KFCF 88.1
Audio Help Page

Latest Update 1630 hrs PDT August 11th, 1999. Be sure to check notes at the bottom of the page.

Here's How You Can Hear KFCF Outside Our Broadcast Range:

First, select your computer's operating system...
WindowsMacintoshOS/2UNIX

Windows users:

  1. Download WinAmp player at www.winamp.com. It is a 5 minute / 500K download. The current version is 2.2.4.

  2. Install - double click on the file you have downloaded (winamp224.exe or something similar. The number at the end is just the version number and may change. ) Installation is quick and easy, and should give you a program that looks like this:

  3. Click Here once you've installed WinAmp.

    Alternatively, with the WinAmp screen shown above, push the CONTROL and L keys at the same time. This will give you a screen that looks like this:

    Type in the information as shown above (http://www.kfcf.org:8000) and click OPEN. If everything is correct, WinAmp should begin connecting and playing in a few moments.

    After this, you need only start the WinAmp program and press on the PLAY button, shown in red below:

Macintosh users:

  1. Download MacAmp player at http://www.macamp.net/download.shtml. The current version is 1.0 PE.

  2. Install - double click on the file you have downloaded ("macamp-1.0-preview" or something similar). Installation is quick and easy, and should give you a program that looks like this:

  3. Click Here once you've installed MacAmp.

    Alternatively, with the MacAmp screen shown above, push the Apple and L keys at the same time. This will give you a screen that looks like this:

    Type in the information as shown above (http://www.kfcf.org:8000) and click OPEN (Place a check in the "Add to playlist" box to put the address to your current playlist). If everything is correct, MacAmp should begin connecting and playing in a few moments.

    If you wish to save your current playlist (this is recommended), push the Apple and 2 keys at the same time. This will give you a screen that looks like this:

    Click on the "save" button to store the playlist for future listening.

UNIX users can use mpg123 to listen to the stream.

For Linux in particular, there is xmms, un updated version of x11amp. A plugin to handle shoutcast-playlist.pls links is forthcoming. In the meantime, directions remain the same as with x11amp. x11amp may remain more commonly installed, or, prove easier to install if the system is not up-to-date with libraries required of xmms. x11amp.org is still active.

On the surface, x11amp is virtually identical to Winamp. It doesn't immediately play shoutcast-playlist.pls links, so here's a nice shortcut if you expect to be tuning in repeatedly (this works also for xmms and mpg123):
  1. Click the link, download the shoutcast-playlist.pls file.
  2. Rename the file to the name of the station, i.e., KFCF.
  3. Pull the file up in an editor. It will look like:
    [playlist] NumberOfEntries=15 File1=http://157.22.0.141:8000

    Delete everything preceding the URL. Prepend the app name:

    x11amp http://157.22.0.141:8000

  4. Save the file, then chmod, set its execution bit.
  5. Now, whenever you're on the net and want to tune in, just execute the station name (filename) as a command.
x11amp also has the Ctrl-L function to type in the URL--also accessible from the menu, right clicking on the player.

OS/2 users can find their port of mpg123 (mpg123_020.zip) and others at Hobbes or on Peter Norloff's OS/2 Shareware Site. Note that since this is a UNIX port it will require EMX Runtime. Once installed, change to the directory containing mpg123 and type in mpg123 http://157.22.0.141:8000.

For a native OS/2 player [Warp 3fp26+], check out PM123. Download into a directory and unzip. Hold down [Ctrl] + [Shift] and drag a shadow of the "123" icon to where you want it--desktop or wherever. Double click on the "123" icon and the console appears. Right click the console for properties. For streaming audio set the buffer size to whatever is needed. From the properties popup choose "open URL," type in http://www.kfcf.org:8000 and click the play button. (It will take a bit to start while the buffers fill.) For convenience you can add the URL to the playlist, but only when the service is available. Lots of "skins" are available for the console. This is the standard one:

NOTES
Note From an AOL User: By the way, in the instructions on the KFCF web site it says to push keys "Control L" to get the location window to come up. On AOL, "Control L" has a different function, at least for me. I had to right click on the "File +" button on WinAmp in order to get the location window to come up in order to enter the web address for your feed. Other AOL users may have the same problem.
Note from a User of MPG123: Works fine now if I feed mpg123 the url http://157.22.0.141:8000. Same with pm123, PM123 is based on mpg123 code. I don't think mpg123 knows what to do with a shoutcast-playlist.pls file.
Note from a WinAmp User: For the mouse driven people, there is a different way of getting the URL entry window to appear: Click on the upper left corner of the WinAmp screen (the little funny looking icon that looks like a tilted hourglass). You should see a menu pop up. Choose Play Location (third from top). Then enter the address in the window that pops up.
Note From a Real Player User: RealPlayer can't handle the ShoutCast methodology. The link will call up the _default_ MP3 player in Windows...and while RealPlayer claims to be MP3 compliant, it apparently is not. If the Windows user has WinAmp as the 'default' MP3 player, then it would work...so the user has to reset the defaults if RealPlayer is setting itself as the MP3 player. At least, that's what I'm seeing here at home, where I have not yet installed WinAmp but have installed RealPlayer. When you install RealPlayer and have something else to play MP3, it will ask (but most people click ":YES" without reading) and then replace the MP3 player with itself.
Info on RealAudio and lots of links to RealAudio clips can be found at the Free Pacifica and Save Pacifica sites.
Check out the Three Rivers Folklife Society Geek Venue for more audio help.
Note from the webtender 7/30 AM: We are getting reports from all over that our streaming audio is working, but also getting some reports of error messages. ["ICY 401 Service Unavailable - Connection Closed;" and "Terminated--Server Full."] A search for explanations elicited the following response:
On Fri, 30 Jul 1999 07:37:52 -0700, Lyn Gerry wrote:
YUP. Too much demand. Only about 60 people can listen at one time on a T-1 Line. On-line listening is hyped as an alternative to FM radio, but it has a long way to go.
Lyn, radio4all sitekeeper
Will be looking into what our connection capacity really is and will post authoritative info here when I get it. The initial connection capacity was 40; then it was increased to 200, and can be bumped up if needed (so far it has not been needed). Checking with the inquiry button at the top of this page indicates that the "service unavailable" message pops up when the server is not running. When hours stabilize, will post that info here too. Not 24/7 at this time. Evidently there are intermittent server glitches at the Fresno end, and maybe at the San Francisco end; time has not yet permitted debugging. This WILL be debugged, and WILL become a regular part of KFCF's operations. In the meantime, keep trying.--adb
Status report from Tim Pozar August 11th: The stream is not up 24x7 as it is a bit unstable. Harry is restarting it in the morning and the evening but it will stayup any where from 1/2 to hours at a time. Rych and I are talking about building another box that will run some Free UNIX (ie FreeBSD or Linux) where it will be more stable than the current Windows box that Harry is kind 'nuf to loan to us. This may be several weeks out. Perhaps something could be put on the web page that covers this instablility and perhaps a request for equipment? :-) Tim
S.F. Chronicle-Examiner article on the role of streaming audio in radio--with mention of KFCF.
If these instructions need help, PLEEZE send me corrections, additions, etc..