Is anyone else telly-free?

Primrose

As you've got an internet connection, there's a big selection of internet radio channels from around the world out there which you can listen to via your computer. We're great fans of classical music and recently discovered a 'Baroque Around the clock' channel called Hilversum which has been around for ages which has some fabulous music on it. Not sure how you get connected by Googling 'Internet Radio programmes" will probably lead you there.

mardatha

ty Primrose- I already do that, got a dab/internet radio for xmas because I love the wireless much more than tv. I have noticed that station yes - it is very calming and peaceful innit !

mardatha

i got them all saved too and we are going to try this out. ty all !

Justamum

mardatha wrote: »

got a dab/internet radio for xmas

If I win the lottery the first thing I'm going to buy is an internet radio. Mind you, I'd be spending so much time searching for radio stations that nothing in the house would ever get done M&S had a nice one just before Christmas for £149, but it's gone back up to £199 now - not that I could afford £149 anyway.

downshifter

Thanks to everyone for the responses to my original post - lots I didn't know about. I must say I'm not getting on with the wireless (!!) nearly as well as I thought I would, but I'll persevere. On radio 4 the news is good, - no great - but apart from that I find the comedy programmes so scripted, the drama and documentaries also contrived as producers try to find ways round things that would otherwise be visual, lots of it feels very sort of smug. Not sure why because we didn't have tv until I was in my teens (oh the delight at first being able to watch Top of the Pops) - but things have moved on. I tried radio 2 and thought at first it was fine until suddenly people were phoning in for competitions and the music one minute was The Clash (oh joy!) and then next some crooner - the sort of middle of the road thing that Radio2 was always known for. And so much inane chatter! They must cater for more tolerant listeners than I am! And Sunday morning, with songs for people who have split up or got together again, urgh!! 5 Live - more phone ins. I looked at the internet radio but I think you must need broadband again for those. Classical music doesn't do much for me - I'd rather have the silence.

It's also been interesting to see the views people hold in general about tv. I remember my daughter had a little friend who didn't have tv at home and it was hard when they were playing together or at school, they often wanted to act out characters in a children's show, or the songs or dances - as kids do - and this little girl was so out of it. It was painful to see her trying to work out what her particular character should be saying or doing. I so felt for her and although she was included, it was obvious she was a step apart. Teachers also use tv characters in teaching as I do working with adult literacy students - it works so well as a common interest. I used to find that people without telly were often so self-righteous and felt they were one step above those of us who liked it. But as a working and studying mum as I was, you can't always be doing creative and relationship-building activities with your family, or endless talking, you sometimes are just so grateful you can have half an hour to get the tea ready without interruption while the kids watch Blue Peter, or flop down and veg out with a coffee or wine at the end of the day and watch Sex and the City! (Me, not the kids!!)

I was interested to see what was said about download limits, I hadn't thought of that - does that apply to streaming too? I have a mobile broadband dongle (doesn't work at home but I use it for work and a vol job I do) and I never use it to its maximum. I was thinking about taking my laptop next time I go shopping or somewhere with a good signal and downloading something from iplayer - would that be possible? Or are the file sizes too great. Could I then keep these programmes to watch whenever I wanted?

Thanks

DS - otherwise known as Mrs Grumpy from the Peak District!!!

Reverbe

downshifter you dont need bband for internet radio. I listened to a station I fell in love with in Seattle for many years before I had bband.But I would think it helps to have some kind of good connection and also speed helps with buffering issues.

timmmers

downshifter wrote: »

Thanks to everyone for the responses to my original post - lots I didn't know about. I must say I'm not getting on with the wireless (!!) nearly as well as I thought I would, but I'll persevere. On radio 4 the news is good, - no great - but apart from that I find the comedy programmes so scripted, the drama and documentaries also contrived as producers try to find ways round things that would otherwise be visual, lots of it feels very sort of smug. Not sure why because we didn't have tv until I was in my teens (oh the delight at first being able to watch Top of the Pops) - but things have moved on. I tried radio 2 and thought at first it was fine until suddenly people were phoning in for competitions and the music one minute was The Clash (oh joy!) and then next some crooner - the sort of middle of the road thing that Radio2 was always known for. And so much inane chatter! They must cater for more tolerant listeners than I am! And Sunday morning, with songs for people who have split up or got together again, urgh!! 5 Live - more phone ins. I looked at the internet radio but I think you must need broadband again for those. Classical music doesn't do much for me - I'd rather have the silence.

