This post pertains to Como Audio music system owners. I’m trying to get a message sent to all Como Audio radios worldwide through the station aggregator. If I’m successful, then you’re reading this because you saw the message directing you to this website for more information, or I’ve replied to your email query directing you here.
The point of this post is to educate Como Audio users who have no idea what’s been going on with their Internet radio and podcast service and why they can’t access My Favorites. Also, to let you know about a helpful resource.
The Internet radio service was dropped by Frontier Silicon, the Wi-Fi module supplier, due to the cost of maintaining their legacy Wi-Fi modules. The service was taken over by the station aggregator. The aggregator required all audio brands (not just Como Audio) with radios using these older modules to pay an annual fee to continue the Internet radio and podcast service for those radios or else the service would be discontinued on October 31, 2024. Several brands opted not to pay the fee and those users unfortunately have no recourse to have their service restored.
Since Como Audio went out of business 18 months ago and was therefore unable to pay it’s $5,000 fee, I didn’t want Como’s customers to be amongst those that had their Internet radio and podcast service disabled. As Como’s former General Manager and a multiple Como radio owner myself, I launched a GoFundMe campaign to raise the $5,000. I did my best to try to get the word out but I’m only one person and my resources were limited. That said, we successfully raised the $5,000 for the first year’s fee, then we raised another $5k for the second year, plus an additional $1,000 towards year #3’s fee. All of the money was wire transferred to the aggregator who confirmed receipt in late September. Images of those documents were posted to the GFM campaign as well as on Patreon for Como Elite members. The remaining balance of $4,000 for year #3 will be due by October 31, 2026. I expect to start a new GFM campaign to raise that money as we approach that deadline. Also as that deadline approaches I should know more about Como’s fee for 2027 and beyond.
Whether you contributed to the GFM campaign or not, your Como radio will continue to have Internet radio and podcast service until October 31st, 2026, as it was an all or nothing proposition. There was no way to disable service to radios of Como owners who didn’t contribute to the fund.
In addition to Internet radio and podcast service continuing, the My Favorites feature, which allows an almost unlimited storage of your favorite Internet stations and podcasts, has also been transferred to the aggregator. Plus, a new smart radio web portal has been built, both of which would’ve been disabled along with Internet radio and podcasts had the fee not been paid. Frontier Silicon no longer has control over the 75,000 Internet radio stations, 100+k podcasts, My Favorites, or the smart radio portal. As of 10/31/24, these services and features are entirely the responsibility of the station aggregator which is why you cannot access My Favorites.
If you weren’t aware of this Internet radio service situation, you probably also don’t know about Patreon. Please allow me a moment to explain. Around the time Como Audio went away, I started a service on Patreon to report news on the kinds of issues important to Como customers along with other exclusive content, as well as to provide unlimited 24/7/365 tech support, knowing that there would be zero support once Como Audio closed. Having product managed every Como Audio model, no one knows more about Como’s products than I do. There are currently several hundred Como customers taking advantage of this unique resource. The service costs $3 per month and the small income helps me pay a few bills since being let go by Como Audio after 7+ years with the company. There is also a $1/month tier but that doesn’t get you Como news and support.
If you’re not a Como Elite Patreon member, here are some of the topics you’ve missed: GoFundMe updates, an exclusive Q&A with the station aggregator, Como items for sale like Amica speakers and accessories, never before published frequency response specifications for every Como model, product FAQs, features you didn’t know about, tuning HD Radio stations, improving FM reception, how to deal with gremlins, the top Internet stations Como customers are listening to, what happened to the Como Control app and what you can do, the new Musica that almost was, how to tune iHeart radio stations, which universal remote works with Como models, and much more. My 10/30 Patreon post reveals the URL of the new station portal and instructions on how to transfer My Favorites from the Nuvola smart portal to the new portal. If you’re not interested in joining Patreon on a monthly basis, you can purchase just that single post. I also wrote a few posts on Patreon addressing issues some users have experienced (including yours truly) with podcasts, stations not tuning, and issues with the registration code all caused by the transition.
With Como Audio gone, there’s no other source for this kind of information or for technical support. To be perfectly clear, you don’t have to be a Patreon member for your radio to work, but you do have to be a member to access this kind of content and support.
I’m also going to take a few seconds to plug my new YouTube channel while I still have your attention. It’s a fun look back at things like 8 track tapes and other analog music formats as well as vintage audio equipment.
Enjoy your Internet radio and podcast service for the next two years. I hope you’ll contribute to year # 3’s fee when the time comes, especially if you’re getting the next two years for free.
Peter Skiera
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