As you can imagine, I get a lot of questions concerning the web site and the programs I use. I am skipping the display of the questions and am going right to the answers. These are my personal opinions, not the opinions of the hosts or Premiere Radio Networks.

Additional technical information is on our Web Browser Tips Page including how to print black web pages. I even put together a Stupid Webmaster Q&A for Dummies section in our Reading Room area. It contains simple and/or stupid questions that get a rather tongue in cheek answer along with the real answer. Check here too for more information.

DISCLAIMER

This web site is the work of Keith Rowland. I provide this web site for the enjoyment of listeners. I do NOT presume to represent Premiere Radio Networks or the hosts. Previously Art Bell and now Premiere Radio Networks has graciously helped me by contributing items to the web site. Listeners and guests have contributed items to this site and credit is given when known. Do not assume that I attest to or claim any responsibility for the information posted here, as I leave the determination of validity or authenticity to you, the visitor of the web site. In other words, I don't make this stuff up, I just post it. Enjoy!

Answers to Common Questions

FUNDING

Neither the hosts or Premiere Radio Networks pay anything or receive anything financially from this site operation. It is an independent venture by Keith Rowland and solely supported by a variety of sponsors. Please show them your support by visiting their pages. Premiere Radio Networks does sell some of the ad space to some of the radio show sponsors and makes a percentage of the proceeds.

Web Server

The main Coast to Coast AM web server (www.rowlandnet.com) is running under the Linux operating system, running the Apache web server software, hooked to multiple Internet connections located in Phoenix, AZ. More information is detailed on the "Server Info" page.

Sometimes through Internet misconfigurations and down routers and just plain net congestion, web sites sometimes can't respond to your request. While the site does run 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, you may have trouble getting to it from time to time. This is normal.

Recommended Books

People ask me all the time to recommend books on HTML programming, web mastering and other computer topics. While the choice of books is purely yours, and should be based on your level of experience and education, I will list here books that I have or can suggest. Since I am now an Amazon Associate, I can provide links directly to the books in their book store and you can get discounts off retail price on many selections.

• Running Linux
• Linux in a Nutshell: A Desktop Quick Reference
• Apache: The Definitive Guide
• Webmaster in a Nutshell: A Desktop Quick Reference
• Linux Network Administrator's Guide
• The Linux Internet Server
• Linux Network Toolkit
• CGI Programming on the World Wide Web
• Programming Perl
• HTML: The Definitive Guide
• Javascript: The Definitive Guide
• Java in a Nutshell
• Java Examples in a Nutshell

Real Audio

We use the Real-Audio system to provide many sound clips and program archives. Real-Audio is a both a real-time audio delivery system and a file storage format. The advantage of real-time delivery is that you don't have to download the whole file, to listen to it. This requires a Real-Audio server at the web site.

After we got used to having this service available, many have written asking to download the whole 5 hour program, to listen to locally or ship off to someone else. The file size can still be quite large, even with the good compression techniques of Real-Audio. Well, the files are not available that way anyway, and sort of defeats the whole idea behind Real-Audio. Premiere Radio DOES NOT PROVIDE ARCHIVE PROGRAMS FOR DOWNLOADING. They are ONLY for real-time streaming listening. You can sequence to any portion of the program, by sliding the pointer across to the time you'd like to hear.

The technology of streaming audio developed by Real.com is a time saver in that you can immediately hear a program without downloading a large file. In fact a five hour program is over 18 MB! Did you want to download 18 MB to a file for later listening? The whole point is that you can 'sequence' into the program and listen to the places you want to, without downloading the whole file. Many people would like to download it, but it would take almost as long to download it and as it would to listen to it in the first place.

On the this web page, I only have smaller sound clips, segments from the show or interesting bits of the program. They are rather small files. However I would not wish downloading an 'archived program file' on anyone.

Before asking about downloading the 'archives', you should consider the purpose of streaming audio and appreciate the fact that we do offer the radio program live and in archival storage form, FREE to me and you. How long did you want to wait for that download, in order to listen later? It might not even be downloaded by time you are ready to listen.

