{"id":48363,"date":"2021-04-10T09:01:36","date_gmt":"2021-04-10T13:01:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/?p=48363"},"modified":"2021-04-10T09:01:36","modified_gmt":"2021-04-10T13:01:36","slug":"robs-tips-for-uncovering-radio-station-stream-urls","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2021\/04\/robs-tips-for-uncovering-radio-station-stream-urls\/","title":{"rendered":"Rob’s tips for uncovering radio station stream URLs"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>Many thanks to SWLing Post<\/em> contributor, Rob Gray<\/a>, who shares the following tips:<\/strong><\/p>\n

\n

Extracting Audio Stream Information from Reciva<\/h1>\n

Here is a proposed procedure for extracting audio streams from Reciva, while the website still exists<\/em><\/a>.<\/p>\n

[Please note that in these examples, the Brave web browser is being used in a Windows environment. The procedure is nearly identical for Chrome. Other web browsers and operating systems may vary slightly.]<\/em><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Image 1 (Click to enlarge)<\/p><\/div>\n

After logging in and searching for your desired station(s) (as shown in Image 1 above using NPR as an example search), click the speaker icon of the station of interest (see Image 2 below).\u00a0 <\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

That brings up another browser window (center-right window in Image 3 below).\u00a0 <\/span>Pressing \u201cF12\u201d brings up another window of DevTools (Developer Tools).<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Under \u201cDevTools\u201d, select \u201cConsole\u201d (you may find it under the >>) as shown in the image above.\u00a0 <\/span>The URL is shown in the \u201cConsole\u201d window (image 04), and should be http:\/\/xxxxxx<\/span>, and not the secure https<\/strong>:\/\/xxxxxx<\/span>.<\/p>\n

Extracting Audio Stream Information from station websites<\/h1>\n

Digging out streams from station websites can be a little trickier.\u00a0 <\/span>Using an example of the webpage for the NPR station KCLU, once loaded, press \u201cF12\u201d to bring up the developer tools as shown on the right-hand side of Image 4 below.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Then Press \u201cF5\u201d to reload the page, and the Play button to start the audio stream.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

In the Developer Tools window, select \u201cNetwork\u201d, as shown in the Image 5 above.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

While the stream is playing, look for the longest bar, which indicates activity.\u00a0 <\/span>Sorting the files in this window by size or time (if descending order, be at the top of the list, if descending order at the bottom of the list) can make searching for the \u201cbar\u201d easier, or just look for it in the list as shown in the Image 6 above.\u00a0 <\/span>Look for the file associated with the \u201cbar\u201d under \u201cName\u201d, right-click on that file, Copy, and left-click \u201cCopy link address\u201d as shown in the Image 7 below.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

That is usually your stream, or something close to it.\u00a0 <\/span>In this example, this is the link address copied:<\/p>\n

https:\/\/kclustream.callutheran.edu:8090\/kclump3?uuid=5blcmxjpp<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

That\u2019s a little messy, and you can experiment with shortening it.\u00a0 <\/span>In this case, the link can be shortened to: https:\/\/kclustream.callutheran.edu:8090\/kclump3<\/span><\/a> [removing the question mark and all characters following it] and the stream still plays in a web browser on the computer–while I\u2019ve not tested it, it would probably play in your internet radio. You\u2019ll just have to experiment.<\/p>\n

However, in this case (and most certainly not all), shortening the link to https:\/\/kclustream.callutheran.edu:8090\/<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>brings up another page with all sorts of data, and clicking the M3U file on that page downloads a file.\u00a0 <\/span>Opening that file with Notepad reveals this link (\u00a0 <\/span>https:\/\/kclustream.callutheran.edu:8090\/kcluaac<\/strong>\u00a0 <\/span>), which also plays the stream, and in my guess, is probably the real stream URL.\u00a0 <\/span><\/p>\n

Different web pages will reveal different \u2018formats\u2019 of URLs–one simply has to experiment to get something to work.\u00a0 <\/span>The procedure is essentially the same with other pages, though there is often variation so a certain amount of experimentation is sometimes needed to tease out the stream URLs.\u00a0 <\/span>There isn\u2019t really any one set of instructions that will work for everything (that I\u2019ve found anyway!).<\/p>\n

