If you have a question that is not here, use our questionnaire and leave us your comments. ALL suggestions and problems are taken note of. We unfortunately can't reply to all of you, but we do pay attention to all of your email and it is because of this that we have created this page.
We hope it helps?
| Simply click on the question which you would like an answer. |
A Plug-In is a piece of software which, when added (plugged in) to your Web Browser opens a new world of Audio, Animation's and some very strange and interesting Web Sites. It works in the same way as any other Plug-In. It's not JAVA and it's not Real Audio.
We use it for Streaming Audio, and were the first in Europe to use it for this purpose. It is not a stand alone programme - in other words, there are things you need to do in order for it to work properly and these things are explained in the other questions.
Shockwave is very easy to use, and once it is in your system you never have to think about it again, as it instantly makes your browser Shockwave Compatible. Any Web Pages which have Shockwave content in them will automatically work.
Real Audio is a programme which works independently of your Web Browser. In other words, you don't need your Web Browser open in order to listen to Audio on the Internet (but it helps to find the web sites).
Real Audio is 'channels' of Audio where there is only the capacity for ONE / ONE channel. Shockwave is an element within a web page and is only restricted by the servers bandwidth.
The quality of broadcast from Shockwave is far greater and the file sizes are also dramatically smaller. Smaller files mean faster streaming, meaning more reliable reception and more constant streams for listeners.
Highlander Internet Radio did stream using Real Audio for a short while but because over 90% of listeners used Shockwave we stopped the Real Audio.
Shockwave content only works with the Shockwave Plug-In.
Its a decent file size to download, so make sure you have the time before you go ahead with the download.
As with any download, you will be prompted for a directory where you would like it stored. We recommend that ALL your downloaded files go into a download directory in your computer - that way you know exactly where the file is when you have finished.
You will have to make sure that you select ALL the correct options from the download page. E.G. What type of browser you have - do you have windows 3.1 / 95 or Mac.
Once you are happy with your options.. click the button to start the download (remembering of course the directory where it is downloading to)
Once downloaded into your system make sure that you disconnect from the Internet and close ALL of your programs. It is usually sensible to close all of your programs (except of course Windows). Some of your programs may share files with Shockwave, as is normal with computers, and just to be safe you should make it a rule NEVER to install software with other programs open.
What you need to do in order for Shockwave to work is to install the program into your browser!
Find the file within your directory tree (Windows95 Explorer or Windows 3.1 Program Manager). Once you have located the file "double click" it!
Without installing Shockwave all you will have is a file in your computer. Shockwave is a program which is compressed into ONE file so that you can download it easily. What you are doing by "double clicking" is activating the program into a "self install" mode.
When you "double click" on the file, your screen will change and you will be introduced to Shockwave for the first time. Simply follow the on screen instructions and in a few minutes Shockwave will have automatically installed itself into your browser - thus making your browser Shockwave compatible.
And that's all there is to it.
You will never see anything to do with Shockwave again, until your browser comes across a page with Shockwave content - and even then all you need do is have fun with the page - Shockwave will work all by itself!
If you have successfully installed Shockwave then you will see a long blue control panel [like the one pictured below]. It is very similar to the animated graphic at the top of our pages which shows a mouse arrow moving across the buttons and showing you how to press play.
The control panel will show you the name of the programme you are on, and will also show you a small set of buttons on the right hand side. These buttons are STOP, PLAY and VOLUME UP or DOWN.
You don't have to press the play button. The Radio Programmes will play Automatically when you load the page.
TIP: If you find that nothing is happening - press your browsers Re-Load button - there are hundreds of users in there listening to the programmes at one time, pressing Re-Load will often re-queue you and connect you quicker, when things get bogged down.
If you can see all of this then everything is working just fine.
There is nothing more you need do. The Audio will work automatically - but you may have to wait a minute or two depending on where you are connecting from. AOL - COMPUSERVE and other Network users may have to wait longer than others for the Audio to work. Internet users should have no problems at all.
If your screen doesn't look like the one above - either your computer can't handle Shockwave (see "can my computer even get you Audio?") - your speakers are turned down or off - or the Internet is extremely busy!!
You don't actually need to press any buttons. If you want to Stop the Audio and start again from the beginning then Press STOP. Pressing play will start things again. Adjust the volume if you feel you need to - or if you simply want to Pause - then press Play - pressing Play a second time will start the Audio from where you left it.
If all you want to do is listen to the music and listen into the gossip and competitions, then DO NOTHING.. It's really that easy.
Do not think that the graphic with the moving mouse arrow is where you press play! It is merely there to help show you what you should be seeing and doing with the control panel - pressing that play button will do absolutely nothing - and it doesn't mean that you have Shockwave.
Other than that - you may want to simply try again later. Highlander Internet radio is very popular indeed, and sometimes the demand for the programmes is such that some people struggle to get in.
We are planning a Mirror Site in the not too distant future, and this should help speed things up and lighten the load.
If you have a multi media computer - i.e. one with speakers and a sound card then you are fine!
Not all computers work with Shockwave. Shockwave is a very clever add-on to Web Browsers but with today's technology it requires a minimum specification with which to run.
If you have a 486 DX33 or better then you will have NO TROUBLE.
Shockwave will not work with anything less than that. If you have an SX chip in your computer then you really should be upgrading anyway.
The industry standard - LOW GRADE CHIP is at least a Pentium 166. If you can get your hands on a 486 DX chip then that'[s fine - but it's already out of date - but it will work!
There is more information regarding compatible computers and other types of computers in the Macromedia Shockwave Web Site.
There is Streamed Audio ALL OVER THE HIGHLANDS.
Highlander Web Magazine has Audio within it, Highlander Music Ltd. has Shockwave "hear before you buy" options, Moira Kerr's Web Site has a three track promo' - Nigel Tranters Pages have a half hour section from "The Wallace" cassette tapes within it... and if you hunting around you'll find others out there too..
If you are really looking for buying the CD's we play - then you must go to the above web sites as these are the people who kindly supply CD's for us and you can order from any of the above sites using Secure Servers, Postal details Fax details and telephone numbers... Some of them even have Toll Free US numbers - even though we are all Scottish Highland Companies.
Coming in the summer are new slots and new programmes.
Keep your eyes open for "The MacRonalds©".. It's a blast!
Exclusively written for Highlander Internet Radio by the same people who brought you {TV} Not the Nine o'clock News, Spitting Image, Naked Video, Three of a Kind and Pulp Video - {Radio} Six of the Best and Naked Radio - {Theater} Citizen Sing, Every Bloody Sunday and Albatross Soup. Writers John Duignan and Ian Hopkins turn there talents and humour to the Internet for Highlander Internet Radio.
The MacRonalds© will "knock your socks off".
Move over the Young and the Restless, Neighbours, Home and Away and all the other "Soap on a Rope" has-beens,... The MacRonalds© will take Soap into a new age and a global audience.
It has to be heard to be believed.. and it's ALL from Scotland.. coming to a screen in your house soon!
From your browsers FILE menu, select the option "New Web Browser".
This will open a new copy of your Web Browser which you then use to surf around the web. In the meantime the other copy of your browser which will still have the Radio pages on them will keep playing whilst you travel around the Web.
Simply email us or fill in our questionnaire and tell us what you think we've missed here!