Frequently Asked Streaming Questions

If after reading the FAQ, you still have questions regarding streaming, feel free to Contact Us .

I do not receive In-Depth News and Classical Music radio signals. How can I listen on the Internet?

If your computer has an Internet connection and speakers, it's easy to listen to In-Depth News and Classical Music. Simply go to the top of the page and click on the appropriate “listen” button. Your stream will automatically start playing.

You may also prefer one of our other streaming formats which are:
Windows Media – this is the most common streaming software. You must have Windows Media loaded on your computer in order to listen to this stream. Most computers come with this software already loaded.
MP3 – this service requires a broadband cable or DSL Internet connection. Most computers have the software already loaded to receive this stream.
OGG Vorbis – Ogg Vorbis is an open source codec that is less "lossy" than MP3 and is rated as having better quality than MP3 in listener tests. Ogg Vorbis capable players come standard on most Linux distributions and players are available for Windows and Mac platforms.

I do not have a computer. Can I still listen to In-Depth News and Classical Music over the Internet?

Yes. Recent advances in technology have led to the production of “Internet radios.” These devices look a lot like regular radios, except that they work with wireless Internet connections. If you have access to a wireless Internet signal (WiFi) in your home or office, you can most likely use one of these radios to listen to our programming. NOTE: If your WiFi signal is encrypted (password protected), you may need assistance from someone familiar with this technology when setting up your radio the first time .

The NPR Shop carries a variety of internet radios.

My OGG Vorbis stream interrupts every few seconds.  What is wrong?

We have noticed on certain players (VLC especially) that our process of updating the current playlist causes problems of this sort.  We recommend that you use our OGG stream without playlist info (Click Here for Classical Music or  Click Here for In-Depth News) or to try one of our recommended OGG capable players.

Can I listen to your stations on a portable device?

Yes. Many mobile providers offer smartphones capable of receiving our Internet radio feeds. These devices also function as personal digital assistant (PDA) and cell phone. With these devices, you can listen to our streams – and take In-Depth News and Classical Music with you just about wherever you go. Because the smartphone devices use cell phone technology to connect to the Internet, they generally work wherever the cell phone signals reach. NOTE: Cell phone companies charge a monthly fee for their data plan. If you intend to use one of these phones to listen to In-Depth News and Classical Music over the Internet on a frequent basis, consider selecting your provider’s unlimited wireless data plan to avoid excess charges.

 
Can I listen to your stations on my iPhone?

Yes, there are currently several applications found in the iTunes store for streaming radio to your iPhone.  The most popular in the public broadcasting world right now is called Public Radio  Player and can be downloaded  free of charge from iTunes.
Click here to learn more

Can I listen to your stations on my BlackBerry?

Yes, we have test BlackBerry streams for both of our services. 
To access these streams, simply go to http://streams.cpr.org on your mobile device. Under "MP3" you will see a link for the Blackberry stream.
Note: Please make sure you are using the most recent version of the OS before trying to connect. 
This is confirmed to work with T-Mobile service on a BlackBerry Pearl using device software 4.2, and a BlackBerry Curve 8900 with device software 4.6 (unknown carrier).

When will I be able to listen to Internet radio in my car?

Work is currently underway on a new technology called WiMax, a high-speed broadcast cellular service that can be used in a mobile environment. While it is difficult to predict when a new technology like this will be deployed in automobiles as standard or optional equipment, experts anticipate that by the end of this decade, your automobile should be able to receive thousands of Internet radio stations just as easily as you tune to AM, FM, or satellite radio stations today. Many cars now have a radio jack that will allow you to connect your MP3 player or the audio from your smartphone to your car radio.

I have technical questions about listening to Colorado Public Radio with an Internet radio.  Where do I go? 

We would be happy to answer your questions about Internet radio.  Just click on this link to ask a question.

How can I listen with iTunes?

By default, iTunes can decode MP3 streams without downloading any further software.

To listen to either of our MP3 streams within iTunes, simply click on one of the "MP3" links listed above.  iTunes will automatically open and begin playing the stream.  
 
What is OGG Vorbis?

Ogg Vorbis is an open source codec that is less "lossy" than MP3 and is rated as having better quality than MP3 in listener tests.  Ogg Vorbis capable players come standard on most Linux distributions and players are available for Windows and Mac platforms.  Based on your operating system, we recommend the following players:

Linux - XMMS
Windows - Winamp (latest full version)
Mac - VLC   (please use one of these streaming links instead: Classical Music - In-Depth News)

Please Contact Us if you have further questions about these streaming formats.