Internet stream drops after 5 seconds, then reconnects and works ok

[andreigherghe]

Hello Bernd,

We would like to simulcast another station, after receiving a TCP command. We tried the following:

After the TCP command is received, execute OVERLAY_CREATE [PLAYLIST]|soft|500
Where [PLAYLIST] is a single entry file, containing the URL.

The overlay creates, but after 5 seconds, the stream drops and the playlist keeps going.

After checking KeepStreamLoading and KeepStreamAlive, the problem is 95% solved. In the overlay player, it behaves the same. However, if it's appended to the current playlist, it plays for 5 seconds, hiccups for ~1 second, and then plays perfectly fine.

In theory, the flow we're going for is this: Receive TCP command -> wait for the current track to finish (overlay's soft option with 500 secs works perfectly) -> play URL -> wait for next TCP command to *Play Next*

Is there a better option instead of OVERLAY_CREATE, or APPENDing to the playlist? (since it appends at the bottom instead of PREpending, I must use extra logic in the script). Or if it's not, and the overlay is ok, could we work around the stream dropping?

Best wishes, and a great day ahead!
Andrei

[radio42]

Sounds like the stream URL is not really stable - so please check you internet connection as well the stream's internet connection. Can you play the URL with another player stable?

Regarding another option: Yes, in order to play a foreign stream URL, there is the MODStream-Watcher. See here how to use it:
viewtopic.php?f=9&t=57
viewtopic.php?f=9&t=1671

[andreigherghe]

Hello Bernd,

The stream is in a VPN in our local network, using roughly 1% of the total bandwidth. I noticed the MODStream-Watcher as well, but the overlay player is more visible.

So no, the stream shouldn't have any issues. It plays perfectly with VLC.

As a side note, does the soundbed of the talkuser function load metadata? Even after setting up a loop zone on the audio file, in the PFMD, it's not loaded when it's played as a soundbed. However, if we insert it into the playlist, it works with no problems at all.

Thank you!

Andrei

[radio42]

If the stream is 100% stable IO would wonder, why it would drop every 5 seconds - so there must be a reason for it to drop.
Either the 'stream' is kicked (actively) by the server, it is disconnected (actively) by any other component within the network or the connection is somehow unstable - else it couldn't drop every 5 seconds.
The 'KeepStreamLoading' and 'KeepStreamAlive' are pure re-connect settings. Maybe your 'stream' doesn't even drop, but your output is stuttering, because you are using too low playback buffers (note that VLC uses quite high buffer settings and in ProppFrexx you can freely configure these buffers in the general settings)?

The MODStream-Player and the Overlay-Player use almost identical panel windows - so both are exactly visible in the same way... I am not sure what you mean by "he overlay player is more visible"?!
Note, that you can rearrange both window panels freely as you like.
As such I really encourage you to use the MODStreamWatcher functionality, as this is specifically designed for such a feature.

I am not sure what you mean with a 'loop zone' inside an audio file?!
However, the soundbed of the TalkUser function loops the track between the Cue-In and Cue-Out cue-points - in the same way, as if you would loop a track in a Cartwall, Stabdy- or DJ-Player when you activate the 'Loop' option.