Posts Tagged ‘satellite’

If you want to take advantage of the satellite radio boom which is picking up steam with almost every passing day, you only have two major choices if you live in the US, either XM or Sirius. Both providers offer high quality, digital programming with over 100 channels to listen to so you can never run out of something good on the radio.

But what are the differences between the two services? It makes sense to figure that out in advance and make the right decision for you, as the equipment that you buy that enables you to receive the signal from one of the providers, cannot be used with the other provider if you decide that you want to make a change for some reason. So that means that examining the programming options from both XM and Sirius is an important step in the buying process, as it will be very expensive if you decide to change after the equipment has been purchased.

In actuality though, there are more similarities between the two providers than there are differences, especially in the field of music. Each has over 60 channels of music to tune into including all of the major generes like pop, hip-hop, blues, all kinds of rock, country, jazz, classical, as well as dance music and music by the decades (70s, 80s, 90s, etc.) So in this area, either one will no doubt provide you with all the music programming that you could ever need.

The differences in programming start to show up in the talk radio and sports radio sections though. In sports, XM broadcasts baseball games and Nascar, whereas Sirius has committed to more overall sports programming including all NFL footbal games, most NBA games, NHL, and Nascar. So if you are a sports fan, the differences can be important in this area.

In talk radio, one of the biggest draws for Sirius is Howard Stern. Of course, his radio show has been very popular for many years and has lots of listeners, so if he is a favorite of yours, you can only find him on Sirius. But there are other talk shows available as well, although Sirius tends to attract more celebrity talk shows hosted by the likes of Martha Stewart, Jimmy Buffet, and more. One other advantage in the talk area, is that Sirius also carries NPR, which has a wide fan base as well. The list is constantly changing though, so check the latest channel lineup to see what talk channels are being offered at this point.

Both services offer always-on, everywhere service that is available no matter where you live in the US, and the equipment for receiving each service is pretty extensive, with XM maybe having a slight edge in the portability field.

So look over the channel lineups carefully, choose your provider and enjoy the next step in high quality, digital entertainment.

In June, the CRTC granted satellite radio licenses to two groups
- the CBC, which is partnered with New York-based Sirius, and
CSR, which is partnered with Washington-based XM.

The federal cabinet has upheld the CRTC’s decision to issue two
new satellite radio licenses. As part of the deal, all
applicants agreed to include more Canadian and French-language
material. This is typical of Canadian media regulations and has
made headway for the satellite radio push and representation.
Groups such as Liberal MPs, Quebecers and other cultural groups
did have some opposition to the deal. “In effect, the Americans
have won…This is a black day,” said Ian Morrison, spokesman for
the lobby group Friends of Canadian Broadcasting.

Sirius Canada Inc. and Canadian Satellite Radio Inc. (CSR) say
they are pleased. CSR CEO John Bitove said in a statement that
his company intends to be a “proud” representation of Canadian
business and
satellite radio to the Prime Minister, the government
and the country.

As per conditions of the licenses, The Canadian Radio-television
and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) will begin holding
hearings asking for public input on the new commitments. The
decision was made by the CRTC in June however the issue has been
a heated one as cabinet debated whether to uphold it. Cabinet
had the option to approve it, reject it, or send it back for
further review.

As part of the agreement, CSR and Sirius have been forces to
increase the French-language influence and broadcasting. Both
promise to include 8 Canadian channels, which are half English
and half French.

Sports is filled with Rights and fees. Who has the right to
broadcast and reproduce sports, and how gets paid? College
Universities always hold local radio rights for their sports
programs.
Satellite radio has caused a conflict with these schools
due to the amount of the local broadcasts going national over
satellite systems.

Many universities believe that the local radio stations should
receive some proceeds from these broadcasts. However in many
cases, they are not currently getting any money from Satellite
Radio Services.

Negotiations have occurred at some level but not for every one,
it has been a league-by-league issue. XM, for example, deals
with several major conferences, including the Pac-10. However,
Sirius negotiated individual deals with Southern California and
UCLA, and these are all creating a conflict between the
companies and their respective teams and leagues. And although
these fees are not very large, with a growing subscriber base
and increased satellite radio popularity, the fees and the
battle to control rights are definitely going to increase and
heat up!

It’s going to be very interesting as the fight to control
content gets more heated, we have seen it happen with TV and
traditional radio, and now it’s satellite radio’s turn.

Become one of the thousands who have embraced the technology of satellite radio with the Delphi XM Roady Radio Receiver. The smallest receiver currently obtainable, the Delphi XM Roady enhances the listener’s music experience by providing an almost unlimited selection of programming to choose from.

With over 170 digital channels, listeners can check out commercial free music from country to classical and rock to reggae, the latest live concert events, up to date news stories from across the country, commentary on sporting events you can’t catch on television and more. It’s easy to install and is compatible with auxiliary accessories including the Roady FM Modulator and a power adapter. Priced at $119.95 and ready for use in either your car or you home with your XM Satellite Radio service, there’s really no other choice for a premier listening experience other than the Delphi XM Roady Radio Receiver.

The Delphi XM Roady Radio Receiver comes complete with the following capabilities:

Plug and play technology. Use your receiver wherever you want to enjoy your satellite radio, whether in your car, in your home, or through other audio systems. It’s convenient and easy to use wherever you prefer to enjoy various XM programming.

Search functionality. It’s a snap to locate specific channels, utilize preset options or file music by category/style. You’ll be able to find just what you’re looking for at the push of a button.

