Frequently Asked Questions

What does “live stream” mean?

The WFMT Live Stream is the online equivalent of the 98.7WFMT on-air broadcast and is in operation 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. However, because the live stream is distributed across the internet, there will be an inherent latency so that what you will hear online may be slightly delayed when compared to the on-air broadcast (anywhere from a microsecond to a few seconds).

Do I have to pay for the wfmt.com live stream?

The 98.7WFMT Live Stream is free. The free stream is made possible by the support of 98.7WFMT members and sponsors. Please consider supporting 98.7WFMT today!

At what rate does wfmt.com send the streaming signal?

WFMT.com currently offers live streaming in two digital compression formats, AAC-LC and MP3.

AAC-LC is one of the most efficient audio compression formats and is utilized by prominent streaming networks such as NPR and the BBC. The recommended players for the AAC-LC stream include the WFMT streaming player, WinAmp, and ITunes. The WFMT streaming player AAC-LC stream is delivered at bit rates from 64kbps to 256kbps, depending on the available bandwidth of your internet connection. The WinAmp and iTunes AAC-LC streams are available at 128kbps.

The MP3 format is the most widely adopted internet streaming format and plays in a variety of player types: the WFMT Premium Music player, the Windows Media Player, iTunes, and RealPlayer. The WFMT MP3 stream is available at a bit rate of 128kbps.

What kind of hardware do I need to listen online?

You need a computer with a sound card, and either speakers or headphones.

What kind of software do I need to listen online?

Your browser should be all that you need! Some of our listeners, though, prefer other players and so we’ve listed some popular ones below.

Do I need a high-speed internet connection to listen to the streams?

Ideally, yes. Most dial-up modem Internet connections won’t be able to sustain a download speed necessary to provide uninterrupted playback of the streams. However, some Internet Service Providers are providing enhanced or higher-speed dial-up service.

Can I access the wfmt.com live stream on other websites?

Yes, you can also find our stream through several radio station aggregators including:

TuneIn Radio

SHOUTcast

live-radio.net

iTunes Internet Radio

WindowsMedia Radio Tuner

Can I access the wfmt.com live stream in iTunes?

Yes. Please follow the instructions provided by Apple to listen via WFMT’s iTunes Internet Radio station or to connect directly using the WFMT streaming URL. Within ITunes Internet Radio, WFMT can be found under the Classical category, which is sorted alphabetically.

Can I access the wfmt.com live stream from my Wi-Fi or Internet Radio device?

Yes, the WFMT stream can be accessed through any device that accepts a broadcast internet stream. You many find that in programming your device, the device instruction manual refers to one of the many wifi/internet station aggregator websites (vTuner, Wifiradio-frontier, ect.).** However, these aggregators may not have the correct playlist for WFMT’s stream listed in their online directory. Below, find the correct playlist (.m3u) that can programmed directly into your device.

Note: WFMT does not control the playlists listed on third party websites. Any problems encountered when using these websites are the responsibility of the individual website and must be addressed by that website’s support resources.

Why does the stream sometimes stop for a while or stutter?

This may be due to Internet congestion during certain periods of the day. Internet bandwidth that is required to transmit the stream is limited, and this limitation creates the traffic congestion that causes the audio signal to buffer or stop completely. The stream data is not lost during these congested periods, but it is held up until adequate bandwidth is available to receive the data.

Also, playing the WFMT live stream through the WFMT popup player (via the Listen Live button) for an extended period may fill your browser’s cache and cause the stream to buffer or stop. This can be remedied by clearing your browser cache. For help in clearing your browser cache, please follow these instructions.

Can I get the stream from my computer to my home stereo?

Aside from directly cabling your computer to your stereo receiver, there are wireless stereo receiver and computer transmitter components that allow reception of a wireless stream directly from a computer or the internet. Please check with your local audio/video store for more information and to find the solution that works best for you.

How can I report a problem with the WFMT stream?

The reliability of our streams is extremely important to us. We monitor the streams throughout the day and have set up a system whereby we are notified when the stream is interrupted. However, sometimes we may miss an alert. If you notice something awry with any of our streams, please contact us immediately and we will work to resolve the problem.