Re: Feed audio stream using dialup connection

On Thu, 4 Jan 2007 14:24:28 -0600, "KFactor"
<anonymous@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

Has anyone tried to stream audio (running Windows Media Encoder) using a
dialup connection? The dialup connection is to a computer that has an
Internet Sharing Connection. This computer provides internet access via
cable.


This is going to be really painful ! I suggest you don't do it, to
avoid disappointment...

Notebook (running 'Windows Media Encoder' with 52 baud modem) dials up my


52kbaud (or 52kbps as everybody else knows it) is the speed from the
other end to you - and that's a *maximum*. Usually it's more like
about 40-42kbps top end. That's enough for ~you~ to listen to one,
32kbps stereo audio stream at low-medium quality - as long as nothing
else is happening on the dialup.

However, Modems take advantege of the fact that the transmitting end,
coming through the telco's switches, has a higher signal level and
quality to that which you can send via the telco's switches from your
end.

As a result, the upstream (from you to the other end) speed is going
to be more like 28-30kbps maximum. This is not really enough to send
*one* audio steam at low-moderate quality, without a degree of breakup


Desktop at a remote location (using ISC, with broadband connection). Both
PCs are running Windows XP Pro.

My purpose:
Is to allow persons that are shut in to hear the discourse at my church
through the internet. The church does not have internet access but we do
have a notebook computer and a phone line.


OK so - assuming you treat this like a Speakerphone, i.e. one
connection only, maybe it's just about feasible. What I would do in
the encoder is record some typical samples, using the windows media
audio Voice codec (that requires custom settings using the Properties
button in the encoder, then going to the Compression tab).

You may be able to get reliable transmission of about 20kbps, so you
could choose a Mono, 16kbps setting, which uses about 2kbps overhead
(18kbps total outgoing speed) and that's marginal with your equipment.


My questions:
Is this feasible? There may be 10-20 people that need to listen in. Which


They will all have to sit in the same room, listening to a PA attached
to the receiving computer. The bandwidth used is additive, so you'd
need *at least* 10x your current outgoing bandwidth to do that
experiment to multiple recipients rather than just the one.


computer's IP address should they use?


On dialup, frequently you get a new IP address each time you dial.

So you would have to agree an IP address in advance, eg by using
instant messenger (Yahoo, MSN, AOL etc).

You can find the IP of the encoder machine from
http://www.whatismyip.com/, assuming it's a public IP address.

However the setup you've described makes me wonder if the IP address
will effectively be private because you're connected to some remote
internet sharing vial dialup, and from there to the internet via
another PC ? Can't see it working myself.

Is it practical to stream video has well?

No, it is not practical nor even feasible - sorry !

Cheers - Neil
------------------------------------------------
Digital Media MVP : 2004-2007
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/mvpfaqs
.