Here are a few FAQs about everyone’s favorite radio service.

Question #1: Can you give us an overview of what satellite radio is?

Who provides the new service?

Answer: Satellite radio is a subscription based communication service. It has far more programs and music than the traditional network does, and it is available internationally by WorldSpace and stateside by Sirius and XM.

Question #2: Are there any advantages to having satellite radio?

Answer: The genres, styles, and eras of music you can choose from is almost limitless. Getting the programming you want, (weather, traffic, talk, news, and entertainment), without the annoyance of commercials. The new technology is broadcast into your car, RV, yacht, sauna, or home by use of a digital signal that completely eradicates that entire mind frying static. Once you purchase the equipment and properly install it, you will be supplied with a complete list of programming and channels right on the receiver. Local traffic and weather are available, provided by Sirius and XM.

Question #3: Are there any disadvantages to having the new technology?

Answer: If you don’t live in the continental United States, you cannot receive the signal. This includes Hawaii, Alaska, Puerto Rico, and other U.S. Territories.

Question #4: What do XM and Sirius Radio provide?

Answer:
-XM: 150 channels, 2 NASCAR racing channels, Major League Baseball, Professional Golf Association, ACC, Big Ten, and PAC-10 football and basketball coverage. You can have all of this awesome stuff for only $12.95 a month.

-Sirius: 120 Channels, Live National Hockey League, National Football League, National Basketball Association, English Premier League Soccer, and college sports game coverage. You can get all of this great programming for only $12.95 a month.

Question #5: How do I go about installing a system capable of handling the new technology?

Answer: There are a few things you will need before installing a system. First of all, you will need an antenna powerful enough to pick up the signal and deliver it to your receiver. Secondly, you will need a tuner so that you can actually get the signal from the antenna. There are 3 basic types of satellite radio tuners: Plug and play, which can be used on the go in a specially designed boom box, or car, the Universal tuner, which is most commonly used in the car, and then there is the home tuner, which hooks directly into the receiver. Thirdly, you will require a receiver which allows you to select the channels. Lastly, you absolutely need to purchase a subscription from either XM Satellite Radio or Sirius Radio.

Question #6: How do I get the best satellite quality sound in my car?

Answer: In order to get the great sound you deserve from your system you should do 1 of 3 things:

a.Install an in-dash receiver with a built-in tuner.
b.Install a satellite ready receiver and connect it to an external satellite tuner.
c.Install a plug-and-play satellite tuner by connecting it directly to your vehicle’s stereo auxiliary input.

Any song that you hear on your satellite radio is a recording or replay and will be transmitted to you again and again. The recording has to be at a minimum so that you will be able to put it on CDs and tapes. The music is that of an MP3 except it is broadcasted over a satellite radio. The person who is putting together the music on the broadcast usually just puts together a list of 20 to 30 minutes worth of music and then just lets it play.

Encoding will be one of the key things in satellite digital broadcasting. Every channel is handled by a different person who chooses the music to play. Whoever is playing the music will take the analog and put it to digital use. The process that the high powered computers do is way more powerful then any other regular computer today because they have to break down sound waves and maybe re makes them. After they have broken them down they will be put on CDs after the song is remade or whatever happens during the encoding process it will be broadcasted over your normal satellite radio. That is what happens when you push your button to turn on your satellite radio and are going to be listening to your satellite radio receiver. Above the earth in space is where the satellites send down the transmissions broadcasted on the satellite radios.

The satellites are located up there and they will send down the broadcasts that are made. All they do is broadcast the music to the players and tuners so that people can listen to all the music that they need and want. Each satellite is 23,000 feet up and broadcasts signals everyday to the tuners and radio players. The satellites are geo synched which means that they always hover over the place where they are going to be broadcasting. Even if it means just staying in the same place forever that’s what they are going to be doing. They will just stay there unless they are moved to another area and then another satellite just fills its spot and then you are going to have more music again. I don’t think that a satellite is just going to move during a song but if it does it will just be replaced by another outlaying satellite.

So if you need a satellite radio or were thinking about getting one you should go to best buy or circuit city and get one even though they may seem kind of expensive they are well worth every penny when you are wanting to listen to something that you cannot listen to on the regular radio. They are probably around the 50 to 100 dollar range at any electronics store around where you may live. The better ones are around the $100 to $300 range and are going to be like that because they offer a better subscription or service.