problem with media players

I am trying to stream a radio station (http://www.publicbroadcasting.net/kxci/ppr/index.shtml )

If I click on the links provided, my download manager pops open and asks how to open the file. So I choose either windows media player for that stream OR my free classic media player for the quick time stream. In BOTH cases it opens and will play about a 10 second clip after buffering. WTF? then it stops. It DOES NOT buffer again, but rather if I hit play it plays the SAME 10 second clip. Both players do this and I can't get a new 10 second clip unless I shut them down completely and start over.

I thought it might be the download manager somehow (it pops up a little message from the task bar saying download complete - again, WTF? - it should be a stream) so I copied and pasted the URL from the links directly into the respective players and it is still doing the same thing.

I can't find a tool, or setting, or even a FAQ on a website that has a similar problem - it is always about buffering - I know I have THAT problem too, because of the stupid slow connection but I KNOW what that sounds/looks like - this is not the same. It's like I am only DOWNLOADING a short clip of music rather than streaming. And it is happening with both players so what is it? My firewall? (comodo) the download manager? (free download manager is its name, I think), even thought I thought I was by-passing it by pasting the URLs directly into the players? My computer itself?

My station is down for transmitter repairs but they are still streaming. This is driving me nuts.

Thanks.

 

I used both iTunes and WMP. No problems. Can you disable/exit FDM and give it a go.

Cheers..

 

Not sure how to disable it, but as I said I tried playing both players using the stream's URL directly, and had the same problem.

I just now opened the FDM and "exited" it - it has disappeared from my desk top but when I tried again from the radio station's launch button I got the same pop-up window asking how I wanted it to open - I am sure this pop-up window is from FDM and not firefox. Any other ideas for how to disable it? Do you think it is the cause of the problem?

 

I don't use FDM. Downloaded it and had it sitting in the tray. Does not start downloading (as should be the case) when I stream. Could be a setting on yours :confused I tried it with the default setup.

I tried IE and for some reason it does not have an option to open the M3U just to save No problems with the PLS though.

I have my browsers set to save Downloads on desktop. If I click on the saved icon It starts to stream the M3U :-D

Here's a screenie of the windows that pop up using Firefox.
If this is the download manager you are using uncheck Browser monitoring and click on exit.

Did this streaming work for you at one time? Could your players require a codec? Please wait more members to advise.

Cheers

 

I get very similar pop-up windows when I try to start the streams as in you picture. and they do say firefox (didn't notice that before) It downloads these tiny little 90 or 130 byte clips and won't do anything else. I can download other things - 10+MB video clips from websites that work fine, but they are supposed to be downloads.

Where exactly is the option to uncheck browser monitoring? In the firefox window or the download manager somewhere? I don't get that little drop down menu like in your pic.

I am not sure if the stream worked before I got the FDM. I know it sort of worked at one time, although I have decrepitly slow dial-up so it didn't work WELL. I rarely use it for that very reason. I'm just not sure when I got the FDM in relation to the last time I tried to stream anything.

 

You get an option to open in the pop up or is it only to save. Have you tried radio streams from other links? If you have FDM running on start up it sits in the tray. Right click for the popup menu. Browser monitoring is in the FDM screenie. Maybe you don't have FDM .. Cheers

 

The other thing I noticed was the site streams around 15-20kBps. Not sure if you're dial up can cope Probably loosing stream and having to reconnect! Hence the buffering.