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

Outrageous Stiletto 100 personal portable satellite radio stimulates the fight to break free of terrestrial radio

What follows in a review of xm and sirius satellite radio blog postings from http://www.jasonciment.com/sirius_satelliteradio_xm/ that have been written mostly about the new Sirius Stiletto 100 portable personal satellite radio just recently launched in Octover 2006. This article covers the history of satellite radios and the evolution of both XM satellite radio and Sirius satellite radio so that consumers can make more informed decisions.

The History Of Portable Satellite Radios

The gestation of Satellite radio goes back to 1992. The history of portable satellite radios is short compared to what is now known as terrestrial radio, but it has rapidly changed the face of what used to be called the world of "transistor" radios. There are 2 premiere satellite radio services, XM Satellite Radio and SIRIUS Satellite Radio, and they provide a fantastic variety of channels of private label programming and compete for customers who have not identified themselves that they are candidates for satellite radio.

With the arrival of Howard Stern and his gang of shock jock cohorts, the momentous increase in popularity has stunned many in the radio industry to the point where they have invented this concept of Free FM to set terrestrial apart from the non-free subscription based satellite radio options. And to further promote this new form of radio listening, manufacturers have worked night and day to invent new, smaller and more easily portable satellite radios. The end result is that industry veterans of the old AM/FM spectrum worry about the future of traditional broadcast radio.

The History of Satellite Radio

The history of satellite radio as stated goes back to 1992, when the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) assigned a portion of the spectrum devoted to nationwide distribution of digital radio service to satellite transmission companies. SIRIUS Satellite Radio and XM Satellite Radio paid tens of millions of dollars from public funding ventures to obtain licenses awarded to them by the FCC. There were other applicants who didn't make the final cut by the way.

Despite winning the rare license to broadcast via satellite on this new spectrum, both companies had to overcome the first obstacle to success - which until this most recent release of the long awaited Stiletto 100 Portable Satellite Radio - getting manufacturers to produce consumer-friendly portable satellite radios to receive the signal. Even if they could start delivering satellite radio signals immediately, it was like the tree in the forest - no one could actually hear the signal. Additionally, because terrestrial radio was and still is free all over the world for the most part, the question which had to be addressed was how much if anything would people pay to receive the signal. Would a one time payment for the hardware suffice or could these 2 soon to be behemoths, produce steady cash flow with subscription based models of payment. Essentially what still remains to be answered is if consumers would be willing to pay for new hardware and then pay a monthly subscription fee for radio service or would there be a more efficient and adoptable option.

Overcoming Obstacles - Satellite Radio Launches

XM Satellite Radio and SIRIUS Satellite Radio went crazy marketing their new service in a crossing the chasm sort of way and they set out to transform their licenses into a real business by quickly introducing fairly bulky portable satellite radios and at least some enticing satellite radio programming. To attract new customers they struggled to offer adaptable hardware components that could be used in a variety of locations - home, work, and especially the car, where most radio listening still occurs.

Working with electronics manufacturers like Sanyo, Panasonic, JVC and Kenwood they started developing new components. The results included portable satellite radios, receivers, and "plug and play" components for nearly every consumer application. Manufacturers built satellite radio receivers for cars, homes, offices, trucks, RVs, boats, and even airplanes.

On the programming side, XM and SIRUS starting signing wacky distribution deals for lots of millions of dollars all in the aim of putting together an assortment of niche programming channels that would have something to offer consumers with nearly any musical taste. Each station was programmed to appeal to a specific type of listener, and most were commercial-free. We re talking about Elvis, Reggae, Martha Stewart, Howard Stern and more. Programming originated primarily from New York, but also from other locations, plus XM and SIRIUS entered into collaborative agreements that would allow popular musicians, entertainers, personalities and others to perform live from the originating locations.

Dealing with resistance to a monthly fee, though, required a broader array of marketing, public relations, and strategies to communicate the benefits and advantages of portable satellite radios. XM and SIRIUS knew that the key to their success would lie in convincing consumers of the value they would receive while making the hardware widely available and affordable.

Sirius Satellite Radio vs XM Satellite Radio

Since most listening to the radio happens in the car even to this day, the companies got smart and started signing deals with car manufacturers for examples so they could get the device in the front of the end user in the easiest and most direct manner. They collaborated with car and truck manufacturers to make portable satellite radios standard on many high-end luxury vehicles, and an affordable option on most other mid-range vehicles. This trend has now found its way to lower end models since costs have come down and even lower end users want access to this new form of programming. For most of these consumers, the cost of a monthly subscription could now not be prohibitive and by making it easy for them to access their services, XM and SIRIUS could entice consumers to try it out and start spreading the word about its value.

