Do any of you use a WiFi Internet table radio? If a station streams online, the radio plays it and

[in_cog_ni_to]

you don't have to have your computer on. As long as you have Broadband wireless, these radios can play any streaming station! Air America with no subscription fee.:) The radio looks like it works much like the XM and Sirius receivers do, except you can get around 8-10,000 stations around the world. Does anyone have one of these? I'm trying to get some feedback from people I trust.




The Tangent Quattro integrates WiFi radio with distinctive Danish styling. Housed inside a MDF wood cabinet with real walnut veneer, the Quattro has the highest quality audio among our WiFi radios. With the Quattro you have a unique way to search thousands of Internet radio stations -- by location AND genre. You can find anything from Jazz in Taiwan to news from Germany. You can also use the Quattro to wirelessly stream music and audio from your computer (PC and Mac), or connect your MP3 player to the audio-in and use the radio as a stand alone speaker. There’s no subscription fee and you don’t even have to turn on your computer. Broadband wireless (WiFi) network required. Weight: 4.5 lbs. Size: 8.25” W x 6.25” H x 4.5” D. Designed and developed in Denmark

* No Subscription Fees to Pay
* Plug and Play Simplicity
* Alphabetically Listed Channels
* Search by Country and/or Genre
* Supports Real Media, MP3 and WMA Compatible Formats
* Plays Music and Other Audio Files Stored on Your PC or Mac
* Clock with Alarm
* 802.11b and 802.11g Compatible
* Offers 128-bit (max) WEP Security
* Also Supports WPA Encryption (WPA1)
* 3.5 mm Aux IN Includes Support for MP3 Devices

[Gidney N Cloyd]

1. I just use an old laptop. What's this thing go for?

[in_cog_ni_to]

3. They're expensive.

:( $350.00. I don't want to spend that kind of money if they aren't any good. I would love to be able to listen to AAR again, but this is a tad expensive. However, if you add up the cost of the XM receivers and radios plus the subscription fees every month, I suppose it's not as bad as it seems initially? In the long run, it's probably cheaper.

[Gold Metal Flake]

4. $348 on Ebay

Only one listed.

[KharmaTrain]

2. Here's Another Fine Unit...Portable...

The Quattro is a fine radio...excellent sound and reliability.

As an internet broadcaster, I am seeing more and more people tuning in on wi-fi devices and soon on cellphones, iphones and other wireless devices. It's radio's digital future.

Here's another unit I also recommend. The Infusion:



This offers many of the same features as the Quattro and is portable...you can use it at any internet cafe or hotel with a wireless system and fits in your pocket. It's great for listening to Air America feeds from around the country, too.

[Gold Metal Flake]

6. Website...

http://www.torianwireless.com/products/

[pnorman]

7. That Infusion looks good at $230 (out of stock at present),

but here's what I'm using in my apartment: http://reviews.cnet.com/pdas/nokia-n800-internet-tablet/4505-3127_7-32309517.html

With a little web-searching, I should be able to build up a menu of whatever I may want to stream. The Opera browser handles "almost" all the sites I usually want (including DU!). It's usually at my bedstand, so I can check Google, Wiki, my email, my union's BBS, or whatever, without having to get up and go to my computer. Cool!

pnorman
On edit: I have XM at present, which I use only for AAR. It's always ON, and it feeds into this device: http://www.ccrane.com/radios/am-fm-radios/pogo-radio-yourway-lx/index.aspx I can program it for unattended scheduled recording for anything. At present, it's set for Randi Rhodes, and Thom Hartmann. It'll hold a couple of weeks of that.

[KharmaTrain]

8. I Get AAR On My Infusion

One benefit here in Chicago is that WCPT signs off at local sunset (btw Chicago DU'ers...its moving to 820 in a couple weeks) as well as NovaM from Phoenix. Any station that streams MP3 can be heard and you can directly input the address (a problem with older models). I also am able to tune in most of the Pacifica stations, BBC and several NPR stations. For giggles, I have mine hooked up to an HD Radio (totally useless) and keep it on in my office all day.

