Category Archives: Satellite Radio

XM vs. Sirius Satellite Radio: Which One Is Better For You?

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You have probably heard of the two satellite radio companies, Sirius Radio and XM Satellite Radio, but you may not know a lot about them such as how much each costs or what radio talent is available on each. Many people are tired of listening to regular AM and FM radio stations for several reasons. It may be that they are tired of being bombarded with commercials. It may be that they do not like the programming available to them. On the other hand, it may simply be that they are in a rural area and tired of losing their radio signal all the time. Regardless of the reason, many consumers are turning to satellite radio as a viable alternative to regular radio stations.

Both companies are able to offer you static free radio due to satellites. XM (based in Washington D.C.) has two and Sirius (based in New York) has three satellites across the United States. Both companies offer users commercial free radio. Sirius offers over 125 channels and XM offers 160 different channels. There are dedicated channels for genres of music such as jazz, folk, country and pop for diehard fans. One cool feature of satellite radio is you can see the name of the artist playing as well as the song title. So never again do you have to spend time wondering just who sang that song you just heard! There are also channels for local weather and traffic, sports, comedy, women’s issues, talk shows, even old time radio shows. Soon, you may be able to see video as well as hear audio on your satellite radios.

There are also celebrity shows for both satellite radio companies. Martha Stewart recently signed a deal to launch a 24-hour radio channel on Sirius Satellite Radio. And most everyone has heard that Howard Stern is on Sirius as well – uncensored. Having gotten in trouble with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for his radio talk show, he decided to jump to the uncensored airways of satellite radio. Since his show started, the Sirius subscriber base has increased by at least 2.7 million. If have satellite radio and want to hear National Public Radio (NPR), you will have to subscribe to Sirius as they are the only one offering NPR. But XM is not to be left behind by Sirius. XM signed Snoop Doggy Dog, but the big coop is Oprah. In September of 2006, XM users will be able to tune in to Oprah & Friends. The new channel will offer broadcasts of The Oprah Winfrey Show, O, the Oprah Magazine and programming on fitness, health and self improvement.

All this sounds great, but what do you actually need to be able to receive satellite radio? You will need either a Sirius or an XM radio. This does not necessarily have to be a radio only for use in your car either. There are also home radios available today and there are even radios you can use both at home and in your car. The price for a basic radio offered by both Sirius and XM is as low as $49.99. You will also need to subscribe to a service. Both Sirius and XM charge $12.95 a month for you to receive satellite signals on your radio. However, if you have several cars with satellite radios, you can save by choosing the family plan available from both companies.

Just how popular is satellite radio becoming? In March of 2005, Hyundai announced that it would be the first automaker to put satellite radios in all of its models sold in the United States. Each Hyundai, including the popular Sonata, Santa Fe, and Elantra models, will come equipped with an XM satellite radio. When this was announced, shares in XM’s parent company rose by more than 8 percent. Jaguar and Mercedes-Benz also announced in March 2005 that Sirius radios would be a dealer-installed option on some of their models.

So which satellite radio should you choose? That depends on you. You should check out the stations available by visiting each company on the web before making a decision. Both offer radios at comparable prices, so it really comes down to what you want to hear. Are you a Stern fan? Then you have to go with Sirius. But if you love Oprah, you can only hear her on XM. Regardless of which one you choose, you will no doubt be very pleased with the services and reception of satellite radio.

Matt Barstow offers valuable tips and information about satellite radio, players, and services. Read his latest report answering the most popular questions about satellite radio.

Satellite Radio Could be Just the Thing for you

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Satellite radio is just the latest technology to utilize the power of the satellite. People have been using satellite TV for decades, and there are satellite phone, so it was only a matter of time before people realize the benefits of applying the technology to satellite radio services. You may find that this is the right technology for you if you want more choice in radio programming.

Just like cable television, satellite radio services are subscription based. And just like you have to have a dish to get satellite television, you have to get a satellite radio receiver to get the music, news and entertainment programming; you can’t just use a traditional radio. There are two providers of satellite radio services in the United States so far: Sirius and XM. They each offer more than 150 channels of exclusive programming.

