Anyone else having a bug with a maximum number of nicknames? I've got 7 user accounts defined, with about a total of about 105 nicknames, and, the UI won't let me add any more nicknames. (No, this isn't a client-side issue, as I've tried it on WinXP (IE 6), Mac OS X (Safari), and FC3 (Firefox). )
When I try to add another nickname, the page goes blank, and there is no content of the returned page.
I emailed Google, but I haven't heard anything back yet.:-/
I use these products from AKCP. The Sensor Probe line is inexpensive and does the job. Web interface. Customizable thresholds. Also can monitor things like humidity too.
I have twelve zones. Six sources. The speaker wiring is 14 gauge. The wiring for the control panels is cat5.
I had no existing "networked music".
I did my entire house for about ten grand. (Twelve zones; six sources.) Yes, that includes speakers, wiring, panels, receivers, everything.
Perform your own research. Perhaps a wired solution isn't an option for you. For me, it was an option, and, more important than anything else, I wanted to be able to control different sources in different zones. My listening habits include flipping around XM, AM, and FM; I want background music everywhere; I want the system to look "integrated" into the house (in ceiling speakers, inwall controls, doorbell muting, etc...) In the larger living room, I easily upped the amperage a bit, put in some larger speakers and a sub. It sounds great. I've got one zone controlling rock speakers out by the pool.
You get the idea. I'm taking nothing away from the Sonos. Great product, and I'd love to see more of it's kind. But, for me, mp3's are just a small part of what I listen to.
Not sure where you are getting your gear from, but, umm, I'd like to sell you an eight room Russound system for $40K.:-)
It doesn't cost nearly that much. I did my entire house for about $10K. (Twelve zones; six sources.) Yes, that includes speakers, wiring, panels, receivers, everything.
And, please remember, this is Slashdot. "News for nerds". If you are afraid to run a couple of your own low-voltage wires for some in-house audio, perhaps you shouldn't be surprised at the labor costs of having someone do your geek work for you.:-P
Although you can plug in an auxillary source, you can't control that source via the remote. For example, you can't change the XM channel via the Sonos remote.
In the Russound/Niles/competitor world, you can. The key here is to be able to control the source feed from within the zone you are physically standing in, not going back to the closet to change channels/stations/discs.
Although I might not have been clear in my original post, this is exactly where the Sonos falls down for me. It's geared towards someone who's music listening preferences are 100% digital. For me, I prefer to bounce around; mp3s, XM radio, sports radio on AM, local news on FM, even putting the TV feed for the ballgame on in the bathroom.
I want to connect a 5-disc CD player because others in the house aren't exactly as tech savvy as myself.:-) Also, when guests come over, occasionally it's nice to be able to pop in one of their CDs. (ie, friend's band's demos, etc).
Russound does have a streaming media player. This isn't the best link for it, but if you click on the "SMS3 Media Server" towards the right, you'll get a pop-up. The SMS3 supports up to three simultaneous streams, I think. (Meaning that different streams can be playing in three separate zones at the same time.)
Also, somebody below posted about how the Sonos is the only system which supports a "syncing" of different zones. The Russound I have supports "party mode", meaning that all zones play the same source. And, of course, its got nice hookups for muting when the phone or doorbell rings, and an "all off" feature on every keypad for turning the whole house off when it's bedtime.
Like a different reply said, Niles makes similar equipment, and these Sonos-competitors (Russounds, Niles) just seem to be a whole lot more flexible and extendible than the Sonos if you are looking for more than just MP3 streaming.
I looked heavily at a Sonos system and decided against it. Although it's got an incredible "coolness" factor to it, it's limited. There is no built-in support for AM/FM radio. XM Satellite radio or a CD player? Nope and nope.
Therefore, what I did opt for is a system from Russound. Their "CA-Series" is very nice. Check them out at russound.com. I have two six-zone systems, creating a total of twelve integrated zones.
You definitely loose the oohs-and-ahhs factor that Sonos brings with their remote LCD. However, when I walk into a room in my house, I can control that zone from any one of six sources: two AM/FM radio tuners, XM Satellite radio, a CD player, my MP3 collection, and even a cable TV feed. Yes, I can even tune the station I want on the radio, skip tracks on the CD player, etc.. This is all done via the in-wall control panel.
