[slim] BBC radio 4 via rhapsody vs via alienBBC: rights restrictions craziness
Hi all, Living not in the UK, I constantly use my squeezebox for listening to BBC Radio 4. I always used to use AlienBBC which is nice but I got a lot of stuttering and rebuffering problems. Then I discovered that Rhapsody (via Squeeze Network) provides Radio 4 as a stream, and that it works wonderfully. I don't think I've ever had a single stutter or rebuffer. But now there is a strange and frustrating problem with Rhapsody which never affected the AlienBBC stream. The radio content is frequently replaced with a looped Due to rights restrictions, this program is unavailable. I understand why this may be occasionally legally necessary (though not why it is necessary on the Rhapsody stream but not the AlienBBC stream). The really odd part is this, though: the rights restriction loops appears to start up at random times without connection to the program content. I understand that rights restrictions apply to things like music or drama. But just now, at approximately 8.18am UK time, in the middle of the today program (a news magazine program), it suddenly started up randomly in the middle of an interview about snow chaos!?! It seems to me like whoever or whatever is turning on the right restrictions loop has gone a bit wrong. Could I be right, and if so, can anyone suggest what I could do about it? Cheers, Ben -- amorphia amorphia's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=14363 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=73613 ___ discuss mailing list discuss@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/mailman/listinfo/discuss
Re: [slim] BBC radio 4 via rhapsody vs via alienBBC: rights restrictions craziness
Thanks for the thoughts, folks. If I contact the BBC or their forums, can anyone explain exactly what is the nature of the stream I am accessing through Rhapsody? Without that information, surely no one at the BBC could help. True that I am playing the LW service, not FM. I couldn't find FM on rhapsody. Is it there somewhere? By the way, it isn't sport either that is triggering the censoring. Like I said, it effects even random sections of news magazine programs. I could experiment with bpa's advice. Can you offer a pointer of where to start with playing the plain WMA streams? I reiterate that the reason I use Rhapsody through Squeeze Network is that all other solutions I have tried suffer badly from stutter and rebuffering (possibly because of the hardware limitations of my server - it's a NAS running linux). I am afraid that these new ideas may have the same problems because they will be part of Squeeze Server, not Squeeze Network. Cheers! Ben -- amorphia amorphia's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=14363 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=73613 ___ discuss mailing list discuss@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/mailman/listinfo/discuss
Re: [slim] endless cycle of firmware updates
amorphia;378829 Wrote: Having said all that, I would still be very interested if someone could let me know the hack necessary so that I can now stop updating just because SqueezeNetwork updates their firmware! Cheers, Ben BOUNCE!!! After the SC 7.3.2 update a few weeks ago, I am still flashing firmware everytime time I switch between SC and Rhapsody on SN. Because it is a pain in the neck to update SC on my QNAP server. Please can someone help me with this very irritating issue which is spoiling my otherwise great Squeezebox experience! Cheers, Ben -- amorphia amorphia's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=14363 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=51310 ___ discuss mailing list discuss@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/lists/listinfo/discuss
[slim] alienBBC stream gets wrong name as favourite under SC 7.3
Hi all, my first teething problem after installing SC 7.3 last night. I can add an AlienBBC stream to favourites with my SB remote, but in the favourites list it just ends up named as Favourite... a bit confusing with more than one! I don't mind manually editing a favourites file as a quick fix, if that is a feasible way to do it... if someone could tell me how! Thanks, Ben -- amorphia amorphia's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=14363 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=57652 ___ discuss mailing list discuss@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/lists/listinfo/discuss
Re: [slim] endless cycle of firmware updates
I bit the bullet and did the update... so for what it's worth I thought I might as well report the results in case it's useful for anyone else. On a QNAP TS-109 II, running SSOTS 3.0beta13 to enable SqueezeCenter, the upgrade to SC 7.3 was fairly painless, and AlienBBC is working nicely (after very limited testing) and actually now has a slightly more user friendly install method for the 7.3 version. In fact, I am glad I upgraded because it seems that AlienBBC can now rebuffer listen again streams (previously for me it would just restart the stream, meaning I was limited to the live streams only). Having said all that, I would still be very interested if someone could let me know the hack necessary so that I can now stop updating just because SqueezeNetwork updates their firmware! Cheers, Ben -- amorphia amorphia's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=14363 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=51310 ___ discuss mailing list discuss@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/lists/listinfo/discuss
