> You can get it on Alexa too because most of the shows are also podcasts which is also great.
"Alexa, play NPR" also works. It will use the ZIP code from your Amazon account and play the local NPR affiliate from either TuneIn or iHeartRadio.
This is how I listen to it at home - one Echo Dot (connected to a Tivoli Audio Model One) in the "office", and another using its built-in speaker, in the bedroom.
I'm Australian, I understand how the affiliate stations work but can you explain what you mean when you say you don't like your local station?
I'm assuming it's the same as wanting to listen to ABC Melbourne when you live in Sydney - but that means missing out on the local news or particular presenters.
In addition to the other comment, there's simply a huge amount of format variation between local affiliates. Some are mostly music, often classical or jazz, with nothing else except daily news. Others are almost all in-depth news and programming like quiz shows and interview channels.
So there are places where the local station carries almost no NPR content.
Public radio stations across the US carry different programs.
After asking the question I thought about it more and I think I just need to fully commit to podcasts. I've pretty much stopped watching live TV (except for sports) and the same should probably be true for radio.
By going to https://alexa.amazon.com, "music, video and books", tunein, picking the Dot I wanted to play through, and then I searched for KGOU (Oklahoma City NPR), I was able to play that station.
You might be able to say "Alexa, play KGOU" (or whatever station you want).
We've only had our Echos since Prime Day and it is simultaneously great and awful.
We connected it to our light dimmer and ceiling fan and it was harder than it should be to make it work. We would say "Alexa, turn the lights on" and it would reply with something like "I don't know about a device named lights". So, the natural next question is "Alexa, what devices do you know about?" That should work, but it doesn't.
In a quiet room, the microphones are amazing. But as soon as I turn on the fan over our stove, the white noise makes the Echo practically deaf.
Other things like turning on drop-in was an exercise in frustration. Why can't I just say "Alexa, turn on drop-in for the household?" Instead I had to go to the app, give it access to my contacts, turn on drop in on our contact card, then turn on drop in on both devices.
Frankly, I don't think there should even be a phone app. Go all in on the voice interface.
"Alexa, play NPR" also works. It will use the ZIP code from your Amazon account and play the local NPR affiliate from either TuneIn or iHeartRadio.
This is how I listen to it at home - one Echo Dot (connected to a Tivoli Audio Model One) in the "office", and another using its built-in speaker, in the bedroom.