The Beebotron and Beebotron Lite - Help

Why Can't I download anymore? (5 replies)

shirtbloke — Sun, 10 Mar 2013 23:45:18 +0000

It's been a while since I tried to use the Beebotron pages.
I used to be able to download the audio files so I could put them on my mp3 player to listen to when I wished.
Now all I get when I try to download is a 502 bytes playlist file, which is no use to me at all.
Has the BBC changed things or am I doing things wrong?
Confused.

Slow Beebotron Anyone? (6 replies)

Janaru — Mon, 04 Mar 2013 05:20:28 +0000

Mine is taking almost two-minutes for each page and post. Anyone else having this problem?

Scheduler script (1 reply)

Peakcrew — Thu, 21 Feb 2013 09:02:45 +0000

Hi, everyone.

I have just installed get_iplayer, and then followed the instructions on [www.beebotron.org] to set up a timer using Windows Task Scheduler (I have Vista, for my sins). However, it didn't work, and I'm not sure why. What I wanted to do was set it to record two programs after midnight (Plusnet don't count downloads between midnight and 8am in the capped limit). Here is what I did:

1. Since get_iplayer is installed to F:\Active Programs\get_iplayer, I changed the script accordingly, so:

cd "F:\Active Programs\get_iplayer"
perl.exe get_iplayer.pl --pvr

This was saved as get_iplayer--pvr.bat in F:\Active Programs\get_iplayer.

2. I found the programs I wanted to record in get_iplayer and queued them.

3. I went to Task Scheduler and set up the .bat to run from just after midnight to just before 8am, only once since I don't need a repeat)

However, neither of the programs downloaded (well, sort of - one of them downloaded just before I finished with the set-up (i.e. before midnight!), so I probably pressed a button I didn't want to).

Can anyone see any obvious problems with what I've done? Any clues will be most useful.

Yours,

Peakcrew

Just checking: donation buttons genuine? (4 replies)

Matamore! — Tue, 05 Feb 2013 23:15:03 +0000

If they are, I'll certainly donate something! Just checking the site hasn't been hacked.

Slow/No Connections (18 replies)

Janaru — Tue, 05 Feb 2013 03:26:23 +0000

I've been having a problem with connecting to the WMA streams for the last several days.

It either takes forever before connecting....or takes forever then fails completely. Occasionally it will zip right through like normal, but not often. It usually takes several times to go through.

Anyone else experiencing this?

Listen again: R4 and 4X "content not working" (9 replies)

Lady Penelope — Sun, 23 Dec 2012 03:31:36 +0000

I amgetting "The content does not seem to be working - please try again later" on R4 and 4X - tried several programmes as well as the one I wanted to listen to.. Is anyone else having problems? Do you know if this is a general problem (or a general overseas one) and what "seems" to be the trouble? Thanks

Dropouts (7 replies)

Janaru — Mon, 05 Nov 2012 19:00:27 +0000

Anyone else having trouble with dropped streams the last two days? I can barely get through a complete program.

Lots and lots of technical problems with audio streams for many weeks now (10 replies)

Matamore! — Mon, 26 Nov 2012 16:33:34 +0000

No-one else has mentioned having any problems at all. so I have been keeping quiet, on the assumption that it's "just me".

I hanker for the good old days of RealAudio streams, when everything usually pretty much worked, for me at least.

Now it's quite rare for me to be able to simply click on a link and listen to a programme right through.

However, until just now, I have always - sometimes after many repetitions of the same actions, which unaccountably sometimes fail, and sometimes succeed, with no rhyme or reason at all that I can discern - been able to listen to every programme I wanted right through to the end, even though I usually have to get up and go to the computer one or more times to restart the wretched thing.

Now I can't listen to yesterday's edition of Newsjack at all, either here:

Radio 4 Extra (HQ WMA)

What happened is that I heard just under half the programme, which then completely cut out, with no time showing in the Winamp window.

Another thing that often happens is that the clip just pauses and refuses to continue, with a fixed time showing. Another frequent occurrence is that it plays OK until I rewind it to listen to a bit of it again, and then it just stops working. Also very frequent is a complete failure of the clip, reached from the above URL, to start at all.

Unusually, I also cannot get either the 'A' or the 'B' link to work from here:

Radio 4 Extra Thu 4 Oct 2012

More usually, one or other of the two links works perfectly, while the other one fails in one of the many unpredictable ways already detailed. Again, there seems to be no rhyme or reason to which of the two links works, or which of the many painfully familiar ways the other link will choose to fail.

