Unfortunately, there isn't always a quick-fix. Check out VPR's Guide to Good Reception. Here, we give you some background on how radio works and we offer some steps you can take to improve and troubleshoot poor reception. Click here for VPR's Guide to Good Reception. If you still have reception issues, please report them here.

If you have any issues with your reception we want to know.  Listener feedback is invaluable in helping us evaluate and improve coverage.  If you have any reception issues, large or small, please click here and complete and submit the Reception Form.

Well for one, we have enormous objects that can block and reflect FM and TV radio waves. We call them mountains! The land in much of rural New England is very rocky and hilly. And as if that were not enough, radio stations tend to be located in or near the urban populations they are licensed to serve. If you live between them, in rural outlying areas, no station is near you and very few come from the same direction. So for proper reception you really have to re-orient your antenna for each station. A fixed antenna is at best a compromise. It will work for some stations but not for others.

VPR does not operate local neighborhood radio stations. To do so would require too many transmitting towers. Instead we are licensed to operate higher power facilities from several strategically placed mountain top towers covering a wide area. That means that throughout much of the region our signal may not be received as a locally strong signal. Also, we do not compress our audio feed as much as some other stations so  you can enjoy the dynamics of the music as if you were playing the recordings at home. This results in our being perceived as softer than the other stations on the dial.

Some of our listeners are located very close to other radio station towers. Those stations can overload or desensitize your radio so it will have difficulty picking up a more distant signal such as VPR. The best solution is a large, rooftop, directional FM antenna. Called a Yagi or Beam, this antenna focuses your reception much like the reflector in a flashlight. Aiming it away from the "offending" local stations and toward one of VPR's transmitting sites should eliminate this problem.

The expansion of VPR Classical across the state is ongoing. In the last year VPR Classical transmitters have gone on the air in the Champlain Valley at 90.9 FM WOXR and in Bennington County at 95.1 FM WVTQ in Manchester. 93.3 FM, a new low-power booster translator, went on the air in Rupert.

The next steps include building a station that serves the Newport/Island Pond region at 101.9 FM this summer. VPR has also applied to the FCC for 10 new frequencies during a rare "open application" window. We don't know yet which (if any) licenses the FCC will grant VPR, but we're hopeful. Of course, we're also keeping an eye out for available stations and possible partnerships to bring VPR Classical to areas where its coverage is weak or non-existent, with special emphasis on the central Vermont, Rutland, and St. Johnsbury communities.

VPR Classical can also be heard anywhere you can hear VPR clearly using an HD radio. You can learn more about HD at our website. Learn more about HD radio here.

Growing VPR Classical may take several years to realize, but, since our first station in 2004, VPR Classical is now reaching nearly two-thirds of the population in the VPR listening region. We're doing everything possible to provide VPR Classical to all Vermonters as quickly as possible.

Some online audio problems are things we can fix, and others—like network congestion—you just have to wait out. Fill out this form to report a problem with any of VPR's audio streams, and we'll help you figure it out.

VPR now streams using only the MP3 format. Clicking the Windows link will open the stream in Windows Media Player. Selecting the MP3 link will open the stream in iTunes, Winamp, or other audio players depending on your computer’s settings. Unfortunately, AOL's Media Player does not support the MP3 format.

To listen to a stream, first select the appropriate format based on your player. Then select the desired audio quality - low or high , based upon your connection speed. If you use the high bandwidth stream and notice interruptions in the audio, you may want to try the low bandwidth stream.

Windows Users: Drag the link to your desktop or right-click on a stream link, select “Save Target As…” or “Add to Favorites.”

Mac Users: Drag the link to your desktop or control-click and select “Download link to disk” or “Add to Favorites.”

If you’re using a stand alone internet radio (such as a Roku SoundBridge, Barix Exstreamer, or Reciva MagicBox), it may be necessary to enter the URL of the stream, rather than open the playlist files we link to on our homepage. The URLs for our streaming services are (Note: If your player requires a port number, use port 80.):

VPR Main, low (24 kbps): http://vpr.streamguys.net

VPR Main, high (96 kbps): http://vprhigh.streamguys.net

VPR Classical, low (24 kbps): http://vprclassical.streamguys.net

VPR Classical, high (128 kbps): http://vprclassicalhigh.streamguys.net

It’s possible that having a firewall installed could block streaming services. To allow streaming through your firewall, make an exception for the stream URLs (same list as above). It’s possible your internet service provider (ISP) could block streaming services. We have communicated with Hughes.net after several listeners had difficulty streaming VPR. Hughes.net will unblock streaming services by disabling packet spoofing. However, it must be done for each individual user. If your ISP is Hughes.net, please contact their technical support.

