WLAN radio is becoming increasingly popular in German households. Due to low tariffs, internet access with DSL flat rate has become the standard today, which has helped internet radio to become more widespread. Thousands of transmitters are now available to everyone, provided they have a WLAN radio and have integrated it into the home network.
- Internet radio draws the immense number of stations from large directories on the Internet.
- In order to operate an internet radio, you need – as the name suggests – an internet connection.
- Fast broadband connections enable higher data rates to be transmitted and quality to be increased.
Internet radio hardly differs from classic radio
Switch on the WLAN radio, select a station, enjoy music. In terms of handling, the Internet radio hardly differs from its predecessor, if at all, but there is one crucial difference: while the classic radio receives radio waves from the radio station, the WLAN radio connects to the Internet. As a result, it no longer only has access to a handful of stations, but can also receive radio broadcasts from around the world. The background to this is that since the mid-1990s more and more broadcasters have been streaming their programs online and thousands of channels are now available. The internet radio acts like a small PC: Supplied with WLAN , it can establish a connection to the streams and bring radio into the room via the internet.
Diversity thanks to the directory of thousands of radio stations
Internet radio draws the immense number of stations from large directories on the Internet. Thousands of radio stations are listed there and updated regularly so that the WLAN radio at home can always access stations from all over the world and thus guarantee a wide variety. With a personal login it is possible to manage and customize station lists. Nevertheless, the idea of having to search thousands of programs for the best channels shouldn’t put you off: the channels are often sorted by genre or country to make selection easier.
Operation of a WLAN radio is straightforward
In order to operate an internet radio, you need – as the name suggests – an internet connection. A WLAN router is also required to enable multiple devices to access the Internet at the same time . If the WLAN is set up and the Internet connection is active, the WLAN radio only needs to be switched on and it will recognize all radio networks available in the reception area. Now you have to select your own WLAN and enter the encryption. This means that the WLAN radio is always connected to the Internet and can then be used independently and without a PC.
Additional functions for every need
If you want to buy an Internet radio, you can choose from numerous variants from different manufacturers, with most models also functioning as WLAN radio alarm clocks in addition to the normal radio function. If you want to listen to music from a USB stick or an mp3 player for a change, Internet radio is also a good choice: many models have interfaces or even function as docking stations. Some Internet radio manufacturers have also made provisions for fans of older data carriers and offer WLAN radio with CD player and analogue slots.
Bandwidth has an impact on sound quality
Fast broadband connections enable higher data rates to be transmitted and quality to be increased. What is known from the field of film resolution in streams also applies to Internet radio. Where previously rather modest sound quality came from WLAN radio defined by abbreviationfinder, the rapid development of DSL in recent years has made everything from VHF to HiFi possible. Audiophiles can therefore also connect the Internet radio to a speaker system thanks to the built-in slots and enjoy high-quality sound.