(Vanity) Need advise on WiFi Internet Radios

[yankeedame]

Howdy,

Well, once again I'm here looking for a bit of advise. I've been tinkering with the idea of getting a WiFi Internet Radio, but, as always, I'm overwhelmed with choices.

I don't want to have to run it through the computer or anything like that. I want to be able to just tske it to the kitchen or the back sewing room, plug it in and turn it on.

And, thanks to FReepers advise from the last time, I now have a wireless router-- a Linksys WRT100 range plus. In fact it was the router that got me thinking about a WiFi radio.

Anyway, as always "Thanks"!

Regards, --YD

[UB355]

google it, a number of them show up

[Conservative4Ever]

C Crane radios is the greatest.

[GOP_Proud]

I can’t help you with that but I love my Helix XM portable.

[msnpatriot]

Allright! A WiFi radio thread. Great, I’ve been checking them out.

My recommendation: Wait for the next generation of WiFi Radios, this generation too expensive because they’re too new.

In the meantime, go to www.reciva.com and set up your stations and streams. This site is what your radio will link to. But it works great with laptops or computers. You can click on your programmed stations and listen to them from one place.

I dont’ know if I’ll make it waiting for newer generation radios, but it’s probably the best choice. Maybe someone out there knows of a reasonably priced WiFi radio that works well?

[EasySt]

Have a look at http://www.chumby.com

It's a Touch Screen WiFi internet radio, alarm clock, YouTube player, and a Digital Picture Frame that supports sites like Flickr. There are many hundreds of (all free!) Widgets made for it that serve up all kinds of news, info, webcams, entertainment and much more, for $179.00.

I love my Chumby! ;-)

[msnpatriot]

OK, the Chumby sounds interesting. Are there limitations to what internet radio stations it plays?

Can you program in, lets say all your local AM radio stations, and play them? BBC? Curious.

[Revolting cat!]

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[Alia]

I’m so behind this curve — I had no idea there was such a thing as WiFi radios! Thank YOU, yankeedame! I know what I want for Christmas, or next year’s birthday! :)

[Alia]

Thank you for this link: Definitely bookmarked.

[EasySt]

"OK, the Chumby sounds interesting. Are there limitations to what internet radio stations it plays? Can you program in, lets say all your local AM radio stations, and play them? BBC?"

Well, it can only play internet radio stations that have actually made themselves available on the internet, via "ShoutCast" or similar internet radio technologies.

Looking at my Chumby's music menu, I see a list of music sources including SHOUTcast, Mediafly podcasts, New York Times podcasts, CBS podcasts, Radio Free Chumby, iPod, My Streams, SlimServer and My Music Files. (That last one is for playing music files from a USB connected source, like a USB Key.) The "My Streams" choice lets you add your own internet music stream URLs. Some Internet Radio Stations use proprietary software and require that you use a special player that they provide, and those probably will not work on a Chumby, but most of my favorites seem to work just fine. You can even make your Chumby use an internet radio station for the Alarm Clock audio if you like. (I do... ;-)

[HAL9000]

I’m so behind this curve — I had no idea there was such a thing as WiFi radios!

In the computer hardware industry, any WiFi wireless network devices itself can be referred to as a "radio", regardless of whether it is receiving music or web pages.

[Alia]

Makes sense. I didn’t know this, Hal9000. Thank you. I’m thrilled, actually. For years, I’ve been dreaming of speaker wiring throughout my home. I’ve seen hints and developments in this direction, but the prices were too high for my purse. I’m excited.

[HAL9000]

WiFi is great for music distribution in a home with Apple’s free iTunes software. I have one computer that contains the full music library, and several older PCs and Macs in various locations around the house that can access the music library wirelessly.

[Alia]

This is a great idea, Hal9000. We’ve puters, nearing retirement, I now have some plans for what to do with ‘em. Thank you.

[HAL9000]

Those old computers can work amazingly well for music sharing.

The computer connected to our stereo was manufactured in 1999 with a slow WiFi card. The disk drive is too small to hold a modern music library, so the solution was to use iTunes music sharing to access the music files through the wireless network. It sounds fine through the big speakers.

[bobcat62]

I have a Tangent Quattro WiFi radio. Works great, with the exception of Clear Channel stations (for now) & those stations that use Flash to transmit their audio stream. You need to register the radio at reciva.com & use their website to program your “My Stations” favorites list.

What I like is that the radio is more-or-less a two knob + six button radio, just like the good old days.

[GOP_Proud]

When you say the Chumby will play internet streaming radio does that include talk radio stations? For example, can you get Rush on an internet streaming station on a Chumby? On the website provided at the link above, I see no mention. You’d think they would hilite talk radio if it was included. I might be misunderstanding the term “widgets”.

[Alia]

Well, I’ll be darned. That’s a great way to use your noggin, and components you already have. The trick then, is to have excellent speakers.

[bobcat62]

Here’s another suggestion for a radio: The iPhone and iPod Touch can run an application called “WunderRadio,” which is available for about $5. I think you’ll find that an iPhone/iPod running this application on a charging base that includes a set of speakers will provide you with 95% of the capabilities you’d need in a WiFi radio. The missing 5% would be for RealAudio streams.