Music server issue

[little wing]

Greetings,

Hoping someone here can help.

I have JRiver installed on a PC on the second floor of my home. I've ripped all my CDs to the PC (WAV files). It's connected to the network through a wireless connection, as my router is on the first floor. I have a Yamaha AVR hardwired to the router. Obviously DLNA to get the music to the AVR. Recently the the music just stops playing, like halfway through a song, or somtimes 10 seconds into a song. It's very random. Sometimes it works fine, and every now and then, it just stops playing.

If I go back to the beginning of the song, it starts playing again. I have done a soft reset of the AVR. I have also reset the router and restarted the PC. It will work for a while but the problem comes back. This is a fairly new PC, about a year old. It runs windows 11. I've done all updates on the PC. The Device Manager and Network adapter reveils no issues with the wireless card. So I'm not sure what's going on. Running an ethernet from the router on the first floor to the PC on the second floor is not really fesiable. I've had Cox out here, and the technicians say no it's not really possible. Just for kicks, I bought a 75 foot ethernet cable and temporarily connected router to PC. Played music for a few hours. No issues at all. In fact, the music seems to sound a little better. Richer, a little more detail.

Anyway, is there a fairly simple, not super expensive way to resolve this with additional hardware, where the music is stored on a small device that could be placed near the router, that could be hardwired, and easy to control, like I do now, with the Musiccast app on my phone? The AVR is older (Yamaha RX A3060) if that matters. I bought the AVR new, and have had it for at least 7 years with flawless performance, unit this issue.

Thanks for reading

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

If there are no issues with performance on a wired connection, but clear issues on wireless, then there are two solutions:
1) Improve your wifi signal - that's opens up a pandora box and depends on your home router. I guess you're using the Wi-Fi router provided by COX? You could probably get a local electrical or low-power cabling company and run the Ethernet cable in the walls with nice wall terminations.
2) You could get an inexpensive NAS from Synology. 1 bay if you want to minimize the spend, or two bays (or more) - then you could mirror drives in case one fails and not lose your entire collection due to one failed hd.
I generally dislike that Synology NAS typically uses older, cheaper internal components, but the important bit here is that the software is best in the industry. Something like DS223j should do the trick to be a DLNA server for your home. If you put an alert on Keepa.com, the NAS goes on sale somewhat regularly at $150-$170, if you're willing to wait. Another "fun" issue is that the hard drive prices nowadays are astronomical, thx for AI datacenters.

See the article with step-by-step instructions:

How to enjoy multimedia contents stored on Synology NAS with DLNA/UPnP-compliant DMAs? - Synology Knowledge Center

Synology Knowledge Center offers comprehensive support, providing answers to frequently asked questions, troubleshooting steps, software tutorials, and all the technical documentation you may need.

kb.synology.com

 

[little wing]

If there are no issues with performance on a wired connection, but clear issues on wireless, then there are two solutions:
1) Improve your wifi signal - that's opens up a pandora box and depends on your home router. I guess you're using the Wi-Fi router provided by COX? You could probably get a local electrical or low-power cabling company and run the Ethernet cable in the walls with nice wall terminations.
2) You could get an inexpensive NAS from Synology. 1 bay if you want to minimize the spend, or two bays (or more) - then you could mirror drives in case one fails and not lose your entire collection due to one failed hd.
I generally dislike that Synology NAS typically uses older, cheaper internal components, but the important bit here is that the software is best in the industry. Something like DS223j should do the trick to be a DLNA server for your home. If you put an alert on Keepa.com, the NAS goes on sale somewhat regularly at $150-$170, if you're willing to wait. Another "fun" issue is that the hard drive prices nowadays are astronomical, thx for AI datacenters.

See the article with step-by-step instructions:

How to enjoy multimedia contents stored on Synology NAS with DLNA/UPnP-compliant DMAs? - Synology Knowledge Center

Synology Knowledge Center offers comprehensive support, providing answers to frequently asked questions, troubleshooting steps, software tutorials, and all the technical documentation you may need.

kb.synology.com

Thank you. If I could find a way to inconspicuously run an ethernet cable from the first floor to the second, that would be the ideal solution.

I am using the Cox, modem/router. They have something called Pods. They are supposed to extend the signal. I have no experience with those. When I do a speed test on the PC I'm getting 130 to 140mbps down and about 100mbps up.

