Port Number: 9000 (TCP) - Name: SlimServer Web

Third-party Firewalls: Examples of third party software firewalls include: Brickhouse, Norton Personal Firewall, Norton Security Center, PC-Cillin, BlackIce, McAfee Security Center, ZoneAlarm. You will need to configure your firewall software or hardware to allow connections to ports 3483, 9000 and 9090 for both UDP and TCP connections. Refer to the instructions that came with your firewall for details.

##### Can I use a Network Attached Storage (NAS) device with my Squeezebox?

The SlimServer software must be running in order to use the Squeezebox. So if the NAS device in question can have programs installed on it (for example the LaCie Ethernet Disk, or the Cobalt Qube), then it is supported. If the NAS device can not have programs installed on it, then you can still store your music files on a NAS device, but you'll still need SlimServer running on a computer with access to that device.

#### Using the Remote Control

- How can I control Squeezebox with my universal remote?
- How do I remove a song from my "Now Playing" playlist with the remote control? How do I clear the whole playlist?
- Why does my Squeezebox react when I'm controlling my DVD player?

#### Using the Remote Control

##### How can I control Squeezebox with my universal remote?

Squeezebox will respond to the infrared signals intended for a JVC DVD player. The instructions that came with your remote control tell you how to program your remote to send these codes. If you have a Philips Pronto remote, check the Plugins page on the Slim Devices website for some pre-programmed screens for this remote.

##### How do I remove a song from my "Now Playing" playlist with the remote control? How do I clear the whole playlist?

To remove a song from the "Now Playing" playlist, navigate to the "Now Playing" menu, scroll to that song in the playlist, then press the ADD button. If you press and hold the ADD button, the displayed song will be removed from the playlist and added to a special Saved Playlist called "Zapped Songs" for you to review later. To clear the whole playlist, navigate to the "Squeezebox Home" menu and scroll down until it says "Now Playing" on the second line. Press the ADD button and your playlist will be emptied.

##### Why does my Squeezebox react when I'm controlling my DVD player?

You may need to disable a remote for the Squeezebox in the same room as that DVD player. Go to Player Settings -> Additional Settings and deselect the remote file that corresponds to your DVD player.

#### Advanced Features

- Is it possible to stream from SlimServer to my computer using MP3 player software like WinAmp or iTunes?
- What are some of the URLs I can use to access special features on SlimServer?
- Can I control Squeezebox in other ways, besides using SlimServer and the remote control?
- Are there any extra pins on the CPU, or ways to expand Squeezebox?
- Can I stream DAB broadcasts to Squeezebox?
- How do I set up Squeezebox with a Psion Wavefinder?
- How do I add Plugins to the SlimServer software?

#### Advanced Features

##### Is it possible to stream from SlimServer to my computer using MP3 player software like WinAmp or iTunes?

Yes. Open this URL with your player application: http://localhost:9000/stream.mp3. (Replace "localhost" with the IP address of the computer that's acting as a server.) This will start the streaming from SlimServer. Initially, this will just be silence. Now use the web interface to control SlimServer. You'll see a new "player" corresponding to the IP address of the computer that's being streamed to. Now use the SlimServer web interface to browse and click on "Play" to choose some music to play back. You'll hear that music after a couple of seconds delay, due to buffering in the MP3 player software. If you are using SlimServer's password security, you'll need to use a slightly modified URL like this: http://username:password@localhost:9000/stream.mp3.

##### What are some of the URLs I can use to access special features on Squeezebox and SlimServer?

Replace "localhost" in the following URLs with the IP address of your SlimServer computer.

To display text on Squeezebox:
  http://localhost:9000/status.txt?p0=display&p1=Firstline&p2=secondline&p3=5
To get remote help:
  http://localhost:9000/html/remote.html
To stream from the SlimServer to a player like WinAmp or iTunes:
  http://localhost:9000/stream.mp3
To get the song selection and config web page:
  http://localhost:9000/home.html
To get the "Now Playing" and current playlist listing:
  http://localhost:9000/status.html

For more information, see the HTTP interface documentation.

##### Can I control Squeezebox in other ways, besides using SlimServer and the remote control?

Yes. Squeezebox has both an HTTP interface and a command-line style interface so you can control the player from your own scripts or from the command line. See the Technical Information section on the online documentation.

##### Are there any extra pins on the CPU, or ways to expand Squeezebox?

Squeezebox has an internal expansion connector - the Geek Connector - which will be supported with a future firmware revision. The Geek Connector provides power, i2c, rs-232, IR out/in, audio in/out, and general purpose I/O.

##### Can I stream DAB broadcasts to Squeezebox?

Yes, with a Psion Wavefinder.

##### How do I set up Squeezebox with a Psion Wavefinder?

These "get you going" notes are based on using another application called DABBar to control the Wavefinder. We have heard that WinDAB http://www.windab.co.uk works, although you might not be able to retune the Wavefinder directly from Squeezebox across multiplexes using WinDAB. Perhaps someone could post on that. DABBar does not need to be on the same machine as your SlimServer.

