Streaming Radio and STM [Archive]

Stutz

08-06-2008, 22:38

Does anyone know how much bandwidth (if that's the correct term) streaming radio uses of your allowance before you get STM'd. The modem is constantly downloading and I was wondering how fast it uses up your allowance.

danielf

08-06-2008, 22:45

Well, the quality of the stream is normally indicated (in mediaplayer), so presumably you can do the calculations yourself?

Stutz

08-06-2008, 22:51

Thanks danielf. Just had Just had a look and it says playing 128 K bits/per second. Is this what you refer to ? Thanks

xspeedyx

08-06-2008, 23:04

Thanks danielf. Just had Just had a look and it says playing 128 K bits/per second. Is this what you refer to ? Thanks

I think so

Graham M

08-06-2008, 23:07

Thanks danielf. Just had Just had a look and it says playing 128 K bits/per second. Is this what you refer to ? Thanks

That basically means that the radio station will be using 128kbit for every second it's left running which is about 16kbyte/second thats 960kb (nearly 1mbyte) in a minute and approximately 57600kb/hour (about 57mbyte!)

Stutz

08-06-2008, 23:11

Excuse my ignorance. If I'm on 2mb package how could I work how long it would take to use up my 500mb (or whatever it is now)

xspeedyx

08-06-2008, 23:13

500 divide by 57 = 8.7 hrs around

Stutz

08-06-2008, 23:22

Thanks peeps for your answers. I won't be doing to much of that then.

danielf

08-06-2008, 23:29

Thanks peeps for your answers. I won't be doing to much of that then.

I'm not up to scratch on what the caps and relevant times are, but if it is 500 Mb (as suggested), it would take you nearly 9 hours to reach the cap (if you're not downloading anything else), which would mean you can pretty much stream radio all day without being affected?

Stutz

08-06-2008, 23:36

AbyssUnderground

08-06-2008, 23:43

I'm on 10Mbps and even running a 128Kbps stream along side my normal browsing can sometimes push me to STM. I had to turn mine off this evening because my browsing was impossible after hitting STM again.

Stutz

09-06-2008, 00:03

Thank you for that info abyss. Taking all of this on board.

danielf

09-06-2008, 00:06

That is nice to know danielf. I don't download much, just email and browsing really I've got a pretty good 2mb connection, rarely drops from 1.92/94 Mbps and I have not been STM'd as of yet. Thanks again.

If I were you, I would just carry on as you do. Even if you get STM'd, you should still be able to stream radio. There's no reason to cut your internet usage for fear of problems until you actually have problems in my opinion.

AbyssUnderground

09-06-2008, 00:10

Even on STM you should be able to manage a 96Kbps stream but your browsing will be slow. Personally I don't mind 64Kbps streams but some people seem to complain about "low quality" when I see none so I stick with 128Kbps.

danielf

09-06-2008, 00:13

AbyssUnderground

09-06-2008, 00:16

Out of interest, what are the speeds you get put on after STM kicks in?

On 10Mbps:

Down 2.5Mbps
Up 128Kbps

danielf

09-06-2008, 00:19

On 10Mbps:

Down 2.5Mbps
Up 128Kbps

That should be plenty for a 128kb/s stream?

AbyssUnderground

09-06-2008, 00:20

That should be plenty for a 128kb/s stream?

No, there are overheads to consider. The stream will keep dropping out. Also, if you want to keep browsing during the time of STM with a 128Kbps stream going you can kiss goodbye to that too.

danielf

09-06-2008, 00:31

No, there are overheads to consider. The stream will keep dropping out. Also, if you want to keep browsing during the time of STM with a 128Kbps stream going you can kiss goodbye to that too.

The OP is not complaining about streaming radio on his 2Mb connection (before throttling) though?

AbyssUnderground

09-06-2008, 00:35

The OP is not complaining about streaming radio on his 2Mb connection (before throttling) though?

