MS Media Player replacement?

[Ken Knecht]

Can anyone recommend a replacement for the Windows Media Player? I want
it to listen to radio channels. First thing in the morning I like to
listen to BBC radio news for an hour or so. However, it is very erratic,
with frequent pauses to refill buffer, etc. Sometimes it's a few seconds
of audio, then another few seconds of silence while it catches up. Other
times it works fine with infrequent pauses.

I turn off all the other software that I can while listening. I tried
adjusting the buffer settings. I'm using XP Home and a dial-up
connection, usually about 45K.

Any suggestions, please?

TIA

Ken

 

[Merlin]

Your problem is with a slow dial-up connection. If want to listen to or
watch streaming media without interuption you will need dsl or cable.

 

[Larry Samuels]

Dump the dialup if you want reliable streaming with ANY media player.

--
Larry Samuels Associate Expert
MS-MVP (2001-2005)
Unofficial FAQ for Windows Server 2003 at
http://pelos.us/SERVER.htm
Expert Zone-

 

[POP]

No Merlin,
For BBC radio broadcasts and most any voice radio, 45k is fine
for a dialup speed. BTDT, a LOT. A 28k data stream selection
will work perfectly fine for most radio stations.

Real Player is a little better than Media Player, but ... first,
look around and try some other settings first in Media Player.
Be sure your connections speed are set to "slow" and not "high"
or the digital choices.
Unfortunately I'm on DSL as of the last year, so I can't see
the same settings you'll see in MP any longer, IF they're even
there.

MP will play radio stations just fine at 45k though, IFF the 45k
connection is OK, and IFF you don't have too much stuff running
in the background.
Watch the progress window at the bottom: It'll tell you
what's going on and whether you're not getting a good thruput
from your ISP, which is entirely possible.
The "connection speed" isn't the important number on a dialup
connection; throughput is. That's how fast data itself is coming
from your ISP or your computer can accept it.
If the station has a 56k speed, try that, then lower it to 28k
if that doesn't work.

Real Player is better in these areas but has other things I don't
like, so I never used it much. IT's still free though and might
work a little better; not sure.

Do you have a monitor to look at your thruput speed (not
connection speed)?

Pop

 

[POP]

Dump the dialup if you want reliable streaming with ANY
media player.
--
Larry Samuels Associate Expert
MS-MVP (2001-2005)
Unofficial FAQ for Windows Server 2003 at
http://pelos.us/SERVER.htm
Expert Zone-

As a long time dialup 56k user of BBC and many other radio
stations up to a year ago, you guys are just plain wrong. My
connection speed was normally 44.6k and thruput hovered in the 4k
to 5k range most of t he time, and radio stations played
perfectly; very few pauses, if any at all.

Sorry; just hate blanket statements. DSL is better & more
reliable, yes, but you don't know that the OP even has access to
them, let alone can afford them where he is. And, that's
irrelevant to the question that was asked.

Pop