Your Low-Power FM (LPFM) station is a cornerstone of your community. It provides a unique voice, local music, and essential information. But what if you could break free from the geographical limits of your transmitter and reach listeners across the city, country, or even the globe? That's the power of an internet simulcast.
In 2026, having an online presence isn't just a bonus—it's a necessity. Simulcasting your LPFM broadcast online opens up a world of new possibilities, transforming your local station into a global brand. This guide will walk you through every step of the process using Shoutcast Net, the most powerful and affordable streaming platform available today.
Why Simulcast Your LPFM Station?
Simulcasting, or broadcasting your FM signal simultaneously over the internet, bridges the gap between traditional radio and the digital age. Here’s why it’s a game-changer for any LPFM station:
- Go Global, Stay Local: While your FM signal might cover a few miles, an internet stream has no boundaries. Your community's diaspora, former residents, and new fans from anywhere in the world can tune in and stay connected.
- Reach Listeners Everywhere: Modern listeners consume audio on smartphones, smart speakers, and computers. An internet stream makes your station accessible on the devices they use every day, whether they're at the gym, in the office, or commuting outside your broadcast range. With Shoutcast Net, you can stream from any device to any device.
- Gain Valuable Insights: Unlike terrestrial radio, internet streaming provides detailed analytics. Know exactly how many people are listening, where they're from, and for how long. This data is invaluable for programming decisions, grant applications, and demonstrating your reach to underwriters.
- Create New Content Opportunities: An internet stream isn't just a mirror. Use it for online-only content, pre-shows, or after-shows. With Shoutcast Net's powerful AutoDJ feature, you can keep your station live 24/7 with automated playlists, even when your studio is dark.
- Future-Proof Your Station: The media landscape is constantly evolving. Establishing a strong online presence now ensures your station remains relevant and resilient for years to come.
An internet stream opens up new revenue streams. You can run online-only underwriting spots, use your player to display banner ads for local sponsors, or add a "Donate" button directly on your web player. It's a powerful way to supplement your on-air fundraising efforts and increase community engagement.
What You'll Need: Hardware & Software Checklist
Getting your LPFM station online is surprisingly straightforward. You likely already have most of the necessary equipment. Here’s a complete checklist of what you'll need to get started.
Hardware
- Audio Source: This is the output from your station's main mixing console or broadcast processor. You need a clean, line-level audio feed of your final on-air program.
- Dedicated Computer: While you don't need a supercomputer, a stable, reliable machine (PC or Mac) that can be left running 24/7 is crucial. This computer will run your encoder software.
- Audio Interface: This is a key piece of hardware. It's an external box that converts the analog audio from your mixer into a high-quality digital signal for your computer. A simple 2-in/2-out USB interface like a Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 or Behringer UMC202HD is perfect. Avoid using the computer's built-in microphone/line-in jack, as it's often noisy and low-quality.
- Cables: The correct cables (usually 1/4" or XLR) to connect your mixer's output to the audio interface's input.
- Reliable Internet Connection: A stable broadband connection (Cable, Fiber, or even reliable DSL) is essential. The most important factor is the upload speed. A typical 128kbps stream only requires about 0.2 Mbps of upload bandwidth, but having more headroom is always better.
Software
- Streaming Encoder: This is the software that captures the audio from your interface, compresses it into a streamable format (like MP3 or AAC), and sends it to your Shoutcast Net server. Popular choices include:
- BUTT (Broadcast Using This Tool): Free, simple, and very reliable. Perfect for getting a direct simulcast online.
- Rocket Broadcaster: A more advanced free/paid option with features like metadata capture and scheduling.
- RadioBOSS: A full radio automation suite that also includes a powerful built-in encoder.
- A Shoutcast Net Hosting Plan: This is your "server in the cloud." It's where your encoder sends the audio, and where all your listeners connect to. Shoutcast Net provides the robust infrastructure, unlimited bandwidth, and easy-to-use control panel to manage your stream.
For a pure LPFM simulcast, BUTT is often the best choice due to its simplicity and stability. Set it up once and it will run reliably for months, automatically reconnecting if your internet connection drops. If you plan to mix in pre-recorded content or want more advanced metadata features, consider a more feature-rich application like RadioBOSS.
Step 1: Choose Your Shoutcast Net Plan
This is the most important step: choosing the right engine to power your global broadcast. Unlike other providers like Wowza, which trap you with confusing and expensive per-hour or per-listener billing that punishes you for success, Shoutcast Net believes in simple, predictable, flat-rate pricing. You get up to 1,000 listeners and unlimited traffic on all plans. Your bill never changes, no matter how popular you become.