I think that this is the first time, in all these recent weeks (but not the first time ever), that all three methods of listening to a programme have failed for me.

There may have been one earlier instance, and it may even have been today, when, however, my mind was on other things, and I didn't pause to think about it, or write about it; and I eventually managed to listen to the whole programme, in small pieces - somehow! This may have been either Stuart Maconie's Freakier Zone, The Nurse With Wound List, or else Stuart Maconie's Freak Zone, Nurse With Wound: Chance Meeting... (sheer aural torture - all right, I'll say anything, I'll confess to not being a Freak, I'm a square, just make it stop, please - do it to Julia! - er, where was I?) on 6 Music.

I'm going to try one or other of these approaches again, more or less at random. It is quite likely that something will eventually work, in the end, after a fashion. But it's not very good. (And NB I'm sure it's not the Beebotron's fault!)

I have an old friend ... (6 replies)

Kronalias — Sun, 23 Sep 2012 16:24:14 +0100

... who wants to return to the fold.

She's emailed, saying:

Quote

I used beebotron years ago when the then new iplayer hosed up everything. Gradually they got things under control and I returned to use their site to play content.
Now, I just find the new website incomprehensible and seems like every time I log in they have reshuffled everything around and you have to click thru about 2-4 links to get content to actually play. Use to be very straightforward and easy to see what was available – now I got to look at these huge pictures of stuff rather than list style – compact enumerations.

But when I click on the beebotron links I just get a big black about:blank screen. I can copy the link (http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio/listen/live/r4x.asx for example) in real player directly and it plays. It also brings up the webpage in realplayer but is sort of broken.

I have both windows laptop –window xp and will often listen on my MacBook pro. I have been using iplayer. I have all the usual stuff for playing content.

Please get me started. Thanks

I'm not really into Windows so I've emailed her back saying that, and telling her about this post.

So what should I tell her to do next?

BBC listings (9 replies)

gentledove — Sun, 23 Sep 2012 01:51:34 +0100

I am annoyed and I am wondering if someone can help me. BBC seems to be making it very hard to listen to their programs through the schedules. Until recently, it was possible to right click on each link and open it in a separate tab/window...well that isn't possible anymore. And as of today, when I click on the "listen" beside the program name in the daily schedule, it now takes me to the program and I have to press on another link to get it to play, assuming it does so. And only AFTER the program is finished playing can I go back to the daily schedule.

Does anyone know WHY BBC has done this...and what can be done to get around it? And of course, is it happening to anyone else?

Regards,

Sarah...aka gentledove!

Program Check (3 replies)

Janaru — Wed, 25 Jul 2012 17:18:36 +0100

I'm having trouble getting Hidden Histories on Radio Ulster. Would someone please try these links and let me know if they are working?

Hidden History, Series 2, County Antrim - from the Rock of Fergus to the Glen of the Army

I had the same trouble last week with this one:

Hidden History, Series 2, County Down - from the Green Graves to a Medieval Abbey

It may be gone now....and it may not. I'd like to know for certain.

Does Monday's ISIHAC sound distorted to anyone else? (1 reply)

Matamore! — Fri, 20 Jul 2012 09:20:28 +0100

http://www.bbc.co.uk/mediaselector/4/asx/b01ks3c8/iplayer_intl_stream_wma_uk_concrete

Sounds like a cheap 1960s transistor radio being played inside a closed cardboard box. I can barely make it out. Is this just some glitch in my system? Sorry if it is.

The 'A' link on the "What Was On" page (http://www.beebotron.org/public3/public_wwo3/radio4fm-3.html?reload) sounds exactly the same, but the 'B' link sounds fine:

http://wm.bbc.co.uk/wms/radio4fmcoyopa/radio_4_fm_-_monday_1830.wma

Oh dear, what's this? (11 replies)

Matamore! — Tue, 17 Jul 2012 17:59:24 +0100

Radio 4 Extra (HQ WMA)

Quote

Radio 4 Extra (HQ WMA) last updated on Thu 12 Jul 2012 2002 GMT
A-Z of all shows (supplied by The Beebotron )

No programmes are currently available for this station

I've never seen that message before. (The page for Radio 4 FM is the same, with a different code number at the bottom.)

Some links are mixed up (2 replies)

Matamore! — Sun, 01 Jul 2012 12:47:56 +0100

This isn't a case of streams not playing, so I'm starting a new thread.

The URL on the main Radio 4 FM page for the programme "The Secret Catacombs of Paris" at 1:30 p.m. on Sunday 24 June actually leads to the programme "The Heath Caper" at 11:00 a.m. on Monday 25.

