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Fender Rumble Stage 800 issues/questions

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May 2, 2024
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#1
OK y'all, so I have another Stage 800 en route to me. This will be my 4th. The TL;DR is that the previous 3 had the lovely issue where after updating the unit over WiFi (because as far as I'm aware you can't update it any other way) the amp would start to try to reconnect to the internet in a loop and the sound would completely cut out every 10 minutes or so (then ramp back to full volume.). One unit had a faulty encoder knob that would only work on 2/3 of the dial, and one had electricity going to the panel screws holding the "amp" portion to the cab. FUN.

Fender CS said it was an issue with my ISP (AT&T) and I don't really know how to get around this, because even if I felt like lugging this thing to Starbucks to use someone else's WiFi I couldn't because you have to do that click to agree BS everywhere these days. For my use, I need to have the amp updated.


Do any of y'all have any good suggestions on how to get this damn thing updated so I can use it?

Before anyone tells me to just turn the WiFi off, on every one of these units there was no option. Not that I couldn't find one, it did not exist in the menu, confirmed by a video diagnostic with Fender.



ALSO: stupid question.

I currently have a regular Rumble 800 that I've been using as a bedroom amp (HA, more like nightstand) and I was wondering if it were possible to do the thing where I use one of these 2 800 combos as the Driver and the other the extension cab to "unlock" the full 800w that you would normally with a regular combo/extension cab deal. If so, please tell me how so I don't burn a bar to the ground.
 
#2
Contact Fender customer service and ask them for update support.

On the Rumble 800, use the effects send on the combo you want to use as the master and on the other combo use the effects return. A 1/4”TS cable between the two will allow each to operate at 400 watts (800 watts total), the master volume controls the volume on the slave amp.
 
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#3
agedhorse said:
Contact Fender customer service and ask them for update support.

On the Rumble 800, use the effects send on the combo you want to use as the master and on the other combo use the effects return. A 1/4”TS cable between the two will allow each to operate at 400 watts (800 watts total), the master volume controls the volume on the slave amp.
Click to expand...
So let me ask you this because I'm apparently dumber than I thought.


Either of the Fender 800 combos run at 300w normally, but only "gain" 100w when you add the extension cab? I get its splitting 800w between them, it just seems odd. (I didn't expect each cabinet to run 800w in this case, but seeing the extension cab is rated for 700w by itself I was wondering)

Also, just to be sure, if I do what you suggest I don't need to power up the second cab do I?
 
#5
Default said:
So let me ask you this because I'm apparently dumber than I thought.


Either of the Fender 800 combos run at 300w normally, but only "gain" 100w when you add the extension cab? I get its splitting 800w between them, it just seems odd. (I didn't expect each cabinet to run 800w in this case, but seeing the extension cab is rated for 700w by itself I was wondering)

Also, just to be sure, if I do what you suggest I don't need to power up the second cab do I?
Click to expand...
The combo by itself is ~400 watts, 2 combos by themselves would be 800 watts.

Yes, both combos would need to be powered up, the power amp in each combo is driving its own speaker. The linking is at the signal level BEFORE the power amp via the effects send on the master amp into the effects return on the slave amp.
 
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#6
You should only turn wi-fi on to download updates, then turn it off when download is complete. This should fix your issue. This is a known problem. And has been discussed in the Stage/Studio thread on here. Also detailed in the Stage 800 area of the Rumble wiki. @G-Dog is the expert here for these issues.
Hope this helps. Good luck!
 
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#8
steve_ss said:
I'm sorry, but I have a dumb question to ask: Why is there a wi-fi connection and software update needed for a guitar amp? It's bad enough that my dishwasher, oven, and cooktop all want wi-fi, now my amp wants it too?
Click to expand...
It’s a digital amp. 20+ amp models (from Bassman to SVT to SWR, etc) and and equivalent number of cab sims w/ bunches of effects pedals that you can insert in front of or after the amps.
Its a really cool amp, but you need to be willing to put in a fair amount of time up front to learn the capabilities and then be willing to run it through an iPad or other tablet type device to make the most of what it has to offer. Definitely needs software updates from time to time.
 
#9
ShawnG said:
It’s a digital amp. 20+ amp models (from Bassman to SVT to SWR, etc) and and equivalent number of cab sims w/ bunches of effects pedals that you can insert in front of or after the amps.
Its a really cool amp, but you need to be willing to put in a fair amount of time up front to learn the capabilities and then be willing to run it through an iPad or other tablet type device to make the most of what it has to offer. Definitely needs software updates from time to time.
Click to expand...
Thank you for the lesson. I am way too old school to own it, but I am willing to read about the new fangled stuff. Thanks.
 
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#10
I am not a complete Luddite. I have an iPad, iPhone, 3 Mac desktops, 3 Mac laptops, and my studio is completely digital, with multi-effects units that do need to be periodically updated. That said, ALL of my stage gear is analog, mixers, power amps, bass amps, etc. I’ve been playing gigs since 1965 (I was in high school then), and I know by now how many things can go wrong on stage. I am not willing to throw the inconsistencies of the internet into that mix.
 
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#12
ShawnG said:
You should only turn wi-fi on to download updates, then turn it off when download is complete. This should fix your issue. This is a known problem. And has been discussed in the Stage/Studio thread on here. Also detailed in the Stage 800 area of the Rumble wiki. @G-Dog is the expert here for these issues.
Hope this helps. Good luck!
Click to expand...
Yes I understand all that much too well. My original post up top there states once updated, the Wi-Fi can’t be turned off even with a power cycle. The issue persisted. I didn’t even try with this one, however I did try to connect to Wi-Fi and it wouldn’t even give me a Wi-Fi list (try to turn it on, it’d just pause then click back to the main screen)

The usb update fixed me up tho I believe
 
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#13
ShawnG said:
It’s a digital amp. 20+ amp models (from Bassman to SVT to SWR, etc) and and equivalent number of cab sims w/ bunches of effects pedals that you can insert in front of or after the amps.
Its a really cool amp, but you need to be willing to put in a fair amount of time up front to learn the capabilities and then be willing to run it through an iPad or other tablet type device to make the most of what it has to offer. Definitely needs software updates from time to time.
Click to expand...
Funny thing is, the latest update is from ‘21!
 
#14
Default said:
I believe they fixed me right up, I can’t thank you enough! You did what shaging fender couldn’t do
Click to expand...
Glad it worked out! I have a Stage 800 with matching extension cab and love it. I keep the WiFi off and have no issues with sound cutting out. Hope you’re able to turn off WiFi now, too.

For what it’s worth, when the cutting out was happening to me, it occurred when connecting to the 5G broadcast from my WiFi router. When I disabled that and connected to the 2.4G broadcast, it didn’t cut out.

Since 5G’s much faster for everything, I don’t bother with keeping it off at the router and, instead, update the Firmware by turning on the Stage’s WiFi only when needed.
 
#16
agedhorse said:
This is Fender’s information, did you ever contact customer service?
Click to expand...
I’m saying this with 0 sarcasm: I’ve spent hours on the phone, at least an hour on video chat, and fender has sent me 3 replacements, 2 of which they didn’t ask for back. Not once did they ever tell me I could do a physical update even after I asked directly on several of those calls.

In the end of all that, fmic sent me a new rumble 800 and some credit for my trouble.
 
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#17
Default said:
OK y'all, so I have another Stage 800 en route to me. This will be my 4th. The TL;DR is that the previous 3 had the lovely issue where after updating the unit over WiFi (because as far as I'm aware you can't update it any other way) the amp would start to try to reconnect to the internet in a loop and the sound would completely cut out every 10 minutes or so (then ramp back to full volume.). One unit had a faulty encoder knob that would only work on 2/3 of the dial, and one had electricity going to the panel screws holding the "amp" portion to the cab. FUN.

Fender CS said it was an issue with my ISP (AT&T) and I don't really know how to get around this, because even if I felt like lugging this thing to Starbucks to use someone else's WiFi I couldn't because you have to do that click to agree BS everywhere these days. For my use, I need to have the amp updated.


Do any of y'all have any good suggestions on how to get this damn thing updated so I can use it?

Before anyone tells me to just turn the WiFi off, on every one of these units there was no option. Not that I couldn't find one, it did not exist in the menu, confirmed by a video diagnostic with Fender.



ALSO: stupid question.

I currently have a regular Rumble 800 that I've been using as a bedroom amp (HA, more like nightstand) and I was wondering if it were possible to do the thing where I use one of these 2 800 combos as the Driver and the other the extension cab to "unlock" the full 800w that you would normally with a regular combo/extension cab deal. If so, please tell me how so I don't burn a bar to the ground.
Click to expand...
You run out the send of one, into the return of the other. Match volumes.


But yeah dude, kill the wifi, and don't ever update the thing. If you can't, like you said, then get a normal amp. Going with the same amp 4 times, when each and every one has had the same problem, is just flat out stupid.

I don't have any idea what you mean by not being able to turn the wifi off though. If you never connect to a network in the first place, you'll never have internet. So...dont put a password in.
 
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#18
Default said:
So let me ask you this because I'm apparently dumber than I thought.


Either of the Fender 800 combos run at 300w normally, but only "gain" 100w when you add the extension cab? I get its splitting 800w between them, it just seems odd. (I didn't expect each cabinet to run 800w in this case, but seeing the extension cab is rated for 700w by itself I was wondering)

Also, just to be sure, if I do what you suggest I don't need to power up the second cab do I?
Click to expand...
Yes, both amps on
 
#19
Default said:
I’m saying this with 0 sarcasm: I’ve spent hours on the phone, at least an hour on video chat, and fender has sent me 3 replacements, 2 of which they didn’t ask for back. Not once did they ever tell me I could do a physical update even after I asked directly on several of those calls.

In the end of all that, fmic sent me a new rumble 800 and some credit for my trouble.
Click to expand...
Sounds like you scored dude. Headache, but a solid score. Word on the manual update file.
 
#20
No product that needs an update should ever cease operations in order to demand you update it. I faced this at work a number of times; my laptop would start updating right in the middle of field work. It would drain the battery, thus killing the work day.

Imagine an amp ceasing to function in the middle of a gig because it needs to update.
 
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