Help
Streaming Help
Wednesday, 27 October 2010 16:20

Having trouble listening to us online? Below are tips and tricks to help get you going!


Can I stream you on an iPhone or iPad?

You certainly can, but you will need a specific radio streaming app to do it. Just search for either the Radiotime or FStream apps. Both can handle our stream, and if you don't find us on a list of stations, feel free to add us using the following address as the streaming link;

http://wmedia02.grantbroadcasters.com.au/river949 or

mms://wmedia02.grantbroadcasters.com.au/river949

These links will also work on Internet radios and other streaming devices that require a direct connection to operate.


What Media Players will work with our streaming?

We support Microsoft Windows Media Player. There are many versions of these players in circulation, and not all will work with our system. Please insure that you have one of the following versions of these players:

Windows Media Player:

  • Windows Operating System: Windows Media Player 9.x and Windows Media Player 7.x. Some users are able to get the audio streams properly with Windows Media Player 6.4, while others are not. We cannot guarantee compatibility with 6.4.
    Macintosh: Windows Media Player for Macintosh requires the latest versions of both Internet Explorer for Macintosh for your OS, and the latest version of Windows Media Player for Macintosh.

    Player Links:

    Windows Media Player Download

    Windows Media Player 9 for Macintosh OS X - for use with Power PC Processors

    Flip 4 Mac - for use with Intel Processors.

    IF ALL ELSE FAILS, WE DO KNOW THAT OUR STREAM WILL WORK ON ALL COMPUTERS USING THE VLC PLAYER. WHEN YOU WISH TO LISTEN TO US, OPEN VLC PLAYER WITH THE FOLLOWING ADDRESS AND YOU SHOULD HEAR OUR STREAM (JUST AS LONG AS YOUR WORKPLACE ISN'T BLOCKING STREAMING TRAFFIC!)

    Download VLC player here

    Enter this address into VLC: mms://wmedia02.grantbroadcasters.com.au/river949


  • I get an error using Windows Media Player XP that says, "Windows Media Player cannot find the specified file. Be sure the path is typed correctly. If it is, the file does not exist in the specified location, or the computer where the file is stored is offline." Why, and what do I do about it?

    The information in this question applies to:

  • Microsoft Windows Media Player for Windows XP Home Edition

  • Microsoft Windows Media Player for Windows XP Professional

    This problem is a known issue in the Internet Connection Sharing and the Internet Connection Firewall components in Windows XP.
  • To work around this problem, try multiple sources to stream the same media if available, such as HTTP, TCP, Multicast, and so forth. In addition, make sure that the other protocols (Multicast, TCP, and HTTP) are selected in the player:

  • Open Windows Media Player.
    1. On the Tools menu, click Options .
    2. On the Network tab, make sure that the appropriate check boxes are selected (Multicast, TCP, and HTTP).

    Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in these Microsoft products.


  • What is Buffering, and why do I get it when I listen to an audio stream?

    Buffering is your media player's way of receiving and storing data before it is played back.Buffering allows your media player to store enough information inside your computer so that, if your connection temporarily slows due tonetwork congestion or other interruptions, your streaming is not immediately interrupted.

  • For example, before you are able to listen to a file on the Internet,your media playerdownloads a portion of the file into its buffer and then starts to play it. This type of buffering is called preroll. This lets your media player begin playing the file from data already stored in the buffer while it downloads the rest of the file.

    If you are having problems with continuous buffering, or are stuck connecting to media when trying to listen online, then you may need to adjust your HTTP and TCP transport methods in your Windows Media Player.

    Please follow these directions very carefully so you don't inadvertently change a setting that will affect the usefulness of your player.

    This change will not affect the performance of any other media that you may want to play. Once this change is complete, you will not have to repeat this process to listen online.

