Suggestion on Host

[sean]

Newbie question here. Thanks for your patience.

I need a good host for an upcoming podcast. I want to design the site myself in Dreamweaver and incorporate RSS and comments. Can anyone recommend a host that has these plug-ins or features--I'm not a coder--without the template structure of a blogging host such as WordPress?

Thanks.

[ElNacho]

i dont get it. you're not a coder, but you want to incorporate rss..?
sounds rather difficult. go with libsyn and its all there already, ready to use (templated) or use wordpress. I suggest wordpress, super flexible once u get the hang of it.

[sean]

I know basic code, but I'm more on the design side. I'd like the flexibility of not working with a template. I think I can figure out how to incorporate the RSS into XHTML. Maybe I'm too ambitious. I'll consider libsyn. Thanks.

[justSue]

Newbie question here. Thanks for your patience.

I need a good host for an upcoming podcast. I want to design the site myself in Dreamweaver and incorporate RSS and comments. Can anyone recommend a host that has these plug-ins or features--I'm not a coder--without the template structure of a blogging host such as WordPress?

Thanks.

Dreamweaver and Flash both have plug-ins built in to the last two versions (MX 2004 and 8) that allow you to "plug and play" XML data.

If you build the RSS/XML file by hand, you can update that file and have a pretty page in Dreamweaver or a pretty .swf file read the contents.

Not the slickest way to do it, but its the least amount of coding if you don't want to build a form that allows you to write your posts. Putting your posts directly in the XML file isn't too bad.

Now, as far as the comments go - you're gonna have to do some coding and have an actual database.

EDIT - PS - Wordpress isn't a blogging 'host', its a blogging platform (php/mySQL) that can live on pretty much any host you choose. You just upload it to your server. The templates are pretty easy to customize as long as you know some CSS.

[ElNacho]

i knew 0 CSS, say, 3 days ago. i no very little know. i still did a good job of editing http://MeadnAle.ElNacho.com <--that wordpress site. very flexible, you just gotta look around and test stuff (go to presentation: theme editor)

[SFEley]

Newbie question here. Thanks for your patience.

I need a good host for an upcoming podcast. I want to design the site myself in Dreamweaver and incorporate RSS and comments. Can anyone recommend a host that has these plug-ins or features--I'm not a coder--without the template structure of a blogging host such as WordPress?

RSS isn't a "plug-in or feature." It's a text file with a particular format. If you aren't using a tool like Wordpress that automates it for you, you'll have to build the RSS file yourself. And comments are, well, just comments. You're asking for a guestbook script or something?

To answer your actual question, any Web host anywhere should let you host the files you need. If you plan on putting the MP3 files there as well (as opposed to LibSyn or Podlot or some other specialized host) just make sure it offers you as much bandwidth as you think you'll need for your predicted audience size, and then some.

But I'll offer some advice as well: if you're not proficient with HTML and scripting languages, you'll probably find that you'll have a much easier time going with a prebuilt solution (Wordpress, or sign up with LibSyn or a similar place) rather than attempting to build a good, working podcast site from scratch. What you're asking for can be done, but you're doing it the hard way.

[sean]

I'm looking to upgrade to DW 8 and I'm interested in it's ability to handle RSS. Maybe I'll use Wordpress so I'm not learning so many things at once. Thanks for your help.

[sean]

Has anyone heard of IAS Unmetered PodCast Hosting?

Appreciate the help.

[SFEley]

Has anyone heard of IAS Unmetered PodCast Hosting?
You mean the "Informer and Snitch show?"

As far as I can tell it's just a podcast that happens to have gotten an unmetered dedicated server for itself, and is subleasing space on its own server to pay the bills.

The idea is fine but the prices are too high, especially with no service agreement. Amusingly, if you click on the "more information (http://hosting.informerandsnitch.com)" link, you get redirected to an unrelated, far cheaper option.

If you're looking for MP3 hosting without bandwidth limits, there are better and cheaper options out there. LibSyn and Podlot both host a number of major podcasts, have better infrastructure than these guys, and start at only $5 a month.

[sean]

That's why I asked :D Thanks.

I've decided to work with Wordpress. I want to a host that provides that I can handle my podcast but that also have basic hosting features like a control panel. Most will support Wordpress from what I've read. Reading libsyn's forums, they only handle the podcast side? Any thoughts on these?

