BBC Multicast

I'm just about to migrate out from Eclipse. and IDNet are on my shortlist.

I've just read that IDNet are running the BBC Multicast trial. Is this true, and how would I take part?

I'd like more info on this too.

IDNet are taking part in the trial, but you might like to visit here to check whether your hardware will work. Modems should be OK, routers are a lot more doubtful.

My router isn't on the list, though Linksys reckon it should be OK, I can't yet get it to work

i signed up and getting username/password but not sure what else i need to do. Also noticed by router isn't on the list and i think need to read that whole thread when get in.

Further information from IDNET would be really handy

This is the latest info on their site re: multicast. Also check the link above for your hardware and IGMP protocol compatibility.

HTH
S

That's not Multicast, it's the BBC Broadband Service.

Multicast is here.


edit- links added.

Edited by billford (Tue 10-Oct-06 16:05:51)

Quite frankly, I am very wary of Multicast as I have read that is a bandwidth stealer if one signs up to it.
So, for the time being I will avoid it & it might actually be a reason to make me migrate away. Depending on how IDNet utilise Multicast.
Let those who want to dive in feet first do so.

Yoinks (reads page again !)
So it is...mea culpa
S

In reply to:

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I am very wary of Multicast as I have read that is a bandwidth stealer if one signs up to it.

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Rubbish, it's designed to use less bandwidth than on-demand systems such as the BBCs Broadband service.

From: Multicast - Wikipedia

Multicast is the delivery of information to a group of destinations simultaneously using the most efficient strategy to deliver the messages over each link of the network only once and only create copies when the links to the destinations split.

From this BBC News item in March 2006: TV channels test net broadcasts:

Until now, most broadcasts of video over the internet have given each user their own individual feed. Multicasting is closer to traditional broadcasting, with one high-quality signal sent out over the web for many people to tune into .... About 200,000 people in the UK can currently watch the simulcasts, which are testing a system of internet broadcasting known as multicasting...

I'm not sure how idnet fits in to the testing phase, it is on this list: BBC Multicast Trial ISPs, but is anyone here actively using it?

Incidentally in searching I found this BBC r&d Projects page from the BBC Technology Group site, which might interest some people, though not specific to multicast.