TOT: Connecting an Internet Radio to my network - help

[Woody]

I have and have had for some time a Logik (yes, OK) Internet radio that
runs off my wi-fi.

For the first time in years I tried to get it working but it fails to
access my network because it needs port 80 which is apparently blocked
though I don't know where or why.

I use Kaspersky Total Security on Windows 10 Pro.

Can anyone advise please how I can get Port 80 open and safe - the port
on the radio is fixed it would appear.

TIA

[MikeS]

You need to set up port 80 forwarding to the Logik on your router.

[Theo]

It's trying to talk to port 80 on some internet server? Unless you have
that blocked at your router then in doesn't matter what happens on your PC.

If it's talking to your PC, you'd need to run a webserver on that (for local
music, I assume).

If the Logik is on the Reciva platform, that shut down in April 2021:
https://www.radioworld.com/news-and-business/headlines/reciva-internet-radio-platform-shutting-down
https://www.radioworld.com/news-and-business/with-reciva-dead-internet-radio-manufacturers-manage-the-fallout

and it may be the radio is looking for the server which no longer exists.

It seems like there are a couple of methods called 'Sharpfin' and 'Serviio'
for adapting the radio to use new servers. See this forum:
https://iradioforum.net/forum/index.php?board=45.0

There's also a DIY method:
https://swling.com/blog/2021/03/how-to-give-your-reciva-wifi-radio-a-second-life-before-the-service-closes-on-april-30-2021/

Theo

[T i m]

On 30/10/2022 18:50, Woody wrote:
>

> I have and have had for some time a Logik (yes, OK) Internet radio that
> runs off my wi-fi.
>
> For the first time in years I tried to get it working but it fails to
> access my network because it needs port 80 which is apparently blocked
> though I don't know where or why.
>

<snip>

If you don't get anywhere with the Logik and you have a RPi spare, you
might be able to upgrade it (using it's case, PSU and speakers etc) into
a *working* Internet radio that you have full control over. ;-)

http://bobrathbone.com/raspberrypi/pi_internet_radio.html

I have one running here and it works very well.

Cheers, T i m

[Theo]

T i m <indiv...@spaced.me.uk> wrote:
> If you don't get anywhere with the Logik and you have a RPi spare, you
> might be able to upgrade it (using it's case, PSU and speakers etc) into
> a *working* Internet radio that you have full control over. ;-)
>
> http://bobrathbone.com/raspberrypi/pi_internet_radio.html

A while back I started designing an adaptor PCB for a Pi to the Reciva
module format, as my Reciva started refusing to boot. I never got around to
finishing it, as I came to the conclusion that the audio side of the radio
wasn't particularly remarkable, and I was better off replacing the lot. In
the end I never bought another and just used my phone.

Theo

[T i m]

;-)

I use my phone for a lot but don't like tying it into things like
background music streaming.

I bought daughter a fairly tidy JBL portable music system that has BT
and they do stream stuff to it from their phones quite a bit, but mostly
while they are sitting in their wireless charging stands.

Whilst I am quite impressed with the reliability and functionality of
the RPi Internet radio (currently outputting via some USB powered
Microlab speakers that are fine for talk-radio), I think it draws a tad
more power than the Google Home Mini speakers I have here (2.3 V 1.6W or
so) and are really the only thing I think suits voice control.

Both the RPi Internet Radio and the Google Home Minis turn off
automatically using Home Assistant when I leave the room(s).

Cheers, T i m

[Pete Forman]

T i m <indiv...@spaced.me.uk> writes:

> I use my phone for a lot but don't like tying it into things like
> background music streaming.

I was considering that approach recently. I was thinking of digging out
an old phone from the kitchen drawer and trying that.

--
Pete Forman
https://payg.pythonanywhere.com/

[Martin Brown]

On 30/10/2022 18:50, Woody wrote:
>

> I have and have had for some time a Logik (yes, OK) Internet radio that
> runs off my wi-fi.
>
> For the first time in years I tried to get it working but it fails to
> access my network because it needs port 80 which is apparently blocked
> though I don't know where or why.

What channels were you trying?

My internet radio stopped working on Radio 3 today and I'm unsure why.

I suspect the BBC have altered the 320k encoding to something that my
now fairly elderly Pioneer N50 doesn't support. All other BBC radio
channels at lower data rates are OK it is only R3 which doesn't work :(

Or they might have gratuitously moved the URL again.

IT isn't just confined to Pioneer
https://support-uk.denon.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/3768/~/bbc-internet-radio-stations-not-working

BBC help page on this issue is F*ck all use.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/help/questions/playback-issues/help-fixing-internet-radio

My Ethernet feed is wired so fiddling with Wifi isn't going to help!

