The staff at Achieve Radio has gone to considerable effort to make our system as easy as possible to listen to. However, with all the various platforms, operating systems and player software out there, problems happen.  If you have a favorite player that you use often and know for certain works with streaming media on your system, by all means use it. We have posted links to accommodate the most popular players.

About the various players
(all available for free - Click here)

	Achieve Radio Flash: Based on our own proprietary server technology and the Wimpy Flash Player, this will usually work when nothing else will, although occasionally it won't work when something else does. (NOTHING always works in the computer world...) RECOMMENDED
	Windows Media Player: Also works well. Currently (2007) the Achieve Radio broadband connection for Windows Media gives the highest fidelety, while the Windows media dial-up connection provides the best skip free (low bit rate) listening for dial-up listening.
	Real Player: Works very well on almost any computer.
	iTunes: The iTunes player by Apple will not only play the live Achieve Radio program, but will also automatically download and play your favorite shows via podcast. The iTunes/WinAmp link on Achieve Radio is different from the other links in that it will launch whatever player your computer is set up for to receive this type of program. (a .m3u, if you're curious) If you have a Mac, this is probably automatic. For Windows, open iTunes - click the Edit menu option and select Preferences. Click on the Advanced tab. Check the "Use iTunes as default player for audio files" box, then click OK.
	Winamp: Almost utterly reliable, Winamp is very popular, simple and easy to use. Recommended.
	QuickTime: Mostly for the Mac, but popular on Windows as well.

Skipping is usually caused by using a weak dial-up internet connection to tune in OR by overloading a dial-up connection. (or even a broadband connection)
To minimize skipping You Can:

1. Close ALL other internet programs, pop-ups, etc.
2. Connect with one of our Reduced Data Rate servers, located HERE. (The quality of the audio will suffer.)
3. Increase the buffer size of the player you are using. How to do this depends on the player software you are using, and it is not possible with the Achieve Radio Flash Player. The buffer "saves" the audio as it comes in to let your player continue to play smoothly if your connection is interrupted for a few seconds.
4. Do all of the above. A good dial-up connection will carry our normal audio stream with about 50% reserve capacity, but other traffic (such as the web-cam, other web sites or commercial "ad-ware" and "spy-ware" can quickly wipe out the reserve, causing skips. The Reduced Rate audio is about 1/3 smaller than the normal stream and will usually help a lot. (again, at the cost of listening quality)

   The Achieve Radio Flash Player is the easiest player to use and works with almost any computer with Flash and mp3 installed. (about 90% of Windows computers built after 1999)

  If you get "Kicked Off" the server:  This is usually due to a slow dial-up connection or (occasionally) internet congestion.  To reconnect, just click the "Stop" button then the "Play" button.  If it happens frequently, try the "Dial-Up Streams"

   This is most common with older Windows Media Player installations (2002 and prior).  The solution is to either get the latest version of Windows Media Player (it's Free) from Microsoft - Here - or another player.  Achieve Radio recommends using our Flash Player (free and automatic) or Winamp, also free from Here.  The RealOne player is perhaps the most reliable and is the most popular commercial player.  Real Player can be found Here.

     Other, less common, error messages can happen if you are behind a proxy or firewall that blocks streaming media. The Achieve Flash player should get through most corporate proxy or firewalls.

Need a Player?

Get Free Winamp Player Here 

Get Free Linux XMMS player here     

Get QuickTime for Mac or Windows Here. 

Get Free Windows Media Player Here   

Get Free Real Player Here  

 No Sound

Check all the usual suspects - speaker/phones, volume, etc.  Try another player, if you have one.  Try another station.  If that is working, we may have a server or audio problem at AR.