VPR and VPR Classical are both streamed live online. Recording industry laws prevent us from archiving our music programs. News and information content, including VPR News, Commentaries, Vermont Edition, and most locally-produced specials are archived online so you can download or replay them at your convenience after they have aired. National Public Radio news programs and specials are archived at www.npr.org.

Since you're reading this page, you're probably at a computer that has an internet connection. If it has a sound card and either speakers or headphones, the only other thing you need is audio player software that supports MP3 streaming. There are several free programs available including Apple’s iTunes (it plays on Windows too, not just Macintosh). We also recommend the free version of Winamp for Windows computers. Follow any of these buttons to download the free MP3 audio player of your choice:

Download iTunes	Download WinAmp

All Windows computers come with Windows Media Player installed. To play MP3 streams in Windows Media Player, make sure you have version 9 or higher installed.

Download Windows Media Player

Usually this means there are temporary problems on the internet somewhere between our audio servers and your computer—it often resolves itself within a few minutes. You may also hear interruptions in the audio if there is a problem with your computer hardware or software, or if your internet connection is very slow. If you use the high bandwidth stream of VPR or VPR Classical and notice interruptions in the audio, you may want to try the low bandwidth stream.

Nearly ninety percent of VPR's funding comes from the local community - 23,000 individual members and 300 local businesses. The rest comes from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and other sources such as tower leases.  Vermont Pubic Radio is a community licensee with a statewide Board of Directors. It is not affiliated with a public television station or a college or university.

We appreciate and encourage listener feedback. If you would like to share your thoughts, please contact us online, or call VPR at (800) 639-2192 and ask for the Reactionline. You can also write the Reactionline at 365 Troy Ave., Colchester, VT 05446.

Transcripts and online audio of VPR news, commentaries, and select VPR Presents programs are available online, as is on-demand audio. You can download VPR's Vermont Edition programs individually or subscribe to the podcast, but the program is not transcribed; transcription is too labor-intensive for a daily program and VPR does not have the resources to handle it.

CDs of news stories and Vermont Edition are also available for $12 by contacting us online or by calling (800) 639-2192. VPR does not have the rights to distribute copies of programs produced by other organizations, such as NPR or American Public Media, but some of these programs are available as podcasts. You can find out if copies are available by visiting the program's website.

Absolutely! VPR is happy to arrange a weekday tour of our Colchester studios, located in Fort Ethan Allen. Please contact us for more information. Learn more about our facilities here.

Listener input helps to inform our programming, so we always welcome comments and suggestions. The most effective way to reach us is via email. You can also write to VPR at 365 Troy Avenue, Colchester, Vt., 05446. Or contact VPR's Reactionline by calling 800-639-2192.

Beginning this fall, Vermont Public Radio will provide two distinct services. VPR features an expanded lineup of news and information programming and entertainment. Classical music will be featured exclusively on VPR Classical, our expanded network of stations featuring classical music 24 hours a day.

This programming change is one of the most exciting and challenging times in our history. VPR’s evolutioninto two distinct services is a direct response to listener requests and hasbeen made only after extensive research and careful planning under the guidanceof VPR’s Board of Directors.

For years, VPR has fielded listener requests for more oftheir favorite programming - more news, more music, more public affairs, or more entertainment programs. That's hard to accomplish with just 24 hours each day. VPR determined that the most effective way to serve the greatest number of listeners would be to provide two services - one with a news and information focus and the other presenting classical music 24 hours a day. Ultimately, two services will provide more listeners with the programming they have told us they want - which means better public service to the region.

