- A radio signal is transmitted on a specified channel at a specified frequency. For example, if you tune your FM radio to 99.9 and can hear a radio station, you are listening to a radio signal that is specifically transmitted at an FM frequency and to Channel 99.9. The use of certain frequencies and channels allows multiple radio signals to be broadcast at the same time but heard separately, as the receiver can be set to tune in only certain signals.
- A special receiver is set to pick up a certain signal, then rebroadcast that signal to a special Internet broadcast server. Sometimes the receiver and the broadcast server are incorporated into a single piece of equipment, but they still perform separate functions. One picks up the radio signal and sends it to the other to be prepared for Internet broadcast.
- The special Internet broadcast server then translates the radio signal into a different type of signal, or electric impulse, that can be transmitted to online users. The signal, or online radio scanner, usually requires the user to download a simple program that can translate the online signal into recognizable sounds, like music and voice. The entire relay process happens so quickly that there is very little delay between the broadcast of the initial radio signal and the user of an online radio scanner hearing the output.