We offer plans to suit every station's needs and budget, starting at just $4/month. All plans come with our 99.9% uptime guarantee, SSL streaming for secure connections, and a powerful control panel.
| Feature | Radio Starter | Radio Pro | Video & Radio TV |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | Starting at $4/mo | Most Popular | For Power Streamers |
| Max Bitrate | 128 kbps | 320 kbps | 4K Video + 320 kbps Audio |
| Listeners | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| AutoDJ Storage | 1 GB | 10 GB | 50 GB+ |
| Best For | LPFM Simulcasts, Hobbyists | Professional Broadcasters, Growing Stations | Video Simulcasts, Live Events |
| Get Started | Choose Plan | Choose Plan | Choose Plan |
For most LPFM simulcasts, the Radio Starter or Radio Pro plan is a perfect fit. The key difference is the maximum bitrate and the amount of AutoDJ storage. If you plan to run automated programming when your studio is offline, the extra storage of the Pro plan is well worth it.
Still not sure? You can try any of our plans completely free. We offer a no-obligation 7 days trial so you can experience the power and simplicity of Shoutcast Net for yourself.
Choose a plan that not only meets your current needs but also allows for growth. The beauty of Shoutcast Net is that you can easily upgrade your plan at any time without any downtime. Starting with our Radio Pro plan gives you plenty of AutoDJ space to build out online-only programming and the higher bitrate capacity for pristine audio quality as your audience grows.
Step 2: Configure Your Audio Source & Encoder
Now it's time to get the audio from your studio to the internet. This involves setting up your physical connections and configuring your encoder software.
Audio Signal Flow
The path your audio will take looks like this:
Mixer Output → Audio Interface → Computer (USB) → Encoder Software → Shoutcast Net Server
- Connect a spare output from your mixing board (e.g., "Tape Out," "Rec Out," or an auxiliary send) to the inputs of your USB audio interface.
- Connect the USB audio interface to your dedicated streaming computer.
- Install any necessary drivers for your audio interface.
Encoder Software Setup (Example using BUTT)
Once your hardware is connected, open your encoder software. We'll use BUTT for this example as it's simple and effective.
- Click the "Settings" button.
- Go to the "Main" tab. Here you will add your Shoutcast Net server details (we'll get these in the next step).
- Go to the "Audio" tab. In the "Audio Device" dropdown, select your USB audio interface. Do not select "Default" or your computer's built-in sound card.
- Under the "Stream" tab, you'll configure your stream's format. Here's a recommended starting point for high-quality audio that's compatible with almost every device:
- Codec: AAC (or MP3 if AAC isn't available)
- Bitrate: 128 kbps
- Sample Rate: 44100 Hz
- Channels: Stereo
After configuring the audio settings, you should see the audio meters in BUTT moving in time with your station's broadcast. This confirms that the encoder is receiving audio correctly.
For a professional, polished sound, your audio needs processing (compression and limiting) before it hits the encoder. Your LPFM station likely already uses a broadcast processor for its FM signal. Ideally, you should take a feed of this processed audio for your stream. If not, you can use software plugins (VSTs) with encoders like Rocket Broadcaster or RadioBOSS to apply processing, ensuring your stream has a consistent and loud (but not distorted) volume level.
Step 3: Connect Your Encoder to Shoutcast Net
With your encoder ready to receive audio, the next step is to tell it where to send the stream. This is where your Shoutcast Net plan comes in. After signing up, you'll receive an email with a link to your streaming control panel and all the necessary connection details.
In your Shoutcast Net control panel (Everest Panel or Centova Cast), you will find a "Quick Links" or "Stream Details" section. This contains the three key pieces of information your encoder needs:
- Server Hostname/IP: The address of your streaming server (e.g., `s1.shoutcastnet.com`).
- Server Port: The specific "door" on the server for your stream (e.g., `8000`).
- Stream Password: The unique password that authorizes your encoder to broadcast to the server (e.g., `yourpassword123`).
Now, go back to your encoder software (BUTT) and open the "Settings". On the "Main" tab, click "Add" to create a new server profile. Enter the details exactly as provided in your control panel:
[Server Settings in BUTT]
Name: My LPFM Stream (or whatever you want to call it)
Type: ShoutCast
Address: s1.shoutcastnet.com (Use your actual server address)
Port: 8000 (Use your actual port)
Password: yourpassword123 (Use your actual stream password)
Mountpoint: /stream (For Shoutcast v2, often just / or /stream)
User: source (For Shoutcast v2, the user is 'source')
Shoutcast Net is built for flexibility, far surpassing the limitations of legacy Shoutcast servers. Our platform is designed to handle any stream protocols to any stream protocols (RTMP, RTSP, WebRTC, SRT, etc), making it a truly universal solution for both audio and video. Whether you're coming from a simple audio encoder or a complex video switcher, our servers can ingest it and deliver it flawlessly.
