Firestick 4K stops playing music after about 10-15 minutes

[SilverTiger46 8]

When playing music from a playlist via the Amazon Firestick 4K, it stops playing every so often (I have not timed it but seems like 10-15 minutes) and the screen is blank.  I can easily restart it, and the music may be another tune which indicates to me that the server did not stop, so I think it's the Firestick.  Very frustrating.  Previously had a Roku stick and never had this issue.  Is this something screwy with the firestick?  If so, can it be fixed?

Also, had to pay Amazon $4.80 in order to even use Emby, which I did.

Thanks for any help.

[ebr 16178]

 

Hi there, let's look at an example. Please attach the information requested in how to report a media playback issue. Thanks!

 

[Luke 42078]

@SilverTiger46?

[SilverTiger46 8]

The music just stops after about 20 minutes or so.  There's no reason for a "screenshot" as the TV screen is blank.  Pressing the "center" button on the fire brings it back to life.  I have attached the log files.  If you want me to try and send you the actual FIRE log files, let me know.  I tried this on my "old" firestick (HD only) using a different TV, and the problem did not occur after 40 minutes, so I don't think it will occur.  The TV screen for the old one DID go black after I don't know how long, but the music did not stop.  Both fire sticks have the screen saver start time set to "never".

embyserver.txt hardware_detection-63822350920.txt

[ebr 16178]

Hi.  This sounds like the Fire device is actually going to sleep.  Where are you when you "press the center button and bring it back to life"?

Can you  follow the instructions to send a log from the app right after doing that?

 

 

[SilverTiger46 8]

OK, to be sure, you want the log AFTER I wake it up"?

[ebr 16178]

Yes, right after the incident occurs.  Please be sure to turn on the debug option and re-start the app before running the test.

Thanks.

[SilverTiger46 8]

This was a bit more complicated than your instructions say.

In the Emby App I clicked the gear, then General Display>Enable Debug Logs

Then I HAD to restart the Emby App because when I pushed the button on the Fire, it kind of started over.

Then I clicked my name on the home screen and clicked "Send Logs".  The only option I had was to "Send Logs to Developer" so that's what I did.  There was NEVER anything at the top of my home page that said "Send Log".

I sent the log at about 11:07 AM EDT

The user is WALT

 

 

'

[ebr 16178]

Hi.  This is why I said this:

1 hour ago, ebr said:

Please be sure to turn on the debug option and re-start the app before running the test

Then, in the user menu at the top of the home page, there is a "Send Logs" option.

It is important to send the log right after the incident occurs (the music stops) because Android tries to condense the logs quickly and we may not get the needed info otherwise.

The log you sent last does not contain any playback.

[SilverTiger46 8]

OK, will try again.  It should still be setup for debugging.

[SilverTiger46 8]

There will be a delay because now Amazon wants another $4.80 to "unlock" Emby.  I DID restart the server after changing my password for security reasons.  However, there is no password requirement for the local network.  I'll have to figure this out before I can do anything.  It was my understanding that the unlock fee is by amazon account, and the same account is used on both firesticks.

[SilverTiger46 8]

Nevermind.  Restarted the Firestick and the "unlock" problem disappeared.

Trying the test again now.

[SilverTiger46 8]

OK, tried it again.  It says it sent something.

I have not figured out how to just hop back into Emby when it stops.  If I push the center button, it makes me go through the fire menu to get back into Emby and that may be causing trouble.  Any ideas?  It takes around 20 minutes for it to stop, BTW.

[SilverTiger46 8]

OK, when it blanks out, it seems no matter what I press on the fire, it takes me to the screen where you select the user.  Then I have to go through the fire home and all the way to Emby again to get to the Emby home screen where I can send you the file.  I don't know what to do.  It seems to me that the Emby app maybe just crashes on this version of the firestick.  The time it takes from when I start music playing till it goes away is not consistent.  Sometimes 20 minutes, sometimes nearly 30 minutes.  I don't know what else to try.  I've sent several files, but due to the issue I've stated here, I have low confidence they will tell you anything.

Edited June 15, 2023 by SilverTiger46

[ebr 16178]

For whatever reason (probably Android) I'm not really getting any good information in your log.  However, this really sounds like the device is just going to sleep during playback.

But I don't understand this statement:

15 hours ago, SilverTiger46 said:

I press on the fire, it takes me to the screen where you select the user.  Then I have to go through the fire home

If you are on the Emby user selection screen, why do you have to go back to the Fire home?

[SilverTiger46 8]

OK, let me try again.  When it stops playing, I can push any button on the fire remote (middle button, play/pause, return) and the result is the same.  It's the same screen you see when you first wake up the firestick.  This kind of seems to me that either Emby is crashing or the firestick itself is crashing.  I never see the Emby selection screen.  What I see is the firestick profile selection screen as if I just waked up the firestick.  After selecting the profile, I get the firestick row of apps and I have to select Emby.  I assume this is just restarting the app so your "dump file" is not going to have anything meaningful.  I hope this helps.  If not, I can send you a video.

[ebr 16178]

Okay, I understand and this supports my theory that your Fire device is simply putting itself to sleep.

6 minutes ago, SilverTiger46 said:

It's the same screen you see when you first wake up the firestick

 

[SilverTiger46 8]

So, what do I do about it?  Complain to Amazon?  Is there a setting that would cause this?  I have an old Roku that does not have this issue, but I hate to go backwards.

[SilverTiger46 8]

It turns out there is bitching all over the internet about the Firestick going to sleep, so you were correct.

I found the following which turns off auto sleep and it works in case anyone wants to use it.  It will disable auto sleep all together.  You can still put it to sleep manually if you are so inclined.

First you need an android tablet or phone with "ADB Remote" installed from the playstore.
The following is based on Fire OS 5.2.9.5

On your firestick:
1)In the Settings screen, go to Display & Sounds
2)Select Screensaver
3)Select Start Time and change to Never
4)Go to Settings, My Fire TV
5)Select Network
6)Get and note the IP address
7)Select Fire TV Stick
8)Press the large center button until you see "No Need, You are already a developer"
9)Return to the previous menu and select Developer Options
10)Select ADB Debugging and press the center button until it's ON
11)On the android device, launch the ADB Remote app
12)On the android device, enter the IP address of the firestick at the top and tap CONNECT
13)On the Fire Stick, enter OK to "Allow USB debugging?"
14)On the Android device enter the following two commands following each with "Run":
settings put system screen_off_timeout 2073600000
settings put secure sleep_timeout 0
15)On your Firestick on the My Fire TV screen select Restart and confirm.
16)On the android device, close ADM Remote App