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

When I bought my house, it had analog phone jacks on the walls, but behind the outlets, they used Cat5E cable, the same one used for networking. All I had to do was terminate new plugs and connectors on both sides, and I could use a wired 1 Gig network. With the newest tech, you could even use the same Cat5e cable to run 2.5gbps

 

[little wing]

When I bought my house, it had analog phone jacks on the walls, but behind the outlets, they used Cat5E cable, the same one used for networking. All I had to do was terminate new plugs and connectors on both sides, and I could use a wired 1 Gig network. With the newest tech, you could even use the same Cat5e cable to run 2.5gbps

I have this jack in my office next to PC. It looks like coax? Sorry, I'm getting an education here.

 

[TLS Guy]

I have this jack in my office next to PC. It looks like coax? Sorry, I'm getting an education here.

That is Coax.

 

[highfigh]

Thank you. If I could find a way to inconspicuously run an ethernet cable from the first floor to the second, that would be the ideal solution.

I am using the Cox, modem/router. They have something called Pods. They are supposed to extend the signal. I have no experience with those. When I do a speed test on the PC I'm getting 130 to 140mbps down and about 100mbps up.

Is the house 'stick-built', studs and traditional framing? If so, it's possible to feed cabling, but it's important to know what other wiring, pipes, ducts,etc are in the walls and where.

Repeaters aren't the preferred method for extending signal- hardwired is #1, mesh network is probably #2 but yor problem isn't about communicating with the outside world, it's communicating between computers.

WiFi needs a clear path- if you have masonry walls, large metal objects like SubZero fridge, metal structure or ducts and long distances between one of the computers and the router, you'll have issues. Another important detail is the location of the computers and especially, the router. If it was stuck in a corner behind a filing cabinet, in the basement (if you have one), diagonally across the house, etc, it's not going to work well.

 

[highfigh]

I have this jack in my office next to PC. It looks like coax? Sorry, I'm getting an education here.

How old is your house? Did the builder or a subcontractor put all cable terminations in one place, possibly in a metal enclosure? If so, could you post some photos?

 

[Eppie]

My first thought was mesh network devices to improve things but hard wired is always best if possible.

I don't think it helps that the files were converted to WAV. That's the biggest possible file format you could choose so you are having to push the maximum number of bits over the network for each song. Converting to FLAC could drop your bandwidth needs considerably. I use Exact Audio Copy to rip CDs to FLAC and MP3 (320k). I use FLAC at home for streaming at a best quality and MP3 for portable devices to save space. You are probably aware but FLAC is lossless so no loss in quality over WAV.

 

[little wing]

How old is your house? Did the builder or a subcontractor put all cable terminations in one place, possibly in a metal enclosure? If so, could you post some photos?

This house was built in 2008. I live in Tucson. I bought it about 5 and a half years ago. Exterior is stucco, which is pretty standard here. Floors are linoleum. Steps to the second floor are capeted though. The router is on shelf under the TV next to the center channel. The tower for the PC is on the floor, in my office, next to my desk. It's rough 50 feet from the router. Honestly not alot of structure between router and PC, just space. The internet comes into the house via coax outlet on the front wall in the living room. There is a panel in the laundry room, labled "Smart Systems" Back when I had landline installed the tech guy needed access to it. But I'm not sure if it has anything to do with the internet. I can post pictures if it would give you a better idea of what I'm working with. I really appreciate the response.

 

[little wing]

My first thought was mesh network devices to improve things but hard wired is always best if possible.

I don't think it helps that the files were converted to WAV. That's the biggest possible file format you could choose so you are having to push the maximum number of bits over the network for each song. Converting to FLAC could drop your bandwidth needs considerably. I use Exact Audio Copy to rip CDs to FLAC and MP3 (320k). I use FLAC at home for streaming at a best quality and MP3 for portable devices to save space. You are probably aware but FLAC is lossless so no loss in quality over WAV.

Thanks Eppie, Yes, WAV files take up a bunch of space. Sometimes 50 or 60 MB per song. I honestly never thought about the bandwidth it take up though, so that's a good point. I use WAV and FLAC at home as well and MP3 outside of the home.

I haven't called COX in about year, I'm thinking of calling them again and possibley geting a tech out here who is willing to take a look and figure out a way to hardwire. It really does give the best sound quality and the musiccast app on the phone was snappier as well.

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

You could use MOCA over the COAX cable, but requires to buy special adapters for MOCA<>Ethernet - like these:
like this one:

Amazon.com

To be honest, I don't know anything about this specific one, but it seems to have good reviews. You do need a pair of them, of course.

