What is Satellite Radio

Satellite radio is still a somewhat new concept to the modern world. Gone are the days of hopping in the car, turning on the radio and listening to endless commercials without even hearing a single song. Satellite radio is very similar to the concept of pay-per-view television. In exchange for a membership fee, you receive virtually commercial free programming specifically based on your desire.

Satellite radio companies own exclusive rights to certain content, including some sporting events. This means that the only way to hear a game being broadcast may be to subscribe to that service on satellite radio. The same is true of various other content, including the recent move of Howard Stern exclusively to satellite radio. His talk show will only be available through a paid subscription and will no longer be broadcast on regular television or radio programming.

Membership fees range from several dollars per month to several hundred dollars for a lifetime membership. The decision of how to pay is at the sole discretion of the consumer. If you plan to be a lifetime customer, and have the cash to spare, there is no doubt that a lifetime membership will pay for itself over time. If, on the other hand, you?re new to the concept and just want to try it out, many satellite radio companies offer a free trial or low monthly fees to get you started.

The concept of satellite radio derives from, as the name implies, receiving satellite signals to direct certain programming into a radio. This can be a portable gadget, such as a small radio, or it can be installed in your vehicle or even heard through satellite television. Satellite radio provides more than five dozen channels, also known as streams, of music and fifty-five channels featuring sports, news and entertainment broadcasting. Music offered includes virtually every genre and is available every day, all day and is commercial free. With a typical Sirius radio, the consumer will be able to see the song and artist information displayed on their digital screen while listening to the music.

Satellite radio is a new trend that is sure to become a permanent fixture in the industry. With technology making new advancements at every turn, more and more people will look to satellite radio for their listening pleasure. Everything from sports and entertainment to talk shows and music are becoming the exclusive property of this new technology. Companies compete for the best programming, offer multi-million dollar contracts for big name agreements and are spending the big bucks to ensure that people keep tuning in to their station.

Find more about Sirius Sportster 4 or XM Satellite Radio or read the latest satellite radio reviews on http://www.satelliteradioreviews.org

Why You Should Consider Sirius Satellite Radio

What is the best entertainment at a cheap price for your car, home, or office? I know you might initially be thinking the internet or a DVD player is the answer, but the newest trend is a twist on an old form of entertainment. Satellite radio frees you from commercials and is a great experience for most. You don?t have to listen to jingles and bad commercials. There is also no need to seek out obscure radio stations when you are in a rural area. One of the best ways to get satellite radio is through Sirius Satellite Radio.

Sirius Satellite Radio is the second of the satellite radio companies to take to the sky. They were a pioneer in many technological ways, but were spawned as a competitor coming behind XM. They helped to really popularize satellite radio and are quickly gaining ground on the leader in the industry. Sirius Satellite Radio is certainly here to stay.

As was mentioned before, Sirius Satellite Radio was an up and comer with its own advances in the industry. Because of this, they have a market share just behind the 2 million listeners XM boasts. That is still no where near the popularity of cable and satellite television, but it is a big stare for something that has not been around very long. Sirius Satellite Radio has had time to establish themselves by making contacts with DISH Network, so that they actually have access to over 10 million listeners. You can find everything from classical, to rapp, to jazz on their stations. In addition to the many music stations, Sirius Satellite Radio also has many additional channels consisting of news, sports, talk, and even entertainment. Then, to make sure local customers don?t miss out, Sirius Satellite Radio offers a total of more than 120 channels if you add up everything they air.

There are many reasons to choose satellite radio. It is, after all, the hottest and newest trend in radio entertainment and can be valuable to you in your home, office, or even your vehicle. In fact, many new cars and trucks are coming equipped for satellite radio and include programming packages prepaid for a year or so. The idea is that once you have it you won?t want to be without it. So if you enjoy radio entertainment and like the idea of having many varieties in programming at your fingertips, then consider Sirius Satellite Radio or one of the other satellite radio programming providers out there. You will find a more consistent, convenient, and on demand radio programming selection right at your fingertips.

If would like to find more of my personal articles on Satellite Radio, please feel free to visit my website on Satellite Tips!

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.

Which Satellite Radio Company Should You Choose

XM and Sirius are the two companies in the U.S that offer quality satellite radio service. XM, the forerunner of satellite radio has 2 satellites, Rock and Roll, and has 2 satellite radio studios in Washington D.C. which reaches all of its 3,200,000 subscribers. Sirius Radio, XM's current competitor, has 3 satellites, studios in NY and has 1,100,000 subscribers.