The new program schedules for VPR and VPR Classical were crafted by our programming staff. Listener input has always informed our programming process at Vermont Public Radio and continues to do so. We spent the summer traveling around the state, talking with listeners about our programming and we also invited to listeners to participate in an online survey, in addition to years of listener feed back via mail, email and telephone. We also choose programs based on national and regional audience data, experience of other NPR stations, and the expertise and knowledge of VPR staff.

Initially, there might be a drop in audience as people learn their way around the radio dials and as potential listeners take time to learn about the services. But over time we expect more people will listen longer to both services because we're providing greater access to the programming they're passionate about.

We have planned and budgeted for this expansion with cautious optimism. This decision was made with the guidance of our Board of Directors, and was informed by our knowledge of our own Vermontfunding base, both individual and corporate, as well as the experience of otherstations. VPR Classical has been on the air since July 2004, which means its operating and programming costs have been figured into VPR's budgetfor several years.

VPR's commitment toclassical music is $1.03 million; about 15% of our operating budget. VPR sees this cost as an investment - an investment in satisfying our existing audience and attracting new listeners.

Over time, we expect more people will listen longer to both services, which we believe will result in more members who will help support VPR's programming.

Diversity in programming is what makes public radio special. In planning for this programming change we took care to maintain the diversity you've always loved about VPR. What's changed is that we've been able to spread our programming across two schedules rather than one, giving us more room to broadcast programs for which we previously didn't have space.

VPR will continue broadcasting mainstays such as A Prairie Home Companion, Wait,Wait! Don't Tell Me, Car Talk, and This American Life. Locally-produced favorites My Place and All the Traditions and Jazz with George Thomas are staying, too.

The expansion of VPR Classical across the state is ongoing. We're thrilled that VPR Classical can now be heard in the Champlain Valley at 90.9 FM WOXR. We also recently started broadcasting in Bennington County at 95.1 FM WVTQ in Manchester, a full-power transmitter, and at 93.3 FM, a new low-power booster translator in Rupert. VPR Classical also is available on our northern Vermont and Upper Valley HD digital signals (107.9-HD2 and 89.5-HD2).

The next steps include building a station that serves the Newport/Island Pond region next spring at 101.9 FM, and applying for stations in areas where our coverage is weak or non-existent, with special emphasis on the central Vermont, Rutland, and St. Johnsbury communities.

Growing VPR Classical may take several years to realize, but, since our first station in 2004, VPR Classical is now reaching nearly two-thirds of Vermont. We're doing everything possible to provide VPR Classical to all Vermonters as quickly as possible.

HD stands for "hybrid dgital" and it is very different from "high definition television - HD TV." Digital Radio - HD Radio - is a new technology that enables radio stations to broadcast programs digitally, alongside our existing analog broadcasts. With analog radio (radio as you know it), VPR can broadcast only one program service on a frequency. With HD Digital radio, VPR can offer more programs on the same frequency, or "mulitcast." That means one frequency can transmit up to THREE different services in HD Digital. In other words, you can hear VPR, VPR Classical and the BBC on the same HD Radio frequency. The analog broadcast is not affected.

Digital broadcasts provide these new "hidden" channels, as well as improved sound quality and new data services. And it's all free for listeners, just like today's analog FM radio. HD is not the same as satellite radio and does not have monthly subscription fees like XM or Sirius Radio.

Check out this HD Radio simulation proved by NPR and compare the difference (Flash player required; opens in new window). Click here to launch demo.

You'll need to buy a new HD Radio reciever to be able to listen to HD Radio services. You also need to be in range of one of VPR's analog signals in order to receive the HD Radio signal. But don't worry about having to choose between analog or HD Radio services. HD Radio receivers allow you to listen to both analog and digital signals.

For some home locations, you may need a better external antenna to pull in the HD digital radio signal. We have other information on our website about getting good reception, which may help with your existing home radio.

Yes, HD radios receive traditional analog signals if the station isn't broadcasting HD, and automatically switch to HD when it receives a digital signal.

No. You don’t need an HD Radio to continue listening to VPR; our traditional radio signal isn’t going away. HD just gives you more choices. You’ll find more information about HD Radio here.

