How does a radio work? Easily explained
Most people own and use a radio, but very few know how the device actually works. We show you what happens inside a radio and how the music gets into your home or car.
This is how an analog radio works
Tones consist of invisible vibrations in the air, the so-called sound waves. If the moderator speaks into the microphone, the sound waves are recorded electronically.
- These sound waves are now combined by the radio waves. This process is called modulation. Radio waves are electromagnetic waves that move much faster and further than sound waves.
- The radio waves are broadcast by very high transmission masts. The range of a transmission tower can be several hundred kilometers. For example, you can listen to the radio station "Radio Hamburg" 100 km away.
- Since humans cannot hear the radio waves, they are received and translated by the radio via an antenna. The recorded sound waves are separated from the radio waves and reproduced via the loudspeakers.
This is how a digital radio works
- Nowadays digital radios are mainly used. The recorded sound waves are converted into a digital code. Digital radio waves represent sounds just like computers display all information: with zeros and ones.
- If the moderator speaks only a single word, the sound of the word consists of an individual mix of high and low tones. This information is sent in zeros and ones (for illustration: 01100001011011) to your radio, where it is translated back into sound waves that are audible to humans.
- The digital technology of radios has several advantages. The analog signal can be disturbed by numerous influences, even rain. The digital signal is also always disturbed, but the sound remains clear as there are only zeros and ones to be received. A distorted zero is still recognized as zero. In addition, other information, such as the artist of a song, can be transmitted to the radio.
In the following practical tips we show you the best radio apps for iOS and the best radio apps for Android. We have made the new version of the popular tool for listeners of Internet radio stations, Radia.fx Basic, available for you to download.