Entertainment Technology

Archive for the ‘Satellite Radio’ Category

Satellite Radio Its here! Satellite radio is a new service being offered by two companies, XM Satellite Radio and Sirius Satellite Radio. Both companies are offering over 100 channels of streaming music and entertainment. High quality sound is achieved through the use of satellites orbiting high above. Satellite radio is commercial free and free from regulations by federal committees. The impossible, is now possible, hearing the same radio station across North America and from coast to coast. All made possible by XM satellite radio and Sirius satellite radio.

Normal radio has been around for decades and is part of many people’s lifestyle. This is changing. Regular radio is monitored and regulated by the Federal Communications Commission, whom has fined several radio stations and media companies within the last 3-4 years. The FCC has only fined radio stations a maximum of $27,500 per show no matter how man profanities were aired. Recently the FCC has been upping the ante and in conjunction with Congress has decided to raise the fine up to $500,000 per incident per station (Potter). A slap on the wrist has turned into a business-changing event. Sexually explicit comments by Bubba the Love Sponge and Howard Stern could get a station in trouble no doubt about it.

Clear Channel Radio dropped both shock jocks this year after being hit with record fines. (Potter) Recently Howard Stern has made a move to Sirius Satellite wireless in an effort to preserve his career and free speech. Consumers are reaching towards satellite radio as a way to hear unregulated news and content. Recently XM Satellite wireless has claimed to have over 3 million subscribers paying $9.99 per month and Sirius claims to have over 1.3 million customers paying $12.95 per month. Many of those customers pay an additional $2.99 per month for premium content such as the upcoming Howard Stern Show.

Several normal wireless stations and media outlets are realizing the potential to get their message across in a broad fashion. XM has launched a morning show, which is hosted by Bob Edwards, whom was fired earlier this year by National Public Radio. “The Bob Edwards Show” will air on a public satellite wireless channel that also features news and programs from Public wireless International, among others. Sirius has its own public wireless channel carrying NPR programs. Consumers and companies are demanding free speech and it seems that satellite wireless is the vehicle.

XM Satellite wireless and Sirius Satellite wireless have designed satellite broadcast systems that differ but they achieve the same high quality of satellite wireless. A milestone of this success is the fact that satellite wireless signals that are available across the United States and into Mexico and Canada. Rock and Roll No it’s not a genre any more! XM Satellite wireless has two satellites named Rock and Roll, which remain in parallel geostationary orbit to provide wireless coverage throughout the United States. Sirius Satellite wireless has chose to use three satellites in an inclined elliptical orbit. This configuration provides 16 hours per satellite of signal, which gives a great redundancy if any satellite were to fail. Playing it smart, Sirius and XM both have spare satellites, which can be called on in a moments notice if needed.

XM satellite wireless and Sirius satellite wireless have Earth based broadcast stations that are used to send up information to the satellites, which is then dispersed through out the globe. Sirius and XM both have disk jockeys that manage, create and program music which is then sent up to the satellites. The information is then taken in by the satellites and sent through a rebroadcast of the streams to earth.

The Major advantage of this is that, unlike earth-based wireless stations whose signals reach listeners 150 miles away, satellite wireless signals have a huge reach, and are receivable anywhere within the continental United States and hundreds of miles in each direction of the borders. Satellite wireless is growing to become a worldwide network and offerings are growing throughout the world. XM satellite radio and Sirius satellite radio are making it happen.

Unregulated Satellite Radio is the answer for free speech in a government regulated airwaves arena. Not only can listeners hear unbiased information but also they can listen to it anywhere in the United States. Media giants are jumping to get the piece of the pie regarding satellite radio, as the new wave of the future is satellite radio.

XM and Sirius, the two American providers of satellite radio, share the market for satellite radio service. XM had a year’s head start, but Sirius still managed to get half of the audience. Both types of satellite services offer similar programs. So what’s the best one to choose?

XM offers 136 streams while Sirius only offers 119. Another benefit that XM has over Sirius is that it offers 2 premium channels, Playboy and High Voltage. Sirius does not offer premium channels. Two of the categories that these satellite providers are battling over are music and news. Let’s compare what each has to offer.

