talk-buddy

Connection Issues

Having trouble connecting to speech or AI services? This guide will help you diagnose and fix connection problems in Talk Buddy.

Quick Diagnosis

Check Status Footer

Look at the bottom of Talk Buddy for service status indicators:

• Green dots (●): Service is connected and working
• Red dots (●): Connection failed or service error
• Gray dots (○): Service status unknown or not configured
• Yellow dots (●): Service is being tested or has warnings

Common Status Combinations

All Green: Everything working perfectly ✅ All Red: Check internet connection and service URLs ❌ Mixed Colors: Some services working, others need attention ⚠️ All Gray: Services not configured or first-time setup needed ⚙️

Internet Connection Issues

Basic Connectivity

Test Your Internet Connection

1. Open a web browser
2. Visit a reliable site (google.com, github.com)
3. Check connection speed using speedtest.net
4. Verify stable connection (no frequent dropouts)

Network Requirements

• Minimum speed: 1 Mbps upload/download for basic functionality
• Recommended speed: 5 Mbps for smooth real-time conversation
• Latency: Under 500ms for responsive interaction
• Stability: Consistent connection without frequent interruptions

Firewall and Security

Windows Firewall

1. Open Windows Security (search “Windows Security”)
2. Go to Firewall & network protection
3. Click “Allow an app through firewall”
4. Find Talk Buddy in the list
5. Check both “Private” and “Public” boxes
6. If Talk Buddy isn’t listed: Click “Change settings” → “Allow another app” → Browse for Talk Buddy

macOS Firewall

1. Open System Preferences → Security & Privacy
2. Click “Firewall” tab
3. Click “Firewall Options”
4. Ensure Talk Buddy is set to “Allow incoming connections”
5. If not listed: Click “+” and add Talk Buddy

Antivirus Software

Some antivirus programs block Talk Buddy:

• Temporarily disable antivirus to test
• Add Talk Buddy to exceptions if disabling fixes the issue
• Check real-time protection settings
• Look for “web protection” or “network monitoring” features

Corporate/School Networks

Common Enterprise Restrictions

• Proxy servers: May block direct connections
• Port blocking: Specific ports might be restricted
• Domain filtering: AI service domains might be blocked
• Bandwidth limitations: May cause slow or failed connections

Solutions for Restricted Networks

1. Contact IT department: Request access to necessary services
2. Use mobile hotspot: Bypass network restrictions temporarily
3. VPN connection: If allowed by organization policy
4. Local services: Set up local AI/speech services (see Service Setup guides)

Service-Specific Issues

Speech-to-Text (STT) Problems

Symptoms

• Microphone button doesn’t respond
• “Speech not recognized” errors
• Long delays in transcription
• Red STT indicator in status footer

Solutions

Check Microphone Permissions

• Windows: Settings → Privacy → Microphone → Allow Talk Buddy
• macOS: System Preferences → Security & Privacy → Microphone → Check Talk Buddy
• Linux: Verify ALSA/PulseAudio permissions

Test Microphone Hardware

1. Use system voice recorder to verify microphone works
2. Check microphone volume in system settings
3. Try different microphone if available
4. Ensure microphone isn’t muted in system settings

Service Configuration

1. Go to Talk Buddy Settings
2. Check STT Service URL (default: configured service endpoint)
3. Click “Test STT” to verify connection
4. Try different STT model if options are available

Text-to-Speech (TTS) Problems

Symptoms

• No AI voice heard
• TTS test fails in settings
• Audio cuts out during speech
• Red TTS indicator in status footer

Solutions

Check Audio Output

1. Verify speakers/headphones work with other applications
2. Check system volume isn’t muted or too low
3. Try different audio device if multiple are available
4. Test system text-to-speech functionality

Service Configuration

1. Go to Talk Buddy Settings
2. Check TTS Service URL and configuration
3. Click “Test TTS” to verify connection
4. Try different voice options (male/female)
5. Adjust speech speed if available

AI Chat Service Problems

Symptoms

• AI doesn’t respond to speech
• Long delays in AI responses
• Error messages during conversation
• Red Chat indicator in status footer

Solutions

Service URL and Configuration

1. Go to Talk Buddy Settings
2. Verify AI Service URL (default: Ollama endpoint)
3. Check API keys if using paid services
4. Test connection using settings test button

Model Availability

• Verify AI model is installed (for local services like Ollama)
• Check model name spelling in settings
• Try different model if multiple are available
• Ensure model supports conversation (not just completion)

