FM Radio Broadcasting

The first patent of FM radio was acquired by Edwin H. Armstrong. FM radio modulates the frequency of audio program to decrease the amount of stillness and interference from atmosphere and electronic equipment. The Federal Communication Commission of US granted the permission of construction of first FM radio station in the year 1937. In India, FM broadcasting started in Madras on 23 July 1937 and its expansion took place in the year 1990. According to the list Prepared by Wikipedia in, March 2010, the total number of FM stations in India was 171. The maximum number of radio stations is located in Chennai and there number is 14.
Features of FM Broadcasting Technology
In radio broadcasting, the sound waves are turned into electromagnetic waves by a microphone. These electromagnetic waves are received by the receiving aerial and transferred to a loudspeaker after this. The loudspeaker turns the waves back into the sound waves.
This process is followed in two ways: Frequency Modulation and Amplitude Modulation. Modulation is a method through which information to be carried is put on radio wave. The key objective of FM broadcasting is to bring improvement in the quality of broadcasting. The key features of frequency modulation are given below:
• Frequency Modulation transfers information through a carrier wave by changing its frequency while in AM technology, the frequency stays constant but amplitude of transporter is changed.
• The band width requirement for FM transmission is 180 khz.
• FM Radio Signals can be transmitted to an area of 50 to 60 km.
• The technique of frequency modulation is used for Very High Frequency Broadcasts.
• The FM broadcasting has gained momentum as it offers high sound quality signals which are free from disturbance and interference to listeners.
• FM broadcasting decreases the burden on bands with medium, low and high frequency.
• FM Broadcasting is beneficial for developing countries with tropical areas that are affected from solar interference.
• In FM broadcasting, several channels can be operated through a signal band as it does operate beyond a fixed area.
• One very important feature of FM broadcasting is that the sound and broadcast quality remains the same during day and night and its quality does not get disturbed by atmospheric conditions.
• Radio data service and radio paging service can also be availed through FM technology.
Submitted by: Sudhaamit Saraswat

Internet Radio

Internet Radio is an easy hardware device which can be used by getting connected to internet through a router. One can play radio stations on internet through it and it can use different services of music on internet that is provided to the customers all over the world.


Internet Radio is a novel service that was invented in the year 1990. In the concept of Internet Radio, The web casting of audio signals is done via World Wide Web. The term ‘e Radio’ is also used for referring to Internet Radio. The term suggests that web radio works like the customary Radio and there is unremitting gush of signal that gets converted into units of audio which are uncontrollable. The stations of web radio are very much similar to terrestrial radio stations but the only difference is that web radio stations can be accessed from any part of world.

Web Casting on Internet Radio

The method of acquiring music through web radio is referred as Audio Streaming. ‘Lossy Audio Codec’s(A Format) are used for streaming the bits . There are three important components of process of audio streaming:

• Stream Repeater of Audio
• Stream Source of Audio
• Stream Playback Audio

The repeater turns the bits of audio into format of streaming, the stream source avails it on internet and the stream playback system does the retrieval of the content. Ogg Verbis(Video Compression format) can develop the source of stream.

Audio Stream can be created with the help of Real Audio (format) or Window Media Audio (format). These days many new versions of Audio Streaming format have been developed.

Internet radio has developed up to the point that it is not only restricted to audio signals but it has turned into a powerful channel of mass communication and these days political debates, social issues and talk shows have been included in the infotainment package of web radio. The basic requirement for listening to internet radio is internet connection and a laptop or a PC but these days one can have access to web radio on one’s mobile or car music systems.

Broadcasters of Internet Radio:

Broadcaster of Internet radio is software which contains encoders such as mp3PRO, MP3 and many other facilities that change according to technology which is used to prepare software. The
Fundamental role of a broadcaster is of channelizing the bits of audio to receivers in a proper manner. The modern internet broadcasters are useful in handling the requests of listeners. It functions as mechanism for interaction. It assists in improving the sound quality. It also assists in leveling the streaming that further assists in putting the advertisements in flexible manner.


Receivers of Web Radio

The receivers of web radio are those devices that remain with user or listener. The receivers receive webcasting signals and turn them into video or audio. A computer with internet connection can with turned into a receiver for web radio. The software such as RealOne, Window Media Player 11 and QuickTime can be downloaded to play, launch or search radio stations.

Submitted by; Sudhaamit Saraswat