Music Streams

Both of these satellite services pretty much offer the same amount of music steams. Sirius offers 65 and XM offers 68. There is a variety of types of music to choose from on both stations so you will not get bored.

Music Decade Choices

XM has the advantage over Sirius on this one, because it offers music from the 40’s. On the same token, Sirius offers music from the 90’s, as well as current hits. Plus, both stations offer music from the 50’s, 60’s, 70’s, and 80’s.

Country Music

Both satellite services offer country music. You can listen to country hits, classic country, alternative country and country mixes. XM wins this category, since it offers 5 streams over Sirius’ 4. If variety in country music is important to you then XM is the best choice in this category.

Rock Music

Sirius has a slight edge in this category, by offering 15 streams. XM offers 14. Still, both offer subgenres and remain very competitive in this area. Because both Sirius and XM radio offer several rock music options you will always be able to find a station to fit your mood, no matter which satellite service you are using.

Dance and Latin Music

Both XM and Sirius offer Dance and Latin categories of music. The Latin subgenres include Mexicana and tropical music. Sirius offers 6 streams in this category. XM offers 4. Either way, both stations get you up and dancing.

Other Genres

Both stations offer hours of different types of music. From Classical to Jazz, there’s something for everyone. Sirius also offers Urban music. The great quality of music that they both offer is why many are turning to satellite radio.

News Comparisons

Sirius wins for the number of news streams. Sirius offers 13 of these streams while XM offers 11. Both offer many news stations, such as FOX, CNBC, Bloomberg, CNN and MSNBC. They also offer news stations presented in different languages.

Final Analysis

With both offering so many music and news programs, as well as talk shows and other forms of entertainment, it’s difficult to decide which one is the better choice. One thing is certain. With almost endless entertainment being offered by both services, it’s definitely worth it to subscribe to either one of them.

Truck drivers are the most frustrated listeners of the commercial radios. They are the ones who have tolerated commercials on local radios the most as they are counted in the listeners which listen to radio the most. Truck drivers log more than one hundred and fifty billion miles each year so they deserve better entertainment options.

As we all know that the trucking industry has a history of being the first to adopt new innovations in the vehicle and we believe truckers will play an important part in the development of satellite radio. Cost of the equipment for truck drivers is very approachable. The system comes with a digital antenna designed for satellite applications and engineered specifically for commercial trucks.

The device offers over hundred channels of revolutionary programming, nationwide coverage and superior sound quality even if there are no standard radio stations avalible. Thus we can say that XM is a truck driver’s dream come true. Satellite radio will become such an inevitable part of the truck driver’s life that they will really think how they ever lived without satellite radio.

Satellite radio has the luxury of coast-to-coast coverage, digital-quality sound and a wide variety of programming options from over hundred channels. Also the drivers will have the satisfaction of knowing that with good system they are receiving original equipment equivalent quality. The interface for users for the satellite receivers is simple and easy to use like traditional AM/FM band radios.

The liquid crystal display is alphanumeric and it provides information including the channel, type of music and song and artist name. Everybody is familiar with the word cab.

The environment in the cab is vastly different from that of a passenger vehicle and the fact that these units are designed and validated specifically to cab conditions and to meet the tough heavy-duty performance specifications sets them apart from aftermarket versions currently available. Thus every passenger wants a smooth and comfortable ride.

This is achieved with the satellite radio’s help. Cab drivers can buy the satellite radio system to give their customers a good and joyful drive. The satellite radio system which includes receiver box and antenna can be installed free of cost.

The satellite radios are audio systems with a broad range of head units that accommodate various playback devices such as cassette tapes, CDs and MP3s. Satellite radio is a transformation of radio. It is an industry that has seen little technological change since FM, almost forty years ago.

The programming of most satellite lineups features hundred coast-to-coast digital channels which include seventy one music channels, more than thirty of them are commercial-free, from hip-hop to opera, classical to country, bluegrass to blues and twenty nine channels of sports, talk, children’s and entertainment.