Whether You Prefer Satellite or Terrestrial, Digital Radio Stations are the Future of Broadcasting

Digital radio stations have thousands more options to offer the listener than regular old AM and FM analog radio stations. To begin with, there is the quality issue. Gone are the days in which the radio quality would fluctuate based on whether or not you were driving under an overpass or passing by power lines. Through digital, there is relatively no disturbance from any outside sources which could disrupt your listening experience. Furthermore, there is no need for the guessing game when you hear a track you like and the disk jockey simply neglects to mention the name of it. With digital radio stations and an invention called ?radiotext,? listeners will be able to read the name of the artist and title of the track right on their radio receiver as the song is playing. Radio stations will also be able to transmit information about the news, weather and traffic directly into text form on your radio receiver. This is but one great feature of digital radio.

While all of this seems like an amazing invention, the fact of the matter is that terrestrial digital radio stations do not yet exist. Any station that currently says it is totally digital is lying. They are simply a hybrid of analog and digital where the radio receiver first picks up the analog signal and then homes in on the digital signal for a better quality broadcast. The possibilities do not end there though, as it may even be possible for digital stations to broadcast pictures and videos directly to your car or home stereo through the magic of digital broadcasting. Wouldn't it be neet to have MTV on your on digital radio so that you could watch the video while the song is playing?

Although terrestrial digital radio stations are at least ten years off, there is a way to experience some of the benefits of digital radio stations today. Satellite radio, brought to you in America by XM Satellite Radio and Sirius Satellite Radio offer the closest thing to full digital radio. They provide the listener with high quality sound and radiotext to let people see what they are listening too. Unfortunately, they are costly services and require the listener to not only purchase a receiver but pay a monthly subscription fee. These monthly subscription fees can add up to alot of money spent. Some say it is worth it and others do not believe so.

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 411

Imagine you are traveling across country. You have already epleted your CD supply and the battery on you ipod has long since died. Being in the middle of Nowhere, USA, you cannot even find a decent radio station. What can you do in this situation? Will you be victim to utter boredom on this long, dusty road?

Thanks to satellite radio, you can enjoy your favorite music stations, commercial free, with perfect clarity from California to Connecticut and every long, dusty road in between. Normal radio stations have an average range of a 30 ? 40 mile radius from their source. Satellite radio is able to broadcast its signal over 2200 miles away with no static interference and little to no advertisements. It also comes in many forms including at-home devices and portable players much like Apple's ipod. The most popular being a radio which installs right into your car.

Satellite radio works through a control station sending a transmission to an orbiting satellite. The satellite then bounces the signal back down to radio receivers on earth, such as portable device or a car radio. What's different about satellite radio from your ordinary ground stations is that you get up to 100 channels with digital sound as well as information on the screen indicating the song, artist and genre.

Satellite radio usually charges monthly payments for its service. Only a couple of companies actually provide satellite radio service so this will make shopping for the right package much easier. Various packages are available to fit your needs as well as your budget.

Briana is an original content writer for http://www.youseekit.com which features original articles on a variety of topics. To see the original article, go to http://www.youseekit.com/satellite_radio/htm

Some Of The Facts You Should Know About Satellite Radio

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 satellite radio service?

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

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 radio, news, and entertainment), without the annoyance of commercials. Satellite radio 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 Satellite Radio.

Question #3: Are there any disadvantages to having satellite radio?

Answer: If you don't live in the continental United States, you cannot receive the satellite 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 satellite radio?

Answer: There are a few things you will need before installing a satellite radio. First of all, you will need an antenna powerful enough to pick up the radio signal and deliver it to your receiver. Secondly, you will need a satellite radio 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 satellite radio tuner, which hooks directly into the receiver. Thirdly, you will require a satellite radio receiver which allows you to select the channels. Lastly, you absolutely need to purchase a satellite radio 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 satellite radio you should do 1 of 3 things:

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

Gregg Hall is an author living in Navarre Beach, Florida. Find more about this as well as a iPod car accessories at www.caraccessoriesetc.com

Satellite Car Radio Is Cutting Edge

Satellite car radio is a growing industry in today?s market place. Most common car audio manufacturers have adapted their products to include satellite car radio services. This allows drivers a wider range of music for their listening pleasure making the travel place a much more entertaining place to be.

