Multiple public radio channels available in area

NORWALK — If you like to listen to folk music, classical music or 24-hour news on the radio, you may want to know about changes in local National Public Radio programming. As part of a change this year in public radio programming for Cleveland and much of northern Ohio, listeners in Norwalk and Sandusky can access classical music, folk music and news 24 hours a day. But to access the four channels at WNRK, 90.7 FM in Norwalk, which rebroadcasts the radio signal from WKSU, 89.7 FM in the Kent-Cleveland area, you will need an HD radio, a radio that can pick up multiple channels from one radio station. WNRK broadcasts an FM signal for WKSU's regular programming of NPR news and information, but it also broadcasts four HD channels. HD1 is the regular schedule for WKSU, which provides news and information shows for much of northeast Ohio. HD2 is a 24-hour folk music channel. HD3 is a 24-hour classical music channel. And HD4 is a 24-hour news channel. HD radio is a technology, available in the U.S. for many years, allowing radio stations to broadcast on multiple channels. It also can offer superior audio. But to get HD radio signals, a listener must own an HD radio. Many cars come equipped with an HD radio. In addition, table radios that can pick up HD radios for listening at home are available from retail outlets. HD radio has not caught on as a popular phenomenon but some radios remain available from vendors such as Best Buy and websites such as Amazon. Used HD radios are available from sites such as eBay. If you listen to the radio in your car, then you'll notice that signals from FM stations and HD radio stations behave differently. As you drive your car away from where an FM station is broadcasting, you'll hear more and more noise, until the signal becomes unintelligible and you have to switch to another station. HD radio on FM is more of an "all or nothing" affair. As long as an HD radio signal is strong enough, you'll hear a clear broadcast of the music, with no noise. But when the signal is too weak, the station goes silent and you'll hear nothing. The four HD radio channels at WRNK also can be accessed from WKSU's website. In addition, Internet radio apps for smartphones and tablets also can access the radio streams. More information on HD radio at WKSU is available at www.wksu.org/hd-radio. As part of the changes at Ideastream, the public radio nonprofit in Cleveland, classical music broadcasts are now also available at 90.3 FM in Cleveland.