diff --git a/python_apps/api_clients/api_client.py b/python_apps/api_clients/api_client.py
index cd2a6e7d7..92f4c0ed8 100644
--- a/python_apps/api_clients/api_client.py
+++ b/python_apps/api_clients/api_client.py
@@ -288,7 +288,7 @@ class AirTimeApiClient(ApiClientInterface):
 
     def get_shows_to_record(self):
         logger = logging.getLogger()
-        response = ''
+        response = None
         try:
             url = self.config["base_url"] + self.config["api_base"] + self.config["show_schedule_url"]
             logger.debug(url)
@@ -301,23 +301,37 @@ class AirTimeApiClient(ApiClientInterface):
         except Exception, e:
             logger.error("Exception: %s", e)
         
-        return response[u'shows']
+        return response
 
     def upload_recorded_show(self, data, headers):
         logger = logging.getLogger()
         response = ''
-        try:
-            url = self.config["base_url"] + self.config["api_base"] + self.config["upload_file_url"]
-            logger.debug(url)
-            url = url.replace("%%api_key%%", self.config["api_key"])
+        retries = int(self.config["upload_retries"])
+        retries_wait = int(self.config["upload_wait"])
 
-            request = urllib2.Request(url, data, headers)
-            response = urllib2.urlopen(request).read().strip()
+        url = self.config["base_url"] + self.config["api_base"] + self.config["upload_file_url"]
+        logger.debug(url)
+        url = url.replace("%%api_key%%", self.config["api_key"])
 
-            logger.info("uploaded show result %s", response)
-        
-        except Exception, e:
-            logger.error("Exception: %s", e)
+        for i in range(0, retries):
+            logger.debug("Upload attempt: %s", i+1)
+
+            try:   
+                request = urllib2.Request(url, data, headers)
+                response = urllib2.urlopen(request).read().strip()
+
+                logger.info("uploaded show result %s", response)
+                break
+            
+            except urllib2.HTTPError, e:
+                logger.error("Http error code: %s", e.code)
+            except urllib2.URLError, e:
+                logger.error("Server is down: %s", e.args)
+            except Exception, e:
+                logger.error("Exception: %s", e)
+
+            #wait some time before next retry
+            time.sleep(retries_wait)
         
         return response
     
diff --git a/python_apps/show-recorder/config.cfg b/python_apps/show-recorder/config.cfg
index ec812b8cf..823826b31 100644
--- a/python_apps/show-recorder/config.cfg
+++ b/python_apps/show-recorder/config.cfg
@@ -20,3 +20,9 @@ show_schedule_url = 'recorded-shows/format/json/api_key/%%api_key%%'
 
 # URL to upload the recorded show's file to Airtime
 upload_file_url = 'upload-recorded/format/json/api_key/%%api_key%%'
+
+#number of retries to upload file if connection problem
+upload_retries = 3
+
+#time to wait between attempts to upload file if connection problem (in seconds)
+upload_wait = 60
diff --git a/python_apps/show-recorder/testrecordscript.py b/python_apps/show-recorder/testrecordscript.py
index a352e1f26..ccd2946bc 100644
--- a/python_apps/show-recorder/testrecordscript.py
+++ b/python_apps/show-recorder/testrecordscript.py
@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@ class ShowRecorder(Thread):
         filename = self.filename.replace(" ", "-")
         filepath = "%s%s.%s" % (config["base_recorded_files"], filename, self.filetype)
 
-        command = "ecasound -i alsa -o %s -t:%s -ge:3,1,0,-1" % (filepath, length)
+        command = "ecasound -i alsa -o %s -t:%s -ge:5,1,0,-1" % (filepath, length)
         args = command.split(" ")
 
         print "starting record"
@@ -145,6 +145,10 @@ class Record():
     def get_shows(self):
 
         shows = self.api_client.get_shows_to_record()
+        if shows is not None:
+            shows = shows[u'shows']
+        else:
+            shows = []
 
         if len(shows):
             self.process_shows(shows)