I know there has been some discussion on third party Streaming Services in the past, but I can't seem to find the appropriate posts.
I'm looking at getting a third party to host my radio station - the issue is not running a server but rather the necessary bandwidth required to support even small numbers of users (if, for example, you are running 48kbps, you'll be able to support just over 20 users on an internet connection with 1 Mbps upload speeds, and 100 if you have 5Mbps, which is the maximum I've seen with a reasonable price tag). If only 1 person is listening, you've got a lot of bandwidth there just sitting, whereas a third party hosting service can use that bandwidth with other streamers (and theoretically pass the cost savings on).
I did a cursory search over the Internet and found Voscast which appears reasonable (unlimited bandwidth and users for $12.95 per month with a 48kBps stream - it costs less for slower streams and more for faster). But it also appears that they have issues keeping servers up, based on some reviews and complaints I've read (which you have to take with a grain of salt).
I'm wondering what streaming services others are using, and how they would compare, both quality and cost-wise. I'd like to be able to support several hundred users without losing my shirt financially.
http://www.shoutcaststreaming.us/
Ive used these guys for a few years now.
Good uptime and only major outage was when they had to shift servers once.
Thanks Johny. I looked at their website and I like the fact that they support both Shoutcast and IceCast servers (in fact, this is the only site that mentioned IceCast). IceCast has an option to create a Shoutcast compatible port, but I haven't tried it out yet. They're pricier tha some, but sometimes when a deal appears to good to be true, it is. I'd trade reliability for price any day.
The member RFB, back when he was posting here, asked me, "Why do you have both a Shoutcast and Icecast stream?" He said, " It's possible to have one stream that shows up on both Icecast and Shoutcast directories.
And as Artisan just said, Icecast does provide an option for connecting to Shoutcast.
Trouble is, I have never found the exact instruction for achieving this interconnection and am not sure where to begin experimenting.
Artisan, or anyone else, if you figure it out, let us know.
I found the documentation for it - just haven't tried it out. You have to make some changes in the Icecast configuration file to create a ShoutCast compatible port. I will try it out and report back as to the results.
And thanks to the comments from Johny C. I'm probably going to go with a Value package from the guys he uses, and see what happens.
There is Airtime, which I set up on a $7/mo VPS server. If you don't have experience with linux (and perhaps even if you do) it can be a bit difficult to get going. It's one of those swiss-army-chainsaw server programs that can do just about anything (assuming you can figure out how to configure it for what you're doing...) They do offer a hosted version (as in, they set it up on their own servers and manage it for you) but the pricing isn't that great.
I want to thank those who responded.
It turns out that after threatening to cancel my current internet service, they came through, upgrading me to a significantly higher level business plan at much less cost (it's a current promo for new customers, but I had been told that, as a customer of over a decade, I wasn't eligible to receive it) - so I'll continue to host my own server until/if the listener numbers become significantly greater.
I don't see why you should have to threaten to leave (and be prepared to do so) to get reasonable pricing, but that did appear to be the case, at least for me.
My son's business requires upload/download of huge video files.
He's on AT&T UVERSE. The price keeps going up so he finally called and requested a lower rate such as the introductory rate.
When they wouldn't budge he threatened to switch. They told him "we've appreciated your business and hope you change your mind."
I think they can detect when your threats are half-hearted, and when you're serious. You really do have to be prepared to follow through.
I phoned in and my first words were 'I want to cancel my account'. It went on from there.