How Internet Radio Works: A Complete Guide

Internet radio has revolutionized how we listen to music and news. But how does it actually work? Let's dive into the technology behind streaming radio.

The Basics of Audio Streaming

Unlike traditional radio which uses electromagnetic waves, internet radio transmits audio data through the internet using protocols like HTTP or RTSP.

Audio Codecs Explained

Audio codecs compress and decompress audio data. Common codecs include:

• MP3 - The most widely supported format
• AAC - Better quality at lower bitrates
• OGG Vorbis - Open-source alternative

Bitrate and Quality

Bitrate measures how much data is transmitted per second. Higher bitrates generally mean better quality:

• 64 kbps - Basic quality, good for speech
• 128 kbps - Standard quality for music
• 256-320 kbps - High quality, near CD-like