There is no question about it; satellite radio is far superior to the landlocked radio stations. This new generation of radio, with its digital quality and unlimited content, makes AM/FM radio look ancient in comparison. Satellite radio has incredible advantages that regular radio stations can only hope to offer.

Satellite radio is completely commercial free. That means no annoying jingles, no listening interruptions, no stupid voice actors, and no one trying to sell you something you couldn't possibly need. Satellite radio offers you the ability to, not only listen to what you want, (Jazz, Country, Hip Hop, R&B, Classical, Do Wop, Dance, Electronica, Latin, Blues, House, Rock, Alternative, Contemporary, Christian, or Gospel), but you can also listen to it where you want. In your car, your house, your yacht, your tent, and even your bus ride downtown. You can listen to you local weather, traffic alerts, news, sports, and entertainment, or national weather, traffic, news, sports and entertainment. It's like being omnipresent and omniscient at once! Satellite radio is also completely uncensored. That means that you can listen to your favorite comic or rap without having to figure out it behind the bleeps.

The content is the only thing that sets satellite radio apart from its terrestrial buddy; it also has digital, CD quality sound. AM/FM radio cannot offer that without having to put up a transmitter every few miles. Your satellite receiver also has information on songs and artists right on the read out so you can best select what you want to listen to. It's all about your choice! Where, what, when, and how! Do you feel like a god yet?

Both XM and Sirius are amazing satellite radio providers, which one you choose to listen to will be up to you. Since they each offer such great programming, the choice will be difficult. There are 3 different types of receivers, depending on where you want to use it. The plug-and-play tuner is used primarily outdoors as long as the portable boom box can receive the satellite signal. There are also tuners made specifically for cars, and tuners made for use at home.

In the future, XM and Sirius radio will be offering satellite video. Look for this at the end of 2006.

Satellite radio prices start at $70 dollars, with an additional $12.95 per month. Be on the lookout for discounts and lifetime subscription offers.

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

How Satellite Radio Works And Why It Is So Popular

Radio broadcasting has grown volumes in the almost 15 years that have passed since the Untied States Federal Communications Commission made the S band (the 2.3 GH frequency) available for Digital Audio Radio Service. With an ability to broadcast with static free, high quality sound over a distance surpassing 20,000 miles, satellite radio is one of the most significant developments in the world of broadcasting since the launch of FM itself. Sirius, XM and WorldSpace, satellite radio companies, have capitalized on this technology and have brought it to the masses on a worldwide scale. But how it does satellite radio really work?

All satellite radio services have three things in common: the actual satellites, the ground repeaters, and the radio receivers. These components are used to broadcast the radio signal a customer hears after subscribing to a service. But each of these service providers (Sirius, XM and WorldSpace) utilizes a unique broadcasting system to deliver sound (radio signals) to the subscriber. For example, Sirius utilizes satellites that orbit the Earth in an oblong pattern. While this may seem irrelevant to the average listener, it's significant because Sirius' model makes it possible for satellites to reach higher in the sky and, thus, lose their signal less often than other providers do. XM, on the other hand, operates geostationary satellites that orbit the Earth in a synchronized pattern consistent with the planet's customary movements. Radio reception is attained and, to make it clearer, XM then uses a network of antennas that re-transmit the signal to avoid interruptions that have been known to occur near tall buildings, bridges or hills.

So know that we know how the radio signal itself is transmitted, when does the music get added to the mix? At the digital broadcast centers, where radio programmers are responsible for picking what song will be played when. These centers maintain music in both digital format and a CD format and often also have studio space where performers can be recorded and their sound transmitted, live. The extremely high quality sound that subscribers hear is made possible by a process called digital compression, a procedure in which algorithms (a set of rules developed to break down a problem, or process, into smaller, simpler steps) are used to squeeze as much sound as possible into the bandwidth available. Satellite radios are the only types of radios sophisticated enough to decode these signals, which is why a subscription is required and why you won't be able to access the same content through your everyday AM/FM dial. The exclusivity, quality of sound, popularity and commercial free features of satellite radio have all been key factors in making it possible for companies to offer satellite service at a reasonable price.

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

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

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.

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