DreamHost
Lunar Pages
1 and 1

I read about these at http://www.podcastplayer.org/wordpress/archives/2005/03/04/97/.

Wordpress recommends the following:

Yahoo Hosting
Midphase
Blue Host
DreamHost
Laughing Squid

Any experience with these?

Thanks again.

[ElNacho]

any web host will be able to have wordpress, just make sure you have ftp uploading (most do) otherwise you won't be able to get it all up

i suggest Siteground (www.siteground.com)
12 GB storage, 500 GB transfer, 100 subdomains, 5 parked domains (a registered domain with DNS pointed, you get to use @thatdomain emails and .thatdomain subdomains), 1000 pop3 emails, etc...only $60 a year (5 a month). id get you my referall link if i wasnt so lazy

[docsnavely]

**** you nacho! show the love for who hooked you on siteground!

don't you love their new upgrades....

12gig storage, and 500 gig of bandwidth!

[ElNacho]

hehe. thanx josh.

aye, that's their second upgrade since i joined. chances are, it's not the last.

[Lifespring!]

any web host will be able to have wordpress

From personal experience, I can say that GoDaddy and WordPress don't play well together. FWIW.

[AmericanCliche]

I would agree with what Lifespring says...Go Daddy does not work well with podcasts in general in my experience. I have their basic plan and when I tried hosting my mp3 files on their servers, it was always down. I since learned from their senior tech support supervisor that regardless of how much transfer they promise you a month (it's 250 GB), you only get a max of 40 simultaneous connections to your site per minute. After that your site appears to be down.

That is totally unacceptable for a podcast with any sort of audience.

I'm curious, how has your experience been with SiteGround? I assume your mp3 and rss file sare hosted with them as well?

Thanks,
Scott

UPDATE: I just contacted SiteGround directly asking them about limitations of their hosting, connections per minute listings etc. Basically I told them my podcast files would be anywhere from 20-35 MB each and their response was:

Dear Scott,

Thank you for your reply!

Our basic hosting plan will indeed not be able to accomodate your needs. I can recommend you to have a look at our VPS plans and dedicated servers, which can offer you a lot more features and there will be no problem to have your files downloaded from large number of visitors. You can have a look at our VPS plans here:
http://www.siteground.com/vps.htm

You can look at the details about our dedicated servers here:
http://www.siteground.com/dedicated_servers.htm

If you have any further questions, please feel free to contact us anytime.

----------------------------------------

So as I look around it really looks like lots of host just can;t handle the demands of podcast hosting.

[gregleck]

I would agree with what Lifespring says...Go Daddy does not work well with podcasts in general in my experience. I have their basic plan and when I tried hosting my mp3 files on their servers, it was always down. I since learned from their senior tech support supervisor that regardless of how much transfer they promise you a month (it's 250 GB), you only get a max of 40 simultaneous connections to your site per minute. After that your site appears to be down.

That is totally unacceptable for a podcast with sort of audience.



Interesting. I'm with GoDaddy's basic plan too and have had barely any downtime and burn about 2 gigs a day.

[Lifespring!]

Interesting. I'm with GoDaddy's basic plan too and have had barely any downtime and burn about 2 gigs a day.

Yes, I'm using GoDaddy, and have had only one report of my site being down since I started.

What blogging software are you running? I'm using an older version of WordPress, which was difficult to get running on GoDaddy. I tried to install the latest WordPress, but no luck.

[gregleck]

Interesting. I'm with GoDaddy's basic plan too and have had barely any downtime and burn about 2 gigs a day.

Yes, I'm using GoDaddy, and have had only one report of my site being down since I started.

What blogging software are you running? I'm using an older version of WordPress, which was difficult to get running on GoDaddy. I tried to install the latest WordPress, but no luck.

Latest version of Wordpress... Had no problems installing it at all. What sort of error messages did you receive?

[ElNacho]

I don't know what SG meant when they said that.

I have their basic plan, and have a weekly 40-70 MB show, with a goodly sized audience...
Haven't had a problem so far

[gregleck]

I wouldn't touch any hosting co. that wanted to be paid a year in advance. It's bad business to lock yourself in with the same provider for a year..

