1592 BBC Radio 2

who do you have your internet connection / broadband with? I'm going to be completely lost without my daily (hourly) internet fix ...... at the moment we don't even have a phone line, but as soon as that is sorted we will want to get broadband sorted out

Telecom Italia....we asked for an internet link when they finally got round to connecting the phone and we got broadband !!!...not complaining at the moment tho' !

I have heard that its a good idea to use TIM only for connection then to use tele2 for ADSL and calls - does anyone have experience of this - as I believe I might be signing up on Monday!

[QUOTE=Technically Blonde]who do you have your internet connection / broadband with? I'm going to be completely lost without my daily (hourly) internet fix ...... at the moment we don't even have a phone line, but as soon as that is sorted we will want to get broadband sorted out[/QUOTE]

Suggest you consider a mobile phone GPRS connection for your internet usage, brilliant and very reasonable costs. E20-E30 per mth depending on level of service. Even with a landline we find this suits us better!

[QUOTE=alex and lyn]is anyone else having trouble connecting to the BBC radio site. I have Broadband and suddenly over the last few days i am having trouble getting the radio....am I doing something wrong.. :confused: ...or is it their end ?????????
Was getting it perfectly for weeks ...miss Tery Wogan and Steve Wright !!! :([/QUOTE]

I am having the same problem reported to BBC via website but they haven't come back to me. Sometimes I can't even navigate to the radio page of the BBC website. Other times I get as far as radioplayer but get a "general error message". Is your problem the same?
I'm with Telecom Italia, are you. I run on windows XP and have tried with 2 different computers. One thing that may be relevant is that I do recall being prompted to load a newer version of mediaplayer, which I did. I don't remember though if this was before or after the problems started.
The last time I remember it running properly was for the Ashes.

Is there any one techy out there who can help us.

Hi , yes exactly the same problem...strange isn't it ...it worked beautifully a couple of weeks ago...I can now listen to the Listen Again shows but still not the Live broadcasts. Let me know if you hear anything...would be very grateful.

[QUOTE=DavidandLinda]Suggest you consider a mobile phone GPRS connection for your internet usage, brilliant and very reasonable costs. E20-E30 per mth depending on level of service. Even with a landline we find this suits us better![/QUOTE]

Would this be a remote plug in system - portable in other words?

[QUOTE=sdoj]I am having the same problem reported to BBC via website but they haven't come back to me. Sometimes I can't even navigate to the radio page of the BBC website. Other times I get as far as radioplayer but get a "general error message". Is your problem the same?
I'm with Telecom Italia, are you. I run on windows XP and have tried with 2 different computers. One thing that may be relevant is that I do recall being prompted to load a newer version of mediaplayer, which I did. I don't remember though if this was before or after the problems started.
The last time I remember it running properly was for the Ashes.

Is there any one techy out there who can help us.[/QUOTE]

Are you accessing the website through Mozilla Firefox or through Internet Explorer?

I have noticed recently that the Firefox browser does not allow some applications - on my PC that includes Windows Media Player.

I've just tried it( XP Pro, Explorer, and RealPlayer) and it's working fine. If you're getting an error message, copy the exact text of the message and type it into google. You should get a few pages back suggesting a fix.
RealPlayer should work fine with Netscape or Firefox but you may need the separate plugin. For this, go direct to the RealPlayer site and download.
Are you perhaps running some anti-virus software that might be blocking it? Norton firewall notorious for that kind of thing. Maybe your provider is blocking it? :confused:

BTW, I'm in the mobile industry and I certainly wouldn't suggest using GPRS as an internet connection substitute. Ok for mobile, emergency only internet access. Otherwise it's slow, expensive and unattractive. No comparison.
In any case, 3G is a far better, faster method of mobile internet connection. However, even the coverage for this is not yet widespread and for long periods of internet connection it's very expensive.

Derek

[QUOTE=Sano]Would this be a remote plug in system - portable in other words?[/QUOTE]

Yes, we have had our main computer and our laptop configured to use this system. Very pleased with results.

Derek, Sorry but out here in Italy we personally have found GPRS internet connection a more than adequate substitute! Previously we had a very very slow connection(no broadband where we are)which did not support an even reasonable running speed. Now we have GPRS we have an excellect fast connection and running speed at very reasonable costs, more than adequate for our needs. Certainly until something better comes along.