There are hundreds of commercial-free satellite radio channels between the two satellite radio services. You do have to choose just one set of channels, however, unless you want to subscribe to both channels. You must have a satellite radio receiver for that specific brand of satellite radio services, as well. You may also need additional accessories such as a Sirius satellite radio car kit, or an XM satellite radio antenna. The accessories are very reasonably priced, however, and there are opportunities to win satellite radio too.

The only commercials you’ll hear on satellite radio are occasional ads for the satellite radio services themselves. The programming is free of all other commercials, though. So if you’re flipping around the music channels, you won’t have to wait to hear what tunes are playing. Some people might think the cost of the satellite radio system outweighs the benefits, but often when you subscribe to satellite radio services they include a satellite radio receiver.

You can get a portable satellite radio receiver and car adaptor kit and take the music and other entertainment programming on road trips. You’ll never have to worry about losing signals in remote areas or changing CDs. You can literally listen to satellite radio anywhere in the world, because the signal is coming from the sky. One of the biggest advantages of a satellite radio over traditional AM/FM radio is that you will never have to re-tune your radio as you’re traveling out of state. With a satellite radio receiver, you’re assured of high quality reception anywhere you go anywhere in the world.

The best thing is that no matter where you are, all you have to do is to bring the radio along with you and you can receive the satellite radio services. This can be at home, in the office, in your car or at a friend’s house. Satellite radio is a great investment for people who want lots of different kinds of music at their fingertips, including new artists, all the news you need, and more sports than you’ll find on any AM/FM radio tuner.

For more information about XM or especially about Sirius and even about Satellite Radio please review one of these links.

For more information about XM or especially about Sirius and even about Satellite Radio please review one of these links.

Satellite Radio the Next Wave

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Satellite is often considered one of the biggest improvements in broadcasting since the introduction of the FM band. Satellite radio is also called subscription radio or pay-radio because it is only available trough subscription to one of the satellite radio providing companies.


Satellite follows a concept similar to cable television by providing a very wide range of programs which are not available in the traditional FM or AM format for a fee.


Satellite uses satellites to deliver radio programs to subscribers. The radio signal is broadcasted from Earth based stations to communicational satellites, which then redirect the signal to satellite radio receivers. The radio signal is broadcasted by communication satellites to a much larger area than traditional terrestrial radio antennas.


For example, satellite is available al across the continental area of the United States. Satellite radio is available now in most parts of the world trough services provided by companies like WorldSpace (in Europe, Asia and Africa), Sirius and XM Radio (in North America).


The signal you receive using satellite radio is digital, which means that it is always clear and static-free, which is one of the great advantages of satellite radio. Another great thing about satellite is that it is almost completely commercial-free.


To begin listening to satellite radio you will need the actual satellite (also known as tuner or receiver), a satellite antenna (which is often incorporated in the satellite radio) and a subscription to the service you choose. There are several types of satellite from which you can choose.


One of them is the dedicated car or home radio, which play trough your car or home stereo. A second option is the plug-and-play radio, which can be used in your car, as well as in your home by paying a single subscription. Your third option is the portable radio, which has rechargeable battery, a built-in antenna and you can listen to it wherever you go using headphones.


The signals offered by different satellite radio companies are proprietary, which means that you will need different hardware for receiving, decoding and playback, depending on your subscription. Each satellite receiver has its own serial number called Radio ID.


When you get your subscription, you will also get an activation code for your receiver. Besides the actual radio programs, satellite transmits metadata that contains the name of the artist, the title of the song or program, as well as the name of the channel. This makes it easier for you to decide which channel to listen to and which program to choose.


Satellite radio services provide the subscriber with more than 100 programs that vary in content from rock and jazz to rap and classical music. But satellite utility reaches far beyond listening to your favorite music without the interruption of those annoying commercials.