It's not as [fancy|sexy|cool] as the Sonos, however, it's more functional for my listening style.
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Anyone else having a bug with a maximum number of nicknames? I've got 7 user accounts defined, with about a total of about 105 nicknames, and, the UI won't let me add any more nicknames. (No, this isn't a client-side issue, as I've tried it on WinXP (IE 6), Mac OS X (Safari), and FC3 (Firefox). )
:-/
When I try to add another nickname, the page goes blank, and there is no content of the returned page.
I emailed Google, but I haven't heard anything back yet.
I use these products from AKCP. The Sensor Probe line is inexpensive and does the job. Web interface. Customizable thresholds. Also can monitor things like humidity too.
I did my entire house for about ten grand. (Twelve zones; six sources.) Yes, that includes speakers, wiring, panels, receivers, everything.
I had no existing "networked music".
I did my entire house for about ten grand. (Twelve zones; six sources.) Yes, that includes speakers, wiring, panels, receivers, everything.
Perform your own research. Perhaps a wired solution isn't an option for you. For me, it was an option, and, more important than anything else, I wanted to be able to control different sources in different zones. My listening habits include flipping around XM, AM, and FM; I want background music everywhere; I want the system to look "integrated" into the house (in ceiling speakers, inwall controls, doorbell muting, etc...) In the larger living room, I easily upped the amperage a bit, put in some larger speakers and a sub. It sounds great. I've got one zone controlling rock speakers out by the pool.
You get the idea. I'm taking nothing away from the Sonos. Great product, and I'd love to see more of it's kind. But, for me, mp3's are just a small part of what I listen to.
It doesn't cost nearly that much. I did my entire house for about $10K. (Twelve zones; six sources.) Yes, that includes speakers, wiring, panels, receivers, everything.
And, please remember, this is Slashdot. "News for nerds". If you are afraid to run a couple of your own low-voltage wires for some in-house audio, perhaps you shouldn't be surprised at the labor costs of having someone do your geek work for you. :-P
Although you can plug in an auxillary source, you can't control that source via the remote. For example, you can't change the XM channel via the Sonos remote.
In the Russound/Niles/competitor world, you can. The key here is to be able to control the source feed from within the zone you are physically standing in, not going back to the closet to change channels/stations/discs.
Although I might not have been clear in my original post, this is exactly where the Sonos falls down for me. It's geared towards someone who's music listening preferences are 100% digital. For me, I prefer to bounce around; mp3s, XM radio, sports radio on AM, local news on FM, even putting the TV feed for the ballgame on in the bathroom.
Russound does have a streaming media player. This isn't the best link for it, but if you click on the "SMS3 Media Server" towards the right, you'll get a pop-up. The SMS3 supports up to three simultaneous streams, I think. (Meaning that different streams can be playing in three separate zones at the same time.)
Also, somebody below posted about how the Sonos is the only system which supports a "syncing" of different zones. The Russound I have supports "party mode", meaning that all zones play the same source. And, of course, its got nice hookups for muting when the phone or doorbell rings, and an "all off" feature on every keypad for turning the whole house off when it's bedtime.
Like a different reply said, Niles makes similar equipment, and these Sonos-competitors (Russounds, Niles) just seem to be a whole lot more flexible and extendible than the Sonos if you are looking for more than just MP3 streaming.
Therefore, what I did opt for is a system from Russound. Their "CA-Series" is very nice. Check them out at russound.com. I have two six-zone systems, creating a total of twelve integrated zones.
You definitely loose the oohs-and-ahhs factor that Sonos brings with their remote LCD. However, when I walk into a room in my house, I can control that zone from any one of six sources: two AM/FM radio tuners, XM Satellite radio, a CD player, my MP3 collection, and even a cable TV feed. Yes, I can even tune the station I want on the radio, skip tracks on the CD player, etc.. This is all done via the in-wall control panel.
It's not as [fancy|sexy|cool] as the Sonos, however, it's more functional for my listening style.