Magic Box Clarus Plus Internet, DAB & FM Radio

“WiFi radio has pretty much unfailingly good reception because it isn't affected by interruptions from transmitters”
Daily Express Jan’08

The Magic Box Clarus Plus is the ultimate radio combining internet and DAB technology with FM radio. Listen to all your favourite stations on DAB in crystal clear sound, catch up with the local stations on FM, or choose from more than 10,000 internet radio stations from around the world via your WiFi connection.

You can surf stations by country or genre including your favourite BBC, local, and national stations plus a huge choice of overseas genre/location-specific broadcasts like the Chicago Blues, Mozart from Vienna or comedy, sport, and current affairs programmes from around the world!  No PC or complicated software is required for Internet radio, and it even receives DAB (digital radio) and FM!  What’s more, it can play (‘stream’) your music library stored on your PC hard drive (with PC on)!

All that is needed to begin listening to the wide range of broadcasts is to place the Internet radio within range of a Wi-Fi signal - no PC or complicated software is required.

More About Internet Radio
These day’s virtually all radio stations broadcast their programmes live over the Internet.  Traditionally you have had to use your home PC to listen in, which is not very convenient if you want to listen to the radio in a room that’s different to where you keep your computer! This radio player is one of a small number of Internet radios available on the market today.  It works by picking up the wireless Internet signal sent from your wireless router (the same way your wireless PC or Laptop works - the first time you use it you will be prompted to enter the wireless router password/phrase which is then remembered for future use). Once you’re connected to the Internet simply select your choice of radio station and begin listening to the News in India, music from Brazil, comedy in America etc etc etc!  Broadcasts are ‘live’ (just as they are in DABor FM) and interference is non-existent as you’re not relying on an outside transmitter (remember – all it needs is your wireless Internet signal).  Internet simply gives you huge choice and endless hours of fun searching the airways for your favourite new channel.

Wi-fi Radio is broadcast over the Internet so interference is pretty much non-existent (unlike FM and DAB which relies on transmitters).

DAB / FM: 
This radio will also play DABand FM Radio should you move it to an area that does not have a wireless broadband Internet connection (for example a caravan, boat, second home etc).  Key DAB features include clear digital audio broadcast; wider choice of domestic terrestrial stations than FM, scrolling station text information.  For the traditionalist it also has an FM receiver with all the usual FM stations available.

Music Streaming – what is this?
With your PC (or Mac) switched on, the Clarus Plus uses the wireless network Internet connection to ‘stream’ (play) music from your PC – listen to your iTunes / digitised CD collection from you PC through the radio! So you can have the wireless broadband router in one room – say the living room, your PC upstairs in the bedroom, the radio in the kitchen and listen to the music that’s saved on the PC via the Radio (for this to work you obviously need your computer switched on!)

Q: What do I need to start using the Radio?
A: You would need an ADSL broadband connection to use the Internet Radio mode. And you would need to have a Wireless router/Access Point to connect wirelessly.

Q: Do I need to own a PC?
A: You do not need a PC to listen to the internet radio (you just need to have WiFI connection), but you can also stream music from your PC to the radio.

Q: It will not connect to my wireless network. Why?
A: It is worth checking the following if you are experiencing problems connecting to your wireless network:

• Check that you are using the correct WEP Key / passphrase, remember this will be case sensitive.
• Check if your router is connected to the internet. The easiest way to check this is if you have a computer on the same network, if it can access the internet we know the router is connected to the internet.
• Check that your WIFI network allows other devices to get access. Then reboot radio and try again.

Q: Can I receive broadcats on my Clarus radio if no Internet connection is available?
A: Yes, if you don’t have access to a wireless network, you can still use your Radio to listen to FM and DAB broadcasts.

Q: Why won’t my Radio playback my media files?
A: If you are experiencing difficulties in playing media files, it is worth checking the following:

• If you are logged in as a guest, you may not have access privileges to all shared files which may include media files.
• If the files you are trying to access are the correct file type, remember that this radio will only playback MP3, WMA & Real Audio files.
• If you are using Mac OS X, please ensure you have Windows files sharing activated.

Q: Is there a Line-In jack for connecting my iPod to the CLARUS radio – so I can listen to my iPod using the CLARUS’ speakers?
A: Unfortunately not, but you can stream the music from your PC direct to the CLARUS and listen to your MP3s that way.

Q: Does the Radio have memory presets to hold my favourite stations?
A: Yes, it allows you to store 24 stored stations (8 internet, 8 DAB and 8 FM).

Q: I am using a MAC. How can I stream music from MAC to the radio?
A: You are able to stream music from your MAC/iTunes to your radio through the “shared folders” library. Please also check that your music folder on your MAC is “shared”. For guideline how to share your folders please check your MAC instruction booklet.

Q: Is this Radio compatible with Windows PCs and Apple Macs?
A: Yes it can access PCs or Macs that are connected to your wireless network. This means that MP3, WMA & Real Audio files can be played back.

Q: Can I Use a MAC Airport router?
A: If you are connecting to a Mac Airport wireless network, make sure the password you are using is for non Mac devices. This password is likely to differ from the password used for other devices on your Airport network. Your non Mac devices password can be checked in the Applications folder. Under Utilities, select Airport Admin where you can then click on the Password icon to view the password.