podcasts

[pippitysqueakity]

Hi, need some advice, please.
I have a Galaxy Ace.
I used to listen to LBC all night on my DAB radio as I have intermittent insomnia. .
Now my area no longer gets LBC and all other talk stations are boring to me, I wondered if it would be worth my while downloading some podcasts onto my phone, to play at night, or would that up my costs loads ( am on Tesco plan of £12 a month)
Or would I be better getting a separate MP3 player?

Do you have no access to a wifi broadband router (at home, or office, perhaps) ?

I just checked with my Galaxy Ace and the 'Tune In' radio app, and can get LBC (97.3) on that (there's also the LBC News {on AM 1152})...

I have TuneIn Radio Pro (purchased) but there's also a freebie version (which should be still easily available - I bought the other version about a year ago but don't know current price).

If you have Wi-Fi you could probably listen to LBC without worrying too much about how much data it uses, and not even need to download a podcast from anywhere... Incidentally, not sure if LBC does podcasts of much (or what else might you listen to?)

Do try TuneIn Radio, it has hundreds of stations, from locations worldwide (and if you are interested, I can recommend various alternative services like World Radio Network (WRN English for Europe, or WRN English North America for similar but not identical content)... nearly all talk, English from around the world...

Also from N America, NPR {National Public Radio} and PRI {Public Radio International} provide lots of shows for the public radio stations. I can recommend shows like "Fresh Air" (daily current affairs and interviews), Wait Wait, Don't Tell Me! (a weekly news quiz, with special guests and US comedians... just a bit of fun!). Lots more and many may be available via TuneIn as it seems to be able to find both live stations and links to podcasts/ audio clips... for example I'm just listening to a bit of Fresh Air about actor James Gandolfini (from The Sopranos).

Sorry, must point out the "Also from" should have been "Also, from"

World Radio Network is based in London and over 10 years old, but was primarily on Satellite from the late 90s and I may have made it sound like it was 'from North America' when all credit for WRN { www.wrn.org } is due to some ex-BBC engineers (I believe).

OMG - just looked at the 'About Us' section on the WRN site and it's been around over 20 years. I have been listening much longer than I thought!

Wow, thanks NetworkGuy, that's a very comprehensive answer.
So if I download the app I can listen to the station all night (as long as my charge holds out) if I keep the broadband on? Does this not have implications for the safety of my computer tho, we were told not to leave it on by the computer company, when comp not in use?

Tried to reply hours ago, but think there's a problem with my mobile/MN web site as what I was typing wasn't being displayed - very disconcerting!

Anyway... (1) your computer could stay off overnight, as it is your home wireless router (connected to the phone line) which would give the wireless signal to your phone, but (2) I am assuming you've already tried using your mobile phone 'wireless' mode to connect (so you don't use up your mobile allowance when you have a fast reliable alternative)...

Most ISPs suggest customers keep the broadband router on 24x7 (because if you don't the network may think that you have a problem and reduces the speed all the time).

I know the Samsung phones usually say "unplug the charger" but how about having your charger plugged into a timeswitch. You could (as part of your 'going to bed' routine, plug your phone in to the charger, and then, whether you start the 'off to sleep' stage with LBC or not, the timeswitch could be used to charge from say 01:00 to 02:30 and then again from 04:00 to 05:30.

If you move both times a bit (so the end of charging the second time coincides with getting up for breakfast) you should at least be abe to have a charged phone to go out with a fully charged phone, while the first charge will be needed if you cannot sleep and should do no major harm. Hope you've downloaded the free TuneIn Radio app by now...

I clearly mixed up two different ways of saying the same thing in that bit about going out with a fully charged phone, but home you see what I meant!

gahhh... must go to sleep - didn't go to bed Thursday night and cannot even type proper sentences tonight...

'but home you ...' should have been 'but hope you ...'

Hi NetworkGuy.
I have downloaded the app and listened all night last night. My DH turned off the router, but phone still worked without me doing anything. I really am clueless about these things, how do I work out if I am using up my allowance, or not?
A lot of the other stations look really interesting too, that really is a great app, thanks for the info!

Right have just checked my bill and it says I have used up loads of my usage allowance last night, so presumably am not on wireless. Do you know how I might find it?
I was so happy last night having found my radio chat!

If your router's off, you're using up the phone allowance.

Is your phone actually connected to your broadband? Have you ever entered your broadband / wireless password into your phone?

On my phone (an iPhone) it says 3G at the top when I'm using the phone connection for internet. It changes to those decreasing-in-size semicircles which indicate a wireless connection, when I'm connected.

It's impossible to use the wireless if your router is switched off.

threehand, no have never entered this. I really need to go back to the users manual don't I?
Thanks for info. My phone shows 3G and H alternately when I am surfing, or texting.

Try this YouTube tutorial

It's aimed at O2 customers but I guess it can't be too different?

Let us know how you get on!

Really sorry you used a lot of data allowance, but glad you have the app.

Must stress not to turn router off - ISPs expect them to be on all the time, but I suppose the next thing to check is whether your home broadband has a usage limit.... else you may hit that limit too :( (but hope not - any idea how much data you used overnight?)

There are many unlimited services - mine charges £9.99 so hardly breaks the bank... oh, and I mean truly unlimited (some like Tesco say unlimited but 'Fair Usage' policy kicks in at 100 GB... some others are similar)

Ha! No prob NWG, tis entirely my own fault!
Seem to now have connected to my wireless so will try again tonight. Still have some data time left and if I go over, will just think of it as learning curve which will teach me not to b so lazy!
That radio app is amazing,who knew there was so much out there!

PS used about 150 GB s last night. Think my limit in phone 400.

Think (and hope) you mean 150 MB overnight.

Yes, there's a lot available via that radio app. I was an avid short-wave listener for some 30 years until the rise of the internet in the mid 90s, and used to listen to stations from Europe and further afield, which was why I was so happy when WRN came along.

Internet access allows one to listen to so much more variety, and without the crackle and pop or any other interference...