Internet radio streamin what do I need?
 

My wife is wanting a portable internet radio to listen to russian radio streamed over the net. She is wanting something that she can take to the bedroom upstairs but it is confusing as to what I need?

If she wants something to take upstairs then it has to be wireless but at the moment I don't have any wireless unit on my PC or a wireless router. I assume I'd need to go down that road as I think it is daft if I need the PC on.


Please help me out as the prices for these things are expensive.

Buy a smart phone of some sort with built in Wifi support. A Windows Mobile PC type version will allow you to stream whatever you want over wifi with any type of player you want.

An alternative is an iPhone or iPod touch. Not sure what formats that will support though since its Apple. Probably MP3 at the minimum as well as Apples AAC. The two largest broadcasts. Ogg is almost as prevalent as AAC on the streaming networks so you might have a problem with the Apple route if you can't find an alternative player. Russians are known for liking Ogg so its quite common over there.

A pocketPC would also work.

Just some ideas.

-S

I'll need to get a wireless router so that I don't have to have my main PC turned on. It then is a case of choosing a decent though not too pricey radio set that can be taken anywhere in teh house. I count apple out as I just don't like apple.

Another possibility: Try a Net Book (with WLAN adapter and as Subman mentioned) and a WLAN router. Might even be cheaper then a Smart Phone.

Wireless routers are cheap these days. Two things on them - Can an external antennae be mounted? You probably want a bigger antennae for longer range through walls.

2nd is - secure it so that the neighbors don't have a field day with your inet connection - make sure it has WPA2 capability on both devices. I can crack WEP 128 in about 2 to 8 minutes. WPA is also vulnerable with TKIP protection. AES (WPA2) is the only protection you should ever use.

The point being - you don't want strangers driving by and using your inet connection to download copywrited material and then have the RIAA show up on your doorstep saying you did it. This happens you know.

-S

Nor would you want them to break into the router and through that flimsy MS Windows firewall, giving them acces to whatever data resides on your PC. Security is top concern with wireless networks, personally I avoid them like the plague.

Linksys has a Home Audio setup that looks cool.

http://www.shoplinksys.com/Home-Audi...0VVviewcat.htm

Regarding wireless - I have a wireless in my home - but don't use it. Its actually disabled at the router and only is turned on when our oldest visits with her laptop.

Make sure you get one that allows you to specify the host SSID, MAC address of all devices, and password the connections. Between all three, your secure from the vast majority of those who would listen in.

Sure, its definitely not unbreakable, but its highly unlikely you have a mitnik jr. next door. More common are the script kiddies who look for easy targets to feed their ego.

You can find a wireless router like above for under a hundred bucks easy. Netgear makes some good ones, as does Linksys and D-link.