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<small>[[Working From Home Resources|back to hub]]</small>

<small>[[Working From Home Resources|back to hub]]</small>

On this page we'll summarise everything you need to start making radio from home.

On this page, we'll summarise everything you need to start making radio from home.

== Computer ==

== Computer ==

You'll want a fairly fast one, just to make sure there's no issues, but anything bought in the last 5 years (and even a lot of older ones) will do just fine. Any MacBook that still works will probably do, as should most Windows laptops made after 2013. Chromebooks may work, but you might start having issues with external microphones and such, so we wouldn't recommend them unless you have no other option.

You'll want a fairly fast one, just to make sure there are no issues, but anything bought in the last 5 years (and even a lot of older ones) will do just fine. Any MacBook that still works will probably do, as should most Windows laptops made after 2013. Chromebooks may work, but you might start having issues with external microphones and such, so we wouldn't recommend them unless you have no other option.

You'll need [https://www.google.com/chrome/ Google Chrome] installed. WebStudio MAY work in other browsers, but Computing won't support it - if you ask us for help using anything except Chrome our response might just be "try again in Chrome". (We're using a lot of bleeding-edge technology, and don't always have the time to test it in all browsers. Support for other browsers is planned, but for now Chrome is the only one we will support.) While you're at it, make sure it's got the latest updates installed (usually it'll do this automatically).

You'll need [https://www.google.com/chrome/ Google Chrome] installed. WebStudio MAY work in other browsers, but Computing won't support it - if you ask us for help using anything except Chrome our response might just be "try again in Chrome". (We're using a lot of bleeding-edge technology, and don't always have the time to test it in all browsers. Support for other browsers is planned, but for now, Chrome is the only one we will support.) While you're at it, make sure it's got the latest updates installed (usually it'll do this automatically).

Try to avoid any unnecessary programs running in the background, even programs like Spotify and Microsoft Office can negatively impact the performance of the computer, and interfere with the stability of your connection to URY's servers.

Try to avoid any unnecessary programs running in the background, even programs like Spotify and Microsoft Office can negatively impact the performance of the computer, and interfere with the stability of your connection to URY's servers.

=== Using a phone ===

=== Using a phone ===

if you are not the presenter on a show, and do not need access to webstudio and other virtual studio features, consider using your phone with a set of headphones, most modern phones have respectable microphones built in, and are easily capable of accessing URY's recommended remote high quality audio line for studio guests [https://cleanfeed.net/ Cleanfeed.net], be sure to follow best practices on microphone usage and keep you battery well charged when doing this though!

If you are not the presenter on a show and do not need access to webstudio and other virtual studio features, consider using your phone with a set of headphones, most modern phones have respectable microphones built in, and are easily capable of accessing URY's recommended remote high quality audio line for studio guests [https://cleanfeed.net/ Cleanfeed.net], be sure to follow best practices on microphone usage and keep your battery well charged when doing this though!

== Internet connection ==

== Internet connection ==

You'll want a fairly fast connection - most home broadband should do, but go to [https://speedtest.net Speedtest.net] to check your speed - you'll want at least 10mbps down and 3mbps up (slower download will slow down loading of songs but still be fine, slower upload may cause connection issues). If you're having issues, 4G may work better than home broadband, but that causes reliability issues, so broadband is preferable unless yours is hopelessly slow.

You'll want a fairly fast connection - most home broadband should do, but go to [https://speedtest.net Speedtest.net] to check your speed - you'll want at least 10mbps down and 3mbps up (slower download will slow downloading of songs but still be fine, slower upload may cause connection issues). If you're having issues, 4G may work better than home broadband, but that causes reliability issues, so broadband is preferable unless yours is hopelessly slow.

Hard-wire Ethernet is always preferable over WiFi, not for speed but for stability. The line is only as good as its stability - WiFi may be fine when you first test it, but can you guarantee that will be the case when you are doing your show? Sharing a WiFi connection between multiple people will perform much worse than you might expect, so if possible get a wired connection. If that's not an option, consider timing your show when as few people as possible will be using WiFi, or ask the people you share the internet with if they could curtail their usage for the period of your show.

Hard-wire Ethernet is always preferable over WiFi, not for speed but for stability. The line is only as good as its stability - WiFi may be fine when you first test it, but can you guarantee that will be the case when you are doing your show? Sharing a WiFi connection between multiple people will perform much worse than you might expect, so if possible get a wired connection. If that's not an option, consider timing your show when as few people as possible will be using WiFi, or ask the people you share the internet with if they could curtail their usage for the period of your show.