Media streaming with an internet radio

[dudwell]

As a diversion from the email disaster may I introduce problems I've been having with my newly-acquired internet radio, a Roberts WM-202?

Now I don't expect that any IDNetters actually own it - indeed for all the assistance I've been getting on the DigitalSpy Radio forum (where I appear as Limden) it feels as though I'm the only purchaser in the UK so far - but I think my problems are centered on the wireless network - or perhaps its absence - and here maybe someone could help.

The WM-202 has four operating modes:-

FM radio - works perfectly

DAB radio - works perfectly

Internet radio - works perfectly, so the WM-202 must be linked to my router, a SpeedTouch 585v6.

Media Player - which enables the radio to play audio files stored on the computer. There are two file access methods : via Windows Shares and via a UPnP server for which purpose Windows Media Player 11 is recommended. I have followed the manual's instructions diligently but neither now work (the Windows Shares method worked briefly yesterday, I added more files to the Shared Files folder, went off to try the UPnP method which has never shown any sign of working and now the Windows Shares method fails too), the radio unhelpfully displays "<Empty>" or "Network error".

I use Windows XP SP2. I've uninstalled ZoneAlarm and the XP firewall is on its default settings, disabling it doesn't help.  My laptop obviously connects OK to the router or I couldn't be posting this. I've been through the Network Setup Wizard routine umpteen times. The router's pages say that UPnP is enabled. I've sought help from Roberts Radio but they simply lead me again through the set-up routine already clearly described in their manual and it doesn't work! 

Can some kind soul suggest something new to try please?

[Steve]

Some suggestions ,can you get wmp11 to connect to any other devices i.e xbox 360 / ps3 or even pc to laptop?

I use twonky as UPNP media server it may well work although the roberts is not a supported client,its free for a month, to be found at http://www.twonkyvision.de/Other UPNP mediaservers are simplecenter and tversity

Also this articlehttp://support.microsoft.com/kb/886257

[dudwell]

Thanks but alas, I don't have any other devices, nor another computer.

WMP11 is what Roberts recommend and what I have installed. Somehow I don't think this can be at the root of my problem. Seems to me that although both the laptop and the WM-202 connect separately to the router I have failed to set up a wireless network correctly but I have run out of ideas.... 

[Steve]

Normally if UPNP is set up in windows xp and media sharing enabled in wmp and you turn on a networked 360/ps3 or upnp DMP a taskbar prompt will ask you if you wish to share/ add this device.

[dudwell]

Aahh! Remind me, correction tell me, HOW to set up UPnP in Windows XP. Maybe this is it

I'm sure I've enabled media sharing in WMP

[Simon]

Hi Dudwell,

This might help:  http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/setup/expert/crawford_02july22.mspx

[Steve]

It should be on by default However Method 2: Use My Network Places
You can use My Network Places to install the UPnP UI components and to open the required Windows Firewall ports. To do this, follow these steps:
1.   Click Start, and then click Control Panel.
2.   Click Network and Internet Connections.
3.   Under See Also, click My Network Places.
4.   Under Network Tasks, click Show icons for networked UPnP devices.
5.   You receive the following message:
To help protect your computer, Windows Firewall has blocked the UPnP device software from receiving information from the network. This information is necessary for displaying the icons.

Do you want to open the Windows Firewall port settings so the software can detect networked UPnP devices? If you click No, the icons will not be displayed
If you click No, the icons will not be displayed, the UPnP UI components are not installed, and the installation program quits.

If you click Yes, the UPnP UI components are installed and the UPnP framework firewall exception is enabled.

[Sebby]

First check it's installed (I believe it is by default):
Control Panel > Add/Remove Programs > Add/Remove Windows Components

It's under Networking Services (the top one - "Internet Gateway Device Discovery and Control Client").

Next, change the firewall settings:
Control Panel > Windows Firewall > Exceptions

Then tick "UPnP Framework".

[Steve]

Thanks Simon and Sebby , I just wonder whether another media server maybe more successful? Obviously I am biased towards twonky

[dudwell]

Sebby, yes it's evidently installed and UPnP Framework is already ticked in the firewall settings.

Stevethegas, yes I can see icons of folders I hoped to stream.

Simon, it's getting late and I'll need a clearer mind to grapple with anything published by Microsoft!

Thanks to you all for your efforts. I'll return to the struggle tomorrow, Mrs Dudwell permitting....

[Simon]

[Sebby]

What router is it? Does it definitely support UPnP?

[Steve]

If upnp is functioning correctly in xp sp2 it will normally show your router(UPNP compatible) as a UPNP device. I may well be incorrect but if you choose not to display that icon it disables UPNP.

[dudwell]

Sebby, router is SpeedTouch 585v6. I delved into its webpages and found UPnP "enabled". Does that help with stevethegas's point?

Have to leave this for the present, pressure from you-know-who

[Sebby]

It sounds like it should be working, but that's often the case.

[Rik]

But apparently the sound is very very quiet.

[Sebby]

It's not quiet, Rik, it's silent.

[Rik]

Sufficiently quiet amounts to silent to the human ear.

[dudwell]

Well I'm back! Solved a minor problem: adding stations which aren't in the database. It seems that the URL which appears in the browser's address bar as the station plays is not necessarily OK. I obtained the correct version from a station "owner" himself and it is working as I type 

But I still can't stream audio files from the laptop to the radio. Any fresh ideas?

[dudwell]

I've now read the Microsoft article advocated by Simon (above) and I've gone through the procedure it describes "Enabling the UPnP User Interface". No icon for a UPnp device shows up in "My Network Places" merely a few icons of folders I've been trying to stream to the radio.

I've switched everything off, performed "Factory Reset" and started afresh. Also I've tried briefly disabling the XP firewall and also the router's firewall. Nothing makes any difference.

I'm beginning to think the unit must be faulty though it works perfectly in the FM radio, DAB radio and Internet radio modes. Any views before I return it on Tuesday?

[Sebby]

Could you just forward the port manually instead?

[Steve]

Sorry I cant add anthing further to help but I repeat I can see my speedtouch585v6 as UPNP in xp sp2 and I believe you cant? So I still question whether the radio is at fault.

[dudwell]

Sebby, I have never gone near port-forwarding, don't know what it means much less how to do it. Sorry!

Stevethegas, I'm not seeing the SpeedTouch as an icon in "My Network Places" if that's what you are asking?

[Glenn]

www.portforward.com will show you what you need to do

[Sebby]

It achieves the same a UPnP in that it forwards a particular port to a device. UPnP does this but automatically.

It's quite easy on the SpeedTouch, but I don't own one anymore so couldn't give you directions, but someone else could, I'm sure. You need to know the port that needs to be forwarded (probably in the manual for the radio), and that's about it. You will then just forward this port to the radio device.