Wi-Fi speakers?

Inky Pete · Post by **Inky Pete** » Sun May 13, 2007 5:50 pm

Ok, so I've now got loads of music on my PC in the dining room and it'd be nice to be able to play it in other rooms in the house without running cables everywhere.

Does anyone know of a way I can use my Wi-Fi network to achieve this?

skiking · Post by **skiking** » Sun May 13, 2007 6:21 pm

You need something like a XBox360/PS3 or a Media device.

I'm after being able to do a similar thing but with TV content. The principle is the same but I'm not totally think the technology is quite there yet (altho' it seems straightforward to me) at a realistic price.

village idiot · Post by **village idiot** » Sun May 13, 2007 9:34 pm

does it not also come under broadcast regulations?
there was talk about banning the ipod transmitters for cars as they broadcast music

skiking · Post by **skiking** » Sun May 13, 2007 9:51 pm

Ipod transmitters were banned under the Wireless Telegraphy Act of 1949 but the act was amended to allow for the new technology and from 8th December 2006 these were legal. However, this only applies to low powered transmitters, high powered are still banned without a licence.

The issue talked about here about sending music/TV via wifi in the house should not fall foul of the rules of the ipdo transmitter as the technology is totally different - ipod was using the FM frequency.

moon133 · Post by **moon133** » Mon May 14, 2007 9:32 am

WiFi sound would not be banned under legislationj for 2 reasons

a) It low power, hence is not subject to a licence
b) You're not actually broadcasting music in that same way an Ipod transmitter does. Ipod transmitters use analouge radio, WiFi uses Digital radio.

Radio broadcasting basics.......

Everything that is broadcast by radio in done on a carrier wave.

In Analouge radio the sound wave is placed onto the carrier wave directly. This is then broadcast. The frequency that you tune into is the carrier wave frequency. The radio removes the carrier wave from the radio wave recevievd and plays the resultant wave through the speaker, the sound wave.

In digital broadcasting, the same applies but for 1 thing. The soundwave is digitalised (turned in to a mp3 file in effect) and the resultant file is put on the carrier wave as 1's and 0's and broadcast.
The DAB Radio, receives the radio transmission. removes the carrier wave and the result is a mp3 file. It then has to play the wav file using a processor found in all mp3 player, (and DAB Radios).

Now onto WiFi.
WiFi is almost the same as DAB but using different frequencies. The radio signal is a carrier wave with data in it not sound. WiFi is designed purely for data transmissions.

Now the sad bit.
All the technology exsits to do what you want. I just haven't seen anyone do it yet. Whether it be because a market has not been seen for it, or because legislation prevents it, I don't know.

Basically you'll need a device at every location you want a speaker that can recieve from WiFi, and play music files into a external source. If you research Google enough you may find someone who has done it. I know of a BlueTooth device that does something like you want (But its not fantastic!)

skiking · Post by **skiking** » Mon May 14, 2007 9:51 am

This is one of the first systems easily available but the cost is quite alot considering the technology involved. Alot of people with broadband will probably already have WiFi in the house, the rest is down to s/w to read data off a central area (desktop, PS3, XBox360) and stream it elsewhere where that data is converted and played.

I'm not sure if there is no market for it - altho' I can't see why as I want it and the OP wants it - and its not breaking any legal requirements as everything is already there. In my case all my music is stored on a PC and I stream to a laptop if I'm in a different room using WiFi network. Can also be done with XBox360 and PS3. I just want a small, discrete system and for less than £100 over the top of PC/WiFi network.

moon133 · Post by **moon133** » Mon May 14, 2007 11:12 am

It is proberly using WiFi technology (Rather than BlueTooth) but with data formats that are design soley for this system.

You never know it might be using a low power FM frequency for the stations.

BTW 20W, per station ouput isn't very big is it!

Sonos do a really expensive system (£900+) that is exactly what you are looking for!!!! (http://www.sonos-uk.co.uk/page/home.asp)

I get a feeling, this technology is still rich kid stuff. Give it a few years, and it be cheaper. It's what all gadgets do (Look at plasma TV's! £2000+ a couple of years ago!)

Inky Pete · Post by **Inky Pete** » Mon May 14, 2007 2:20 pm

I asked the same question on another forum and got pointed in the direction of this:-

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Magicbox-Imp-Adap ... dZViewItem

or this:-

http://www.currys.co.uk/martprd/store/c ... ll&tm=null

both of which can apparently play audio files streamed from the PC over Wi-Fi, as well as playing the internet radio stations.