Do they make internet radios that plug into external audio amps? If so what would be a good one? I happen to like the 50's and early 60's music which is hard to find and I'm getting some IBOC noise from an adjacent station, surprise surprise and I have been listening on my computer the past few days, the fidelity is still lousy but at least there is no whooshy hiss under it.
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Radioman100
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KB1OKL said:
You can find a bunch of used ones on eBay cheap. Just search for "Roku Soundbridge."
I've found that the Roku works pretty well. I like mine. It is easy to use and sounds as good as the web stream you are listening to (which can be quite good). It you have a wireless system in your house, it will find it. You can also use a standard RJ-45 Ethernet connection if you prefer. There are left and right RCA outputs as well as an optical digital output. Just plug it into your stereo's "AUX" input and party on. It even comes with a wireless remote that is actually easy to understand! Lots of radios are more complicated to operate.
If you can get them cheap on ebay, so much the better.
I can even recommend an East Texas based station that streams that might satisfy your 50's and early 60's thirst.
If you can get them cheap on ebay, so much the better.
I can even recommend an East Texas based station that streams that might satisfy your 50's and early 60's thirst.
KB1OKL said:
I have a Roku Soundbridge M500 with WiFi card, which I use through the aux input of a Tivoli Model Two table radio. (The M500 is out of production, having been replaced with the M1001.) It has exceeded my expectations; one feature I appreciate is the ease of updating its firmware. And at 96k or better, I'll put its audio quality up against any HD multicast channel. Some webcasters (Radio Paradise, for example) offer up to 192k streams. For format info, see:
http://www.radioroku.com/welcome.php
I've had no problems accessing KYW's stream, so it should play fine on the WCBS feed, also handled by streamtheworld.com
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Radioman100
Guest
Play Freebird said:
Well, there you go. Pick up a used Roku on eBay and stop by Target for one of the Tivoli radios they're now closing out. (Must be a dismal failure, nobody wants it, etc.) ;D
A complete web radio solution for under $100. Internet connection will cost you extra.
Radioman100 said:
Everyone here already seems to have an internet connection for other uses, just as most people do. So please explain how using the already paid for existing internet connection for internet radio, wired or wireless, is going to "cost you extra"?
KB1OKL said:
How about these "HD" WiFi radios:
http://www.wifiradioreview.com/
http://www.engadget.com/2007/11/14/cambridge-consultants-unveils-wifi-radiopro-platform/
http://www.engadget.com/2005/05/17/torians-infusion-portable-wifi-radio-shipping-this-year/
http://www.engadget.com/2007/09/18/sangean-intros-wfr-20-tabletop-wifi-radio/
http://www.sangean.com/category.php?category_ID=12
http://www.ccrane.com/radios/wifi-radios/acoustic-energy-wi-fi-internet-radio.aspx
http://www.ccrane.com/radios/wifi-radios/tangent-quattro-wifi-internet-radio.aspx
http://www.robertsradio.co.uk/pages/wm201.html
http://www.slacker.com/products/portables/details/how-it-works/
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Radioman100
Guest
SUPERCASTER said:
That was a joke of course, much like my comments about the Tivoli being a dismal failure because Target is clearing theirs out.
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Radioman100
Guest
SUPERCASTER said:
I suppose people are free to spend their money however they want, but with the biggest players in web radio talking about shutting down their operations because they're unprofitable with the new CRB rates, you might want to hold off.
Of course, you'll probably always be able to get third string talk shows done by people that couldn't hack it in terrestrial radio, so if that's your thing, it might be a worthy investment.
Radioman100 said:
I don't think a lot of people listen to Internet radio for talk shows. I could be wrong on that, but I'll bet not. The ironic thing about Internet Radio (at least so far) is SoundExchange has been fairly reasonable with NCE broadcast stations that also stream. They pay a flat fee that increases if you go over a listener cap defined in cumulative listening hours per month. Maybe AOL and Yahoo can't afford their rates, but a lot of small noncommercial broadcasters can afford it.
Since these stations are non-commercial by nature, they offer listeners a big plus. NO seven minute stop sets with wall to wall screaming car dealer commercials! I kinda think some folks would like that.
Is Internet radio a money making deal right now? Nope, but I'll bet that right now a lot of Internet stations have more listeners than most of HD-2 stations do. Which will grow faster? I don't know, but I think the Internet holds more promise. Only time will tell for sure.
There is no doubt they have made things a lot more complicated, expensive and difficult, but RIAA has not succeeded in killing Internet Radio.
Radioman100 said:
Since Steve Scott is interested in hearing WCBS-AM in digital quality and probably all of the other CBS news stations from coast-to-coast, CRB royalty rates will not be a problem. As a matter of fact, CBS Radio is going full STREAM ahead in terms of Internet radio. It's not going away. Also, the recent CRB rate hike is NOT going to stick very long. As dbdigital stated in another thread recently, it's obvious that you are veeeeeery afraid of Internet radio.
As for talk shows, the likes of Rush Limbaugh have been streaming on the Internet for years. Rush also lets you watch him live!
