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NAD C-388 w/BluOS2i WiFi Connectivity

I have a NAD C-388 w/BluOS2i (and HDM-2) MDC cards. It has worked very well for several years.
Later, I purchased a Node2i. They are both in my 2-ch music listening/concert watching system. Typically use PC, tablet, or Note phone to control the C-388 using BluOS app to stream AmazonPrimeMusicHD.

Between C-388 and Node2i, I prefer to use the C-388 because it is more direct connection, since the Node2i is connected to Coax1 input of the C-388. However, the C-388 seems to drop the WiFi connection after 5-10 minutes of play. My solution has been to switch to the Node2i - which has always been rock-solid connection.

Investigating this issue, I've found that the Node2i is always connected on 5GHz (never fails), while the C-388 is always connected on 2.5GHz. Home network is all Asus mesh, with AC3100 (master) and three AC1900 (nodes) spread throughout the house and to cover an acre of property (for IEM noise-blocking + tunes while mowing).

Question is about the C-388 WiFi being 'stuck' in 2.5GHz. Seems I need to move it to the more robust 5GHz.

Anyone know if this is possible and how to do that? Is it a C-388 setting or BluOS2i setting? 
128x128mwatsme
squashsquash's avatar
squashsquash
2 posts
 

I'm having insanely frustrating issues with my NAC C368 dropping wifi connection and have been going back and forth with NAD support on this for almost 3 months now with a solution. Before picking up the NAD C368, I was using an older (all analog) NAD amp with a BlueSound Node 2i in the exact same location, and the Node had almost zero issues with staying connected to the wifi. The C368 drops connection all the time. The only conclusion I can come to is that NAD really cheaped out (or just had terrible luck) in picking the wifi connectivity hardware for this, and it's crazy to me that they haven't worked out a solution yet - like, here's a firmware upgrade and a new dongle? Short of a hardwired connection, the best solution I have found has been to use an old Apple Airport Express as a network bridge - I have the Airport Express connected to the wifi network, and then connect it to the NAD C368 with a ethernet cable, and the NAD works just fine. 

I would LOVE to swap in a different USB wifi dongle and have this work as well as the Bluesound Node 2i did. Is there any chance anyone has figured out a way to do this, or sorted out a reason why it's not possible?  

dryfiboy
2 posts
 

@squashsquash  -  I was able to find a 3rd party Wi-Fi dongle that works great (going for a week strong at the far end of my house opposite the router).  it's available on amazon and cheap.  though, it's super bulky.  As I understand, the necessary compatibility requirement is the Qualcomm Atheros AR9271 chipset.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07FVRKCZJ

given that, there's another device that works as well, but equally bulky. TP-Link TL-WN722N (MUST BE version 1.x, higher versions use different chipset). There are some available on ebay, I don't know a great way to tell version by packaging / UPC alone.. 
 

squashsquash's avatar
squashsquash
2 posts
 

@dryfiboy good to know, thanks for posting! How's you come to find this solution? I'll probably order one just to test it out. In the meantime, I have had good results using an old Apple Airport Express as a wifi bridge, so your solution is certainly less bulky than that. 

dryfiboy
2 posts
 

The chipset has to match the driver installed in BluOS, - since someone mentioned the chipset (Atheros AR9271) in either this post or another  just found which wifi dongles matched.   I also ordered 6 other's from amazon to test if any others were compatible  - without success.  Made me happy to own the C388 again - ha ha

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