Shoutcast and Satellite Internet Connection

[netweasel]

I have searched the forums for a specific answer to my question, and found nothing but oblique references largely related to those who offer streams, or related to networking, or routers, or whatever. My question isn't that complicated.

I am simply someone who wants to listen to ShoutCast streams.

I have no router, no hub, no network. I have a single computer connected to the Internet through satellite service provided by DiRECWAY (same people who bring you DiRECTV).

The DW6000 satellite modem and Internet-connection system installed no software onto my hard drive, and did not alter my Windows XP system in any way.

I was able to listen to ShoutCast streams when I had cable Internet service with no problem, even when I *did* use a router to distribute the connection to another computer in my home.

But I moved, and neither cable Internet service nor DSL is available in this area; the only high-speed option is satellite.

When I try to launch a ShoutCast stream, regardless of the radio station's advertised speed, I get a "timed out" message on Winamp after a couple of minutes. I get the impression that ShoutCast simply does not work with a satellite connection. My speed varies between 500k and 1000k bits, so I don't think speed is the issue, but I wonder about the half-second delay between my request for an Internet page and my receipt of the reply, owing to the distance of the satellite from Earth and the limitation imposed by the speed of light. My thought is that streaming music may require rapid handshaking, and a satellite connection can't provide that.

Then again, the problem may be something I haven't thought of. Any answer, even hypothetical, would be welcome.

Thanks!

[drewbar]

Directway blocks access to SHOUTcast streams from what other people have reported in the forums.

Search (http://forums.winamp.com/search.php) for Directway for more. (I am not at home so I don't have the links handy).

[netweasel]

Something changed since my last post, because today I am listening to a ShoutCast stream using DiRECWAY satellite Internet service. The stream loaded right up and has been playing for a good 20 minutes without interruption or hiccup, even while I visited other Internet sites in another browser window!

I have no clue what is different. The only response to my original post suggested that DiRECWAY might be blocking ShoutCast; that idea makes a certain amount of sense because the satellite only has 48 transponders and, while my Internet connection is very fast, bandwidth is limited, so they might want to discourage high-bandwidth streaming.

As a subscriber, on the other hand, the only limitation I am aware of, as published by my ISP, is total megabytes in a one- to four-hour period, which is around 169 MB. Exceed that limit, and one runs up against their "Fair Access Policy," or "FAP." If I download too many megabytes in any four-hour period, the FAP is invoked, and I slow down to a crawl, sort of like dial-up, for eight to twelve hours. Metaproducts Net Activity Diagram, a free program that puts a little icon on my Windows taskbar, helps me keep track of number of bytes transferred, and I watch it like a hawk!

Whatever the case, ShoutCast is working now, whereas it wasn't working before. Somebody's software changed during the interim. Maybe the latest version of WinAmp works better, or maybe the latest upgrade to my DiRECWAY system controller made it possible. The satellite-connection controller has its own memory, software updates are downloaded to it automatically, and I know its software has been upgraded at least once since I last tried to listen to a ShoutCast stream.

Keeping an eye on the total number of megabytes I've transferred since I started listening to a 128-bit ShoutCast stream about an hour ago indicates to me that it would be difficult to run afoul of DiRECWAY's FAP just by listening to music. I think it would be possible to listen constantly, 'round the clock, and still stay within their bandwidth limits, but I'm not certain of that yet.

Kudos on ShoutCast! I love it!!


:D

[netweasel]

Regarding ShoutCast bandwidth and my satellite Internet connection ...

After listening to a 128-bit stream for 60 minutes, it appears that the bandwidth consumption is approximately 50 megabytes per hour. Listening continuously would therefore exceed DiRECWAY's "Fair Access Policy" after a little over three hours.

But hey, being able to listen to ShoutCast at all is a tremendous improvement! I may need to "turn the radio off after an hour or two," but that's far, far better than not being able to listen to it at all.

:)