The Easy Two Step Process For Getting Sirius Satellite Radio

Author: Jim Johnson

You have probably been hearing about satellite radio for a while and of course, lately there has been plenty of news about Howard Stwern setting up shop on Sirius and bringing his fan base along with him. So now you have decided that it's time to get on the bandwagon with this new technology and experience satelite radio for yourself.

If you live in the US you only have two choices for programming, XM and Sirius. In this article, we will discuss Sirius and the things you will need to do to sign up with them and receive their programming signal.

First of all, before you get started, make sure that Sirius is the provider that you really want. This is because once you decide on the provider or service, that will dictate which receiving equipment that you will need to purchase, and most importantly, once you have that equipment you will not be able to use it to change your subscription and receive the other provider's signal. So make your choice wisely here to avoid costly changes later on.

Now that you have definitely decided on Sirius as your satellite radio provider, here are the two simple steps that you need to do to start getting satellite radio:

1. Sign up for a monthly subscription with Sirius. It will cost about .95 a month if you pay on a monthly basis, but you can save money by buying the subsciption annually or even longer. So choose your plan and sign up.

2. Buy your receiving equipment. You will need a receiver and an antenna to start getting the signal. Your regular car radio will not be able to receive satellite radio unles it is specifically enabled for that purpose, so check your manuafcturers material to see about that first.

Before buying though, think about where you plan to listen tio your programming. Will you only be listening in your car? Then you probably only need a car receiver and antenna to get going. Just be sure that your receiving equipment matches the manufacturer of your car's radio. However, if you plan on listening at home too, you may need to get a plug-and-play type of unit that enables you to pull the receiver from your car when you get home and plug it into a home based unit to start receiving the signal through your home audio system. And if you need a portable unit for those times when you are neither at home or in the car, those are available as well. Prices for these units can vary considerably, but by shopping online you can usually get a very good deal on the equipment and have it installed locally if needed.

Once you have the equipment and the subscription, you are ready to start enjoying satellite radio whenever you want. Remember, it's always on and always available wherever you go.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/technology-articles/the-easy-two-step-process-for-getting-sirius-satellite-radio-16760.html

About the Author
Find out more about sirius satellite radio and satellite radio services by visiting our Satellite Radio Review website.

Satellite Radio Care Tips

Author: Kyle Newton

The satellite radio is quickly garnering market share from old standbys, FM and AM. Only two service providers, XM and Sirius, the only real choice you have to make is which model to purchase and how much to pay. Road to XM and Sirius can have a few potholes, aggravating problems that may cause you to toss your Roadies out of the car window. We have few tips to help pave that road.

Always try refreshing the activation of your radio by going to the XM or Sirius websites and hitting refresh signal. Do check with customer service to make sure the radio has been properly activated. Sometimes the request doesn't get processed right away.

Always check your antenna and make sure it's connected to the proper input on the radio and can get a clear signal. Try to check the cable and connector for damage. Your radio won't receive a signal if you're in a garage or other area where the signal is blocked.

Do set your radio, in most cases to Channel 1, so it can acquire the stations from the satellite. Try to check to see if there's fringe interference from a nearby radio station, in this case, you'll hear either static from the station or voices and music will be heard faintly in the background. Numerous satellite radios are equipped with RF modulators, which use FM frequencies to deliver sound through your car's speakers. Always test the radio with several unused FM frequencies to find the clearest channel. If you get a weak signal and you're sure there's no interference, try relocating the antenna. Do use the car's cassette player to connect to your sound system. Unluckily not all brands of satellite radio come with a cassette adapter, but they're pretty easy to get. Only plug it into the audio out jack of your radio and pop the end with the cassette into the player. Always test your receiver with a home kit. When all of your stations come through loud and clear, there could be a problem with the RF modulator. Therein that case exchange the radio for a new one. Do check to see if your radio is locked, this may be the case if you can't change stations and a "lock" signal is displayed on the radio. We can turn this off on some radios by pressing the Mute/Pause/Lock button. When your radio doesn't have this, or it doesn't solve the problem, unlock it by inserting the end of a paper clip into the radio's reset hole.

Always reset the radio by inserting the end of a paper clip into the radio's reset hole to alleviate problems if the back light of the radio doesn't turn off or on or the radio's display doesn't change.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/gadgets-and-gizmos-articles/satellite-radio-care-tips-397400.html

About the Author

Kyle Newton has worked in the electronics field for the past 15 years. He enjoys helping people decide on electronic gadgets from telephones to XM Radio and choosing the perfect XM Satellite Radio system for their needs.