    To change the transport method in your Windows Media Player:

    1. Double Click on your Windows Media Player Icon to launch it.
    2. Click the word 'Tools' in the top toolbar of the player.
    3. Click the word 'Options' from the drop-down menu.
    4. Click the 'Network' tab in the Options window.
    5. In the protocols section you want to make sure that ONLY the HTTP and TCP boxes are selected. Deselect the others if they are selected and do not change the Proxy settings.
    6. Click the 'Apply' button at the bottom of the Window.
    7. Click 'OK' in that Window to close it, and then click 'OK' again in the Options window to close that too.
    8. The change in transport types is now complete.

    When the change is complete, return to the website that you were experiencing the problem to verify that the change was effective.


  • Why is playback choppy for certain streams even though I have a high speed connection?

    Ideally, we recommend that you don't attempt streaming our station if your broadband internet connection is lower than 512K. 256K connections may be able to stream us, but chances are that you will get lots of breaks and choppiness in the playback.

    First, remember that even high speed connections sometimes suffer service degradations. Cable modem users share a connection with many others in their neighborhood, so during peak hours bandwidth availability may be limited.You may want to try telling Windows Media Player manually what your connection speed is, if it is misdetecting your connection.

    To check and fix this:
    Click TOOLS
    Click OPTIONS
    Performance and manually specify your connection speed in Windows Media Player.

    If your line speed is being detected incorrectly by Windows Media Player, you may have BlackIce Defender installed, which sometimes causes performance problems for streaming video. Please go to the BlackIce website and get the latest version, which solves this problem. Users of other firewalls should also make sure they have a fully updated version of their software, with the latest drivers. Finally, please make sure that you have all current drivers installed for your audio card. Some older cards have conflicts with Windows Media Player... the latest drivers will usually fix them.


    FINALLY...

    If you've tried all this... or none of this applies to you, send an email to our Web Developer who might be able to suggest some ways to get streaming working on your computer. Of course, with literally thousands of combinations of computers, players, connections and operating systems out there, we can't guarantee that everyone can stream us, but we do try to make sure that as many people as possible can get it.

    Contact our Online Office via This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

     
    Website Help
    Friday, 22 October 2010 18:09

    It's annoying isn't it? You just want to work your way around our website and then suddenly nothing works the way it should.

    Well, there are a few things you need to check first...

    What browser are you using?

    This website is designed and tested to work with the following web browsers;

    • Mozilla Firefox versions 3 and up
    • MS Internet Explorer 7 and up
    • Apple Safari
    • Mozilla Camino
    • Opera
    • Google Chrome

    You'd be surprised how many problems with our website are caused by people using Internet Explorer 6. IE6 is a very outdated browser that is not designed to work with modern websites and web-based applications. It has been superseded many years ago, plus there have been dozens of updates to it since then as well. Before you ask us to fix something that doesn't work for you, please make sure you are using one of the browsers above... and please get rid of Internet Explorer 6. It is so old and unsecure that even Microsoft don't support it any more!

    Spelling errors and typos

    We're all human and sometimes in our hurry to get something online as soon as possible for you, a typo or spelling mistake may be missed. If you notice any, just email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

    Incorrect Information

    Again, we are sometimes in a hurry and may miss an important detail in an article. Please email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

    Um... why is my intellectual property on your website?

    We draw in a lot of feeds of various types from all over the internet. We only bring in partial feeds where they are offered, although sometimes our automated system may bring in copyrighted or full feeds inadvertently. If you believe that your intellectual copyright has been affected by something on our site, please do not hesitate to email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it and we will resolve the issue as soon as possible for you.

    Any other issues?

    Just send us an email via This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

     
    Radio Reception Guide
    Friday, 22 October 2010 18:03

    Good radio reception is dependent on signal strength and the type of radio receiver and antenna used by the listener. Signal strength can vary greatly with the distance from the radio transmitter and in different environments such as built up, wooded or hilly areas.

    Reception quality changes significantly between small portable radios and high fidelity tuner and speaker systems.

