Global Mode problems with streaming BBC radio

Forums › 2degrees (including Slingshot, Orcon, Flip, Stuff Fibre, MyRepublic, 2talk and Vocus) › Global Mode problems with streaming BBC radio

MrTomato

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#151732 3-Sep-2014 15:04

Not sure where to report problems with Global Mode (which is working brilliantly for me other than this, so thanks Orcon!), so I'm reporting it here.

Global Mode seems to have introduced problems with the Windows Media streams of national (ie UK national) BBC radio stations, commonly used by Internet-connected radios, other Internet radio services (such as TuneIn Radio), etc.

For example with BBC Radio 2: http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio/listen/live/r2.asx will be fetched first - from the XML you can see that Global Mode has worked (<PARAM NAME="GEO" VALUE="UK" />), but unfortunately the streams emanating from wmlive-acl.bbc.co.uk (CNAME wmlive-acl.bbc.net.uk) are also geoblocked and Global Mode isn't doing anything with them. *

So, long story short: Could Global Mode handle wmlive-acl.bbc.net.uk too, please?

Cheers!

* Unfortunately the BBC doesn't seem to have a consistent configuration applied, so occasionally you'll connect and the stream will work, but most of the time it doesn't! Also, they do actually allow international streaming (for Windows Media without Global Mode the .asx file will have <PARAM NAME="GEO" VALUE="INTL" /> and the streams come from wmlive-nonacl.bbc.net.uk), but these aren't as good as they sometimes block certain programmes from streaming internationally.

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MrTomato

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#1125636 10-Sep-2014 11:13

Seriously, does anyone know where you're supposed to go to report issues with Global Mode? The problem I reported above is still present.

Slingshot's customers have the globalmode@team.slingshot.co.nz email address. If Orcon has anything similar I can't find it on the website. You're not supposed to fling problem reports into into the regular helpdesk black hole, are you?

... And surely having Global Mode actually degrade service is a bit of a no-no?

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FlameBeard

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#1125671 10-Sep-2014 12:00

this is on the website - perhaps that will help

http://www.orcon.net.nz/support/gfaq_page/what_do_i_do_if_global_mode_doesnt_work

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MrTomato

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#1125759 10-Sep-2014 13:54

Thanks for your help FlameBeard, but I'm looking for where (or who) to report the problem to - the link covers Global Mode not working at all.

The trouble in the case I've reported above is that, essentially, Global Mode half-supports the service. It ends up breaking it, and leaves things worse than if it were not to support it at all.

On other threads, a few people have mentioned services that work with UnoTelly (for example), but not Global Mode. My problem with the BBC's Windows Media radio streams is another example. At the moment the options are a) have it work optimally under UnoTelly; b) have it work sub-optimally by taking UnoTelly and Global Mode out of the picture (using external public DNS); or c) have it broken with Global Mode.

<rant>
It's a laudable and brave endeavour that Orcon have entered into - which pretty much amounts to a never-ending game of DNS whack-a-mole - but there needs to be a way of reporting faults and requesting enhancements, and when they're sensible for those requests to be responded to and dealt with quickly. If Global Mode's problems are never fixed or if it's left to stagnate, the end result won't just be a lack of parity with other providers like UnoTelly, it'll be an Internet that's rather more fragile for Orcon's customers than it used to be. Particularly for the bulk of customers that aren't especially technically proficient, the only thing worse than having something not work is having it sometimes or sort-of work.
</rant>

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FlameBeard

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#1125825 10-Sep-2014 15:26

There is a option to report the problem on the website, in the link that I posted at the very bottom of the article.

MrTomato

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#1125932 10-Sep-2014 16:54

I'm afraid I can't see what you're referring to!

Second paragraph from the bottom of the article there's a link to the Global Mode FAQs; below that there's a form for reporting problems with the article; below that there's a link to contact the helpdesk, which doesn't seem to have any Global Mode support categories and will send you through to the 'what lights are flashing on your router' merchants.

Honestly - and I promise I'm not trying to be a dick here! - I don't see any way of reporting problems about Global Mode on that page.

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FlameBeard

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#1125962 10-Sep-2014 17:40

I was referring to this section here

upon closer inspection though - there is no Global mode support offered from the drop down menu's though

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FlameBeard

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#1125964 10-Sep-2014 17:42

MrTomato: below that there's a link to contact the helpdesk, which doesn't seem to have any Global Mode support categories and will send you through to the 'what lights are flashing on your router' merchants.

Doesn't matter, at the end of the day its going to go to the same place regardless of the category.

Username01

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#1128022 13-Sep-2014 18:56

Hi Tomato ....Same issue with Slingshot's Global Mode implementation, btw. Global mode usually kills my WindowsPhone app. Switch off Global Mode & the app, Listen Again, again works. My workaround utilises Get_iPlayer, which doesn't sound like it's what you're after though.

Can't deny I'd welcome the fix you seek. I reckon though that it's possibly ..... not possible.

Cheers!

MrTomato

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#1129068 15-Sep-2014 14:40

Username01: Hi Tomato ....Same issue with Slingshot's Global Mode implementation, btw. Global mode usually kills my WindowsPhone app. Switch off Global Mode & the app, Listen Again, again works. My workaround utilises Get_iPlayer, which doesn't sound like it's what you're after though. Can't deny I'd welcome the fix you seek. I reckon though that it's possibly ..... not possible. Cheers!

The WP app will be stuffed because it's trying to play the Windows Media streams, and that's what Global Mode is breaking. It's definitely possible to fix because UnoTelly does it!

The iPlayer streams, which are based on AAC, work fine, but unfortunately most of the Internet-connected radios and sundry smartphone apps use the Windows Media streams.

I didn't realise last week, but apparently the Global Mode service is provided by a company called Bypass Network Services Ltd. As a last resort I've sent a support request through to Orcon, so fingers crossed they'll pass it on to Bypass Network Services rather than ask me twelve times if I've tried restarting my router. Hopefully if it gets fixed for Orcon it'll be fixed for Slingshot too.

By the way, apologies if I make it seem like I have a real downer on Orcon support. Actually I've had truly outstanding support from them in the past, which I've been immensely grateful for, but the caveat is that I've found the first tier support people to be consistently hair-pullingly, eye-gougingly awful. That's why I've been so keen to find a way to resolve the problem without having to go through them.

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Username01

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#1129224 15-Sep-2014 16:57

I saw a recent item about that Auckland crew myself. Could well be worth appraising them of this "feature".

Re my WindowsPhone, another app, Episodic, is gloriously unaffected. Still the only app I've ever $shelled$ out for...

Sounddude

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#1130519 17-Sep-2014 11:11

Hi

Can you guys please give this another try, we belive this has now been resolved.

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MrTomato

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#1130522 17-Sep-2014 11:21

Yes, I think it's sorted! Sounddude, you're truly a prince among men - great job!

I noticed that it had been fixed sometime yesterday, but wasn't sure whether it was Orcon / Bypass / whoever (I got the old fob-off from my support request to Orcon yesterday), or whether the BBC had just made a change, so I was planning to wait and see for a few days.

Thank you!

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Sounddude

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#1130523 17-Sep-2014 11:23

MrTomato: Yes, I think it's sorted! Sounddude, you're truly a prince among men - great job!

I noticed that it had been fixed sometime yesterday, but wasn't sure whether it was Orcon / Bypass / whoever (I got the old fob-off from my support request to Orcon yesterday), or whether the BBC had just made a change, so I was planning to wait and see for a few days.

Thank you!

yea it was fixed yesterday, but wanted to make sure before telling everyone...just in case :-)