Satellite also offers exclusive sports programs, cultural and educational shows, news and talk-shows. Some of the celebrities that have moved their shows from free radio to satellite radio include Howard Stern, Opie and Anthony, Bob Edwards and Martha Stewart. Unlike terrestrial radio, satellite is not affected by bad weather or even calamities.


At first, many people wondered why they should pay for radio if they can get it free. However, satellite radio attracts more and more people every year due to its great advantages: no commercials, extensive reach, theme programs and exceptional quality of sound.

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Tyra Banks is turning on satellite radio

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“The Tyra Banks Show” debuts on September 12.

Targeting women, XM Satellite Radio, with more than 4.4 million
subscribers, the nation’s leading satellite radio service
announced that it would launch a new talk and lifestyle channel,
Take Five.

This new women’s channel will feature daily satellite radio
broadcasts of the Daytime Emmy(R) Award-winning “Ellen
DeGeneres Show,” and the new “Tyra Banks Show,” as well as
original content from the popular Food Network and HGTV. Take
Five’s launch in October 2005 will complete the program lineup
and more shows will be announced prior to Take Five’s launch in
October 2005.

Hosted by supermodel and TV personality, Tyra Banks, “The Tyra
Banks Show” is a new daytime syndicated talk show. Focusing on
Tyra’s generation of women and the things they care about, the
new show is destined to be a hit among its target audience.
Several segments each day range from interviews with real women
to talking about issues that are relevant to all their lives.
Some hot topics include relationships, body image, interviews
with favorite celebrities, fun stuff like fashion and beauty,
pop culture, lifestyle segments, and of course musical
performances.

“The Tyra Banks Show” debuts on September 12. Check local
listings for air times in your viewing area.

Scott Fish is the owner of Satellite Radio Sirius
and XM satellite Radio Reviews | Search Engine Optimization
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How To Make The Decision Between XM And Sirius Satellite Radio

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XM and Sirius, the two American providers of satellite radio, share the market for satellite radio service. XM had a year’s head start, but Sirius still managed to get half of the audience. Both types of satellite services offer similar programs. So what’s the best one to choose?

XM offers 136 streams while Sirius only offers 119. Another benefit that XM has over Sirius is that it offers 2 premium channels, Playboy and High Voltage. Sirius does not offer premium channels. Two of the categories that these satellite providers are battling over are music and news. Let’s compare what each has to offer.

Music Streams

Both of these satellite services pretty much offer the same amount of music steams. Sirius offers 65 and XM offers 68. There is a variety of types of music to choose from on both stations so you will not get bored.

Music Decade Choices

XM has the advantage over Sirius on this one, because it offers music from the 40′s. On the same token, Sirius offers music from the 90′s, as well as current hits. Plus, both stations offer music from the 50′s, 60′s, 70′s, and 80′s.

Country Music

Both satellite services offer country music. You can listen to country hits, classic country, alternative country and country mixes. XM wins this category, since it offers 5 streams over Sirius’ 4. If variety in country music is important to you then XM is the best choice in this category.

Rock Music

Sirius has a slight edge in this category, by offering 15 streams. XM offers 14. Still, both offer subgenres and remain very competitive in this area. Because both Sirius and XM radio offer several rock music options you will always be able to find a station to fit your mood, no matter which satellite service you are using.

Dance and Latin Music

Both XM and Sirius offer Dance and Latin categories of music. The Latin subgenres include Mexicana and tropical music. Sirius offers 6 streams in this category. XM offers 4. Either way, both stations get you up and dancing.

Other Genres

Both stations offer hours of different types of music. From Classical to Jazz, there’s something for everyone. Sirius also offers Urban music. The great quality of music that they both offer is why many are turning to satellite radio.

News Comparisons

Sirius wins for the number of news streams. Sirius offers 13 of these streams while XM offers 11. Both offer many news stations, such as FOX, CNBC, Bloomberg, CNN and MSNBC. They also offer news stations presented in different languages.