[ElNacho]

maybe...
but so far, i have encountered no problems, and i dont really expect to. plus, if i wanted to change, itd b a hell of a hassle to transfer all my files after buying from another hosting co. b4 even canceling payment

[gregleck]

Well, if things are good with your hosting co., no need to change of course. I just personally get offended when some providers want everything up front, when the industry norm is a monthly subscription basis.

[Lifespring!]

Interesting. I'm with GoDaddy's basic plan too and have had barely any downtime and burn about 2 gigs a day.

Yes, I'm using GoDaddy, and have had only one report of my site being down since I started.

What blogging software are you running? I'm using an older version of WordPress, which was difficult to get running on GoDaddy. I tried to install the latest WordPress, but no luck.

Latest version of Wordpress... Had no problems installing it at all. What sort of error messages did you receive?

So as not to take this thread too off track, I'll PM you. Thanks.

[ElNacho]

too late! haha no im just being a silly little duckling

Well, if things are good with your hosting co., no need to change of course. I just personally get offended when some providers want everything up front, when the industry norm is a monthly subscription basis.
it's worth it. i doubt many people change anyways, so it probably doesnt make a difference at all (except maybe u want to earn a few extra cents with that money in stocks or something?)

[sean]

I had e-mailed GoDaddy and they said they don't have any shared plans that would be good for podcasting.

Any experience on the sites I indicated?

DreamHost
Lunar Pages
1 and 1
Yahoo Hosting
Midphase
Blue Host
Laughing Squid

Thanks.

[ElNacho]

think ya mite wanna read the past couple posts there buddy

[sean]

I read them "buddy." It's good you're happy with your host.

[SFEley]

Any experience on the sites I indicated?

I'm using Dreamhost. They've got fantastic features and bandwidth for the price, but lately I've been experiencing stability issues. So I can only half-recommend them.

Ah well. With Escape Pod's growth it's probably about time to look into a dedicated server anyway.

[sean]

Thanks for the response.

Congrats on the podcast growing!

[gregleck]

too late! haha no im just being a silly little duckling

Well, if things are good with your hosting co., no need to change of course. I just personally get offended when some providers want everything up front, when the industry norm is a monthly subscription basis.
it's worth it. i doubt many people change anyways, so it probably doesnt make a difference at all (except maybe u want to earn a few extra cents with that money in stocks or something?)

It's not a question of the money; it's just a questionable business practice.

[gregleck]

Any experience on the sites I indicated?

I'm using Dreamhost. They've got fantastic features and bandwidth for the price, but lately I've been experiencing stability issues. So I can only half-recommend them.

Ah well. With Escape Pod's growth it's probably about time to look into a dedicated server anyway.

I don't use dreamhost but I have friends who say very good things about them.

[SFEley]

I don't use dreamhost but I have friends who say very good things about them.

I said very good things about them as well, until I had four multiple-hour outages between November 20 and December 18. The last one ran from 8 PM Saturday night to roughly 10 AM the next morning.

Most people haven't had problems with Dreamhost of that magnitude. Ultimately it turned out to be the particular Web server my stuff was on failing to connect with the MySQL server cluster. But to have so many problems in a month's period, without them tracking it down and fixing it the first or second time, is too much.

Based on that experience, I cannot recommend Dreamhost.

[gregleck]

I don't use dreamhost but I have friends who say very good things about them.

I said very good things about them as well, until I had four multiple-hour outages between November 20 and December 18. The last one ran from 8 PM Saturday night to roughly 10 AM the next morning.

Most people haven't had problems with Dreamhost of that magnitude. Ultimately it turned out to be the particular Web server my stuff was on failing to connect with the MySQL server cluster. But to have so many problems in a month's period, without them tracking it down and fixing it the first or second time, is too much.

Based on that experience, I cannot recommend Dreamhost.

Hmm... my reference to Dreamhost is at least 6 months old, so I'll have to ask my friends if they are still with them. Another host which I would definitely recommend as of now is http://www.oxeo.com <------ great service

[ElNacho]

why'd we stray from siteground?

[SFEley]

why'd we stray from siteground?
Because you're not the only person in this conversation, and your experience isn't the only relevant answer to the question.

[ElNacho]

what? are you kidding? im a princess! if i say something it goes! jeez what are you on