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

Satellite Radio

Whether driving to work or cruising through the countryside, people don?t flip radio channels anymore. Satellite radio provides uninterrupted services to millions of listeners around the world. As the name suggests, satellite radio uses the technology of satellites to deliver audio signals. Satellite radio signals are broadcast in digital form, which a quality of reception that matches that of audio CDs.

Satellite radios receive signals that are broadcast by communications satellites. These signals cover a wider area than normal radio signals. Satellite radio functions in any location where there is a line of sight between the antenna and the satellite. The most powerful broadcasts are accessible over 100 miles from the source.

Satellite radio technology requires access to a commercial satellite for transmitting signals and are therefore commercial business entities. In 1992, the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) allocated the ""S"" band (2.3 GHz) for nationwide broadcasting of satellite-based Digital Audio Radio Service (DARS). XM and Sirius are two services that provide satellite radio broadcasts all over the United States.

Satellite radio signals are strong and do not require a satellite dish to receive it. The key components of a satellite radio infrastructure are satellites, ground repeaters and radio receivers.

A radio receiver has an electronic serial number or Radio ID to identify it. An authorization code is needed to activate a unit. Most services also include ?free to air? channels. These systems are proprietary, using different codecs for audio data compression, encryption and conditional access. Satellite radio also transmits program-associated data (PAD), with an artist?s name and the title of each song.

Major car manufacturers install satellite radio receivers in some of their models. Several models of portable satellite radio receivers are available from electronic firms. Since satellite radio is still in its infant stage, it is inevitable that the technology will continue to improve. In view of its inherent advantages, satellite radios are likely to grow in popularity and become a common household purchase in the near future.

Satellites provides detailed information on Satellite Tv, Satellite, Satellite Dish, Satellite Radio and more. Satellites is affiliated with Satellite Tv System

RIAA Kills Sirius Satellite Radio, Destroys Value of Consumer Product

Since the beginning of Radio's inception, no one has dared to arrest people who copy songs from the radio.

RIAA, the Recording Industry Association of America, now dares. They have banned Sirius from allowing more than one downloadable song per download. The only reason for this is because the Satellite radio songs are just as good quality as MP3, thereby eliminating the need to buy the MP3's.

RIAA has now pushed legislation through the house "to protect content delivered through high-definition (HD) radio receivers". What that means, is anyone using a HIGH QUALITY method to copy a song is in violation of the law. But if you use a low-quality method; say, a cassette, then it's okay.

Where is the logic in that? Aren't laws a reflection of moral values? So it's moral to copy a song onto cassette, but immoral to copy it onto a MP3 player?

Something is insanely illogical about that concept. RIAA claims musicians can't make money if their songs are all downloaded illegally.

Only a century ago, there wasn't a police force that prevented anyone but the original composer from playing their music in the streets. If Beethoven wanted to make money, he had to play in a concert for the people. He couldn't just kick back and earn money every time a fiddler in the street played a tune from his concerto.

So what holds water about the RIAA argument? Very little in terms of historical legitimacy, and even in modern times, musicians are pulling in record numbers from concerts. The Rolling Stones pulled in over $162 million in 2005 from tours. Green Day pulled in $39 million, and Dave Matthews raked $31 million, with significantly less touring than the Stones. Is that not enough?

Even Paul McGuinness the manager of U2 said, "Our recording income is not insignificant, but it's less than we make from touring. The figures used to be closer together." U2's 2005 tour pulled in $139 million.

So with concert income rising grotesquely, does the RIAA even have the right to push its legalistic agenda? Ironically, the spread of free music has encouraged music listening far beyond paid music: the increased availability of music has lead to increased concert-going fans as the record-breaking tours indicate.

With concert rates rising, and the income disparity from concerts and recording sales, perhaps RIAA should consider their nefarious designs at deciding what is Right and Wrong. Like a master teaching his dog manners, RIAA tells the consumers: Record radio on a cassette, good. Record radio onto MP3, bad dog, Sirius gets a time-out, and the critically acclaimed S50 is the first casualty in the war for consumer rights against RIAA.

In so doing, since the Sirius S50 was owned by hundreds of thousands, the RIAA has essentially destroyed the value of a product that did not belong to them. Without a moral basis for doing so, that is where the true immorality lies.

Maybe if the public starts downloading satellite radio music onto CD, then RIAA will help get CD recording of radio will be banned too.

Jonathan Baldwin, is the creator of a XM vs Sirius comparison website. You can find a copy of the article here: RIAA Kills Sirius S50

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.

Discover Sirius Satellite Radio

If you haven't discovered Sirius satellite radio yet get ready for a nice surprise. Sirius is changing the way the world listens to music.

Every second of the day, Sirius satellite radio is shooting over 120 channels of amazing radio straight into the heavens to their three state-of-the-art satellites that rotate in figure eight, geo-synchronous orbits around the earth.

