Get Sirius with Howard Stern - His Journey Into Satellite Radio

Howard Stern, the highly controversial radio jock is no longer common fixture in terrestrial radio but has been immortalized in some sorts in the newest trend in radio programming, satellite radio.

Sirius Satellite Radio signed Stern as a radio jock way back in 2004. Stern?s loyal following has tuned in at Sirius to hear their favorite radio jock speak away with less restriction compared to when he was still heard over terrestrial radio.

Satellite radio started in the early 1990s. Sirius Satellite Radio back then and until now belongs to the only two satellite radio providers that are at the forefront of making satellite radio the major means to deliver audio programming to people.

Sirius allows their subscribers to ?tune-in? to dozens of channels of original audio programming which are transmitted directly via satellite to special receivers placed in cars and in their homes. Similar to satellite television, satellite radio has more freedom from the FCC regarding the specific type of programming they want to conduct.

This freedom is granted since subscribers can personalize their satellite radio programming and have control over what minors can or cannot listen to. For both Stern and his followers this pretty much goes to their advantage. On satellite radio, Stern can talk dirty as much as he wants.

And his fans can have an unaltered listening experience which they never had when Stern was still over broadcast radio. Stern himself agreed to this and he even said in an interview that satellite radio offers him ?more potential than terrestrial radio.?

Sirius offers it subscribers with a new, high quality, and digitized way of listening to music, sports, news, and entertainment. Its main base of operations is in New York City's Rockefeller Center.

Sirius has more than 130 digital-quality channels which includes 69 channels of 100% commercial-free music. The network also offers premium channels of sports, news, entertainment, talks or commentaries, traffic, weather and even data.

Because it?s via satellite, Sirius has a country-wide coverage. Their programs can be transmitted practically anywhere in the U.S. All the subscribers need is a Sirius audio satellite receiver and they can listen while they are driving, in their RV homes during a vacation, in their homes, offices, stores and even during camping trips. With three satellites at their disposal, Sirius network are able to provide the premium quality programming that?s becoming more and more popular today.

So aside from Howard Stern, when you subscribe to Sirius, you?ll get the advantage of hearing specialized music that ranges from heavy metal and hip-hop to country, dance, jazz, Latin and classical. These music selections are paired with insights and perspectives from Sirius? resident music experts and from various musicians and performers who are invited by the network to guests in their programs.

Moreover, the network has a complete line-up of news and entertainment programs like programs of radio jocks Howard Stern and Martha Stewart and news reports from CNN, CNBC, BBC World Service and ABC News. Listeners who want to have an update of the happenings in the world of entertainment can tune in at E! Entertainment, Maxim and NPR. And there?s even Radio Disney for the kids.

Sirius? sports programming includes play-by-play actions from the NFL, NBA, NHL, Barclays English Premier League soccer, and Wimbledon Championships to name a few. Sirius is also the home of 125 plus college sports and several thoroughbred horse races.

Indeed Howard Stern is a major talent for Sirius, but the satellite radio network makes it a point that their listeners will have more options other than Stern when they become subscribers of Sirius.

If you're looking for Sirus Radio deals you should visit http://TopSatelliteDeals.com where you'll find great satellite entertainment offers and various reviews.

Satellite Digital Radio is the Best Way to Enjoy CD Quality Radio

In America, currently the most popular way to enjoy high quality music broadcasts in your car or home is through satellite digital radio. Two companies have pioneered this technology and each offer a variety of different services and stations to choose from. In the process of making their broadcasts the best they can possibly be, both companies completely removed commercials from their schedules and brought in well known radio hosts and musicians to provide commentary and act as disk jockeys. Unfortunately, there are drawbacks associated with each company, mainly the fact that you have to pay significant prices for the satellite digital radio receiver and you also have to pay a monthly fee for use of their services. Monthly fee not withstanding, both companies are bringing today's best of cd quality radio to you. Both companies offer a line up of many different music and other listening choices. You will be able to find the station you want to listen to and be able to enjoy music without commmercials.

