Internet Radio vs. FM Radio: What's the Difference?
FM radio and internet radio both deliver live broadcasts, but they work differently and offer different strengths. Here's how they compare — and why millions of listeners use both.
How FM radio works
FM (Frequency Modulation) radio transmits audio over radio waves from local towers. Your car radio or home receiver picks up signals within range — typically 30–60 miles depending on terrain and power. FM is free, requires no internet, and works during outages. The tradeoff: you're limited to stations within range, and signal quality degrades with distance and obstacles.
How internet radio works
Internet radio streams audio over the internet from a station's server to your device. There's no geographic range limit — you can listen to a station in Tokyo from New York. Quality depends on your internet connection and the station's stream bitrate. Most stations stream at 128–320 kbps, comparable to FM audio quality.
Key differences
Range: FM is local; internet radio is global. Discovery: FM requires scanning frequencies; internet radio lets you search by genre, country, or name. Metadata: many internet streams include now-playing song info. Cost: both are free to listen, though internet radio uses data. Reliability: FM works without internet; internet radio needs a connection.
When to use each
Use FM in your car (where available), during internet outages, or for local emergency broadcasts. Use internet radio for discovery, international stations, niche genres, and when you want to save favorites or see what's playing. Orb Radio bridges the gap — live radio with the discovery tools the internet enables.
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