 

VPR Classical, our 24-hour classical music service, is on a number of analog (traditional) FM stations across Vermont. Click here for a list of those frequencies. And it's also available as the second HD channel on every one of VPR's existing FM stations. VPR Classical is also available via the Internet on a high quality audio stream, and many hundreds of listeners access this service daily. We are committed to making VPR Classical more widely available, continuing to grow the service through new FM frequencies and booster stations.

If you live in an area where VPR Classical is not available on an analog frequency, you may want to try out VPR Classical as an HD service in your area (click here for list). Not every location can receive a strong HD digital signal, but if you can tune in a VPR frequency well, it is likely that you should be able to listen to VPR Classical with an HD radio receiver.

The best way to learn more about HD Radio is to try it out in the store. Many audio or electronic store, including Radio Shack, are offering an HD desktop or component radio. We have also seen HD receivers for sale in some communities' hardware stores. They are also available for your car.

Prices range from $100 to $500 depending on features. Manufacturers such as Radiosophy, Cambridge Soundworks, Sony, Boston Acoustic and Radio Shack all have HD models that receive multiple digital channels alongside analog signals.

Glenn Fleishman of the New York Times reviewed HD Radio receivers in his December 2006 column.

Here are several links about the various models available and for where to find and buy a digital radio, including the NPR Shop where your purchase benefits VPR

List of HD Radio Receivers available

List of HD Radio Receivers by manufacturer and type

HD Radio Receiver Buyers Guide

Additional rebate offers

NPR Shop

Fanfare receiver

No, there are a handful of other HD digital stations available in Vermont, both commerical and non-commercial. However, Vermont Public Radio's WVPR 89.5 FM in the Upper Valley became the first radio station in Vermont to begin broadcasting in HD digital sound on July 19, 2006. Fitting, given WVPR was Vermont's first public radio station. WBTN 94.3 FM in Bennington was the next to go digital, followed in November 2006 by 107.9 FM WVPS from Mount Mansfield. WVPA 88.5 FM in St. Johnsbury was the next to go HD in September 2007, with WRVT 88.7 FM in Rutland going to HD in October 2007. VPR expects to continue converting to digital radio throughout 2008, adding multicasting HD capabilities to all of our frequencies. VPR's upgrade to HD digital radio is made possible by contributions from our loyal listeners and through a grant from the Corporation of Public Broadcasting (CPB).

When a radio station broadcasts in HD, the analog FM signal you've always listened to remains exactly the same. The advantage of this new digital technology is that it allows VPR to "multicast." That is, VPR can offer two or more additional programming services on a single frequency. These program offerings are "hidden" on standard radios. An HD digital radio receiver allows you to pick up these "hidden" services. NPR's Jim Zarolli recently reported on HD Radio.

VPR Classical is available statewide on digital channel 2 on every one of the VPR frequencies as we continue to grow the analog (radio as you know it) service through new frequencies and translators.

iBiquity Digital Corporation is the sole developer of HD Radio technology. With input from radio broadcasters, consumer electronics and broadcast equipment manufacturers, automakers, retailers, and consumers, the company has brought to market an idea that was conceived over a decade ago by scientists and engineers at Westinghouse, CBS, Gannet and Lucent/Bell Labs.

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) approved HD Radio technology in 2002, and the commercial rollout of the technology began in 2003 when AM and FM stations around the country began digital broadcasts and continued with the launch of HD Radio receivers at the Consumer Electronics Show in January 2004.

For more information go to www.ibiquity.com.

Yes, VPR's HD radio stations will broadcast both digital and traditional analog signals. Because new HD Radio stations will begin their digital broadcasting using a "hybrid mode" (transmitting digital and analog signals simultaneously), you'll still be able to pick up our broadcasts on your analog radios. The stations will seamlessly upgrade to digital when it locks onto a strong digital signal.

Podcasting allows you to automatically download audio programs to your computer, iPod or other MP3 player. You subscribe to a podcast, your computer downloads the audio whenever the program is updated, so you can listen to your favorite programming whenever and wherever it’s convenient for you. You'll find a list of available VPR podcasts and some of our favorites here.

To subscribe and listen to podcasts, you’ll first need to install a podcasting program like iTunes, Podcast Alley or podcast.net.

The fastest way to subscribe to a podcast is to copy the URL of the podcast you want (if you paste that URL into your web browser it will look like gibberish - don't worry, that's totally normal!), and paste it into the subscription field of your podcast software (in iTunes, go to the Advanced menu at the top and select "subscribe to podcast.").

