Are some internet radio stations more likely to drop than others?

Posted by: DWO-Naim on 21 April 2014

Hi,

 

Just a quick question and if the answer has been posted elsewhere then please point me in the right direction.

 

I've been streaming my music for just over three months now and feel that my network has settled down. I have a 35-40 mbps supply which seems to be constant irrespective of the time of day - maybe I'm just lucky. I have a NAS connected via Ethernet directly to a BT HH5 which also feeds via Ethernet to my UnitiLite.

 

I have absolutely no problem playing ripped music from the NAS to the UnitiLite - including hires FLAC. I also have very good results streaming Radio Paradise, Naim Radio, Avro de Klassiek, BBC Radio 3 (hi-res) and others. No station drop outs, so I am pretty happy.

 

As some of you may be aware every so often Classic FM complete a survey of popular classical music and play back the favourites over a few days. So I thought I would listen in and see what composer was where. I was disappointed that the station dropped out at least once in every track and sometimes more often. I did a check using my PC to listen to the music and that played without missing a beat. Is this a peculiarity of Classic FM or am I missing something? Do other stations exhibit the same performance issues?

Posted on: 23 April 2014 by Camlan

I was just about to post exactly the same thing. Just added an NDX to my system and Internet Radio seems fine apart from Classic FM which was fine for a few days but is now buffering and dropping out as you describe. I get c15mbps and use an Airport Extreme. Like you I have no problems with any other station and my Mac plays it fine.

 

Anybody any thoughts as to the reason for this?

Posted on: 23 April 2014 by Mike-B

I have the same problem.  

OK for a few minutes then buffering falls to 30%-0% & it cuts out,  sometimes every few seconds,  sometimes it will run for a few minutes.  

 

Disappointing its only at 128kbps & what sounds like the same compression as FM.  

But because of the buffering I stick with real radio FM

 

I am in the C-FM club & will report it to the station.  

If I hear something back I will copy paste the replay 

Posted on: 23 April 2014 by DWO-Naim

Many thanks for indicating that I am not the only person with this issue. Hopefully Mike-B will get a clarification from Classic FM that points to a solution. As an aside I have noticed this issue with Classic FM since I started using my Naim UnitiLite and put it down to a quirk of the system. As Camlan says any thoughts from the more knowledgeable members much appreciated.

Posted on: 25 April 2014 by Camlan

To update on Classic FM, I don't know what Mike has done but it has been OK for a couple of days now. 

Posted on: 25 April 2014 by Mike-B

I reported the problem as promised but they have not replied so as of yet I don't know what the prob was.  Plus I haven't listened on the streamer since my post so was not aware that it seems OK now.  

 

But yes it does seem OK - I've listened for abut 30 mins & kept an eye on the buffer % which is a constant 100%.  So it looks like its fixed.  

 

I wonder if/when they will improve on the 128kb/s