Internet Radio:
Tune in your Hometown
or the World

 A few years ago, Internet radio was just a curiosity, the odd and awkward stepchild of traditional broadcasting and the Internet. Sound quality was terrible - it could make you long for the fidelity and clarity of shortwave.

A lot has changed since those early days. Today, Internet radio is poised to gain a large audience. The awkward child has become a cool adolescent.

One sign of Internet radio's coming of age was Rush Limbaugh's recent decision to begin offering his daily radio program over the Internet. Limbaugh had previously forbidden radio stations that carry his show from re-broadcasting it over the Internet.

Limbaugh in part opened his show to Internet broadcasting due to demand from office bound listeners who cannot receive an AM radio signals behind the concrete and steel of the buildings in which they work.

Variety You Won't Find at Home

Internet radio can open a new world of options for its listeners. A wide range of music and information is now broadcast over the Internet. An increasing number of broadcast radio stations put their signals on the Internet. There are even stations that exist only on the Internet which serve special interest audiences.

For example, fans of progressive rock music who can't find a local radio station that suits their tastes can tune into several via the Internet.

The same is true for other music styles including music of the 30's and 40's. Imagine Radio (www.imagineradio.com) even allows you to program your own music playlists - creating a virtual radio station that you can share with friends.

One of the most appealing aspects of Internet radio, though, is its ability to let people who have moved away from their home towns catch up on local news, sports and community events.

Mark Cuban and Todd Wagner, a co-founders of Broadcast.com (www.broadcast.com), one of the Web's leading collections of Internet broadcasting sites, first became interested in Internet radio when they discovered they could tune into Indiana University basketball games broadcast over the Internet.

Their Broadcast.com site now helps other Internet audiophiles connect to Internet radio sites by grouping the stations by format, geographic location and even call letters. This makes it easy for someone in Florida to tune into a radio station back in Columbus, Ohio (or wherever they call home).

Streaming Audio Makes it Possible

Internet radio works by taking a radio station's broadcast signal and converting it into a stream of digital data that can flow over the Internet. To listen to Internet radio, you need special software that allows you to download this digital data stream and convert it back into sound. Fortunately for listeners, the two most popular "streaming audio" programs are free - RealAudio from Real Networks and Windows Media Player from Microsoft.

A lot of data moves into your computer when you listen to Internet radio. That means you need a fast modem -- don't try to listen unless you have at least a 28.8 modem. If you have a 56K modem (one with the X2, K56flex or v.90 standard) you're all set. If you get Internet access through your cable TV company, you've got the perfect setup.

Internet radio has become viable for three reasons: 1) better Internet audio software, 2) faster modems and 3) the entry of radio professionals into the market. Thanks to these improvements, Internet radio is a more enjoyable and rewarding listening experience.

Internet Audio Players

It's easy to start listening to Internet radio. Just go to www.real.com and download RealPlayer, or www.microsoft.com/windows/mediaplayer to download the Windows Media Player. Then click the "Presets" menu in RealPlayer or the "Favorites" menu in Windows Media Player for a list of broadcasting sites.

Once you've downloaded an Internet audio player, point your Web browser to www.broadcast.com , www.goradio.com, www.real.com/realguide or www.netradio.com more great stations.

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