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Why Web Streaming Radio Stations Suck

T

The Voice of Reason

Is it just me or is anyone else having problems when it comes to web streaming local radio stations?

For example I was listening to Lonsberry on WHAM, in order to get his take on this Chris Lee scandal. Every few minutes the web streaming stopped so I had to reboot WHAM's web site numerous times.

After doing this several times, I just gave up.
 
The Voice of Reason said:
Is it just me or is anyone else having problems when it comes to web streaming local radio stations?

For example I was listening to Lonsberry on WHAM, in order to get his take on this Chris Lee scandal. Every few minutes the web streaming stopped so I had to reboot WHAM's web site numerous times.

After doing this several times, I just gave up.
Click to expand...

We've streamed several stations, near and far, usually with success.

I believe streaming technology is still in its infancy, kinda like AM stations in the 20's and 30's that operated on 50 watts before going to 50,000...or when the FCC licensed two different stations to share the same frequency and one had to sign off when it was time for the other came on. WLS did this in its pre-ABC years.

As the technology matures - and as Internet speeds increase - it'll get easier to use.
 
I have had the "reboot, reboot, repeat, give up" experience and then I've also been able to listen to streaming for hours without interruption, e.g. a Monday Night Football radiocast.

I think it's pretty variable depending on station, ISP, phase of the moon, etc.
 
I usually get the "sleep" mode. That's out of WQYK -Tampa a CBS affiliate.
And an easy fix..on the sleep button. ;D
I stream because I'm listening to a former colleague...that has a class act in AM drive. Steve if your on this board, thumbs up!!

Big picture...it can work

HBBG
 
I'd look more closely at your internet connection than by blaming the station's stream. I've been consistently disappointed with what TWC calls "high speed internet" on our cablemodem. I often get better connections on my Verizon Droid's 3G link.

Either way, a lot of streaming software has ways to increase buffering or take some other step that will require a little more waiting during the initial connection but will help prevent dropouts once you get going. Sometimes it's not easy to find the adjustments, though. Depends on the OS and the streaming software.

FWIW, I *have* noticed that a lot of commercial radio station's streams...and their websites...are unintentionally made less user-friendly in an attempt to force the user to experience more commercials. All in a mostly vain attempt to monetize their websites. Or as I prefer to call it: squeezing blood from a stone. I don't listen to WHAM online so maybe that's part of the problem?
 
I prefer listening to music via over-the-air FM. Commercial radio station music streams leave a lot to be desired, technically (buffering and drop-outs because the pipeline is clogged and shrinking or the station's server is getting hammered) and content-wise. I've enjoyed Pandora for years (thanks to the recommendation of my kids.) Then there's a good ol' WinAmp playlist or two in the computer, to say nothing of hundreds of CDs. Now here's the scary part. A few months ago I found a twenty year old music mix cassette. It was pretty damn good, IIMSSM.
 
Sounds like it may be the computer you're using, but good to check the internet connection.
On the Canadian side, there's Regular, lite and Ultra lite internet. The Ultra lite may as well be an email checking device!
 
Debaser said:
So you still have a cassette deck that will play back?
Click to expand...

I do...a Fisher CR-126. Have used it to digitize/restore old airchecks, my wife's college piano recital from 1981, etc. And yes I have mixtapes from the mid-80's that still sound great!

What was this thread again?

Anyway is Canadian "regular" internet equivalent to American high-speed and "Ultra-lite" is like dial-up here?
 
I'd check your bandwidth speed. Try http://www.speedtest.net/ and select the Rochester server. If you are 100Kb/s or less download you may run into issues. Or you may just have an ISP that cuts out every now and then due to low bandwidth at their end. This is when I usually stream radio the old fashioned way, via a radio.
 
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