The examples shown used Google Chrome, and the Brave browser works exactly the same.\u00a0 <\/span>The operating system used was Windows.\u00a0 <\/span>Firefox seems similar (F12) and other browsers probably also work similar, though the appearance might be a bit different.<\/p>\n

A few things that might add clarification with \u2018odd\u2019 streams:<\/h3>\n

In the developer tools window under Name<\/em>, sometimes those items (files) are labelled as just a semicolon, or are labelled something like ‘stream.’<\/p>\n

Sometimes the stream URL is httpS:\/\/…., with those, try dropping the \u201cs\u201d and the http:\/\/…. often works.<\/p>\n

I often tried any proposed streams out on my desktop computer first, however there were some that wouldn\u2019t play on the desktop that did on the Reciva radio, and vise-versa.\u00a0 <\/span>But generally, if it didn\u2019t work on the computer, it didn\u2019t work on the internet radio.<\/p>\n

Sometimes the URLs point to a link with a .pls extension.\u00a0 <\/span>In a browser, those links tend to initiate a download (at least on my setup, and was the case with the M3U file in the KCLU example).\u00a0 <\/span>You can download the file, then open with a text editor (Notepad for example) and read the link there.<\/p>\n

For some, the URL won’t work. For those, I would get them to work by adding a semicolon (;) to the end of what you think might be the link.\u00a0 <\/span>I’ve had a few work with that trick!<\/p>\n

While digging out steams is tedious–especially if you have a lot of them–there\u2019s a potentially very rewarding payoff!\u00a0 <\/span>When you create the .pls files (as described in other Reciva postings<\/a> in this blog), you can easily copy those to many other devices (Android phone\/tablet, iPod\/iPhone, other computers, Kodi, etc.) and use them there.\u00a0 <\/span>I\u2019ve only started on this project, but I used an old (very old) iPod touch, entered the stream URL into Safari, placed the iPod in a docking station (a dime\/dozen at second-hand stores) and basically created an internet radio facsimile.\u00a0 <\/span>As the iPod is too old for the App Store, entering the URL\u2019s and bookmarking them should provide convenience.\u00a0 <\/span>The .pls files work well in my Android devices with VLC player, and even with Kodi (on a Raspberry Pi). They also work on my TV by placing the files in the \u201cVideo\u201d section, read from external media (can probably use the boot SD card for memory storage as well, the files are very small).<\/p>\n

\n

Thank you for sharing this, Rob!<\/strong><\/p>\n

I recall our friend, Tracy Wood, discussing in some detail how to find radio streams a few years ago at the Winter SWL Fest. He was on a mission to find rare local and regional South American stations that aren’t easily available outside the area.<\/p>\n

I have used the approach you mentioned above and it is effective.<\/p>\n

Readers<\/em>: if you have other tips, please feel free to share them in the comments section.<\/p>\n