Local Service Setup Issues

Ollama Connection Problems

Common Ollama Issues

• Service not running: Ollama not started
• Wrong port: Default port 11434 might be changed
• Model not installed: Required model not downloaded
• Insufficient resources: Not enough RAM/CPU for model

Ollama Troubleshooting Steps

1. Check if Ollama is running:

   # Check if service is running
   curl http://localhost:11434/api/tags
   

2. Verify model installation:

   # List installed models
   ollama list
      
   # Install model if missing
   ollama pull llama2
   

3. Check Ollama logs:

   # View logs for error messages
   ollama logs
   

4. Restart Ollama service:

   # Stop and start Ollama
   ollama stop
   ollama start
   

Speaches Service Issues

Common Speaches Problems

• Service not installed: Speaches not set up locally
• Wrong configuration: Incorrect URL or port
• Model download issues: Speech models not available
• Resource conflicts: Port already in use

Speaches Troubleshooting

1. Check service status:

   # Test if Speaches is responding
   curl http://localhost:8000/health
   

2. Verify installation: Follow Speaches setup guide

3. Check available models: Ensure required speech models are downloaded

4. Port conflicts: Try different port if 8000 is in use

Advanced Troubleshooting

Network Diagnostics

Test Specific Endpoints

Use terminal/command prompt to test connections:

# Test Ollama (local AI)
curl http://localhost:11434/api/tags

# Test Speaches (local speech)
curl http://localhost:8000/health

# Test online services (if using)
curl https://api.service-url.com/health

Check Port Availability

# Windows
netstat -an | findstr :11434

# macOS/Linux
netstat -an | grep :11434
lsof -i :11434

System Resource Issues

Memory and CPU

• Check system resources: Task Manager (Windows) or Activity Monitor (macOS)
• Close unnecessary applications: Free up RAM for AI models
• Monitor during use: Watch for resource spikes during conversations

Disk Space

• Ensure adequate storage: AI models can be several GB each
• Clear temporary files: Free up disk space if low
• Check Talk Buddy data folder: Ensure it’s not corrupted

Log File Analysis

Talk Buddy Logs

1. Find log location:
   • Windows: %APPDATA%/TalkBuddy/logs/
   • macOS: ~/Library/Application Support/TalkBuddy/logs/
   • Linux: ~/.config/TalkBuddy/logs/
2. Check recent logs for error messages
3. Look for connection errors, timeout messages, or service failures

Service Logs

• Ollama logs: Check Ollama service logs for AI-related errors
• System logs: Check OS logs for hardware or permission issues
• Network logs: Look for firewall or proxy blocking

Service URL Reference

Default Service URLs

Local Services (Recommended)

• Ollama (AI): http://localhost:11434
• Speaches (STT/TTS): http://localhost:8000

Online Services (Fallback)

• Check current settings in Talk Buddy Settings page
• Verify URLs are current (services may change endpoints)

Changing Service URLs

1. Go to Settings in Talk Buddy
2. Update service URLs in the appropriate fields
3. Click “Test” for each service to verify connectivity
4. Save settings when all tests pass

Getting Additional Help

Information to Collect

When seeking help, gather:

• Operating system and version
• Talk Buddy version (check About page)
• Service status (red/green/gray indicators)
• Error messages from logs or UI
• Network environment (home, office, school)
• Services being used (local vs online)

Support Resources

• Common Errors Guide: Solutions to frequent problems
• Service Setup Guides: Detailed configuration instructions
• GitHub Issues: Community support and bug reports

Temporary Workarounds

While Troubleshooting

• Use text-only mode: Practice scenarios without voice
• Switch to online services: If local services are problematic
• Use mobile hotspot: Bypass network restrictions
• Practice offline scenarios: Use scenarios that don’t require AI

---

Quick Fix Checklist

First Steps (5 minutes)

• Check internet connection in browser
• Look at Talk Buddy status footer indicators
• Restart Talk Buddy application
• Test each service using Settings page

If Still Having Issues (15 minutes)

• Check firewall and antivirus settings
• Verify microphone and speaker permissions
• Test hardware with other applications
• Review Talk Buddy log files for errors

Advanced Steps (30 minutes)

• Test service URLs manually using curl/browser
• Check system resources and port availability
• Try alternative service configurations
• Contact IT support (if on corporate network)

---

Most connection issues are resolved by checking basic network connectivity and service permissions. Work through the checklist systematically for best results! 🔧

Related Guides:

• Service Setup - Configure speech and AI services
• Common Errors - Solutions to frequent problems
• Performance Tips - Optimize Talk Buddy performance