When I record a segment off the air, I used my ku-Band satellite dish and get a feed from the network, and pipe this audio into my audio card on my computer and then directly to Real-Audio (.ra) format. Recently I have been providing the newer and more efficient 6.5 KBPS RA 5.0 format.

RA Technical Problems

While I provide many sound clips in Real-Audio format, and we use the services of Broadcast.com for the program archives, I am not in a position to provide technical support for Real-Audio player software or help troubleshoot problems with these components.

For troubleshooting your Real Player problems, you can visit the Real Networks Technical Support web site.

When you have your Real Player operating properly with the demonstration files on their web site, and if you still have problems listening to OUR web site audio files, then contact me, and let me know specifically what files you are having trouble with. That I will be happy to fix.

MIDI & Bumper Music

Why does the bumper music selections only play instruments on my sound card? Why can't I hear the real song with the original singer?

Because the files that we provide on the web site are MIDI files and NOT a recording of the original song. A full digital recording would take too much web site disk space and take too long to download. That's what audio CD's are for. MIDI music files contain digital control codes that can make your sound card play instrumental music. It's the same type of data file that musicians will use to play through their synthesizers and sing along with.

We sometimes will record a song with Real-Audio, but that isn't a good quality recording either and still takes a lot of time to download. MIDI files offer a very small and efficient means to play background music on a web page with a relatively low bandwidth resources.

Transcripts

We do NOT normally provide transcripts of Art Bell programs. Ordering an Audio Tape of programs is the way to access past programs.

From time to time, when Richard Hoagland or Ed Dames was on, other people have taken it upon themselves to transcribe the program and generously provided it to us. We can't thank them enough, but please don't expect this to happen automatically. See the Transcripts section of our Reading Room section of the Message Boards for a list of what we do have.

Guests

While I try to post the Dreamland guest list as often as I can get it, the guests on Coast to Coast are not scheduled far enough in advance to get a list ahead of time. The hosts don't know what guests he will have until days or sometimes hours before air time. When they know and tell me I will post them on the home page under Scheduled Guests.

HTML Editing Software

I try to program the web sites to a least common set of HTML standards, to allow the pages to display correctly in as many browsers as possible. So you won't see too much in the area of special features, that only one or another browser supports. If I do use a feature of Netscape or Microsoft Internet Explorer, it usually won't effect the presentation of the important information. I also try to make sure that any feature I use, won't break something in another.

I don't like full WYSIWYG HTML editors. Since I want to be compatible with all browsers, I have to play a few tricks with HTML to get the pages to display properly. When using an editor that displays the page as you edit, it must take the form of one certain browser. Invariably, what looks good in one editor, fails miserably in another browser. So I prefer editors that let you work in text mode, showing HTML tags.

My Internet Software

HTML EDITOR

UPDATE: Lately, I have been using HomeSite 4.x, as I can edit in text mode, and it really is fast for updates. It is available at www.allaire.com.

I've also used and recommend an editor called HotMetal Pro, which is available from: www.softquad.com. It supports HTML 4.0, Netscape and Microsoft extentions. Highly Recommended.

GRAPHICS

Under Linux/X, the program XView is capable of handling simple graphics file conversion, resizing and thumbnail generation.

Under Windows95, I use the ULead Photo Impact that comes with HotMetal Pro for most graphics editing. I use this program to produce thumbnails for the pages and do the graphics editing, sizing and conversions. I also like the VuePrint Pro graphics viewer.

FTP

Under Linux/X, I can upload files with basic Unix command line functions, eliminating the need for FTP. Files get uploaded very quickly, after editing them. Unix-types, check out 'rcp'.

For FTP file transfers under Win95, I use Cute FTP. It is available at www.CuteFTP.com. It supports Windows/95 long file names, which works great with Unix filesystems. It just works real slick. I like it better than WS_FTP, the standard that most others use. Try it, you'll like it.

WWW BROWSER

Under the Linux/X system, Netscape Communicator 4.7 is available. I use it for Web Browsing and E-Mail and Newsgroup reading. An overall nice package that runs fairly well under Linux/X.