[QUOTE=DavidandLinda]Derek, Sorry but out here in Italy we personally have found GPRS internet connection a more than adequate substitute! Previously we had a very very slow connection(no broadband where we are)which did not support an even reasonable running speed. Now we have GPRS we have an excellect fast connection and running speed at very reasonable costs, more than adequate for our needs. Certainly until something better comes along.[/QUOTE]

Ok, are you using a mobile connect card with an Italian SIM, attached to the computer? I thought you were accessing directly from mobile. :eek:
Obviously cheaper over there. I wouldn't even consider doing that here unless the company was paying :)

[QUOTE=DavidandLinda]Suggest you consider a mobile phone GPRS connection for your internet usage, brilliant and very reasonable costs. E20-E30 per mth depending on level of service. Even with a landline we find this suits us better![/QUOTE]

Unfortunately (or perhaps fortunately), I'm a web designer and application developer. Not sure a mobile phone connection will meet my needs. Mainly because of the costs when loading development to remote sites.

Telecom offers different broadband services both for business and personal use, I am quite happy with the service, I have had a couple of problems on the line, which have been dealt with in a very efficient and quick manner. They have an offer (until 28th October) on for personal / family use where they can connect you for free (but you'll have to check if your area is covered by broadband - ADSL in Italian). [url]www.alice.it[/url] - the website is in italian though...
Another provider is fastweb - [url]www.fastweb.it[/url] - I cannot comment on this since I have not tried it...however it seems to be quite popular.

We get our radio 2 thru the uk sky dish,(unfortunately have to have english tv as we have young children)
Italian tv is pants!

[QUOTE=derekL]I've just tried it( XP Pro, Explorer, and RealPlayer) and it's working fine. If you're getting an error message, copy the exact text of the message and type it into google. You should get a few pages back suggesting a fix.
RealPlayer should work fine with Netscape or Firefox but you may need the separate plugin. For this, go direct to the RealPlayer site and download.
Are you perhaps running some anti-virus software that might be blocking it? Norton firewall notorious for that kind of thing. Maybe your provider is blocking it? :confused:

BTW, I'm in the mobile industry and I certainly wouldn't suggest using GPRS as an internet connection substitute. Ok for mobile, emergency only internet access. Otherwise it's slow, expensive and unattractive. No comparison.
In any case, 3G is a far better, faster method of mobile internet connection. However, even the coverage for this is not yet widespread and for long periods of internet connection it's very expensive.

Derek[/QUOTE]

Thanks Derek, Quite helpful - I use IE v.6.0. I think I have found a sort of fix from the BBC website where they offer a webpage without frames, which is literally that: all the information from the usual page without the "frames". Do you know why this should make such a difference?

I am hoping in the future to be able to use Skype on some sort of 3G device. Using it on the landline has slashed my phone bills - I speak with China and Australia quite a bit and of course UK. Do you know what's coming up in that arena because I would like to slash my mobile bills too, which are astronomic?

All the best

[QUOTE=alex and lyn]Hi , yes exactly the same problem...strange isn't it ...it worked beautifully a couple of weeks ago...I can now listen to the Listen Again shows but still not the Live broadcasts. Let me know if you hear anything...would be very grateful.[/QUOTE]

I have found a sort of fix from the BBC website, they offer a webpage without frames, which is literally that: all the information from the usual page without the "frames".

[url]http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio/aod/index_noframes.shtml[/url]

[QUOTE=derekL]BTW, I'm in the mobile industry and I certainly wouldn't suggest using GPRS as an internet connection substitute. Ok for mobile, emergency only internet access. Otherwise it's slow, expensive and unattractive. No comparison.
In any case, 3G is a far better, faster method of mobile internet connection. However, even the coverage for this is not yet widespread and for long periods of internet connection it's very expensive.

