Radios have been around since the end of the 1800s, yet few of us really take the time out to think about how they work. The basic physics behind it involves radio waves which are sent out from a transmitter to your radio's antenna. These waves are invisible and work with both analogue and digital radios. When your favourite programme is recorded, this data is converted from audio into a radio wave and then sent out to be picked up by any antennas tuned into that frequency. With regards to digital radios though, the signals required are a lot different to the analogue versions that we are used to. Rather than relying on changes in the amplitude or frequency of the radio wave used, these signals send out coded information that piggy backs on a carrier wave as it is sent out around the globe. This can contain data such as the audio signals of the song or talkback, as well as the name of the song or DJ and any other important information required. The added data that is piggy backing on the electromagnetic wave then has to be reassembled within your radio. It is for this reason that digital radios lag slightly behind their analogue counterparts, as they have to process this extra information and then convert it into something that you can listen to. You can easily hear this lag by placing an analogue and a digital version next to each other and then tuning into the same radio station. This slight lag is really not even a concern though, since digital radios are very beneficial to those who want good quality audio. The coded nature of the signals being broadcast ensures that interference and static are kept to an absolute minimum. This is because digital broadcasts simply piggy back radio waves and the information can thus be transported through any kind of setting even if the wave itself is changed or distorted. Thus, you should gain perfect reception no matter where you are. Finally, the sound quality is drastically improved thanks to the larger amount of information that can be placed within a digital message. Whereas analogue versions had to omit some portions of data to fit into the broadcasted signals, digital radios can pick up a much crisper, clearer sound thanks to the added amount of information found in these coded signals. Thus, AM stations will sound like they are FM, while FM broadcasts will seem as though they are being played from a CD. Discover more information about digital radios.