Sirius uses statistical multiplexing technology which means it provides more bandwidth across the full spectrum of Sirius satellite radio streams. The bottom line is better overall sound quality and superior sound resolution.

It all starts at their studios in NYC's Rockefeller Center. On any given day as musicians stop by for live interviews and performances, on-air hosts are hard at work taking satellite radio to the next level.

Sirius satellite radio offers a diverse lineup of radio, music and sports legends spinning music they love. The lineup includes Eminem, David Johansen, Grandmaster Flash, Tony Hawk, Vin Scelsa, Liquid Todd, MC Lyte, Kelly Slater, Meg Griffin and many more.

The best part of Sirius satellite radio service is no commercials. None. That means 65 channels of music, plus you get more than 50 channels of great sports, news and entertainment programming, much of it exclusive to Sirius.

Sports lovers might want to listen close to this. Live play-by-play coverage of every single NFL game and the only 24/7-radio channel dedicated to all-things-NFL, all year long. And it's all included with your regular Sirius radio subscription: no extra charges, fees or packages. That's the best value available for any sports fan.

NFL Radio is the only 24/7-radio channel of its kind and is a Sirius original. Want NFL credibility? Start with show hosts Dan Reeves, Cris Carter, John Riggins and Shannon Sharpe.

Sirius also offers a full spectrum of original talk programming. Two NPR channels: NPR Now and NPR Talk.

The Plug & Play Sirius satellite radio modules come with optional home and car kits for use at home, in your office, in a truck, boat or car. No matter where you are, youre connected.

Home units connect directly to your home entertainment system. These sleek units contain features such as song/artist title memory, 4 preset banks with text input and optical digital audio output.

All 120 channels of Sirius satellite radio is available throughout the continental US with crisp digital-quality sound. Every single channel is included in your Sirius subscription. This keeps you connected to the music and entertainment you love, no matter where you are.

You have a choice of subscription plans that offer long-term savings, a yearly plan at a lower price and month-to-month plans starting at only $12.95 per month.

You just can't find this kind of value or this kind of radio on any other dial. Get geared up for the future of music with Sirius satellite radio.

This article may be re-published "as is" (unedited) as long as the author's bio paragraph (resource box) and copyright information is included. The URLs in the resource box should be set as hyperlinks if used on a web page.

Every second of the day, Sirius satellite radio is shooting over 120 channels of amazing radio straight into the heavens to their three state-of-the-art satellites that rotate in figure eight, geo-synchronous orbits around the earth.

Sirius uses statistical multiplexing technology which means it provides more bandwidth across the full spectrum of Sirius satellite radio streams. The bottom line is better overall sound quality and superior sound resolution.

It all starts at their studios in NYC's Rockefeller Center. On any given day as musicians stop by for live interviews and performances, on-air hosts are hard at work taking satellite radio to the next level.

Sirius satellite radio offers a diverse lineup of radio, music and sports legends spinning music they love. The lineup includes Eminem, David Johansen, Grandmaster Flash, Tony Hawk, Vin Scelsa, Liquid Todd, MC Lyte, Kelly Slater, Meg Griffin and many more.

The best part of Sirius satellite radio service is no commercials. None. That means 65 channels of music, plus you get more than 50 channels of great sports, news and entertainment programming, much of it exclusive to Sirius.

Sports lovers might want to listen close to this. Live play-by-play coverage of every single NFL game and the only 24/7-radio channel dedicated to all-things-NFL, all year long. And it's all included with your regular Sirius radio subscription: no extra charges, fees or packages. That's the best value available for any sports fan.

NFL Radio is the only 24/7-radio channel of its kind and is a Sirius original. Want NFL credibility? Start with show hosts Dan Reeves, Cris Carter, John Riggins and Shannon Sharpe.

Sirius also offers a full spectrum of original talk programming. Two NPR channels: NPR Now and NPR Talk.

The Plug & Play Sirius satellite radio modules come with optional home and car kits for use at home, in your office, in a truck, boat or car. No matter where you are, youre connected.

Home units connect directly to your home entertainment system. These sleek units contain features such as song/artist title memory, 4 preset banks with text input and optical digital audio output.

All 120 channels of Sirius satellite radio is available throughout the continental US with crisp digital-quality sound. Every single channel is included in your Sirius subscription. This keeps you connected to the music and entertainment you love, no matter where you are.

You have a choice of subscription plans that offer long-term savings, a yearly plan at a lower price and month-to-month plans starting at only $12.95 per month.

You just can't find this kind of value or this kind of radio on any other dial. Get geared up for the future of music with Sirius satellite radio.

This article may be re-published "as is" (unedited) as long as the author's bio paragraph (resource box) and copyright information is included. The URLs in the resource box should be set as hyperlinks if used on a web page.

Gary Gresham is the webmaster for http://www.1stopshoppingonline.com He offers this amazing, digital-quality, radio at http://www.1stopshoppingonline.com/satellite-radio.html