Derek[/QUOTE]

Derek could I pick your brains please??
Our house hasn't yet got a phone line organised by us (although one seems to be attached to the house and heads off towards the hills and seems to end in an olive tree and it maybe should be attached to the pole that our neighbours are attached to - one of the things we will be trying to work out when we go back next week).
Regardless of that I have been rummaging around online and using our closest neighbours telephone number (the one whose phone line actually goes somewhere) I have ascertained that we are not yet broadband enabled.
Additionally on our previous visits it seems like mobile reception is a bit patchy - with both vodafone (aka omnitel) or wind.
Would you reckons that is due to our locality or would one of the other telephonino operators give better coverage?
I've just bought a mobile connect card and am hoping to hook up (to collect and send e-mails if nothing else) and was going to purchase a libero card (wind) at 1 euro per MB download as using my english sim card costs an absolute fortune. (Tim do not seem to have an equivalent product but I am happen to be proven wrong!).
Have you the time to let me know how daft my thinking may be??
At the moment I have no fixed line, even if I can organise a fixed line broadband is not an available option just now. If I just pick up and send emails on my mobile it seems to be the cost of an overseas call (via mobile) and the data download (I may have mis-understood this as it doesn't seem the way I would have expected but that is what my bills seem to be saying.)
Anyway I am almost at the point where I am removing myself from needing to be contactable from the Uk and at that point I will be very happy and this question will be completely irrelevant . ...... hoping to soon get to the point where I can turn myself off from the world and let it revolve without me but just for now accessibility when I have shot off to italy is an issue.
Another option that has been bandied about is satellite adsl and it is quoted as being very common but as I am a completely new arrival in Italy I haven't explored a lot of possibilities yet.
Apologies if I have bored you rigid, any advice or assistance form all will be gratefully received,
Regards, Lesley & Brian

[QUOTE=iwanttobeinitaly] Derek could I pick your brains please??[/QUOTE]
:eek: First, you'll have to excuse my lack of knowledge of Italian networks but I'll try and give some general advice. I'm assuming you're using a laptop?
I think it's well possibile that some operators have better coverage than others in your area. Rather than trying different operators, try and find out who the preferred operator is in your area. The locals will probably know.
The first thing to note, however, is that heavy mobile internet use is quite expensive whether you're using GPRS or 3G (3G expensive while GPRS is cheaper but takes longer). What type of connect card do you have? GPRS or 3G/GPRS? They're really supposed to be used as a mobile solution rather than static use. However, rather than paying so much per MB download, I'm pretty sure you should be able to sign up for a more efficient deal with your provider (more MBs for your money), particularly if you're using it on a regular basis. Using a UK SIM, though, will cost you. I'm assuming it's a voda connect card so you might be limited as to the type of SIMs you can use with it. Why not leave the voda connect card at home and look for a similar solution in Italy. Again, first make sure coverage is ok.

I also have a Nokia Phone Card 2.0. It looks a little like a connect card but it will take any type of SIM. A bit slower so useful if only looking for occasional browsing or email. It acts like a regular modem so you dial into an ISP using the [local] SIM, do your stuff, then disconnect. You're paying for a local mobile call to a local number (ISP). This device will probably cost around £175. [URL]http://www.europe.nokia.com/nokia/0,,2381,00.html[/URL] plus your calls, obviously. The advantage is that you could probably use a cheap pay-as-you-go account.

Lastly, local wireless networks. I live in the sticks here in Ireland and I'm lucky even to have an analogue line!! However, quite a few private wireless groups have set up in various locations around me. Basically, someone in a good, high location sets up a wireless network directly with a provider then he invites people living remotely nearby to join his/her network for a small monthly fee to cover his/her larger monthly outlay. I'm sure you'll find the same thing happening in Italy.

Hope I've answered a few things and not confused you even more!

Derek

[QUOTE=sdoj]Thanks Derek, Quite helpful - I use IE v.6.0. I think I have found a sort of fix from the BBC website where they offer a webpage without frames, which is literally that: all the information from the usual page without the "frames". Do you know why this should make such a difference?

I am hoping in the future to be able to use Skype on some sort of 3G device. Using it on the landline has slashed my phone bills - I speak with China and Australia quite a bit and of course UK. Do you know what's coming up in that arena because I would like to slash my mobile bills too, which are astronomic?

All the best[/QUOTE]

Not sure the BBC are using frames. I'd be very surprised if they were. Frames are evil and hard to maintain. I'd say the simple text version is a way of displaying the necessary information for those who have disabled (usually for security reasons) all the fancy background scripting and pop-ups or for those who prefer the simplest, lightest browsers.