Portable satellite radios were also placed in boats and RVs, and standard receivers were heavily marketed for use in homes and businesses. The first leap in market penetration came late in 2004 with the introduction of the first handheld version of XM Radio and SIRIUS Satellite Radio receivers. These devices were designed to appeal to people who wanted access to satellite radio services while running and walking from place to place in locations other than their cars, trucks, homes or offices. Problem is that the Sirius device was not truly a portable device getting a live feed until now with its latest release of the Stiletto 100 portable personal satellite radio.

Another important component of spreading the word and gaining market traction was establishing partnerships and marketing agreements with electronics retailers such as Circuit City, Best Buy, Target, Wal-Mart, and other well-known names. Working closely with retailers, XM and SIRIUS have greatly increased their presence with consumers and sales have steadily increased.

Will Consumers Really Pay for Satellite Radio or is Free FM enough?

There are a host of reasons to pay for satellite radio. Here are a few benefits you get with a paid monthly subscription to satellite radio:

More exclusive channel choices (up to 150) Clear, crisp digital signal (when you have a clear line of sight unfortunately) Signal available with no fading when driving long distances (ie. keep the same station throughout the trip) Niche music stations to suit any musical taste (listen to DEVO all day long - ha ha) Commercial-free (kind of) for music channels Live audio streaming of sporting events like NBA, NFL, MLB ... Weather and traffic information for up to date stats Assortment of sports, talk, and news stations (just another way of saying, Howard Stern 24/7)

What to Expect in Satellite Radio:

Satellite radio service is still a minor player and mostly it is inevitable that these 2 companies will continue to invent and deliver new technology and even more features. XM Radio and SIRIUS Satellite Radio will have to devote resources to such innovations if they are to attract enough subscribers to become profitable. I would expect to see smaller devices, with better recording features and larger display screens and eventually long battery life.

Jason Ciment is a former attorney and CPA who has launched a number of Internet web sites and now runs www.WebCart.net - a longtime provider of web site platforms for content and eCommerce oriented web sites. He owned the original IBM PC and considers himself ahead of the curve when he can afford it and loves helping people "go online" professionally and personally. He frequently writes on Internet related and technology oriented topics such as satellite radio and other new gadgets, affiliate marketing and shopping cart software and content management system platforms.

Jason Ciment is a former attorney and CPA who has launched web sites and now runs www.WebCart.net - a platform for content and shopping cart eCommerce oriented web sites. He owned the original IBM PC and considers himself ahead of the curve when he can afford it. He writes about satellite radio, shopping cart software and content management system platforms.

Questions & Answers About Satellite Radios

Question: A Brief Overview of Satellite Radio Answer: Satellite radio means pay-radio or it may also be called a subscription radio. It is a little bit like the traditional one, but it has more programs than the traditional one does. It's available in Africa, Asia and Europe due to the services provided by WorldSpace and in North America by Sirius and XM Radio.

Question: What are the advantages of Satellite Radio? Answer: There is a wide variety of programs that includes: (rock, modern rock, alternative, classical, pop, hip-hop, country, jazz, electronic, Christian, Latin), weather, news, traffic, sports and entertainment channels---no commercials---. Satellite Radio has a clean, digital signal and it is close to the quality of a CD. It has no static and no interference. You can get satellite radio not only in your car, but anywhere you like: in your house, in an Rv, in your boat so that you can enjoy the programming variety that this radio is offering whether you are relaxing in your sofa, if you are in a vacation or if you are in your car on a business travel. The only thing you must do is to properly install the equipment that you need. Purchasing the equipment, you will also have information which will be displayed on the radio receiver about channels, music, songs and artists.

Question: Any Disadvantages? Answer: Unfortunately, Alaska, Hawaii and U.S. Territories can't receive the satellite radio's signals. There are no local stations, but you will have local traffic and weather channels provided by XM and Sirius.

Question: What does provide XM and Sirius radio? Answer: There a few differences between them. For example, the XM provides more that 150 channels and the other one more than 120 channels. The first has two Nascar racing channels, Major League Baseball, PGA TOUR coverage, plus ACC, Big Ten, and Pac-10 football and basketball coverage and the Sirius has Live NFL, NHL, and NBA play-by-play, plus English Premier League soccer and college sports game. But they have the same price $12.95/Month

Question: How do I install satellite radio? Answer: There are a few things that are necessary to get satellite radio. First you need a satellite radio antenna that picks up the signal from communicational satellites and then delivering it to you. Then you need a satellite radio tuner that passes the signal from the radio antenna to the receiver. There are three basic types of radio turners. There are the Plug-and-play satellite radio tuners that can be used in the car or at home or with a portable boom-box wherever you have satellite signal and they only need one subscription. There are three types of Satellite radio tuners for the car: universal tuners, "Satellite radio-ready" in-dash receivers and in-dash receivers with a built-in satellite radio tuner. The last basic type is the Home satellite radio tuners perfect for using them in-door. The third item is a satellite radio receiver which helps you to select channels and categories, to view various songs or artists information. Last but not least is a subscription to XM or Sirius radio that must be acquired in order to receive programming.

