Online diamonds

By: Carl Walker

How does satellite radio work? To understand how satellite radio works you must first understand how analog radio works. Analog radio works by broadcasting the radio frequency to local transmitters and then on to the listener. Satellite radio works similarly but instead of using stationary transmitters with limited range to broadcast their media to the people, they use mobile Satellites.

Satellites are equipment that orbit the earth and can pick up and transmit signals globally instead of just in a limited area. In the satellite radio category a satellite bounces the transmitted radio frequency off of the satellite and out to the millions of satellite radio listeners around the world. This has increased the satellite radio industry and has made satellite radio a staple media avenue in our everyday lives. Does this help you to understand the question of how does satellite radio work?

A user such as myself or you, who is interested in satellite radio purchases a satellite radio device whether it be stationary or portable, we purchase the desired satellite radio service from whichever service provider offers us the best variety of programming. Once the subscription to this service is established, the device is programmed into a database of devices that are allowed to receive specific radio transmissions from specific satellites. This entry into the database then sends a signal to the device to decrypt satellite frequencies, providing the user with audible satellite radio reception. This explains the question of how does satellite radio work?

Many service providers may use different marketing gimmicks to gain a customer base, claiming to have better coverage or what not. When it comes down to it, The only difference which could be considered is the limitations put on the satellite radio by the databases and what programs and filters any individual service provider may be using to limit the access their customers have to the satellite radio feed. Service providers may offer special features, or special programming which is solely controlled by their databases and the servers they use to transmit the satellite radio feed. You rarely hear of a service provider explaining to the customer the answer to the question of how does satellite radio work?

If a user fails to pay for their subscription to the satellite radio feed, just as with any utility nowadays, the service provider may then send a signal to the device, removing its rights to decrypt satellite radio transmissions. Many technologies in the past, prior to the radio technology have used satellites to widen the spectrum of their services, such as telecommunications such as cell phones. The principal of each service is relatively the same in the fact that a person uses a device such as a satellite radio, or cell phone, to request a transmission through a service provider’s database. If the subscription is paid for the transmission is allowed from the satellite to the user giving us satellite capable radio devices. I hope I have helped answer the question how does satellite radio work?

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By: Sasha Masand

One of the major drivers that have helped the media industry in India canter along at a blistering pace has been the good old radio. AM, FM and even Satellite Radio have made a huge impact on the Industry in India. The stage is set for major revenue growth among the various Radio Channels.

In fact what we are seeing is not some newfound love for the old medium but just the natural uncoiling of the market after being repressed by the government for decades. In a country where the majority of the illiterate poor have only the Radio as their low cost medium for entertainment and news reception, the Government does not want to give up control. Even now though new FM licenses have been issued all across the country, News-casting has been barred from private Radio Networks.

Private news channels on Television in contrast are now dime-a-dozen. For better or for worse we now get the same bit of news delivered to us on television with sometimes extremely divergent views, spin e.t.c. Sadly Radio has not yet joined that bandwagon.

In fact listening to FM Radio in India is very weird, as it seems too “clean” without the usual news on the hour. Talking about weird of all the things Satellite Radio is here. WORLDSPACE has got around 65000 subscribers in India. That’s two thirds of its entire audience around the world. People say they like it because it is clean without commercials. In most developed markets though where broadband penetration is high people have access to thousands of radio channels via the Internet. Satellite radio hence does not generally do well there. The other limitations of course to satellite radio apart from being expensive to setup, here in India are that its not portable. You are tied down to one receiver and that’s it.

Everything is new and nice at the moment. People in India today are spoilt for choice. Be it any media platform they have a stack of channels to choose from. But the day is not far away when they will realize that the flip side of entertainment is information.

In a way may be it would be much better if the industry could grow slower but in a more complete way. Just having loads of entertainment on the airwaves without some serious Information dispersal seems almost Banana Republic like.

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By: Carl Walker

What are satellite radio antennas and what are their uses? This is the question that many people ask themselves when they hear about satellite radio antennas. As you read this article you will get an idea on what a satellite radio antenna is. Also you will learn what are their uses, functions and a lot of great pointers on where to buy one, what types are there and how to take care of it.

In order for you to listen and watch your programs you need a satellite radio antenna. This allows the module that you are using to communicate with its home base; the home base includes all of the programs and it allows you to choose what you would like to view. This all sounds like something out of a sci fi movie, but it is not. Your television, radio, even your computer has a satellite radio antenna.