1. Download the latest version of DABBar from www.dabbar.co.uk. Install and check that it all works as expected.
2. Make sure you can access the inbuilt DABBar webserver from your machine using an address of http://localhost:8080&mdashthe last bit is the port that the server is running on and can be set from the http server tab in the DABBar Options. What you set it to is not critical; 8080 is a favourite standard choice.
3. Now try http://192.168.1.100:8080 replacing the ip address (192.168.1.100) with the ip address of your machine. This will help later in the cut and paste operations. You should see the same page as before.
4. There are two tidy ways to incorporate radio stations within Squeezebox: either you can create a file for each station and place them in your playlists folder on the SlimServer, or you can add several (or all) stations to one playlist (.pls) file and place that in your playlists folder. If you do the latter, then we suggest you name the file DABRadio or something similar. Then from the Squeezebox "Saved Playlists" menu you can press RIGHT to navigate into the playlist folder and press RIGHT again to navigate into the DABRadio playlist, then choose which station to play. When you select it the Wavefinder will retune automatically and start to play that station.
5. Create a blank text document with NotePad or a similar text editor.
6. Currently displayed in your web browser should be a list of all the stations that you can currently receive. Now I'm afraid for a little tedious copying of information. First we will create a single file for one station. RIGHT click on the top station name (in my case 1Xtra – BBC) and select `copy shortcut' – now move to your blank text document and paste the link there – probably something like http://192.168.1.100:8080/49706.m3u - the last 5 digit number is the crucial "ID" of the station and is the only bit of information that changes between all the different stations. Now you must alter the .m3u on the end of the pasted text to .mp2 so your text file now contains http://192.168.1.100:8080/49706.mp2 Save the text file with a name of "1Xtra.m3u"- note the extension .m3u. For each station that you want to receive you will have to create a text file , paste in the link, change the end bit and save it with a .m3u extension.
7. Now move this newly created file into your playlist directory on your SlimServer. It is not necessary to stop and start the server.
8. You should now be able to select the Squeezebox's "Saved Playlists" menu , press right arrow and using the up and down arrow you should find your new file. If you press play when it is selected (DABBar must be running) you should be rewarded with the station playing from Squeezebox, it may take a couple of seconds to tune in the Wavefinder.
9. For each station that you want to receive you should repeat the above steps 5) to 8).
10. Creating one playlist file allows all the stations to be incorporated in one file. It also allows the stations to be named in the file which may be useful later, (he said hopefully). Again create a blank text file with NotePad and create a document that looks like this below. We have chosen to include the first 4 stations. Note that the pasted links from your DABBar web page still have the .m3u replaced with .mp2

        [playlist]
        numberofentries=4
        File1=http://192.168.1.11:8080/49706.mp2
        Title1=1Xtra - BBC
        Length1=-1
        File2=http://192.168.1.11:8080/49707.mp2
        Title2=BBC 6 Music
        Length2=-1
        File3=http://192.168.1.11:8080/49708.mp2
        Title3=BBC 7
        Length3=-1
        File4=http://192.168.1.11:8080/49697.mp2
        Title4=BBC Radio 1
        Length5=-1
        Version=2

11. Then save this file as say "DABRadio.pls" – note the .pls extension, that's what makes it a recognisable as a playlist file. Again put this file into your SlimServers playlist directory and now you can select "Saved Playlists" and press right arrow, use the up and down arrows to find the new "DABRadio" file and you can press right arrow again to `navigate' into the file – once within the file you can use the up and down arrows again to select and then play a station. If you have a lot of items already in your playlists folder this tidies all the DAB radio stations into one place. The title information that's in the playlist file is not currently fully utilised by Squeezebox. It appears to select the station and then remains for a while on the bottom line of the Squeezebox display.
12. In version 1.4 of DABBar the metadata information or extra radiotext information transmitted by the station is relayed to Squeezebox and scrolls along the bottom line of the display. This currently overwrites the station name from the playlist. This is the same information that scrolls across the bottom of the DABBar display on the DABBar window on your PC. Version 1.4 is in `beta test' currently – keep watching the DABBar site for more information. - or contact me offlist.
13. So – before anyone asks the obvious – can you listen to different stations on different Squeezebox's or on your PC ?? Surprisingly the answer is YES ! as long as the stations are on the same multiplex. On the DABBar web page http://localhost:8080 you will see a column showing you on which multiplex the stations are located – I can currently receive three different multiplexes. All the BBC stations for example are on one multiplex. I guess you may even be able to leave your Wavefinder running at home and listen to your local station with your Squeezebox on the beach !
14. Finally – there is a record option within DABBar allowing you to save the stream to disk. Just select `Record' by right clicking on the station banner and chose a filename and MPEG Audio (Layer 2) – and away you go. Stop the recording and then move the file to your Squeezebox and you can play it ! There is an interface to DigiGuide too allowing you to schedule recordings so that they happen in your absence – it just keeps getting better.