Final Analysis

With both offering so many music and news programs, as well as talk shows and other forms of entertainment, it’s difficult to decide which one is the better choice. One thing is certain. With almost endless entertainment being offered by both services, it’s definitely worth it to subscribe to either one of them.

Canada – Here comes Satellite Radio!

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Cabinet has upheld a CRTC decision to issue two satellite radio
licences after the applicants agreed to increase Canadian
content and French-language service. The applicants are Sirius
Canada and Canadian Satellite Radio, each of which has a U.S.
partner. Details of the new Canadian content commitments were
not immediately available but the number of French-language
channels will be increased to four from three. As part of the
agreement, CSR and Sirius have been forces to increase the
French-language influence and broadcasting. Both promise to
include 8 Canadian channels, which are half English and half
French. Several cultural organizations such as the Canadian
Recording Industry opposed the original terms of the licenses.
Reasons include that they have weakened domestic content rules.

These rules require Canadian music and talk programming to be
prominent on the airwaves. “This is a black day,” said Ian
Morrison, a spokesman for Friends of Canadian Broadcasting. “In
effect, the Americans have won.” The new licenses call for eight
new Canadian channels and 72 American channels.

While some people are complaining, independent and emerging
artists favored the satellite licenses. They believe that the
new services will provide them with exposure in the United
States and abroad. Satellite radio, while initially intended
mainly for car radios, has made several new improvements for
portable and home satellite radio. Automakers, whom have factory
ready satellite receivers in new 2006 models supported the
applications. Just as in America, subscrition to the new radio
services can be purchased and heard anywhere in North America

Some Of The Facts You Should Know About Satellite Radio

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Here are a few FAQs about everyone’s favorite radio service.

Question #1: Can you give us an overview of what satellite radio is?

Who provides the new service?

Answer: Satellite radio is a subscription based communication service. It has far more programs and music than the traditional network does, and it is available internationally by WorldSpace and stateside by Sirius and XM.

Question #2: Are there any advantages to having satellite radio?

Answer: The genres, styles, and eras of music you can choose from is almost limitless. Getting the programming you want, (weather, traffic, talk, news, and entertainment), without the annoyance of commercials. The new technology is broadcast into your car, RV, yacht, sauna, or home by use of a digital signal that completely eradicates that entire mind frying static. Once you purchase the equipment and properly install it, you will be supplied with a complete list of programming and channels right on the receiver. Local traffic and weather are available, provided by Sirius and XM.

Question #3: Are there any disadvantages to having the new technology?

Answer: If you don’t live in the continental United States, you cannot receive the signal. This includes Hawaii, Alaska, Puerto Rico, and other U.S. Territories.

Question #4: What do XM and Sirius Radio provide?

Answer:
-XM: 150 channels, 2 NASCAR racing channels, Major League Baseball, Professional Golf Association, ACC, Big Ten, and PAC-10 football and basketball coverage. You can have all of this awesome stuff for only $12.95 a month.

-Sirius: 120 Channels, Live National Hockey League, National Football League, National Basketball Association, English Premier League Soccer, and college sports game coverage. You can get all of this great programming for only $12.95 a month.

Question #5: How do I go about installing a system capable of handling the new technology?

Answer: There are a few things you will need before installing a system. First of all, you will need an antenna powerful enough to pick up the signal and deliver it to your receiver. Secondly, you will need a tuner so that you can actually get the signal from the antenna. There are 3 basic types of satellite radio tuners: Plug and play, which can be used on the go in a specially designed boom box, or car, the Universal tuner, which is most commonly used in the car, and then there is the home tuner, which hooks directly into the receiver. Thirdly, you will require a receiver which allows you to select the channels. Lastly, you absolutely need to purchase a subscription from either XM Satellite Radio or Sirius Radio.

Question #6: How do I get the best satellite quality sound in my car?

Answer: In order to get the great sound you deserve from your system you should do 1 of 3 things:

a.Install an in-dash receiver with a built-in tuner.
b.Install a satellite ready receiver and connect it to an external satellite tuner.
c.Install a plug-and-play satellite tuner by connecting it directly to your vehicle’s stereo auxiliary input.

