StreamToMe Support: Connection problems on a local network
This page will help you solve connection problems between StreamToMe and ServeToMe when both are connected to the same local network. If your device (iPad, iPhone or iPod Touch) is on 3G or a remote (non-local) WiFi network, then everything on this page is still important but you will also need to follow the steps on the Connection problems from a non-local (internet) or 3G network page as well.
Please visit the appropriate section for the problem you see:
Checklist for connecting successfully on a local network
To connect correctly from StreamToMe on your device to ServeToMe on your computer, the following must be true:
- ServeToMe must be running without an error or problem on your computer. Download ServeToMe from the ServeToMe page and install it if you have not already. Once it is installed, make sure the "Server Status" shown in the window is "Running". See Finding ServeToMe when it's running for instructions on where to look for ServeToMe if it is running and finding this status message in the window.
- If you are using a firewall, the correct ports must be open. ServeToMe requires that its TCP port (9969 by default) is open for incoming connections. Bonjour (used so that StreamToMe can automatically find your computer on a local network) requires that UDP 5353 is open for incoming connections.
- Your computer and iOS device must be connected to the same local network. The simplest way to guarantee this is to have your device and computer connected to the same wireless router.
- The correct folders must be shared from ServeToMe. ServeToMe selects some default folders and may share your iTunes playlists when it runs for the first time but it is possible that these locations are not the locations on your computer where your music and video is stored. Look at Setting up shared folders for instructions about setting shared folders if your media is stored elsewhere.
Steps to try if you're having trouble connecting via a local network
There are five reasons why you may have trouble autodetecting your computer and connecting to it via a local network:
- ServeToMe is not running on your computer (Mac or Windows)
- Bonjour is not running on your computer (Windows only)
- Sometimes, Bonjour autodiscovery fails (it's not perfect). It helps to refresh at least once.
- Your computer's network connection or address has changed and ServeToMe has not updated correctly
- A firewall is blocking the Bonjour service between your computer and your device
- Your device is not on the same local network as your computer
Solutions to these problems follow. After each one, press the reload button at the top right corner of the StreamToMe screen on your device to see if your computer appears.
Note: It is not essential for your computer to appear under "Local servers". If you cannot get your computer to appear, try to connect using a manual address instead.
1. Make sure ServeToMe is running correctly
The first point to address is to ensure that ServeToMe is running correctly. If you have a look at the Getting Started page, it will show you how to tell if StreamToMe is running and where to look to verify that it has not had an error.
A common error is "unable to bind socket to address". This means that something on the same computer is already using the port that ServeToMe wants to use. Either quit the other program using the same port (perhaps another copy of ServeToMe) or enter a manually selected port (between 32000 and 65000 is normally best).
2. Install Bonjour for Windows (Windows computers only)
On Windows computers, automatic discovery has an additional requirement: your computer must have the Bonjour Print Services for Windows installed.
All Macs have Bonjour running automatically.
3. Sometimes, the autodiscovery fails. It helps to refresh at least once.
If autodiscovery requests don't reach their destination, they are not resent. This means that sometimes, autodiscovery will simply fail. If your computer does not appear in the list of local servers, try refreshing at least once before looking for a problem.
4. Check if your computer's network address has changed
There is a possibility that ServeToMe may simply have lost track of the network connection — can be addressed by restarting ServeToMe on your computer. Quit the program and relaunch it — it will restart the service and should correct any out-of-sync issues.
5. Make sure a firewall is not blocking the ServeToMe server
ServeToMe uses port TCP 9969 for incoming traffic by default (you can change this in the ServeToMe window or it may change to a different port if 9969 is unavailable). Bonjour uses UDP port 5353 for incoming traffic. Both of these ports must be open for connections through any firewall on your Mac/PC and routers between your device and computer.
If your computer is not using the same wireless router as your iOS device, you must ensure that your computer is accessible by devices on your wireless router (this will not be the case if your wireless router is creating a separate network with the same addresses).
Allow ServeToMe through the Mac firewall
On a Mac, addressing this point involves going to the Apple Menu→System Preferences→Security→Firewall. If the firewall is off, then this paragraph does not apply. Otherwise, click the lock and enter your password to make changes. Click the Advanced button and on the next screen, ensure that "Block all incoming connections" is off, that "Enable stealth mode" is off and that "ServeToMe.app" is listed and allowed to receive incoming connections.
Allow ServeToMe through the Windows firewall
On Windows XP, you will need to go to the Control Panel→Security Center→Manage Settings for Windows Firewall—Advanced.
On Windows 7, you will need to go to the Control Panel→System and Security→Windows Firewall—Allow a program through the Windows Firewall.
An entry for ServeToMe should be visible in the list and the checkbox next to it must be ticked. If not, then select "Add a program" and choose ServeToMe from the list.
There should also be an entry for Bonjour Service (if you have installed Bonjour Print Services For Windows). If not, you must add the program "C:\Program Files\Bonjour\mDNSResponder.exe" (on 64bit computers it might have the path C:\Program Files (x86)\Bonjour\mDNSResponder.exe
Check your router too
If your router uses a firewall, then it may be blocking ServeToMe or Bonjour on your network.
If your router is set to block traffic on Bonjour's port (5353) or ServeToMe's port (9969 by default) then this will prevent connections. Verifying this is dependent on the brand and model of your router and you must pursue this on your own.
6. Check that your device and computer are on the same local network
The final point that may prevent your computer appearing in the list of local servers is that it is no on the same local network as your device.
If your device and your computer are not using the same WiFi network, they may not be able to reach each other or there may be network-address-translation difficulties between them. For this reason, you should always try to connect for the first time with your device and computer on the same WiFi network.
Make sure to check that your device (iPhone or iPad) is connected to WiFi, not 3G by looking for the WiFi icon in the status bar.
Connect using a manual address
In rare situations, it may not be possible to get autodiscovery working. Or you may be on Windows and choose not to install Bonjour. In these situations, you will need to enter the address of your computer manually.
You can get the address and port for your computer by looking in the ServeToMe window under "Server status":
Enter a manual address by tapping "Edit" on the Servers screen in StreamToMe and enter the address and port shown in the ServeToMe window.
e.g. for the address shown in the above screenshot, you would enter:
Name: (anything you want — or leave it blank — this is only used for display)
Address: 129.291.216.106
Port: 9969
When you've entered everything correctly, press return or Done and the address should appear as a row in the "Manual Addresses" section.
Tap on the manual address to connect to your server.
Connection Error 504
This is not an error that ServeToMe generates and is actually comes from your router. Unfortunately, this error comes in place of communicating the actual cause of the connection problems between your router and your computer.
Due to a lack of information, the only option is to follow the connection problems instructions in the other sections and hope that one leads to a solution. It is possible that your are getting this error because the computer is not reachable directly in your currect network setup, in which case you may need to follow the instructions on the Connection problems from a non-local (internet) or 3G network page.
No files found
This may be shown if no shared folders have been created on the server.
Follow the Setting up shared folders instructions to create shared folders.
This message may also appear if you navigate to a folder that contains no valid files. Valid files must have one of the file extensions shown on the list of supported file formats.
Other support topics
If you have a query that isn't covered by these topics please, email: