Internet radio streams on Windows servers?

[orbscure]

I've recently been having intermittent but annoying buffering issues when listening to my fav radio streams (DIfm premium streams, CalmRadio, SomaFM) via jRiver Media Center 20 (build 20.,0.132 to be exact). So as it really been a nuisance today (and as the weather is so filthy too) I decided to try DIfm premium streams via their official website. I also wanted to see if it was an issue with my broadband, but so far I've not had one issue of buffering, so does anybody have any suggestions of what I can do under Media Centers hood to alleviate this issue?

If not... what are fellow PC/Windows 10/Server owners using to stream their favorite radio streams? (VLC, WinAMP etc?) What I really like about the jRiver interface, is having all my streams in once place, so a similar one-stop-shop solution would be very much preferred... but other suggestions would be very much appreciated too :)

Cheers
Pete

[Stratmangler]

Why not post a couple of stream links so that others can try them?
The issue probably isn't with JRiver.

[orbscure]

The premium links I use are unique to me Chris and allow me to stream at up to 320k mp3... but these are the websites associated a majority of the channels I listen to:

CalmRadio - https://calmradio.com
Listen to: Chillout, Chillout Dreams, Chillhop, Chillstep, Space Dreams, Vocal Chillout & Ambient

Digitally Imported - http://www.di.fm
Listen to: Solo Guitar & Solo Piano & Guitar

SomaFM - http://somafm.com
Listen to:
Space Station Soma: http://uwstream3.somafm.com:8000
Groove Salad: http://uwstream1.somafm.com:80

[Stratmangler]

Well the two streams on SomaFM work just fine here using Foobar.

[orbscure]

:) Many thanks for checking Chris... but I should have been clearer, I don't actually have issues with the SomaFM links, its primarily the DIfm streams which buffer. Don't get me wrong, its not constant... but its often enough given the alleged speed of my broadband for it to irritate the life out of me. I've just switched all the streams in Media Center from 320k mp3 to 128k aac and the problem still persists... however, as soon as I switch to the web player (also at 320k mp3 & 128k aac) it streams without issue... :scratch:

[orbscure]

Scrub that last comment, its just buffered whilst web streaming, so I'd guess its a broadband issue and nothing to do with the hardware/software...

[Stratmangler]

It could just as easily be an issue with the servers the stations use, or a problem with the nodes leading into the servers.

[orbscure]

It could be Chris... I was just hopeful that I'm not the only member of AoS to have premium access to DIfm and that somebody else here was having the same issues...

[Mark Grant]

Scrub that last comment, its just buffered whilst web streaming, so I'd guess its a broadband issue and nothing to do with the hardware/software...

Works just fine here but it could be anything at your house.

Are you connected by Wi-Fi?
Does your router have any logs to show any dropped connections/reconnection's to your ISP etc ?

The streams are only low bandwidth so hardly challenging for a wired connection so they should work perfectly.

It's a wet bank holiday so maybe everyone is online on your ISP and that's why it is buffering :)

[orbscure]

Hi Mark... I'm streaming via the TP-Link powerline adapter system and have had no issues until recently. I am going to look at having the router moved into the same room as my server though and then I can be confident that nothing between the router and the server can cause an issue. I agree that it might just be external conditions too... but I've contacted my ISP in the hope that they can double check nonetheless :)

[Stratmangler]

Powerline adapters can be problematic.
They're no replacement for good old fashioned ethernet.

Have you tried unplugging all the network stuff (router and powerline units) and then going round and plugging it all back in?
Give each bit at least 30 seconds without power before plugging it back in.

[Mark Grant]

For test purposes I would try a long Ethernet cable draped around the house,
Belkin are cheap enough:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Belkin-Cat5e-Snagless-Patch-Yellow/dp/B0000DG4X4/ref=sr_1_3?s=computers&ie=UTF8&qid=1441046656&sr=1-3&keywords=ethernet+cable

There will be cheaper makes available but they might not always work, read the reviews of this:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/TRIXES-Network-CAT5e-Ethernet-Cable/dp/B004S6UWZ0/ref=sr_1_2?s=computers&ie=UTF8&qid=1441046839&sr=1-2&keywords=50m+ethernet+cable

Buy quality as there is a lot of rubbish out there and you don't want to introduce anther fault while fault finding.

[orbscure]

I've heard that said about Powerline products Chris, but mine have been working away without any issues for quite some time... and for those of us where having any form of wired network is just not possible, they are a godsend! I'll try the good old fashioned complete network reset and see how that gets on... :)

[Spectral Morn]

The premium links I use are unique to me Chris and allow me to stream at up to 320k mp3... but these are the websites associated a majority of the channels I listen to:

CalmRadio - https://calmradio.com
Listen to: Chillout, Chillout Dreams, Chillhop, Chillstep, Space Dreams, Vocal Chillout & Ambient

Digitally Imported - http://www.di.fm
Listen to: Solo Guitar & Solo Piano & Guitar

SomaFM - http://somafm.com
Listen to:
Space Station Soma: http://uwstream3.somafm.com:8000
Groove Salad: http://uwstream1.somafm.com:80

Thanks for the links, I didn't know about these stations.


Regards Neil

[orbscure]

My pleasure Neil... subscribing for the premium streams is definitely worth while... you might want to add this one too:

Chromanova FM
http://85.25.86.69:8100

[Mark Grant]

I've heard that said about Powerline products Chris, but mine have been working away without any issues for quite some time...

Although that could be the problem, they have been working for ages sending data along the ring main then something new could have been plugged in that gives out lots of mains noise or an older appliance could have started to emit mains noise as it starts to fail and that swamps the signal or the powerline device could be starting to fail.

You will fix it somehow :)

[orbscure]

Many thanks Mark... I've since taken the bull by the horns and had Virgin relocate my router in the same room as my server. Now that I have the server hard wired directly to the router, Virgin have subsequently found that there is an intermittent external network issue, so are looking into it... :)