Radio Dramas:

Smokler on March 4, 2005

I seem to have spoken too soon. On Tuesday, I programmed Radio Time to record 12 different shows. As of this morning, after seven failures, it successfully recorded one. Among the many excuses it gave me were…

1. "Radio Time Does Not Recognize this File Format" (A Windows Media file).

2. "User Stopped Recording" (User stopped the strem from KTUI in Missouri after it had played for 2:45 minutes to record Marketplace, a 30 minute show).

3. "Incomplete Recording" (?)

Also Radio Time does not recognize my login name and password when I use a Safari or Firefox broswer. Further, even though I’ve checked "quiet record" as a setting, it still turned itself on this morning at 9 to record "This American Life," waking both Suzan and I as well as the cat.

I put all these grievances in an email to Radio Time and set it off. I heard back from them this morning asking for my login name and password which just seemed weird. Should they begin with some more elemental questions like "What operating system are you using?" or "Is the computer parked next to a space heater? And because I get obsessive about nonsense like this, I called their support line. It rang and rang until the operator told me that if I’d like to make a call, I should hang up and try again. After I did that, she had a beach in Idaho to sell me.

Did I mention that the first line of text on the support page is "Support for Radio Time is easy"? Perhaps I should have.

Reader interactions

8 Replies to “Radio Dramas:”

  1. Jordan March 5, 2005 at 10:43 pm

    If you have a Mac, you could try Audio Hijack Pro. I use that to record a bunch of internet radio streams and I never have a problem.

  2. Jordan March 5, 2005 at 10:43 pm

    If you have a Mac, you could try Audio Hijack Pro. I use that to record a bunch of internet radio streams and I never have a problem.

  3. Kevin Smokler March 5, 2005 at 11:12 pm

    I’ve thought about that, Jordan. And I will if I can’t get this mutha working.

  4. Kevin Smokler March 5, 2005 at 11:12 pm

    I’ve thought about that, Jordan. And I will if I can’t get this mutha working.

  5. Bill Moore May 28, 2005 at 8:56 am

    Hi Kevin, We may be too late but hope to help fix the problems you found with RadioTime. If you send your account we’ll extend the free recording.
    Please download the most current desktop client. Recordings generally work well though we still find problems, mostly chasing ever-changing streams and station schedule line-ups.
    The reason support asked for your account is the service tracks details about recording in process so we know what failed and usually why. We use the information for rating and fixing streams, also to recommend programs like Amazon does for books.
    Our support phone number should work well, even on the weekend. 972-364-9797
    Thanks,
    Bill Moore,
    RadioTime

  6. Bill Moore May 28, 2005 at 8:56 am

    Hi Kevin, We may be too late but hope to help fix the problems you found with RadioTime. If you send your account we’ll extend the free recording.
    Please download the most current desktop client. Recordings generally work well though we still find problems, mostly chasing ever-changing streams and station schedule line-ups.
    The reason support asked for your account is the service tracks details about recording in process so we know what failed and usually why. We use the information for rating and fixing streams, also to recommend programs like Amazon does for books.
    Our support phone number should work well, even on the weekend. 972-364-9797
    Thanks,
    Bill Moore,
    RadioTime

  7. Greg Grimes September 7, 2005 at 3:50 pm

    Another problem seems to be with the delivering of the RadioTime subscription service and devices to its customers. I ordered (and paid for)the 1 year subscription package with the Shark AM/FM Tuner by mail over a month ago but haven’t received anything yet. Even after repeated phone calls and assurances my order was on its way after it was initially supposed to be delayed because they were out stock I haven’t seen a thing. Makes me wonder if the company is having serious problems.

  8. Greg Grimes September 7, 2005 at 3:50 pm

    Another problem seems to be with the delivering of the RadioTime subscription service and devices to its customers. I ordered (and paid for)the 1 year subscription package with the Shark AM/FM Tuner by mail over a month ago but haven’t received anything yet. Even after repeated phone calls and assurances my order was on its way after it was initially supposed to be delayed because they were out stock I haven’t seen a thing. Makes me wonder if the company is having serious problems.

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