When it comes to the dreariness and monotony of the daily commute for those employed individuals, satellite car radio can offer a fresh breath of air with their wide variety of entertainment with the convenience of being mobile. Many morning show personalities have opted to take the satellite radio route as opposed to limiting themselves to syndication by normal radio station broadcasters. Satellite car radio has given the on-air personalities a wider range of listeners during the daily commute.

Because of the nature of today?s workplace and the face-paced world around us, the need to be able to have variety while on the go has caused a boom in the satellite car radio industry spawning service providers such as Sirius and XM radio along with many not so well known providers of satellite radio service. This has put a drive (no pun intended) into car audio manufacturers to make their products more of satellite car radio instead of the normal car audio systems that limit buyers to local analog radio transmissions, compact disc, and cassette capabilities.

With technologies today growing and expanding at the rate they are, the industry has grown leaps and bounds not only in the forms of media car audio equipment will accept but integrating things from our every day lives such as Mp3 capabilities, and Satellite capabilities. There are very few manufactures now that do not offer some form of satellite car radio. Your typical car stereos and the radio capabilities have been far exceeded and become a profitable market for satellite providers.

These days when you are shopping for car audio systems, you can find satellite car radio units for near as close of cost as you can your typical car audio systems with standard analog capabilities. Why wouldn?t you go for a satellite car radio instead of your plain run of the mill car stereo? When for only a few pennies on the dollar more you can in with the times and become a listener of a satellite car radio, giving you more choice when you want it, with the technologies of today?s leading industry of satellite technologies.

With all of the options you have in today?s car audio industry I see no reason to go with your standard car radio options and not give in to the growing demand of satellite car radio. Not only is it and advantage cost-wise but it also targets every genre of music, news, and talk radio you could think of. If you are looking to get out of the boredom of your daily commute, or just looking to appease the family when going on vacation I would strongly recommend that you look into satellite car radio as a great alternative for your listening needs.

Satellite Radio HQ talks about the history of satellite radio, the equipment you'll need, the satellite radio channels you can receive and much more.

Is Satellite Radio For You?

Well if you like to listen to music the answer is yes!

But you probably already have a radio that works quite nicely and are wondering why you might want to switch, right?

Satellite radio is a paid subscription - it works via a satellite feed so you can listen to the radio anywhere you want and there is no range restrictions so your favorite song won't become garbled with static as you drive down the road out of range. It works like satellite television, except it can travel with you. A satellite radio can go in your home, your car or you can carry it around with you. It provides crystal clear digital sound no matter where you are and is commercial free.

Satellite radio can really open up the range and choices of music. With satellite radio subscriptions, you typically have access to several music channels, which reach all genres and subgenres of music. The best providers will also provide you dozens of channels for the latest news, talk radio, and information, along with local traffic and weather forecasts and all the sports events you could want.

XM Radio is rapidly growing and services over 2 million listeners providing 68 music channels. With this satellite radio, you can get country, rap, classical, bluegrass, rock, reggae and most anything else you can imagine. IN addition, there are over 30 channels just for news , sports, talks shows and other entertainment programs that don't include music. And if that's not enough there is another couple of dozen channels that provide weather and traffic for most major cities.

If you want satellite radio you will need a reciever and antennae to pick up the satellite feed. This equipment is state of the art, and the best subscription services also offer AM and FM as well as CD accessibility. Satellite radio can be set up to work with your existing home entertainment system, in your car or as a portable that you can bring with you.

Some of the new satellite radios and receivers are quite small and lightweight and good for carrying around. All satellite receivers will conveniently display the channel, song title, and artist name. If it's a sporting event, they abbreviations for each team will be shown so you can find that game you are looking for instantly instead of having to wait until the announcer mentions one of the teams.

Of course, satellite radio is perfect for listening to in the car since you won't have to fiddle with tuning knobs or try to find a new station as you drive out or range of what you are listening. Coneniently, many new cars are coming equipped with satellite radio service and even offer it free for 30 days. Don't worry, though if you don't want to pay for the service after your trial is up, your radio receiver will still work with the usual AM and FM channels.

Lee Dobbins writes for a2z-satellite where you can find more about satellite services including satellite tv, radio and internet.