How to listen to radio on the Web

By ERIC DEGGANS

© St. Petersburg Times, published June 26, 2000

A weeklong look at everyday life with the Internet. Stories

Many online radio or audio streams can be played through Real Audio's RealPlayer software, Apple's QuickTime or Microsoft's Windows Media Player, all of which are available for free download from each company's Web site. (Sites often present links to the program that works best with their material).

A few sites, such as Spinner.com, have their own software for playing online radio streams, which users must download from their Web site -- sometimes after being asked to divulge some personal information such as age, zip code, income level and e-mail address.

Downloading such software is usually easy: Users choose where the program will sit on their hard drive and click "start" (or soemthing similar) to begin the installation process. Slow modems may have trouble, causing audio broadcasts to unfold in fits and starts as PCs struggle to keep up with the information flow.

Web brings wider range of radio As choices over the airwaves dwindle, the Internet is a haven for those seeking something else. The Best Online Radio Sites Check out these sites for some cool online audio programs. Local stations go live online When you can't come to the radio, now the radio can come to you.

To help listeners gauge likely problems, some sites will grade streams according to their frequency of transmission, whether they offer stereo and other variables. And despite the advances in technology, congestion at the Web site can also make radio broadcasts stutter or hesitate, as critical levels of listeners try to tap the same radio well.

Surfing with a high-speed cable modem and multimedia PC, this author experienced few problems. All it took was one listen to SonicNet's crystal-clear radio.sonicnet service, offering high-quality sound that literally jumped from the speakers, and I was hooked.

© St. Petersburg Times. All rights reserved.