NOAA Weather Radio Stream/Wunderground

[Renie33]

Good Evening All,

I'm looking for advice on how to configure the Wunderground Radio edcast. I'm pulling my hair out. Seems that I can get the radio to stream to the Weather Station Status site, but it ends there. I'm using Cumulus, XP, and Midland 300. Are there any tricks to it that I'm missing.
Thanks,
Renie
Va Beach

[kray1000]

Earlier this week I saw a new stream for the Norfolk station, but when I listened to it, the stream was silent (dead air).  If that was you, then you have the software installed properly and the correct password entered into your software.  If you've gotten this far, you probably were looking on the WU wiki page, but if not, check out the link below:
http://wiki.wunderground.com/index.php/NOAA_Weather_Radio#Configuring_and_Starting_Edcast

Something not mentioned in the destructions is that sometimes you may need to select the audio input in the "Live Recording" section every time you start Edcast, especially after a reboot.  In many cases, sometimes it starts on its own and sometimes it doesn't.

Cumulus is weather monitoring software and totally separate from the NWR streaming.

If this doesn't help, reply back with more specific questions and we'll try to help.

 

[kray1000]

It looks like you're streaming as I type this.

A couple suggestions:

• It sounds like you have some interference in the audio.  Your radio may be too close to electronic devices such as a computer or a router.  Also, I would try to make the audio a little louder.  If finding a suitable location for the radio is a problem, there are things you can do to extend the reach from the radio to the computer.
• In the place at WU where you put your website (OVLifestyles), you have a space between the http: and the www, which is why the link on the WU site to your site doesn't work.

Let us know if you are interested and need help in putting your audio stream on your site, similar to the Rapid Fire object on the bottom of that page.

[Renie33]

Good Morning Kevin,

Thanks for the advice. I think either cleaning up the edcast software download or clicking on Live Recording was the trick.
I also moved the radio away from my desk, thus improving reception. I hope its transmitting better.
You also anticipated my next question, re; the website address. I noticed on the WU page that I had a space b/n http: and www, and corrected it.
I've got the Bitrate set at 14. If I make it lower will the loop recording become more stable?
Also, would appreciate how to link the audio stream to my web site.

Thanks very much for looking after me. I'm sure you can tell that I'm new at this, the economic stimulus has only gotten to my brain, so I'm trying to stay busy learning new things while the economy turns around.

Arn Salasky

[kray1000]

The audio sounds much better, not perfect but more than acceptable.  It still needs to be louder though.

I've noticed that the feed will stop (buffer, actually) on its own or skip from time to time.  This can be caused by an incorrect bitrate or samplerate.  The bitrate should be set to "16", and make sure the "samplerate" is set at 22050 and not something like 22500 or 22000.

One thing I've noticed about the Edcast software is that often the bitrate may be set to 16K, but the software will encode at something like 96K or higher instead.  If you're using XP (I haven't tried this on Vista or Win7, but it may work on those too), you can use "Oddcast" instead (what I use, and the predecessor of Edcast) which works correctly in that regard, along with not having to hit "play" multiple times (in some players) for the stream to start.  Using anything much higher than 16K is a waste of bandwidth and will make streaming to most dial-up users impossible.

Click here to take a look at Oddcast (click on "Standalone 3.1.18" to install).  In its own directory, it doesn't conflict with Edcast at all, and could even run at the same time as Edcast (edit: but only if the two programs are uploading different stations with different file names).  No need to uninstall Edcast first.  The "lame_enc.dll" file you copied into the Edcast directory, you'll need to copy into the OddcastV3 directory also.  

I have standalone versions of the Oddcast executable (.exe) file (compliments of wuhu_software) that should lower the CPU usage if that's a problem on your system.

I'll check back later regarding the implementation of this in your web page, after your stream is ready for prime time.  Time to do some yard work.

