Listener FAQ

Please make sure that your computer has the latest free and computer safe Windows Media Player. If you do not have Windows Media Player, download it from the Microsoft download center. Once you have been redirected, follow the instructions to install the Windows Media Players that is compliant with your system.

Please make sure that you are connected to the Internet.
Firewalls, especially corporate firewalls, will often restrict streaming to conserve bandwidth. If your system is behind a firewall, please contact your network administrator to open up your firewall to allow your system to access this stream via port 80 or verify that they allow streaming media to be played over the network. If you have access to your firewall, consult its log files to see if it allows different stream protocols (MMS/HTTP).

Please note – Most off the shelf hardware firewalls such as Netgear or LinkSys will not block the streaming media.

Please note – Most software firewalls will block access to streaming media. If you think this is the case, turn off the firewall and try to connect to the stream. If you are able to stream then you’ll need to review your help files for opening your software firewall for streaming media.

Virus protection software such as Norton Anti Virus, McAfee and Zone Alarm has certain configurations that interfere with streaming media. If you think your virus protection is blocking your stream, turn off virus protection and try to access the stream. If you are successful, then verify your virus protection software is not blocking web page plugins, ActiveX controls, or streaming protocols (HTTP/MMS).

Pop-up blocking software will block the player because it launches as a pop-up window. You may need to disable your pop up blocker to allow the player to launch.

If you are listening to a Liquid Compass radio station, you may notice periods of intermittent interruptions, or silence, during the broadcast. These periods of silence are normal, as these periods of silence are covering local on-air commercials (which we are not allowed to broadcast over the internet). Understand that you have not lost the stream, as the broadcast should resume after the commercial set is over (commercial sets vary from two to five minutes long). Once the station has a full advertising inventory, you will not hear these periods of silence.

Protection software such as Norton Anti-Virus, McAfee and Zone Alarm, has certain configurations that interfere with receiving streaming media.

Please turn off your virus protection software, and try to reconnect. If you are successful, then follow some of the suggestions below to allow you to listen with the virus protection running. Please consult your virus protection’s help files to assist with the configuration.

Try adding the web page’s URL to your trusted sites section. Please check your virus protection settings to determine what is being blocked. Check to see if you are blocking internet plug-ins or pop-ups.
Check to see if streaming ports are being blocked by watching your Log Files. To review your Log Files please do the following:

1. Open Log files (be sure virus protection is turned on)
2. Connect and try to open the player
3. Check virus log files to see if anything is being blocked

Basically, a firewall is a software or hardware device that provides security for a computer network. The main purpose of a firewall is to keep uninvited guests from browsing your network and to serve as the gatekeeper for all incoming and outgoing traffic.

If you are behind a firewall (if you are at work, this is very likely) it may be blocking off the ports which allow access to the stream. It may also be doing packet inspection and restricting the file types necessary for successful streaming. If your system is behind a firewall, please contact your network administrator to open up your firewall to allow your system to access this stream via port 80 or verify that they allow streaming media to be played over the network. Local or remote proxy servers may also interfere with your ability to connect to the stream.

Liquid Compass does not require a user name or password to listen to its streams. This prompt is coming from your proxy server or asking for your network login. If you connect to the internet via a proxy server, you will need to configure your windows media player proxy settings to match that of your browser. DO NOT just select use same settings as internet browser.

Yes you can access the stream from a dial-up connection, however you will need to connect at a speed greater than 32 kbps. To determine your connection speed or bit rate on a PC, connect to the internet. While connected to the internet move your mouse over the icon that appears in the lower right hand cornet next to the clock on your desk top. While you mouse over the icon a small window will pop-up displaying your connection speed.

Several factors could be causing the issue. Often software programs which perform ‘auto-updates’ can install updates that interfere with the Windows Media Player. Please reinstall the Windows Media Player and try to connect to the stream. If you are still having trouble please fill out our support form.

Currently we support:
- IE 8+
- Firefox 8+
- Chrome 11+
- Safari 4+
- Opera 9+
If your browser is older than the versions listed, you should visit the vendor’s site and upgrade for free.

You can listen without taking down your firewall. As a test, turn off your firewall and launch the player to see if it plays. If the player is fully functional when your firewall is down please fill out our Technical Support Form and our technical support team will assist you with the issue.

Please check with your system administrator about Streaming through Firewalls and Proxy Servers.
To stream through a proxy server you must perform the following manual configurations:

1. Open Windows Media Player
2. Under Tools, select Options
3. Select the ‘Network’ tab
4. On the tab are buttons for HTTP and MMS
5. Select HTTP protocol , select Configure
6. in ‘use following proxy server’ enter the appropriate proxy server address and port number (these can be obtained from your network administrator)
7. Repeat the process (steps 4-6) for the MMS protocol

You can listen without turning off your anti virus software. As a test, turn off your virus protection and launch the player to see if it plays. If the player is fully functional when your virus protection is off please fill out our Technical Support Form and our technical support team will assist you with the issue.

Check to see if streaming ports are being blocked by watching your Log Files. To review your Log Files please do the following:

1. Open Log files (be sure virus protection is turned on)
2. Connect and try to open the player
3. Check virus log files to see if anything is being blocked

Because Streaming Media is streamed directly to the Player and not downloaded onto your hard drive, there are neither any known viruses that are able to distribute nor can they activate themselves using Streaming Media content, servers or players. We do not run any scripts through our Windows Media Players which further enhances security.

If you are listening to a Liquid Compass radio station, you may notice periods of intermittent interruptions, or silence, during the broadcast. These periods of silence are normal, as these periods of silence are covering local on-air commercials (which we are not allowed to broadcast over the internet). Understand that you have not lost the stream, as the broadcast should resume after the commercial set is over (commercial sets vary from two to five minutes long).

Re-broadcasting on-air radio ads is constrained by the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA). Therefore, the advertisements are overlaid by either dead-air or internet-only ads. The internet only advertisements help to generate revenues to support internet streaming, so that you are able to listen to your favorite station online without paying for the service.

If you see ‘accessing stream’ in the now playing window when you are experiencing your issues, please follow the directions in this document and fill out our Technical Support Form.

The faster the internet connection, the better the stream. When your computer is not receiving data fast enough, the player tries to catch up. The result is interrupted audio or video.

The flow of audio can also be interrupted by internet congestion. Congestion and delays are due to insufficient bandwidth during high activity on the Internet, or at your Internet Service Provider (ISP). Streaming can be affected in places (such as businesses) where many people are on the same IP address and sharing bandwidth.

If you see ‘accessing stream’ in the now playing window when you are experiencing your issues, please follow the directions in this document and fill out our Technical Support Form.

If your memory or cache/temporary file folders are full, audio streaming errors may occur. Try emptying these folders, and the recycling bin. After you have deleted some files it may also be helpful to reboot your machine in order to free-up some more memory. Closing some windows and applications may also help.

Check your sound card to see if it allows 22 kHz audio.

Certain ISPs will disconnect users after 15-30 minutes if no activity is sensed by the ISP’s system. The ISP will accept request for any link and reset the disconnect clock. Check with your local ISP if you suspect problems.

A time-delay is normal because of internet traffic, station set-up, buffering conducted by the player, or other configurations. The average delay will range from a few seconds to several minutes.