Re: [slim] endless cycle of firmware updates
peterw;331370 Wrote: Search the forums and you'll find instructions for configuring your local SqueezeCenter installation --whatever version that may be-- to accept the firmware that SqueezeNetwork forces you to install. It's not the best solution, but at least the Squeeze system is open enough to allow you such choices. Any chance anyone could provide me a direct link to this information? I have searched for it without success. The latest SN upgrade sometime last month has got me again. Upgrading SC worked last time but I really don't want to be forced to stay on the bleeding edge of SC all the time - my life does not include time for constant SC upgrades. I'm running SC on a little NAS box running linux so upgrading is not pain free, plus I'm always paranoid that vital stuff like alienBBC might stop working. Any help gratefully received! Cheers, Ben -- amorphia amorphia's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=14363 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=51310 ___ discuss mailing list discuss@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/lists/listinfo/discuss
Re: [slim] endless cycle of firmware updates
Finally got around to updating and can confirm that it is working as bpa advertised. Brilliant! I love Rhapsody, but especially now that I'm on parental leave in a foreign land, I don't know what I'd do without Woman's Hour on Radio 4! Cheers, Ben -- amorphia amorphia's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=14363 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=51310 ___ discuss mailing list discuss@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/lists/listinfo/discuss
Re: [slim] endless cycle of firmware updates
Hi all, I had exactly the same problem as the first poster. I followed the advice to upgrade to squeezecenter 7.1, which I did, and it solved the problem. For about a week. Now I just went to Rhapsody on Squeezenetwork, and it updated firmware, and now I'm back on the endless firmware update cycle. I guess that updating to 7.2 might solve this but I don't want to because there isn't a version of AlienBBC which is officially for 7.2 yet. :( Anyone got any advice? Thanks! Ben -- amorphia amorphia's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=14363 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=51310 ___ discuss mailing list discuss@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/lists/listinfo/discuss
Re: [slim] extra squeezeboxes use loads of server CPU even when on standby!?
That is very interesting to know, thanks bpa. I don't actually know the answer to your question: I just followed the standard instuctions for the most straightforward AlienBBC install, and I don't recall whether that was Flac or MP3, likewise don't recall whether the fixed point patch was included. I will look into this some more. Cheers, Ben -- amorphia amorphia's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=14363 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=51368 ___ discuss mailing list discuss@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/lists/listinfo/discuss
[slim] extra squeezeboxes use loads of server CPU even when on standby!?
Hi all, I'm running Squeezecenter 7.0 on a QNAP TS-109, till recently with just the one Squeezebox. AlienBBC runs OK like this although it is pushing the QNAP's CPU close to the limit, because of the resource-hungry mplayer which AlienBBC uses. I've just got a second squeezebox for another room, and I am rather frustrated to find out that having the extra squeezebox attached seems to cause Squeezecenter itself to use a lot more CPU, even when that Squeezebox is on standby. It's difficult to be precise because the CPU usage oscillates a lot, but (from looking at top, the linux cpu monitor) I would estimate that with just one squeezebox on the network, mplayer uses about 80% CPU, perl (in otherwords slimserver) about 10%, and AlienBBC runs fine. Having an extra squeezebox on, even in standby, causes perl to run at around 40%, pushing mplayer down to 50%, and causing a lot of stutter. Surely a standby squeezebox shouldn't be straining the server like this? The workaround is obviously to unplug the unused squeezeboxes but that interferes with the whole music on demand experience which is otherwise working so nicely. Much appreciation for any ideas about what I can do! Cheers, Ben -- amorphia amorphia's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=14363 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=51368 ___ discuss mailing list discuss@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/lists/listinfo/discuss
Re: [slim] extra squeezeboxes use loads of server CPU even when on standby!?
