More > JRiver Media Center 27 for Windows
Best DLNA setup
markf2748:
I run BubbleUPnP on the same Win10 PC as the MC server and library, which has its music stored on a USB attached SSD. This server doubles as my main desktop PC for office apps and web browsing. My audio load is extremely low (playing ripped 44.1KHz CDs w/o DSP) - I rarely notice any audio degradation at all. The wifi network has 2 original Google Chromecast Audio devices (GA3A00147-A14-Z01), 2 MC client Win10 PCs, Android phone, and several other PCs. The system has been fairly reliable for MC 27 and now MC 28 (MinimServer also runs on all my MC PCs without interference, but is rarely used).
Your link in opening post has lots of details to check. At risk of stating the obvious, I'll make some "higher level" suggestions that work for me.
Don't overthink it - just try moving Bubble to your MC Server PC, as DJLegba suggested above. It's free, no risk, easily removed. I had an old single-user install for years, but just replaced it with latest 0.9-update40.
Check MC Options > Media Network > Advanced > all three DLNA boxes checked (Server, Renderer, Controller).
Do not run Bubble simultaneously on more than one computer. The MC clients can select the Chromecast zones seen by the MC server, but they do not run their own instances of Bubble while the server is running Bubble. I violated this rule for a while, and ended up with lots of confusion and very poor reliability.
Check Bubble server status on the MC server: RMB Bubble taskbar icon > Configure > Media Renderers > Create a DLNA renderer [checked] for each renderer. If renderers are not visible here, then restart Bubble. May be necessary to logout/login or restart server PC in worst cases. A single Bubble icon should always be among the task bar icons (either visible or in the hidden group). I also keep a Bubble startup shortcut on my desktop for easy restarting if taskbar icon is missing.
I have shortcuts in the windows shell startup folder (<Windows Start key> + R) which launch (1) JRService.exe, (2) javaw.exe for BubbleUPnP Server, and (3) MinimServer. These start automatically after windows login.
Also check that MC Media Server (JRService.exe) is running on MC Server PC. After login, it should always be among the task bar icons (either visible or in the hidden group). If it is not running for any reason, then firing up MC after login starts JRService.exe. (tools > options > Startup > Windows Startup > Run on Windows Startup: Media Server (...))
While you may not prefer the JRemote2 interface (personally I find it quite adequate), the app is really useful for a quick remote check of the MC Server status. The Player choices effectively show status of Bubble DLNA / MC Server combination.
Does your server go to sleep? If so, clients cannot connect of course! I find it useful to have a WOL app on my phone for those times, though JRemote2's WOL also works after a short discovery delay.
BTW, it's OK to install Android BubbleUPnP (which can access both MC and MinimServer libraries) along with JRemote2 on a phone. I occasionally use Android BubbleUPnP for those few times when JRemote2 fails (almost always traceable to Bubble failure on the server). It also provides alternative checks on the Chromecast Audio hardware. As usual, Google Home on Android is used initially to set up Chromecast Audios and check them if necessary.
musicmahn:
Thank you so much for your effort here! Some of it is a bit foreign to me but I'm going to pick it apart and see what tweaks/investigations I can make.
Will report back in the next few days when I find some time to dig in
musicmahn:
Everything just seems to good with what you mention above. I can see the renderer in BubbleUPnP - JRiver sees it. JRiver can still play to it - just very very poorly to the point of being unusable. Moving BubbleUPnP to the PC yielded the same results.
I'm surely not the best with port forwarding stuff though it's never seemed to hold me back in the past. Can this be spelled out in a detailed manner?
While I would love to solve my issue here I'm ready to consider purchasing something that will actually work reliably. Is there anything I can replace Chromecast/BubbleUPnP with that should never fail? Keep in mind I do not wish to use Android and would prefer an optical output going into my receiver.
I'm desperate for a solution :(
AndrewFG:
--- Quote from: musicmahn on July 11, 2021, 08:37:06 am ---JRiver can still play to it - just very very poorly to the point of being unusable.
--- End quote ---
Perhaps you have MC server set to transcode the audio to MP3 ?? — check your MC Media Network DLNA server settings and choose Audio Mode = Original
musicmahn:
I believe that is ok though I think the option appears a bit different in MC25
I have Client Options (when connected to library server) > Audio Conversion > Don't convert audio
The fact that everything was great until the snap of a finger is killing me. Could something have fallen out of whack after a power outage?
Do we have a detailed "port forwarding and AV/Firewall skirting" tutorial anywhere? I did notice the "taming windows" post and tried to add those exclusions etc but I'm not sure they would be the culprit when everything worked fine without those tweaks.
Also is it possible for me to pull some kind of MC log file that would give any clues?
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