SATELLITE RADIO Music Wasn’t Meant To Have Commercials By: Shannon Noce, Staff Writer

CONTENTS

........What are the advantages of choosing satellite radio?

........How does it work?

........XM or Sirius?

........What do I need to start enjoying satellite radio?

WHAT ARE THE ADVANTAGES OF CHOOSING SATELLITE RADIO     [ Top ]

Commercial free: The majority of satellite radio stations are commercial free. While there are a few that air commercials, the amount of time spent airing them is still significantly less than on standard broadcast radio.

 

Info at your fingertips: There’s no reason to wait for the score of the game or the latest traffic and weather reports. With a satellite radio, all of this information is readily available to you when you need it.

 

Better coverage: Having to change fading stations every hour on a road trip is a thing of the past. Both XM and SIRIUS signals are available throughout the 48 contiguous states.

 

Stock quotes and game scores: In addition to song and artist information, XM also offers you the option of streaming stock quotes and game scores onto your display.

 

User satisfaction: A survey by Travel Insider revealed that nearly 100% of readers reported that they were either extremely satisfied or very satisfied with their satellite radio experience.

Song details: You’ll never need to wonder “who sings that?” or miss the name of a song again. Satellite radios feature a display that offers you details about the song and performer.

Internet access: Both XM and SIRIUS allow you to access most of their programming via their internet sites. Once you've signed up for service with either of the two providers, you can access most of their programming through their internet sites as well as via your radio. This is great if you don’t have a satellite receiver at home or at work, as you can still enjoy all the same great programming.
Store your favorite songs: Some satellite radio receiver models allow you to save songs and play them back later. This option is not common to all receivers, so if it’s something you want be sure to check which models offer it and how much memory they offer as that varies as well.

While the different companies offering satellite radio bring it to you in slightly different ways, the general idea is the same. A small antenna picks up the satellite signal and a receiver is used to decode it. The music you seek is then brought to you via an empty FM radio frequency or through a tape deck adapter. More specifically, digital signals bounce off orbiting satellites and are then received and decoded by compatible satellite receivers here on Earth. Both XM and SIRIUS signals are transmitted in the 2.3GHZ band, one that the FCC reserved back in 1992 for DARS or digital audio radio service transmissions. Don’t worry, there won’t be a test.

XM OR SIRIUS                                                                           [ Top ]

If you live in the United States, you have two satellite radio service providers to choose from: XM Satellite Radio and SIRIUS Satellite Radio. Each offers an impressive selection of sports, talk, and news programming in addition to commercial free music. The real difference is the specific programming each offers and which companies manufacturer their radio receivers. When choosing a receiver, remember that they are not in any way interchangeable. In fact, each receiver manufacturer is exclusively paired with a service provider. For example, Pioneer only offers XM receivers, not SIRIUS. Some automakers now offer satellite radio in their new cars. Most stick with either XM or SIRIUS, while a select few distribute both. If you plan on buying a new car, choosing the satellite radio option is a great idea as you don’t have to worry about any setup. You can also add satellite radio to your vehicle later on, either having it professionally installed or by doing the simple setup yourself.

XM SATELLITE RADIO
Programs offered include: Major League Baseball, Home Ice, Oprah & Friends, and Opie & Anthony are just some of the programming available to XM Radio subscribers.

Receiver manufacturers: Alpine, Pioneer, Sony

Automotive distribution partners: Acura, Audi, Buick, Cadillac, Chevy Trucks, GMC,
Honda, Infiniti, Isuzu, Oldsmobile, Nissan, Pontiac, Saturn, Subaru, Suzuki, Toyota, and Volkswagen

SIRIUS SATELLITE RADIO
Programs offered include: NFL Radio, NASCAR Radio, Barclays Premier League, Martha Stuart Living Radio, and The Howard Stern Show are just some of the great programming you can expect from SIRIUS.

Receiver manufacturers: Clarion, Jensen, Kenwood, Panasonic

Automotive distribution partners: Audi, BMW, Chrysler, Dodge, Ford, Infiniti, Jeep, Lincoln Mercury, Mazda, Mercedes-Benz, MINI, Nissan, and Volkswagen.

WHAT DO I NEED TO START ENJOYING SATELLITE RADIO?          [ Top ]

Besides a subscription, all you really need to start enjoying satellite radio is a receiver. Choose a portable or plug and play radio and make sure to add a home and/or car kit if one is not included.

Portable satellite radios - Take your music with you everywhere you go. A built-in antenna receives the satellite signal. Add a car kit or a home kit to enjoy music at home or on the road. With most models, you’ll be able to store your favorite songs as well. Most even let you store your own MP3 and WMA files, in addition to saving satellite radio content.

Plug and play satellite radios - Play your favorite music at home or on the road. Even better, use the same radio for both. With the appropriate kits, you can do just that. Use a car kit to have great commercial free music in your car and a home kit to fill your home with sound.

Car kits - Enjoy commercial free music while you’re on the road…. suddenly the commute doesn’t seem so long.

Home kits - Home is where you want to be, especially when you’ve got tons of great stations at your fingertips.