Opening .pls files
 

Hi, Ive searched the forum and cant seem to see this question anywhere which worries me!

I've set up everything as instructed (I believe) however when anyone attempts to follow the link that my server hosts sent me after setting up the Shoutcast server then they get a dialog box saying "you are attempting to download the file 'listen.pls' what should IE/Firefox do with this file?" and then the option of Save to disc.

I've tried google searches on .pls files and got very little joy.

The link my server hosts gave was

http://peasepud.com:8020/listen.pls

Any help would be gratefully appreciated.

Cheers

Peter

Be careful using words like "anyone" -- the link is perfect -- a listener will attempt to download the listen pls if they don't have a shoutcast-capable player configured in their browser and/or on their PC.

It's a listener problem, not yours, or your host's.

How do I know that? --- Visit http://peasepud.com:8020/ -- you will see a "Listen" link [http://peasepud.com:8020/listen.pls] -- this pls is generated by the DNAS and they ALL generate the same exact file, so we know it works when the listener setup is right.

Every day, I get hundreds of log events that look like this:

<09/13/05@17:15:54> [http:12.11.10.200] REQ:"/listen.pls" (Mozilla/4.0 (compatible; MSIE 6.0; Windows NT 5.1; SV1; .NET CLR 1.0.3705; .NET CLR 1.1.4322))
<09/13/05@17:16:41> [http:127.0.0.1] REQ:"/admin.cgi" (ShoutcastDSP (Mozilla Compatible))
<09/13/05@17:21:02> [http:127.0.0.1] REQ:"/admin.cgi" (ShoutcastDSP (Mozilla Compatible))
<09/13/05@17:25:18> [http:127.0.0.1] REQ:"/admin.cgi" (ShoutcastDSP (Mozilla Compatible))
<09/13/05@17:37:01> [http:127.0.0.1] REQ:"/admin.cgi" (ShoutcastDSP (Mozilla Compatible))

This a potential listener clicking my listen link using IE -- I would expect that to be immediately followed by a "starting stream" event by a "player" type agent -- in this case and quite often it does not occur.

*** everyone is not set up to listen to streaming audio or SHOUTcasts in particular, and/or their security package prevents it.

Thanks for that, so what do I need to tell people to do? get Winamp? or download a Codec/plug in for Win Media? I also get the error message when I click the link though and I have Winamp and Shoutcast plug in, I guess this could be a problem me clicking on my own link though (sort of trying to listen to myself thing).

I've set some music playing so if anyone would have a listen in and let me know if they get it, Id be grateful.

Cheers

WinAMP, Itunes, and RealPlayer are all "giant leaps" ahead of WMP when it comes to playing a SHOUTcast.

For you, you may have issues trying to listen on the same PC as the source -- some soundcards cannot do it.

It's all part of the learning curve, which is steep after day one -- YOU as a broadcaster could try to use the "NULL output" Output plugin to mute the source audio IF you do not use soundcard input (you're just running a playlist without crossfades), and try to paste either link in the Open box in WinAMP.

Another tip, never use WMP for testing anything -- Microsoft does not officially [attempt to] support SHOUTcast in any way, so WMP working for "anyone" is hit or miss.