Queue Ball Setup & Help

Follow these instructions to enable Queue Ball, connect your media server, and start controlling your music with Alexa.

Requirements Getting Started Connect JRiver Connect Plex Using Queue Ball Direct Mode JRiver Zones Troubleshooting Play Doctor CloudPlay

Requirements

Before setting up Queue Ball, you will need:

  • The Alexa app on your phone or tablet.
  • An Alexa device connected to the Amazon account you will use with Queue Ball.
  • JRiver Media Center, Plex Media Server, or both.
  • Your media server installed and running.

Getting Started

  1. Open the Alexa app on your phone or tablet.
  2. Tap the three lines menu.
  3. Under More, select Alexa+ Store.
  4. Select Browse Alexa Skills & Games.
  5. Search for Queue Ball.
  6. Select Queue Ball from the search results.
  7. Enable the skill.
  8. When prompted, continue to account linking.

The Queue Ball account-linking page will open. This is where you can connect JRiver Media Center, Plex, or both. If you connect both, you can choose which one Queue Ball should use as your default media server.

Not using JRiver? Skip to Connect Plex.

Connect JRiver Media Center

On the computer running JRiver Media Center:

  1. Open JRiver Media Center.
  2. Go to Tools > Options > Media Network.
  3. Make sure Use Media Network to share this library and enable DLNA is checked.
  4. Find your Access Key.
  5. Under Authentication, note your username.
  6. Make sure you know the password associated with that username. JRiver hides the password on this screen, so you will need to know the existing password.
  7. On the Queue Ball account-linking page, enter your Access Key, username, and password.
Port Override: This is intended for advanced users. Queue Ball normally uses your JRiver Access Key to discover the correct connection information, including the port, automatically. The vast majority of users should leave Port Override unchanged. Only use it if you specifically know that you need to override the port JRiver reports.
  1. Select Connect JRiver.
  2. Wait while Queue Ball tests the connection and confirm that JRiver shows as connected.

Having trouble connecting? Jump to JRiver Troubleshooting.

Not using Plex? Skip this section.

Connect Plex

On the Queue Ball account-linking page:

  1. Select Connect Plex.
  2. Plex will open its authorization page.
  3. Sign in to your Plex account if prompted.
  4. Authorize Queue Ball to access Plex.
  5. Return to the Queue Ball account-linking page.
  6. If more than one Plex Media Server is available to your Plex account, choose the server you want Queue Ball to use. This can include Plex servers that other people have shared with your account.
  7. Confirm that Plex shows as connected.

Having trouble connecting? Jump to Plex Troubleshooting.

Only using one media server? Skip this section.

Choose Your Default Media Server

If you connected both JRiver and Plex, choose which one Queue Ball should use as your default media server.

The default media server is the one Queue Ball uses when you ask for music without specifically choosing another connected media server.

You can switch between your connected media servers later without repeating the account-linking process.

Finish Linking

Review the connected media servers and settings on the Queue Ball account-linking page. When everything is correct, select Finish.

You will be taken to an Alexa page confirming that your Queue Ball account has been successfully linked.

Using Queue Ball

Start Queue Ball by saying:

“Alexa, open Queue Ball.”

Then try commands such as:

“Play the album ALBUM TITLE.”
“Play ALBUM TITLE by ARTIST.”
“Play songs by ARTIST.”
“Play some GENRE music.”
“Play my PLAYLIST NAME playlist.”
“What song is this?”
“Pause.”
“Next song.”
“Ask Queue Ball for help.”

Replace ALBUM TITLE, ARTIST, GENRE, and PLAYLIST NAME with names from your own music library.

Queue Ball supports many more ways to choose music, control playback, and ask questions about your library.

See All Commands →

Additional JRiver Commands and Features

JRiver users have access to several additional Queue Ball features.

Play Doctor

Play Doctor creates personalized music selections from your JRiver library and adapts as you listen. It requires some additional JRiver setup before you use it with Queue Ball.

