Connecting B2 to Bose Bluetooth Speakers

[Andy Snapper]

Hello all,

I have explored some of the past threads concerning Bose Bluetooth Speakers. 

I sometimes find the terminology confusing. Even looking at the detailed web instructions for the B2 'You can play music from Bluetooth devices like phones and tablets through your B2' makes it sound like you can play music from other sources to the speakers attached to your B2 but I am wanting to play the music ON the B2 to my wireless speakers which are not hardwired to the B2.

One suggestion to reset the Bose (Soundtouch 200) to factory settings before attempting to pair items with Bluetooth just involved me in half an hour trying to work out how to get that speaker back on the network at all. 

I have both Soundtouch and the Brennan apps on the phone. I previously just used the Brennan Web UI.  Bose's Soundtouch App allows me one music library on my computer to be accessible and a NAS drive to be accessible. 

Still,  one plus is that I now have all three Bose speaker sources, playing the same music from a music library on the computer. 

I had thought that I could get the B2 accessible as the NAS. I have the B2 fixed with a static IP address and it is visible on my Windows 10 desktop. 

Again looking at a past thread I agree that the troubleshooting on the Soundtouch is not terribly informative and that if you can't see your NAS then just click refresh is not helpful when you see no change. I did learn that it can take a few minutes, and of course you just don't know if this few minutes sitting doing nothing will be fruitful or not!

I have done the SMB bit. That box is ticked. And then I also saw Daniel Taylor's further suggestion is to enable DNLA because that worked for that individual!  

https://groups.google.com/g/brennanb2/c/QwfC_N2XsQw/m/Tvfis2E2AgAJ

However I couldn't remember what DNLA was, and I thought I had enabled it a long time ago as other things would not have worked, and I couldn't be sure how to check that, in case accessing that menu item would actually toggle it off it was on and then I might be in a worse pickle, which as we know can happen to me. 

But having then lifted my head out of all these screens and threads this has happened.

After fruitlessly trying to pair things I have now succeeded in pairing my B2 with my desktop! Is this progress?

Does somebody know what is the question I should be asking to play the music on my B2 to my Bose speakers?

Thank you for reading.

Andy

[Daniel Taylor]

I don't remember recommending DLNA to help with Bluetooth.  If you could point me to that comment, I will try to clarify.  Or, if I was full of crap, I will delete it.

DLNA is not required, or even helpful, for Bluetooth operation.  DLNA is only required for connecting to devices that use that protocol.

There are things about Andy's above post that are confusing to me.  There's talk of trying to get Bluetooth to work, but it's mixed in with trying to get apps to work, and also talk of NAS.  Bluetooth does not run on the WiFi network, but the apps probably do.  I don't see how NAS fits in to this, other than possibly to verify that your WiFi is working.  But that's doing the checking the hard way.

[Andy Snapper]

Thanks for jumping in Daniel. I attached a link to a previous thread where your suggestion for DNLA helped. And yes, it is confusing, I get confused and when there can be some significant time delay between pressing a button and getting a completed action then the confusion about what worked and what doesn’t gets more confusing. I think I was fighting the battle of ignorance on two fronts, whether I am trying to get the Bose speakers to work through Bluetooth or by WIFI. Sometimes things get blurred as a result.

 

The Bose app says it can access NAS, the other member found that once DNLA had been set up then Bose could see his NAS. I feel sure I have DNLA to get my B2 on the network and move files in and out, but still (last time I looked) the Bose app still can’t see the B2 as NAS, or anything.

 

PS I am on July 26th B2 software.

 

Andy

[Daniel Taylor]

Sorry, Andy.  I just now realized that you had posted a link to the thread I should read. 

The Bose SoundTouch is a system that includes both speaker(s) and an app that controls them.  Apparently the SoundTouch APP can see the B2's HDD over WiFi by using DLNA.  It's not clear to me if the speakers are Bluetooth or DLNA (over WiFi), or maybe even both (either/or)

I can see why this is so confusing.  And it takes my regard for Bose products down yet another notch.

[Daniel Taylor]

Normally, DLNA is not required for the B2 to be viewable as NAS.  The first thing I would do if I were trying to figure out the Bose SoundTouch system is to find out what runs on what.  Specifically, is the speaker Bluetooth or WiFi, or selectable.  What are the requirements for the App to work.  Those are questions for Bose, and need to be understood before bringing the B2 into the picture.