Update: It isn't as simple as that. An extra squeezebox does not always cause excess CPU usage: I just had two sychronised playing the same AlienBBC stream, with reasonable performance, and after unsychronising and putting one on standby the other is still playing fine. I'll do some more investigation to try and work out more specifically what circumstances lead to the problem. Cheers, Ben -- amorphia amorphia's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=14363 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=51368 ___ discuss mailing list discuss@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/lists/listinfo/discuss
Re: [slim] Squeezebox display gets brighter not darker after inactivity
Thanks folks. Why didn't I think of that! Still a bit curious how it happened in the first place but I guess I can live with not knowing ;) Cheers, Ben -- amorphia amorphia's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=14363 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=44289 ___ discuss mailing list discuss@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/lists/listinfo/discuss
Re: [slim] How much power does the squeezebox draw while on standby
Thanks all! So about a tenth of a low wattage light bulb. Not much but it all adds up. (I am absolutely not a patriot but) I have never understood why other contries, like the one I currently live in, don't follow the UK's fine example of having off switches as standard next to wall sockets. Then I wouldn't need to get a strip with an off button, which is what I will probably do. Till then I am just threatening retaliation: every time she unplugs the squeezebox I am going to unplug her clock radio so she has to reset the time. By the way to highlight global warming I have a campaign to change the SI unit for energy to polar bears. I haven't yet worked out how many polar bears 4 to 5 watts is but it's probably like a polar bear baby's little toe or something. Cheers, Ben -- amorphia amorphia's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=14363 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=44291 ___ discuss mailing list discuss@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/lists/listinfo/discuss
[slim] Squeezebox display gets brighter not darker after inactivity
Hi all, I have two squeezeboxes and the same problem has developed on both of them although it spontaneously fixed itself on one. So this must be a common problem although I couldn't find any reference with a search. You know how the squeezebox display goes dimmer when you dont press any buttons for a while? Well mine doesn't - it is dim when you are pressing buttons and only goes bright again when you don't press any buttons for a while. In other words the brightness toggle is back to front. Any ideas of how to fix? I suspect some kind of hard reset would do it but I can't be bothered to input all the configuration again. Cheers, Ben -- amorphia amorphia's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=14363 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=44289 ___ discuss mailing list discuss@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/lists/listinfo/discuss
[slim] How much power does the squeezebox draw while on standby
Hi there, my wife is having a hard-core environmental drive and is going round constantly unplugging devices on standby. Much as I agree this is necessary, it is quite annoying to have to plug in my squeezebox to listen to music. Anyone have a good idea how many watts it is using on standby? Would be nice to be able to compare it to other devices... Cheers, Ben -- amorphia amorphia's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=14363 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=44291 ___ discuss mailing list discuss@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/lists/listinfo/discuss
Re: [slim] Songs removed from library when hard drive accidentally turned off
Shame about this! I would guess it would be a pretty easy thing to fix, and I can't imagine many find this feature to be useful... Cheers, Ben -- amorphia amorphia's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=14363 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=41585 ___ discuss mailing list discuss@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/lists/listinfo/discuss
[slim] Songs removed from library when hard drive accidentally turned off
Hi all, I have a silly habit of forgetting to turn on my network hard drive where my music resides before trying to play a song on the squeezebox. Slimserver has a silly habit deleting the said song from the library index whenever this happens. This forces me to do a full library rescan before I can play the song again. Over my network this takes hours, very annoying! Is there some way I can disable this feature? Cheers! Ben -- amorphia amorphia's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=14363 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=41585 ___ discuss mailing list discuss@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/lists/listinfo/discuss