Now that you know what satellite radio antennas are here are some of their main functions and uses. When you turn on your satellite in order for you to watch any of your programs on it the main thing needed is the satellite radio antenna. It allows the base (your PSP) to communicate with the main base of the whole entire system. This gives you the ability to either listen to your music or watch your programs, which ever you may choose.

Many people wonder where they can buy satellite radio antennas. You may buy one in your local hardware store. There is no specific company you should purchase your antenna from because different companies make different types of these mechanisms.

The different types usually go based on the use of the satellite radio antennas. You may be buying it for your car, bike, and stereo system or maybe even just for your house. They all have the same functions and every company that makes them to does their best to suit you and all of your needs.

The best way you can take care of you satellite radio antenna is to keep it out of water, as we all know electricity and water are not what we could call the greatest of friends. Also, these should be kept out of the reach of any young children; if yours is already inside of something you should make sure that it stays in there but if not any young child can swallow it and cause much harm. If this does happen please alert the police department as quickly as you can.

Now that you know what satellite radio antennas are, their functions, where to buy one and how to care for it you are ready to buy your own. Always keep in mind that depending on what size and type of a satellite radio antenna will vary in its price range. If you buy something for cheap it won’t last too long but you did not spend that much money on it, but if you buy something expensive it will last longer even if you did spend that extra hundred dollars on it.

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By: David Stone

Satellite Radio has become a very popular alternative to broadcast radio since its first release. It did take a while for the two competitors of satellite radio, Sirius and XM, to begin gaining customers. Equipment was expensive and bulky. There is also a monthly fee for the service, where broadcast radio is free. Satellite does have a few advantages against broadcast that helped it gain momentum more each year. There are very few channels on satellite radio that have commercials. This is very similar to premium cable television like HBO or Showtime…they cost extra but have no commercials. Another great feature Satellite Radio offers is quality that you cannot find in broadcast radio. Satellite radio is a digital signal that sounds cleaner and has virtually no static because with digital signals you either have close to full quality or nothing at all. Satellite also offers coast to coast coverage so you do not have to search for a local station when you travel.

Recent technology moves have helped the receiver end of satellite radio tremendously. Car manufacturers now offer satellite equipment built in to new cars so that there is nothing to buy, just the monthly service fee. Some car companies like GMC only offer XM capability, but many companies offer you to choose either but not both. Car manufacturers also offer much more high end stereos that can utilize the benefits of a digital signal. They use this as a sales pitch to show how good their stereos really are.

Satellite does have new competition that is broadcast for free like analog radio. HD Radio will be broadcast by many local stations in the near future offering better quality than satellite radio. This is much like television stations that broadcast HD TV locally. There are still commercials, but clear sound and music information about artists is available by any HD Radio equipped stereo. Only the future will tell if people are willing to shell out the dough to avoid commercials.

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By: Holly Dodd

My satellite radio is just about the best toys that I bought myself in a long time. No more spending the majority of my driving time switching between stations, with a satellite radio, I can choose exactly what I want, when I want it.

The units that receive the satellite signal in the home are rather limited but the ones for the car, well that’s another story. Here are some tips for selecting satellite radio for your car.

Buying an after market radio that has a satellite receiver built in is the easiest way to add satellite radio to your car in my opinion. My husband went the route of adding a simple satellite receiver to his existing radio. The drawback was, not only did it take awhile to install it came out messy.

Aftermarket radios, can be purchased to bring in just the satellite signal, AM/FM radio stations, CD or it can come, as I selected, with all three built in.

When traveling on a trip, I found this was the most convenient as I could keep up with local happenings with my regular radio but when I wanted crystal clear tunes, I had my CD or Satellite radio to choose from.

One of the things that people mistakenly think about satellite radio is that all you have to buy is the monthly subscription to enjoy commercial free satellite radio. The fact is you do have to consider the cost of your subscription AND the cost of your satellite radio AND the cost of a professional installation. In most cases this amount can easily add up to a few hundred dollars.

By far the least expensive way to get started with satellite radio is to add one of those add on radios, like my husband bought. You can buy one for about $100 dollars and although the installation will take some time, it sis nothing that most people can’t do themselves.

Some don’t require installation at all, all you need is something called the FM modulator to be located near the FM radio in your car, IT will do the rest. This is a great solution if you just want to try satellite radio or if you change cars often.

