Drop-outs streaming internet radio

[peter.rayner]

I've been away for a month and, on return, am getting lots of drop-outs streaming my favourite internet radio station.
Here's the m3u file:
#EXTM3U
#EXTINF:99999,[*classicfm] ABC ClassicFM
http://live-radio02.mediahubaustralia.com/2FMW/aac/
This has been working fine for a few months but now will play for a variable length of time then stop.
Length of time depends on time of day and is shorter when load on the streaming server or network is likely to be heavier. Also there's no problem plaing local material from the Synology NAS (which is also the host for minimserver).
I've attached a fragment of the minimserver.log which hopefully shows a full cycle from requesting playing to dropout.
I realize this is very likely a network or server problem but are there settings I can try to reduce this?
thanks again
Peter

[simoncn]

The log doesn't contain any information about the cause of the problem. The stream starts playing at 09:57:30 and the renderer closes the connection at 09:59:29. Everything looks normal at the server end. I will try playing this stream myself and let you know what happens. What renderer are you using?

[peter.rayner]

(04-06-2016 11:11)simoncn Wrote:  The log doesn't contain any information about the cause of the problem. The stream starts playing at 09:57:30 and the renderer closes the connection at 09:59:29. Everything looks normal at the server end. I will try playing this stream myself and let you know what happens. What renderer are you using?

I'm using a PS Audio DirectStream.
It's curious that the renderer initiated the stop, I didn't ask it to. Let me know if there's more information I should capture.
thanks again
Peter

[simoncn]

(04-06-2016 11:25)peter.rayner Wrote:  I'm using a PS Audio DirectStream.
It's curious that the renderer initiated the stop, I didn't ask it to. Let me know if there's more information I should capture.
thanks again
Peter

I have listened to this station for one hour with no interruptions (05:45 to 06:45 local time for the station). What time of day are you normally hearing dropouts?

[peter.rayner]

(04-06-2016 21:50)simoncn Wrote:  I have listened to this station for one hour with no interruptions (05:45 to 06:45 local time for the station). What time of day are you normally hearing dropouts?

Usually during times that are likely busier for both the server and the network. I have, for example, just had a drop-out before posting this, about 8am local time.

[simoncn]

Do you have any other renderers that you can try? I think the problem could be caused by insufficient buffering within the PS Audio DirectStream. This might cause the renderer to close the connection when audio data from the server is delayed and the renderer runs out of audio data to play.

[peter.rayner]

(05-06-2016 07:32)simoncn Wrote:  Do you have any other renderers that you can try? I think the problem could be caused by insufficient buffering within the PS Audio DirectStream. This might cause the renderer to close the connection when audio data from the server is delayed and the renderer runs out of audio data to play.

There's a bit of evidence for your theory. If there's a playlist the stream is quite likely to shift over to another track after the dropout ... not always but then I'm slightly vague about how playlists, history etc interact between my control point and minimserver.
I waited a while before replying because I got severl hours uninterrupted playing last night but then back to a few minutes this morning.
I'll check whether my control point (ARCAM MusicLife) can see another renderer (e.g. the iPad it's running on).
Also, is there any way of diagnosing the buffer underrun you're suggesting?
Is there a case for buffering in the server or is that happening already?
thanks again
Peter

[simoncn]

You would need to ask in the PS Audio forum about diagnosing buffer underrun.

The server does not do buffering at present. This could be added as an option but it would cause a delay in the server's response to the streaming request from the renderer and some renderers might not tolerate such a delay.

[peter.rayner]

(07-06-2016 12:36)simoncn Wrote:  You would need to ask in the PS Audio forum about diagnosing buffer underrun.

The server does not do buffering at present. This could be added as an option but it would cause a delay in the server's response to the streaming request from the renderer and some renderers might not tolerate such a delay.

Ok, I'll check what can be tweaked on the PS Audio Bridge. Adding buffering to the server could be a useful option for the future but I presume you've lots of those.