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dowsecj

Listed below are comments made by dowsecj between Monday, 14th July 2008 and Monday, 9th November 2009.

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RealMedia - an update 1:34pm on 09 Nov 2009 Would someone from the BBC like to reply to my thread in line 51. Beebotron is an alternative but is not BBC supported nor is it reliable. Real Stream links often give 404 errors.
RealMedia - an update 9:40pm on 01 Nov 2009 In reply to Alan Ogilvie,
I sometimes can only use a dial up connection, the device is a PC. I am very aware of all your help pages. I appreciate the references to the Real streams, that are to exist until March 2010, but there is not a similar help page for play again services. I have been trying to use the "low bandwidth" options for both "listen again" and "live" services from Radio 7 and local radio stations. When Real streams were present they played reliably over a dial up service, even if at 21 kbps .
I have just tested using the low bandwidth option on Radio 7 live feed which is 48kbps aac, this would not play for more than 5 seconds before waiting for 30seconds just buffering and telling me I had insufficient bandwidth.
My dial up sync speed was 49.2 kbps, BBC iplayer diagnostics showed 36kbps download. I accessed the "hidden" soon to be discontinued live Real stream via the links in the help area, which played the same service reliably at 21kbps.
With respect can I suggest you get a technical person to test the replacement options for Real on a Dial up modem. BEFORE the hidden streams are ceased. Posting the results on this blog, would prove you have a reliable replacement for the low bandwidth Real services.
RealMedia - an update 9:04pm on 25 Oct 2009 I originally posted this on a James Cridland Thread, since I have discovered he has left the BBC I am reposting here for Mark's comment.

The low bandwidth links have gone again from live streaming for national sites, and on the few occasions I've seen them, (on BBC R7) they link to the same source i.e. 128kbps mp3 embedded in flash.

The question how does someone who has dial up access listen to the live and play again streams which used to work so well with Real Player, albeit at a lower quality? That was better than what we have now - nothing? I have on one occasion seen a 48kbps aac feed, but that will not play consistently. As you are in charge of this project can you please consider why your people cannot provide suitable alternatives before they remove what WAS a VERY GOOD service
BBC iPlayer gets a little more radio 7:34pm on 25 Oct 2009 Question for James..
The low bandwidth links have gone again from live streaming for national sites, and on the few occasions I've seen them, (on BBC R7) they link to the same source i.e. 128kbps mp3 embedded in flash.

The question how does someone who has dial up access listen to the live and play again streams which used to work so well with Real Player, albeit at a lower quality? That was better than what we have now - nothing? I have on one occasion seen a 48kbps aac feed, but that will not play consistently. As you are in charge of this project can you please consider why your people cannot provide suitable alternatives before they remove what WAS a VERY GOOD service.
RealMedia - an update 10:14am on 23 Oct 2009 And today a 'low bandwidth' 48KHz AAC option appeared on BBC 7 Listen again. This will NOT work (for more than 5 seconds) on a mediocre dial up connection. REAL used to work fine! Can I assume the BBC will not longer support customers who have limited connectivity.
RealMedia - an update 12:09pm on 22 Oct 2009 Real Media streams now disappeared from National Station !.... DOH!
Improvements to BBC Local Radio online 08:20am on 09 Oct 2009 Nick... Thanks very useful link to the Radio Labs Blog.
Answers all my questions. Pity the info wasn't briefed out in advance either via a 'news' tab on iPlayer or to those who registered for iPlayer emails. It would have saved a lot of time. I noticed it was written well after the streams were ceased on Local Radio.
Now for the impossible question... how long will these formats remain, as I've no intention of buying internet streaming devices until I know the BBC won't keep fiddling and making them incompatible.
Improvements to BBC Local Radio online 10:30am on 05 Oct 2009 Until recently, I used to be able to listen to Local Radio Stations Listen again service (typically Suffolk & Cambridgeshire) on a dial up connection (48Kbps) using the Real Media Replay Feeds. Now these have ceased I not longer can use the 'Use Low Bandwidth' link at the page bottom. The Flash feed 'use normal version' just freezes up. When are the BBC going to re instate a 'Low bandwith' option for the Local Radio Replay, as they have with the live streams in wma format or reinstate Real media whilst a solution is developed. The live wma (48kbps) stream incidentally suffers more from 'drop outs' more than the Real streams did. Remember there are times & places where people do no have access to wideband services. The Voice announcement on the Low Bandwidth Live stream for local Radio station keeps promising progress but I see none. NOT ALL of us seek the ultimate quality just some form of usable service, even if we depended on Real Player.
BBC iPlayer Website Redesign 8:51pm on 14 Jul 2008 Sorry, to post again.

Just noticed I have no ability to pause live Radio in iPlayer, as we could in the old Radio Player. Have I missed something
BBC iPlayer Website Redesign 8:21pm on 14 Jul 2008 New iPlayer is Great, however with the old radio player I could open in listen again services real player, and using real player, generate a play list of programmes to listen to.

Can we have either, access to listen again in real player. Or a Playlist function in iPlayer.

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