It's also been interesting to see the views people hold in general about tv. I remember my daughter had a little friend who didn't have tv at home and it was hard when they were playing together or at school, they often wanted to act out characters in a children's show, or the songs or dances - as kids do - and this little girl was so out of it. It was painful to see her trying to work out what her particular character should be saying or doing. I so felt for her and although she was included, it was obvious she was a step apart. Teachers also use tv characters in teaching as I do working with adult literacy students - it works so well as a common interest. I used to find that people without telly were often so self-righteous and felt they were one step above those of us who liked it. But as a working and studying mum as I was, you can't always be doing creative and relationship-building activities with your family, or endless talking, you sometimes are just so grateful you can have half an hour to get the tea ready without interruption while the kids watch Blue Peter, or flop down and veg out with a coffee or wine at the end of the day and watch Sex and the City! (Me, not the kids!!)

I was interested to see what was said about download limits, I hadn't thought of that - does that apply to streaming too? I have a mobile broadband dongle (doesn't work at home but I use it for work and a vol job I do) and I never use it to its maximum. I was thinking about taking my laptop next time I go shopping or somewhere with a good signal and downloading something from iplayer - would that be possible? Or are the file sizes too great. Could I then keep these programmes to watch whenever I wanted?

Thanks

DS - otherwise known as Mrs Grumpy from the Peak District!!!

I player will murder your allowance. There is an easier way to do it though if your lappie has WiFi...go and get a brew at Mc Donalds or some of the many Wifi hotspots that are either free of cheap JD Wetherspoons I think too)....and do it there. There is a little appication to save Iplayer programmes...it makes your PC work like an Ipod so you can save the shows. Most of this stuff is digitally protected and either can't easily be downloaded or can't be used long after downloading. Realplayer used to save BBC shows, not sure if it does now. Youtube is the easy way for most popular shows, and a little Firefox extension called downloadhelper ..that means you can save most streamed video online. (Realplayer can also help with some but it's always changing).

I'm not sure about other ISPs, but mine probably isn't unique in offiering pay as you go WiFi access quite cheaply on BT zones.

One thing you really need to avoid is HD if yo have limits...it's getting quite common, and it's much bigger filesizes that you don't need so check you're not using that option from the get go.

Going over your limit can be like an overdraft with some companies too...they charge like rhinos compared to the normal rate..so best to read their terms and make sure.

t

katsu

I love being TV free. I'm sat here watching a robin in my garden. No TV could beat that - hearing the calls, actually really watching the birds.

Having internet access means I rarely miss TV. If I want to watch something I use the iplayer/channel 4 alternative etc. I probably watch a few hours a month, max.

downshifter

timmmers wrote: »

I player will murder your allowance. There is an easier way to do it though if your lappie has WiFi...go and get a brew at Mc Donalds or some of the many Wifi hotspots that are either free of cheap JD Wetherspoons I think too)....and do it there. There is a little appication to save Iplayer programmes...it makes your PC work like an Ipod so you can save the shows. Most of this stuff is digitally protected and either can't easily be downloaded or can't be used long after downloading. Realplayer used to save BBC shows, not sure if it does now. Youtube is the easy way for most popular shows, and a little Firefox extension called downloadhelper ..that means you can save most streamed video online. (Realplayer can also help with some but it's always changing).

I'm not sure about other ISPs, but mine probably isn't unique in offiering pay as you go WiFi access quite cheaply on BT zones.

One thing you really need to avoid is HD if yo have limits...it's getting quite common, and it's much bigger filesizes that you don't need so check you're not using that option from the get go.

Going over your limit can be like an overdraft with some companies too...they charge like rhinos compared to the normal rate..so best to read their terms and make sure.

t

Thank you so much yet again for some really helpful ideas. I'm really going to investigate all of that. One other thing, I babysit for a family and they have told me I'm welcome to use their network whenever I'm there on my own laptop. I haven't yet taken advantage of it, and I wouldn't use it to download large files, but in general, are they able to see what I have used it for? Which websites etc? I'm not doing anything illegal or dodgy or whatever, (!!) I just would rather keep my emails and browsing history private. Maybe I should negotiate downloading the Shetland diaries in return for a night's babysitting or something - that would be good - especially as theirs is a business network so probably has masses of capacity.

Thanks again for the advice

DS

downshifter

katsu wrote: »

I love being TV free. I'm sat here watching a robin in my garden. No TV could beat that - hearing the calls, actually really watching the birds.

Absolutely, couldn't agree more. Have just returned from a wonderful hour's muddy walk with the hound and my door is now wide open to let in the sun (ok it is just above freezing point but the fire is crackling) But it isn't at this time of day that I miss it, it's the dark evenings after a hectic working day when sitting watching Shetland diaries or Gavin and Stacey is a lovely relaxation and stops me from doing anything else.

katsu wrote: »

Having internet access means I rarely miss TV. If I want to watch something I use the iplayer/channel 4 alternative etc. I probably watch a few hours a month, max.

Right! That does it! Am now on a one-woman lobbying campaign to get broadband up here - which politician cares enough about my vote to get this sorted. If they can get it in small African villages I can surely get it here!! GRRR again - on the warpath now.

Thanks

DS