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Listeners receiving 'Insufficient Bandwidth' messages - PLEASE READ!
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Cascaispickle
Have you read other messages in this long thread ?
Did you use the contact form ?
Details always help and IF it is a BBC problem with CDN then contact form is essential.This is a reply to this message.
If you're able to hear other streams through your speakers, Mary, it sounds like the problem is with the BBC.
This is a reply to this message.
Hi Mary,
I suggest you start a new thread about your own problem.exchanged our cheap speakers for something 3 times the price with an on/off knob only to find we can't get anything from bbc iplayer.
If you buy and connect a new set of speakers with or without an on off switch it should not affect your ability to use BBC iPlayer.
It may depending on the speakers and your setup and settings prevent you hearing anything !
If however like many users in this thread you have problems with only one BBC Radio stream but others work ok the problem may well be with BBC CDN. In which case fire off a contact form and post most of the details on the messageboard please.This is a reply to this message.
We get the insufficient bandwidth message and no sound on Radio 4 frequently. The modem data indicator flashes as if data is being transfered and the diagnostic test says all is well. Other channels are all recieved normally. This happens using both normal and lower bandwidth options. Any suggestions please?
This is a reply to this message.
Alan,
I live in France and have been getting this insufficent bandwidth message for about a week. It first occurred with radio 4 and I was still able to get the other stations. I can now only get the world service. I do hope that this problem will soon be resolved. PS I am a Mac OS user.
SusanThis is a reply to this message.
I have been recieving "insufficient band width messages" and am now unable to "listen again on radios 4 & 7
This is a reply to this message.
Thank you so much, John, for your kind, courteous and prompt reply.
I shall do the things you suggest, which only sound a little bit beyond me...
Here's hoping!
PaulThis is a reply to this message.
Hi Peter, (msg# 84),
If you get low and normal bandwidth iPlayer streams that implies you are listening from the UK.
I suggest you start a new thread of your own, this thread was started to address problems that affect users outside the UK.
Please remember to give full information when you do post, it helps others give appropriate answers (see www.bbc.co.uk/dna/mb... )This is a reply to this message.
Hi mell,
I suggest you start a new thread of your own if you have multiple problems.
If you only have the one problem namely 'insufficent bandwidth' messages that do NOT affect all BBC radio channels then read the tips and suggestions within this thread that you are already in.
And do not forget to use the contact form for the BBC. The BBC keep saying repeatedly it must be used in addition to posting on this messageboard. (See for instance Alan from BBC post: www.bbc.co.uk/dna/mb... )
JohnThis is a reply to this message.
I am in south West France. I am getting the insufficient bandwidth message and have been for about a week now. Average download/streaming speed today 1818 kbps, as measured on iplayer monitor.
Have spent all afternoon going though forums, help, FAQ, updating Flash and then found your message. Have tried twice to complete the bbc web form - it is so slow and then it sends you off to look at other things and then all the questions you have already answered disappear. got to the final hurdle on the second attempt, just went to check th link it suggested before submitting my question, and it all disappeared again. shouldn't think they get many completed forms sent back. Will try again if you think it wil help the cause. .
I can listen to listen again. Can't listen live any more. Has been working brilliantly for several years and has been down for about a week, was intermittent during the election week end.This is a reply to this message.
Replying to my own message. Forgot to put the radio station
BBC Radio 4
Windows XP
ISP Alice Broad Band
BBC iplayer
MozillaThis is a reply to this message.
Hi Alan
Am severely bummed by R4 Live dying on me here in France where I've been a happy listener for many years.
As for many others, it would seem, everything else (other stations, Listen Again etc) work fine: just no R4 live streaming, always the "insufficient bandwidth" message...or occasionally just "Now playing: R4 FM" and the rest is silence.
Am sending this same message along with the information you request to your BBC mail address.
Here's hoping...
PaulThis is a reply to this message.
Hi everyone,
Am in Paris and the problem continues. I have sent a message to the contacts successfully, hopefully this may get something done about it. Today I have been able to listen to LW which is fine when the cricket is not on.
BronThis is a reply to this message.
I get insufficient...... on Radio 4 but not On radio 1,2,3 listen again etc
I have at least 20M connection and pass all the bbc tests for bandwidth
JamesThis is a reply to this message.
yes i love cricket too!!
And the sound effects given certain weather conditions etc
And when will LW be axed?This is a reply to this message.
