How Can I Use a PC to Control my [Logitech] Squeezbox

[james]

I have been reading Fran's discussion of a Squeezbox he has for sale but I don't want to post on that thread .. So here goes ..

I have a QNAP NAS server running the Logitech software and feeding a Logitech Transporter [the 24/96 version of the Squeezbox].

I am using a wireless network ..

I understand I can get various ipod/ipad/andriod applications to give me a better remote control but what I want to do is use a PC [with windows-XP] as a remote control .. ideally I would like album art, searches via artist etc .. [otherwise I might as well just use the standard remote control].

Can anyone help ?

Thanks

James

[Fran]

James,

It used to be the case that you could use the softsqueeze program to do exactly this, but I'm not sure any more....

I'll have a look later and see what the story is.... but for album art and playlists, I think you can do this through slimserver/squeezecentre or whatever its called.... again, I'll have a look later....


Frran

[Rocker]

James,

There are at least two ways to do this:

[1] Google and download Squeezeplay

[2] And from Logitech Media Server, http://localhost:9000/. Not sure how I setup this, on my Favourites bar I have a Squeezebox Server icon and its properties are http://localhost:9000/.

The Squeezeplay has an interface similar to the Duet Controller, the Media Server is closer to how Squeezebox software operates on a tablet [and is better IMHO].

[Sloop John B]

Well Fran's Squeezebox duet is now chez Sloop.

There was a little bit if a fiddle, a few factory restores but it's working now.

Tom's spot on here.

Squeezeplay lets you play on your PC, with a UI the same as the controller. maybe I'm missing something here but I don't see me using this much.


The second option Squeezebox server will allow you to control the receiver from your PC. Mine is the IP address of the QNAP NAS with :9001

Presuming you installed it as a QPKG, if you go to the QPKG folder and the QPKGs installed, click on the squeezebox server icon and it gives you a link to the squeezebox server.
Mind you on my machine it is far from quick in accessing the music on the NAS.
As Fran mentioned today this is probably handy for finding radio stations and adding favourites etc.


all in all a handy addition to my system.


SJB

[Fran]

If you have a smart phone, you can download the logitech app from the market and this gives you an alternate means of controlling the squeezebox. This also works for other models in the range...

There are other free apps as well, and a couple of paid ones too. Don't know what extra they bring though.

Don't know if its really any better than the duet controller - maybe if you had a very long list of artists or something it might be quicker than using the jockey wheel?

Accessing through the PC is good though for organisation of things though.

Fran

[james]

Thanks for all the replies .. I will have a look at the various sites mentioned but I am still a bit confused. I will describe in a bit more detail what I want to do ..

I have the following setup

[QNAP runs Squeeze-server] -- wireless-connection -- [Squeezbox]

I can control the Squeezbox with the Sueezbox remote and it [the Squeezbox] then sends a request to the server to choose what tracks to play etc...

Eventually I might get a tablet-PC to control CD selection etc but first I want to try using a laptop PC since I have one to hand ..

So I want the PC to send requests to the server [via wireless] to choose tracks, display album covers etc. This should then determine what sounds come out of the Squeezbox .. I don't think I need to run the Sqeeze-server on the PC [as it is already running on the QNAP server].

So I am probably looking at a web interface to the QNAP [maybe the suggestion http://localhost:9000/ .. or something similar .. will connect to the QNAP and let me control it .. I will try to find out the IP address of the QNAP].

James

P.S. I bought the QNAP server with the software already installed so I am not 100% sure how it works. Also I am using a Transporter rahter than a Squeezbox but it is functionally identical except it supports higher bit-rates.

[Sloop John B]

in (my) computer under network can you see the NAS drive.

if so right clicking will give you the ip address of the NAS and should also give you the homepage of the nas.

Everything should flow for there and it will let you do what you want to.


Let us know how you get on.


SJB

[james]

Thanks ...

I have it working ..

I run Internet-Explorer and I connect to ..

http://192.168.0.4:9000/

and I get a screen saying 'SqueezboxServer' and I can select something and get it to play .. when I go downstairs the [the computer is upstairs] the Squeezbox is playing it...

Amazing !! [I did not have to install/download anything]

Next I need to try the laptop but I get the idea.

Thanks again ..

james

[james]

I have the Squeezbox interface going and I am investigating it ...

My ideal is to have good search options but looking under *Artists* I get 'A Webern' and I would never search for Webern under A ..

However there is a search function and I am going to try this out ..

What I want is to solve the problem of Compilations [mainly in classical music]. Suppose I have pianist XXX playing music by AAA, BBB, CCC etc ... In this case I store the CD under XXX but I would like to be able to search for composers AAA or BBB etc...

One solution would be to include the CD multiple times under AAA, BBB, CCC etc

I would keep investigating ..

Thanks to all for help.

james