Tech: BBC Radio 'Listen Again' problems

Subject: Tech: BBC Radio 'Listen Again' problems
From: Scrump
Date: 24 Nov 06 - 07:48 AM

I often find that when I try to "Listen Again" (actually, listen for the first time, but the BBC can't know everything), I click on the link, and it displays a message "Loading x sec". When it works properly, the 'x' will be a number (say 5) and it will gradually reduce to zero, and start playing.

But what often happens is that it starts at 0 and just goes on increasing, with x getting higher and higher, so nothing ever gets played and I have to bog off and do something else (like listen to Radio Britfolk or whatever). Sometimes it will actually play a second or so before going into its everlasting loading mode.

Is there something I can do to stop this happening? I have Windows XP. It's just a bit frustrating. Is it related to the load on the BBC server, or is there anything I need to set in my browser, etc.?

Subject: RE: Tech: BBC Radio 'Listen Again' problems
From: Bernard
Date: 24 Nov 06 - 08:04 AM

It could have something to do with the 'contention ratio' on your broadband connection - if you have a 1 meg connection with a 20:1 ratio, and there are twenty of you sharing (which is what it means), then you only get a twentieth of your rated speed...

Dial-up is generally too slow for RealPlayer streaming anyway.

It could also be because you're trying to listen to a popular programme, causing the Beeb's server connection to slow down.

It could also be your RealPlayer buffering settings... it's been a while since I fiddled, so I can't just remember where they are... I'll have a look when I get back from lunch (unless someone else beats me to it)!

Subject: RE: Tech: BBC Radio 'Listen Again' problems
From: Bernard
Date: 24 Nov 06 - 09:28 AM

Aah... the reason why I can't remember where they are is because there aren't any buffer settings to change in RealPlayer any more - leastways, not in the free version!

Another thought - is your hard drive getting full, because the temporary file needs somewhere to live...?! Once a hard drive has less than 20% free space, everything starts to slow down.

Subject: RE: Tech: BBC Radio 'Listen Again' problems
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 24 Nov 06 - 09:40 AM

I don't know if you loaded your version of Real Player from the BBC site or otherwise, but I am told that the BBC version is a 'Lite' version inasmuch as it carries less spyware.
I can only suggest that no matter where you obtained your copy from, that you delete it, and re-instal using the BBC sites download link.
Giok

Subject: RE: Tech: BBC Radio 'Listen Again' problems
From: Scrump
Date: 24 Nov 06 - 11:16 AM

Thanks for the feedback, Bernard and Giok.

...Doh! A couple of days ago (following advice in a different thread) I uninstalled Realplayer and downloaded RealAlternative. I didn't realise I need Realplayer to be able to listen to the BBC. Guess I'll have to reinstall Realplayer :(

Subject: RE: Tech: BBC Radio 'Listen Again' problems
From: Bernard
Date: 24 Nov 06 - 12:15 PM

Yup - but as Giok says, use the free one downloadable from the Beeb website - there are far fewer 'issues' with it!!

RealPlayer tried to make it difficult to find, but the Beeb put them straight, so it should be reasonably straightforward. When I first tried it a couple of years ago, I ended up signing up for something or other, and had a divvil of a job cancelling it.

Subject: RE: Tech: BBC Radio 'Listen Again' problems
From: Scrump
Date: 24 Nov 06 - 03:27 PM

Aaaghh! I just downloaded the BBc version of Realplayer but I get the same problem. I need to look into it further - I'll report back...

Subject: RE: Tech: BBC Radio 'Listen Again' problems
From: Geoff the Duck
Date: 24 Nov 06 - 03:34 PM

I have used Real Alternative on a clean version of Windoze ME and listened to BBC Listen Again programmes. I didn't have any problems with using it.
I think that Real Player just buggers up your sytem as a matter of course and when you uninstall it, it leaves so much trash in your registry that it continues to cause problems to punish you for uninstaling it.
Quack!
GtD.

Subject: RE: Tech: BBC Radio 'Listen Again' problems
From: Bernard
Date: 25 Nov 06 - 06:58 AM

Hmmm... I suppose you've checked for spyware?

Subject: RE: Tech: BBC Radio 'Listen Again' problems
From: Bernard
Date: 25 Nov 06 - 07:00 AM

Another thought... Windows Update? Anti-virus software doing a system scan?