The Facts You Need To Know About Satellite Radio - Part 2

Author: Jim Johnson

In Part 1 of this report, we discussed how the technology of using satellites to broadcast radio signals from over 20,000 miles above the earth results in great reception throughout the US everywhere and all the time. But there is more.

Satellite radio is not free radio. It is subscription based, meaning that you pay a monthly fee for the service. The costs are very nominal though as Sirius costs .95 a month and XM is .95 a month. Neither of the subsciptions can be said to be expensive, but initially you may recoil from thwe idea of paying for something that you have gotten for free for so many years.

However, think about this. You weren't actually getting anything for free all this time. Think of how much time in your life has been wasted listening to ads or commercials on the radio instead of the programming that you tune in for. If you added it all up, it would no doubt be a huge chunk of time, and if your time is worth anything, you were definitely paying a price for tuning in. The radio stations have no other way of making radio broadcasting a profitable business, so you are stuck with putting up with ads for so many minutes of every hour just to be able to listen to the programming you want in between the commercials.

Satellite radio is following the proven business model example of cable television and instead of inundating you with ads, they just provide high quality programming all the time. No ads, no commercials, no wasting your time.

And what kind of programming do you get? Just about anything that you can imagine, and it's growing all the time. Your selections include music, talk radio, sporting events, kids programs, news and more. There are several celebrities that have set up shop in the studios of the satellite radio companies, including the high profile case of Howard Stern. But you can find even more celebrity specific programming from others like Martha Stewart, Jimmy Buffet, Eminem and more.

There are around 65 channels of music listening alone on each provider's service, and they cover almost every conceivable kind of music that is found in the US including rock, jazz, country, blues, reggae, and more. And there are several different kinds of each music genre as well, For instance, rock has channels devoted to hard rock, early rock, soft rock, heavy metal, and many more. Just pick your favorites and tune in for solid good music that you like to listen to wherever you go.

Be sure to read Part 3 for even more satellite radio facts.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/technology-articles/the-facts-you-need-to-know-about-satellite-radio-part-2-15968.html

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

How Satellite Radio And TV Innovations Work For You

Author: Jim Johnson

For many years, radio and TV broadcasts were all done pretty much the same and consumers had no choice but to put up with the limitations of the broadcasting system. It was well-known that you could only be so far away from a radio or TV station if you ever hoped to pull in a strong enough signal to make the reception clear and enjoyable. But when cable TV was first introduced all of that began to change and now satellite technologies are in place to allow everyone to enjoy clear, high quality broadcast reception no matter where they are in the US.

Old analog radio and TV broadcasts have been extremely limited in what they could do for two major reasons: (1) The signal could only carry so much information, and (2) the shape of the earth made tall obstructions and distance a serious obstacle past a 30 - 50 mile range. So if you exceeded that range, picture and/or sound became sketch and eventually not worth even putting up with.

As mentioned above, cable started to address those issues, but it's been the advent of satellite technology that has really brought clear digital entertainment to the masses no matter where they live in the US. And here is why:

Satellite radio and TV both broadcast their signal in digital formats rather than analog. The signal is much more dense and contains more information. What that means for you is better clarity on the TV screen and high quality CD-like sound for both radio and TV.

But perhaps one of the most incredible advances made available by satellite technology is the ability to stream perfectly clear reception throughout the US even if you live in remote or rural areas. This is possible because the satellites that broadcast the signal are in orbit thousands of miles above the earth, so there is absolutely nothing to obstruct the signal or degrade it as it is beamed down to those on the ground who can receive it with the appropriate equipment.

There is also enough satellites in use that service is never interrupted as they travel around the earth. When one starts to go out of range, the next in line picks up the broadcasting chores and the reception is never broken.

This means that if you have a subscription to either XM or Sirius satellite radio service, you could get in your car and travel nonstop from one end of the country to the other end and never lose the radio broadcast signal or even have to put up with any static or reduced quality. It's entertainment that is always on and always available, everywhere throughout the country.

This kind of technology was only a dream just a few years ago, but now has become the standard for top quality broadcasting entertainment for now and the foreseeable future.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/technology-articles/how-satellite-radio-and-tv-innovations-work-for-you-16763.html

About the Author
Fout more about sirius satellite radio and delphi satellite radio by visiting our Satellite Radio Review website.

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Xm Satellite Radio Replacing Free Radio?