The most popularized satellite digital radio broadcaster is currently XM Satellite Radio. This company has associated itself by teaming up with many auto makers including General Motors, Honda and Volkswagen. They offer a variety of services, most costing around $10 US a month. In 2004 they launched the first of a line of portable satellite receivers so people can take their music wherever they go. With XM you have service coverage throughout North America, excluding Hawaii. However, in some major cities, XM still needs to install devices to improve signal quality amidst the skyscrapers. XM became newsworthy recently by signing on Oprah Winfrey to their lineup of superstars. There are currently six million subscribers to XM?s satellite digital radio broadcast, twice as many as Sirrus has.

As the only real alternative to XM Satellite Radio, Sirius Satellite Radio has a lot to live up to. They are the underdogs of the satellite digital radio revolution, clocking in at only three million subscribers. Sirius uses three satellites to cover the United States, Canada, Alaska and the upper half of Mexico. As with XM, there is no coverage in Hawaii and there are some quality issues with reception in cities dotted with skyscrapers. Many car companies have teamed up with Sirius to offer factory installed equipment, including: BMW, Daimler-Chrysler, Ford, Toyota and Nissan. Sirius made the news recently with their acquisition of renowned radio personality Howard Stern in January 2005.

Keith Londrie II is a well known author. He has written many great articles on many topics, including satellite radio information. For more information, please visit http://www.digital-radio-info.info/ You may also be interested in Keith's other offerings at his site http://keithlondrie.com

Satellite Radio - It's Not Your Father's Sputnik

Ever wonder how this whole satellite radio thing works? I mean, it seems to be THE thing now. Many auto manufacturers are installing satellite radio receivers in their new automobiles, and there are home and portable models available through your favorite electronics outlet. But what is it? How does it work? Why should I pay for radio?

You pay for TV, don?t you?

Once, in those long gone days of yore, cable television operators offered us television, which we had happily been receiving for free through big tree-branchy things on our roofs, for a fee. Many people scoffed at the idea of paying for 30 channels when they received four or five, gratis. Well, just look at us now ? cable TV, satellite TV, 500 channels not quite filling us up. So let?s stop asking questions about why you should pay for satellite radio, and let?s find out how the dern thing works.

Well, how does the dern thing work?

Let?s start by looking at the type of radio you are used to. AM radio broadcasts at a frequency range from 535 kilohertz (kHz) to 1700 kilohertz (1.7 MHz). FM broadcasts between 88 MHz to 108 MHz. Without getting too technical, one hertz is basically one cycle per second. So FM radio waves transmitted at 88MHz are cycling 88 million times per second. This seems like a lot, but is actually relatively slow. Slower cycles require larger antennas to transmit and to receive them. Also, radio station antennas are stationary and earthbound, and are therefore limited in range. At higher cycles, smaller antennas suffice. Cell phones range from 824 MHz to 1990 MHz (1.99GHz), depending on the type of service; this is a much faster cycle, and therefore a smaller antenna is used. Satellite radio is broadcast at 2.3 GHz, so your car or portable receiver has no trouble picking up the signal. There have also been great advances in antenna technology, which provide us with a relatively small, flat antenna rather than a dish that would have to be constantly adjusted to point toward the satellite as we drove around town picking up kids from soccer practice.

All them numbers hertz my brain.

Let?s lay megahertz and gigahertz aside for a moment. In addition to those higher frequencies, satellite radio signals come from, you guessed it, satellites. These satellites are in a geosynchronous orbit, which is an orbit that keeps the satellite always above one location on the planet, making it stationary relative to the earth. The satellite receives a digital signal from the ground station and bounces it back to us. Because the signal is digital, it can be compressed and beamed out packed full of additional data (disguised as 0?s and 1?s), and received by any satellite radio receiver tuned to the signal. Satellite radio receivers can pick up the broadcast from anywhere in the coverage area (meaning the whole US) because the satellite is orbiting at about 22,200 miles (35,000 km) above the earth, which allows for a greater dispersion of the signal. It?s analogous to water flowing from a showerhead. An inch from the showerhead, the water is a relatively tight stream. At the other end of the shower, the water sprays all over the wall, and gets on the bathroom floor, causing your wife to yell angrily about the mess. Satellite radio beams work in much the same way. The radio signal is much more widely dispersed 22,000 miles from the satellite that sent the signal.