Hope that helps a few – we are truly fortunate that Slim Devices provided mp2 capability within Squeezebox (thanks guys) – one of the few players that does – and also an ability to play 48Khz bitrates – again one of the few players to do this. If you managed to buy your Wavefinder at one of the recent discounted prices you have ended up with an awesome solution based on two very capable products that know nothing about each joining as one. Now how often does that happen ??? My thanks to Alistair MacDonald, author of DabBar for the magic that makes it all work !

We have pasted my complete playlist file below – maybe Slim Devices have a place on their website to store it as a downloadable file. While my station list will be somewhat different to yours I think that most of the stations are national and the ID's are consistent.

My local multiplex TWG-EMPA W.Yorks offers Classic Gold KISS Sunrise Radio and The Pulse so these probably won't work for you unless you're in Yorkshire ! Just paste the following into a text file and name it DABRadio.pls. If your Wavefinder is on the same PC as your SlimServer then tit should works as is – pop it in your Playlists file on SlimServer and navigate into the file, select and play ! If it's on a different PC then search and replace "localhost" by "192.168.1.100" or whatever ip address your Wavefinder is on and then save and move the file. There should be 24 replacements. Happy listening - Kevin

    [playlist]
    numberofentries=24
    File1=http://localhost:8080/49706.mp2
    Title1=1Xtra - BBC
    Length1=-1
    File2=http://localhost:8080/49707.mp2
    Title2=BBC 6 Music
    Length2=-1
    File3=http://localhost:8080/49708.mp2
    Title3=BBC 7
    Length3=-1
    File4=http://localhost:8080/49697.mp2
    Title4=BBC Radio 1
    Length5=-1
    File5=http://localhost:8080/49698.mp2
    Title5=BBC Radio 2
    Length5=-1
    File6=http://localhost:8080/49699.mp2
    Title6=BBC Radio 3
    Length6=-1
    File7=http://localhost:8080/49700.mp2
    Title7=BBC Radio 4
    Length7=-1
    File8=http://localhost:8080/49701.mp2
    Title8=BBC Radio 5 Live
    Length8=-1
    File9=http://localhost:8080/49718.mp2
    Title9=BBC Asian Network
    Length9=-1
    File10=http://localhost:8080/49720.mp2
    Title10=BBC World Service
    Length10=-1
    File11=http://localhost:8080/49825.mp2
    Title11=Classic FM
    Length11=-1
    File12=http://localhost:8080/52683.mp2
    Title12=Classic Gold
    Length12=-1
    File13=http://localhost:8080/50112.mp2
    Title13=Core
    Length13=-1
    File14=http://localhost:8080/50368.mp2
    Title14=D1 Temp
    Length14=-1
    File15=http://localhost:8080/50624.mp2
    Title15=D1 ten
    Length15=-1
    File16=http://localhost:8080/49612.mp2
    Title16=KISS
    Length16=-1
    File17=http://localhost:8080/50880.mp2
    Title17=Life
    Length17=-1
    File18=http://localhost:8080/51136.mp2
    Title18=OneWord
    Length18=-1
    File19=http://localhost:8080/49856.mp2
    Title19=Planet Rock
    Length19=-1
    File20=http://localhost:8080/51392.mp2
    Title20=PrimeTime Radio
    Length20=-1
    File21=http://localhost:8080/52939.mp2
    Title21=Sunrise Radio
    Length21=-1
    File22=http://localhost:8080/49344.mp2
    Title22=talkSPORT
    Length22=-1
    File23=http://localhost:8080/51632.mp2
    Title23=The Pulse
    Length23=-1
    File24=http://localhost:8080/49600.mp2
    Title24=Virgin Radio
    Length24=-1

    Version=2

##### How do I add Plugins to the SlimServer software?

Some Squeezebox owners have written "Plugins" for the SlimServer software that add functionality beyond what comes with the SlimServer software. A few of these have been included with the latest version of the SlimServer software.

To turn on the Plugins menu on Squeezebox, use the "Server Settings" web page and click on the Additional Server Settings link at the bottom of the page. Then click on "Add", next to the listing for the Plugins menu on this page.

You can find some of these plugins here on the Slim Devices website. To install these files, download them with your web browser and place them in the folder named "Plugins" that's inside your "server" folder. Double-check that the files have a ".pm" at the end of the file name. Now reboot or restart your server software. The new functions should appear in your Plugins menu.

Mac users: The Plugins folder is hidden within the SlimServer preference pane. Look in either the folder named Library at the top level of your hard disk or the Library folder in your Home folder. Inside one of these folders you should find a folder called "SlimServer.prefPane". Control-click on this folder and choose "Show Package Contents", then open the "contents" folder, then the "server" folder, then the for a folder called "Plugins". Place the downloaded plugins files in this folder. Note: If you upgrade your SlimServer software, you'll need to re-install any plugins you may have added.