Greetings to Alan and all readers of this thread,
I am experiencing the "Insufficient bandwidth" problem, too and enclose as much information as seems useful for resolving it.
Duration : since several weeks ago. Very occasionally it has worked.
My location : Paris, France. ISP : Free.fr
My machine : PC running Windows XP SP3, processor T2050 1.6GHz, 1Gb RAM.
Browser : Firefox 3.6.3 but same problem with IE.
Connection : Broadband; BBC diagnostics give 4Mbps streaming. I am using a wifi connection to the box, which is configured for NAT. If using a 100baseT cable I get about 19Mbps for a test with speedtest.net.
Other clues :
No problem with iPlayer version 2.23.18182 listening live to radios 1, 3, 6, 7, WS. But I *DO* encounter the same symptoms with R2 (insufficient bandwidth message).
No problem with Listen Again (at least not at the moment !)
The iPlayer offers a link for "Use lower bandwidth version" but this makes no difference.
Link used to start Listen live : www.bbc.co.uk/iplaye...
Although no sound is produced, there appears to be a data stream, to judge from the network card monitor. The datastream is NOT stopped by using the "Stop" button, only by closing the window or by changing to a different radio station.
EdgeFCS IP number obtained : 194.209.253.101
VERY INTERESTING : I have just, while writing this, tried using the cable instead of wifi connection : it works ! Radio 2 also. What is more, when returning to the wifi connection, it continues to work for a short while. I'm now back to the "Insufficient bandwidth" message.
Looks like there's some business (synchro...? - I don't have sufficient knowledge of streaming techniques) that needs a tad more reactivity from the network than the wifi link can provide. Might be a clue.
I have already used the Contact form, but you can't say much in 350 caracters...!
Best regards.This is a reply to this message.
@ John of Paris
Why not start your own thread, maybe a title of Radio 4 problems in Paris.
You could mention your other messages and include links. New short threads tend to get more answers. Alan Ogilvie started this one to get specific info which he did eventually obtain.
Is your local PC date and time correct ? that is sometimes known to cause problems with iPlayer.The iPlayer offers a link for "Use lower bandwidth version" but this makes no difference.
I am fairly certain that you should not receive that message.
I am also fairly certain other users overseas have sometimes received such messages.
I think the BBC should be interested in you receiving that message whilst outside the UK
Alan Ogilvie was at one time asking in this thread that users email him directly. There was also a BBC faq that linked to this thread, but that seems to have disapeared, and I suspect the BBC is no longer taking much interest in posts to this old thread.This is a reply to this message.
radio 2 in your case is the problem ( I said r4 ).
You also mention it works on cable connection but not WiFi connection
You may genuinely have low bandwidth problems when WiFi used.
Have you tried to improve WiFi connection ?
Have you run iPlayer diagnostics separately on both cable & WiFi connections, do the results differ. ?
John99This is a reply to this message.
John_of_Paris,
I can reproduce the problem you're seeing on that EdgeFCS node. I've asked our Ops team to report this to Akamai, as it's likely that node has got "stuck" (this is a known problem).
AndrewThis is a reply to this message.
Thank you Andrew. I'm glad to see that the BBC does not lose interest in threads just because they are long or have been going for some time. A couple of months seems very modest to me, especially if the problem appears to persist !
JoPThis is a reply to this message.
@John99
Thanks for your comments, John. Just a few remarks to clarify my initial post of yesterday :
- My problem indeed concerns listening live to Radio 4. I do not listen to R2 but cited it because I observe the same symptoms, which were corrected for both stations by using a cable instead of wifi.
- Of course the diagnostics are different when connected by cable. With the cable I get over 14Mbps on BBC diagnostics. But if the wifi gives 4Mbps that would seem adequate for a service the BBC rates at 128Kbps. As I said in my post, I do not think that the problem I at any rate am experiencing is entirely to do with simple speed.
- I think I stated clearly enough that with wifi I only have problems receiving R2 and R4. Other stations are fine.
- How do you suggest improving the wifi connection? The signal is rated "excellent", I have very little signal loss/reconnection issues and the BBC iPlayer, listen live R4 is the only service in my modest usage of the Internet that is causing me problems. I am using a channel set manually after having scanned neighbouring wifi channel usage (admittedly pretty dense here, but I found one free!)
- My PC clock is synchronized automatically every 24h.
