Satellite Radio Companies

The introduction of satellite radio has been one of the biggest innovations in recent FM broadcasting history. This radio signal can be heard at a distances of thirty five thousand kilometers and beyond. That is more that twenty two miles with a clear reception, no static and more than one hundred stations to listen to. The inception of this concept was 1992 when the Federal Communications Commissions gave up the S band on the radio wave spectrum (2.3 GHz) to Digital Audio Radio Service. The companies that were initially given a license to broadcast on this spectrum were XM Satellite Radio and Sirius Satellite Radio. Currently, there are three satellite radio services broadcasting around the world: XM and Sirius in North America and WorldSpace in Europe, Asia and Africa.

The three satellite radio companies each have a different system for broadcasting their signals. This means that a customer would end up buying specific equipment depending on what company they subscribe to. There are three parts to a satellite radio system: the ground repeaters, the satellites and the radio receivers. The XM satellite radio has satellites that are geographically located above the equator at all times. To combat the issue of obstacles such as hills, bridges and buildings, the XM radio service has a network of repeaters. These are antennas that get the signal from the satellites and transmit it to the subscriber?s radio. The Sirrus radio service is set up a little differently. The satellites are elliptical in structure and they orbit the Earth. Because these satellites are on a higher level, the signal is usually clear and there is no need to have quite as many repeaters.

The satellite radio programmers are able to choose what music or program to fill air time. Many use CD?s or have musicians come in to perform live. This sound is transmitted via a digital format. The signal is encoded by the satellite and then sent to the repeater antennae. The repeater moves it along to the subscriber?s radio which decodes the signal and plays the sound. Satellite radio also utilizes digital compression which is a method of reducing a set amount of information into a bandwidth using complex algorithms. If you are a subscriber, you will have to purchase the correct equipment to get the signal.

The amount of people who subscribe to satellite radio has grown due to the improvements made to the technology. The appeal of the radio station has always been the fact that the radio doesn?t depend on advertising to pay the bills, therefore the programs available are commercial free.

Jason Allen is a staff writer at Wireless Times and is an occasional contributor to several other websites, including Entertainment Digest.

Sirius Is A Star And A Satellite Radio

Sirius satellite radio is a satellite radio service operating in the US, Canada and Mexico and is based in New York. It provides more than 125 radio channels out of which 55 are sports, news and entertainment channels. The most attractive feature of this radio is that all the channels are commercials free.

Sirius satellite radio is broadcast over North America using 3 satellites. Some of the Sirius music channels are included in DISH Network satellite television service.

Sirius satellite radio service was started in 1990. It has more than 4 million subscribers. The company was named after the Sirius star.

There are over 125 channels available some of them are:

Pop/Hits. Sirius Hits1, Star Lite, Sirius Love, some channels for hits from 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s and today, Elvis channel and French songs channel.

Rock Channels. Classic rock channels for 60s, 70s, 80s, Hard rock, Alternative rock, Metal, Heavy metal, Punk, Hip-Hop, Reggae etc.

Electronic/Dance Channels. These channels cover electronica, trance, disco and dance.

Hip-Hop/ R&B channels. These channels have, modern, progressive, old school Hip-Hop, classic and soul music.

Country channels. They cover country music, 80s, 90s, Classic country and outlaw music.

Christian channels. They contain Christian rock, contemporary christian, Gospel music.

Jazz/Blues channels. They contain Modern, smooth, classic Jazz, New age and Blues music.

Miscellaneous channels. There are channels which contain starndard music, classical music, latin and world music.

Entertainment channels. These have talk shows like howard stern show, blue collar comedy, stand up comedy, gay/lesbian entertainment, celebrity gossip, women talk radio, live trial proceedings, environment programs, Discovery, childrens channels, conservative channels, liberal talk, truckers talk, christian talk, family nets, Adult channels like playboy etc.

News channels. These channels have sports news, world news, news of various states of the US, financial news like CNBC, ABC News, CNN, NPR, CBS etc.

Sports channels. They include ESPN, Sirius sports, sports byline etc.

