ClearChannel Internet Radio

CraziFuzzy · 10-02-2007, 04:33 AM

I have been using my carpc for a while to listen to internet radio from many different radio stations. The problem I've come across is that a lot of stations go through a lot of trouble to make sure you only listen to them through the web browser, and not directly to the stream itself, that way you can be subjected to the advertising on the page. Clearchannel, which operates a LOT of stations in the country have a standardized streaming format, and I think I would be able to make a program that can get the stream info, along with artist/title/album info, from any clearchannel station. What I don't know, is how hard would it be to make streetdeck use this information? I'm new to StreetDeck, but the DigitalMod feature seems to be capable of this.

Anyone got any sample code I could use to make the mod from? I'm really only familiar (enough) with VB.Net, and could easily code up the parsing code to get the stream address, just need to know what I need to do wiht that once I get it.

thanks,
CraziFuzzy

CraziFuzzy · 10-03-2007, 02:06 AM

Okay, so I've figured out how to parse the necessary info from the ClearChannel web pages. I have created a VB.Net class that has the necessary codes to give you Artist, Track, Album, and a link to the actual mms:// stream for the media. All it needs is a single input, the radio station's web address. 'www.rock1053.com' for instance. I am new to COM programming, and Streetdeck in general, so i really don't know where to go frmo here. I have looked at the tutorials for the .Net addin creation, and for some reason i can't seem to get the samples to do anything. I am coding on a seperate PC than the one that has Streetdeck on it, so this may be the problem. i don't have the ability to sit in my car and code on the carputer, so I'm not sure what other way to do it.

I am using the Beta of VS.net 2008, mainly because it is free for now.

I don't really know C# very well, which is what the samples are in, but i should be able to port my small vb class into a c# one, if i can figure out how to actually make the sample code work in SD.

Anyone willing to give me a hand on this? My intentions are to get Clearchannel working first, as it is the majority of the stations, but i would like to be able to implement a system where you could make a new class for other media sources, and get them all into a similar addin, so all your choses stations are in the same list.

strohj · 10-03-2007, 02:24 PM

you can install streetdeck on your home pc... and then just run it in the development mode...

(change the shortcut to: "c:\program files\streetdeck\streetdeck.exe" -D )

and from there you can code the digitalmods...

This project sounds very interesting.. and I would love to test it out for you as soon as I can get internet back in my car

CraziFuzzy · 10-11-2007, 02:36 AM

Well, due to the pain of learning the DigiMod coding, and lack of time, I have decided to work with what is already there. I have made a standalone program that will connect to the station's web site, and grab the Stream's URL (this is the important part, as clearchannel rotates it, basically to prevent people from doing just this... i feel so naughty). Anyways, once i get the URL, I write the address out to a .WAX file (Windows Audio Redirector). This .WAX file can be imported by streetdeck's normal music interface, so I just have to browse to the Playlists section of the library, and my stations are there. I launch my sync program from the ExternalApps section to refresh before listening, as the URL's are good for about an hour it seems.

I will post my parsing tool once i clean it up, and add some error handling.

Guess this doesn't really belong in the DigiMod secition anymore though...

CraziFuzzy · 10-11-2007, 05:44 AM

Success! well, partially at least... Here is my current version of CCParse. (v0.1b) It uses an .ini file to create .WAX playlist files to be placed in the My Music folder. Streetdeck can load those files up and play them like any other music file. This should work for any Clear Channel radio station, as they all seem to use the exact same web template for the streaming media.

Just extract the files into your My Documents\Streetdeck\Shortcuts\ExternalApps folder. It can then be run from within streetdeck. Editing the .INI file should be simple. the Example INI file is shown below:

Code:

[Talk Radio]
OUTPUT="C:\Documents and Settings\Owner\My Documents\My Music\Talk Radio.wax"
www.kfi640.com
[Music]
OUTPUT="C:\Documents and Settings\Owner\My Documents\My Music\Music.wax"
www.rock1053.com
www.991kggifm.com

The output paths will have to be modified to point to your My Music directories. The stations are listed in groups, each group creating a seperate playlist file. This allows for some sort of genre sorting if desired. Everything could also be placed in a single group of course, if desired.

Let me know if anyone uses this, and if so, how it works for you. Also, if you find any problems, of course, let me know.

amrit50 · 05-28-2008, 06:35 PM

Does anyone know how far you can stream internet radio ahead? I have a clearwire modem in my car...I get good signal on big roads, but nothing by my house. Pandora will continue to play after I lose signal...is there any internert radio that streams 10 or even 20 songs in advance when it has signal in the event that signal may drop out?