[Renie33]

Hi Kev,
Thanks for the heads up. The download instructions in WU WIKI took me to:

http://wiki.wunderground.com/index.php/NOAA_Weather_Radio#Instructions_for_Downloading_Edcast

Instructions for Downloading Edcast

The link below will take you to a download site for a program called Edcast. This is the program that will convert your radio's audio to a format that can be transmitted through the internet.

http://www.oddsock.org/tools/edcast/

Click on "Standalone" near the top of the screen to the right of "Download Current Version." Once you have downloaded the executable, hit the "Open" button to execute the installation software.


Looks like a name change, but same program.

Meanwhile I left the audio streaming today, it doesn't seem to want to stay connected on Oddcast 3. Is there a certain sequence to connecting it?

Thanks for your help.

Arn

[kray1000]

Meanwhile I left the audio streaming today, it doesn't seem to want to stay connected on Oddcast 3. Is there a certain sequence to connecting it?

If you still have Edcast running, turn that off and try Oddcast again.

[Renie33]

Thanks for the Good Idea, looks like You could update the Wunderground Wiki.

Arn

Va Beach

[kray1000]

It sounds like you're still running Edcast.  Did you have any luck with Oddcast?

[Renie33]

I did download OddcastV3, copied and pasted the add on file, configured it, and got the connection up and running.
Is there something I missed?   And Dumped Edcast in the recycle bin. Could there be any hanging files causing a problem?

[kray1000]

I did download OddcastV3, copied and pasted the add on file, configured it, and got the connection up and running.
Is there something I missed?   And Dumped Edcast in the recycle bin. Could there be any hanging files causing a problem?

Not sure.  It's doing the exact same thing that Edcast was doing.  I've never seen Oddcast ignore the bitrate settings like Edcast does.  Did you install Oddcast in its own directory?

Are you using "16" for the bitrate?

Maybe Edcast needs to actually be uninstalled on your system, and/or try a reboot of your computer, and then try Oddcast again.  The Oddcast really should work for you.

[Renie33]

Good Morning,
Sounds like somethings still goofy, I'm getting a pause in the recorded loop. I loaded Oddcast, copied the lame file from Edcast and pasted it into Odcast; then deleted what I think was all of Edcast, and restarted Oddcast. Do you think I should try a delete and fresh install of Oddcast?

[kray1000]

Good Morning,
Sounds like somethings still goofy, I'm getting a pause in the recorded loop. I loaded Oddcast, copied the lame file from Edcast and pasted it into Odcast; then deleted what I think was all of Edcast, and restarted Oddcast. Do you think I should try a delete and fresh install of Oddcast?

Sure, wouldn't hurt to delete both Edcast and Oddcast and try again, although I'm not sure it would change anything.

Or if you want to send me the "oddcastv3standalone_1.cfg" file from your OddcastV3 directory for me to load and test first, I'll be glad to do so.  This file has your WU ID (handle) and password, so you can delete that if you want to and I'll use mine to test.  Probably best if you PM or email me (click on the icon below my picture to the left).

[wuhu_software]

It has been a while since I have looked at Oddcast... Are there any ports that must be open on the router / firewall?

I recall that UDP packets are being sent, I am guessing the server is sending back some kind of ACK using UDP.

If the router or firewall is not properly configured, I can see this leading to problems.

Does anyone have details on the ports used and protocol (TCP/UDP)?

Thanks.

[kray1000]

Nothing needs to be opened in the firewalls for the outgoing stream.  Not sure how the ACK is returned, but I guess it would be similar to how a web browser works.

I think replacing the bass.dll and/or lame_enc.dll files would fix the bitrate issue, unless we use a version that needs an .ini file.

I replaced one or both of these files in Edcast and the bitrate started working.  (I've been playing with different versions and might have lost track.)  I'm actually running Edcast now for two of my streams.

I didn't even know that I could upload multiple streams from one instance of Edcast/Oddcast, but I guess I'd have to use another sound card or use the microphone jack on the machine.

[hayskswx]

Cant download edcast? any others?

[kray1000]

Cant download edcast? any others?

Maybe try this link for Edcast.

You can also try ScannerCast.