Again and again we read here one-star reviews on the Squeezebox Radio, related solely to problems with mysqueezebox.com. I can quite understand. The reviewers have purchased the Squeezebox Radio without first aufzuschlauen about what it actually is.
Indeed, it is no Internet radio called Squeezebox. It is a Squeezebox in the form of radio, because it was the first Squeezebox had an internal speaker. And despite its shape it works not at all like the usual Internet radio, but like the others Squeezebox: a powerful network player.
Your actual benefits from playing Squeezeboxes namely, if they have access to an appropriate local server, the Logitech Media Server, formerly Squeezebox Server, formerly SqueezeCenter, formerly SlimServer. By running all Squeezebox, and the Squeezebox Radio, on top form. About the example, one can stream your own music, moreover, in a number of formats (the Squeezebox Radio FLACs no more than CD resolution can), through which you can also manage their favorite Internet radio stations. With the LMS the Squeezebox Radio is growing according to the size of its collection sometimes a thousand times more CD changer.
Some install the LMS, for example on your Windows PC or laptop; although this is quite possible, of course it is annoying, always having to boot up and this computer for listening to music. Ideally, one has the LMS so on a eh permanently running server on which the own music is better off, at least a copy, as exclusively on the laptop. The server need not be a high-performance machine that eats a lot of space and power and makes noise, it is sufficient to power-saving and fanless small NAS (z. B. Qnap, Synology) or an even smaller plug server itself on the Raspberry Pi runs the LMS.
To criticism that the LMS is a stand-alone solution and UPnP / DLNA against an established standard, I can say the following: No DLNA server can match the functionality of the LMS. DLNA server like Twonky leave until today even miss the opportunity to change the order of tracks in a list, let alone random. The LMS has significantly fewer problems with large music collections than many DLNA server, but it has been developed precisely for this. Since the LMS is free and open source, there are no real worries about the future: If Logitech should set the development, which they have still not done, it is just forked and followed up by the Community. Incidentally, there is now a plugin for LMS, which makes him even on a DLNA server. And Last.fm-users should be said: There are again, for example a plugin.
The direct connection to mysqueezebox.com is little more than a stopgap, a crutch for those who do not want to run the Logitech Media Server, or in the event that the local server is not running times. For LMS users it makes sense if you are using Squeezebox at other sites and want to have the same radio station anywhere; your music collection can be about it of course does not synchronize. In local Internet radio mode with LMS contrast is mysqueezebox.com not needed at all; the LMS takes over the task to connect the Squeezebox with the Web radio servers.
Now to the Squeezebox Radio itself: Okay, it has only a mono speaker. But seriously: What would bring a two stereo speakers in such a small device, which would be mounted in the same small distance? Precious little. Better to mono, but the right. Because sound plays the Squeezebox Radio very much with the front. Even compared with a right established by and connected to the jack output of the Squeezebox Radio Tivoli PAL I could hardly find qualitative deficits.
Something very troublesome is the setting in the WLAN because the WPA passphrase is entered only with the big wheel. If the Radio has hooked into the WLAN, follow initially a few steps to configure. In network running Logitech Media Server will be found automatically. After ordering you then almost full access to its functions from a few special things, the more significant Squeezeboxes reserved. An operation on the device you should get used to quickly. Alternatively, remote control over apps, available for most mobile systems Squeezebox Radio (even for Maemo and MeeGo), via the web interface of the Logitech Media Server or via the optional remote control.
Of course, can also be the Squeezebox Radio in a multi-room system to include, along with everything else, which cooperates with the Logitech Media Server. You need to synchronize only the desired devices to each other what is going on the device itself. The synchronization can also pick up again on each connected device.
The Squeezebox Radio is perhaps the smallest Squeezebox, but also the only one with the battery compartment. Would be portable otherwise only a laptop or netbook with SqueezePlay or Squeezelite as player software, and then you still do not have speakers.
I can only strongly recommend that appreciate Squeezebox Radio as what it is: a small portable Squeezebox with integrated speakers. From firmware upgrade for UE Smart Radio I advise strongly reduces the functional painful.
All those who, when mysqueezebox.com again has failures and their lack of LMS Squeezebox Radio is not working properly, dispose the unit rage, I can only guess again: If they want to get rid of it, they should sell it. Prices of 100 and more will be paid for used Squeezebox Radio still. So you have money for a simpler alternative device, a fine little Squeezebox has a better home, and a Squeezebox Enthusiast has a (nother) Radio.
