Abid,

"ONLY ISSUE THOUGH, local radio stations, including BBC LONDON, still do not work. I'm hoping John-Reed will be able to suggest something similar for the local stations too."

I believe that the work around I suggested does not work for the local links because a different naming convention is used in the local environment than the one that is used in the national station environment.

The work around is working to redirect the server name, but the path name itself does not resolve.

If I could see an example of a valid link from before this addressing kertuffle began, I might be able to come up with something, but for now I am stimied.

I know that there are a bunch of xml files hiding out in the various BBC station directories, but I am still trying to figure out how they can be used. I do know, however, that it is possible to drill through to find a playable international link for the national stations so maybe I can find them for local stations as well.

Does anyone else out there have any knowledge or experience with them?

Personal Blog Entry from:
Saturday, July 09, 2011
I am still struggling to figure out the way to get the proper PID for the international links using the XML files provided by the BBC.

Right now it looks like this is as close as I can come: [www.bbc.co.uk]

Because the play it again links are only good for seven days, this details of this example will soon be stale, but it is better than nothing.

On the web site: [beebotron.org], there is a link to the program "Jenny Stephens' Project Archangel, Episode 4 - The reason for Mike's involvement with the Nablovski colony is revealed. (4/4) [6 days 14 hours]" which is "[www.bbc.co.uk];

On the web site: [www.bbc.co.uk]; there is a reference to the show, but the pid is listed as b00wmznd. Tantalizingly close, but...

More research has revealed some more information. The link [www.bbc.co.uk] has an entry that displays the value b00wmzn1 in the tag b00wmzn11800Original version.

I think that this is what I need to be able to design an application that will use the data from the BBC XML files to build a command line string to record a show.
--- snip

If anyone finds this interesting, let me know and we can take this particular discussion to a new thread.

Regards,

John-Reed

Okay, couldn't wait for hubby, so I did this myself and it worked for me too!

It didn't work for Radio London for me either, Abid. You should be able to find the IP address for Radio London and make that work too though, shouldn't you? How did you find the IP, John-Reed?

Sorry, cross posted there, John-Reed. Thanks so much for all your help!

@John-Reed

Here's a little writeup I uploaded to Launchpad yonks ago on how to work with PIDs from the XML files and manufacture the links that the Beebotron uses.

Clicky HERE

Does the help?

I am sorry, but I have completely lost the thread here. While I may understand the issue in principle, (thanks to the well written posts by everyone), I just lack the technical know how to fix it.

perhaps if someone at Beebotron could provide John-Reed with an example of a valid link for any of the Radio London shows,(international link, not UK ones), before the issue started he may be able to figure something out, like he said in his post.

Janaru makes sense too, in that if an IP address can be obtained the Links can be played the same way he's been able to for national stations. Again , all simple and straightforward in theory, but I am sure this isn't the case.

I have my hopes pinned on you guys.

I believe I've found the problem with radio london by looking at the files from a couple of other local stations that do work.

Radio Jersey (where I'm from)
<ref href="mms://wm.bbc.co.uk/wms/england/radiojersey/aod/drivetime_fri.wma"/>

Radio merseyside
<ref href="mms://wm-acl.bbc.co.uk/wms/england/radiomerseyside/aod/billy_butler_mon.wma"/>

Radio london
<ref href="mms://wm-acl.bbc.co.uk/wms/london/aod/drivetime_thu.wma"/>

The ones that work have "england" before the radio station, radio london does not. Just add "england" without the quotes as below, then the station works. At least it does from France.

Radio london with fix
<ref href="mms://wm-acl.bbc.co.uk/wms/england/london/aod/drivetime_thu.wma"/>

Leave John-Reed's fix in the hosts file and you should not have to remove the acl part.

Hope that works for you Abid

Nigel aka Farpoint

That's working for me, Farpoint, even with the "acl"/

Abid, try this:

mms://wm-acl.bbc.co.uk/wms/england/london/aod/nikki_thu.wma

I'm listening to Nikki with this link now.

Dear Janaru,

It's hard to believe but the link you've shared with me WORKS!! Nigel aka Farpoint, you're a GENIUS!! Thank you ever so much.


Janaru,

Another thing to share. I am not sure how you got the link that you've shared with me above. The URL I get when I click on the Listen again pages on Beebotron Lite is completely different from the one you've shared above so I wasn't sure where I'd add "england" for other shows:

[www.bbc.co.uk]

however I've tried changing the day from Thu to Mon on the same link, on an impulse and guess what THAT WORKS TOO!!

mms://wm-acl.bbc.co.uk/wms/england/london/aod/nikki_thu.wma
mms://wm-acl.bbc.co.uk/wms/england/london/aod/nikki_mon.wma

I really am beside myself with joy !!

Can you tell me how I can get the URL in the same fashion as you've shared them with me, and not like I am getting them when I click the link. Am I doing it wrong?

Result! I love it when that happens!

As for how I got there, I took John-Reeds and Farpoints work and applied it to your specific program. Let me see if I can fumble through and explain. Kronalias is much better at this than I am and if I'm mistaken hopefully he'll swoop in and save me.

Okay...the program links that you use from the all the Beebotron pages (except What Was On and Beebobodge) are created by the BBC. They have what K calls a "wrapper" on them. These links for international users ends with "lo_concrete", inside the UK they end with "uk_concrete".