Windows Users: The Plugins folder is installed by default here: C:\Program Files\SlimServer\server\Plugins

#### Troubleshooting

- The SHOUTcast Internet Radio plugin can't connect, how can I fix this?
- My Squeezebox seems to lose its wireless connection quite often. What can I do to make the wireless connection more stable?
- I installed Windows XP Service Pack 2, and my SliMP3 or Squeezebox no longer find Slim Server.
- After several minutes my player turns off and stops responding. What's going on?
- I'm having trouble connecting my Squeezebox to a wireless network with WEP enabled.
- I'm trying to play AAC files on my Squeezebox over a wireless network and the audio sometimes pauses or breaks up.
- The IR remote is not responding, or is functioning erratically.
- SLIMP3 doesn't find a DHCP server.
- The player doesn't find a SlimServer.
- My Squeezebox, connected to a Windows XP system, makes audio that comes out intermittantly, or in little bursts and the elapsed time counter skips around.
- The volume is too high or too low.
- There's something wrong with the audio quality. I hear buzzing and clicks. How can I fix this?
- I'm seeing messages in the SlimServer's console or debug window, but the server seems to be running fine.
- Some parts of the web interface are not showing up correctly.
- I'm having trouble using a network shared volume as my music library on Windows. It says that the path isn't valid. What's up?
- I can't seem to get the SlimServer software to run under RedHat Linux 9.0. There's an error about "Time::HiRes" when it starts up.
- A while after the SlimServer software starts, it locks up or starts using a huge amount of memory and CPU, even without playing any music. What's up?
- I'm using the SlimServer software as a Windows service but the performance isn't good. The music sometimes is choppy and the menus aren't very responsive, especially when it's scanning my music library. What can I do?
- How do I access my iTunes playlists if I am using iTunes on Microsoft Windows?
- Some of the songs in my iTunes library don't show up on Squeezebox or say STOPPED when I try to play them. What's up?
- On my Macintosh, I tried creating an alias to another folder with music, but the SlimServer won't recognize it. What am I doing wrong?
- I was ripping a CD with iTunes while the SlimServer software was running and the songs didn't appear in my music library. What happened?
- The web interface won't show up, even though Squeezebox is working.
- I'm having trouble upgrading the firmware on Squeezebox. Do you have any hints?
- When my SLIMP3 plays a song, it sounds jittery, chirpy, or distorted, like the song is being fast-forwarded or skipping. What could cause this?
- The SlimServer software and the player can't find each other, but the web interface is working fine.
- I'm having trouble upgrading the firmware on my SLIMP3 Player. Do you have any hints?
- The SlimServer software seems to be connecting to a website on its own every time I run the software. What's going on?
- When the SlimServer software pages reload I hear an annoying click. How do I get rid of it?
- Where does the system write it's logfile and how do I control this?
- On Windows XP, Slim Server hangs on startup, and sometimes the debug window says there is another copy running, how do I fix this?
- I have some audio files or radio stations that do not play when using the digital outputs on my Squeezebox, but do with the analog. Why?
- On Linux/UNIX, my player flashes rapidly through song titles but does not play them.

#### Troubleshooting

##### The SHOUTcast Internet Radio plugin can't connect, how can I fix this?

If you have any firewall software on the system in question, ensure that it allows outgoing connections initiated by the computer.

This can also be caused by content filtering applications like CYBERsitter. You may want to try disabling or removing that software and see if the problem goes away.

##### My Squeezebox seems to lose its wireless connection quite often. What can I do to make the wireless connection more stable?

There are several things you can do. Please note that if you are hearing audio dropouts, these settings may not affect this performance. This FAQ just contains some tips on how to optimize your network. If you are hearing audio dropouts with AAC audio, please see this FAQ entry. First off, here are some basic things that anyone can do:

- Ensure that you have the latest firmware for your wireless access point. Vendors often make fixes to improve their wireless capabilities after a product has first shipped, so it's good to keep it up-to-date.
- Try restarting your wireless access point/router and see if its behavior improves after the restart. If it does, it's possible that there is a hardware malfunction in the WAP/router that may need addressing.
- Try reorienting the antenna of the Squeezebox. The most effective way to do this is to restart your Squeezebox by holding down the power button for 5 seconds. When it says "Welcome to Squeezebox" press the right button on the remote. Instead of going into "Setup networking", press up to go to "View Current Settings"--then press right and find the Wireless signal strength. With this on the display, you can move the antenna around to see what orientation gives you the best signal strength at the player's location.
- Try to keep both your Squeezebox and your access point somewhat free of obstacles. If you have the Squeezebox inside a wood and glass entertainment center, try placing it on top of the unit. If your access point is under a desk, try putting it on top of the desk. Either of these can make a large improvement.
- Try a more directional antenna, and point it directly towards your access point. There are several available at stores like Fry's, Best Buy, or other similar stores. The Squeezebox has a reverse-polarity SMA connector, so many off-the-shelf antennas will work. Some of our users have reported success with D-Link and Hawking Technologies antennas.

