What is satellite radio?

What is satellite radio?

Satellite radio 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 radio 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 radio 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 radio 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 radio 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 radio is that it is almost completely commercial-free.

To begin listening to satellite radio you will need the actual satellite radio (also known as tuner or receiver), a satellite radio antenna (which is often incorporated in the satellite radio) and a subscription to the service you choose. There are several types of satellite radio 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 radio 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 radio 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 radio 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 radio's utility reaches far beyond listening to your favorite music without the interruption of those annoying commercials. Satellite radio 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 radio 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.

Debra Goh is an internet entrepreneur and a freelance writer. Her blogs are at http://free--downloads.blogspot.com and http://air--purifier.blogspot.com

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.

1000 Ways Broadcast Radio is Fighting Back Against Satellite Radio

Local radio has been taking a beating from satellite radio. But broadcast (sometimes referred to as terrestrial radio) is fighting back with a powerful weapon called HD Radio..

HD Radio is digital radio. As such, it enable a dramatic increase in sound quality. In fact, it makes AM radio sound as good as today's FM and FM sound as if you were listening to a CD.

There are already about 1000 stations across the country broadcasting HD Radio and more are adding this technology every week.

Why broadcast radio is more than competitive

The first reason why satellite radio will never replace broadcast radio is cost. SA subscription to satellite radio costs anywhere from $11 to $14 a month vs. broadcast radio which is free. There may be as many as 10 million satellite radio listeners in the U.S .but there are literally hundreds of millions of broadcast radio listeners. It's pretty hard to believe that satellite radio will ever have 100 million listeners, let alone several hundred million.

Just as important, satellite broadcasters can't deliver local information or programming. People will need their local stations for weather, traffic reports, news and to hear their favorite talk radio personalities. .

With a new concept called HD2

HD radio is digital not analog. This means it requires less spectrum ? or "radio space.". This means stations can broadcast their primary FM channel in digital and as many as four more subchannels. These subchannels, called HD2, are being used by broadcasters for new programming content. For example, one station in Chicago is broadcasting oldies of the 80s on its primary channel and hits from the 70s on its HD2 channel. The subchannels are not only free, they are expected to be commercial free for at least another year -- to compete head-to-head with satellite radio.

In short, broadcast radio is fighting back and in a way that will enrich the listening experience for all of us

For more information on HD Radio, including an explanation of the technology, as well as information, HD2 channels, and HD text messaging, be sure to go to http://www.hd-radio-home.com. You can also get detailed information on HD Radios at http://www.hd-radio-buyers-guide.com

Douglas Hanna is the publisher and webmaster of two HD Radio websites as well as the author of numerous articles on HD Radio

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

Finally It's Here - Canadian Satellite Radio

The long wait is over for Canadians. Satellite radio is finally here at long last. Canadian Satellite Radio is officially available since November 2005. The CRTC (Canadian Radio and Telecommunications Commission) finally came to an agreement that will change the landscape of Canadian radio from here forward.

XM satellite radio was the first provider to be licensed in Canada by the CRTC. They signed a six-year deal to provide the service across the airwaves to Canadians. You can rest assured that with the initial success this agreement will be renewed when it comes due. An interesting point to be made, once the agreement with the CRTC had been signed several of the car manufacturers in Canada inked deals to provide satellite ready units in their cars.

As Canadians we?ve heard about the satellite radio rush that was happening in the US. Because of this Canadians have long awaited the arrival of such a service. Like their US counterparts, Canadian Satellite Radio customers are able to subscribe to a wide array of broadcasts including news, entertainment, sports, comedy, and about any music genre you can think of.

So what is Canadian Satellite radio going to cost you? Subscribers will be required to pay a monthly fee the same as US customers. This fee will give users access to all the content available. To be able to receive the signal you will need satellite radio receiver. The receiver is the actual radio/device that will play or receive the signal.

