Why is '-- type radio' needed?

[Vangelis forthnet]

On Fri Oct 16 10:28:15 BST 2015, Chris Marriott wrote:

> I download radio programmes with:
> get_iplayer --mode=flashaacstd --pid=xxxxxxxxxx
> No "type=" and it works just fine.

Hi Chris; 
I believe the answer to that can be found 
within the context of my previous post...

You may have omitted "--type=radio"
(well, you shouldn't have), but you've included 
instead a radiomode (flashaacstd) which 
happens to be available for your radio PIDs.

Your command would fail:
1. For overseas users, if they try a radio show 
from National Radio (R1, R2 etc.) for which 
flashaacstd is not available.
2. For ALL users, if they try to fetch a World 
Service programme, for which only 
flashaaclow, hlsaaclow are available...

get_iplayer --type=radio --modes=best --pid=xxxxxxxx

SHOULD WORK FOR EVERYONE & FOR ALL RADIO PIDS
(I'm not shouting, just used the upper case for emphasis..)

Cheers, 
Vangelis.