Satellite Radio: The Waves Of The Future?

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Satellite Radio Its here! Satellite radio is a new service being offered by two companies, XM Satellite Radio and Sirius Satellite Radio. Both companies are offering over 100 channels of streaming music and entertainment. High quality sound is achieved through the use of satellites orbiting high above. Satellite radio is commercial free and free from regulations by federal committees. The impossible, is now possible, hearing the same radio station across North America and from coast to coast. All made possible by XM satellite radio and Sirius satellite radio.


Normal radio has been around for decades and is part of many people’s lifestyle. This is changing. Regular radio is monitored and regulated by the Federal Communications Commission, whom has fined several radio stations and media companies within the last 3-4 years. The FCC has only fined radio stations a maximum of $27,500 per show no matter how man profanities were aired. Recently the FCC has been upping the ante and in conjunction with Congress has decided to raise the fine up to $500,000 per incident per station (Potter). A slap on the wrist has turned into a business-changing event. Sexually explicit comments by Bubba the Love Sponge and Howard Stern could get a station in trouble no doubt about it.


Clear Channel Radio dropped both shock jocks this year after being hit with record fines. (Potter) Recently Howard Stern has made a move to Sirius Satellite wireless in an effort to preserve his career and free speech. Consumers are reaching towards satellite radio as a way to hear unregulated news and content. Recently XM Satellite wireless has claimed to have over 3 million subscribers paying $9.99 per month and Sirius claims to have over 1.3 million customers paying $12.95 per month. Many of those customers pay an additional $2.99 per month for premium content such as the upcoming Howard Stern Show.


Several normal wireless stations and media outlets are realizing the potential to get their message across in a broad fashion. XM has launched a morning show, which is hosted by Bob Edwards, whom was fired earlier this year by National Public Radio. “The Bob Edwards Show” will air on a public satellite wireless channel that also features news and programs from Public wireless International, among others. Sirius has its own public wireless channel carrying NPR programs. Consumers and companies are demanding free speech and it seems that satellite wireless is the vehicle.


XM Satellite wireless and Sirius Satellite wireless have designed satellite broadcast systems that differ but they achieve the same high quality of satellite wireless. A milestone of this success is the fact that satellite wireless signals that are available across the United States and into Mexico and Canada. Rock and Roll No it’s not a genre any more! XM Satellite wireless has two satellites named Rock and Roll, which remain in parallel geostationary orbit to provide wireless coverage throughout the United States. Sirius Satellite wireless has chose to use three satellites in an inclined elliptical orbit. This configuration provides 16 hours per satellite of signal, which gives a great redundancy if any satellite were to fail. Playing it smart, Sirius and XM both have spare satellites, which can be called on in a moments notice if needed.


XM satellite wireless and Sirius satellite wireless have Earth based broadcast stations that are used to send up information to the satellites, which is then dispersed through out the globe. Sirius and XM both have disk jockeys that manage, create and program music which is then sent up to the satellites. The information is then taken in by the satellites and sent through a rebroadcast of the streams to earth.


The Major advantage of this is that, unlike earth-based wireless stations whose signals reach listeners 150 miles away, satellite wireless signals have a huge reach, and are receivable anywhere within the continental United States and hundreds of miles in each direction of the borders. Satellite wireless is growing to become a worldwide network and offerings are growing throughout the world. XM satellite radio and Sirius satellite radio are making it happen.


Unregulated Satellite Radio is the answer for free speech in a government regulated airwaves arena. Not only can listeners hear unbiased information but also they can listen to it anywhere in the United States. Media giants are jumping to get the piece of the pie regarding satellite radio, as the new wave of the future is satellite radio.