    The radio antenna is the most important factor in achieving good reception. Many radio reception difficulties are caused by deficiencies in the radio or antenna installation. Interference or obstruction of a radio signal to the antenna should be kept to a minimum. The antenna should be placed away from electrical devices such as computers, refrigerators, power tools or wiring. The antenna should point in the direction of the transmitter and be positioned to minimise the effect of obstructions such as trees and buildings.

    For the best possible reception, particularly for FM radio, your antenna should be mounted outside and look similar to a TV antenna.

    FM Radio

    Listeners should first check the radio station’s current Maintenance Works for the transmitter network, to see if there are any repairs being completed in their area which may cause temporary disruption to their reception of radio services. Listeners still experiencing FM reception problems should then check to see if their radio and antenna are operating correctly:

    • Make sure the antenna is suitable for receiving FM radio and is pointing in the direction of the appropriate radio transmitter. Check that the antenna cable and connections are in good condition.
    • If possible swap another radio for the affected one. If the radio reception improves, there is likely to be an equipment problem with the first radio - check the antenna.
    • Sometimes the TV antenna is used for both the TV and FM radio. If this is the case, remove the TV connection, leaving only the direct cable between the antenna and radio.

    Listeners should also note that FM radio signals travel in almost straight lines and are unable to travel over or penetrate large obstructions, consequently parts of a coverage area may have a weak signal particularly in hilly terrain or highly built up urban areas.

    AM Radio

    Listeners should first check the radio station’s current Maintenance Works for the transmitter network, to see if there are any repairs being completed in their area which may cause temporary disruption to reception of radio services.

    AM broadcasts can be susceptible to the high levels of electrical interference in built up areas caused by utilities such as street lamps, power lines or railway lines. AM radio reception can also be susceptible to interference from a wide variety of household electrical appliances including refrigerators, hair dryers, power tools and even electric razors.

    AM radio reception can vary from day to night. At night, in certain weather conditions, it is not uncommon for fortuitous AM broadcasts to be received thousands of kilometres away - we have had plenty of reports of our services reaching Melbourne, Adelaide and even New Zealand. However, night time reception is variable, prone to interference and the actual planned coverage area will reduce. During the day, reception of AM services is less susceptible to interference and the planned coverage area is greater. Listeners experiencing reception problems with AM Radio, should first check the following:

    • Make sure the radio is tuned into a local station so that it is receiving a strong signal.
    • If possible use batteries instead of mains power, or substitute the affected radio with a battery operated one.
    • If the battery operated radio reception is good, interference could be caused by the mains power - check the power cord is well insulated.
    • If both radios are affected, the problem is likely to be electrical interference to the antenna, caused by a nearby electrical appliance. Try switching off all electrical appliances one by one or moving the radio to identify what is causing the problem.
    • Sometimes the interference will remain - even when the mains power switch is off. This often means the interference is coming from a nearby house. If neighbours are also affected, they should follow the same procedure to help isolate the problem.

    Listeners who continue to experience electrical interference to their radio reception may want to contact a local electrician or technician who can recommend a suitable mains filter to reduce the problem.

    AM interference can also be caused by nearby power lines, particularly if they are not regularly maintained. If you think this is the case, contact the local electricity supply authority listed in the White Pages.

     


    This Will Keep Ya Warm This Winter!

    G'day Gang Snowy here,It's been a while since I last posted on here, but thought I'd put up something that will keep you warm this winter!While we're freezing our backsides...

    Lucky Escape Following Early Morning Cra…

      The occupants of a car that rolled on the Warrego Highway early this morning have walked away unscathed. The crash happened just after 6...

    LNP Slashes Liquor Licensing Red Tape

    Local community groups will soon benefit from common sense changes to liquor licensing laws. Ipswich MP Ian Berry said the new laws passed by the...

    Father Granted Bail Over Toddler Death

    A Brisbane man charged with causing the death of his three-year-old daughter Kyhesha-Lee Joughin has been granted bail. ...

    23 Year Old Dies After Hitting Wall

    A 23-year-old Southport man has died in a single vehicle traffic crash at Carrara overnight.   Police say his vehicle left the road...