Play Doctor Help →

CloudPlay

CloudPlay lets you use JRiver CloudPlay through Queue Ball. CloudPlay should already be configured and working in JRiver before you use it through Queue Ball.

CloudPlay Help →

Radio JRiver

Radio JRiver lets you start and control Radio JRiver through Queue Ball.

Radio JRiver Commands →

Direct Mode

Queue Ball can stream your music to Alexa or control playback through your existing local audio system.

Direct Mode can also be called Stereo Playback Mode, Desk Mode, Theater Mode, PC Mode, or Local Mode.

To switch to Direct Mode, say:

“Turn on Stereo Playback Mode.”

To return to playback through Alexa, say:

“Switch to Echo Mode.”

Your media server and playback destination are separate. Switching between Echo Mode and Direct Mode changes where your music plays without requiring you to reconnect your media server.

There is much more you can do with Direct Mode. JRiver users can also control and target individual zones independently of the selected playback mode.

Learn More About Direct Mode →   JRiver Zones →

Echo Devices and Screens

Queue Ball works with popular Echo devices including:

  • Echo
  • Echo Dot
  • Echo Show
  • Echo Spot

On compatible Alexa devices with a screen, Queue Ball can display album artwork and information about the music currently playing.

A screen is not required to use Queue Ball.

Troubleshooting

Using Plex? Jump to Plex Troubleshooting.

JRiver Troubleshooting

If Queue Ball cannot connect to JRiver:

  1. Make sure the computer running JRiver Media Center is turned on.
  2. Make sure JRiver Media Center is running.
  3. Open Tools > Options > Media Network and confirm that Media Network is enabled.
  4. Recheck the Access Key you entered into Queue Ball.
  5. Recheck your username and password.
  6. Test the same Access Key using JRiver Panel.

For the most useful test, try JRiver Panel from outside your home network. For example, open it on your phone with Wi-Fi turned off and use your cellular connection.

If JRiver Panel connects successfully but Queue Ball does not, JRiver is reachable from outside your network and the problem is likely elsewhere in the Queue Ball connection settings.

If JRiver Panel also cannot connect, JRiver may not currently be reachable from outside your home network.

One possible cause is that your router is not allowing incoming Internet connections to reach JRiver. In that situation, you may need to configure port forwarding on your router.

Jump to Port Forwarding.

Plex Troubleshooting

If Queue Ball cannot connect to Plex:

  1. Make sure the Plex Media Server you want to use is running and available.
  2. Make sure you authorized Queue Ball using the correct Plex account.
  3. If your Plex account has access to multiple servers, confirm that the correct Plex server is selected.
  4. Check that Plex Remote Access is working for the selected server.
  5. If necessary, reconnect Plex through the Queue Ball account-linking page.

If Plex works inside your home but Plex Remote Access is not available, the server may not be reachable from outside your network.

One possible cause is that your router is blocking the incoming connection Plex needs. In that situation, you may need to configure port forwarding.

Jump to Port Forwarding.

Port Forwarding

If your media server cannot be reached from outside your home network, your router may require manual port forwarding.

JRiver's default Media Network TCP port is 52199. If you have never changed the Media Network port, that is likely the port your JRiver installation is using.

For Plex, first check the server's Remote Access settings. Plex can often configure remote access automatically. If it cannot, use the port shown by Plex when following the instructions for your router.

Because router interfaces vary, search Google for:

YOUR ROUTER MODEL port forwarding instructions

After making any necessary changes, test remote access again before retrying Queue Ball.

Alexa Responds but Music Does Not Start

If Alexa understands your Queue Ball request and responds normally but music does not begin playing:

  1. Make sure your media server is running.
  2. If both JRiver and Plex are connected, confirm that Queue Ball is using the media server you expect.
  3. If using Plex, confirm that the correct Plex server is selected and available.
  4. If using JRiver, confirm that JRiver is reachable remotely.
  5. Try a simple playback request for music you know exists on the selected media server.