Troubleshooting

Fault finding

This to help with the basic fault finding of a Linn DS system.

I cannot see my DS in the Songcast Preferences tab

Press the REFRESH button, if your Linn DS('s) do not appear:- 1. Check the Advanced TAB - Network settings that the correct Network connection is used 2. On Konfig, check under Sources, that the Songcast<Songcast> source is Visible 3. Press the REFRESH button

The Linn DS/DSI will only play one track then stop

Make sure that the Linn DS/DSI has the PLAYLIST source selected, NOT the UPnPAV source. The UPnPAV source is available for standard UPnP control devices that do not have the facilty to save the Playlists on the Linn DS itself.

I seem to be getting more music drop-out since changing to Davaar

Audio drop-out on the Linn DS/DSI is caused by the Linn DS/DSI waiting for the streamed data. The Linn DS/DSI has a limited buffer memory to allow small music stream breaks but if the incoming music stream is lost for too long or is not fast enough to feed all of the music stream required for real-time playback, this causes the Linn DS/DSI to MUTE until the the buffer memory is full and can carry on playing again.
With Davaar software there has been no change in the amount of data streamed from your music storage device to the DS, with a very marginal increase in the outgoing network traffic from the Linn DS/DSI to support the Songcast feature. These drop-outs are more likely to be due to media server changes (after a software update, internal maintainance or data corruption in the NAS) or other devices on the network taking up network bandwidth.
We suggest disconnecting any other Ethernet devices not required for the Linn DS/DSI to NAS connection to help track down the cause of music drop-outs. This may mean trying out a Linn tested DHCP/Server with a different UPnP media server (PC instead of NAS running the required software). This will help track down the cause of the ethernet music stream drop-outs.

CANNOT get BBC Radio

BBC is presently changing its broadcast format. Some ISP's can broadcast this, some cannot, plus the BBC are having some other difficulties. check BBC & Digital Radio Tech & BBC Multicast

Cannot see the NAS in Kinsky/Konfig or shortcuts disappear

Suspect that your PC is running Norton 360. Follow the following link for instructions on how to get this working

ALAC files cannot be played on the Linn DS/DSI player

If the ALAC files have been created with a early version of dBpowerAmp or iTunes, these Music files may not be played by the Linn DS/DSI. To recify this, we suggest using dBPowerAmp V14 and above and transcode these from ALAC to ALAC, this will correct the file issue

Internet Radio keeps muting

This is due to breaks in the media stream from the Internet.

This can be due to high network traffic in your area, business first thing monday morning, or heavy useage of video broadcast (like footbal matches).

Some ISP's will also reduce your bandwidth of certain types of network traffic, typically Bittorrant (P2P). Some ISP's will mistake your Radio stream for a Bittorrant and throttle this network traffic and cause muting of your Internet Radio.

I cannot see any AIFF Metadata

TwonkyMedia does not support the AIFF Metadata. Twonky have been asked to add this (Jan 5th 2011) [1]

Windows Home Server (RipNAS) has audio drop outs

This may be due to the WHS housekeeping check [2]

Since installing CARA6, I cannot see the DS using Kinsky

As Cara6 has an internet Radio function, it will check the internet for any updates in the Tunein Radio (previously RadioTime) login etc.

If you have a poor or no broadband/internet link, this can cause the DS to appear to be invisible on Kinsky Desktop whilst it is searching for the TuneIn website.

If you leave the DS alone for approximately 3 minutes it will start working as it realises the lack of the Internet.

When playing WMA lossless files, the DS will play the track for so long, then give a white noise (like the sound of waves crashing)

CARA6 does not support WMA lossless Music files. It may appear to play some of the files OK, but others can cause the DS to play Music then give a white noise hiss.

Problems updating the Linn DS software.

There may be issues with your network.

• Restart your network by power cycling the components, starting with the DHCP server/router, then the Linn DS, then the PC.
• Try updating the software again.

If you still have problems

• Bring the Linn DS, PC and DHCP server/router to the same location and use short patch leads (<3M, 10ft)
  
• Power cycle these products starting with the DHCP server/router, then the Linn DS, then the PC
• Try updating the software again.

Finally if you still have problems, (this should be done by a Linn Retailer).

Procedure for manual update

Where can I get help on Kinsky / Konfig / Jukebox Software?

Kinsky manual is here.

Jukebox manual is here.

Konfig manual is here.

The front panel of the DS is showing a flashing dot and I cannot see the Linn DS with Kinsky or Konfig.