A Look At The Technology Behind Satellite Radio

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Any song that you hear on your satellite radio is a recording or replay and will be transmitted to you again and again. The recording has to be at a minimum so that you will be able to put it on CDs and tapes. The music is that of an MP3 except it is broadcasted over a satellite radio. The person who is putting together the music on the broadcast usually just puts together a list of 20 to 30 minutes worth of music and then just lets it play.


Encoding will be one of the key things in satellite digital broadcasting. Every channel is handled by a different person who chooses the music to play. Whoever is playing the music will take the analog and put it to digital use. The process that the high powered computers do is way more powerful then any other regular computer today because they have to break down sound waves and maybe re makes them. After they have broken them down they will be put on CDs after the song is remade or whatever happens during the encoding process it will be broadcasted over your normal satellite radio. That is what happens when you push your button to turn on your satellite radio and are going to be listening to your satellite radio receiver. Above the earth in space is where the satellites send down the transmissions broadcasted on the satellite radios.


The satellites are located up there and they will send down the broadcasts that are made. All they do is broadcast the music to the players and tuners so that people can listen to all the music that they need and want. Each satellite is 23,000 feet up and broadcasts signals everyday to the tuners and radio players. The satellites are geo synched which means that they always hover over the place where they are going to be broadcasting. Even if it means just staying in the same place forever that’s what they are going to be doing. They will just stay there unless they are moved to another area and then another satellite just fills its spot and then you are going to have more music again. I don’t think that a satellite is just going to move during a song but if it does it will just be replaced by another outlaying satellite.


So if you need a satellite radio or were thinking about getting one you should go to best buy or circuit city and get one even though they may seem kind of expensive they are well worth every penny when you are wanting to listen to something that you cannot listen to on the regular radio. They are probably around the 50 to 100 dollar range at any electronics store around where you may live. The better ones are around the $100 to $300 range and are going to be like that because they offer a better subscription or service.

The Impact Of Satellite Radio On The Life Of Truck Drivers

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Truck drivers are the most frustrated listeners of the commercial radios. They are the ones who have tolerated commercials on local radios the most as they are counted in the listeners which listen to radio the most. Truck drivers log more than one hundred and fifty billion miles each year so they deserve better entertainment options.


As we all know that the trucking industry has a history of being the first to adopt new innovations in the vehicle and we believe truckers will play an important part in the development of satellite radio. Cost of the equipment for truck drivers is very approachable. The system comes with a digital antenna designed for satellite applications and engineered specifically for commercial trucks.


The device offers over hundred channels of revolutionary programming, nationwide coverage and superior sound quality even if there are no standard radio stations avalible. Thus we can say that XM is a truck driver’s dream come true. Satellite radio will become such an inevitable part of the truck driver’s life that they will really think how they ever lived without satellite radio.


Satellite radio has the luxury of coast-to-coast coverage, digital-quality sound and a wide variety of programming options from over hundred channels. Also the drivers will have the satisfaction of knowing that with good system they are receiving original equipment equivalent quality. The interface for users for the satellite receivers is simple and easy to use like traditional AM/FM band radios.


The liquid crystal display is alphanumeric and it provides information including the channel, type of music and song and artist name. Everybody is familiar with the word cab.


The environment in the cab is vastly different from that of a passenger vehicle and the fact that these units are designed and validated specifically to cab conditions and to meet the tough heavy-duty performance specifications sets them apart from aftermarket versions currently available. Thus every passenger wants a smooth and comfortable ride.


This is achieved with the satellite radio’s help. Cab drivers can buy the satellite radio system to give their customers a good and joyful drive. The satellite radio system which includes receiver box and antenna can be installed free of cost.


The satellite radios are audio systems with a broad range of head units that accommodate various playback devices such as cassette tapes, CDs and MP3s. Satellite radio is a transformation of radio. It is an industry that has seen little technological change since FM, almost forty years ago.


The programming of most satellite lineups features hundred coast-to-coast digital channels which include seventy one music channels, more than thirty of them are commercial-free, from hip-hop to opera, classical to country, bluegrass to blues and twenty nine channels of sports, talk, children’s and entertainment.

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