I am totally not an expert on Bose products.  In retrospect, I wish I'd stayed out of the previous thread about the SoundTouch.

[Andy Snapper]

My apologies for dragging you into this by name. 

Bose sound good when they were work. Soundtouch app suggests that if NAS doesn't reveal itself to the app then you should follow the suggestion on the screenshot below. If I rightclick my B2 on the network I get no facility to open it for 'sharing'. Is my B2 a NAS?

Separately, there is then no benefit having the B2 bluetooth connected to my PC? So I can safely unpair?

Andy

[Peter Lowham]

Hi Andy,

You are running on B2 version of software which has a number of serious Bluetooth limitations.  For feasible Bluetooth, the first action you need to take is to upgrade to the B2B version.  B2B was released specifically to address many of the Bluetooth limitations that were found in the B2 version.

Once this is done, then you can re-evaluate the situation.

You can download the B2B software from the Brennan website, and then flash this this version onto your existing (micro)SD card, or you can purchase a ready to use card from the Brennan website (£10 inc p&p).

Below is a link to the Brennan web page that shoes you what to do for a re-flash.  We can post additional guiding instructiions if you want to do the re-flash yourself.  Look down the left hand side of the page for 'New SD card'

https://www.brennan.co.uk/itemcontent.php/content/Techy

 Just let us know what you think.

Regards,

Peter.

On Friday, 27 August 2021 at 15:17:58 UTC+1 Daniel Taylor wrote:

[Andy Snapper]

Sorry Peter. Just shows how easy it is to mislead myself and others. My software is the B2B 26th July 2021.

Andy

[Daniel Taylor]

Sometimes we're talking about Bluetooth and sometimes we're talking about WiFi/NAS/DLNA.  They are different and separate. When we switch back and forth between the two, confusion ensues.

What Peter says about Bluetooth on the B2 is true.  Just don't confuse Bluetooth with NAS (or WiFi or DLNA).

[Daniel Taylor]

Andy,

At this point, I've lost track of what you're trying to do and what specifically doesn't work.  Or maybe I never really understood in the first place.  Would you please restate the problem as simply as possible?  If I don't know the answer, I promise to bow out (which is probably overdue).

[Andy Snapper]

I will try Daniel.

I have three Bose speakers, 2 x Soundtouch 20, and 1 Soundwave which has a Bluetooth link/dongle attached. 

Through the Soundtouch app I have two ways (not counting Internet Radio) by which I could funnel music to the Bose speakers.

One will be by establishing a Bluetooth connection and the other would be by using an NAS.

I want my B2 to be the music source.

At the moment I can't seem to make any connection between the B2 and those speakers whether by network or by Bluetooth.

Andy

[JFBUK]

Hi Andy,

I assume you are running the Bose Soundtouch app on your phone or tablet as there is no Windows app that I could find, and that your speakers, phone/tablet ,and B2 are all on the same wifi network ?

Have you tried this

https://www.bose.co.uk/en_gb/support/articles/HC1083/productCodes/soundtouch_20_ii/article.html

You want "Music Library on NAS"

John

[Peter Lowham]

Hi Daniel et al,

The root issue that Andy has stated is that he wants to output the B2 music using bluetooth to send the music output to the Bose speakers.  I agree with you that there is quite a lot of confusion after that, but that is the base requirement.

Whether on not that can be achieved will follow on once the upgrade to B2B is done.

I have an old (2013) Bose Soundlink and I have used it for years while travelling and staying in hotels for work.   Now that I have retired, the Soundlink doesn't get much use.  However I can say that I have used the Bose Soundlink as a speaker over bluetooth from my BB1 and that works fine.

I don't know yet if the B2 will have the same capability, so I have got the Soundlink on charge right now and I see if I can link it to the B2.

I'll report back as soon as I have run the tests.

Regards,

Peter.

On Friday, 27 August 2021 at 15:43:53 UTC+1 Daniel Taylor wrote:

[JFBUK]

Hi Andy,

My last post was about the Soundtouch speakers.

I also meant to ask whether the Soundwave & B2 are physically close ?

Bluetooth does not have a great connectivity range without boosting.

John

[Andy Snapper]

Hello John

Welcome to my problem. 