The software checks the internetregularly and starts a download whenever it finds something new. Youcan listen to the programs you download on your computer, or you candownload them from your computer to a portable MP3 player (iPod orsimilar). That means you can listen to what you want anytime andanywhere you want.

Although you do subscribe to podcasts, there is no money involved. VPR does not charge, and has no plans to charge for our podcasts or other on-demand audio programming.

VPR is permitted to broadcast music on our radio stations and in our live internet streams. Copyright laws do not allow us to offer downloads of programming that features complete works of music. Occasionally, NPR and other public radio organizations are able to provide podcasts featuring music by special agreement, but for the most part it is not an option.

There are thousands of podcasts on just about every topic imaginable. Podcasting lets you listen to some of your favorite radio programs on your own schedule, but podcasting also provides an audience to anyone with a home computer and something to say. Some are great, some are, well, less than great!

You can search for podcasts by genre at Podcast Alley or podcast.net or iTunes.

If you need help or have questions about podcasting, check out these resources:

iTunes podcast FAQ: http://www.apple.com/itunes/store/podcastsfaq.html

Wikipedia Podcast FAQ: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Podcasting

RSS stands for Really Symple Syndication and it's an easy way to automatically get content from all over the web delivered to your computer. An RSS "feed" is simply a tiny file containing summaries of stories and news as they are updated throughout the day. When you subscribe to an RSS feed, that content is automatically delivered directly to your computer whenever it is updated, without your even visiting the website.

If you're like us, there are lots of websites you visit at least daily, from news and blogs to comics and stocks. With RSS, you don't have to keep going back to those websites to see if there is anything new. Instead, you subscribe to an RSS "feed" and whenever there is new content, you'll get a summary of it on your computer without having to re-visit the site. If you decide you want more than the summary, it links back to the full text on the website. RSS can help keep you current, and it keeps you in control: you decide what content you want to receive!

There are a number of ways to access RSS feeds. Most recent web browsers (Safari, Firefox, Internet Explorer) have RSS capability built in: you can view the RSS feed like a web page, or you can subscribe to it by bookmarking it.

If your browser does not have RSS capability built in, there are a number of Web-based news reader as well. For example, My Yahoo!, My AOL, and Google users can nowadd RSS feeds directly to their personal page.

The third option is to download an RSS Feed Reader, which is basically just a piece of software you install on your computer to process RSS Feeds. Some free RSS readers we have tried include Firefox (VPR's recommendation), Awasu for Windows, Newsfire for Mac OS X, and Bloglines.

Click here for a full list of VPR RSS Feeds.

RSS feeds and Podcasts are similar in that they rely on the same technology (XML) and they allow you to pull content onto your computer from various websites. The key difference is that RSS shows you a list of content items with links back to the originating site, while a Podcast downloads audio to your computer for listening.

The easiest way to illustrate is with an example. The VPR Commentaries Series is available as both an RSS feed and a Podcast. With the RSS feed of the Commentaries on your computer, you can see a list of all the recent commentary titles and summaries and, if you want to learn more, you can click the RSS link which directs you to that commentary on VPR.net. This allows you to see the most recent commentaries and you can click through to those commentaries you want read in full. Furthermore, you can add many different RSS feeds to your reader and, at a glance, see headlines from a variety of sources and websites.

With the Podcast of the VPR Commentaries Series, you subscribe using podcast software, such as iTunes, and the audio for the Commentaries is automatically downloaded to your computer every time you open iTunes and without ever having to visit VPR.net. From there, you can either listen to the audio on your computer or synch it with your MP3 player (e.g. an iPod).

So, in summary, the RSS feed shows you a list of content items and allows you to click through for the full page if you want. The Podcast automatically downloads the audio to your computer. In both cases, you are pulling content from a website onto your computer so you don't have to visit the website directly. For people who listen to a lot of online audio, or who monitor the headlines across many sites, RSS and Podcasts are an extremely convenient way to subscrive to content.