Purchase. The sirius satellite radio receiver is available in leading electronic stores or can be bought from sirius.com. The radio which are sirius ready can only access the sirius satellite channels after being fitted with a sirius tuner and activation. The activation can be done online at 10$. The monthly subscription charge starts from 13$ a month to 500$ for lifetime subscription. The radio channels are available 24 hours a day. These radios are being fitted in most cars available in the US like Ford, BMW, Chrysler, Jaguar, Jeep, Lincoln, Mazda, Mercedes-Benz, Nissan, Toyota, Porsche, Volkswagen, Rolls-Royce etc.

Keith George always writes about valuable news & reviews. A related resource is Sirius Satellite Radio Further information can be found at Tips & News

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

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.

Learn Satellite Radio

Satellite radio is actually composed of two Boeing HS 702 satellites orbiting our atmosphere and aptly named "Rock" and "Roll". One is located at approximately 85 degrees west longitude and the other at 115 degrees west longitude. Geostationary Earth orbit (GEO) is about 22,223 miles (35,764 km) above Earth, and is the type of orbit most commonly used for communications satellites. The first satellite to up, "Rock," was placed in orbit on March 18, 2001. "Roll" followed with it's launch on May 8. Satellite radio has a third HS-702 satellite on the ground ready to be launched in case one of the two orbiting satellites break down or fail.

Satellite radio's station on earth transmits a signal to its two GEO Satellites, which bounce signals back down to the ground. The radio receivers are programmed to receive and unscramble the digital data signal, which contains up to 100 channels of digital audio. In addition to the encoded sound, the signal contains additional information about the broadcast. The artist, song title and category of music are all displayed on the radio. In urban areas, where buildings can block out the satellite's signal, broadcasting equipment is supplemented by ground transmitters.

Each receiver contains a unique manufacturer's chipset. Satellite radio began delivering chipsets to its manufacturing partners in late September or early October of 2000. The chipset consists of two custom integrated circuits designed by STMicroelectronics. Satellite has partnered with Pioneer, Alpine, Clarion, Delphi Delco, Sony and Motorola to manufacture satellite capable car radios. Each radio receiver uses a tiny, car-phone-sized antenna to receive the digital signal. GM has invested about 100 million dollars in digital satellite radio, and Honda has also created a contract to use these same radios in its cars. General Motors first began installing satellite radio receivers in specific models in late 2000 and early 2001.

For approximately twelve dollars per month, subscribers can listen to crystal clear digital sound. For this small price, music aficionados receive up to 100 channels of music, talk and news. They can also listen online via streaming audio service with over 70 channels. Most of the stations received are commercial-free, with none of the channels having more than seven minutes of ads per hour. Satellite advertisers include USA Today, BBC, CNN/Sports Illustrated and The Weather Channel. The service is clean & clear and more of what the surveyed population asked for. The future of satellite radio is clearly bright.

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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

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

What You Need To Know About XM Satellite Radio

Satellite radio is catching on like wildfire these days and as more consumers actually gain experience with it, they come to appreciate it's benefits and get on board with this new technology. There are two main satellite radio service providers and they are Sirius and XM, but for this article let's just focus on what you need to know about XM satellite radio.

First of all, satellite radio is a new way of broadcasting radio signals that eliminates most of the problems and shortcomings of standard radio broadcasts. For instance, haven't you found it annoying that after you travel about 30 - 50 miles across country, you have to change the radio station because the one you are listening to fades out and becomes unlistenable? Well, satellite radio solves that problem as the radio signal is recorded digitally and transmitted to satellites that orbit the earth high in the atmosphere. Since there are no obstacles or obstructions between them and the listeners here on the ground, you can literally travel from coast to coast and keep listening to the same radio station as you do.

XM radio offers over 100 channels of radio programming too that runs the gamut from every kind of music you can imagine, to talk radio, sports programming, and much more. You can always find something good to listen to on XM radio, and they keep adding even more popular programming content as they go on. For instance, XM has recently added a channel called "Oprah & Friends" that will feature Oprah herself and many of the popular personalities from her show. They have also brought Bob Dylan on board to host a weekly show for music fans across the country. And more of this kind of original programming can be expected to arrive on XM in the near future.