Author: Matt Barstow

Remember the days when we thought paying for our TV service was ridiculous? "Cable TV!", our mothers would exclaim, "Who has money to pay for their TV shows? It's been free all these years; I don't know why I would start paying for it now."

But that was then and this is now. Today we pay for cable or satellite and consider it a necessity in our lives, not a luxury. Sure, we could stick with "free" TV, but the reception would be bad, we'd only have 4-6 channels to choose from and there would be no CNN, no Food Network, and no ESPN. What would we do with ourselves?

So it seems a little reminder of those days when we hear people scoffing at the notion of paying for radio. "I've gotten it free all these years," you hear people exclaim. "Why would I pay for radio?"

Although satellite radio services have been around for a few years, its notoriety was spun into high gear when Howard Stern publicly made the jump from "free" radio to a satellite service in early 2006. Now, everyone's curious and many people are considering paying a bill every month for the privilege of listening to the radio.

Just like cable TV, there are many proprietary shows on satellite radio you just won't hear if you don't have a subscription. So you have to pony up to the extra bill bar...but what do you get for your extra dough?

Lots. Talk shows, music shows, entertainment, sports.

Some of the most talked about XM Satellite Radio shows are not music shows but talk shows. There are literally more than a dozen to choose from.

Consider Air America Radio (on channel 167), which features chatter from such well-known mouths as those belonging to Al Franken, Jerry Springer and actress Janeane Garofalo. Largely a progressive station, this dial also features veteran radio host Mark Riley and commentator Alan Colmes.

For the right slant on things, take a listen to America Right (on channel 166). This program features shows from such luminary conservatives as G. Gordon Liddy, Peter Greenburg, Dr. Laura and Michael Medved.

If politics aren't your bag, how about entertainment or humor? On XM Radio channel 162, you'll find the E! channel. Yes, this is the same E! we pay for on cable and the format is generally the same. There's the E! True Hollywood Story, E! news and celebrity profiles. Now you can get all your E! gossip and news while drinking Starbucks on your way to work. My, how the world has changed.

If you're into sports, XM Radio delivers. There's the Sporting News channel, the Nascar channel, the ESPN channel, and a wide variety of channels dedicated to various sports like baseball, football and even hockey. Though many channels feature talk and sports opinion, one of the big selling points for many sports fans is the live streaming games. In this case, you truly can take it with you.

Got kids in the car? Tune into Radio Disney or XM Kids, the winner of several parents' choice awards.

Amid all this talk, there is music on XM Radio. Lots and lots of music. There are alternative music channels, top 40 channels, channels for 60s music, 70s music, 80s music and 90s music. Interested in music from Sweden and Ireland? Check out channel 29, or U-Pop, dedicated to hits from around the world. Needs some romance in your life? Turn your dial to The Heart (XM channel 23), where you can enjoy Whitney Houston, Michael Bolton, Celine Dion and the like.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/art-and-entertainment-articles/xm-satellite-radio-replacing-free-radio-94822.html

About the Author
Matt Barstow offers valuable tips and information about satellite radio, receivers, and subscriptions. Read his latest report answering the most popular questions about satellite radio.
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The Impact Of Satellite Radio On The Life Of Truck Drivers

Author: Kyle Newton

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.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/satellite-radio-articles/the-impact-of-satellite-radio-on-the-life-of-truck-drivers-415685.html

About the Author

Kyle Newton has worked in the electronics field for the past 15 years. He enjoys helping people decide on electronic gadgets from telephones to XM Radio and choosing the perfect XM Satellite Radio system for their needs.

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Microwaves And Satellite Communication

Author: Kyle Newton

Micro is a unit for measurement of length. As the name suggests microwaves are the portion of the electromagnetic spectrum where the wavelength falls between about one millimeter and thirty centimeters that is micrometers.

Frequency of microwave bands extends from about one gigahertz to three hundred gigahertz and is useful for short range, high reliability radio and television links. Systems which use microwave frequencies are radar, mobile radio, satellite communications, terrestrial line of sight and troposphere links.

An essential property of microwaves is that they travel in straight lines through the atmosphere, are not affected by the ionized layers. Also these waves are very less affected by temperature inversions and scattering. But these weather effects limit the distance between the transmitter and the receiver to a few miles. This problem is over come by usage of repeater stations placed along the propagation path that extend the distance over which communication can occur.

Basically a microwave repeater is a receiver/amplifier/transmitter combination used for relaying microwave signals in long distance and overland communication links. As frequencies of the signals increase thereby distance between repeaters decrease.