There is a windows app. Simple things like selecting music you can do on the mobile. More difficult things have to be done on the computer/tablet. And yes, I have seen that article and indeed one of the later pages I screen printed above that when the app can't see your NAS then you should do as that page said. 

Am I right in saying that the B2 can be regarded as NAS in this context? And if that is a yes, then is there something else I have to do from the B2 side to make it visible to the Soundtouch app?

And we are all on the same WIFI network.

Andy

[Andy Snapper]

John, 

The Bose are currently playing music from the a music library on the computer. So is that through, network and/or wifi? Certainly one of those speakers is driven by a Bluetooth dongle on the Bose Soundwave. They are located across three rooms, so quite aways apart say 60 feet?

The B2 is next to the computer where I am now, just a few feet from the Soundwave and 30 to 50 feet from the Soundtouches.

Andy

[JFBUK]

Hi Andy

if your Bose speakers are playing from files on your PC then that is over your wifi network.

Apologies if you have tried all this :)

I think you have two separate requirements:

1. Get the B2 to see your Bose  speakers as bluetooth speakers for playback

2. Play back music from the B2 as a NAS (as you can already from your PC as a NAS.)

As I have no Bose speakers the next bit is a bit blind

For (1) 

Use the B2 Web UI

You must have the bluetooth dongle plugged into the B2

Then follow the instructions here:

https://www.brennan.co.uk/itemcontent.php/content/Bluetooth

The B2 should see the Bose Wave as a bluetooth device and you can pair the B2 and the Bose Wave

If your Soundtouch speakers are within bluetooth range then they could be paired to the B2 as well.

The B2 Web UI can initiate and control playback to bluetooth speakers it is paired to.

For (2)

Use the Bose app

You will need to configure it with the address of your B2 for NAS access.

The app will probably ask for a user and password. These are 'root' and 'brennan'.

If it prompts for a folder name use 'Music'

If you want to play something on one of your speakers you must use the Bose app to initiate and control it.

The B2 Web UI knows nothing about NAS and cannot see your speakers for playback over wifi.

John

[Andy Snapper]

Thank you John for that comprehensive reply. I can see from the link that you sent that Brennan regard Bluetooth 'out' as a hit or miss affair. So there is no promise this will work.

I have continued experimenting and I have now paired the B2 with my desktop computer and also with my laptop, so progress in so far as we can confirm that the Bluetooth dongle works. I did wonder whether having the line out cable still in the B2 made a difference but I don't think it does. The line out doesn't inhibit the bluetooth dongle, but perhaps the Bluetooth speakers are too far away, so I ma now seeing if I can make the B2 Bluetooth pick up a Bose  Soundlink mini which is sat alonside it now.

I will work through the other suggestion and report back in due course. 

Thanks again for your trouble.

Andy

[Andy Snapper]

Ha!

Following the directions on the Troubleshooting page of the Brennan I actually have a Bluetooth link with the Bose Soundlink Mini. 

I will see how far I can carry it before I lose signal.

Andy

[Andy Snapper]

Well,

I cannot carry the Soundlink Mini as far as any of the other speakers before I lose connection. Is the effectiveness of the Bluetooth any better if you have a bigger speaker? What I mean is, is the effectiveness of the Bluetooth on the Soundlink mini less because it is a mini speaker? Certainly it doesn't want to go around corners into another room where the other speakers are. Ok that is understood so we are back to just making the NAS accessibility work.

Andy

[JFBUK]

Andy,

Bluetooth connectivity can be affected by environmental parameters - distance, walls, interference from other devices.

There are Bluetooth range extenders which send a signal of higher amplification/strength which might help and some people have had success by putting  the Bluetooth dongle on a usb extension lead so that it can be positioned physically closer to the target device..

Not something I have experience of but someone on here who has may chip in with recommendations

John

[Peter Lowham]

Hi All,

I received a PM from Andy stating that he is actually running software 'B2B July 26 2021'

A previous post from him stated "PS I am on July 26th B2 software.", hence my erroneous assumption.

So it's back to loooking at the root problem.  I haven't yet had an opportunity to check out my Bluetooth tests.

Regards,

Peter.