One of the big advantages of XM satellite radio though is the ability to listen to it generally free of commercial interruptions. Because it is a subscription based service, there is no need to sell on-air advertising, and that simply means that listeners get more of what they really want, the programming that they signed up for. The service is very inexpensive at only $9.95 a month, so it's affordable by almost everyone.

You will have to purchase the receiving equipment necessary to decode the radio signal, in order to listen to it, but there is a wide array of electronics products that cater to XM radio. You can find units specifically made for your car, your home stereo, and even those that can be switched back and forth whenever you want. In fact, XM is also leading the industry by providing portable units from Samsung and Pioneer that can play XM radio wherever you are and also play MP3s, WMA files, and even recorded XM content too.

So why not consider joining the almost 6 million subscribers that are currently already on board and enjoy the breakthrough radio broadcasting technology from XM satellite radio?
 

Satellite Radio: Music and More in Real Time

Millions of radio listeners in the United States and all over the world have
become so much happier with the introduction of satellite radio. Now, people can
listen to literally hundreds of stations that offer music, news, radio talk
shows and more in virtually real-time and at a much higher audio quality than
that which FM or AM radio provides.


With conventional radio, land-based stations broadcast their signals to your
boom box, computer, or car radio via the earth's airwaves. With satellite radio
however, providers transmit encrypted signals to satellites they launched in
outer space; these satellites in turn beam the signals to customers' listening
devices. But you can't use just any radio; you need a special receiver (which is
available at electronics retailers) and a satellite radio set. You can also
listen to satellite radio broadcasts in your car since many new cars rolling of
the assembly lines have satellite-ready equipment already installed. All you
would need to do is pay for your monthly subscription.


In the United States, service is offered by XM Satellite Radio and Sirius
Satellite Radio. Sirius, a company based in New York City, has over 125 channels
from which to choose, 67 of them dedicated to commercial-free music and the rest
to various other content. XM, on the other hand, offers more than 160 channels,
which offer content that is as diverse as that which Sirius extends to its
customers. The services are available coast-to-coast, so geographical
availability of programs is not an issue. A customer in Los Angeles, for
example, can listen to the same talk show that another customer in say, Boston,
is listening to at the same time, and with no degradation in audio quality.
Remember that satellite radio also means digital radio -- sound is
crystal-clear. There's none of the static or hissing you would sometimes hear on
FM or AM radio. Non-US residents can also take advantage of the benefits of
satellite radio; XM and Sirius offer their services in Canada, while WorldSpace
broadcasts its service across Asia, Africa, Europe, and the Middle East.
Australia has several providers of its own also.


Factors that attract people to sign up for satellite radio subscriptions are
numerous. For one thing, there's the pleasure of listening to commercial-free
music. Since the providers make their money from subscriptions, there is still
no pressing need for advertising revenue. Another attractive feature that this
service offers is that information about the song being played at the moment is
displayed on your radio set -- a small convenience for those people who have to
know about who is singing what song right-now. The fact that satellite radio
programming is completely uncensored at the moment is also a draw for many
people. Noteworthy personalities, such as shock jock Howard Stern (who was
kicked out of network radio programming) has made satellite radio his new
broadcasting home. Whether you want to listen to hip-hop music, stand-up comedy
shows, or news programs, satellite radio offers them -- all completely
uncensored.


Because Sirius, XM, and other providers are the ones who set the channel
selections, some people might find it a bit inconvenient that they won't be able
to listen to their local radio stations and get information on local goings-on.
However, Sirius and XM do provide traffic and weather data for major cities, so
that should be a bit of a relief for city residents. And if you think about it,
not getting access to one local radio station wouldn't seem to be such a bad
deal if you compare it to the ability to listen to hundreds of channels of
commercial-free music and unregulated non-regulated shows.


Sirius and XM plan to add even more features and functions to offer to their
subscribers. Sirius, in particular, is readying the launch of a Windows Media
Video 9 service and the company plans to offer several channels dedicated to
children. That's one more thing to keep the kids occupied and not distract their
parents on long road trips. XM plans to release a similar video service. The two
companies are anticipating that this will add to the number of their subscribers
-- Sirius has over one million, trailing after XM which has more than three
million.