--
Regards,
Martin Brown

[Woody]

I never managed to find out why it couldn't access port 80 even
internally let alone on the outside.

But I ditched all that and took the beast to the tip when I discovered
that it was Reciva innards and the server from which it got its
streaming data (run by Quallcom) was turned off in April (or was it
June?) 2021!

[Martin Brown]

Curiously Radio 3 320kbps is working again today so it was at the BBC
end - their stream wasn't working properly yesterday.

--
Regards,
Martin Brown

[T i m]

On 03/11/2022 12:28, Pete Forman wrote:
> T i m <indiv...@spaced.me.uk> writes:
>
>> I use my phone for a lot but don't like tying it into things like
>> background music streaming.
>
> I was considering that approach recently. I was thinking of digging out
> an old phone from the kitchen drawer and trying that.
>

Yeah, that makes good use of an old phone that may have a weak battery
and not run some of the latest apps etc.

Cheers, T i m

[T i m]

I had a funny on one of my 3 Google Minis where it would connect using
the 'Hey Google, play LBC' but then one day it wouldn't (but others
still would?) and a Google suggested I should use 'LBC UK' or summat and
that worked?

Now I can use 'Play LBC or even sometimes just 'LBC' and don't need the
UK bit?

On my RPi based Internet Radio you have to personalise a config file
(inserted below OOI) with the stations you want available, might be
'safer' than a commercial Internet Radio if you can't tweak the config?

Cheers, T i m



# Station list - Source list for radio stations streams
# File: /var/lib/radiod/stationlist (Don't use station.urls -
distribution only)
# $Id: station.urls,v 1.25 2022/02/18 09:56:09 bob Exp $
# To use this file add the URL that points to either an asx or pls file
# The format is:
# (<playlist>)
# [<title>] http://<url>(stream)
#
# The (<playlist>) parameter groups the following station definitions
into one playlist
# For example (BBC Stations) creates a playlist called BBC_Stations.pls
# Note: Play lists are terminated with a blank line
#
# The (stream) parameter is optional and indicates this is a direct
stream link
#
# In general it is always better to define a title
#
# Some sites that you can use are:
# http://www.radiomap.eu
# http://www.internet-radio.com
# http://www.radio-locator.com
# http://bbcstreams.com/
#
# Then run create_playlists.py in the /home/pi/radio directory to create
PLS files

# Name of playlist file
(Radio)
# United Kingdom
# The following BBC links are HLS (HTTP Live Streaming) files which have
adaptive bit rates
# Warning: The BBC have geo-blocked these URLs from being received
# outside of the United Kingdom. Comment out if this is the case

[BBC - Radio 1] http://stream.live.vc.bbcmedia.co.uk/bbc_radio_one
[BBC - Radio 2] http://stream.live.vc.bbcmedia.co.uk/bbc_radio_two
[BBC - Radio 3] http://stream.live.vc.bbcmedia.co.uk/bbc_radio_three
[BBC - Radio 4] http://stream.live.vc.bbcmedia.co.uk/bbc_radio_fourfm
[BBC - Radio 4 LW (UK only)]
http://stream.live.vc.bbcmedia.co.uk/bbc_radio_fourlw
[BBC - Radio 4 LW (Non-UK)]
http://stream.live.vc.bbcmedia.co.uk/bbc_radio_fourlw_online_nonuk
[BBC - Radio 5 live (UK only)]
http://stream.live.vc.bbcmedia.co.uk/bbc_radio_five_live
[BBC - Radio 5 live (Non-UK)]
http://stream.live.vc.bbcmedia.co.uk/bbc_radio_five_live_online_nonuk
[BBC - Radio 6 Music] http://stream.live.vc.bbcmedia.co.uk/bbc_6music
[BBC - Radio 1Xtra] http://stream.live.vc.bbcmedia.co.uk/bbc_1xtra
[BBC - Radio 4 Extra]
http://stream.live.vc.bbcmedia.co.uk/bbc_radio_four_extra
[BBC - BBC World Service]
http://stream.live.vc.bbcmedia.co.uk/bbc_world_service

# UK stations
[Planet Rock UK] http://tx.planetradio.co.uk/icecast.php?i=planetrock.mp3
[Caroline Pirate] http://sc3.radiocaroline.net:8030/listen.m3u8

# Disco
[1.FM - Disco Ball 70's-80's Radio] http://sc-disco.1.fm:8100

# Reggae
[Digital Impulse - Reggae] http://orion.shoutca.st:8942
[1.FM - ReggaeTrade Radio] http://wm.1.fm/reggae/128.m3u
[181.FM Reggae Roots] http://listen.181fm.com:8096
[Jah Music Mansion] http://192.99.41.102:5304/stream

