Radio expenses can really add up, especially if you are working for yourself. It would be very beneficial in the long run if we could only work with an online radio to listen to our favorite songs of the moment. A modern and reliable computer, large speakers, microphones, antennas… There are a lot of things to set up!

You only need a piece of relatively basic radio equipment to set up an online radio at the comfort of your home, and as long as you have a computer, here are various types of radio station equipment  you will need:

Computer

A computer is essential since it allows you to select and arrange the music and audio that will be broadcasted. With a PC, you have a lot more control over the quality and content of the radio station. Always choose a PC with a good processor, strong RAM, good graphics card, and good sound quality.

You will need some kind of software for playing music on the computer. There are many music-playing programs out in the market today such as Windows Media Player, iTunes, Songbird, and Winamp. Some of this software also comes with built-in radio software while others do not. If you prefer using other software, never worry as there are online radio programs that let you stream music from your computer’s hard drive. Although you can use your old desktop as part of the radio station setup guide, you should make sure that it has a Pentium 4 or a newer processor. You need at least 1GB of RAM as well as at least 100GB of storage space or hard drive.

Components for broadcasting software. The broadcasting software will enable you to send audio information to the computer servers where it will be broadcast over the internet. This equipment includes a microphone, a sound card, and an Internet connection.

Studio Microphone – most professional broadcasters prefer to record their programs using studio microphones. These microphones are usually directional mics that are connected to a mixer where the sound waves are sent for processing before being broadcasted. For those who do not have access to professional broadcast studios, handheld microphones are also available for purchase. 

Headphones

You will need a microphone to start your online radio station. You can buy one for as little as $20 on Amazon.com. If you have a webcam, you may want to consider buying a microphone that comes with a webcam. This makes it simple to stream your video and audio with one device. It’s wireless too! This type of microphone plugs into one of the USB ports in your computer, so no cables to tie you down.

Another thing to keep in mind is interconnecting audio panel cabling. This is the cable used to connect a studio to a transmitter. The most common wire is the category 3 wire. It is used for up to 600 feet. When using this type of wire, you should use a twisted pair cable rather than just a single wire. This will reduce the electrical interference that you might encounter. The shielding should be grounded as well as each of the two wires. This type of wire is usually wrapped in a plastic covering and then enclosed in a larger jacket.

Radio frequency amplifier

This is optional but if you really want to maximize your audience, then this is for you. This helps to boost the frequency of your online radio by at least 10-30% higher. Just make sure the amplifier has nothing on it that’s not required. For example, the power source should only be from a DC-power supply or battery pack made for amplifiers.

A transmitter 

 this is the part that actually broadcasts your programming via radio waves to your audience. You can choose from analog FM, digital, or HD radio transmitters, depending on your preference and the area you wish to broadcast in.

Another type of equipment needed for a radio station is called an exciter. This type of equipment is needed because it helps modulate the frequency that is being broadcast

Wrapping up!

Starting a radio station does not have to be so hard. If you are working with a tight budget, you can start with a basic setup that will only need basic equipment like the computer, a microphone and amount, and a pair of headphones. The computer forms the most central part, the broadcasting software, and the rest of the equipment is connected to it to form a basic system that constitutes your simple radio station.