If you're an avid radio listener and you're finding yourself becoming fed up
with the constant barrage of commercials on regular music stations or if you're
looking for more no-holds-barred commentaries or radio talk shows, you probably
wouldn't mind forking over the $12.95 monthly subscription for satellite radio
service charged by Sirius and XM. And with the increases that the two companies
see in their subscriber numbers, it's evident that a lot of people feel the same
way.

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/.

The Top 5 Reasons You Need Satellite Radio Now

Emerging technologies always take some time to get really established and then all of a sudden they just take off and it seems like everyone is using it. Eventually, there comes a time when you can't seem to even remember not using it. CDs and DVDs are a good exampole, as well as cable and satellite TV. Well, one of those new technologies is happening right now and that is satellite radio.

For years we have been used to tuning into our loacl radio stations and putting up with bad reception at times, and ads all the time. But satellite radio is poised to put that all behind us. Here are the top 5 reasons that you need satellite radio right now:

1. More choices, more to listen to. If you tune in to loacl radio you probably don't have more than just a handful of stations that you listen to regularly, simply because there is a small pool of broadcasts made in any given area. Not so on satellite radio. Both XM and Sirius offer more than 100 channels of pure enteratinment including sports, talk, kids programming, and every kind of music that you can imaagine. Always on, available wherever you go.

2. Crystal clear sound. Satellite radio broadcasts are made in digital format, so they are much higher quality than land-based radio. They also aren't prone to the limitations of standard radio. For instance, travel about 30- 50 miles and you will most likely lose your clear reception on almost any radio station. With satellite radio you can travel across the entire US and still have clear, CD-like sound with no interruption.

3. No commercials. How much time do you think you have wasted in life having to listen to ads and commercials on the radio that you really don't care about, just to be able to get the programming that you want? I'll bet it adds up to quite a bit. Imagine not having to put up with those kind of time wasters any more. You get to listen to only what you want to listen to for as long as you want to listen.

4. Unique programming. The standard radio stations are all controlled by the FCC and that means that you can only get certain types of entertainment on them. Howard Stern has famously pushed the boundaries of publicly available radio for some time, and has now sitched to satellite radio as it allows you to have more freedom to listen to whatever programming that interests you.

5. Great for travel. No need to pack up the CD player and all your CDs when traveling to listen to your favorite music, just listen to your satellite radio. No fumbling with tuning in the station or hunting for another one, just set it and forget it. And enjoy!

There are lots of other good reasons for choosing satellite radio for entertainment and information, but whatever reasons you choose, one thing is very clear. If you get satellite radio, you will wonder in just a very short time how you ever got along without it.

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

Satellite Radio: Subscription Costs

XM Satellite Radio and Sirius Satellite Radio subscription costs vary and are changing though recent promotions.

XM Satellite Radio Subscription

If you agree to a commitment ranging from two to five years and prepay you can lower your effective monthly charge to as low as $7.48.

XM Satellite Radio Subscription costs are a monthly service where the charge is $9.99.

Adding up to four additional receivers only costs $6.99 each, per month. Certain special channels cost a little more for your satellite radio subscription cost, for example, Playboy Radio, a premium service, is an additional $2.99 per month. Commercial and Business subscriptions cost $24.99 per month. Business subscriptions are a little more expensive due to additional royalties that must be paid when potentially more people are listening to the station.

Sirius Satellite Radio Subscription

Sirius Satellite radio subscription costs are a monthly service where the charge is $12.95. With a year or 2 year commitment, Sirius offers lower monthly rates.

Check out this hot deal going on right now! For $499.99, your radio is live for life! Sirius is currently offering a pretty good deal on a lifetime subscription that is radio-attached.

With Sirius you can activate as many as three additional radios for $6.99 each per month. Business subscriptions are $24.99 per month.

Satellite radio subscription cost is based on the number of stations that you have access to any the amount of extras that you add. Adding special services can increase your satellite radio subscription.

Scott Fish is the owner of Top Satellite Radio which is a resource for consumers seeking the history and facts about satellite radio. We also sell electronics related to Satellite Radio.

www.TopSatelliteRadio.com | Quick Access: www.TopSatRadio.com

sf@topsatelliteradio.com