[lug] RE: Live Feed

[Mitchell Roth <ffmgr@uaf.edu>]

Hi Karen,
I received your email as the faculty advisor for the UAF
LUG.  You have raised  a very interesting question regarding
the possibility of KBRW setting up streaming audio.  For this to
happen, the KBRW audio signal must be available for input to an 
internet audio server.  The audio server's internet connection must
provide enough bandwidth to deliver multiple audio streams, which
requires at least a DSL or cable connection.

There are basically two ways to do this:
1. Co-locate the audio server at KBRW in Barrow so the audio
can be plugged directly into the server.  The server will need a good
bandwidth internet connection.  You mention that only dialup access
is available in Barrow, but I assume you are referring to users 
who would be listening to the online audio streams.
Barrow must certainly have satellite and/or fibre optic bandwidth which
would be suitable for connecting the audio server to the internet.
I'm quite sure Barrow is one of the sites for the University's new
Star system, which delivers internet data by satellite.  In addition,
there is a fiber optic line along the pipeline which goes 
to Prudhoe.  There must be data lines between Barrow and Prudhoe which
could be used if the server is located in Barrow.

2. If there really is no way to get a high speed internet connection
in Barrow, then the other option is to locate the server where 
a connection is available (Deadhorse, Fairbanks, etc) and bring the
audio signal to the server.  The Aurora satellite owned by the State 
of Alaska has several audio channels on it already.  I don't know if
KBRW is using it or not, but if they are, then all that is needed is
a receiver that can receive the audio signal and feed it to the server.
This could be done by satellite, radio, or leased data lines.

The people to talk to about these telecommunication issues would
be the engineers at KUAC & KBRW, GCI and ACS.  I seem to recall that
one of the native corporations is part-owner of the fiber optic line
along the pipeline and I think I heard that GCI now operates it.
I'm not sure who is handling the new satellite internet system
for the University, but I can probably find out whether Barrow
is one of the sites and who's running it.

Hope this helps and gives you some ideas to explore for KBRW.
If you can solve the telecommunication issues, the UAF LUG will
be happy to advise you on the configuration of the audio server.

Mitch Roth



>===== Original Message From "Karen A. Wilken" <karenw@webbweavers.com> =====
>Hello:
>
>My name is Karen and I work for WebWeavers, the people who did KUAC.org.  We
>currently work with you to provide streaming radio online.
>
>I am writing you now on behalf of KBRW in Barrow.  They recently became a
>client of ours and are hoping to have streaming audio on their site.  The
>trouble is is that there is only dial-up connection up there.  That's a bad
>thing, I know.  The good thing is that there is alot of potential here.
>
>In a recent visit up there, I learned that KBRW is THE central communication
>hub for the North Slope (or about 7 rural villages).  There have been many,
>many requests for this service over the past two years, and they stressed
>that when I was there. Also, everyday they offer listeners programming from
>Fairbanks...so I don't know how that can play into the mix.
>
>Is there anything that can be done to get streaming audio on their site or
>do you think we are up a creek?  Any guidance is much appreciated!
>
>Thank you very much have a wonderful evening.
>
>Think Sun.
>
>:)k
>
>Karen Wilken
>WebWeavers
>http://www.webbweavers.com
>565 University Avenue
>Fairbanks, Alaska 99709
>p. 907.479.9322
>f. 907.457.7281

Dr. Mitchell Roth
Professor and Coordinator of Computer Science
University of Alaska Fairbanks
Fairbanks, AK 99775
roth@cs.uaf.edu
http://www.cs.uaf.edu/~roth
voice: 907-474-7098
fax: 907-474-5394