Vermont Public Radio has been providing distinctive radio programming to Vermont and surrounding areas for more than 30 years, but we can’t do it alone. Everything you hear on VPR is possible onlythrough the financial support of our listeners. 90 percent of VPR’s funding comes from thelocal community.

Your membership contribution pays for VPR’s unrivaledprogramming, and keeps VPR an independent, local voice for the community, nowand into the future.

As a VPR member, you'll receive a VPR Euro bumper sticker; Radio Flier, our print newsletter; and prEview, VPR's bi-weekly email update of upcoming programs and other station happenings. There are also a number of thank you gifts to choose from at various membership levels.

A sustaining membership is a great way to support VPR. A sustaining member agrees to make a monthly contribution to VPR of $10 or more on an ongoing basis via a credit card or bank account. Your gifts will be automatically transferred around the 15th of each month—no more renewal notices! Sustaining memberships provide VPR with a steady, reliable source of income that we can count on month after month. Also, supporting VPR in this way cuts costs, which allows more of your contribution to go directly to the programming you love.

Your VPR membership is current for 12 months after you make a contribution; we'll send you a renewal letter a few months before that time. If you think you've received a renewal notice in error, please contact us.

VPR membership begins at $35. All new VPR members joining at that level or higher receive VPR's newsletter Radio Flier, and a VPR Euro bumper sticker with their acknowledgement letter.

All new members receive a VPR Euro bumper sticker with their acknowledgement. If you are already a member and need an additional sticker to avoid spousal arguments, or if you have a new, bare-bumpered car, please contact us and we'll mail you a shiny new one.

As a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, VPR is eligible for many employers' Corporate Matching Gifts programs. Simply obtain a matching gift form from your human resources department and send it to VPR, along with your membership contribution.

A membership to VPR makes a great gift for the VPR listener in your life. You make the contribution, and the recipient will receive the benefits, including VPR's Radio Flier, Euro bumper sticker, and the thank you gift of your choosing if applicable. We'll also send the recipient a card notifying them that they've received a gift membership. To arrange a gift membership, make a pledge online, call us at (800) 639-2192, or send us a check. Whichever way you choose, let us know the name and address of the gift recipient so we can send them a note!

A planned gift for Vermont Public Radio can be an outright gift, a life income gift, or a charitable bequest. It can be made during your lifetime or provided for in your will or estate plans. For more information on making a planned gift to VPR, click here, or contact David Warren, Manager of Special Gifts at (802) 654-4388 or online.

Sometimes your contribution gets credited to your membership file after we've mailed renewal notices or pledge reminders for that month. If your contribution and our reminder cross in the mail, please accept our apologies and our sincerest thanks, and disregard the extra reminder. Occasionally an extra letter could be the result of a duplicate file or other issue with our database. If you think that might be the case, please contact us and we'd be happy to look into it.

If you requested a thank you gift when you made your pledge or contribution, it should arrive within about six weeks (magazine subscriptions also take longer due to start-up time on the publication's end). If it has been longer than that, please contact us and we'll be happy to investigate. Please keep in mind that we rely on volunteers to help us package and ship thank you gifts, and we appreciate your patience.

Of the thousands of Artist Mugs VPR ships out after each membership drive, a handful break en route to their new owners. If this happens to you, throw out the damaged mug and let us know about it. We'll mail you a new one right away, and thanks in advance for understanding.

We do our very best to get thank you gifts out in a timely manner. Magazines often take longer because unlike our other gifts, we can't mail the magazines out ourselves—we can only submit the subscriptions to the publication. Since it often takes 4-6 weeks on the magazine's end to start up a subcription, there will be a lag between when you make your gift to VPR and when you start receiving your magazine. For quarterly publications such as Vermont Life, it may take a little longer before you receive your first issue. If you are concerned that your subscription was not submitted, please contact us and and we'll be happy to look into it.

Absolutely! Just because you don't call in during membership drives, we don't want those of you who contribute on a monthly basis to be left without a proper thank you! As a sustaining member, you are entitled to receive one thank you gift per year, based on the amount of your annual contribution. Look for a letter from us around the anniversary of your initial pledge each year, which lists the current thank you gifts from which you may choose. If it's been a year or more since you requested a gift and you hear about something you'd like, or if you don't remember the last time you received a gift , please contact us and we'd be happy to help.