I think P2P (VoIP) will catch on for mobile devices at some stage, but not sure when. I believe it's already in use in a number of countries, including Japan. You'll be using the internet rather than the mobile network to talk, so it should slash your mobile bills. But therein lies the problem. Operators will lose money, so until a solution is found that makes everyone happy...
You'll probably find that it will become an 'extra', like 3G, so you'll pay for it!
We'll see.

[QUOTE=derekL]Not sure the BBC are using frames. I'd be very surprised if they were. Frames are evil and hard to maintain. I'd say the simple text version is a way of displaying the necessary information for those who have disabled (usually for security reasons) all the fancy background scripting and pop-ups or for those who prefer the simplest, lightest browsers.

I think P2P (VoIP) will catch on for mobile devices at some stage, but not sure when. I believe it's already in use in a number of countries, including Japan. You'll be using the internet rather than the mobile network to talk, so it should slash your mobile bills. But therein lies the problem. Operators will lose money, so until a solution is found that makes everyone happy...
You'll probably find that it will become an 'extra', like 3G, so you'll pay for it!
We'll see.[/QUOTE]
look at the name of the web page that works:

[url]http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio/aod/index_noframes.shtml[/url]

[QUOTE=herealready]We get our radio 2 thru the uk sky dish,(unfortunately have to have english tv as we have young children)
Italian tv is pants![/QUOTE]
What size dish do you have to get english tv (and whereabouts in Italy are you)? Do you get all the english channels? We're moving to Puglia next month and Bob is investgating sky / uk tv possibilities at the moment.

I personally feel that Terry Wogan would be absolutely flattered to learn of the dedication of his loyal fans, and the lengths to which they're prepared to go to listen to his programme...
A Credit to all of yer.... ;)

[QUOTE=Technically Blonde]What size dish do you have to get english tv (and whereabouts in Italy are you)? Do you get all the english channels? We're moving to Puglia next month and Bob is investgating sky / uk tv possibilities at the moment.[/QUOTE]

From what I have seen regarding dishes in the South you would need a dish about 2.5 metres wide!
And apparently the channels fade out during the day even with a dish as big as a house :D .
Lesley

[QUOTE=sdoj]look at the name of the web page that works:
[url]http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio/aod/index_noframes.shtml[/url][/QUOTE]

You're right, looks like they are. :eek:
Quote from html-faq.com:

[I]To make-up for the usability deficiencies, many framed websites use some client-side techniques which cause further maintenance nightmares. There is a definite usability versus maintenance trade-off with frames, which make it a difficult technology to manage well. The alternatives available have none of these drawbacks, thus frames are a sub-optimal, and typically backward solution.

Most of this "usability"-hacking of framed websites results in a complete dependancy on Javascript - another evil. Considering the on-going problems related to Windows lax security model (in the OS, Outlook and Internet Explorer) and the exponential growth of scripted worms and viruses (Melissa, Love Bug, Kornikova, SirCam, Code Red, Code Red II, Code Blue, Nimda), this convinces a greater number of surfers switching off Javascript entirely, which in turn causes a framed and scripted site to die a rather horrible death in the browser.[/I]

Other problems include:
Printing
Bookmarking
Searching

Information on roaming charges and providers:

[URL]http://www.europa.eu.int/information_society/activities/roaming/index_en.htm[/URL]

Derek

PS Actually, pretty good website for all EU matters.
[URL]http://www.europa.eu.int/index_en.htm[/URL]

[QUOTE=derekL]Information on roaming charges and providers:

[URL]http://www.europa.eu.int/information_society/activities/roaming/index_en.htm[/URL]

Derek

PS Actually, pretty good website for all EU matters.
[URL]http://www.europa.eu.int/index_en.htm[/URL][/QUOTE]

thanks for that will check it out

[QUOTE=derekL]You're right, looks like they are. :eek:
Quote from html-faq.com:

[I]To make-up for the usability deficiencies, many framed websites use some client-side techniques which cause further maintenance nightmares. There is a definite usability versus maintenance trade-off with frames, which make it a difficult technology to manage well. The alternatives available have none of these drawbacks, thus frames are a sub-optimal, and typically backward solution.

