Playback Problem

[Roger Quinte]

Bought the Brennan B2B as a Christmas gift for the family. It was several weeks after receiving the machine from Amazon that we started working with it. Initially, everything seemed to work fine, such as connecting to my Wi-Fi, connecting to my Sonos speakers, and streaming Internet radio. however, there was an initial problem, it would not rip CDs. several attempts to update the software were unsuccessful until we decided to send it back to Amazon. one last attempt to update the software and be sure data was clear the problem resolved itself and has been able rips CDs without any issue.

After loading 2678 tracks tried to play some of the files back without luck. The files will start to play and then shut off. I have tried multiple artists etc all with the same problem. I have about the same number of CDs remaining but have stopped ripping at this time.

Info:  2678 tracks 206 albums 120 artists

          zero wave files 26178 flak files

          Capacity 2000G used 69.65 GB

          version October 22 2021 12: 29: 15

          NAS off DLNA off Spotify on

[PMB]

Hi Roge...,

Try running Scan Disk - Settings menu - which will rebuild the internal database the B2 uses to locate and play your music.

Paul

Brennan Support.

[Roger Quinte]

Thanks for the response. I Ran Scan Disk, sadly the problem persists. Will only get a few seconds of a song and will then stop. 

Roger

[PMB]

Hi Roger,

Please tell us more about how you have the B2 setup i.e. speakers connected to the B2, Line Out from the B2 to an external amplifier, etc.

Paul

Brennan Support.

[Roger Quinte]

All I have at this time is a Sonos Arc SL Shadow and two Sonos One SL speakers using wifi. Nothing else is plugged in to the B2. I have a very strong wifi signal, both units sit next to each other, and maybe 12-14 feet from router. Using an Orbi mesh system, (Netgear ), and the closest satellite is at least 30 feet away through several walls.

Thanks,

Roger 

[PMB]

Hi Roger,

Seems there can be some problems with 'mesh' networks so let's try to narrow it down a bit.

Do you have some headphones or ear buds (those commonly supplied with mobile phones) with a 3.5mm jack plug. Try plugging these into the Line Out socket on the B2, turn the volume to 50 or so to get a reasonable level and check some playback.

Paul

Brennan Support.

[Roger Quinte]

Paul,

That was successful. I turned off Sonos and set the B2 to wired speaker, played several different tracks without any problems. Would it help to wire the B2 directly to my.router? I do have a Ethernet hub with in a few feet. 

Thanks

Roger 

[fred.w....@gmail.com]

Hi Roger,

I have noticed on the Forum that there seem to be a few problems in relationship to mesh router systems, particularly "Orbi's". 

What people are not understanding is that a Brennan DEPENDS on the WiFi/House router it is connected to.

The Brennan Must be connected to the same WiFi network as the devices that want to use it (- many mesh routers actually generate multiple WiFi networks - "guest" connections are a definite no no)

The IP number that the Brennan gets is provided by the router not the Brennan and once connected the Brennan publishes its Web UI as a web page on that IP number using the industry standard to do this "apache".

A Brennen is therefore a local "server" on the house network and is possibly the first/only server a user will have. Also if NAS, DLNA or Librespot are turned on on the Brennan it may be proving multiple server functions.

Devices a user want to connect to the Brennan (eg Phones, Tablets, Laptops, PCs, etc) have to be connected to it by the house router system, it is NOT the Brennan's function to make the connection.

Thus if Brennan has an IP number showing on the front display on power up and you cant get the Web UI up, 99% for sure this will be a problem with the house Router/WiFi, NOT the Brennan.

Further with Sonos and Brennan the situation is even more complex as the Brennan does not drive the Sonos speakers directly but does so through the Sonos "system" or "App provided by Sonos to set up/use your Sonos" , if you are using the

Brennan to control the playing. (you can also set up the Brennan as a NAS and get the Sonos to index the Brennan's music holdings and use the Sonos App to drive things).

Could I suggest that once you have asked the Brennan to play music to the Sonos, you go into the Sonos App and see what it thinks it is doing? - you should see the Brennan music queued in it.

Fred.

[Roger Quinte]

Thanks Fred,

Did as you suggested and it shows the music queued in the Sonos app. If hit play it would play some of the song and then stop. Several attempts to play would play different lengths of a song but eventually it would stop and would get this message: “Playback was interrupted because your WIFI network is unstable”.

Roger 

[fred.w....@gmail.com]

Hi Roger,

There you go, whatever your system is, your house WiFi is not up to the task, the Sonos App is telling you so 😕.

However all is not lost. You can connect your B2 directly to the back of your Router using an Ethernet cable. 

The B2's Ethernet jack is inside the case and accessed by removing the back. There are cut outs for running the cable through the back.

You open the back using just the top 2 screws (doing this does not invalidate the warranty) and the main board will slide out a LITTLE way.

We normally install a short M/F whiptail cable to take the connector out of the back so that if you need to move the unit you dont need to take the back off to disconnect the Ethernet cable. There are instructions to help on the Brennan web site.

When using Ethernet please be sure to remove the WiFi Dongle.

If your router is distant, some of us have used Ethernet over house power lines to overcome the problem very successfully. 

I have found Ethernet to be the BEST method for connecting my B2.

Fred.

[mr...@ymail.com]

Fred  

Have you ever tried a USB to Ethernet adapter to avoid opening the back of the Brennan and leaving a cable hanging out?

Michael

[fred.w....@gmail.com]

Hi Michael,

No I have not, it has been a recent addition to the Brennan capability and I am sure it works, BUT it will use up one of the USB ports and requires a separate driver to be loaded placing extra load on the Pi, when there is a perfectly good built in (on the Pi board itself), native Ethernet connector available. I installed a whiptail connector 

Which must cost less than a USB Ethernet adaptor??

BUT for those nervous about unscrewing the back of the B2, your USB adaptor is ideal - just hope they never have to replace their SD Card!!

Fred

[Richard Bermack]

I've used a similar  usb to  ethernet adapter  (mine is a mini usb hub) and it works great, just plug and play.

[Roger Quinte]

Parts ordered, should have by the weekend and will let you know how it goes.

Thanks,

Roger

[Roger Quinte]

Well interesting, parts finally showed up Saturday late evening, (thanks Amazon). Install the short whiptail, plugged into the network and lo and behold had the same issues. Yes, I did remove the Wi-Fi dongle. The music l would start to play and cut off. 

This morning pondering the dilemma over a lot of coffee , I pulled out a Sonos One that is on it’s own WiFi connection and it worked great, again proving it’s not a Brennan problem but also indicating that it’s not a Wi-Fi streaming problem either. I’m not sure why I didn’t try this earlier but, oh well.

Anyway after a lot of troubleshooting that included removing the direct tv connection to the Sonos Arc, (no change), restarting everything etc. I decided to delete the Sonos arc group from the Wi-Fi and reconnect it. This immediately solved the problem and music streams to that group as well as well as to the individual Sonos one speaker. I suspect I should’ve done all this sooner with the Wi-Fi dongle in place but at this time I am just going to leave it wired, no big deal.

Thanks again Fred and Paul for your help, I am now set to continue loading the rest of my music in learning more functions of the Brennan B2.
Thanks again,

Roger 

[PMB]

Hi Roger,

Some good investigative work there.

I suggest you try the Experimental software shown on the Latest Software page - link - left hand column. You have to download the software and load it to the B2 using a USB memory stick and 'SW Upgrade' - Maintenance menu.

In that version Martin has made some changes to the Sonos code which others have found fixes problems they were having, so would be worth trying. Any problems you can do a Web Upgrade to return to the Oct 22 2021 version.

Paul

Brennan Support.