I don't know what else may be mixed up, but there are a lot of "[Unknown]"s on that page!

(Sorry if this is old news.)

World Service links lost (3 replies)

Montyzuk — Mon, 02 Jul 2012 18:28:03 +0100

Hi,

It seems the Beebotron Lite links to BBC World Service haven't been working this week.

A fix would be grately appreciated, please. (Would that be you again, Jan? Thanks in anticipation >:D<. )

For those who havent discovered them yet, the WS daily "science" and "Witness" progs are great listening.

Regards,
Monty

All three URLs failing for me (48 replies)

Matamore! — Mon, 02 Jul 2012 18:11:44 +0100

This morning, I had to resort to the 'B' URL for I'm Sorry, I'll Read That Again. That's common enough: it very often happens that the main URL doesn't work for me, nor does the 'A' URL, on the "What Was On" page, but the 'B' URL on the same page usually comes up trumps. But now, even the 'B' URL for Mordrin McDonald: 21st Century Wizard isn't working for me. Specifically, all these URLs fail (Winamp comes up, and tells me it's "[Connecting]", but it isn't):

usual: [www.bbc.co.uk]
A: [wm-acl.bbc.co.uk]
B: [wm.bbc.co.uk]

I don't think I've ever had to use the Beebobodge. Does it produce the same URL as 'B'? Let's see:

Beebobodge: [wm-acl.bbc.co.uk]

Oh, dear! It looks like I'm screwed. Anyone else?

Server execution error for BBC Radio 4 Extra International Links (2 replies)

beeboclark — Sun, 20 May 2012 17:22:10 +0100

Hi,

Is anyone else getting a "Server execution error" for BBC Radio 4 Extra International links?

Noticed it earlier today (19th) and the links still aren't working now. Have tried it with a bunch of programmes and non of them seem to work.

The asx file seems to download fine (if a little slowly). Then the "Server execution error" message pops up about the time Windows Media Player should start playing the programme.

Here's what's showing in a sample asx file:

[www.bbc.co.uk];
BBC
BBC
(c) British Broadcasting Corporation
www.bbc.co.uk];

www.bbc.co.uk];
BBC

Dropouts (12 replies)

Janaru — Wed, 09 May 2012 17:14:55 +0100

Has anyone else been experiencing dropouts on BBC R4 and R4x this morning? I've been having a devil of a time all night and today. :P

BBC Scotland (11 replies)

lifeonmarsfan — Tue, 17 Jul 2012 17:35:03 +0100

I've tried 3 times to get three programs off BBC Scotland and all three times, I only get an abbreviated form of the files. I just want to isolate the problem, it's my isp or if it's a BBC Scotland streaming problem. Radio 4 and 4 Extra programs have been no problem at all this week. The only stubborn ones were the BBC Scotland programs.

Also I know Susan Morrison is a Titanic buff and other than the show Scotland's Titanic, did she do any other special programs the last few weeks which I might have missed?

And re: RTE, I can't subscribe via iTunes (connnection problems so it might be an isp problem that's preventing me from getting the shows) so I went via Yahoo! It will be interesting what pops up on my Yahoo! page from RTE. Will have to see if ABC (Australia) has a similar thing going.

Sound quality ... any fellow suffers? (9 replies)

Truthyness — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 00:10:47 +0100

The likely lads L.A. sound quality was pitiful. Wondered if blame could be lain at door of ISP, PC, or BBC ...

Okay okay okay ... I think I already know the answer to the question ...! :(

K Calling! Tests from people outside the UK please? (50 replies)

Kronalias — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 02:39:38 +0100

I've had a few emails recently saying that the international links don't work. This is difficult for me to debug, as I can't pretend to be outside the UK any more, so I need a hand!

There's a suspicion that the Beeb's IP geolocation has gone awry, so if we could test it here it might be useful.

John-Reed has specified a programme that doesn't work for him, and he's in the USA. The problem proggie's international link is:
A Charles Paris Mystery, A Reconstructed Corpse, Radio 4 FM

Would somebody outside the UK please click this, see if it plays, and post whether or not it works back here? Ta.

Tony's in Canada, and he can't reach the iPlayer, let alone the Beebotron - he mostly listens to R4 or R4 Extra. Is there anyone in Canada (Maggie, are you still around?) who could post back whether Canada can get to the iPlayer or Beebotron? Ta2

Abid also had problems, but regrettably didn't tell me what country he was in or what programmes he had problems with. Abid, feel free to contribute to this thread with a bit more info and we'll see what we can do! Ta3

Ta4 the replies in advance, K

The Trouble With Auntie Is.... (7 replies)

Janaru — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 04:20:28 +0000

....I can't seem to connect to her at all. Streams, websites, nothin'. Anybody else having trouble?

iPlayer & Win98SE (2 replies)

soundgeek — Sat, 24 Dec 2011 13:19:04 +0000

iPlayer now seems to require the latest version of Flash. This has blocked my out of TV & radio too. Both were working fine on Win98SE.