So you can get started for as little as $100 dollars but for a mid to top of the line radio, expect to pay between $300 and $500 plus installation, and worth every penny!

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By: HT

Dish Network, in their steadfast pursuit of the best in audio programming services, is pleased to offer their subscriber base the ultimate in content and sound provided by Sirius Satellite Radio services.

Based in New York and operational since 1999, Sirius Satellite Radio is a service provider who provides 68 streams of music and 55 streams of sports, news, and entertainment to both the United States and Canada – 24 hours a day, commercial-free. When a song is broadcast, the user can view the name of the artist and song info while listening. Programming streams are relayed to one of three satellites orbiting above North America. They are received and digitally transmitted back to earth where a receiver intercepts one of the channels within the signal. Reception is great as signals beamed to ground repeaters may be received in congested urban areas without interruption. No matter where you are located, reception is great. Satellite radio music and commentary is delivered digitally and are of a higher quality than standard radio signals and special receivers are necessary to decode signals. The Federal Communications Commission does not regulate satellite providers. This service is not free and those who desire it may subscribe directly to Sirius Satellite Radio. Music channels include Pop, Hip-Hop, R&B/Urban, Classical, Rock, and Country, and much more. Sports streams include NBA, NFL, and NHL exclusives plus ESPN sports. Excellent talk programming by Howard Stern, Martha Stewart, and others is featured in addition to news channels, children’s programming (Radio Disney), and much more. Traffic and weather programs are featured and partnered with automobile companies and airlines that offer promotions to subscribers. Technical support and service are available 24 hours a day, and service and support availability is a valuable commodity in this day and time.

Sirius Satellite Radio provides a subset of streams (channels) of music to Dish Network satellite television as a part of their services to more than 12 million subscribers in the United States. Dish Network provided in-flight satellite audio services to an airline company in the U.S., and it was well received. In 2004, selected music channels were added to Dish Network’s music lineup. Sirius channels are identified on Dish Network’s lineup as XS (‘XS20’, ‘XS109’). Millions of satisfied Dish Network customers sing the praises of Sirius programming with consumers being given the option of choosing programming – wherever and whenever they desire. Sirius offers more than 60 channels of round the clock music selections, and includes Country, Hip-Hop, R&B/Urban, Dance/Electronic, Jazz, Classical, Rock, and Pop. Sirius music is included in their offer of programming packages and is delivered in excellent CD quality or Dolby Surround sound.

Dish Network’s offer of free equipment and professional installation is an attractive bonus that is in addition to their provision of the best audio and video programming available to date.

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By: Aurel Radulescu

Satellite radio is still a somewhat new concept to the modern world. Gone are the days of hopping in the car, turning on the radio and listening to endless commercials without even hearing a single song. Satellite radio is very similar to the concept of pay-per-view television. In exchange for a membership fee, you receive virtually commercial free programming specifically based on your desire.

Satellite radio companies own exclusive rights to certain content, including some sporting events. This means that the only way to hear a game being broadcast may be to subscribe to that service on satellite radio. The same is true of various other content, including the recent move of Howard Stern exclusively to satellite radio. His talk show will only be available through a paid subscription and will no longer be broadcast on regular television or radio programming.

Membership fees range from several dollars per month to several hundred dollars for a lifetime membership. The decision of how to pay is at the sole discretion of the consumer. If you plan to be a lifetime customer, and have the cash to spare, there is no doubt that a lifetime membership will pay for itself over time. If, on the other hand, you’re new to the concept and just want to try it out, many satellite radio companies offer a free trial or low monthly fees to get you started.

The concept of satellite radio derives from, as the name implies, receiving satellite signals to direct certain programming into a radio. This can be a portable gadget, such as a small radio, or it can be installed in your vehicle or even heard through satellite television. Satellite radio provides more than five dozen channels, also known as streams, of music and fifty-five channels featuring sports, news and entertainment broadcasting. Music offered includes virtually every genre and is available every day, all day and is commercial free. With a typical Sirius radio, the consumer will be able to see the song and artist information displayed on their digital screen while listening to the music.

Satellite radio is a new trend that is sure to become a permanent fixture in the industry. With technology making new advancements at every turn, more and more people will look to satellite radio for their listening pleasure. Everything from sports and entertainment to talk shows and music are becoming the exclusive property of this new technology. Companies compete for the best programming, offer multi-million dollar contracts for big name agreements and are spending the big bucks to ensure that people keep tuning in to their station.

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