Tech: Q2 internet radio

11 May 16 - 06:11 AM (#3789722)
Subject: Tech: Q2 internet radio
From: Llanfair

Does anyone else use this gizmo? Radio reception here is really bad, and we can't use digital radio because of poor signal. It's nice living in an area surrounded by hills, but this is the downside.
My Q2 radio runs from the WiFi, via my laptop, and the sound is excellent, so, all good. Except that every now and again I get a dolorous message on it that says that Windows no longer supports BBC radio. I turn it off, and a few minutes later, I'm back in business.

So, what's going on? Has my computer re-routed it? Can the Beeb not control it's digital output? or is it just working by magic.

It's OK with non-BBC channels.

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12 May 16 - 06:13 AM (#3789891)
Subject: RE: Tech: Q2 internet radio
From: GUEST,Gealt

The link below might be of help:

https://www.theguardian.com/technology/askjack/2015/mar/05/new-internet-radio-listen-bbc-stations

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13 May 16 - 06:03 AM (#3790021)
Subject: RE: Tech: Q2 internet radio
From: Llanfair

Hey, Gealt, thanks for that, the technology is a bit over my head, but my system must be picking up one of them. The service certainly didn't stop when the Beeb shut their stuff down, just the occasional message.
I wonder if it's anything to do with me having windows vista.

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13 May 16 - 06:44 AM (#3790034)
Subject: RE: Tech: Q2 internet radio
From: DaveRo

What an odd device. It's portable, and only needs the PC program to configure it. Do you normally use it connected to the PC?

My guess - only a guess - is that the PC software needs updating - maybe because of the change to the BBC streams that was the subject of the other suggestion. So you could try updating it - from here

But if it works OK I would just ignore the messages.

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13 May 16 - 07:11 AM (#3790045)
Subject: RE: Tech: Q2 internet radio
From: FreddyHeadey

Thanks Gealt.
The I'm finding their link to
http://www.radiofeeds.co.uk suiting my needs well

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13 May 16 - 08:39 AM (#3790070)
Subject: RE: Tech: Q2 internet radio
From: Llanfair

It is an odd device, DaveRo, it's tuned in via my laptop, and has 4 stations, one on each side, just turn it over to change stations, tilt back or forth to adjust the volume, and on it's face to switch off. No knobs, and only an on/off switch on the back. Nothing for the grandchildren to readjust or fiddle with.
I'm wary of tinkering with it in case I lose it all together.
I get my night time radio from the TV in the bedroom, which is on freesat. The people who installed that found a tiny gap in the hills to point the dish at.

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13 May 16 - 10:27 AM (#3790089)
Subject: RE: Tech: Q2 internet radio
From: DaveRo

I gained the impression that, once you'd tuned the four stations, you don't need to connect it to the PC any more - it connects via wifi. Am I wrong? Or do you need to connect it to USB to charge it?

I can understand that if you do connect it to the PC it will cause the configuration program to start up - and give that message.

The message is mentioned in their FAQ. I think it just means that you can't get those particular (WMA) streams any more but you can get other ones - as you know.

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13 May 16 - 01:22 PM (#3790113)
Subject: RE: Tech: Q2 internet radio
From: GUEST

I have 2 internet radios, a Roberts WM201 & a Squeezebox, I can receive BBC live programs + podcasts on MP3. MP3 goes in a year or 2. Since the "upgrade" I no longer receive the 'listen again' facility.

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13 May 16 - 03:44 PM (#3790138)
Subject: RE: Tech: Q2 internet radio
From: Llanfair

That's right, DaveRo, once it's tuned in, it's connected direct to the WiFi, but it has to be done initialy through the PC. It's only BBC that is limited, and I could get other stations, lots of them, but I like Radio 2 and 4 and 4extra, so I stick with it.
Guest, If I missed something good, I can hear it on iplayer, but the sound quality isn't as good as the Q2.
That's the best part of my little green box, the sound quality is excellent. I use earphones on the PC, which improves it.

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14 May 16 - 04:36 PM (#3790323)
Subject: RE: Tech: Q2 internet radio
From: Llanfair

Hi, Gealt,
That's the original set up page I used when I first got Q2, if you notice it's dated 2011, and it was about 2 years ago that the Beeb stopped allowing windows to carry their programmes.

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14 May 16 - 05:40 PM (#3790331)
Subject: RE: Tech: Q2 internet radio
From: DaveRo

They didn't stop Windows carrying their programs. They stopped using a particular technology - WMA - to stream them in favour of a newer (and non-proprietary) one. Some 'internet radios' were unable to adapt, though most were.

In the FAQ I linked to it says We are currently able to offer alternative streams for the Q2 so that reception of BBC live broadcasts can be maintained for all national and local stations worldwide.

So you should be able to receive live BBC radio on the Q2. But I think you need to update the configuration program on your PC.

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14 May 16 - 05:43 PM (#3790333)
Subject: RE: Tech: Q2 internet radio
From: DaveRo

'Programs' in the first sentence should be 'programmes';)

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15 May 16 - 07:56 AM (#3790424)
Subject: RE: Tech: Q2 internet radio
From: GUEST,Gealt

I'm sure Q2 have updated their database to include BBC mp3 stations.

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15 May 16 - 09:02 AM (#3790432)
Subject: RE: Tech: Q2 internet radio
From: Llanfair

Well I'm still getting reception, so that's what must have happened, Gealt. The dolorous man hasn't come through for weeks.
DaveRo, isn't "programs" the American spelling?

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