- As regards a new thread I do not see any reason. It seems to me best to have one thread per specific symptom, at any rate as long as the problem continues. To judge from other posts this does not seem to be a geographical issue that would justify complicating matters for those interested in resolving the problem, with a separate thread. On the other hand, I personally when searching for information prefer to go through a long but useful thread than have to sift through a load of short ones. Also those who have already contributed are more likely to follow the same one and pick up new ideas such as the wifi angle.This is a reply to this message.
Sorry, folks: looks like the wifi story was a false trail. I'm now getting the dreaded Insufficient bandwidth message with the cable as well. May have been pure coincidence that it worked last night. Maybe there are network traffic issues.
For info a ping on 212.58.244.141 gets me an average of 38ms.
Regards,
JoPThis is a reply to this message.
I'm trying to listen to R4 on a corporate network in Italy - and am getting the insufficient bandwidth message - I remember a period last year when there was an issue as well.
My wifi internet radio at home could pick up R4 this morning, but at work now I've resorted to the World Service.
I had the same problem yesterday - but it seemed to resolve late afternoon.
Isobel, RomeThis is a reply to this message.
ileyshon,
Please visit this URL:
cp60697.live.edgefcs...
And post the IP address it gives you back here - I can then test your local edge server to see whether it's stuck.
Thanks,
AndrewThis is a reply to this message.
I'm having the problem with the insufficient bandwidth message but only with R2. the BBC speed test is consistantly over 6mbs. Only R2 ffected R1, R3, R4 R5 etc all work OK.
I regularly listed to R2 in the morning (wogan/evans) the problems only started during the last 7 days. i use wifi connection and ethernet cable and the problem is the same.
Hope you can sort the problems soon.
Cheers
Andy Parsons, FranceThis is a reply to this message.
andy,
You might well be experiencing the same problem as John_of_Paris, given that you're in France as well.
To double check, please visit the following URL:
cp60694.live.edgefcs...
If the IP it gives you is 194.209.253.101, then it's the same problem, and we've reported this to Akamai today. If it's a different IP, please paste it here and I'll test it from our end.
Thanks,
AndrewThis is a reply to this message.
South West France. I am still getting the insufficient bandwidth message on my ethernet connected computer and wifi laptop. Also Use lower bandwidth version. Have visited the url and this is the IP
194.209.253.78
Help please ? Its awfully quiet without Radio 4 liveThis is a reply to this message.
Andrew, I get the following 194.209.253.69
thanks for you help.
Cheers
AndyThis is a reply to this message.
< Just as a couple of general comments
_ Connection Quality_
Anyone wanting to check connection quality may be interested in Alan's post about that. (I thought it was within this thread but apparently not) see: www.bbc.co.uk/dna/mb... I think it was suggested the information obtained could be useful in confirming your connection is ok.
_ Stuck Streams_
There was also arecent thread where Alan commented on the streams havving to be restarted see: www.bbc.co.uk/dna/mb...
< @ John_of_Paris (msg ~ 96,99,100, & 102)
You have now got the BBC commenting on this thread, so struggling with the contact form was probably worth it. If length is a problem as you mentioned, maybe you could try posting the confidential info such as your own IPA in the contact form and additional info such as the edge server detail on the board, you can include a link to the board in the contact form.
_ WiFi _
I was wondering if your problem was down to the WiFi until you posted back first to state the WiFi speed and then to say you still have problems with the cable connection.
_ TIme _
iPlayer may well not require exact time synchronisation, but some of its functions do not work when time/date are our incorrect ( as confirmed recently : "Hey Presto! my problem is now solved.
www.bbc.co.uk/dna/mb... " )
PS _ Message board Buggy _ the message numbering and linking on this messageboard has problems, it gets worse on longer threads, it has problem over 20 replies and developed a problem a while ago on threads over 100 long.
Dont be surprised to find links take you to the original post instead of where you want, there is however a workaround: www.bbc.co.uk/dna/mb...This is a reply to this message.
Andrew,
I'm getting: 92.123.74.93
IsobelThis is a reply to this message.
andy,
I'm also able to reproduce the problem on that node. Its IP is very close to that of the other problematic node, so we may have a problematic intermediary node - I'll pass this on as well and hopefully we'll get it resolved soon.
Radio 4 was failing on that node for me as well as Radio 2.
AndrewThis is a reply to this message.
Vivien,
Same problem on that IP - I can see it's stuck from here.
