Satellite Radio or HD Radio - The Future of Radio
Provided By: CarInsurance.com
Satellite radio started in 1992 when the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) allotted a spectrum in the S band for nationwide broadcasting of satellite based radio service. Radio companies wishing to use this S band had to apply for a license and receive approval to broadcast from the FCC. The two companies that received approval by the FCC in 1997, and paid around $80 million for the right to broadcast on this spectrum, are XM and Sirius Satellite Radio.
Most CarInsurance.com users prefer Sirius Satellite Radio.
Satellite radio was a foreign concept to most radio listeners until it gained momentum and popularity during the early 2000s. As satellite radio showed that it was here to stay and not a passing fad, celebrities have signed on to host their own shows. This includes mega stars such as Oprah and well known on air radio personalities such as Howard Stern.
Beyond the big names that have come to satellite radio, both XM and Sirius offer over 100 channels of music, talk radio, sports or other types of entertainment. Most channels are commercial free and all are currently free from regulations being placed on them by the FCC like terrestrial radio is. Satellite radio thus can expand the boundaries of what was once placed on land radio.
Satellite radio does require a person to subscribe for either XM or Sirius satellite service and pay either a monthly, yearly or lifetime subscription amount.But with this payment comes the ability to listen to your 100 plus channels of satellite radio nationwide. No more trying to dial in a radio station as you drive across country or even one town to the next in your own state. Now a subscriber can listen to their favorite satellite channel from coast to coast in North America.
While Sirius and XM are both satellite radio providers their line up of music, talk, sports and other entertainment channels differ. If you are ready to catch this wave of the future and sign up as a subscriber for satellite radio you should do some research into which provider you would want to use. Each satellite service comes with high quality, crisp sounds since the satellites give better reception for the most part than regular land radio stations but the offerings differ by satellite provider.
We now have HD Radio on the horizon. HD Radio is an upgrade of the way AM and FM radio signals are transmitted. We have all heard of analog to digital signals in the television spectrum, and now they are promoting it for radio.
HD Radio won't change the commercials you hear or silence all the marketing, but it will change the quality of all the commercials... and music. Most HD Radio broadcasters will transmit multiple high-quality digital signals. Broadcasters will be able to have 3-5 channels instead of just one. For example, your favorite station may offer alternates (105.1 will become 105.1.1, 105.1.2, 105.1.3, etc.). Instead of the current (potentially) scratchy analog sounds, listeners who have an HD Radio receiver will hear FM radio with near CD-quality sound and AM radio will now sound as good as traditional FM.
You won't hear static, pops, crackles or fades but you may now hear alien sounds come across the radio. You know the sound when you almost drop a cell phone call. This is a potential pitfall of satellite radio too. One item that is beneficial, is the ability for broadcasters to transmit additional information, such as song titles and artists. This is similar to the benefits of Satellite radio.
If you main concern is a certain DJ or radio talk host, such as Howard Stern, then go with the provider that has that person. If you are more concerned with a certain sporting program or genre of music look into if XM or Sirius better fulfills your needs. Be prepared to fall in love with this new technology. You may even decide you will need to buy the proper satellite radio equipment so you can listen to your satellite channels not only in your vehicle but also in your house. Yes, this technology also exists and if you are interested in satellite radio make the futurist technology part of your life now.
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