Add RSS subscription fails with 404 - invalid HTML?

[jonathanemett]

I am trying to subscribe to a BBC radio podcast e.g. http://downloads.bbc.co.uk/podcasts/.../today/rss.xml
I am doing a copy/paste from the url shown on the website -
http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio/podcasts/today/.

Sometimes when I do so it works fine. Other times I get a dialog saying 'invalid link (404 or timeout)' so I got a wireshark trace (aka ethereal) and the HTML GET request seems malformed, ie "GET /podcasts/radio4/today/rss.xml\004??????? HTTP/1.1", where the \004????? refers to non-ASCII chars (04 3f 3f 3f etc). When i run itunes and do the same thing, the GET is formatted normally. I'm not an HTML guru or anything, but I'm pretty sure it should be ascii, right?

This is a clean (first time) install with no plugins added.
PC - Sony VGNFZ11M, core2duo T7100, 2Gb RAM
sound - sigmatel
video - geforce 8400GT
vista home premium, "6.0 build 6000"
directx 10
winamp 5.5 (free download)
no plugins
___________________________________________________

Workaround Solution

[jonathanemett]

hijackthis.txt

[jonathanemett]

wireshark trace

[jonathanemett]

plugin list

[jonathanemett]

BTW
1) the browser is firefox 2.0.0.8. But I just tried IE 7.0.6000.16546 and got the same result.
2) I also tried associating rss files with winamp (in firefox) and then using the direct RSS link on the BBC webpage, when I do this I get and error message in the top right pane of winamp, '1. [Error syncing to stream] http://downloads.bbc.co.uk/podcasts/.../today/rss.xml'

[DJ Egg]

Hmm, strange. All of those BBC podcasts work first time for me, without fail.

Though this is on WinXP sp2, so not sure if it's a Vista-specific parsing issue, or if you're doing something wrong....

[Flegint]

I get the same error when trying to add Podshow's Podfinder
http://podshow.com/feeds/podfinder.xml
and some other podcasts.

[ctkatz8086]

this is a problem that i have had since the third recent beta release. the thing is that sometimes it will add the podcast stream, sometimes it will not. when it doesn't add on streams, it does so with my full compliment of plugins and with only the default 5.35 plugins running.

this is also on a vista machine.

[DJ Egg]

"when it doesn't add on streams, it does so with my full compliment of plugins and with only the default 5.35 plugins running."

What do you mean?

http://forums.winamp.com/showthread....161361#plugins

[ctkatz8086]

i use the plugin starter that has profiles that turn on and off certain plugins. i have a profile that is only the default installed plugins for winamp 5.35 and in case winamp freezes up, i turn that on to see if it was a winamp issue or a plugin issue. saves a lot of posts in the tech support forum and a lot of needless clean installs to diagnose a problem.

[nqwi]

I'm having the same problem.

Using Winamp 5.5, Vista, and fresh install.

Error is:

"Error adding URL

Invalid link (404 or timeout)"

Does not happen consistently. Restarting Winamp seems to fix it, but not always. After adding two or three podcasts, adding the next podcast results in the above error, requiring a restart of Winamp.

Also, after entering about 10 podcasts in this way, Winamp crashes on exit, and on restarting Winamp all subscribed podcasts have been deleted.

Podcasts I've been trying to add are at:
http://www.abc.net.au/rn/podcast/podcast_a2z.htm

[captapollo]

Hi all,

My first post here!

Please count me in with the exact same error as above that nqwi posted. I don't have the crash on shutdown, but I don't have 10 subcriptions yet, only 6. Several of them are from the TWiT network, and the last 3 that I want for now will not add in with the above error. I was able to get the rest in by restarting and adding in a podcast, but it refuses the last 3. They are Security now!, Jumping Monkees, and Munchcast. They can all be found at twit(dot)tv.

The only thing I have added is the ml_ipod plugin. With its functionality, I can finally dump iTunes! I even uninstalled it to see if it was the problem, but no luck. If I can only get my podcasts. And I guarantee I will become a WinAmp Pro user.

Edit: I forgot my system info
cpu:p4 3ghz
ram:3 GB
Vista Ultimate with all latest patches
display card is Radeon 9550 based
Soundmax integrated digital audio
WinAmp Free 5.5 x86 Oct 10, 2007
Installed it 2 days ago
only additional plugin is the latest release version of ml_ipod 3.2


Thanks for the help.

John.

