[IOS] Companion woes

Sosakan · 08-11-2019, 02:18 AM

Hello!

Just downloaded companion and set the connections up. I’m able to connect and see my books, but when I try to download through the content server, all I get is the (buffer?) wheel with no progress after 10min. I have searched the forums/faqs with no luck.

I use a firewall (whitelisted)
I use a vpn
My internet is decent, but not spectacular.

I figure since I can see my books the firewall/vpn shouldn’t be a problem, but frankly, networking is not my strong suit. *blush*

Thanks in advance for the help!

pwalker8 · 08-11-2019, 04:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sosakan

Hello!

Just downloaded companion and set the connections up. I’m able to connect and see my books, but when I try to download through the content server, all I get is the (buffer?) wheel with no progress after 10min. I have searched the forums/faqs with no luck.

I use a firewall (whitelisted)
I use a vpn
My internet is decent, but not spectacular.

I figure since I can see my books the firewall/vpn shouldn’t be a problem, but frankly, networking is not my strong suit. *blush*

Thanks in advance for the help!

Android or iOS?

Sosakan · 08-11-2019, 11:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pwalker8

Android or iOS?

iOS, I’m on an iPad Air 2. Thanks for taking the time to reply!

Sosakan · 08-11-2019, 11:29 PM

I recently tried turning off my firewall, vpn, and antivirus and am still getting the same wheel when trying to download from content server

pwalker8 · 08-12-2019, 09:09 AM

That certainly is odd. How many books are you trying to download? Have you tried downloading just one? That should take less than a couple of secs unless it's a particularly big book.

Are you connecting to a local content server, i.e. Calibre on your local PC, or on some remote content server? I have no problems downloading from my local content servers with both the server and the iPad on the same wireless network. If you are trying to access your local content server remotely, then try it on the same network and see what happens.

Sosakan · 08-12-2019, 10:51 AM

Thanks for the help pwalker!
I tried just one almost every time just to check the connection but no dice. I tried books without pictures, PDFs, content heavy books, but nothing seems to work.

My laptop is connected to my router via Ethernet AND on my house WiFi. I haven’t disconnected the Ethernet yet, that’s next. I tried again with my firewall, antivirus, and vpn off and I get the same result. I can see my books, I can connect to my laptop with other apps, but CC just won’t let me download anything.

Sosakan · 08-12-2019, 10:59 AM

Oh, an the iPad and laptop are in the same room

Sosakan · 08-12-2019, 12:33 PM

pwalker8 · 08-12-2019, 03:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sosakan

Did you get it working?

If you have the laptop and iPad in the same room, try connecting wirelessly rather than as a content server. You then have to send the book from the laptop to the iPad, rather than pull from the server to the iPad, but it's something to try to see if it works.

What firewall are you using on your laptop. If it's a windows laptop, that has a built in firewall that is turned on by default. That can sometimes cause these sort of issues especially if you install security software that comes with firewall and anti-virus such as Norton's.

Also, try going to your laptop, bring up Calibre, bring up preferences, bring up Sharing over the net, then click on show server logs. That will list the access log that shows the ip adress and ports. I think that Calibre uses a system much like FTP where it will open a random port to copy the book rather than use the http or https port.

Sosakan · 08-13-2019, 01:56 AM

Pwalker,

Sadly, no. I have tried everything I can think of. I have turned off any and all firewalls, antivirus, vpns, bandwidth limiters and the like with no difference.

I did try connecting via WiFi instead of a content server and that did work, so there is a connection and a bit of good news there.

As to the server logs, I did have a peek, but other than seeing pretty much what you mentioned, I couldn’t really divine any info out of it that would help me. I’m happy to post the logs here if you or anyone would think it’d help. I wish I knew more about networks, but I’m more of a software/hardware guy myself. Thanks again for the help!

stumped · 08-13-2019, 03:34 AM

have you tried removing and re-installing the app ?

( usually I'd say try stuff like force stop, clear data but that's for android, I dunno if Ipad apps have those options ).
do you have any other device tou can test CC on - or any other device you could set up a test content server on - just to help establish which end of the connection is bugged ( the client device or the content server ) ?

Sosakan · 08-13-2019, 04:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stumped

have you tried removing and re-installing the app ?

( usually I'd say try stuff like force stop, clear data but that's for android, I dunno if Ipad apps have those options ).
do you have any other device tou can test CC on - or any other device you could set up a test content server on - just to help establish which end of the connection is bugged ( the client device or the content server ) ?

Not a bad suggestion! I’ll give it a shot tomorrow. Yeah, I think those are android exclusive, apple’s walled garden doesn’t have such power-user-y stuff

Sadly, just the 1 apple device and I hate to plonk another $5 (for an app I can’t get to work) for a android version.

Thanks for the help guys, it’s definitely appreciated!

stumped · 08-13-2019, 05:13 AM

if you have an android device there is a free version of CC in google store. That will do for a test. i think it has a 5 book limit, but has all other functions, and will connect ( or not !) to your content server in exactly the same way

Sosakan · 08-17-2019, 06:06 AM

Thanks for the suggestions guys. I finally got the demo on my phone and it can’t even connect to the dang thing. I’ve tried uninstalling Calibre and cc, deleting my library and reimporting my books (big mistake), changing WiFi networks, tweaking settings, pretty much anything I can think of.

It’s super frustrating, the content server aspect was why I bought the app in the first place, the wireless device (which works) is not nearly as useful.

Any other ideas/suggestions are welcome and appreciated.

Anyone know how to get in touch with the developer?

stumped · 08-17-2019, 06:20 AM

developer often responds to posts here. or is there an email address within the app?

having it fail with both full and demo versions on 2 different devices is actually a useful clue. it rules out the possibility that the install was messed up on the original device.