Now for some more advanced troubleshooting:

- On Windows you can use a program called Netstumbler to find out more about nearby networks. On MacOS, you can use a program called MacStumbler. Both of these excellent tools will give you knowledge to do the following steps...
- Ensure that your access point does not overlap with any nearby stations on any channels. For more information on channel overlap see this informative guide.
- If you are an area with a lot of wireless networks and can not avoid a channel overlap, try to put your access point on a station with very low signal strength as reported by one of the above tools.
- If your Squeezebox is in close proximity to the access point but you are seeing low signal strength, you may want to try lowering the transmit rate (sometimes called Multicast Rate) on the access point. Some access points default to a high rate (up to 11Mbps), but you get a stronger signal from higher distances if this value is lower (1-2 Mbps)...
- You can also try enabling interference robustness on your access point if supported. This may decrease range, but should improve your signal.

##### I installed Windows XP Service Pack 2, and my SliMP3 or Squeezebox no longer find Slim Server.

Windows XP Service Pack 2 turns on a built-in firewall by default. You will need to configure the firewall to allow access to Slim Server. To do this:

1. Go to Control Panel
2. Click Security Center
3. Click Windows Firewall under 'Manage security settings for:'
4. Click the Exceptions tab

You will then need to add three exceptions for these ports by clicking 'Add Port...':

- Port number: 3483 (TCP) - Name: SlimServer Control
- Port number: 3483 (UDP) - Name: SlimDiscovery
- Port Number: 9000 (TCP) - Name: SlimServer Web

##### After several minutes my player turns off and stops responding. What's going on?

Make sure that your energy saver settings on your computer are set so that your computer doesn't go to sleep. If it does, your player will go to sleep as well.

If you installed SlimServer to not start up automatically, and are using a screen saver on Windows, this can halt the server as well. If that's the case, it's recommended to reinstall SlimServer to start automatically.

If that's not the problem, make sure that the IP address on your computer isn't changing. To do this, adjust your TCP/IP settings to use a static IP address.

##### I'm having trouble connecting my Squeezebox to a wireless network with WEP enabled.

Double check that the WEP key that you have entered is correct.

If you have an Apple Airport Basestation, you may need to use Apple Airport Admin to obtain your WEP key in the hex format that the Squeezebox expects, it's available under the Base Station menu item Equivalent Network Password.

Also, make sure that your access point is configured to use Shared-Key Authentication, not Open-System Authentication.

##### I'm trying to play AAC files on my Squeezebox over a wireless network and the audio sometimes pauses or breaks up.

This may be caused by insufficient speed in your wireless network. Here's why:

By default SlimServer will uncompress AAC files on the server side and send the uncompressed audio to the Squeezebox. Uncompressed audio at 16-bit resolution with 44.1kHz sampling rate, stereo, ends up around 1600 kilobits per second— as opposed to the compressed AAC bitrate which is typically around 128 kilobits per second.

When operating wirelessly on both ends of the network (i.e. wireless from computer -> base station, and base station -> Squeezebox), that data rate doubles. So you're trying to seend more than 3 megabits per second over 802.11b.

In theory, this should not be a problem, but it can be in the real world. 802.11b has an absolute maximum data rate of 11 megabits per second. Typical throughput to a given wireless client on an 802.11b network rarely ever exceeds 3-5 megabits per second.

For better AAC performance over wireless, you can reconfigure the server to convert the AAC audio to a very high quality MP3 format. To do this, you'll first need to install an MP3 encoder called LAME.

Mac Users:

- Download the iTunes-LAME plugin, and drag the iTunes-LAME program from the top left to the bottom right alias (following the arrow).

Windows Users:

- Download LAME 3.96 from one of these mirror sites
- Extract two files LAME.EXE and LAME_ENC.DLL and copy them to C:\Program Files\SlimServer\server\bin\

Then in Player Settings for your Squeezebox, set a Bitrate Limit of 320, and you should notice an improvement.

##### The IR remote is not responding, or is functioning erratically.

Make sure the batteries in your remote are fresh and installed properly and that you have installed the latest SlimServer software and firmware. Make sure your player is not located near another source of IR light, such as an optical mouse. Turn off your dragon plasma orb.

If you have one of the old Sony universal remotes try the following steps:

1. Take the batteries out, wait a few minutes, and then install fresh batteries and then reprogram the remote.
2. Make sure the remote is in the correct mode—press the DVD button.
3. Make sure is it programmed correctly. Press: S, DVD, 0, 0, 7, ENT
4. To control the volume via the remote, press: S, TV, 0, 2, 8, ENT, DVD, S, TV, VOL+, ENT

##### SLIMP3 doesn't get past "Looking for DHCP server...".

Check all your network connections, and make sure that the DHCP server is running. Try a different Ethernet cable, even if the hub indicates a good link.

##### The player doesn't find a SlimServer

Ensure that the SlimServer software is running, and that you can access it using a web browser.

Firewall software can also cause the server to not respond. Ensure that you've allowed access to Slim Server in your firewall software.

##### My Squeezebox, connected to a Windows XP system, makes audio that comes out intermittantly, or in little bursts and the elapsed time counter skips around.

First, install the newest driver from Intel. It's available here: http://support.intel.com/support/network/adapter/index.htm#PRO

Once you have the latest version, to disable the feature in question:

1. Right click My Computer and click Properties
2. Click the Hardware tab and click Device Manager
3. Click the + next to Network adapters and double-click your ethernet adapter
4. Click Advanced, and select Offload TCP Segmentation.
5. Set the Value: field to Disabled and click OK.

##### The volume is too high or too low.

Squeezebox is capable of slightly higher volume levels than most consumer audio gear and may cause clipping with some receivers. If you notice clipping, you may wish to reduce Squeezebox's volume level. If the volume is too low even at the maximum setting or if it varies between tracks, try using your encoder's normalize setting to ensure that all your tracks use the full range.

##### There's something wrong with the audio quality. I hear buzzing and clicks. How can I fix this?

Make sure that the audio cables are connected firmly to both Squeezebox and your amplifier. Also, make sure you aren't using the "phono" input on your amplifier, as it may have the wrong impedance. Finally, try to keep the volume level on the output of Squeezebox as high as possible and use the volume control on your amplifier whenever possible. This will reduce the loudness of any analog noise or interference by keeping the output levels from Squeezebox as high as possible.

##### I'm seeing messages in the SlimServer's console or debug window, but the server seems to be running fine.

Any such messages may be safely ignored—they're for troubleshooting in case you have problems later.

##### Some parts of the web interface are not showing up correctly.

The SlimServer's web interface is available in several different "skins". Some skins use JavaScript, Java, CSS, or other elements that may not be available in all browsers. The "Default" skin is very simple, and should render correctly in all web browsers. To change the skin, open the web interface and go to the "Additional Server Settings" area.

##### I'm having trouble using a network shared volume as my music library on Windows. It says that the path isn't valid. What's up?

If you are running on Windows NT, 2000 or XP, SlimServer is running as Windows service. Windows services do not have permission to use networked drives by default. You will need to run the SlimServer service as a user who has permission to use the shared volume. To do this, visit Control Panels -> Administrative Tools -> Services. Find SlimServer and double-click to view the properties. Click on the Log On tab, then click This Account and enter the account information for the user account that has access to the network volume. (Note: The user account for the service must be protected by a password for this to work.)

If you are still having problems, or are using Windows 98, try using a UNC-style path to specify your music library in the Server Settings page. Instead of X:\path for a mounted volume, use \\SERVER\path\ style addressing. This may work for some servers where direct volume letter mapping does not.

##### I can't seem to get the SlimServer software to run under RedHat Linux 9.0. There's an error about "Time::HiRes" when it starts up.

The default installation of Perl on RH9 doesn't include Time::HiRes as it should. There's a binary perl-Time-HiRes-1.38-3.i386.rpm RPM on disk 2 of the RedHat install that works fine and is what you need to get the SlimServer software running under RH9. I also found a copy on the net that worked for me. As root, use this command to install it from the net:

rpm -i http://www.slimdevices.com/downloads/misc/perl-Time-HiRes-1.38-3.i386.rpm

##### A while after the SlimServer software starts, it locks up or starts using a huge amount of memory and CPU, even without playing any music. What's up?

Check to make sure that any playlists in your music library contain valid paths to music files in your library. Playlists that refer to themselves or other folders in your library, or playlist entries that refer to disks that aren't available can cause the SlimServer software to get confused.

If this isn't the problem, try moving all of your music files out of the library and then move them back in groups and restarting the server. Try to find, by process of elimination, which files are confusing the SlimServer software.

If you have a very large music library, it can take a long time to scan and possibly use up a lot of memory. There are a couple of tricks you can use to optimize this process though. Try disabling Album Artwork in "Server Settings", "Additional Server Settings", "Performance". Also enable MP3 Tag Caching.

##### I'm using the SlimServer as a Windows service but the performance isn't good. The music sometimes is choppy and the menus aren't very responsive, especially when it's scanning my music library. What can I do?

By default, Windows doesn't give high priority to services and the SlimServer software sometimes needs a fair amount of CPU. To work around this, open your "Control Panels", and then open the "System" control panel. On the "Advanced" tab, find the "Performance" section and click on "Settings". On the "Advanced" tab, choose "Backround Services" under "Processor Scheduling". Click "OK" and the SlimServer software will now get more CPU cycles and perform better.

##### How do I access my iTunes playlists if I am using iTunes on Microsoft Windows?

If SlimServer doesn't find your iTunes Music Library, it may not show iTunes as a choice in the Server Settings area. In order to have Slim Server access your iTunes Library on Windows, you may need to:

1. Set your music folder in Slim Server's Server Settings to the folder iTunes keeps its xml database in. (Usually C:\Documents and Settings\Your-Username\My Documents\My Music\iTunes\) and click Change.
2. Click the refresh button in the browser.
3. Go back into Server Settings and an 'Use iTunes' option will appear. Select it and click Change again.

