Knowledgebase

The knowledgebase is organized into different categories. Either choose a category from below or search the knowledgebase for the answer to your question.

Can I set up a Shoutcast server myself?
Yes and No. It is possible to set up a Shoutcast server on your home computer, however with the usual 256kbps upload speed, you would be able to just about support 3 or 4 listeners at 64k. If you need to support more listeners, then you will need to either upgrade your Internet connection (expensive), rent or buy a dedicated server and have it...
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Can I upgrade my account?
Yes. You can upgrade your account at any time by opening a support ticket. The upgrade will be complete within a few hours normally. Your account login details and will not change, and neither will your server or port number (unless we need to set up additional hardware. In this case, we will contact you)
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Can you set up a test server for me to try?
Yes. We will be more than happy to set up a test server. Simply contact us and we will set up a test server for you with 10 slots and up to 128k bitrate for 24 hours. You are under no obligation to buy and if you decide to use our services, we will upgrade the server to as many listeners as you need.
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Do I need a license to stream?
You do not require a license to stream unless you are streaming content that is protected by copyright. You should research the law in your country regarding the broadcasting of copyrighed content. If you are unsure, then feel free to contact us and we will do our best to help point you in the right direction - although we do not offer legal...
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Does my streaming account have a transfer limit?
No, your only limits are the bitrate at which you can stream and the number of slots. Some streaming providers impose extra transfer limits on accounts, for example 500GB - and although it sounds a lot, 500GB a month would only allow you to support an average of 12 listenersat 128kbps if broadcasting 24 hours a day. With MixStream, what you...
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How do I get my radio station online?
It is very simple to get your stream online and there are several programs available to stream. We have some streaming tutorials at http://secure.bellonline.co.uk/knowledgebase/7/Shoutcast-Streaming
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I have streamed higher than my allowed bitrate and locked my stream, what do I do?
You will be able to restart your stream by logging into the control panel. If you continue to stream over your bitrate allowance, then your account may be suspended for 24 hours or until you upgrade to a suitable streaming plan. If you get your server suspended by accident, then open a support ticket and we will be happy to get your stream...
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What are listener slots?
When ordering your Shoutcast server, you will need to specify a number of slots. This is the maximum number of listeners that can be connected to your server at any given time. If you order 50 slots, then you will be able to support 50 listeners at any one time (this is known as concurrent listeners).
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What does bitrate mean, and how do I decide on what is best for me?
The bitrate is the amount of data that is transferred to each listener when you are broadcasting. The higher the bitrate, the better the sound quality and the higher the cost. If you are broadcasting music, then we recommend a higher bitrate such as 128kbps, but if you are a talk only radio station then a lower bitrate like 32kbps will be fine.
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What is Shoutcast?
Shoutcast is a powerful audio streaming solution used for broadcasting live and recorded audio across the net in real time. Anyone with a computer and an Internet connection can stream their audio broadcasts live to a global audience. Shoutcast's underlying technology for audio delivery is MPEG Layer 3, also known as MP3 technology. The...
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What is the best way to set up multiple relays?
A lot of people who use multiple relay servers ask whether it is best to set the servers in servies or parallel. I'll explain below: SERIES: Where, for example, you have one primary server and three relays and have relay one listen to primary, relay 2 listening to relay 1, relay 3 listenning to relay 2.. Primary > Relay 1 > Relay 2...
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What is the difference between your Premium and Value plans?
At MixStream we think it is important to offer customers a streaming deal that suits them so we offer two different tiers of service, Premium streaming for professional stations that need extra guarantees of uptime and bandwidth quality, and Value streaming for hobby stations that are more concerned about keeping costs to a minimum. Both...
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Where do I link to for people to listen?
Once your account is active, you will be given a link to point your listeners to so that they can tune in to your stream. You can log in to the contorl panel at any time to get tune in link for different players and your port 80 stream.
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Why has my account been suspended?
We will always notify you if your account is suspended and give you the reason. It may be because of non-payment or constantly going over your bitrate limits. We don't actively monitor streams, but if we get a complaint about copyright infringement or illegal content then we have no choice but to suspend your account while we investigate.
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