I'm trying to get my podcast to feed through Itunes but I keep getting the message that my host needs to enable byte-range requests. How can this be since I'm able to have other podcast directories list my feed with no problem? My host is webhostingpad and my feed is http://www.southsidecoc.org/?podcast
Any suggestions on how to fix the issue would be helpful.
Windows 7
Because of the number of complaints there have been of iPhones not being able to play some podcasts, Apple now require the server you host your media files on to have 'byte-range support' enabled - basically this means coping with requests for only part of a file at a time, which is required for the iPhone. You should confirm with your hosting service that they support this: if they don't (or don't know what it is) you should find another hosting service.
Note that this applies to the server which hosts the episode files, not the feed - they don't have to be on the same server, though often they are, but it's not an issue with the feed at all.
Thank you for explaining the imposible to explain! I've been digging for days for an explanation like this. Just so that I'm fully understanding this, byte-range is almost like buffering section by section for streaming the file instead of downloading it, correct?
Do you know of any work arounds for this while not having to switch hosts or if I have to switch, do you know of any free hosts just for these situations?
There isn't likely to be a workaround - Apple are demaning this facility because of the iPhone situation and rejecting podcasts where the media server doesn't comply.
I'm afraid the only way to find out whether a particular service can handle this is to ask them. Free hosting is always dubious in any event as they have to make a profit somehow, often by adding adverts to a site, and sometimes by forcing media files into their own page with a player, which won't work for iTunes.
The response I got from my hosting company was: "Our VPS Service line does support this, however it requires some customization to the PHP services. Unfortunately this is not directly supported by cPanel and as a result GreenGeeks is unable to make these customization. I would contact Apple Support to find/obtain the instructions for configuring this which you should then be able to complete."
I'm really hapy with the hosting comapny and really don't wnat to move - any suggestions on what they refer to, ie the PHP services?
I'm afraid I can't advise on this as PHP is well outside my experience. Your first step would be to contact Apple support at podcasts 'at' apple.com - I don't hold out a lot of hope that you will get what would be a fairly complicated technical answer, but it's the obvious place to start.
byte-range requests
