What Wireless Router Are You Using For Mixer Control Via A Tablet?

Lance Richens

Lance Richens

Sophomore
Dec 2, 2012
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Eastern Utah
My Linksys wrt160n sucks. I'm looking for something small enough to sit in the case, behind my x-32 that will stay connected within at least 100'. I am looking at the airport express. I'd like to hear from others what they're using, the performance, range, and any helpful tips. I am using an Ipad mini....
 
Re: What Wireless Router Are You Using For Mixer Control Via A Tablet?

Lance -

Make sure the router you get can operate in the 5 ghz band. The 2.4 band is getting problematic, and new digital wireless mics which operate in the 2.4 band will surely ruin your day if they are operating nearby. I have used the Line6 digital wireless mics, and connecting reliably (in the 2.4 band) to your mixer with them in use is about impossible. I use the D-Link Dir 815, it has been solid and is dual band (2.4, 5).

-Tim T
 
Re: What Wireless Router Are You Using For Mixer Control Via A Tablet?

I use the D-Link Dir 815, it has been solid and is dual band (2.4, 5)
Click to expand...

+1! The DLink is also recommended by Allen&Heath for their iLives. Never had a problem with it.
 
Re: What Wireless Router Are You Using For Mixer Control Via A Tablet?

Tim Tyler said:
Lance -

Make sure the router you get can operate in the 5 ghz band. The 2.4 band is getting problematic, and new digital wireless mics which operate in the 2.4 band will surely ruin your day if they are operating nearby. I have used the Line6 digital wireless mics, and connecting reliably (in the 2.4 band) to your mixer with them in use is about impossible. I use the D-Link Dir 815, it has been solid and is dual band (2.4, 5).

-Tim T
Click to expand...

I don't think 5GHz is necessary, however, proper setup with quality components is.

I run the aforementioned Trendnet router on the floor in an amp rack on stage at shows, connected to a slew of Itech HDs. At FOH, my tablet stays connected to the wifi even if the venue is full of a couple thousand people. My network is not hidden, it just uses WPA encryption, and I have no issues whatsoever. I leave DHCP on and give reservations to anything that I need a constant IP for, or if a device requires a static IP I simply give it one outside the DHCP range.

These routers are so good, I have them at my house, the shop, in the rig, etc. Everywhere I need wifi I have a Trendnet.
 
Re: What Wireless Router Are You Using For Mixer Control Via A Tablet?

Tim Tyler said:
Lance -

Make sure the router you get can operate in the 5 ghz band. The 2.4 band is getting problematic, and new digital wireless mics which operate in the 2.4 band will surely ruin your day if they are operating nearby. I have used the Line6 digital wireless mics, and connecting reliably (in the 2.4 band) to your mixer with them in use is about impossible. I use the D-Link Dir 815, it has been solid and is dual band (2.4, 5).

-Tim T
Click to expand...

This is getting more and more important all the time and is mandatory if you might run into any Line 6 digital stuff. More digital wireless is coming out all the time too so this space will just continue to crowd. In short, it's worth the few extra bucks for a dual band router, especially if you're a provider where you'll run into to all sorts of wireless devices from clients.
 
Re: What Wireless Router Are You Using For Mixer Control Via A Tablet?

Sean Zurbrick said:
This is getting more and more important all the time and is mandatory if you might run into any Line 6 digital stuff. More digital wireless is coming out all the time too so this space will just continue to crowd. In short, it's worth the few extra bucks for a dual band router, especially if you're a provider where you'll run into to all sorts of wireless devices from clients.
Click to expand...

People keep advocating dual-band 2.4/5GHz. They fail to realize that for it to have any effect, the wireless device must also support dual-band. I don't know of many N devices that are 5GHz compatible.
 
Re: What Wireless Router Are You Using For Mixer Control Via A Tablet?

Silas Pradetto said:
People keep advocating dual-band 2.4/5GHz. They fail to realize that for it to have any effect, the wireless device must also support dual-band. I don't know of many N devices that are 5GHz compatible.
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You are absolutely right. So when thinking about the wireless device keep that in mind. Ipads all do 5 Ghz, even the first generation ones. Iphones prior to the latest (5) do not support 5 Ghz.
 
Re: What Wireless Router Are You Using For Mixer Control Via A Tablet?

Silas Pradetto said:
People keep advocating dual-band 2.4/5GHz. They fail to realize that for it to have any effect, the wireless device must also support dual-band. I don't know of many N devices that are 5GHz compatible.
Click to expand...

Sure, and this contributes to the congestion in the 2.4Ghz band. But if you can use a link in the 5Ghz band, and have decent line of sight, you will have far, far fewer headaches.
 
Re: What Wireless Router Are You Using For Mixer Control Via A Tablet?

I have the DLink DIR 655 with remote antennae. I bought 2 long range antennae with a magnetic base that I put on boom stands (all the way up is about 8') about 15 feet out on either side of my mix position. The router has a 3 jacks for antennae- middle is the short stubby and the other 2 now have BNC adapters to facilitate quick setup without kinking the cables. The whole setup (minus the stands) resides inside the doghouse and stays wired.

As with any tx/rx situation, getting the aerials up and out of the way of EMI/RFI coming directly from the surrounding gear always helps.

Works flawlessly up to about 250-300'.

Hope this helps...
 
Re: What Wireless Router Are You Using For Mixer Control Via A Tablet?

Lance Richens said:
My Linksys wrt160n sucks. I'm looking for something small enough to sit in the case, behind my x-32 that will stay connected within at least 100'. I am looking at the airport express. I'd like to hear from others what they're using, the performance, range, and any helpful tips. I am using an Ipad mini....
Click to expand...

The WRT160 is an okay piece of kit. Depending on the version you have, it will support DD-WRT firmware, which will make your life easier should you stick with the Linksys.

You could keep the WRT160 and simply add a more powerful WAP -- Ubiquiti has a great selection of products. The Rocket, Bullet, and NanoStations seem to be relatively popular. Getting the antenna(s) up and above things that block your line of sight is important. (Or if your particular WRT160 has detachable antennas, run external antennas up high, and you should be good/better than you are now.)

It is often helpful to run inSSIDer on a separate computer (it's free), to analyze potential congestion, and allows you to select a clear, or relatively clearer, channel for your wireless.
 
Re: What Wireless Router Are You Using For Mixer Control Via A Tablet?

Silas Pradetto said:
Ignore the Apple.

Trendnet tew639gr. Period.

Sent from my DROID RAZR
Click to expand...

Why ignore Apple? The new Airport Express is a pretty rock solid little router. At $99, it's not the cheapest alternative, but it does a good job, and is extremely compact. My experience with Trendnet hardware has been hit or miss. Sometimes it works great, and other times, well, it does its own thing.

5ghz offers lower latency and faster speeds, but is limited in range compared to 2.4ghz. With some desks, using WPA encryption also adds enough latency to the signal to confuse some consoles. On the Yamaha boards I've used, it wouldn't work at all. On the Presonus boards, you would end up losing connection a few times here and there. Turn off WPA, and all is well.
 
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