So with satellite radio, you can listen to the same station as you drive from New York City to Los Angeles, whereas traditional radio has a range of only about 30 to 40 miles. And thanks to repeaters, or signal boosters, placed in urban areas, you can receive generally uninterrupted signals even driving through cities with large buildings and thick bridges.

Hey, that?s kind of cool!

But wait! There?s much, much more! The digital signal can carry much larger packets of data, and satellite radios are equipped with chipsets, or processors, that can decode that data. So satellite radios not only play the music, but also decode and display information containing the song title, album, artist, and genre. Satellite radio owners can also choose from hundreds of stations, which allows for specialization, just like your cable or satellite TV. In the same manner that you can get the HBO Comedy Hits of the Brahman Caste of Nepal Channel, and Tasmanian Worm Wrestling on ESPN 127, you can receive niche music, comedy, news, and sports broadcasts on your satellite radio. Pick your genre: any decade since the 40?s, Rock, Country, Urban, Jazz, Blues, Dance, Latin, World Music (e.g. Chinese, Indian, African), Classical, Kids, and even news, sports, comedy, and talk. You can also tune in to any sub-genre of the above; for example, in the Rock category you can listen to soft, heavy, classic, deep cuts, acoustic, instrumental, and even unsigned acts.

Maybe I should get me one of them there satellite radios?

Now that you know how it works, you can listen for the sheer pleasure of it - without all those nagging technical questions churning in the back of your mind. Go get you one.

Albert Medinas has developed and maintains the website Satellite Radio Galaxy, which answers the most common questions people have about Satellite Radio. Please visit us at http://www.satelliteradiogalaxy.com today.

Direct Connection - The Only Way for Many to Receive Satellite Radio Programming

Up until now, you may have been a little disappointed; only reading the information on cassette adaptors and FM modulators as possible ways of playing a Satellite radio in your vehicle. You may have wondered how Satellite radio could deliver pure digital bliss to your ears. This page should show you how that is possible!

Cassette adaptors and FM modulators are mainly intended for plug-and-play receivers. However, it is possible to connect these types of receivers, and others, using a direct connection to your vehicle?s stereo. This solely depends on whether your vehicle?s stereo system is capable or not.

As far as sound quality is concerned, a direct, or hardwired connection, is by far the best option to receive Satellite radio programming in your vehicle at close to cd quality.

A direct connection simply means using special cables, or hardwired adaptors, to connect your Satellite radio equipment (whatever device types they may be) to your vehicle?s stereo system.

A direct connection can be made only if the stereo has an auxiliary or AUX audio input. Normally found on the back of the vehicle?s stereo, the AUX input uses standard RCA or 3.5mm mini-jack audio cables for connecting additional audio devices. However, some stereos provide an AUX input on the front panel, making it convenient for playing portable audio devices such as iPods, CD, Minidisc and MP3 players.

If your stereo does not have an AUX input, all is not lost: many vehicle audio systems have a data port designed usually for an optional CD changer. Although not compatible for Satellite radios, this connection can also be used, even if the data port itself is already being utilised. For aftermarket and OEM factory fitted audio systems, a wide range of multi-purpose converters and interface cables are available, allowing Satellite radios and/or selected compatible audio devices to be connected to the vehicle?s current audio system.

The majority of Satellite radios require an RCA Y-adaptor cable (stereo RCA plugs to 3.5mm mini-jack) for a direct connection. Therefore, the most common use for multi-purpose converters and interface cables, is to simply convert the cd changer data port to an AUX input. However, some converters and interface cables supply power and/or audio to Satellite radio tuners that use a proprietary connection.

The Satellite radio is controlled using the cd changer capabilities on the vehicle?s stereo, or, for plug-and-play receivers, on the receiver itself or remote control.