[DJ Egg]

Jumping Monkeys: http://leoville*****podcasts/jm.xml
Security Now: http://leoville*****podcasts/sn.xml
Munchcast: http://leoville*****podcasts/mc.xml

Are those the rss feeds url's that you added via:
Winamp > Media Library > Podcast Directory -> Subscriptions -> Add button?

Note, I got those url's by changing the twit.tv Subscribe drop-down menu to RSS, then copying the resulting url from the browser address bar...

They all work fine here on WinXP, though I am using an internal 5.51 beta

I haven't tested on Vista yet, but will do shortly...

[captapollo]

Hi DJ Egg,

Thanks for the quick reply. Yes, those are the feeds and that is how I got them.

It does seem to be a Vista issue. I went home last night and added all of my podcasts on my Win XP machine without a problem.

Please let me know if I can do anything to help solve this issue. I would rather have the podcast subscriptions on the work computer because it is on all day long playing my music for me.

Thanks again, John.

[DJ Egg]

Yeah, most strange. I get the same results on Vista.
http://stashbox.org/55593/podcast_su...tion_vista.png

But works fine on XP
http://stashbox.org/55597/podcast_subscription_xp.png

Hmm, I guess this will need to be looked into further...

[DJ Egg]

The plot thickens

The exact same feed works fine if I upload it to my own server
http://www.meggamusic.co.uk/music/temp/jm.xml

So it must be something specific to that twit*****leoville.tv network/server.
I'm not sure what as yet....

[captapollo]

So if I save the xml files to my web server, I may be able to get them into WinAmp and then the feeds will work OK?

John

[captapollo]

I just tried you link and it went right in. That's odd that some work from Leo's server and some don't.

John.

[Mungo23]

I've been having the same issue as well. The link I have been trying to add is Spoonman

I have vista at home and it doesn't work. I get the 404 timeout error.

I installed Winamp, on my work laptop, which is also vista, and the podcast added, no problem at all.

[ctkatz8086]

hey egg, if you are getting that link from your own server using vista, try those links from time to time. using vista, i have had links get 404 timed out and then a few minutes later those same links go through fine.

[DJ Egg]

Hmm, so what's causing it then? Vista firewall or something?

[bers]

Hi,
i'm using Winamp 5.5 on Vista with the same 404-problem. Additionally, the podcasts I once added often won't be refreshed (even when i manually click "Refresh (all)"), and new episodes won't be downloaded automatically which is very annyoing. Chosing "Download media" results in the message "Download added", but it doesnt really add it to the download list. Sometimes, everything works fine.

Will do some checks with antivir, firewall etc. switched off.

Yannick (yes, BBC podcasts)

[jerryyyyy]

I have joined this illustrious forum to say that I have the same problems on Vista. I hate iTunes, but do not have THIS problem with that app.

I assume there have been no solutions proposed.

[bers]

concluding from my tests, it's neither the built-in firewall (I don't use any other) nor my antivir (www.antivir.de)

[jerryyyyy]

Well, I spent considerable time on this yesterday and found that you need the "http://" in front of the URLs for all downloads. This all too stupid error fixed error 404 in most cases for me [hello!].

I still had the problem of vanishing subscriptions, but after putting them in and closing the application, then reopening they seem somewhat stable now.

Next on to automatic downloads, this seems to work OK on my server then I need to figure out the synching. This is not obvious either.

[ctkatz8086]

if you checked the images that djegg has posted, you'll find that this advice you have is irrelevant. all of my feeds have http:// in their addresses and it still sometimes does not work.

[jerryyyyy]

Sorry, solved basic problem for me. This is not to say this system is reliable. It seems the settings vanish only to return, but it did download automatically last night, as well as synchronize with my PDAphone. I have downloaded and installed the Beta 5.51.

[jerryyyyy]

An update on my travels here since I cannot edit the previous message.

I finally got my subscriptions to work, but only after going back to 5.5.

The subscriptions seem to come and go, but evenually by only adding a few and closing the file afterwards was I able to get a stable list.

There has been some discussion about Javascript being involved in the problem, so here is my list of podcats if anyone has an insight.

www.europe1.fr/podcast/colloscopie.jsp
www.europe1.fr/podcast/bestofchroniques_07h30_08h30_i.jsp
www.europe1.fr/podcast/bestofchroniques_dimanche_i.jsp
www.europe1.fr/podcast/bestofchroniques_samedi_i.jsp
radiofrance-podcast.net/podcast/rss_14864.xml
www.graperadio.com/wp-rss2.php
feeds.feedburner.com/HdtvPodcast
www.dailyfrenchpod.com/wordpress/new-rss.xml
www.npr.org/rss/podcast.php?id=510221

These all do synch with my Sprint 6800 (Mogul)... good-by iTunes.