Why does the BBC need the latest version of Flash? (RadioPlayer still works on Win98).

Any chance of the wonderful Beebotron covering TV?

Files with a .wax extension - anyone heard of them? (4 replies)

Kronalias — Thu, 24 Nov 2011 13:42:44 +0000

I've had an email asking for a bit of help. Here are the innards:

Quote

I have tried downloading from the website to my wife's Galaxy mini but when downloaded the files are called ".wax" instead of WMA and they won't play. Any ideas what I can do ?

Anyone have any bright ideas about what .wax file are please?

Ta K

A Hundred Years of Mervyn Peake R4 Extra (2 replies)

Tolkny — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 04:17:42 +0000

Plays as Jack Jackson: Rhythm and Radio Fun Remembered Radio 4, whichis confusing.

can it be fixed please because I can't get it to play from the Radio Player or iPlayer either, so maybe it is beyond the Beebotron's fixing powers.

thanks for continuing to provide the service.

Am I posting in the right forum now? (2 replies)

Matamore! — Tue, 04 Oct 2011 13:14:26 +0100

(OK, I don't mean right now, because I guess the Help forum is the right one for this question. Er, isn't it?)

My first post was in the "Radio Matters" forum, because it was about a programme on Radio 3, so it obviously didn't belong in the "R4 Extra (The Station Formerly Known As R7) Matter" forum, and less obviously, it also didn't seem to belong in the "Radio Programmes - Info 'n' Reviews" forum, because that one is subtitled "What's comin' up and what did you think about it", and it did indeed seem to be a series of notices about upcoming programmes, and I wanted to post about something that had already been on, and ... this is a rather long sentence, so I'll start a new paragraph.@'.2'@

Reading a bit more in the Phorum, I came to the conclusion that I'd been mistaken, so I've now started posting in the "What's comin' up and what did you think about it" forum. Is that the right one to use for most discussion of radio programmes (whether they've already been aired or not)?

Panick stations ... radio no longer working (30 replies)

Truthyness — Mon, 12 Sep 2011 10:40:21 +0100

So, innocently I downloaded Firefox's recent upgrades ... seems to happen more or less automatically ...

Dunno if that's the cause buuut .... presto! no radio.

Can't download gmail either. Gmail suggests my cookies are disabled. Don't know if it's true, but checked and couldn't seem to find their root to verify?

Ooops sorry for sounding a right Berk! but I'd be glad of any help.

Cheers, and thanks
Tru

Is it me? (25 replies)

Lady Penelope — Tue, 30 Aug 2011 08:57:49 +0100

Was it something I said?

All I am getting on the Phorum is Ivor's Radio Dates. No complaints but where is everyone else?

I have been having problems with both PC and ISP recently, but cant see why they should cut out some messages and not others. Where is everyone#-o

missing 48kb/s streams on radio 4 extra (5 replies)

Farpoint — Thu, 18 Aug 2011 20:21:53 +0100

I'm an international dial-up user, using Linux, and there is no problem with 48kb/s streams for Radio 4 FM, or was there with BBC7/Radio7, but the availability of 48kb/s streams for Radio 4 Extra has been a shambles since it started on April 2nd.

Can anyone explain what the problem might be? Are UK dial-up users having the same problem?

Some programmes do have a 48kb/s stream, but it's totally hit and miss if the programmes I want to listen to have them.

I'll give more details if nobody knows what I'm going on about.

Nigel aka Farpoint.

How to make something look exactly how it's typed. (11 replies)

Becki — Thu, 21 Apr 2011 16:49:06 +0100

I'm not talking about monospaced text, the [ code ] tag does that. But on other forums there is a pair of bb tags [pre] and [/pre] which stops anything within the tags being formatted. I can't find anything like that here.

For example, you can do [ img ] http:/ /www.smilies.4-user.de/include/Girls/smilie_girl_299.gif [ /img ] without the spaces or you can stop urls resolving themselves as they do here.
Eg [www.en.kolobok.us] could be displayed as http: // www.en.kolobok.us/content_plugins/gallery/gallery.php but without the spaces.

There might not be much call for it but it can come in handy at times. Is there a way here that i've missed.