How to Listen to AZXradio

AZXradio broadcasts live, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Our station broadcasts in Windows Media streaming format at two primary connection speeds: 64kbps stereo (which is optimized for cable, DSL and other high-speed connections) and 22kbps stereo (which is ideal for dial-up connections and 56k modems). (We also offer a lo-fi 12kbps mono stream for mobile phone applications.)

To listen, you will need Windows Media Player software, which comes pre-installed with most computers these days. If you don't have it, it is available for free from the Microsoft web site and takes only a couple minutes to safely download and install. To download and install now, click here. If you don't know whether or not you have it, simply try to listen by clicking on a listen link. If nothing happens or you get strange error messages, go ahead and download it then try again. So long as Windows Media Player is on your computer, listening is automatic and as simple as clicking on the station's "on air" links! (Note: You may need to temporarily disable your pop-up blocker to listen!)

If you have any additional questions after reading our FAQs, simply contact us.


FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Q: How do I listen to a station?
A: It’s simple. On our station page, near the red “On Air” symbol, just click on “Dial-Up” or “Cable/DSL”, depending on your internet connection type. This should automatically open your Windows Media Player program, and after a brief loading period ("buffering"), you should begin to hear the station.

Q: I don’t hear anything. What now?
A: First, please try again. There are a variety of things that can cause temporary silence. If it still doesn’t play, please review the troubleshooting tips at the bottom of this page.

Q: Everything was fine, then the station went silent. What now?
A: First, please try again. There are a variety of things that can cause temporary silence. If it still doesn’t play, please review the troubleshooting tips at the bottom of this page.

Q: The station "stutters". What's wrong?
A: Try connecting using the "dial-up" link (or even the "mobile" link, if available). If it still happens, there are a variety of possible reasons. Please review the troubleshooting tips at the bottom of this page.

Q: I keep hearing a clicking sound. How do I stop it?
A: In order to show you currently playing song information, the "Now Playing" page must automatically refresh itself every 5-20 seconds. To eliminate this sound, simply close that page.

Q: How can I find out the name of the artist and song that are currently playing?
A: To see what is currently playing along with a list of the most recent songs, simply click on the “Now Playing” link on the station page. (If you get any strange error messages, try refreshing the page.)

Q: Do you also have a list of upcoming songs?
A: No, that is prohibited by law. But we do offer an "Artist Listings" page and a station rotation/playlist page that include all the artists we play.

Q: Is it legal for me to listen to your stations?
A: Yes. Unlike many sources of music on the internet, we have done the right thing and spent the money to obtain all the necessary licenses that allow you to listen to these stations for free.

Q: Is it legal for me to purchase and download songs from your store?
A: Yes. Each of the artists in our store have authorized us to sell their music for them.

Q: Is it safe for me to listen and/or download music from your site?
A: Yes. We offer pure streams, free from viruses and free from spyware and the like.

Q: How do I buy music I hear on one of your stations?
A: Simple. Just go to the "Music Store" link in the main menu, or click wherever it says "Buy Music" or there is a dollar ($) sign. This will route you to our online music store, where you can order through a secure credit card transaction. Additional ordering information is available by clicking here.

Q: I've heard that many people listen to their computer on their home stereo. How can I do that?
A: There are many ways to do that. In simple terms, you connect the "audio out" of your computer (i.e., the speaker jack) to an "audio in" on your stereo (Aux, tape, CD, DVD--whatever is available other than Phono). A computer is really no different than any other component that you might connect to you stereo--you just need the right jack. Radio Shack is your best bet for the right cable, connector or adapter. And if your computer sits too far from your stereo to run a wire, there are many wireless solutions as well. Your local computer store can show you some very inexpensive options.

Q: Can I listen to your stations when I am not at my computer?
A: Yes, with the right cell phone. What you'll need is a "smart phone" or a pocket PC with a calling plan that gives you internet access. For more information, contact your cell phone service provider. (If you have a portable laptop computer or tablet PC, you can also use that to listen whenever you have internet access.)

Q: Can I listen to your station in my car?
A: Yes, in the same way that you temporarily connect an MP3 player to a car stereo system, you can connect a "smart phone" or pocket pc. You will simply need to buy an inexpensive adapter available at most consumer electronics or car stereo stores.

TROUBLESHOOTING TIPS

There are a variety of things that can cause temporary silence when you try to listen to a station. USUALLY, the problem will be something on your end, which is why we offer the troubleshooting tips below. But OCCASIONALLY, the problem may be out of your control (and even ours). Like cell phones, streaming audio technology can still be a bit finicky at times. When you click to listen, your request may be traveling thousands of miles and passing through many communication routing systems before it arrives at the outgoing signal in our broadcast booth. A technology hiccup anywhere along the way can result in a disconnection. Very occasionally, our server may be down for maintenance or a simple re-boot. Our broadcast computer might even crash. While not likely to occur, a power failure on our end will require a manual restart of our station computers. If you are listening during an “auto-pilot” time slot and this occurs, it could be some time before we notice. Finally, it might even be something as simple as our DJ pressing the wrong button. Since we are running our stations on a shoestring budget, we do appreciate your patience and loyalty. So, if after trying all of the tips below there is still no sound, all we can do is ask that you wait a while and try back later. If still no success, please contact us, and we'll do our best to help!

1. First, be sure to check the volume. There are three places to check: on your speakers, on your computer's master volume (the little speaker icon on the bottom right corner of Windows machines), and on Windows Media Player. Also, be sure the "mute" button isn't activated on any of these.

2. Remember to use the link that is closest to, but not greater than, your connection speed. If the station plays but then stops and your player shows that the station is "Buffering...", it is a sign that you should try a lower connection speed. Note that certain dial-up connections are so slow that you may need to use the "Mobile" stream.
3. Try updating your media player to the most current version. To download and install the most current free version of Windows Media Player, click here.

4. Be sure you haven't lost your connection to the internet. Just because you can get to your favorite web sites does not necessarily mean that you are connected, as the computer typically "memorizes" pages you have visited in the past. You can test this by trying to go to a site you've never been to before.

5. If you've clicked on either the "Dial-Up" or "Cable/DSL" link and a Windows Media Player window does not even appear, it may be due to "pop-up blocker" software on your computer. Try temporarily disabling it or configuring it to allow the stream.

6. If these suggestions don't fix the problem, you might try contacting your internet service provider's technical support line. They can help you check your settings and optimize your Internet connection. If you are trying to access us from work and are on a company computer, your system administrator may need to be contacted for assistance.

If all else fails, e-mail us and we will try to help, or at least let you know that it might be something you need to have a computer consultant service look into. We sincerely hope that this information is helpful!