If you want to have the best quality sound in your car you can choose between these three options: 1. in-dash receiver with a built-in satellite radio tuner 2. "satellite radio-ready" receiver connected to an external satellite radio tuner 3. Plug-and-play satellite radio tuner connected to your car stereo's auxiliary input.

Satellite-Radio-Central has been providing information and resources for people online who are looking for more information on Satellite Radios. For more information on Satellite Radios visit: http://www.satellite-radio-central.com/satellite-radio

Who Can Access Satellite Radio?

Satellite radio is definitely a growing technology and each month the number of people receiving it's broadcasting continues to grow steadily. So who can access satellite radio?

The answer to that depends on where you live in the world. If you happen to live in the US the answer is that just about anyone with a subscription to either XM or Sirius can get it. They are both companies that have received approval by the FCC to broadcast digital radio across the entire US by satellite. If however you live outside the US and Canada your options are much more limited. There is only one other provider called WorldSpace that serves countires in Asia, Africa, Europe, and South America. So if you live in those areas, WorldSpace is your only provider choice.

For those that live in the US the monthly costs of the service is between $9.95 for XM and $12.95 for Sirius. Sirius charges more because they claim to use technology that improves the digital sound even more than XM and they also have given more attention to customer service to address issues that may arrive after the sale.

Once you have a subscription to a satellite radio provider's service, all you need at that point is the equipment to receive the signal and play it. You can get the receivers and antennas online or at local electronics stores. Generally, you can save money by buying the equipment online and then having it installed in your car, boat, or RV locally. If you wish to get a receiver that integrates with your home audio system, they can usually be easily installed on your own.

Your choices for equipment include plug-and-play units that can be used both at home and in your car, dedicated car radio units, and small portable units that can taken almost anywhere. At this point there are plenty of electronics manufacturers that have cooperated with both XM and Sirius in making equipment that will receive each provider's unique, proprietary signal.

So the amswer to the question of who can access satellite radio is that anyone who lives in the areas of the world where the three major providers are currently providing service and who also has the equipment to be able to receive and play the radio broadcasting signal can access satellite radio. So if you live in one of these areas why not arrange for a demonstration and find out why satellite radio is the wave of the future in radio broadcasting?

Find out more about sirius satellite radio and satellite radio receiver by visiting our Satellite Radio Review website.

The Facts You Need To Know About Satellite Radio - Part 2

In Part 1 of this report, we discussed how the technology of using satellites to broadcast radio signals from over 20,000 miles above the earth results in great reception throughout the US everywhere and all the time. But there is more.

Satellite radio is not free radio. It is subscription based, meaning that you pay a monthly fee for the service. The costs are very nominal though as Sirius costs $12.95 a month and XM is $9.95 a month. Neither of the subsciptions can be said to be expensive, but initially you may recoil from thwe idea of paying for something that you have gotten for free for so many years.

However, think about this. You weren't actually getting anything for free all this time. Think of how much time in your life has been wasted listening to ads or commercials on the radio instead of the programming that you tune in for. If you added it all up, it would no doubt be a huge chunk of time, and if your time is worth anything, you were definitely paying a price for tuning in. The radio stations have no other way of making radio broadcasting a profitable business, so you are stuck with putting up with ads for so many minutes of every hour just to be able to listen to the programming you want in between the commercials.

Satellite radio is following the proven business model example of cable television and instead of inundating you with ads, they just provide high quality programming all the time. No ads, no commercials, no wasting your time.

And what kind of programming do you get? Just about anything that you can imagine, and it's growing all the time. Your selections include music, talk radio, sporting events, kids programs, news and more. There are several celebrities that have set up shop in the studios of the satellite radio companies, including the high profile case of Howard Stern. But you can find even more celebrity specific programming from others like Martha Stewart, Jimmy Buffet, Eminem and more.

There are around 65 channels of music listening alone on each provider's service, and they cover almost every conceivable kind of music that is found in the US including rock, jazz, country, blues, reggae, and more. And there are several different kinds of each music genre as well, For instance, rock has channels devoted to hard rock, early rock, soft rock, heavy metal, and many more. Just pick your favorites and tune in for solid good music that you like to listen to wherever you go.

Be sure to read Part 3 for even more satellite radio facts.

Jim Johnson writes on consumer related matters. Find out more about satellite radio and portable satellite radio at the Satellite Radio Review.

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.