The downside with both radios, for now, is they only handle MP3...so stations using AAC Plus (far superior sound) or Windows Media can't be heard. You can get a listing of most MP3 stations on www.shoutcast.com and search by genre or format.

On one of my puters I have "Replay Radio"...that works like an internet radio TIVO...recording all types of shows in any format so you can play it back later.

I've had my Infusion for nearly a year now and really enjoy it. I know its a little tough to get but I've heard that they should have a new stock in for the holidays.

Cheers...

[pnorman]

10. Sounds good!

I'll keep a close eye on it in days to come.

My XM radio was bought at a time when the discount/rebate was close to 100%, so I didn't "mind" the price. The monthly cost isn't all that high, but I don't use more than a tiny fraction of the services.

Thanks for the info!

pnorman

[KharmaTrain]

12. Keep Me Posted

I have some other friends who are interested...as I say I am very happy with mine.

I never was interested in satellite radio. A major part is the "old broadcaster" in me...I didn't like how XM and Sirius were design to destroy local radio and further restrict the flow of information and entertainment. I got involved with Internet radio over 10 years ago and have seen it grow into a dynamic force. IMHO, this is where digital radio will be in another couple years...empowering many and a way to get around the stranglehold of the large corporations (who are now drowning in red ink due to their digital follies).

Best of luck to you.

[pnorman]

14. The "sticking point" for me may seem trivial.

All my WiFi devices are set for WAP-1 encryption, which is supposed to be somewhat more 'secure' than WEP. I'm not all that obsessed with security, but I really HATE the error-prone tedium of reconfiguring them all over again. Yes, I'm growing old and CRANKY, but I'm hoping that that device support WAP! (I've emailed the US distributor on that)

A few years ago, I was getting AAR from the internet, but pretty much hit or miss. It was MADDENING at times, so I GLADLY went for XM. But I hadn't considered the point you brought up. That too, may nudge me a little further towards that device. I believe it was released in January of this year. Hopefully, the "second generation" will be released in time for Winter Solstice.

pnorman

[pnorman]

20. I found the answer to my concern about that Infusion device.

*
*
The Torian Infusion receives FM radio as well as the stream from online radio stations, which it can record in the MP3 format onto SD cards. I checked out the PDF of the device's manual on the FCC's website, and from looking at that (page 35), the Infusion suffers from the same problem that just about every WiFi entertainment device I've seen has shared: no support for WPA or WPA2. Instead, only works with WEP-protected or open networks, meaning that using the Infusion would compromise your home network's security (WEP is notoriously easy to crack).

Torian glosses over the issue on its website by saying that you need to be near an "appropriate" WiFi hotspot, but this is a big deal. The same people who buy things like WiFi radios demand support for the newest wireless security standards. Anyone care to venture a guess why they wouldn't include WPA on these devices? I'm thinking it could be a processor/battery life issue.
*
*

http://blog.wired.com/music/2006/12/wifi_radio_gath.html

If the company addresses this problem, I'll almost certainly get one. Otherwise, I'll keep a close eye on such devices. There should be plenty of them in days to come.

pnorman

[riverdeep]

15. WCPT is moving to 820?

That's the one on 850 now, correct? I can barely hear it and it has so much static that it's just a pain. I only think about listening to radio when I'm in the car and forgot to bring my MP3 player, anyway. I just record the show while it's airing and listen later, like for Maddow. Do you know if the new station has more range, especially for southern area.

[KharmaTrain]

22. Yep, You Should Hear It Very Well On The South Side

The networks moving from a 2500 watt transmitter outside of Crystal Lake to the 820 site (5000 watts) at Belmont & Cicero in the city. It'll definitely come in better for not only people on the south side but even as far north as Milwaukee (I heard the 820 signal there loud and clear a couple weeks ago) and even as far south as Champaign-Urbana.

The downside is 820 is also daytime only, but the station has had (for longer than I can remember) a license to build night time facilities. Maybe they'll finally do it.