Color displays. Choose from red, green, light blue, orange, dark blue, pink and purple to customize your display to your preference. Add a fashionable face plate to your receiver to make it even more unique.

Small size. There’s no radio, and antenna, smaller than this one currently available. The Delphi XM Roady Radio Receiver’s miniature size makes it portable in a way that surpasses all other devices readily accessible on the market.

Home audio available. Tune in to your favorite stations outside of your car with this optional feature. Enjoy listening to your XM favorites from the comfort of your own home if you so desire.

TuneSelect innovation. Save a playlist of your 15 favorite songs for easy listening, along with detailed information about each one.

The complete Delphi XM Roady Radio Receiver kit comes with the receiver itself, a micro-antenna, three face plates to decorate your display, a car power and cassette adapter, mounting bracket and an instruction guide. Optional accessories that can be purchased separately include the home kit, Power/FM or FM only modulators that allow for listening on FM frequencies, and a dual RCA cable that makes it possible to listen to your XM radio through your stereo CD player. A great value for a great price. Be apart of the next generation of radio with the Delphi XM Roady Radio Receiver.

Portable satellite radio is the latest music trend, combining your MP3 collection with the ability to hear new music via Sirius or XM Radio. You’ll find that many of the portable ones are unique, sleek and more functional than an iPod. Many people like the versatility of a portable satellite radio since they can use it in the home, office or car, with minimal installation requirements.

Your best bet for Sirius brand is the Sirius S50 Radio (with car kit), which allows you to save your favorite channels and 50 hours of music, replay songs, import playlists, get game alerts, listen to six hours of music per charge and access traffic reports. It also comes with everything you need to listen to your subscription in the car.

The Stiletto 1 or Stiletto 2 portable satellite radio offers the most stylish new design. The only difference between the two is that the second model is slightly slimmer, lighter and has longer battery life.

Both will record up to 100 hours of radio programming, bookmark 10 hours of music at the touch of a button, store your MP3s on 2 GB of space, allow an hour’s worth of replay and provide personalized sports alerts. The Stiletto 1 usually runs for $199 and the Stiletto 2 is $329, but you can often find sales.

If you’re thinking about XM brand, there are some amazing options. The Pink Pioneer Inno offers: 50 hours of storage, sports and news tickers, one touch recording, artist and tune select features, MP3 storage and play. While girls may prefer the Pink Pioneer, guys can get excited about the gray Pioneer Inno or the Samsung Helix, which has all the same features.

Both of the Innos can also play Audible audio books as well! The Nexus has a little less storage space and lacks the bells and whistles (like sports and news updates), but it will get the job done for $129 full price or $70 on sale. Your Nexus will come complete with a mini-tuner, home stand and antenna, power adapter, RC cable, USB cable, rechargeable battery, earbuds, Napster CD, belt clip and remote.

Portable satellite radio is great for exercising, walking to class, plugging into your car and bringing your subscription to the office. XM brand offers live breaking news, while Sirius brand can give sports fans Game Alerts – which is a really neat feature that your iPod doesn’t currently have! Get the most out of your Sirius or XM subscription with a portable device that goes where you go.

Many years ago, people didn’t have televisions. Many read the papers to get the news or listened to the radio. Just as satellite television has entered American homes, another thing has also been developed that is called satellite radio.

What is satellite radio? This piece of hardware allows the individual to listen to favorite recording artists and shows instead of watching it on television. Given that the United States is a vast place and there are various stations in each state, this also allows the user to listen to one back home hundreds of miles away.

Currently, there are two main players competing head on in the market. The first is called Sirius while the other is XM radio. Which of the two is better? This question depends on whom the individual will ask but both are doing quite well and more customers are signing up.

Sirius is the first to ever provide commercial free programming on all its music channels and has a wide array of accessories for customers to buy. This is despite that fact that XM radio launched a few months in advance.

The subscription fee of Sirius a little pricey compared to XM radio. When people want the best things in life, money maybe an obstacle. So the deciding factor will be what the hardware has to offer.

Satellite radio has been around for almost 5 years. Since this is considered to be the “in thing” in the market, both companies have tied up with the major car manufacturers to have this installed in their vehicles. This is the same thing Ipod is doing so the owner can listen to the favorite tunes while on the road.

Sirius has 65 channels that feature sports, news and other programs aside from music. This includes exclusive coverage of special events such as the NFL. XM radio on the other hand has NASCAR and Fox news. It has 68 channels which is 3 more than what the other is offering to the consumer.

The accessories used by Sirius satellite radio allows the person to listen to this at home or in the car. One of the basic accessories it uses is the Sanyo CRSR-10 Plug and Play system that will cost about $149.99. Those who are not satisfied can have this upgraded-which will cost from $250 to $2,000.

XM radio on the other hand uses the Delphi XM Roady Receiver. This will cost an individual somewhere between $30 to $400, but those who choose to get a monthly subscription will only have to pay $12.95 per month.

Both the models being offered by Sirius and XM radio are easy to install. The person will just have to pay a small fee as a service charge when enlisting the help of a customer representative when this is being done.

Customers can buy the unit in a store or order this online. It is not only ordinary individuals who are very interested in this product since there are also other models for commercial use that are being broadcasted in public access systems of hotels and other retail establishments

Is Sirius satellite radio better then that XM radio? Given that both companies have different things to offer, this really depends on the tastes of the customer.