streaming audio over ethernet??

Forums › Home Theatre (incl HTPC) › streaming audio over ethernet??

bok007

76 posts

Master Geek

Topic # 15315 15-Aug-2007 15:46

Not sure if this is the right forum?
But hoping I might get some ideas
I have a requirement to pipe music on hold to different PABX's around NZ

Currently we use PC's in each location with the Music on Hold software running on each.
I'm sure there's an easier way of doing this,
maybe use a Wireless media player like this DLink http://www.dlink.com/products/?sec=1&pid=457
and have a central server streaming audio to each device.
Anyone tried to do something like this before??

Thanks!

Regs

Infrastructure Geek
4057 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 195

Trusted

Microsoft NZ

Subscriber

Reply # 82546 15-Aug-2007 19:10

out of interest, are you aware that you need to purchase an annual license if you want to play background music on hold?

See here for more details....
http://www.apra.co.nz/html/music_uses.php?id=5162

as far as streaming music goes, most organisations I have worked with use either a multidisc DVD player or a "ipod" type device to supply the music feed. I don't see a wireless music player being any different if your PBX is using a standard audio feed

Technical Evangelist
Microsoft NZ
about.me/nzregs
Twitter: @nzregs

rscole86

4305 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 85

Moderator

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

Reply # 82547 15-Aug-2007 19:15

Then there are those that just use a radio :)

ZollyMonsta

2688 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 225

Trusted

Reply # 82573 16-Aug-2007 08:22

Hi Bok,

You will firstly need to ensure you are lited for public performance of music with PPNZ (www.rianz.co.nz) and APRA. (I don't have their url at hand, but try www.apra.com.au I think they link to the NZ site).

An option you could use is to set up a shourcast server or icecast server and have the remote buisnesses connect.
Make the stream private ( I believe this can be done and means a password is required before any audio will be decoded at their end). www.shoutcast.com and www.icecast.org are places to find the streaming software. Ensure you don't make the streams public. Of course for this to work you'll need to have a PC at each buisiness to connect and decode the audio... and an appropriate internet connection.

Once again, the very first thing to do is ensure you are licensed to do this. If you don't you will be liable for prosecution and large fines!

Hope this is of some help.

Cheers,
ZollyMonsta

Check out my LPFM Radio Station at www.thecheese.co.nz

bok007

76 posts

Master Geek

Reply # 82574 16-Aug-2007 08:26

Cheers Regs - yes we do have all the licences we need.
The software we use puts in automated messages every few seconds,
These messages are different for different departments.
The problem is the PC's in the remote locations always seem to fail
and we need to go onsite to fix them.
Having a device rather than a PC that could be controlled remotely
would be ideal.

richms

21613 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 4430

Trusted

Subscriber

Reply # 82734 17-Aug-2007 17:08

I would look at getting a reliable PC myself. A place I know still has an NT4 machine running some hacked together software someone made with winamp back in the 1.something days on it that does their hold music. No reliability issues at all.

If you have to go onsite to fix a PC, perhaps look into one with a remote KVM functionality like most of the HP servers do nowdays?

Richard rich.ms