Cheers...

[pnorman]

21. SHOUTCAST --- My Nokia N800 handles that, although I hadn't yet studied it.

"The tablet supports a range of audio formats -- AAC, AMR, MP2, MP3, RA (RealAudio), WAV, and WMA. Ditto for Web radio playlists -- M3U, PLS, and MP3 stations such as ShoutCast. Supported video formats include 3GP, AVI, H.263, MPEG-1, MPEG-4, and RV (RealVideo), with BMP, GIF, ICO, JPEG, PNG, TIFF, and SVG-tiny for still images. (Don't count on playing all variations on each of these, however; the Nokia wouldn't play my WMA Lossless audio files, for example.)" http://www.hardwarecentral.com/hardwarecentral/reviews/article.php/3670641

That Infusion looks pretty good, but I may not really need it. (I've learned a lot, just from following this thread!)

pnorman
On edit: Just found this Youtube video on internet radio for the Nokia N800: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NYt5DdspwWc There seems to be a lot of other good videos at that site. There goes the next few hours!

[pnorman]

23. Internet radio??

It looks as though my Nokia N800 will fill the bill, as far as internet radio is concerned (after a LOT of 'home-work' is done). It won't be nearly as convenient as that Infusion device, but it should be good enough for my purposes. I'll probably keep my XM subscription, but that'll be for a later decision.

pnorman

[ben_meyers]

5. I use a wireless FM transmitter

Unless you have a reason not to have your computer on I would check into that. Better range and fidelity plus you can transmit from almost any source, TV, Stereo, IPOD etc. to any FM radio.

[Bongo Prophet]

16. What a great suggestion, Ben

I have one of those in the studio, which I use for lots of different things (an effects device, running audio into it then recording radio into the mix, to get a "radio sound")

I can hook it into my switcher and listen to TV feeds of c-span out on the patio radio.

:thumbsup:

[Bozita]

17. That's the perfect work-around. IIRC, it's about $20 at Best Buy.

Sound quality is excellent. A nice bonus for the money.

[Poiuyt]

18. I use an FM transmitter also

It broadcasts music (or whatever I happen to be listening to) all over my house. The advantage of an FM transmitter over an internet radio is that I can also listen to my iTunes collection in addition to streaming radio. I have one with an AC adapter so I don't have to worry about batteries running out in the middle of the night.

[BelgianMadCow]

9. I incidentally swallowed a USB wireless adapter

and Malloy speaks out of my ass on occasion.

No, seriously, I stream Air America on PC and listen in bed with wireless headphones.

Such a receiver is likely to eat much less energy than my gaming rig though, and it doesn't give you an aching ear when you wake up either.

[pnorman]

11. Here's a listing of several wiFi internet radios:

http://www.ccrane.com/radios/internet-radios/index.aspx The first one listed handles WMA in addition to MP3. But that Infusion one mentioned elsewhere on this thread, is the one that interests me the most.

pnorman

[Bozita]

13. The NYT had an article about these first generation radios

IIRC, they were panned for both cost and quality.

[Bozita]

19. That article was a David Pogue column in the "Circuits" section -- exerpt and link

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/09/business/09pogue.html?_r=1&pagewanted=all

-snip-

As with any new invention, the first iterations of these models are fairly crude; the emphasis was clearly on engineering rather than design or user friendliness. The other big problem: you might have a hard time buying one. Of the five models reviewed here, only one — the Roku — shows up on the Shopping.com price-comparison site. Most of the others come from small European companies that don’t seem to have their distribution act together in the United States.

Still, the category is worth watching — and worth encouraging. Here’s what the first round has in store.

-snip-

So, yes, the Roku is basically Snow White surrounded by obscure European dwarves. But all of these machines have one thing going for them: they deliver endless hours of personality, variety and entertainment — all free, and almost all ad-free. Adding the Internet to the old-time tabletop console may seem like an ultramodern twist, but it delivers real old-time radio joy.

-snip-

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