Again, given the fact that the IP addresses are in the same class c network, I suspect there may be an intermediate node that's stuck and is affecting a number of edge nodes.
I'll add that IP to the fault report, and hopefully we'll get it fixed shortly.
Thanks for your patience.
AndrewThis is a reply to this message.
Andrew,
many thanks for your prompt responses.
If you have time tio reply just to satisfy my curiosity why would it only affect my listening to R2 and not the other BBC stations?
regards
AndyThis is a reply to this message.
ileyshon,
I am also able to reproduce the fault on that node, so will add it the the list on the fault report, and hopefully it'll be fixed shortly.
AndrewThis is a reply to this message.
Many thanks to you for knowing the right question to ask.
This is a reply to this message.
andy,
No problem, hopefully we'll get normal service restored quickly!
Assuming it's the problem I'm thinking of, when the bug manifests it only affects a specific stream on a specific server. (In this case the fault seems to have occurred on both Radio 2 and Radio 4 at the same time, but that's probably just bad luck).
I won't go into details of the bug because I'm not sure how much of it is sensitive information, but it can also affect multiple edge nodes if a single regional intermediate node experiences the fault - because that would in turn affect all downstream nodes.
Hope that makes sense.
AndrewThis is a reply to this message.
Same problems in central France - no iplayer radio on R4 or R2 but ok on R3 and R5. Working using .asx
HilaryThis is a reply to this message.
thanks Andrew, I'll reply as soon as normal service is resumed
regards
AndyThis is a reply to this message.
R4 is back - in Rome at least! Many thanks Andrew - heroic - I can face a few more hours at my desk now - I'm even able to catch the last half hour of PM.
IsobelThis is a reply to this message.
Andrew,
Thanks for sorting out the problems.
Did you notice John_of_Paris in mesg#96 www.bbc.co.uk/dna/mb... mentioned he had dificulty because of the BBC limit of 350 characters in the comments on the contact form.
Alan Ogilvie keeps stressing that contact forms must be used (eg see : www.bbc.co.uk/dna/mb... ). It seems a rather retrograde step to seriously reduce the length of comments.
JohnThis is a reply to this message.
Radio 4 live is back. Thank you so much for getting to the bottom of this problem and putting it right. I'm sure you have made many people very happy. thank you once again..
Kind regards
VivienThis is a reply to this message.
Many thank for sorting out this problem. Radio 4 is now back on my computer.
This is a reply to this message.
Andrew,
many thanks for you help. R2 now working.
If the time ever comes when the BBC find a way of offering all their services via an international licence fee I will be first in the queue.
Long may the BBC prosper
kind regards
AndyThis is a reply to this message.
John99,
No problem, glad to help.
Yes I did spot the note about the 350 character limit. I've spoken to Audience Services about this, and they explained that the limitation is in the software they import the contact form data into. They're looking at whether this limit can be increased (or removed).
We're also going to see about getting the support staff to ask listeners who report this problem to hit the relevant "ident" URL (which we will provide them with) and give us the edge server node they're connected to, so we can sort these faults out quicker.
I can also confirm that Akamai have fixed this particular instance of the fault, which, as suspected, had affected a small number of intermediate nodes.
AndrewThis is a reply to this message.
Andrew,
Thanks for prompt response
_350 char limit_Yes I did spot the note about the 350 character limit. I've spoken to Audience Services about this, and they explained that the limitation is in the software they import the contact form data into. They're looking at whether this limit can be increased (or removed).
I did start a thread about this,
[ 'Contact Form Comments: 350 character limit, is this new? ' www.bbc.co.uk/dna/mb... ]
I and at least one regular user seem to think this is a NEW limit. Something you may have noticed yourself if you get transcripts of the contact form relating to radio problems.
I am fairly certain I have sent comments exceeding 350 characters, and am absolutely certain I have used the complaints version of the contact form an included more than 350 chars. previously.
_ "ident" URL _
I have no ideas on the practicalities of this but could one of these methods work
- specific input field on contact form
could the standard contact form be modified to ask for this information. (I wondered if your comment implied it would require a separate email question from the BBC and additional response from the user)
- specific FAQ
The faqs are designed to include links and responses, a recent faq, and now removed faq was linked to this thread. Could that method be used to ask for the specific information.
_ User IPAddress _
Alan was asking for that at one time, is that normally helpful or is the ident URL or IPA sufficient. Possibly enough information could be inferred from ISP name & user location. (I mention that because of obvious problems with posting user IPA).
