|
The
internet is fast becoming the great way to listen to BBC Radio Gloucestershire
- because, though the station is based in Gloucestershire, you can
now listen from anywhere in the world! (click on "Listen Live"
below to start listening)
Now
you can catch up with all your favourite programmes and presenters
from BBC Radio Gloucestershire on the internet.
Whether
it's Breakfast presented by Vernon Harwood, John Rockley's mid-morning
show, Mark Cummings over lunch, Trish in the afternoon, or Drivetime
you want to hear, all you need to do is log on.
Or
maybe you prefer Faye Hatcher's Daybreak, Face to Face, Johnny Coppin,
Richard Atkins Weekend Breakfast, Pete Wilson, or Matchday on Saturday
for full coverage of your favourite local sport.
Or
why not dedicate a song on the request show which your family in
Australia will be able to listen to!
All
your favourite programmes are now just a click away.
Frequently
Asked Questions
In
case you've been puzzled by a few aspects of the service here we
try to answer your questions, and point you to some popular shows.
What
is Internet Radio?
Internet
radio is when audio files are "streamed" over the Internet
rather than air waves.
It's the same as you hear from your radio, only you get it via the
web.
Streaming
lets you listen to audio at almost the same time it is being sent
to your computer.
What
do I need to do to be able to listen?
First,
you need a sound-card installed in your computer; this is standard
on many modern terminals. You need to plug in speakers or headphones
to hear.
The
BBC streams its audio as RealMedia files and you will need to download
and install the FREE RealPlayer program to allow your computer to
access the sound.
There is no charge for the FREE RealPlayer.
Click
here to download Realplayer
Once
you've done all that, start to listen whenever you want.
When
you click on the audio link, a RealPlayer box will pop up, telling
you what you're listening to.
So
long as you do not close the pop-up, you can continue your internet
browsing while listening at the same time.
Can
I listen whenever I want to my favourite BBC Radio Gloucestershire
programme?
With
only few exceptions, our radio shows are not yet recorded and stored
on the web for access at any time. Maybe one day they will be, but
not now.
Instead,
the programmes are streamed "live", which means you have
to check radio-listings to find out exactly when the shows are going
out - and be sure you listen then!
Why
can't I hear the audio files from my PC at work?
Your
company may have a 'firewall' to securely protect its internal data.
Sometimes your company's 'proxy' settings may be set in such a way
that they prevent external streaming sources from occurring. If
this is the case, please contact the IT department of your company.
Why
does the stream sometimes stop for a while or stutter?
Audio
technology on the Internet is still relatively new. The amount of
information that can travel along the average telephone line is
limited. This can cause a queue in the audio signal. Current streaming
technology makes efforts not to lose this information and holds
or 'buffers' it until the line is clear to receive further information.
This is why there is sometimes a stuttering or delaying effect when
receiving a stream.
Sadly,
it can just sometimes stop altogether, and cut out. As we all move
to broadband reception, this will happen less and less (we think!!).
Why
does the Player pop-up sometimes disappear and how can find it again?
The
Radio Player operates within its own pop-up browser window, enabling
you to navigate elsewhere on the Internet whilst continuing to listen
to BBC Radio.
This
means that from time to time the player may become hidden behind
another window.
If
the player is not visible and you wish to restore it, you must maximise
it by clicking on the 'BBC Radio Player' tab in the taskbar (this
runs along the bottom of the screen).
My
browser will not allow the listen window to pop up. How can I listen?
If
you click on a link on any of our pages and nothing happens, you
may have Javascript turned off on your browser settings or have
a browser that doesn't support it.
Why
can't I hear audio using a different streaming programme such as
Windows Media Player?
When
the BBC began publishing audio and video content Real Media was
the most secure form of streaming.
Unfortunately Microsoft no longer supports Real content. Consequently,
many of the later versions of the Windows Media Player will not
play our clips. This may change in the future.
NB: Some World Service clips are streamed for the Windows Player
program.
Is
it instantaneous?
"Streaming"
media is not saved on your computer, it is just played as it is
sent to you - a bit at a time - thus it's much quicker to start
going, than downloading the whole audio file.
But this means it's fractionally behind what you hear coming out
of an ordinary radio.
For
any more technical problems, try the BBC help guide to listening
to Internet radio:
Click
here for BBC Audio Help
I
can't hear football commentary!
The
BBC regrets that it is unable to stream football match commentaries
on its websites.
(The only exceptions are FA Cup matches, and non-league matches.)
Broadcast
rights restrict the BBC to transmissions on radio and DAB (digital)
radio only... which is why you'll sometimes hear that annoying announcement
on Saturday afternoons telling you that you can't hear BBC output
at that time. Sorry...
If
you have any other questions, please click
here, and place your question...
If
you would like to comment on this story get in touch at gloucestershire@bbc.co.uk
or have your say on our messageboard
|
Now,
for the first time, you can listen live to BBC Radio Gloucestershire
on the internet. Here's all you need to know about logging on. 