I have some problems with the tags on the podcasts not being properly recognized, i.e. date substituted for artist. But this is on the French ones, so perhaps this is a "cultural" difference.

I have searched an this program cannot read opml files... would save a lot of problems and add to the iTunes killer image.

BTW, on the 404 error, I have reduced its frequency by only putting in a few URLs at once. When you put several in they all try to download at once and this may lead to time-outs due to load on the connection (my theory).

[Mungo23]

The podcast I had been having trouble adding, I just got to work, by removing the h**p:// from the start of the address.

[DJ Egg]

Mental!

Yup, I can also confirm that all the problem feeds work ok on Vista without the http at the front, eg.

Jumping Monkeys: leoville*****podcasts/jm.xml
Security Now: leoville*****podcasts/sn.xml
Munchcast: leoville*****podcasts/mc.xml
BBC R4: downloads.bbc.co.uk/podcasts/radio4/today/rss.xml
Podshow's Podfinder: podshow.com/feeds/podfinder.xml

[Nunzio390]

Vista sucks. I'll never "upgrade" my XP Pro to that crappy, problem-prone op sys. Yet another way too early release of an incomplete buggy op sys by Micro$haft. Kinda reminiscent of the Windoz Millenium fiasco/horror show.

[jerryyyyy]

Hey, don't hold back about Vista. I just did a system restore today after an update.... good practice.

The one advantage is that its synching program Windows Mobile Device Center is better than Activesync (not saying much).

[Nunzio390]

Originally posted by jerryyyyy
I just did a system restore today after an update....

LOL!!! Sheesh!
Exactly my point... What a fiasco!

Hello?
Oh hello there my little WinXP Pro box?
Are you there?
Ahhhh... there you are!!!
Will you be mine forever? Yes? You will?
Well then, here's a ring to bind our "marriage"...

[Mungo23]

Strange that the http is affecting the address. At least it seems to be a work around for problem feeds.

PS - Lets not turn this thread into a "I hate vista" forum.

[Nunzio390]

Originally posted by Mungo23
Strange that the http is affecting the address. At least it seems to be a work around for problem feeds.

Well yeah... according to Egg (and others), I guess that dropping the preceding http:// is the "work around" for Vista users.

Originally posted by Mungo23
PS - Lets not turn this thread into a "I hate vista" forum.

Oh no! I would never do that. Matter of fact, I like vista... but only insofar as sitting on a canyon's edge and gazing out at the indescribable and lovely vista that stretches out before me. LOL!

[crimson999]

I can just Confirm that on:

Vista Business
Core 2 Duo 2.66Ghz
2GB Ram
Winamp 5.52

Removing the http worked for me. Note that the feeds DID work with the http on the BBC podcasts but not with ESPNs.

Strange, but true...

[ausbox]

I started a new thread:

http://forums.winamp.com/showthread....hreadid=289469

When I should have used this one. I have the same error and have no idea why or how to fix it.

[nextgengamer]

Hi All,

I'm having this problem too on my Vista (Home Premium 64bit) machine. I'm using a Vanilla install of WinAmp. I'm trying it out, hoping to switch away from iTunes.

I was able to subscribe to a few different podcasts some even on the Twit network but others give me the dreaded "Invalid Link (404 or timeout)" error message.

Here's a strange bit of info though. I've tried the 'This Week In Tech' feed (http://leoville*****podcasts/twit.xml) a bunch of times today and just suddenly a few minutes ago it worked. I was able to listen to the podcasts as well. I didn't even restart WinAmp so it's strange that it would suddenly work.

I am unfortunately still having this problem with a few other podcasts from the Twit network and even after removing the http:// from the URL it still gives the same error.

Does anyone know of another solution to this problem? Any help would of course be appreciated.

Thanks,
JeffD

[DJ Egg]

Yeah, it's sporadic, and we still aren't sure of the cause/solution,
but hopefully it will be looked into...

[DJ Egg]

Good news :-)

This issue is now fixed for 5.54
(was 'url buffer' related, heh)

Here's the fix (should also work ok with 5.531)
http://stashbox.org/127230/ml_wire.dll

(save to the %ProgramFiles%\Winamp\Plugins dir)