When you put these links in your player, the player unwraps the link to get to the tasty candy inside which is the actual streams link that connects to the program content and the player plays that content.

Adding "England" to the Beebotron link wouldn't work for you because that link was just the wrapper. Farpoint was using the unwrapped link to the content.

I use Total Recorder Pro (TRP) as my player. TRP has a feature that allows me to watch it unwrap whatever link I enter to play.

So I entered the Beebotron link for Nikki Bedi into my player, watched it unwrap it and even though it wouldn't play the program it did reveal the actual stream link.

I took that stream link and added "England" where Farpoint suggested and it went right through.

I'm not sure what program you use to listen or if it has an option to watch the unwrapping process or not, but that's what you''ll need. If your program won't do that, there may be other stand-alone programs out there that will allow you to "unwrap" the Beebotron links to find the stream. There may be someone out there who has suggestions on this.

The Nikki Bedi show seems to have a consistent stream link where all you have to change is the day. Any others from Radio London probably will have their own basic stream link. I think Drivetime had that word in place of "Nikki" in their link. Once you find your favorites programs stream links you'll probably be able to change the pertinent information accordingly and make it work.

A pain in the backside....I know.

Anyhoo....that's my story and I'm stickin' to it! Hope it made some kind of sense.

If you need any more help let me know. Good luck!

Jan

Thanks Jan,

I actually figured it myself when I was fiddling around my streaming media downloader last night. But thanks for the insight any ways. It makes perfect sense when you explain it so well. I was up listening to my favourite BBC London shows till 3, last night and was still in a state of disbelief that I was YOU were able to get it working with just a small addendum to the HOSTS file and the actual link. who would've thought it'd be that simple! I for one didn't!!

Thank you to everyone for their amazing contribution especially John-Reed and Nigel aka farpoint. You've been a godsend.

I intend to keep coming back just to benefit form the nuggets of excellent information everyone else shares on here and hopefully, one day be knowledgeable enough to contribute myself.

keep up the good work and I wish that you go from strength to strength.

Abid



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2125 Apr 04 2012 by Abid.

I'm so glad your finally getting to catch-up on your listening, Abid! Happy listening is always the goal.

Sorry I was so late posting that. I've been busy the last couple of days, which is unusual for me. But you figured it out, so you didn't need me anyway!

I join you in your thanks to John-Reed, Farpoint and everyone else who contributes to the boards. We have some amazingly smart people here and I'm thankful they're willing to share their knowledge.

And don't forget, Abid, it's not only technical contributions that are valued here. We'd love for you to join in on some of the ongoing conversations or start one up yourself! That goes for the other lurkers out there. Don't be shy. We don't bite. Well, not too hard anyway.

Glad your up and running again. Good luck and don't be a stranger!

Jan

Hi K,

All link's working in Spain,thank's.

All link's working in Spain,thank's to all.

Yay! Spain is a go too! Glad it's working, Pete.

Hi,

Just stopping by to wish everyone at Beebotron a happy Easter. May this holiday bring you blessings of love, peace and Joy. Cheers!!

A

Do the streams seem to be running slow today? The Saturday Drama is going very slow, RD only captured 9 minutes out of the 90. The wma stream is running half to a third as fast as the usual rate from what I can see.

How very nice Abid. Just what we needed! Especially for those of us who have given up sweets and therefore can't partake in that side of the holiday fun! It's been a cliff-hanger following this thread and watching you take the hurdles to win the obstacle race!

Mars, no sluggishness registering in Brussels, stuff's loading normally for the time being. Sorry to hear it ain't the case your end. Could higher holiday period demand have anything to do with it?




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I shall not be starchy, nit pic, patronize, commit misandry, be economical with the facts or be a pedant, neither shall I whine. I shall endeavour to abstain from gratuitous point-scoring off the comments of other Mods or Administrators and also from engendering a culture of BLAME, remembering too to give the benefit of the doubt. Everything in my power will be done to achieve a modest post count & share my smileys, sources & avatars,

Possibly, but the other stuff downloaded in good time. The Saturday Drama is the slow poke today and it runs 90 minutes this time around too.

My last act for Lent is to forgo BBC radio listening in order to listen to Vatican radio today so maybe it's all well and good Auntie is a bit sluggish. So far I've heard Easter Vigils from the Vatican as well as the National Cathedral. EWTN is now repeating the mass I heard around lunch time today...



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 0506 Apr 08 2012 by lifeonmarsfan.

Quote
Abid
Just stopping by to wish everyone at Beebotron a happy Easter. May this holiday bring you blessings of love, peace and Joy. Cheers!!

A

Way off topic but who cares? Nice one, Abid, and all the best to you and yours,

K



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2058 Apr 08 2012 by Kronalias.

been nothing short of an adventure, trying new things to get the links working and to see them work, was a very proud moment indeed especially since I am a self-confessed technophobe.

And because I owe the success of my endeavours to the guidance of people on this page, I just wanted to include them in my Easter wishes. Glad my post served a replacement for the celebratory candy you cannot have. I'll treat myself to one for you, when I am done posting. ONLY KIDDING!!

All Links working fine after changes

How kind of you, Abid! Sorry I was late to wish you the same. Hope all things are going well! I think I've noticed that some of the links are getting back to normal.

I'm having trouble with the Titanic Letters from Radio Wales at the moment. Still working on that one.

Anyhoo, thanks for the good wishes and the best to you and yours.