Most of this "usability"-hacking of framed websites results in a complete dependancy on Javascript - another evil. Considering the on-going problems related to Windows lax security model (in the OS, Outlook and Internet Explorer) and the exponential growth of scripted worms and viruses (Melissa, Love Bug, Kornikova, SirCam, Code Red, Code Red II, Code Blue, Nimda), this convinces a greater number of surfers switching off Javascript entirely, which in turn causes a framed and scripted site to die a rather horrible death in the browser.[/I]

Other problems include:
Printing
Bookmarking
Searching[/QUOTE]

Thanks. So do you think my problem is browser setting (must enable javascript) or firewall (I think it is XP firewall) or AVG antivirus or all/any of the above?

[QUOTE=sdoj]Thanks. So do you think my problem is browser setting (must enable javascript) or firewall (I think it is XP firewall) or AVG antivirus or all/any of the above?[/QUOTE]

Probably, difficult to tell unless I have the exact wording of the error(s).
In short it's WINDOWS!
To be fair, though, it's also website developers who make sites too complicated and reliable on too many different technologies.

Glad to see you're using AVG. Me too. Much better than the Norton or MacAffee monsters.

Derek

[QUOTE=GeorgeS]I personally feel that Terry Wogan would be absolutely flattered to learn of the dedication of his loyal fans, and the lengths to which they're prepared to go to listen to his programme...
A Credit to all of yer.... ;)[/QUOTE]

Not just Terry Wogan ...BBC radio is the most listened to in the world and not just by tax exiles floating along in their gin palaces as one rather rude BBC World Service executive referred to some of his fellow countrymen who were asking for more coverage of things British. People in Iraq and Afghanistan listen to it, people in Africa listen on their wind up radios and some of us like to listen on our computers because it is good quality sound.

Derek, Technically Blonde, IwanttobeinItaly, etc......
This thread is becoming too technical for us re GPRS.
However how it works for us.. is....A dedicated mobile phone connected to either of our computers, (laptop and desktop)copes with all our requirements.
Normal usage...inc sending and receiving photos. All at reasonable speed as well for E30 a month, there is even a cheaper option for lower usage users at E20.
Seems a simple and straight forward option to us. It was all sorted out by a professional at a local computer/phone shop.

[QUOTE=DavidandLinda]
This thread is becoming too technical for us re GPRS.
[/QUOTE]

LOL! Know what you mean, I'm confused myself.
Could I just ask you what network you are on for your internet access?
And do you find it variable re reception at all.
(I have found reception where we are is OK either very early or very late but almost non-existant during the day).

Regards, Lesley

[QUOTE=DavidandLinda]However how it works for us.. is....A dedicated mobile phone connected to either of our computers, (laptop and desktop)copes with all our requirements.
Normal usage...inc sending and receiving photos. All at reasonable speed as well for E30 a month, there is even a cheaper option for lower usage users at E20.[/QUOTE]

Ok, no more technical stuff from me then. Just a quick question. Does the E30 per month charge cover everything, including unlimited connection time? Or is it simply a monthly fee and connections extra? If the former, it sounds well worth it and certainly worth considering.
Maybe, as per usual, we're being ripped off here in Ireland and UK!

Derek

[QUOTE=iwanttobeinitaly]LOL! Know what you mean, I'm confused myself.
Could I just ask you what network you are on for your internet access?
And do you find it variable re reception at all.
(I have found reception where we are is OK either very early or very late but almost non-existant during the day).

Regards, Lesley[/QUOTE]

We are using VodafoneIT and do not seem to have any reception problems.

[QUOTE=derekL]Ok, no more technical stuff from me then. Just a quick question. Does the E30 per month charge cover everything, including unlimited connection time? Or is it simply a monthly fee and connections extra? If the former, it sounds well worth it and certainly worth considering.
Maybe, as per usual, we're being ripped off here in Ireland and UK!

Derek[/QUOTE]
A monthly fee with no extra charges unless you reach the limit allowed for downloads. Not sure of figures but computer expert laughed when we asked if it would be sufficient for our needs. We send/receive photos etc. So no problems and seemingly good value. Obviously this system can be tailored to the individuals requirements.