[Andy Snapper]

Peter,

It would seem that I have over ambitious expectations of what Bluetooth can achieve.  I have successfully paired a Bose Soundlink Mini with the B2B but when I move the Bose unit to another room e.g. where the Bose Soundtouch 20s sit, then the signal just breaks up. Clearly Bluetooth is not intended to go through walls. What I haven't tried, and given the size of the B2B perfectly feasible, is to move the B2B to where the Soundtouch 20 sits. I might do that if it rains.

In short, I would ask you not to spend any more time on my Bluetooth problem.

My other option is get the B2B recognised as a NAS by the Bose Soundtouch app, but that just isn't happening. The app just will not see it and no amount of refreshing makes it happen. If anyone can think of a workaround then that would be nice. Otherwise I just have to keep swapping libraries to play my classical on Bose. A copy of the classical music on the B2B sits on my computer too so if I did want to play the classical around the ground floor then I can set that as the library that the Bose would access. Life is full of compromises and I guess that this will be mine today.

Thank you to all who have taken an interest in my difficulty and have taken the time to contribute to the discussion. 

Best wishes to all

Andy

[Peter Lowham]

Hi Andy,

Bluetooth has been designed as a 'Personal Area Network' (PAN) which is the next level down from a LAN.  The transmission power is quite low, this was a deliberate design parameter because Bluetooth is intended for use in low power devices.  This means that it has a limited range and any obstruction (e.g. walls) reduces that range even further.  

There was a question asked that if larger speakers were used would the range improve.  The answer is no; the Bluetooth power is limited in the specification and design to a fixed level.

Thanks for the update.

Regards,

Peter.

[JFBUK]

Hi Andy,

try enabling DLNA on the B2. The Soundtouch app can apparently see DLNA servers for playback so worth a shot.

I have tested other playback software , MediaMonkey, with the B2 as a DLNA server and it worked.

>SETTINGS>MAINTENANCE>DLNA

No need to turn off NAS.

I also don't know whether you have taken a look at the Bose community forum

https://community.bose.com/t5/English/ct-p/en

It might be worth searching or posting there to see if someone has had the same issue and come up with a solution

John

[Andy Snapper]

Thanks John,

I have been for a quick visit to Bose and will follow this up. 

Could you just explain what turning DLNA on does? I understood that you only need set this once, I thought I had done this but can do it again but as I am not familiar with that part of the menu structure would I be able to check whether it is on or not? Just want to be sure that I don't accidentally undo it. 

Andy

[Peter Lowham]

Hi Andy,

You can find the status of DLNA by using the B2's remote control.  With the clock showing, press the 'Info' button three times and the display will show the status of DLNA and NAS.

Regards,

Peter.

[JFBUK]

Hi Andy,

DLNA =Digital Living Network Alliance 

 

Its branding for an initiative to promote interoperability  of electronic equipment that delivers digital media across manufacturers.

Its often talked about alongside UPnP (universal plug and play)

The DLNA/ UPnP interoperability guidelines talk about about three major pieces to the architecture of digital media delivery; Media Server, Media Renderer, and Control Point.

This is a very good description

 https://audiophilestyle.com/ca/ca-academy/the-complete-guide-to-hifi-upnp-dlna-network-audio/

The media server component makes visible its media content to other devices and so is somewhat analogous to NAS but the two are different.

As per Peter's post you can see whether DLNA is enabled via the info button on the B2 remote.

Once turned on it will stay on until you explicitly turn it off though I think some previous B2 software upgrades may have needed to reset it.

Hope this helps

John

[Andy Snapper]

Thank you Peter and John.

I have identified that NAS was on but DLNA was off. I have now activated DLNA. B2 has rebooted and on my network map I immediately have an icon of a sitting duck/penguin and the label 'B2 DLNA Server', alongside the NAS Brennan which is still checking content. 

When that is fully up and accessible I will retry the Soundtouch app.

Cheers

Andy

[Andy Snapper]

Guess what peeps?

'Warsaw' Concerto is blasting out on all three speakers.

Yep, went to the Soundtouch app, looked to add the NAS Music service and there it was ready to be accessed, no refresh needed. Then to the mobile app to select the first piece of music.

****** brilliant! Thank you.

Andy

[PMB]

Hi Andy,

Great news, thanks for letting us know. Certainly worth all the head scratching and contributions! Thanks everyone.

Paul

Brennan Support.