Main mode of propagation in the microwave range is line of sight. Line of sight means that the transmitter and receiver need to see each other. Thus range of line of sight communication depends upon the height of the communicating antennas and the nature of the terrain between them. Radio horizon limits the distance over which signals can be sent.

Microwave repeaters i.e. radio link systems carry large quantizes of voice and data traffic and are subject to transmission impairments thus limiting the distance between relay points. Majority of the radio link systems carry analog signals which are frequency modulated, while a few carry digital signals. Radio link systems which are terrestrial are highly directional and send point to point voice and data signals.

Like television broadcast systems, satellite radio link systems also offer multiple path transmission for various signals. Waveguides are main transmission media for transmission of frequencies in the microwave spectrum. The walls of waveguides are highly polished and sometimes specially plated to reduce resistance and consequently power losses. These devices are constructed of brass, copper or aluminum and are made in sections of various lengths. The sections are straight, bent, twisted or flexible. The most common form of waveguide is rectangular in cross section although round waveguides may be used.

Microwaves can be transmitted by co axial cable, micro strip, strip line and optical fibers as well within certain range. Among these transmission of light modulated signals through optical fibers is the model method. As the waveguides provide excellent shielding and low loss so they can transmit greater amounts of power with less energy loss than co axial cables.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/electronics-articles/microwaves-and-satellite-communication-397324.html

About the Author

Kyle Newton has worked in the electronics field for the past 15 years. He enjoys helping people decide on electronic gadgets from telephones to XM Radio and choosing the perfect XM Satellite Radio system for their needs.

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Technical Considerations Of XM Satellite Radio

Author: Kyle Newton

The whole content of the radio service that is both data and audio content is represented by only two carriers. Other four carriers carry duplicates of the same content to achieve redundancy through diversity of signals. Time delayed and error correction schemes are used for carrying data on each carrier. This is done to enhance availability.

Thus the total effective radio spectrum used for content is a little over four mega hertz. The groups of two carriers broadcast hundred eight kilobits per second streams. Combined streams whose combination is done using a patented process form a variable number of channels using a variety of bit rates. Thus bandwidth is separated into segments of four kilo bit per second virtual streams which are combined to form audio and data channels of varying bit rates from four to sixty four kilobits per second in the current service. The audio content of the XM signals is pre processed using the audio processors which use the special coding technique.

They also include spectral band replication. Audio data is stored digitally using MPEG two audio technologies at three hundred and eighty four kilo bits and is further processed by the audio processors on the way to broadcast. Channels of XM namely XM Pop and fine tuning are broadcasted in surround audio quality.

This technology is a partnership between XM and Neural Audio Corporation which provides content with six discrete channels of digital full fidelity audio powered by Neural Audio technology. Another channel namely XM live also broadcasts in this format for select concerts and studio performances. Manufacturing partners of XM have introduced home audio systems capable of playing XM HD Surround powered by Neural Audio. XM satellite radio's music is commercial free.

This concept came into existence after many formal announcements and public meetings. Also the music can be recorded and can be enjoyed afterwards. This is possible because of the enhanced compatible devices. The music content recorded by a subscriber is only available when the subscriber has an active account with XM Satellite Radio.

But if the account is terminated the recorded content will becomes inaccessible. Also there is a condition that if a subscriber fails to listen to a total of 8 hours of programming a month the recorded content will not be accessible. Music that has been recorded can only be accessed on the portable devices and it can not be transferred to a home computer or separate digital music player. This technique of recording music is not new. Applications have been developed which record songs to MP3 and tag them with the artist and title information directly from the XM network. This technique was tried to spoil by discontinuing the required XM PCR radio. But the organization responded by quickly rolling out adaptive interfaces to allow almost any XM subscriber to use their tuner to build music libraries directly from XM broadcasts.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/satellite-radio-articles/technical-considerations-of-xm-satellite-radio-397317.html

About the Author

Kyle Newton has worked in the electronics field for the past 15 years. He enjoys helping people decide on electronic gadgets from telephones to XM Radio and choosing the perfect XM Satellite Radio system for their needs.

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

Author: Matt Barstow

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.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/advertising-articles/xm-vs-sirius-satellite-radio-which-one-is-better-for-you-58732.html

About the Author

Matt Barstow offers valuable tips and information about satellite radio, players, and services. Read his latest report answering the most popular questions about satellite radio.

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