One of the biggest benefits to potential Canadian Satellite Radio subscribers is the service is highly affordable! For less then the cost of most Internet services per month you can enjoy access to all of the non-stop music and entertainment available. XM radio will also be offering advertisers a new channel to get their message to the masses. With small spots of advertising available on several of the all talk channels businesses will be able to tap into the growing pool of Satellite radio subscribers.

So on a whole what does Canadian Satellite Radio really mean to the country? More great news, music and entertainment for subscribers, advertisers will be offered a benefit of more airtime to get their messages out. Consumer electronics stores will have a new product line with multiple brands to sell, as well as a new installation revenue stream for Satellite car radio units. Of course it is the subscriber that will have the biggest benefit, but all looks bright to benefit both entertainment and commerce in the coming years for Canadian Satellite Radio.

For more information about Canadian Satellite Radio, and other services and products to do with the industry please visit out website Satellite Radios

Satellite Radio: XM Radio or Sirius?

Satellite radio is the hottest trend in radio entertainment for your car, home, and office. The freedom from commercials and static is an exhilarating experience. No longer do you have listen to obnoxious jingles and hot air. No longer are you condemned to choose between dead air and Country & Western when traveling in rural areas.

Commercial-Free, Digital-Quality Sound

All of these problems are solved with satellite radio. And there is nothing else in the radio world that can compete with its digital quality sound. Satellite can provide uninterrupted listening pleasure anywhere in the world.

The only problem is deciding upon which satellite radio provider to choose. The top 2 contenders are Sirius and XM Radio. If you want satellite radio, you are immediately faced with the issue of how to choose between them.

XM Radio, First In The Sky

XM Radio established its presence first, and has a market share of 2 million listeners. XM has had the time to establish an excellent system of 68 commercial-free music channels with an incredible array of music. It also adds 33 channels of news, sports, talk shows, and entertainment to its programming mix. To top it off, XM has revolutionized the satellite radio world by providing 21 channels of up-to-date weather and traffic for most of the major metropolitan areas in the United States.

Sirius, Radio Innovator On Satellite TV

Sirius may be the comparative upstart, but it offers some advantages of its own. New contacts with DISH Network satellite television have given Sirius access to more than 10 million subscribers. It provides more than 120 channels if you add up all of the music, sports, information and entertainment.

For sports, Sirius is hard to beat. It broadcasts live games for professional football and hockey leagues, as well as many other sporting events. Sirius will also be the home of Howard Stern in 2006.

New Technology, New Listening Experience

So, whether you choose XM Radio for experience and staying power, or cast your vote for the innovations of Sirius, there's no reason to wait. Satellite radio is to broadcast radio as the VCR was to television. You can have it all -- without commercials! So what are you waiting for -- pick one.

Visit Sat Radio to learn more. Copyright 2005 Ron King. Ron King is a full-time researcher, writer, and web developer. This article may be reprinted if the resource box is left intact.

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

Satellite Radio News

Satellite Radio has become a very popular alternative to broadcast radio since its first release. It did take a while for the two competitors of satellite radio, Sirius and XM, to begin gaining customers. Equipment was expensive and bulky. There is also a monthly fee for the service, where broadcast radio is free. Satellite does have a few advantages against broadcast that helped it gain momentum more each year. There are very few channels on satellite radio that have commercials. This is very similar to premium cable television like HBO or Showtime...they cost extra but have no commercials. Another great feature Satellite Radio offers is quality that you cannot find in broadcast radio. Satellite radio is a digital signal that sounds cleaner and has virtually no static because with digital signals you either have close to full quality or nothing at all. Satellite also offers coast to coast coverage so you do not have to search for a local station when you travel. Recent technology moves have helped the receiver end of satellite radio tremendously. Car manufacturers now offer satellite equipment built in to new cars so that there is nothing to buy, just the monthly service fee. Some car companies like GMC only offer XM capability, but many companies offer you to choose either but not both. Car manufacturers also offer much more high end stereos that can utilize the benefits of a digital signal. They use this as a sales pitch to show how good their stereos really are. Satellite does have new competition that is broadcast for free like analog radio. HD Radio will be broadcast by many local stations in the near future offering better quality than satellite radio. This is much like television stations that broadcast HD TV locally. There are still commercials, but clear sound and music information about artists is available by any HD Radio equipped stereo. Only the future will tell if people are willing to shell out the dough to avoid commercials.

