Frequently Asked Questions

Help for listeners

I can't listen, what do I need to do?

If you are unable to listen to streams then you probably don't have a compatible player installed.

Most Windows PCs come with Windows Media Player pre-installed and this should work. If you get a messag box when you click on a [listen] link then choose to "Open" rather than "Save" or "Download". You should then be given an option on which program to use to open the link, choose Windows Media Player. This works most of the time.

If Windows Media Player won't open the stream, then we recommend that you install Winamp available from www.winamp.com. This will allow you to play all streams that are listed in our directory, whether they are MP3, AAC+ or Video streams.

Are the streams listed on StationFinder child friendly?

It is advisable to monitor your child's use of the Internet at all times. Broadcasts listed in the directory are not controlled by StationFinder or BellOnline and we therefore take no responsibility for the output of any streams that are listed. Some streams may contain strong language, adult themes and other content that is not suitable for children.

If unsure, you should visit the website before tuning in to the stream to check that the content is appropriate.

Is it free to listen to Internet radio?

Most if not all of the streams listed in our directory are free to listen to, it is very rare for stations to charge to listen (although a lot do ask for donations in some form). You will never be charged to listen without knowing if you tune in from StationFinder.org.

If a station charges to listen to their stream, then you won't be able to listen from StationFinder, you may need to visit the station website for more details.

Why should I download the toolbar?

Our toolbar offers you a way of listening to radio streams right from your browser.

Do you advertise on StationFinder?

We currently have a very small amount of advertising. If you search for a term that cannot be found in our database then we display some results from Google which include a small number of clearly labeled ads.

Help for broadcasters

Can I pay to get a higher ranking?

Not at the moment. Stations are listed in order of the amount of unique listeners.

In future, we may accept sponsored listings but there are no immediate plans to do so.

How do I submit my station?

If you are a customer of BellOnline, then your station is automatically submitted to the directory. This includes anyone that has a server from MixStream.net or FreeStreamHosting.org.

We are working on a system whereby anyone can submit their stream to our directory.

Is my station monitored?

We do not actively monitor radio streams that are listed.

My stream appears twice!

We do our best to cluster streams that have multiple relays on our network, however this may not always work.

Notice: There is a small bug in the system that causes all stations to be displayed twice sometimes. This is caused by the scanner getting stuck and terminating. It normally fixes itself within about half an hour.

If your stream appears twice and other streams are only listed once then feel free to contact support.

What Genres are accepted?

You can put anything in the genre field for your stream, but the ones that we list in the toolbar are similar to those that are listed on the official Shoutcast directory:

Alternative, Adult Alternative, Britpop, Classic Alternative, College, Dancepunk, Dream Pop, Emo, Goth, Grunge, Indie Pop, Indie Rock, Industrial, Lo-Fi, Modern Rock, New Wave, Noise Pop, Post-Punk, Power Pop, Punk, Ska, Xtreme