The only possibility of interference using the direct-connect option, will be from ground loops, these are created when audio units of any kind are not properly grounded during installation and pick up noise from the alternator/charging system or engine. Devices such as ground loop isolators and in-line noise filters can be installed to help eliminate unwanted noises.

If sound quality is of the upmost importance to you, superior quality audio cables can be used to resist any corrosion and ensure a clear signal transfer without any electrical interference, which can distort audio signals.

As most of the installation, if not all of it, is carried out behind the vehicle?s dashboard and using specialist parts, it is recommended that a professional undertake the work.

For more information please visit: http://www.the-satellite-radio-advisor.com

This article may be freely reproduced so long as the above link is included in its entirety.

Jonathan Dalton: admin@the-satellite-radio-advisor.com

The Satellite Radio Antenna - Choosing the Antenna That's Right for You

The Satellite radio antenna is one of three basic hardware components you?ll need to receive those digital audio streams from your favourite Satellite radio service provider.

Although both providers offer similar services and use similar technologies, the associated hardware, including the antenna, is designed to receive either XM or Sirius programming. We have read articles where listeners have interchanged antennas with some success but it is not recommended.

The antenna?s task is to pick up the signals transmitted from the Satellites and terrestrial repeaters scattered about the U.S., with a reliable receive performance. In order to achieve this, the antenna must have an unobstructed view (line-of-sight) of at least one orbiting satellite. In urban areas where buildings and terrain are likely to block the Satellite signal, the antenna picks up the signal broadcast from the terrestrial repeaters instead.

To ensure an uninterrupted Satellite radio service, both Sirius and XM provide recommendations for ideal antenna mounting locations. Furthermore, many home and plug-and-play Satellite radio units offer special antenna aiming screens within their menu options.

With a rapid advancement in Satellite radio antenna technology, XM and Sirius are able to offer their listeners a wide range of antennas, accessories and flexible installation options.

So the question: Which Satellite radio antenna do I need? Although taste can play a small part in choosing the right antenna, the decision largely depends on whether you want to listen to Satellite radio in your vehicle, on your boat, at home or indeed anywhere! One thing you can be sure of is that all Satellite radio antennas available today are neither too cumbersome, nor impose limitations on your vehicle, boat or home?s aesthetics.

For more information please visit: http://www.the-satellite-radio-advisor.com

This article may be freely reproduced so long as the link above is included in its entirety.

Satellite radio guide for Novice Users

A satellite radio or subscription radio (SR) is a digital radio that receives signals broadcast by communications satellite that covers a much wider geographical range than normal radio signals.

The satellite radios function anywhere there is line of sight between the antenna and the satellite, given there are no major obstructions, such as tunnels or buildings. SR audiences can follow a single channel regardless of location within a given range.

As the technology requires access to a commercial satellite for signal propagation, SR services are commercial business entities (not private parties), which offer a package of channels as part of their service --requiring a subscription from end users to access its channels.

The satellite radios use the 2.3GHz S band in North America, and generally shares the 1.4GHz L band with local Digital Audio Broadcast (DAB) stations elsewhere. It is a type of direct broadcast satellite, and is strong enough that it requires no satellite dish to receive. Curvature of the Earth limits the reach of the signal, but due to the high orbit of the satellites, two or three are usually sufficient to provide coverage for an entire continent.

Presently, the main radio satellite service provider in Europe, Asia and Africa is WorldSpace. WorldSpace has its own satellites covering most of Europe, Asia and Africa.

XM Satellite Radio and Sirius Satellite Radio are the two radio satellite gains in the United States and entire North America. A monthly fee is charged for both services. Sirius offers a one time fee plan of nearly $500 valid for the lifetime of the equipment. These offer the news, weather, sports, and several music channels.

The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) commenced the Canada's first satellite radio operations on November 1, 2004.The author is a writer for a Technology and Gadgets website http://www.nextforum.net You can even ask questions and find quick answers on forums for technology here http://forums.nextforum.net