No it will work find before STM, but during it will not work. So if the OP manages to get STM'ed either through uploading or downloading too much then it will be a problem for the streaming radio if the OP wants to continue browsing while streaming. I was merely pointing out that the OP may have trouble with a 128Kbps stream when STM'ed, especially if the OP wants to browse also.

danielf

09-06-2008, 00:41

No it will work find before STM, but during it will not work.

Why? Am I missing something?:confused:

Stutz

09-06-2008, 00:59

squirrel1970

09-06-2008, 01:09

I push out 2 streams for 2 hours every Sunday - one at 96kbps and one at 128kbps and then a stream for another 2 hours @ 128kbps... then after all thats done, I upload a 20mb file to mybloop and then to podomatic.... and nothing ever happens as regards stm... either I'm just lucky or I'm under the stm limit :D

Graham M

09-06-2008, 07:45

No it will work find before STM, but during it will not work. So if the OP manages to get STM'ed either through uploading or downloading too much then it will be a problem for the streaming radio if the OP wants to continue browsing while streaming. I was merely pointing out that the OP may have trouble with a 128Kbps stream when STM'ed, especially if the OP wants to browse also.

Eh?! He is talking about listening to streaming radio as far as I can see, not streaming it himself!

Stutz

09-06-2008, 10:32

Zeph. You are correct.

AbyssUnderground

09-06-2008, 12:01

Eh?! He is talking about listening to streaming radio as far as I can see, not streaming it himself!

Then it was my mistake and I apologise. It was not very clear that he was listening as apposed to uploading.

broadbandbug

09-06-2008, 13:18

No, there are overheads to consider. The stream will keep dropping out. Also, if you want to keep browsing during the time of STM with a 128Kbps stream going you can kiss goodbye to that too.

I don't understand I am stuck with a 1.5Mb/s ADSL connection and I can stream zatoo and use my work VPN and post on here without too much trouble at all:)

AbyssUnderground

09-06-2008, 20:09

I don't understand I am stuck with a 1.5Mb/s ADSL connection and I can stream zatoo and use my work VPN and post on here without too much trouble at all:)

You, as I, misunderstood the original question. My answers were for something totally different.

Stutz

09-06-2008, 20:59

Sorry about that Abyss My fault for not making it clearer.

The Installer

10-06-2008, 20:44

My original question was (in my ignorance) how long would it take before I was STM'd. I honestly have not had a problem yet as I have not been streaming for more than an hour or two tops. You have answered my question to which I thank you.

Don't worry about streaming radio mate, there is no way you will be pushed into STM from listening to a 128k stream and browsing the web ;)

Even if you did then it would still work just fine :)

Matth

10-06-2008, 22:25

As I understand it, the speed you get (unless they are still meddling) when STMd on 2Mbit, is 1 MBit - at one time, the top package.

Another tip, if available, use AAC+ streams in preference to MP3/WMP di.FM uses 96k (MP3), 40k (Windowsmedia) and 24k (AAC+) - don't be fooled by the bitrates, 24k AAC+ is easily as good as 96-128k MP3

To use AAC+, there is:
1. http://www.orban.com/plugin/ - the Orban plugin for WMP - see also, Tuner2 for more AAC+ streams
2. http://www.foobar2000.org/ Foobar2000 - player supporting AAC+
Winamp and many other programs have their own support.

Stutz

11-06-2008, 01:58

Cheers Installer and Matth for your input. Matth I downloaded the orban plug in but it is not changing the download stream. It is still 128kb's. It does not show in WMP plug-ins. Reading the read me file it states that it is actually a Microsoft Direct Show plug in and will not appear in the WMP plug in list. Any idea's Ta.

Matth

11-06-2008, 20:45

You would have to choose a stream that is in AAC+ (if available) - www.di.fm (http://www.di.fm) and www.tuner2.com (http://www.tuner2.com) are a couple of places where you can get/choose AAC+. It won't autoselect, and some places don't offer it, but AAC+ is definitely the way forward for streaming.

Reminds me, must update my Foobar2000, that is my preferred player for streaming.