Link-Up Index

Connecting to the Endless Summer Network with Windows 10: (February 2005)

Brother Richard Ervin provided the solution for me and I hope for you if you've had problems figuring out how to set up Media Player 10 to be automatic:

I have been using the window media player 10 since it was released. To make it work as you mentioned, open windows media player 10..go to Tools..Options...File Type...Select All...O.K....It should then open and play any time you click on the link on your web page...What this does is associate all files types with the media player 10--(thanks Richard, it worked immediately --JH)

(For those who've been having trouble on the Internet--here's the skinny--we now have so many listeners--we had to be moved to an enormous Internet server. If you're not receiving us do the following:

Go to *Tools*
Then to *Internet Options*
Under that select *Delete Files*
and then select *Clear History*

Under Netscape:

Go to *Edit*
then *Preferences*
then *Navigator*
then *History*
and select *Clear History*

If neither of these strategies work, there are a few standard things to check. We've heard from a number of listeners in the last few days who couldn't connect even with the tips above. However, we are webcasting constantly--not off the air. They went back and checked and found a wide variety of problems (from disconnected net cabling, to speakers that had been turned off, etc.)

Another listener uninstalled Media Player 9 and went back to the default Player (I have a suspicion that a re-install of Media Player 9 would now work because the History would have been cleared and the registry readjusted--but that's only a speculation).

If you double check and still are not able to get us online--let me know!

johnhook@mindspring.com

Directions for upgrading your computer to receive the Best of the Beach 24 Hours A Day--Free--All Over the World!

1) Click on the Windows Media button above--get the latest, free Windows Media Player that matches your system (there are directions at the site where this link takes you. Do you have Windows XP? You'll want that version of the Media Player 9 Series. Or, do you have Windows 98 Second Edition [SE], Millenium [Me], or 2000; then get that version of the Media Player 9 Series. Or perhaps you're still running Windows 98; if so, you'll want Windows Media Player 7.1. You'll see that there are choices covering the other Operating Systems as well: Mac OS 8.1 to 9x, Mac OS X, Pocket PC, etc etc. Take your time to select the one that matches your Operating System). Download it to your desktop.

2) After you've downloaded the proper Windows Media Player for your system it's time to check for Windows Updates. Two reasons. a) If you haven't done so lately, it's time to check for critical updates. b) If you find that DirectX is one of the Recommended Updates for your Operating Sytem you'll need to download it as well.

3) Windows Update is usually listed on the menu of the Start button in the lower left part of your screen. Click on it.

4) After the new Windows Update window opens you'll see it says 'Scan for Updates' in the middle of the right side panel. Click on 'Scan for Updates.'

5) If you have Critical Updates (there'll be a number in parentheses) next to 'Critical Updates and Service Packs' in the left-hand panel then select that First.

6) On the right select 'Review and Install Now.' You'll have another little window shift.

(If you're very far behind in updates, it may require that you install one or more of them separate from the others and then install the rest. This takes time, but is well worth the effort. Most of the critical updates nowadays are either Security patches against viruses or they patch problems in many of the proprietary system and subsystems on your computer--they make stuff work better).

8. As you install the Critical Updates (one at a time, or all together) a window occasionally gives you the choice of restarting now or doing so Manually later. Choose Cancel (and we'll do it manually later).

9. Now select the next updates Heading in the left hand panel (there'll be numbers in parentheses next to it). If you haven't updated lately you'll probably see an Update for Windows Media Player, if so, select 'Add'.

10. Scroll down. If you have an update for DirectX 9.0, do the Windows Media Player update first because DirectX has to be updated by itself.

11. Select 'Review and Install Now' for the Windows Media Player update. Then select 'Install Now.' When it's finished it will ask whether to restart the computer now or you can do it manually later. Select 'Cancel.' and go back and Select the second Updates Header where you found Windows Media Player update and the Direct X update. Select 'Add' for the DirectX update. Select 'Review and Install Updates' above. Select 'Install Now.' (DirectX takes a bit longer to download and install. After you've restarted computer--NOT YET--in few more keystrokes, DirectX will have been fully installed).

(as for the other updates....you be the judge, or check with someone who knows what they're doing...most of those 40+ updates are foreign language updates).

(After the DirectX download, click 'Cancel'--instead of restarting your computer-- if you're going to add other Updates or if you notice there are Driver updates. If you see some you think you need...add those as well. Keep going until you've downloaded the last of what you select. By the way, I recommend you NOT download the Media Multimedia Software Update Driver unless you or someone you know *really* know what they're doing).

13) After the restart you should find the MPSetup.exe file on your desktop. Double click it and go through the steps it leads you through. Click the 'Next' and 'Finish' buttons as they come up--unless you really know how and why to customize.

15) Once there, click on 'Best of the Beach Live! Free!' button at the top left. You'll probably get a window saying 'Downloading stream.asp.asx'. It will ask whether to save the file to disk or not. Save it to your desktop.

16) Then launch the file, it should open your Windows Media Player and connect you to the 'Best of the Beach Live! Free!" Enjoy!!!

What About When Your Connection Comes and Goes? Or Continues to Re-Buffer again and again?

The Good News is that the folks at Warp Radio (our Internet streaming company) have encountered just about everything. Go to their site at http://www.warpradio.com/ and click on the Help button at the bottom, you should find that someone has already encountered the breakdown you're experiencing.

I had a problem with the buffering. There are a couple of solutions:
This will help out but sometimes not completely correct all buffering problems. First, determine the version number of the media player you are using (from the Media Player, go to help>about)

On Windows Media Player 6.4
Go to - View. Select Settings > Windows Media Source Filter.

On this new window, you will see a Buffering section, select the radio button for Buffer and increase the number of seconds to 30.

Click Okay.

Go to - Tools > Options > Performance Tab Under Network Buffering

Select the button for Buffer, and increase the number of seconds to 30.

Click Apply >

In the Player Settings window (not the Automatic Updates window) make sure that only one box is checked: 'Connect To the Internet (overrides other commands)

(Any other problems, double check the Help section at Warp Radio with the http://www.warpradio.com/ link.

June Bulletin: If any of you are having problems with 'distortion', go to the View tab at the top of your Media Player, look under Enhancements. If you find that Auto Volume Leveling has been turned on--turn it off. We've learned this has helped with distortion.

July 7 Bulletin: problems with your Media player in the last few days? I had the same problem. Here's how to fix the problem:

At the top of the Internet Explorer browser page is a button named "Media." For some reason it may have been activated (maybe by a small change I made in the 'Listen Live' link). When I disengaged the "Media" button on my Internet Explorer and re-clicked the "Click This Line To Listen Live...." link, my Windows 9 Media Player came right up.

July 7 B: Michael and Ruth Browne are using the RCA Lyra Wireless speaker system to fill their house with the Endless Summer Network (I believe that's the system carried by Radio Shack). Michael provides the following directions for set-up for those who have Windows XP (and the other windows systems are going to be 'similar' in set-up):

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