I know that with my own setup, CC never finds CS automatically, For each install I have to manually configure an internal IP address: 192.168.0.xxx port 8080 i think- for the PC which has the content
that is done within the app settings
after that has been done once it "just works"

If you browse other threads in this sub forum I think you will come across the developer saying how to access debug logs and where to send them to

08-11-2019, 02:18 AM	#1
Sosakan Member Posts: 17 Karma: 10 Join Date: Aug 2019 Device: Ipad/kindle	[IOS] Companion woes Hello! Just downloaded companion and set the connections up. I’m able to connect and see my books, but when I try to download through the content server, all I get is the (buffer?) wheel with no progress after 10min. I have searched the forums/faqs with no luck. I use a firewall (whitelisted) I use a vpn My internet is decent, but not spectacular. I figure since I can see my books the firewall/vpn shouldn’t be a problem, but frankly, networking is not my strong suit. blush Thanks in advance for the help!

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08-11-2019, 11:29 PM	#4
Sosakan Member Posts: 17 Karma: 10 Join Date: Aug 2019 Device: Ipad/kindle	I recently tried turning off my firewall, vpn, and antivirus and am still getting the same wheel when trying to download from content server

08-12-2019, 09:09 AM	#5
pwalker8 Grand Sorcerer Posts: 7,196 Karma: 70314280 Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Atlanta, GA Device: iPad Pro, iPad mini, Kobo Aura, Amazon paperwhite, Sony PRS-T2	That certainly is odd. How many books are you trying to download? Have you tried downloading just one? That should take less than a couple of secs unless it's a particularly big book. Are you connecting to a local content server, i.e. Calibre on your local PC, or on some remote content server? I have no problems downloading from my local content servers with both the server and the iPad on the same wireless network. If you are trying to access your local content server remotely, then try it on the same network and see what happens.

08-12-2019, 10:51 AM	#6
Sosakan Member Posts: 17 Karma: 10 Join Date: Aug 2019 Device: Ipad/kindle	Thanks for the help pwalker! I tried just one almost every time just to check the connection but no dice. I tried books without pictures, PDFs, content heavy books, but nothing seems to work. My laptop is connected to my router via Ethernet AND on my house WiFi. I haven’t disconnected the Ethernet yet, that’s next. I tried again with my firewall, antivirus, and vpn off and I get the same result. I can see my books, I can connect to my laptop with other apps, but CC just won’t let me download anything.

08-12-2019, 10:59 AM	#7
Sosakan Member Posts: 17 Karma: 10 Join Date: Aug 2019 Device: Ipad/kindle	Oh, an the iPad and laptop are in the same room

08-12-2019, 12:33 PM	#8
Sosakan Member Posts: 17 Karma: 10 Join Date: Aug 2019 Device: Ipad/kindle

08-13-2019, 01:56 AM	#10
Sosakan Member Posts: 17 Karma: 10 Join Date: Aug 2019 Device: Ipad/kindle	Pwalker, Sadly, no. I have tried everything I can think of. I have turned off any and all firewalls, antivirus, vpns, bandwidth limiters and the like with no difference. I did try connecting via WiFi instead of a content server and that did work, so there is a connection and a bit of good news there. As to the server logs, I did have a peek, but other than seeing pretty much what you mentioned, I couldn’t really divine any info out of it that would help me. I’m happy to post the logs here if you or anyone would think it’d help. I wish I knew more about networks, but I’m more of a software/hardware guy myself. Thanks again for the help!

08-13-2019, 03:34 AM	#11
stumped Wizard Posts: 3,305 Karma: 10259306 Join Date: May 2016 Device: kobo forma, Kobo Libra, Huawei media Tab, fire HD10, PW3 HDX8.9,	have you tried removing and re-installing the app ? ( usually I'd say try stuff like force stop, clear data but that's for android, I dunno if Ipad apps have those options ). do you have any other device tou can test CC on - or any other device you could set up a test content server on - just to help establish which end of the connection is bugged ( the client device or the content server ) ?

08-13-2019, 05:13 AM	#13
stumped Wizard Posts: 3,305 Karma: 10259306 Join Date: May 2016 Device: kobo forma, Kobo Libra, Huawei media Tab, fire HD10, PW3 HDX8.9,	if you have an android device there is a free version of CC in google store. That will do for a test. i think it has a 5 book limit, but has all other functions, and will connect ( or not !) to your content server in exactly the same way

08-17-2019, 06:06 AM	#14
Sosakan Member Posts: 17 Karma: 10 Join Date: Aug 2019 Device: Ipad/kindle	Thanks for the suggestions guys. I finally got the demo on my phone and it can’t even connect to the dang thing. I’ve tried uninstalling Calibre and cc, deleting my library and reimporting my books (big mistake), changing WiFi networks, tweaking settings, pretty much anything I can think of. It’s super frustrating, the content server aspect was why I bought the app in the first place, the wireless device (which works) is not nearly as useful. Any other ideas/suggestions are welcome and appreciated. Anyone know how to get in touch with the developer?

08-17-2019, 06:20 AM	#15
stumped Wizard Posts: 3,305 Karma: 10259306 Join Date: May 2016 Device: kobo forma, Kobo Libra, Huawei media Tab, fire HD10, PW3 HDX8.9,	developer often responds to posts here. or is there an email address within the app? having it fail with both full and demo versions on 2 different devices is actually a useful clue. it rules out the possibility that the install was messed up on the original device. I know that with my own setup, CC never finds CS automatically, For each install I have to manually configure an internal IP address: 192.168.0.xxx port 8080 i think- for the PC which has the content that is done within the app settings after that has been done once it "just works" If you browse other threads in this sub forum I think you will come across the developer saying how to access debug logs and where to send them to

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