Streamer Peer to Peer Internet Broadcasting

The peer to peer approach uses a tree/mesh network, where the originator sends the signal to the next user. No server is required, and each listener uses only enough bandwidth to listen and to pass the stream to the next listener. Open source applications were initially published as a response to the CARP royalty rates which would have closed most US net radio (this explains the occasional pirate radio references).

It appears that tree/mesh audio streaming has the potential to develop into a useful low, cost mass broadcasting tool. If you are a net broadcaster, or a Live365 refugee, you can use peer to peer to reach the world cheap. There are dozens of stations, from trance to rock, and the software required for listening to stations only takes a couple of minutes to download and install.

As of this writing, the two most prominent open source applications are Streamer and Peercast. Oddsock is an open source streaming encoder, needed to provide the data stream that the other two applications send out to the web. Most of the information available about this new technology is available at the websites that offer these applications.

SCWIS UTOPIA PAGE • STREAMER WEB SITE • PEERCAST WEB SITE • ODDSOCK WEB SITE

Because this is a brand new approach, and because the software is open source, there are new versions released almost every week. Check the developers' sites often to make sure you have the current versions, and always, always, always read the latest release notes, users' forums and help files. TOP

LISTENING: Listening is available right now, and listening to peer to peer audio streams is quite easy, especially if you have broadband. If you have a good dial-up connection you can still try it, but you should read the forums for dial-up users before you go too far. Streamer is a very small download, and is adware/spyware free. The set-up goes very quickly and it's very easy to configure.

The Streamer application will open your MP3 player and deliver a copy of the audio stream to your sound card so you can enjoy the music. Simultaneously, Streamer notifies the network that your IP is available to the next listener who selects this stream. When a new listener comes on line and requests the stream your PC sends it on. The new listener will become the next available server, and will deliver the stream to any subsequent request.

BROADCASTING: The stream is up, and the programs and hardware seem to be working well together.

THE SET UP

Software Streamer 1.20 Winamp 2.81 Oddcast 10/22 Audiostocker Much DFX CDeX (ext & enc)	Hardware PC PII 233 2 GB HD 64 MB RAM Cable Modem 128 kbps limit on upstream side	Statistics Playlist Over 80 songs OGG source 24 kbps/22.05 KHz MP3 Stream 24 kbps, Mono (OK for Dial-up)

This is not for the squeamish, or those with WinTel attention spans. This is not to discourage anyone, it's just not a point and click operation. I have a stream up and it sure seems cool when it works.

Because it is there. Because it uses bandwidth sparingly. Because you can. Because it's free. Because it's open source. POINT TO PONDER - The steam engine was first used in the early 1700s. As a stationary power source the steam engine helped start the industrial revolution. It wasn't until 100 years later that the first locomotive put a steam engine on wheels. We now know that railroads changed the whole world, almost overnight. Information technology first implemented inter-connected computing machines in the mid-twentieth century, fifty years ago. Anyone hear a digital train whistle? TOP

This information comes from the websites that are linked on this page, and is presented to provide the beginner with some basic information. All rights are reserved by the original authors.

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