David Stone has more than 20 years experience in the electronics and technology field. Find more great information at Find the latest information and more at http://all-satellite-radio.info/.

Tunes tops 200 million downloads, Partners with Satellite Radio

It seems that Apple is in talks with Sirius Satellite Radio to make their streaming broadcasts available on the iPod. This is something that a lot of online music fans have been looking forward to for some time. Satellite radio customers love the music variety because they can go for days without hearing the same songs on rotation. This is in stark contrast to commercial radio stations, where you can hear the same song every couple of hours and on multiple stations in the same market.

Many think this pairing is just a rumor since iPods are not designed for this type of function and it would probably require a much larger hard drive and a much larger iPod case to be able to carry the streams.

Another functionality that would also require some tweaks is the ability to record satellite stream directly onto the iPods. The whole purpose of the iPod is the storage capacity and the ability to make music portable.

Even if satellite broadcasts were available, if the storage functionality is not included, customers could easily turn away from it and back to streaming radio only.

Since iPods are in short supply right now because so many customers are trying to get one, imagine what the market frenzy would look like if you add radio transmission receivers onto it.

Both XM Satellite Radio and Sirius Satellite Radio with over 4 million subscribers have been looking into ways that they can merge their popular streaming radio functionality with a host of gadgets to give their customers more options and to expand their subscription base.

The iPod seems like a natural fit. Rumors of a partnership between the satellite radio companies and Apple computers have been rampant after several telling signs by executives of both companies at various computer industry shows.

Online tech guides and skeptics are critical, but hopeful, since there is no clear mechanism right now to add the radio transmission function onto an iPod and still maintain the same compact look and feel of the iPod. In addition, it would take some time to develop the product, test it and bring it to market.

Then it would have to attract the attention of both Satellite radio customers and serious iPod fans to prevent each party from losing the market share they are hastily trying to capture.

There is some overlap between iPod customers and Satellite Radio customers especially in the ability to adapt to new technology. What is unclear is if streaming radio fans, and download happy fans are part of some larger online music tribe that anyone can tap with new gadgets.

Many think this pairing is just a rumor since iPods are not designed for this type of function and it would probably require a much larger hard drive and a much larger iPod case to be able to carry the streams.

Another functionality that would also require some tweaks is the ability to record satellite stream directly onto the iPods. The whole purpose of the iPod is the storage capacity and the ability to make music portable.

Even if satellite broadcasts were available, if the storage functionality is not included, customers could easily turn away from it and back to streaming radio only.

Since iPods are in short supply right now because so many customers are trying to get one, imagine what the market frenzy would look like if you add radio transmission receivers onto it.

Both XM Satellite Radio and Sirius Satellite Radio with over 4 million subscribers have been looking into ways that they can merge their popular streaming radio functionality with a host of gadgets to give their customers more options and to expand their subscription base.

The iPod seems like a natural fit. Rumors of a partnership between the satellite radio companies and Apple computers have been rampant after several telling signs by executives of both companies at various computer industry shows.

Online tech guides and skeptics are critical, but hopeful, since there is no clear mechanism right now to add the radio transmission function onto an iPod and still maintain the same compact look and feel of the iPod. In addition, it would take some time to develop the product, test it and bring it to market.

Then it would have to attract the attention of both Satellite radio customers and serious iPod fans to prevent each party from losing the market share they are hastily trying to capture.

There is some overlap between iPod customers and Satellite Radio customers especially in the ability to adapt to new technology. What is unclear is if streaming radio fans, and download happy fans are part of some larger online music tribe that anyone can tap with new gadgets.

Syd Johnson is the Executive Editor of RapidLingo.com, Web Articles Guide. This article may be freely distributed as long as the author's bio is included with an active link to http://www.rapidlingo.com