If Steve is reading this, I've got a Roku Soundbridge M1000/1 and listen to it every day. Got mine plugged into my Tivoli, but have moved it to and from my Sony home theatre system. I guess I should buy a second one, available at Fry's Electronics locally for $129.99. Highly recommended. WCBS-AM sounds great here in Los Angeles! I remember when it was the first CBS newser to stream.
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Radioman100
Guest
Me? Afraid of web radio? Why on Earth would I be "afraid" of it? My own company has a significant web radio presence, but I seriously doubt we will when the new CRB rates do stick, and at the insistence of ad agencies, it will not be encoded for PPM.
The tiny amount of revenue (not profit - there won't be any) to be made off web radio just isn't worth it. It wouldn't surprise me at all to see CBS being late to realize this. After all, so many of their other recent efforts like "Free FM" have worked out so well.
The tiny amount of revenue (not profit - there won't be any) to be made off web radio just isn't worth it. It wouldn't surprise me at all to see CBS being late to realize this. After all, so many of their other recent efforts like "Free FM" have worked out so well.
Radioman100 said:
Before you dismiss not for profits, a lot of folks do very well by them. The business model is different from commercial broadcasting, but a comfortable living can be made. Don't believe me? Since I think you are in Dallas, drive by KERA on Harry Hines Boulevard. Let me know how many Lexus, Mercedes, BMW's etc. you see in the parking lot. Somebody is making payments on them...
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Radioman100
Guest
Chuck said:
You misread me Chuck. I said there wouldn't be any profits from the CBS streaming efforts.
Radioman100 said:
CBS reports revenue from audio streaming was up 400% over the last year! How well is HD radio doing?
http://www.alleyinsider.com/2007/11/live-cbs-q3-earnings.html
Internet radio is capable of encoding for PPM, but why bother with estimates. Server data can provide exact listening figures in agency-friendly metrics without having to pay Arbitron a nickel.
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Radioman100
Guest
vsa said:
Up 400% relative to what? How much is it netting vs. grossing? Given the new CRB royalties, your revenue could increase 400% and you could still lose money year to year, as companies like AOL and Yahoo are finding. Aside from that, the article you linked citing the 400% figure was referring to last.fm not CBS Radio's streaming efforts. How's HD Radio doing? It's not losing nearly as much money as the major streaming providers. It costs very little to operate, and nobody involved is expecting to make a profit with it at this point anyway.
vsa said:
Internet radio is NOT capable of encoding for PPM. Want to end up below the line? (For you webcasters, that's a radio industry term that means Arbitron has invalidated your ratings data because you were caught cheating.) If you don't believe me, give Arbitron a call. They do not allow encoding of streams because they are not a 100% simulcast of the main signal. Do you seriously think ad agencies want streams that cover up their spots included in station audience estimates?
The only way to get your stream included with Arbitron is to put a 100% simulcast on the web, but then you have a strictly money losing proposition with zero hope of recouping any of your loss. Not only that, you would end up paying CRB and AFTRA royalties.
So let's see what web radio has going for it...ridiculously high recording industry royalties and non-inclusion in Arbitron audience estimates which means you're effectively lowering your own ratings if people listen to you via your stream. Do you seriously think people that bill tens of millions of dollars a year with a terrestrial signal vs. thousands of dollars a year with a stream will compromise the golden goose just to continue putting their station on the web?
Oh yeah, your server data fantasy is just that - a fantasy. That kind of data could be easily manipulated. It's not independent. It's not 3rd party data. Think the agencies will really buy into that? No. Do you think maybe that's why virtually all of radio's streaming ad sales are local direct?
Steve Scott reported:
You're sure? Reception of WCBS-AM can be very problematical in Manhattan and the ground wave for it must cross through Manhattan in order to get to Jersey City.
The only way you'll actually know is to try it. If you are absolutely sure that you get a crystal clear analog signal from your station then you might be able to receive its IBOC signal ok. But if your reception is anything less than perfect, it is doubtful that your radio will lock onto HD with any great degree of reliability.
As are most things in life: Your mileage may vary.
You're sure? Reception of WCBS-AM can be very problematical in Manhattan and the ground wave for it must cross through Manhattan in order to get to Jersey City.
The only way you'll actually know is to try it. If you are absolutely sure that you get a crystal clear analog signal from your station then you might be able to receive its IBOC signal ok. But if your reception is anything less than perfect, it is doubtful that your radio will lock onto HD with any great degree of reliability.
As are most things in life: Your mileage may vary.
Radioman100 said:
Let's go to the original press release from Webcast Metrics and Andomedia back in August, 2004:
"...a revolutionary new platform for measurement of Internet radio audiences. In a manner far more accurate than standard broadcast radio ratings, Webcast Metrics monitors the size of a station’s audience and converts it to standard radio metrics including Average Quarter Hour, Cume, and Total Time Spent Listening...reports are derived from real data, rather than estimates based on small sample sizes...third party audience measurement..."
http://wmetrics.andomedia.com/home/templates/wcmt_template.asp?articleid=5&zoneid=1
Streaming clients include: Katz Media Group, CBS Radio, ESPN Radio, Radio Disney, Fox News Radio, Bonneville, Westwood One, Saga, Cumulus, Cox, etc.
http://www.andomedia.com/clients.aspx
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