Computer networks can get very fussy. If you have any problems getting the Linn DS on an Ethernet network, (dot continuously flashing), try the following options:-
Option1

1. Power off the EVERYTHING connected to the Ethernet system, (PC, Printers, DS, Routers/DHCP servers).
2. Leave everything powered off for at least 10seconds.
3. Switch everything back on.
4. Retry the system

You will find that some of the devices in the system get confused and cause system confusion. The power cycling will do a reset of the system and recover most issues.

Option2

1. Use fresh Ethernet cables, (replace existing cables).
2. If the Linn Ds is more than 3M (10ft) from the DHCP/Server. Move the Linn DS right beside the Router/DHCP server and patch using a short Ethernet cable (1M), the Linn DS to the DHCP server/Router
3. Retry the system

Option3

1. Build a totally separate system with only a DHCP/Server and Linn DS.
2. Retry the system

Some networks only have a limited number of DHCP address’s. if you have already connected some PC’s to this system, your Router/DHCP server can remember these devices, (even though no longer connected) and will not allocated these previously assigned IP addresses to newly connected products. So the case of unplugging one device to free up an IP address for the DS to use will NOT work with most Routers/DHCP servers if there are no free DHCP IP addresses available.

This will give a better idea as to what is causing the problem. (98% of the time, this is due to a local network issue).

I cannot find TWONKY V4.4.* to run the Linn DS products.

If you are running on a Netgear ReadyNAS we recommend that you use the Netgear Forum version of Twonly 5.0.68. See Linn Forum for instrucitons

Twonky have recently changed their website. You can download Twonky from
[ http://www.twonkyforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=7653 ]

ReadyNAS - Twonky 4.4.17 ot Twonky 5.0.68 (Netgear version)

Note: you buy the Twonky Media SERVER licence, NOT the Twonky Media MANAGER licence.

the Media Server Licence can be purchased from Buy Twonky Service

I cannot see the Linn DS on my control point

If the control point cannot see the DS product, check the following:

1. If your PC has multiple network connections, (wired and wireless-WifI). Disable one of them so you are ONLY using wired ethernet or wireless ethernet. Restart the control and check operation.

2. Some Network DHCP servers/switches can block UPnP communication. Either check the router settings or use a ethernet router such as the Netgear RP614 to see if this cures the issue.

3. You may have different Anti-Virus & firewall packages from the Windows default, (such as Norton, McAfee, etc) ensure that these have the above files with exceptions as per their Manual, plus check the UPnP port. [3]

4. Try another control point, to check the operation of your PC

I can only see some of my Music and the Music keeps pausing

If you are using TwonkyMedia, suspect that the Music Rescan time is too small. The rescan action can take several minutes (>30minutes in large file collections. If you set the Rescan time to be too small, it will start performing another  Rescan before it has finished the first etc, etc, etc.

Ideally the RESCAN time should be set to "0" (zero) and you can create an Internet Desktop shortcut for the URL:

http://your_NAS_IP:8100/rpc/rescan for Netgear ReadyNAS or

http://your_IP:9100/rpc/recan for most other devices

This will tell twonky to only rescan when you have added something new.

Linn Forum reference

If you are running DS with CARA1 software, update to CARA2 firmware. This is performed by running the KONFIG application and select the Update tab, select CARA2 and press the UPDATE button. Complete

I cannot play some of my iTunes files

Downloaded iTune Music is DRM protected, (Digital Rights Management). This will ONLY allow playback on iTunes devices.

These Music files will have the M4P extension. To make these files visible to the DS, the DRM must be stripped off these Music files. (This may be done by iTunes or illegal software).

Contact iTunes on the supply of non-DRM files.

A ripped CD is not showing up

Firstly, ensure that the CD has been ripped to the correct location (e.g. to the NAS and not to the PC).

If that is not the cause, it is possible that the metadata is incorrectly applied, or there is no metadata. Tools like Audioshell, which runs as part of Windows Explorer, will show the file properties including the track metadata.

Metadata is a place holder for the track/album/artist information. It can hold much more info, but it is this minimum information that is required by the media server to enable it to find an album and tracks.

In some cases, the FLAC metadata may be incorrectly applied. One common problem is that FLAC files are wrapped in ID3 tags instead of using the standard FLAC/Vorbis tagging. FLAC with ID3 tags is against the FLAC specification, and early versions of DS players reject these files as invalid. When viewing the metadata from MP3Tag ID3 tags will be shown as "FLAC (FLAC ID3V2)" instead of "FLAC (FLAC)". If this has happened the tag data can be removed using MP3Tag, but you will then have to re-add the correct metadata manually using the same tool. Usually, it will be faster to rip the disc again, but before you do so, ensure the ripping software is correctly configured.