How to Listen to Radio on Your Computer?

 

If you want to listen to the radio on the computer with a mechanical keyboard (check out helveticaforever for keyboard design tips), you have an almost unmissable choice. We want to make this easier for you with our Top 6. The following channels have different focuses and are all free, sometimes even without advertising. You can also use them all on a desktop PC or Mac.

Listen to the radio on your computer with already installed programs

Windows Media Player

Until a few updates ago, it was also possible to receive Internet radio stations via the media library via Windows Media Player. In the meantime, however, this has become a bit cumbersome, so we would not recommend this way. For current versions of the media player, you should proceed as follows:

• Open Windows Media Player on your PC.
• Now press + at the same time.STRGU
• A pop-up window will open where you can enter the desired URL of the Internet radio station.
• Click OK to play the channel’s stream.

You can find the exact URL address of the radio stations, for example, by doing a Google search. A URL list of many German broadcasters can also be found in the ubuntu wiki.

iTunes

On a Mac, iTunes is preinstalled, but on Windows PCs, you may have to do this (link to the app in the Microsoft Store)

• Open iTunes on your PC.
• Select Music and click Library in the upper-left menu.
• Then select Internet Radio in the sidebar.
• If you can’t find Internet radio there, click Edit in the sidebar next to the library. Check the box next to Internet radio and confirm with Done.
• Now you can choose between the different radio stations.

Listen to the radio on your computer with apps and browser

Tune In (American Sports and News)

Tune In has a clean interface, making it easy to select and switch radio stations. Thanks to the app, you can listen to the Tune-In radio not only on your computer but also via Alexa or Google Home. The radio station focuses on American (sports) content. For a monthly subscription, you get all sports news and sports talks from the MLB, NHL, NFL and other American sports leagues as well as the live broadcast of important games.

The most important features at a glance:

• Free
• 100,000 radio stations and podcasts worldwide
• No log-in is required to listen
• Premium subscription possible; Advantage: less advertising on certain channels, top news channels and sports news from the USA
• Free desktop app available

Radio.de (large selection)

Radio.de convinces with its simple operation. It can only be heard in the browser, but without logging in and with just one click. Although the platform is kept simple, it offers a large selection of radio stations.

The most important features at a glance:

• Free
• 40,000 radio stations and podcasts worldwide
• No log-in is required to listen
• Ad-supported, despite AdBlocker advertising being visible
• No desktop app is available, only audible online

 

ALSO READ: Why You Should Listen to Music When Playing Video Game

 

Radioplayer.de (partly without advertising)

The unique selling point of Radiopayler.de: There is no advertising on the platform. On the other hand, the selection of channels is somewhat limited and also limited to Germany in the area, because only selected “member stations” offer their program there free of charge and without advertising. Also worth mentioning is the large selection of apps. Thus, you can listen to the player seamlessly, for example, via your Smart TV like your smartwatch.

The most important features at a glance:

• Free
• No ads
• Over 2,000 German radio stations and podcasts
• Numerous apps to choose from for Smart TV, Smart Watches, Google Assistant, Chromecast and more
• No log-in required to listen

My Tuner (worldwide)

My Tuner is especially helpful if you have a specific regional station request, or miss a radio station from your last holiday country. The platform is ad-supported and also reminds you with each new click that the AdBlocker is still activated. If you do not want to give in to the request of the platform and want to leave it activated, you have a somewhat idle use ahead of you and have to close the pop-up window with the notification with every second click.

The most important features at a glance:

• Free
• No log-in required to listen
• ad-financed; thanks to ad-blocker, the ads are hidden, but it is regularly reminded of him
• Numerous channels worldwide
• Simplified selection by country/region possible

Listen to the radio on the computer: Internet radio vs. DAB+

For DAB+, the transmitters must broadcast a specific signal and also have special transmitters for this. This signal is geographically limited and can only be sent within a certain radius.

With Internet radio, the transmitter and receiver actually communicate with each other via an existing Internet connection. Although there is no geographical limitation, everything can be heard around the world, but a technical one. Under certain circumstances, the server of the Internet radio can only process a limited number of listeners.

Large transmitters therefore often work with several servers in order to be able to process the data streams more efficiently.