Shoutcast Net supports both Shoutcast v1 and v2, as well as Icecast. We recommend using Shoutcast v2 mode in your encoder. It offers better performance and allows for multiple streams (e.g., a high-quality and low-quality stream) from a single server instance, though for a simple simulcast, this isn't necessary. The settings above (with a Mountpoint and User) are for v2. For v1, you typically only need the Address, Port, and Password.
Step 4: Embed Your Player & Go Live!
This is the moment of truth! You've configured your hardware and software, and your server is waiting. It's time to go live and share your stream with the world.
Start Your Broadcast
In your encoder software (BUTT), simply click the main "Play" button (the triangle icon). The software will connect to the Shoutcast Net server, and the status will change to show that you are streaming, along with the duration.
Head back to your Shoutcast Net control panel. You should see the status update to "Stream Online" and display the current song/show information (if your encoder is configured to send it).
Share Your Stream
Your stream is now live, but how do people listen? Shoutcast Net makes this incredibly easy. In your control panel, look for "Player Widgets" or "Embed Code."
- HTML5 Player: We provide a sleek, modern, and mobile-responsive HTML5 player. Simply copy the provided code snippet and paste it into your station's website. Listeners can click play and hear your stream instantly, right in their browser.
- Direct Streaming Links: We also provide direct URLs to your stream (e.g., `https://s1.shoutcastnet.com:8001/stream`). These links are essential for submitting your station to internet radio directories, for use in mobile apps, and for listeners who prefer to use their own desktop players like VLC or Winamp.
Our infrastructure is built for speed. We offer very low latency 3 sec streaming, which is critical for live call-in shows or any broadcast where the delay between your studio and the listener needs to be minimal. It ensures your online listeners are hearing your content almost as quickly as your FM listeners.
This powerful combination of an embeddable player and direct links is part of how we enable you to stream from any device to any device. From your studio to our server, and from our server to a listener's laptop, smart speaker, or phone—it just works.
Don't just bury the player on your homepage. Create a dedicated "Listen Live" page on your website. On this page, embed the main player prominently at the top. Below it, provide all the direct streaming links (for different bitrates if you offer them), and links to find your stream on various radio directories and apps. This makes it a one-stop-shop for your listeners, no matter how they want to tune in.
Bonus: Promote Your New Online Stream
Going live is just the beginning. Now you need to let people know they can listen online. A consistent promotional strategy will help you grow your digital audience.
On-Air Promotion
Your most captive audience is already listening on FM! Create professional-sounding sweepers and promos that you can run regularly between songs and segments. Something like, "Can't get enough of [Your Station Name]? Take us with you wherever you go! Listen live now at [yourwebsite.com]!"
Digital Promotion
- Website: Place a "Listen Live" button in a prominent position on every page of your website, like the main header.
- Social Media: Update your bio on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram with a link to your listen page. Post regularly to remind your followers they can listen online.
- Radio Directories: Submit your station to major internet radio directories like TuneIn, radio.net, Streema, and more. This is a huge driver of new listeners. Your Shoutcast Net control panel provides the exact stream URL you'll need for these submissions.
Leverage Shoutcast Net's Power Features
Our platform includes tools designed to maximize your reach:
- Restream to Social Media: Many of our plans include the ability to Restream to Facebook, Twitch, YouTube, and other platforms. If you have a webcam in your studio, you can turn your radio show into a live video broadcast, reaching massive new audiences on social media simultaneously.
- Keep the Music Going with AutoDJ: What happens when your live LPFM broadcast ends for the day? With a traditional simulcast, the stream goes silent. But with Shoutcast Net's AutoDJ, your station never has to stop. Simply upload your music and pre-recorded shows to the AutoDJ, create playlists, and it will automatically take over when your live source disconnects. This keeps listeners engaged 24/7 and turns your stream into a valuable, always-on asset.
Ready to break the boundaries of FM and take your station global? It all starts with a reliable, powerful, and affordable streaming partner. Get started with your 7 days trial today and see how easy it is to set up your LPFM simulcast with Shoutcast Net.
Use the advanced scheduling features in the AutoDJ to create a full 24/7 program grid. You can schedule specific playlists to run at certain times of the day (e.g., "Morning Mix," "Indie Afternoon," "Late Night Jazz"). You can even schedule pre-recorded syndicated shows or your own past broadcasts to re-run, creating a rich and varied listening experience that keeps your audience coming back for more, even when you're not live.