multiplatform_user

Hi there! Let's firstly say that I hope that at least one of us sorts the issue out! I gave up telling NCH "support" staff that mp3el.exe wouldn't work on Linux, but they won't listen!! The Windows Broadwave software works great, so I bought a Linutop especially to make use of software. Our budgets are really tight and now we just have a Linutop sat in its box and my manager asking if I have got it working yet. The NCH "no support unless you've paid" way is awful. Why should I pay to purchase software that doesn't work? Once I get it working, I'll be able to get funding to buy the licence. The wine version seems to work OK, but the Linutop doesn't like it because the machine is too low-powered. The reason for using the linutop is size, so I can't swap machines either. Overall, a poor show from NCH in my opinion! Dave.

I presume that you are looking at the public IP address of the router and the IP address is fixed. I used to have a router that whenever you changed a setting, the router's IP address would change. It was a nightmare. It could also be that you are not waiting long enough for your media player to build up it's cache. Mine typically takes 5-20 seconds to get up and running. I've been using Broadwave for a while now, both on Windows and on Ubuntu Linux using Wine. I find that the server crashes after a few hours, which is not suitable for radio station use. It even looks like the users are still connected, so you can't tell at the server end. Broadwave needs a little work and then it'll be fantastic. I'm also waiting for a native Linux version that actually works at all. Dave. (multiplatform_user)

I think that you are right - BW is not a multicast system. Each client starts a new connection at the relevant bitrate...!! BTW, you get about 180-200k reliably from a UK ADSL line, but it depends on your location and ISP. Regards, Dave. (multiplatform_user)

I've been trying BW on Windows and it has the number of clients attached in the bottom right hand side of the server window. Hope this helps. Regards, Dave. (multiplatform_user)

Hi there, I'd originally sent this, then I had a flash of inspiration - have you tried using VLC to connect? Install VLC, go into the "open network stream" and then type in the URL. It sounds like you may possibly be trying too high a bitrate for your network (type in a lower number after "kbps" in the url) or the port forwarding/firewall could be set up incorrectly. Maybe not the answer to your question, i'm afraid - but maybe you can help me...? Did you have any problems getting the BW server set up? Mine currently grumbles when I try to install it that the "mp3el" component is missing or not installed. If I then run the server, it then flashes up and then disappears. If I check the processes, Broadwave server is in there. Any ideas? I'm running XUbuntu on a Linutop BTW. Regards, Dave. (multiplatform_user)

Hi Gary, I've only just started using Broadwave, but the important thing is that you can run it on a normal PC quite easily. I don't know about the webhost thing, but I assume that you need it locally, as it looks at your local soundcard and audio files. You'll need a 'net connection, most likely on a fixed IP address, otherwise people won't know where to find your server. Bandwidth-wise, you'd need (for example) 56k upload speed per client, so it depends on how many clients you need and how good the audio quality needs to be. e.g. 56k seems to be OK, but you'll run out of bandwidth quite quickly. You'll need to either put your server into the DMZ of the router (not recommended) or set up port forwarding. If you want to make it much more secure and you only have a few clients, then run it via a VPN. I've had about 4 clients running from the Broadwave server at different bitrates and it just works as you'd want it to. The PC does not need to be a dedicated machine, just one that's on all the time. This software is ideal for use as a live server, but if you're just looking to serve your podcasts, you need to put them on a server somewhere and write some .html in order to have them display as an RSS feed from your webpage. The only snag seems to be that NCH doesn't support you unless you've purchased the software, which is really quite annoying if you're trying to get it running in order to test it prior to purchasing several copies. My company won't buy it until I get the software working, which is a real annoyance as I can't get NCH to help me until I buy the software. (I'm currently trying to get it working on Linux as well as Windows) I've noticed that other people seem to be suffering from the same problems too, so it's not just me who feels a bit left out...!! Regards, Dave. (multiplatform_user)

Hi there, I've got Broadwave working lovely on a Windows machine, but am now trying to get it working on a Linutop (Linux box) When I try to install, it throws up the error that "mp3el is not installed". Anyone know which other Linux application I need to install in order to get this working??? Before someone gets all clever and says "mp3el can be downloaded from the NCH site" don't forget that i'm running Linux. Setting it up for Windows was a doddle. Many thanks in advance, Dave. (multiplatform_user)

Hi there, I understand your pain - i've made Broadwave work for Windows, but am now trying (unsuccessfully) to get it working in Linux. Assuming that you are running Windows and have got it working OK locally, I would suggest the following... 1) You need to set up port forwarding on your router for BW to be accessible from the 'net. Hopefully you have a fixed IP address on your 'net connection, otherwise you're going to be scratching your head for hours at a time on occasions. 2) Ensure that your firewall allows the traffic through. 3) Ensure that any antivirus progs allow the traffic through. If you've got another PC in your house, try connecting from that. If you can get to the PC running BW from your other PC, then it's probably the port forwarding thing. On my setup, I set BW to use the standard port 88, then in the router, I set it to appear on a much higher port (non-iana - between 49152 and 65535). You then tell the router which IP address to send the data on port xxxxx to and bob's your uncle. So, assuming you're using port 55555, when you want your friends to connect, you get them to browse http://x.x.x.x:55555/broadwave....etc. Hope this helps. If you need any more info, get in touch. Regards, Dave.