 

[highfigh]

This house was built in 2008. I live in Tucson. I bought it about 5 and a half years ago. Exterior is stucco, which is pretty standard here. Floors are linoleum. Steps to the second floor are capeted though. The router is on shelf under the TV next to the center channel. The tower for the PC is on the floor, in my office, next to my desk. It's rough 50 feet from the router. Honestly not alot of structure between router and PC, just space. The internet comes into the house via coax outlet on the front wall in the living room. There is a panel in the laundry room, labled "Smart Systems" Back when I had landline installed the tech guy needed access to it. But I'm not sure if it has anything to do with the internet. I can post pictures if it would give you a better idea of what I'm working with. I really appreciate the response.

If the internet enters the house via coax and ends in that enclosure, that's where the modem needs to go, but the router can be anywhere in the house. Since you're in Tucson, I'll assume you don't have a basement- is this correct?

Check the jacks in the wall plates and remove one of them, so you can see the wires- if it has four pairs with Orange/Orange-white, Green/Green-white, Blue/Blue-white and Brown/Brown-white pairs, you should be able to use that for ethernet. By 2008 I don't know of many contractors who were running only phone cabling- it was usually Cat5e, with the ends terminated at the location for the needed use, not specifically for phone or data. If you see red, black, yellow and green- that's phone cable.

50 feet may not seem like a lot, but you need to consider what's between the router and any device using WiFi- any metal nearby can affect the signal.

 

[little wing]

You are correct, no basement in Tucson.

I called Cox yesterday, and luckily they had an appt available. A very competent and thorough tech came out and began testing at various points. Signals was failing. Then we opened up the box outside....and low and behold, Pact Rats!! Damn things were chewing through the wires. He said it's a wonder I was getting any signal at all. I knew something was going on, because in addition to the music issue, I noticed other things. Roku in bedroom slow to load apps. Smart thermostat on phone slow to load, etc. He changed out the wiring and that seems to have solved the problems. Where I was getting 200mbps download on my phome I am getting 650 to 700mbps now.

I lay down a gauntlet of Ortho home defence every spring to keep these damn desert insects outta my house, Now I gotta deal with pack rats, LOL. Can I take my 3% mortgage back to Philadelphia?? At least there I'd have some grass and trees . I digress...

Thanks for your help Highfigh, I really appreciate it.

 

[little wing]

Ok, I thought that was the problem, but the music is stopping again. IDK at this point. Try a mesh sytem maybe? Maybe the AVR is starting to fail? But it's only with network music from my server. Tidal is fine..

 

[lovinthehd]

Ok, I thought that was the problem, but the music is stopping again. IDK at this point. Try a mesh sytem maybe? Maybe the AVR is starting to fail? But it's only with network music from my server. Tidal is fine..

Have stopped in now and then. But the network music vs Tidal feed differs how?

 

[little wing]

Tidal plays flawless, the music doesn't just randomly stop. When I switch to Server ( that is, my ripped CDs on the hard drive of my PC) the music just randomly stops playing.

 

[lovinthehd]

Tidal plays flawless, the music doesn't just randomly stop. When I switch to Server ( that is, my ripped CDs on the hard drive of my PC) the music just randomly stops playing.

But what devices/commands do that particularly?

 

[highfigh]

You are correct, no basement in Tucson.

I called Cox yesterday, and luckily they had an appt available. A very competent and thorough tech came out and began testing at various points. Signals was failing. Then we opened up the box outside....and low and behold, Pact Rats!! Damn things were chewing through the wires. He said it's a wonder I was getting any signal at all. I knew something was going on, because in addition to the music issue, I noticed other things. Roku in bedroom slow to load apps. Smart thermostat on phone slow to load, etc. He changed out the wiring and that seems to have solved the problems. Where I was getting 200mbps download on my phome I am getting 650 to 700mbps now.

I lay down a gauntlet of Ortho home defence every spring to keep these damn desert insects outta my house, Now I gotta deal with pack rats, LOL. Can I take my 3% mortgage back to Philadelphia?? At least there I'd have some grass and trees . I digress...

Thanks for your help Highfigh, I really appreciate it.

Yeah, critters. My ATT line was chewed by squirrels- all four wires in the cable, at the pole.

That big hole in the outside wall needs to be filled with something they can't chew through.

 

[little wing]

Have stopped in now and then. But the network music vs Tidal feed differs how?

Network music is FLAC and WAV files stored on a Windows PC running JRiver. So it's local. Tidal comes from the internet, both controlled with the Yamaha musiccast app on my phone.