Other
user experience
Soundbar
I have tested most of the single-speaker commands, and they largely work with my wifi soundbar (and will probably work with other wifi soundbars). There at least two added command (soundbar only - I would surely like to know).
UIC?cmd=<name>GetPowerStatus</name>
UIC?cmd=<name>SetPowerStatus</name><p type="dec" name="powerstatus" val="${powerStatus}"/>
(powerStatus is 0 or 1)
Additionally, the Func commands have different sources. For the soundbar, they appear to be: wifi, bt, aux, hdmi, and optical. Optical is a single function that connects to either HDMI(ARC) or the optical speaker interface.
I am developing three lists:
a. Functions (list of functions I have examined with variable definitions as well as the Return Method),
b. Return Methods (list of all captured return methods with the results fields), and
c. Notes on operation (some of the operations (especially in Content Play (CP) mode are not consistent. This will be a start of that information for developers.
In the meantime, my SmartThing integration GROOVY files are contained at the link:
https://github.com/DaveGut/Samsung-Multiroom-WiFi-Soundbar-SmartThings-Integration
Finally, an MS Excel version of my in-work data on the commands is contained in the subfolder "2 - Technical Notes" at the above.
Combining with Google Chromecast Audio
I connected a Google CA to one of my speakers and grouped the speakers using the Samsung app.
The CA can be powered by the WAM USB port.
Compared to all other music streams the quality of the CA is poor, but it works and you are not dependent on the Samsung app anymore. ;-)
Howto: Connect the C.A. to the input jack of your main speaker, use power of the usb port, group speakers from your main speaker - done !
2016 12: It does not auto-detect the signal so you manually have to set the source to AUX
M7 vs M5
The M7 (WAM75x) is so much better then the M5. Go directly for the M7 and don't invest in the M5
Check eBay, many WAM's on eBay
Wireless Connectivity Issues
9 out of 10 issues, users experience are due to IP connectivity. The speakers require bandwidth and a stable connection !!!
Use a decent 5Ghz router. This makes a big difference !!! I currently use a TP-Link EAP245.
Check if your router has an option to assign fixed IP addresses with DHCP. You want to avoid that the speakers get new IP addresses during playback. This can cause lots of glitches during the communication !!!
2.4 Ghz is too crowded for practical use in most areas. The speakers require bandwidth and a stable connection.
I also noticed that the reach of my M7 if much, much better then the M5. I assume there is nother wireless chipset onboard.
Tim: jan 2020:
Speakers don't auto-disconnect from wireless when you plug in a LAN cord
I thought I'd share my experience moving some WAM750's from wifi to ethernet to reduce the load on wifi. I kept seeing random connect/disconnect events on our home network corresponding with dropped speaker connections. I used a Monitor-IO gadget to figure out that the speakers I put on powerline ethernet were still trying to connect wirelessly Sometimes the gadget's browser-based interface showed two network cards with two different MAC addresses inside a speaker, but the same IP for both, so something was messed up. Anyway, I did factory resets on the wired speakers (involved cutting power when they freeze at the red light), waited for the "ready to connect" prompt, and plugged in the LAN cord without ever using the app or entering wifi credentials. The speakers gave the "connection is complete" message and work fine now and no more weird connect/disconnect blips on the network. Just thought I'd share that it is important to remember that these speakers each have two network interfaces with two MAC addresses but connecting one does not disable the other like modern laptops, for example. My only tech experience is as a hobbyist and Monitor-IO support was tremendously helpful in figuring this out.
Bob: feb 2020: similar experience with the soundbar
I'm the owner of a HW-H750 and 2x M5 speakers. They work well individually but the grouping and surround is not really usable.
Problem is that I'm on an overcrowded 2.4g/5g network.
I've followed suggestion to reset speakers and soundbar and only use ethernet. I found out that there is no reset mechanism for the HW-H750 soundbar. I ended up to add black-list in router to force using ethernet.
Once we setup surround, the app will directly create a 2.4g (not even 5g) wifi network between the speakers, even though they are all linked with ethernet and not connected to the home wifi.
This results with lot of disconnections/ lags / latency between the speakers and ultimately loss of surround
Just wondering if anyone found solution to force ethernet/lan on surround.
Moosy: feb 2020:
Conclusion is similar, the wireless NIC is not disabled when cable is pluged-in. Looks like a bug in the software stack.
I can hard reset my M7 speaker by doing the following:
- Leave power cable off for +/- 5 minutes (really!)
- press wifi spk wifi button and keep it pressed for 30 sec up to minute when power on
This will reset the speaker to vanilla (factory) state
Jens dec 2020: Issues with WPA2/CCMP and M5 (WAM55)
I have several different speakers: M5 and R6 and an HW-K850. I got some headache to get the WAM550 into my Wifi.
Looks like the WAM550 / M5 with firmware 87R was unable to connect via WPA2(CCMP) while the other units connected perfectly.
I got it running disabling Wifi security. I am on a Fritz!Repeater 1750E. the WAM550 (M5) will only connect in the the WPA setting „WPA+WPA2“. My current firmware release will not connect on WPA2(CCMP). Only the M5 has this issue!
Critical note
Mobile app critical notes
Samsung app is required
Deezer is integrated in the Samsung app. Deezer native app does not have native support for the speakers
Since the Samsung speakers support the Spotify Connect protocol, Spotify premium app has limited support for the speakers - no individual speaker volumes !)
App sound output (e.g. Youtube) can not be redirected to a group of speakers. (only one speaker via bluetooth). - Chromecast Audio can overcome this limitation.
WiFi, network connection - you really need 5ghz wifi or cable. 2.4ghz is working crap for me.
WiFi chipset in the M7 is better. Some places in my house, the M7 works perfect while the M5 can not make a connection.
Timer function is very limited, (Timer/Alarm can not (de)group
Only very new 2013/2014 Samsung TV's have support for the Multiroom audio protocol. In that case you only can support 1 speaker over bluetooth.
Limited IP settings, only dhcp without any adv. settings.
Overall stability and performance of the overall soft- hardware stack. App is sometimes slow or something needs a restart. Updates improve things.
Overall price/quality ratio, pretty expensive - I suggest to get some used ones on eBay.
Timoty: may 2019: I just had a comment about the critical note where it says "App sound output (e.g. Youtube) can not be redirected to a group of speakers. (only one speaker via bluetooth). - Chromecast Audio can overcome this limitation." Actually, I attached a Logitech - Wireless Bluetooth Speaker Adapter Model:980-000910 to the AUX port on one WAM750 M7 and was able to group 8 other WAM750's from that master speaker and it works perfectly. The sound is even better than when I tried it with an old Chromecast Audio. So far it is completely stable and I can play anything from anywyhere: PC, phone, tablet -- as long as it can transmit Bluetooth. The Logitech adapter is just a Bluetooth receiver, not a transmitter. (This has nothing to do with the internal Bluetooth on the speaker itself.)
Wkr,
Moosy
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