Now your iTunes playlists should show up under Saved Playlists on the player and in the web interface.

##### Some of the songs in my iTunes library don't show up on Squeezebox or say STOPPED when I try to play them. What's with that?

If you've moved your iTunes music files around, iTunes can export incorrect information about the songs in its library. You'll need to make sure that iTunes has the correct folder for your music library. Visit the iTunes Preferences and click on Advanced. If the path to your Music Library folder is incorrect, you'll need to fix it. If it is correct, try changing it to a different folder and then change it back to the correct folder. iTunes will then update the paths to all your music and export that data correctly. (This process won't move any of your music, but it will force iTunes to scan your music library and update the paths to all the songs.)

One other problem that Mac users might encounter is that under Panther, external drives don't automatically get mounted at startup time until the user logs in. This means that if you don't have automatic logon turned on and you keep your music on an external drive, the SlimServer won't be able to find your music files. One way to get around this is to set SlimServer to start at login. Another, more complicated, solution is listed here.

If this doesn't resolve your problem, iTunes might get confused if you changed the "Keep Music Folder Organized" or "Add Track Number" settings in iTunes. Try changing them and then changing them back to have iTunes update the correct information about your music files.

##### On my Macintosh, I tried creating an alias to another folder with music, but the SlimServer software won't recognize it. What am I doing wrong?

Mac OS X aliases are not supported by the SlimServer software yet. Symbolic links, however, are but they require a little more work to create. Here's a brief tutorial on doing so.

##### I was ripping a CD with iTunes while the SlimServer software was running and the songs didn't appear in my music library. What happened?

iTunes can get confused if it's trying to update its music library while the SlimServer software is importing it. If this happens frequently, we recommend you stop the SlimServer software when you are ripping music.

##### When my SLIMP3 plays a song, it sounds jittery, chirpy, or distorted, like the song is being fast-forwarded or skipping. What could cause this?

There is probably a problem with the MTU setting for your network interface. VPN clients such as the Cisco VPN client utility may change your machine's MTU setting from the default. This causes the fast-stuttering on the SLIMP3. If you have the Cisco client installed, run the included Set MTU utility and change the MTU setting to "default" for your network adapter. Reboot your machine to implement the change.

If you aren't using the Cisco VPN client, then check the settings for your network interface and make sure that the MTU is set to 1500. There is some additional information for changing your MTU setting here.

Another approach is to visit the SlimServer software web page for Server Settings -> Additional Server Settings -> Network and change the setting for "Maximum number of bytes of audio data to send to player in a UDP packet" to a lower number. Note that this approach will reduce the efficiency of your network.

##### The web interface won't show up, even though the player is working.

Try using the following URL: http://127.0.0.1:9000/. (Be sure to type the "http://" part, as some versions of Internet Explorer require it when accessing a URL by IP address.)

##### The SlimServer software and the player can't find each other, but the web interface is working fine.

Here are some things to try:

- Make sure your network settings are entered correctly. Double-check.
- Make sure that SlimServer is still running and has not been stopped.
- If you have any firewall software installed, configure it to allow communications between your server computer and your player.
- Make sure that your ethernet hub or switch supports 10Mbps connections (most do, but some do not).
- Also try a different cable.
- Try to use your systems "ping" utility to try to connect to your player. If you get a message claiming 100 percent packet loss, there could be a network problem or misconfiguration.
- Ensure that your player has an IP address on the same subnet as the server. This usually means that the first 3 numbers of their IP addresses have the same values.
- If using a wired player and there is a long run of ethernet cable in use, ensure that it is terminated with EIA/TIA 568A standard termination.

##### I'm having trouble upgrading the firmware on Squeezebox. Do you have any hints?

If Squeezebox is connected to the SlimServer software, you can press and hold the BRIGHTNESS button on the remote for 5 seconds to start the upgrade process.

If the firmware upgrade failed and the display reads "Ready to update this Squeezebox" and indicates the IP address for the player, then you can open up this URL: http://localhost:9000/firmware.html. This page will have a place for you to enter the IP address displayed on Squeezebox. Click Submit to begin the upgrade process.

If the firmware on Squeezebox is corrupted, it may be reset to the IP address "192.168.1.69". If this happens AND the IP address of the computer running the SlimServer software does not begin with 192.168.1, you may need to change the network settings temporarily on the SlimServer computer to an IP address that does, such as 192.168.1.65, in order to peform the firmware update.

