MP3s from a network share pause during playback

outRider · 07-14-05, 05:54 PM

I have a highend X30, A05, gsplayer, and Resco.

I can browse my PCs shared folders fine, and I can open MP3s in both gsplayer and WMP, and they play, except for annoying pauses from time to time. Sometimes multiple times per song, sometimes once every few songs. It happens whether or not I'm in power saving mode or plugged in and at max, and it happens in both gsplayer and WMP.

I know it's not a wifi bandwidth issue, as I've used shoutcast and streamed video from the internet while browsing just fine. And I know the machine has no problem decoding the MP3s, since I've played them from an SD card or onboard storage for hours without problem.

I'm guessing it's a problem with either WM2003 and the protocols it uses to access network shares, or a problem with both gsplayer and WMP in that they both probably open network files the same way...

Does anyone have similar experiences?

Howard2k · 07-14-05, 06:39 PM

It's not uncommon. Ensure that the power saving is disabled on the X30 wifi interface and check that there are not other wifi networks on your channel (or the channels overlapping yours).

Your best bet is to stream it using apps like Windows Media Encoder or my favourite SlimServer.

ashamed · 07-15-05, 06:46 PM

Ahhhhh geez does misery enjoy company. I have the same problem and I cannot figure out why my WMP keeps pausing. If I restart, certain mp3's will play fine, then others will have problems (like every 8th song or so).

I have mine all stored on a CF card.

07-16-05, 01:02 AM

I hate to be annoying, but it might very well be your MP3s have a higher bitrate. For instance, one song could be 3 minutes at 128kps and another could be 3 minutes at 320kbps.

You may want to check your MP3s first before assuming anything else! But I know my craptastic router can run most of mine w/o stopping so who really knows...

outRider · 07-16-05, 08:38 PM

I don't think it has anything to do with bandwidth. My router has more than enough. The Axim is supposedly connected at 22 mbps, but even if it was connected at 1 mbps that should be more than enough to stream a 300 kbps file.

I tried streaming a 7 minute wmv (356 kbps audio + 200 kbps video) with WMP and it worked flawlessly, not a single hiccup. This was fullscreen in power saving mode on both the device and the wifi interface.

Thankfully it seems more like an application problem rather than an OS or hardware problem.

Araphel · 07-17-05, 11:19 PM

It could be a caching problem.

07-18-05, 12:08 AM

Originally Posted by Araphel

It could be a caching problem.

It definitely seems to be catching. Look at how many people are writing in about it.

Sorry. Couldn't help myself.

I have read elsewhere advice that would back Araphel up. GSPlayer allows you to increase cache size both for the decoder and for streaming. It's certainly worth trying.

Marc