Of course, we should note again that the Reciva website<\/a> will be taken down at the end of April 2021. We suspect some or all Reciva radios may eventually fail in the absence of receiving a token over the Internet.<\/a> While we haven’t received a confirmation, my industry sources seem to think this is a real possibility. Let’s hope not.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Rob Gray, who shares the following tips: Extracting Audio Stream Information from Reciva Here is a proposed procedure for extracting audio streams from Reciva, while the website still exists. [Please note that in these examples, the Brave web browser is being used in a Windows environment. The procedure is […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[3,4652],"tags":[9232,999,9231,5296,7800],"class_list":["post-48363","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-news","category-wifi-radio","tag-how-to-find-radio-station-streams","tag-internet-radio","tag-internet-radio-hacks","tag-reciva","tag-rob-gray"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pn3uc-cA3","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":50646,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2021\/10\/reciva-gateway-not-responding-rob-offers-more-info-possible-workarounds\/","url_meta":{"origin":48363,"position":0},"title":"“Reciva Gateway not responding”: Rob offers more info & possible workarounds","author":"Thomas","date":"October 26, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to\u00a0SWLing Post\u00a0contributor,\u00a0Rob Gray, who shares the following tips: Reciva Gateway not responding: More Info, possible workarounds. Reading the comments in the SWLing Post blog, it sounds like many people are receiving the dreaded \u201cReciva Gateway not responding\u201d message and at a loss how to proceed from there. I\u2019m\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/CC_WIFI_2_internet_radio_receiver.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/CC_WIFI_2_internet_radio_receiver.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/CC_WIFI_2_internet_radio_receiver.jpeg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":48367,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2021\/04\/do-reciva-wifi-radios-use-a-token-system-lets-prove-or-disprove-this-now\/","url_meta":{"origin":48363,"position":1},"title":"Do Reciva WiFi radios use a token system? Let’s prove or disprove this now.","author":"Thomas","date":"April 1, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Rob Gray, who recently reached out with some potentially concerning information about Reciva radios. Evidently, some users are claiming that Reciva chips require a periodic token refresh to keep the radio functioning properly. Rob writes: From this internet radio forum a\u00a0contributor wrote: \"Apparently, even\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/Grace-Digital-Mondo-Front-Panel.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/Grace-Digital-Mondo-Front-Panel.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/Grace-Digital-Mondo-Front-Panel.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/Grace-Digital-Mondo-Front-Panel.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":47294,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2021\/01\/reciva-pushes-out-closing-date-to-april-30-2021\/","url_meta":{"origin":48363,"position":2},"title":"Reciva pushes out closing date to April 30, 2021","author":"Thomas","date":"January 15, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"UPDATE: Click here to read about a procedure to extend the life of your Reciva WiFi radio presets before Reciva closes on April 30, 2021. If you own a WiFi radio that relies on the Reciva aggregator, the company has given you an additional eleven weeks to enjoy your device\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Screen-Shot-2021-01-15-at-06.07.41.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Screen-Shot-2021-01-15-at-06.07.41.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Screen-Shot-2021-01-15-at-06.07.41.png?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Screen-Shot-2021-01-15-at-06.07.41.png?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":48296,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2021\/03\/how-to-give-your-reciva-wifi-radio-a-second-life-before-the-service-closes-on-april-30-2021\/","url_meta":{"origin":48363,"position":3},"title":"How to give your Reciva WiFi radio a second life before the service closes on April 30, 2021","author":"Thomas","date":"March 29, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"In November 2020, we learned that the Reciva radio station aggregator would be closing down permanently which would effectively render a large portion of WiFi radios on the market useless. This closure will affect a number of WiFi radio manufacturers, but two of the most notable are Grace Digital and\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "How To"","block_context":{"text":"How To","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/how-to\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/CCWifi-Front-2.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/CCWifi-Front-2.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/CCWifi-Front-2.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/CCWifi-Front-2.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":46287,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2020\/11\/the-reciva-internet-radio-station-aggregator-closing-down\/","url_meta":{"origin":48363,"position":4},"title":"The Reciva Internet radio station aggregator is closing down","author":"Thomas","date":"November 2, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"UPDATE: Click here to read about a procedure to extend the life of your Reciva WiFi radio presets before Reciva closes on April 30, 2021. Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, John Drake, who notes that Reciva has announced that they are closing down effective January 31, 2021. Check out\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Screen-Shot-2020-11-02-at-04.53.37.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Screen-Shot-2020-11-02-at-04.53.37.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Screen-Shot-2020-11-02-at-04.53.37.png?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Screen-Shot-2020-11-02-at-04.53.37.png?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":47434,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2021\/01\/new-cc-wifi-3-c-crane-offers-discount-to-cc-wifi-customers-after-demise-of-reciva-aggregator\/","url_meta":{"origin":48363,"position":5},"title":"New CC WiFi-3: C.Crane offers discount to CC WiFi customers after demise of Reciva aggregator","author":"Thomas","date":"January 21, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Ron, who notes the following announcement on C.Crane's website: We were happy to be one of first companies to offer ad-free Internet radio because it allowed anyone to listen to the world without a fee. Fifteen years ago, Ben, the founder of Reciva, had\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "New Products"","block_context":{"text":"New Products","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/new-products\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/CC-Wifi-3-1.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/48363","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/15"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=48363"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/48363\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=48363"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=48363"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=48363"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}