If your job includes fixing the stuck streams, or the distorted streams, it will presumably be made easier if you get the correct information from the users. That in turn requires users to know what information to provide and how to provide it.
_Thanks_
for the replies it is always helpful for us users when we get feedback from the BBC on the messageboard about problems.
No doubt your work centres on fixing the CDN problems not sorting out the messageboard, but at least you should know the right people to pass comments on to.
John.This is a reply to this message.
The 350 character limit is definitely new. If the limit is imposed by the software that they use with contact forms, they must be using new software.
This is a reply to this message.
John99,
You're quite right, my job doesn't actually involve working on the message boards, but I've certainly passed your comments on to the right person.
With regard to collecting the "ident" info, yes, I have suggested getting the form modified to collect this in the first instance, but as a "quick fix", they've agreed in principal to have the agents do a "rapid response" with some instructions for users to follow. Not ideal, but it'll be much quicker to implement than making changes to the contact form.
For this particular fault, we only need to know the stream name and the edge node IP. User IP can be useful in some situations, but is not usually required. As you say, we can't ask for user IP addresses on these boards, but asking for the edge IP alone was sufficient and allowed a quicker fix.
AndrewThis is a reply to this message.
Hi Andrew,
It's good to see someone who can pass info onto the relevant people on these board. Support here is often lacking.
I don't want to hijack the thread but as you can pass info on, I thought I'd mention a couple of issues we're having on the boards.
There seem to be some real support issues at the moment. One of them being that when using the contact forms for TV reports, replies are generally taking 7-10 days. As programmes are only available for 7 days, this often means that by the time the message get's through the system, the programme has expired.
I think that needs looking at.
Are radio reports getting through quicker than that or is there the same problem?
Also since Monday morning, no TV downloads have appeared on iPlayer.
Downloads seem to have started encoding again now for programmes broadcast since about 8pm last night (Tuesday) but I think there are a lot of users who would like to know what the problem was, why it took almost 2 days to fix and whether downloads will be encoded for the backlog of programmes from Monday and Tuesday now that the system's running again.
MattThis is a reply to this message.
matt,
I've asked my contact to take a look at your post. She explained that there have been a number of changes over the last few weeks with the group dealing with incoming correspondence, and they have a bit of a backlog.
She said the best way to report feedback is to use the contact us form (www.bbc.co.uk/feedba... and that they read and investigate all issues even if they can't always offer a response.
AndrewThis is a reply to this message.
Andrew H,
Thanks again for trying to help, you seem to be the only person from the BBC brave enough to say anything.
Perhaps you would browse this then pass it on to your contact, who maybe could organise some form of communication to messageboard and iplayer users.
We seem to develop a circular logic here
you quote link intending it to be I think : 'Contact Us ' www.bbc.co.uk/feedba...
(Is there any more appropriate link ? )
Which then shows:BBC TV
* BBC TV programmes or their websites { www.bbc.co.uk/tv/faq... }
* BBC iPlayer for TV { www.bbc.co.uk/iplaye... ]
As far as I can see the upper link is a faq list & the lower link leads back to this our iPlayer messageboard
That of course tells users to either post on the messageboard or use the contact form.
You seem to be just about the only BBC person bothering to read and reply to problems.
And the contact forms are for our purposes near enough pointless.
WHY CAN THE BBC NOT AT LEAST POST ANNOUNCEMENTS OR FAQS
- saying there are problems
- saying what the problems are likely to affect
- at least let users see the bbc is aware of problems even if we are unable to see what you are doing
You could even take the step of temporarily closing the contact forms down to clear the backlog, but advising users that this is happening.
That could be more effective than generating ever more comments and complaints and only answering them after programmes have expired.
There is a new entry on the RSS it isHow do I report a problem with a programme, like a missing download,
shortened programme, or encoding issue?
20 May 2010 15:44 { iplayerhelp.external... ]
And we all know where that link goes, to a suggestion, yet again to use the defunct contact form of course ! which you have admitted has a backlog and is not worth using.
ALSO the message board seems to have bugs with :
- numbering lists in some faqs, when viewed from firefox
- displaying and parsing posted messages correctly, if they have HTML content
- displaying 'my discussions' incorrectly, unless viewd from another messageboard !
So maybe your contact will also, read through some of the posts investigate those problems, after the download problems and message board server errors etc are sorted out.This is a reply to this message.
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