##### I'm having trouble upgrading the firmware on my SLIMP3 Player. Do you have any hints?

Try following these steps:

1. Plug the SLIMP3 device and the computer with the updater into the same hub or switch. (Do not attempt to upgrade your firmware over a wireless network.) Power the hub or switch off and then back on.
2. Remove the power connector from the back of the SLIMP3 device.
3. Stop the SlimServer software.
4. Run a browser and check that the SlimServer software has REALLY stopped.
5. Point the remote at the right side of the SLIMP3, hold down a numeric key, and reconnect the power plug to the SLIMP3. You should see the SLIMP3 display its MAC address. If not then unplug the DC power connector from the device, wait 30 seconds and try this operation again. The SLIMP3 device MUST be displaying its MAC address before you can update the firmware. Write down the MAC address that the SLIMP3 is showing.
6. Start the updater application:
   - On Windows, the SLIMP3 Updater is in Program Files\SlimServer\firmware.
   - Mac users can find the SLIMP3 Updater application in the Utilities folder of the SlimServer installer disk image.
   - On Linux, the firmware updater is /usr/local/bin/slimserver/slimp3/update_firmware.pl.
7. You will be prompted to enter the SLIMP3 MAC address in the form 00:04:20:xx:xx:xx - enter the exact same MAC address that the sliMP3 displayed in (5) at the updater prompt.
8. The updater will then ask for an IP address so enter the IP address that you have assigned to the SLIMP3 device or, if you have a DHCP server, then enter an address in the DHCP pool.
9. The updater may ask if you want to use "Kiosk" - you answer with "y" or "N". Use "N" if you are having problems getting the SLIMP3 running - use the Kiosk mode once everything is working.
10. The updater will immediately start trying to update the SLIMP3 device at this point-this will take about 30 seconds.

If the update succeeds and you find that the remote control does not work then you may have de-programmed the remote when you where holding down a key to get the SLIMP3 into boot mode. Try resetting remote.

If the updater fails to write to the SLIMP3 device then there is some sort of communications error. Check the following:

- Is the SLIMP3 in "firmware update" mode?
- Are you certain that the SlimServer software has stopped?
- Could there be another copy of the SlimServer software running?
- Did you enter the correct MAC address?
- Is it really the correct MAC address?
- Did you enter the correct IP address?
- Is it really the correct IP address?
- Can you ping the SLIMP3 device?
- Check that you CANNOT ping the SLIMP3 device when you have disconnected it from the network to make sure that some other device isn't using that IP address.

##### The SlimServer software seems to be connecting to a website on its own every time I run the software. What's going on?

The SlimServer software connects to the server update.slimdevices.com every time it starts up and every 24 hours after that to check for updates. You can disable this feature in the Additional Server Settings area of the SlimServer.

##### When the SlimServer software pages reload I hear an annoying click. How do I get rid of it?

This is a "feature" of Internet Explorer on Windows. To turn off the annoying "click" when exploring/ clicking on hyperlinks, navigate to Start Menu / Settings / Sounds and Multimedia / Sounds. Look for the sound settings: Windows Explorer / Start Navigation and change the selected sound to "none".

##### Where does the system write it's logfile and how do I control this?

On all systems, the lastest log entries can be seen on http://serverip:9000/log.txt.

Log entries can also be written to a file which can specified using the --logfile command line option.

Under Linux if using the standard init.d script the default path for log files is /tmp/slimserver.log . The path is controlled by the "SLIMSERVER_LOG" entry in the /etc/sysconfig/slimserver file.

##### On Windows XP, Slim Server hangs on startup, and sometimes the debug window says there is another copy running, how do I fix this?

This seems to happen on Windows XP when the IP stack is keeping erroneous information or just not functioning properly. Microsoft has published a knowledge base article about it. But the short of it is that you need to run one command to reset the stack. To do this:

1. Click Start
2. Click Run
3. Type in "cmd" and hit enter
4. In the DOS window, type in "netsh int ip reset c:\resetlog.txt" and hit enter.
5. Try to start Slim Server again

##### I have some audio files or radio stations that do not play when using the digital outputs on my Squeezebox, but do with the analog. Why?

What you should probably check is the sampling rate of the audio file or stream in question. If it's lower than 44.1kHz, that could explain why it's not working with the digital output. S/P-DIF, the signal sent over the optical and coaxial digital outputs, supports sampling rates of 44.1kHz and 48kHz.

Some receivers may auto-sense whether a digital or analog signal is in use, as well. If your receiver supports digital and analog connections for the input you are using, you may want to connect both. That way, when an audio signal that is not compatible with S/P-DIF is sent to the Squeezebox is sent, your receiver may automatically switch to the analog input.

##### On Linux/UNIX, my player flashes rapidly through song titles but does not play them.

Your file permissions may not be allowing SlimServer to read the audio files properly. SlimServer runs under the user "slimserver" on Linux. Make sure that your music files have their permissions set so that the "slimserver" user can read the files in your music library.

#### More Information

- Where can I find more information?
- Whom may I contact for help?

#### More Information

##### Where can I find more information?

Check out the Help area at the bottom of the SlimServer software home page, or visit the support area of our website at http://www.slimdevices.com/. There are also active user forums that you can join here.

##### Whom may I contact for help?

We welcome email to support@slimdevices.com, or call us at +1 650 210 9400.