BBC Radio 3 in 320k on Uniti?

Hi Dinarius

You could answer one little question before your thread is deleted: are you inside or outside the UK?

Chris

Thanks, it does rather look like it's a change in BBC policy, rather than a problem with Naim favourites.

Bugger!

Chris

Hhhhhhmmmm.....

How not to make friends and influence people!

Thanks anyway.

D.

BBC3 cannot be received in 320K rate outside the UK. I can't, and sometimes I have difficulty in getting Classic FM properly.

I'm also getting more and more frequent >sorry UK bidders/buyers only< on eBay, so it seems that the Island is becoming more and more Island.

But I love it just the same.

M.

(or should it be >her<?

Just checked on my computer and BBC Radio 3 is 32kbps under normal browser download. (visible by right-clicking on the Play button in iPlayer)

Via the Uniti, it's 56k according to the display. I can't explain the difference.

BBC Radio 4 is also 32kbps on the computer and 56k on the Uniti.

However, if I listen on the computer using Expat Shield, Radio 3 is 320k and Radio 4 is 128k - both sound fantastic (I have pretty good speakers attached to the comupter). Also, the BBC Radio page that loads is completely different to the one using a normal browser.

I'm guessing Apple wouldn't look favourably on an Expat Shield App?

Anyway of transferring the 320k signal to the Uniti?

D. (frustrated)

I think this is one of the reasons that Airplay functionally in the Naim streamers would be very useful.

I've just tried Expat Shield. I got in to a bit of a mess with my firewall but I could see and hear all the BBC content as I can when in the UK. I think if I use the radio streaming functionality in my server software (Asset), I should be able to get the 320k stream to the ND5.

Chris, Expat Shield looks a suitable proxy. Be interested to hear from you how good it's performance is. But are you aware of its business model? Ie it appears to analyzse your web traffic  through it to target advertisers to you... Paradoxically this is one reason why people use proxies to prevent this.

There is no such thing as a free lunch, however if you get hidef BBC radio you might be willing to put up with that.

Simon

Well using Expat Shield in conjunction with the radio functionality in Asset certainly does work with BBC HD but I really need a few days to judge how reliable it is. There is a pay version of Expat Shield that claims to be faster and more secure; it's only about £20 a year.

Another benefit is that my SqueezeBoxes regain all the IPlayer functionality that they had in the UK and at the higher bit-rates.

I guess I can do my surfing on another machine, not going through the proxy, to evade Expat Shield's net-monitoring abilities?

Chris

Just discovered that BBC Radio 3 plays at 320k via iTunes.

Open iTunes/Radio/Classical/BBC Radio 3 HIgh.

If the Bit Rate isn't shown by default in the window, you can activate via View/View Options at the top of the screen.

So, why is it 320k this way (for non-UK) and not via the BBC website? BBC not wishing to upset the (ahem!) Apple cart?

D.

I was given a useful suggestion by Gregg Levethan.

Sign up for 'WiTopia' ( google it), which i did.

It is not free but it costs little (40 US $) to buy a 6 month use period. They have Proxy Servers all over the world. In particular I am using them via London for TV and radio content. They build what they call an 'encrypted tunnel' to their proxy servers when you request a connection, so should be pretty well protected.

I can also 'go to' the states. I am considering establishing a payment method with a US address ( set up a PayPal US account using a friend's address) then I can get to music that is not available non US.

No adverts on WiTopia, works great on my MAC. Worth every penny. Right now I am watching 'Homeland' off ITV Chan 4 and 'Vera' off ITV 1 which I could not otherwise see. I also use it for BBC and find the HD stream really classy. I plumb the MAC into my TV system and use Airplay ( well actually Linn 'Songcast' since I have a KDS) for the sound. Pretty much like watching it as a TV program.

Regards

Geoff

Just to add to this. I'm in the UK and my Radio 3 stream is now always resolutely at 48K WMA.

I have a 30+ meg Virgin broadband connection so have absolutely no idea what the problem is.

But it is getting annoying.

Just looked at naim favourites on my NDX and there is still a Radio 3 hidef preset which streams at 320k OK.

I'm outside the UK and I get 48k MMS for standard R3 and 56k AAC for the HiDef channel. Thanks!

Which is perfectly reasonable as you do not pay a UK licence fee. 

It wasn't a complaint.I realise the BBC don't have the resources yet to broadcast at 320k to the world. In the future, it would be nice if these things don't stop at the channel, however. And don't forget I could be in the UK and still not pay a licence fee as I don't have a TV. Thanks!

Tried Naim Favourites preset on my Uniti and it is streaming at 57K. Which is bizarre if you have 320k!

All seems a bit strange to me. I can't really see how this can be a BBC thing.

Anyone knows if there's a way to reset the Naim internet module to see if that helps?

Actually, ignore that rather stupid question about resetting the "module". Annoyance overcame common sense.

As other stations are coming through at 320Kbps it has to be a BBC thing of some sort.

I would contact the BBC - but by past experience I know it's not worth the effort!

This is true for me too but I'd be quite happy to pay something to get it, however, a subscription service isn't available.

I am also willing to pay for the higher definition stream. What is stopping the Beeb from offering the option?

David, probably nothing. Why don't you write to the Beec telling them this point and share what they reply with here?

Simon

Simon, I did send them an email last year to ask, but I got no reply. Is this unusual?

David, it does seem strange, I find physical mail is quite often useful for such things, especially if you want a reply.

Simon