#LBC
[LBC London - Current affairs]
http://icecast.thisisdax.com/LBCLondonMP3Low.m3u

[Martin Brown]

On 07/11/2022 11:57, T i m wrote:
> On 04/11/2022 09:44, Martin Brown wrote:
>> On 03/11/2022 20:05, Woody wrote:
>>> I never managed to find out why it couldn't access port 80 even
>>> internally let alone on the outside.
>>>
>>> But I ditched all that and took the beast to the tip when I
>>> discovered that it was Reciva innards and the server from which it
>>> got its streaming data (run by Quallcom) was turned off in April (or
>>> was it June?) 2021!
>>
>> Curiously Radio 3 320kbps is working again today so it was at the BBC
>> end - their stream wasn't working properly yesterday.
>>
> I had a funny on one of my 3 Google Minis where it would connect using
> the 'Hey Google, play LBC' but then one day it wouldn't (but others
> still would?) and a Google suggested I should use 'LBC UK' or summat and
> that worked?
>
> Now I can use 'Play LBC or even sometimes just 'LBC' and don't need the
> UK bit?
>
> On my RPi based Internet Radio you have to personalise a config file
> (inserted below OOI) with the stations you want available, might be
> 'safer' than a commercial Internet Radio if you can't tweak the config?

It appears to be a manufacturer problem in that the BBC have yet again
changed how they encode and distribute their high resolution channels.

Although Radio 3 is now back at full quality 320kbps there is an
annoying female voice interrupts the music once an hour to say "the
streaming service you are using will cease to work in 2023 - if using a
computer go to BBC Sounds if an internet radio then contact your
manufacturer".

I can see the latter saying words to the effect of
"Oh no! Not the BBC *AGAIN*"

Unfortunately on internet radios you can only see the channels that it
can decode and they are presented in an alphabetical list and by genre.

Snag is the new encoding is not supported by older decoders :(
Unclear as yet if another firmware upgrade will be issued.

--
Regards,
Martin Brown

[T i m]

On 08/11/2022 08:57, Martin Brown wrote:
<snip>

>> On my RPi based Internet Radio you have to personalise a config file
>> (inserted below OOI) with the stations you want available, might be
>> 'safer' than a commercial Internet Radio if you can't tweak the config?
>
> It appears to be a manufacturer problem in that the BBC have yet again
> changed how they encode and distribute their high resolution channels.

I guess if it's to make things 'better' then it makes sense but I wonder
how many devices are affected over the world? ;-(

>
> Although Radio 3 is now back at full quality 320kbps there is an
> annoying female voice interrupts the music once an hour to say "the
> streaming service you are using will cease to work in 2023 -

Should that be 'An annoying voice' Martin. ;-)

> if using a
> computer go to BBC Sounds

Or 'If using something configurable, the configurations are here ... '

> if an internet radio then contact your
> manufacturer".

And therein lies the rub, unless they offer the option of being able to
manage the soft config at least.

>
> I can see the latter saying words to the effect of
> "Oh no! Not the BBC *AGAIN*"

;-)

<snip>

>
> Unfortunately on internet radios you can only see the channels that it
> can decode and they are presented in an alphabetical list and by genre.

Yeah, I sort of would like a commercial Internet radio to play with but
the RPi one sort of quenched that urge. I would also like to have a
working DAB radio. I have 3 (inc a Roberts) but they have either all
died or simply didn't work where they were located (requiring an
external aerial etc).>

> Snag is the new encoding is not supported by older decoders :(

I think it is frustrating how fast some of this tech can become
dysfunctional these days, even when still actually working as well as it
did when it came out of the factory.

> Unclear as yet if another firmware upgrade will be issued.
>

That's why I sometimes end up accepting 'feature creep' to get to
something that might be slightly more future proof, like with firmware
updates. Not that that means there will be updates and why I think the
RPi Internet Radio was the lest risk.

TBH, I would still be using the GX-300 AM/FM radio I've had since I was
with BT nearly 50 years ago, if it hadn't recently developed a strange
fault. You turn it on and it starts off ok then the volume fades out?

The schematics are here:

https://www.radiomuseum.org/r/panasonic_gx300gx_30_rf888jb.html

So I might see if I can sort it out. It has a reasonably nice speaker so
sounds really nice.

I used to use it as a PA when I ran an RC stock car club. It played out
the start / stop sounds from the electronic lap counter console and
music in-between races. ;-)

Cheers, T i m