I have to make sure the pages I develop will appear properly in many different browsers. For browsing the WWW with Win95, I have to use them all. I do use Microsoft Internet Explorer 5. It is available at: www.microsoft.com/ie/default.htm. I also use Netscape 4, because even the latest versions of Netscape and MS differ in how they display certain HTML tags. So you can get Netscape from.... well you know.

For text browsers, the good old Lynx browser for Unix is great. We have many visitors who only have a text account on a college computer system. Lynx might be the only way to browse the web for them. I take special care to make sure our pages here at the Art Bell site, will display properly on Lynx.

TELNET

Telnet programs are used a lot over the Internet. There are lots of them. I recommend three. First is NetTerm. This terminal and telnet program performs BOTH modem dialing and Telnet connections from within the same program. It has all the features I need and more. It is fast and sturdy, check it out at: starbase.neosoft.com/~zkrr01/netterm.html

Secondly, my previous best, another one with a great interface and feature set is definitely EWAN, available at www.lysator.liu.se/~zander/ewan.html. But if you need ZModem file transfer over a telnet session, HyperTerminal Personal Edition is available at www.hilgraeve.com. This is an upgraded version of the program that comes with Windows 95. Get it, it's free!

Of course under Linux/X, you simply use the REAL telnet or rlogin programs, which are based on xterm.

E-MAIL & NEWSREADER

I have switched E-Mail programs a lot lately. As mentioned above, under Linux/X, I use Netscape Communicator 4.04.

Under Win95, The one I recommend the most is Eudora Pro or Lite. I tried out Microsoft's Internet Mail and Internet News programs and while the Microsoft programs are very good, they still lack a few features I wanted. I actually purchased Eudora Pro. The one thing I always require in a Windows program is good keyboard access, that doesn't require the mouse. Both Eudora and Microsoft Internet Mail handle keyboard only access very well.

For news reading, I like NewsExpress, another well designed keyboard interface. Kill files, saved folders, nice font control, etc. 32-bit WIN95 version available.

Complete List of Recommendations of the Webmaster

• The Linux Operating System
• Netscape 4.0 - home.netscape.com
• Microsoft Internet Explorer Web Browser - www.microsoft.com
• HomeSite HTML Editor - www.allaire.com
• HoT-MetaL Pro - www.softquad.com
• Paint Shop Pro Graphics Program- www.jasc.com
• Cute FTP File Transfer- www.cuteftp.com
• NetTerm Terminal Emulator/Telnet - starbase.neosoft.com
• NewsExpress New Reader - ftp.neosoft.com
• EWAN Telnet - www.lysator.liu.se
• Hyper Terminal Personal Edition (TELNET) - www.hilgraeve.com
• WinSNTP Time Set Program- Coetanian Systems
• NTPerl Scripting Language - www.perl.hip.com
• WinZIP File Compression - www.winzip.com
• Programmers File Editor - www.lancs.ac.uk/people/cpaap/pfe/
• WS Finger - Available from Tidewater Systems
• Real Audio Player - www.real.com
• mIRC Internet Relay Chat - www.mirc.co.uk
• wsPing Internet Tool - And other goodies available from John A. Junod

Disclaimer

I have no financial interest in any of the development, marketing or selling of the above mentioned products. These are simply the ones I like and use.

Linux/X (Microsoft FREE)

I run XFREE86 and is my main operating computer everyday. I also have added enough additional programs to be Microsoft FREE. Added to all the normal Unix system utilities that allow most Internet access, I have added:

• Netscape Communicator 4.72 (WWW, Email, News)
• efax (Fax Sending and Receiving)
• Corel Word Perfect 7 (Word Processing, Spreadsheets)
• Seyon (Telecommunications)
• Real Player (Vers 7 for Linux 2.x)
• Real Encoder (Vers 6 for Linux 2.x)
• ZIP Drive Drivers (archival and backup storage)

Yes, you can really do most if not all of your daily activities under a NON-Microsoft Operating System.

My Win98 machine has been designated the name 'WIMP' cause it has been demoted to simple less important tasks and is used mostly for WIN98 only type programs and games. It still crashes alot when I use it.