P2P-Radio: Peer to Peer Streaming

How to use P2P-Radio

Starting the Program

P2P-Radio needs Java version 1.4 or later. Please install the current version of the Java Runtime Environment on your computer. If your version of Java is too old, P2P-Radio will show a message and quit.

The program is contained in the file P2P-Radio.jar. If you're using Windows or a Macintosh, you can start this file directly (with a single or a double mouse click on the file). On other systems, please enter the following command on the command line:

java -jar P2P-Radio.jar

What P2P-Radio needs to know

After the graphical user interface has appeared, P2P-Radio will ask you a few questions. First, you have to decide if you want to be a broadcaster or a listener.

P2P-Radio as Listener

Address of the Broadcaster

If you have decided to be a listener, you are asked to enter the address of a broadcaster that you know. You can also click on a "Play!" link in the Stations List.

Specifying the Bandwidth Limit

In the last question, P2P-Radio wants to know how much bandwidth you want to make available. Please enter a reasonable value (not bigger than the bandwidth limit of your Internet connection). Usually, P2P-Radio will exhaust the bandwidth up to the limit.

Your PC needs to supply other listeners with the stream that you will be listening to. To make this possible, please enter at least an amount that equals twice the bitrate of the stream. Note that your Internet connection may be asymmetric (cable modem/ADSL). P2P-Radio will mainly send data (upload).

Example: You want to listen to a stream that's broadcasted with 64 kBit/s, that equals 8 KB/s. Enter at least 16 KB/s to be able to supply a child as well. With 50 KB/s, you have the ability to supply 5 children.

If you leave the value at "0", up to 2 children will be accepted.

Now P2P-Radio knows everything that's necessary.

P2P-Radio as Broadcaster

If you want to be a broadcaster, please read the document Broadcasting with P2P-Radio first.

Shoutcast/Icecast Source Address

Enter the address of the stream that you want to broadcast. You can also enter the stream address of any public Shoutcast or Icecast station.

Address of the Monitor

P2P-Radio wants to know the address of the monitor to be used. You can leave this field blank if you don't want to use a monitor.

It's essential that the monitor's address is a public address, because the peers will send data to this address. "localhost" and similiar addresses are not public! P2P-Radio checks the address and displays an error message if you enter an address that's only valid on the local computer.

You can find out the IP address of your computer with the commands "ipconfig" (Windows) or "ifconfig" (Linux).

Specifying the Bandwidth Limit

That's the same as in the listener mode – please look above.

Now P2P-Radio knows everything that's necessary.