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Articles in Home | Communications
Sirius Satellite Radio vs XM Satellite Radio ?Which Streams Should You Choose?Sirius Satellite Radio vs XM Satellite Radio ?Which StreamsShould You Choose? Just as many TV viewers have come to consider cable TV alife necessity, so too is satellite radio becoming a mainstream replacement fortraditional AM/FM listening. Yes you have to pay for it, but just as withcable, you get way more channels and edgier, more innovative programming. Plus, you don’t lose your favorite station as you travel across the state orcountry. And satellite players show the artist and name of the song, whichis definitely a plus for those who like to know what they’re listening to. In the U.S. there are just two main players in the satellite radio industry,Sirius and XM. WorldSpace, which has been broadcasting the longest andcovers the most area, currently does not offer coverage in the United States. So with just two providers to pick from, one would think that the choice wouldbe easy, but each has its own pluses and drawbacks and the decision usuallycomes down to budget and personal preferences. How It Works In 1992, the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC)allocated a spectrum in the "S" band (2.3 GHz) for nationwidebroadcasting of satellite-based Digital Audio Radio Service (DARS). Of thefour companies that applied for licenses, only two were granted rights tobroadcast; Sirius (formerly CD Radio) and XM (formerly American Mobile Radio). Each company has satellites in orbit above the earth to transmit theirprogramming. Programs are beamed to one of the satellites, which thentransmits the signal to the ground, where your radio receiver picks up one ofthe channels within the signal. Signals are also be beamed to ground repeatersfor listeners in urban areas where the satellite signal can be interrupted. In many ways, Sirius has set the tone for the industry,being the first to offer commercial free programming on all its music channelsand has larger selection of receivers, adapters and other products. XM hasa cheaper subscription fee, at least for its basic plan, which offers much thesame fare as its competitor. Both providers have partnered with automobile manufacturersto offer satellite radio in new car models. And each has systems that willsearch the channels for your favorite music and alert you when and where thesongs are playing. Choosing between the two companies can be difficultsince each has its advantages. Here is some information that may helplisteners choose between the two. XM Satellite Radio XM satellite radio offers 68 commercial-free music channels, 33 news, sports,and talk & entertainment channels and 21 dedicated traffic and weatherchannels. XM is the exclusive satellite radio provider of FOX SportsRadio, Sporting News Radio and the world's only 24-hour NASCAR Radio channel. It does not offer NFL programming. Equipment XM has several choices in equipment. For just under $120, you can getthe Delphi XM Roady receiver. This complete package comes with amicro-antenna, cassette adaptor, 12V power adaptor, and a universal mountingbracket. For another $10, you can upgrade to the Roady2, proclaimed as thesmallest satellite receiver available. In addition to the typicalsatellite radio features, it allows you to scroll up to 20 stock symbols and has30 channel presets. The Delphi XM SKYFi is a receiver with a more advanceddisplay. It gives you more information about each song and the five-linedisplay lets you see what's playing on other XM channels before you switch. The SKYFi2, which costs $30 more, gives pause and play functions. It mustbe combined with an adaptor kit for home, vehicle or audio system. Theseadapters range from $70-$100 in price. Coming in November of 2004, the Delphi XM MyFi, touted asthe world's first XM2go receiver, becomes available from XM. It comes withcar kit, home kit, rechargeable battery, headphones, antennas and more for$349.99. Sirius Satellite Radio Sirius satellite radio offers 65 channels of commercialfree music, plus more than 50 channels of great sports, news and entertainmentprogramming. They are the only one of the two competitors to offer NFLcoverage, including play-by-play action and pre-game gab. Equipment Siruis offers a host of equipment options. Customerscan choose from over 15 plug and play options. Average receivers sell for$99.95 and can be combined with a car or home adapter, or a choice of differentboomboxes. For the same $99.95, the Sirius Sportster adds special featuresfor the sports enthusiast such as Game Alert, which prompts you when yourfavorite NFL or other sports teams are playing and Game Zone, which lists all ofthe play-by-play games and scores on Sirius by league. Or for $149.99 you can cover all your listening needs withthe Sanyo CRSR-10 Plug & Play System. It includes home and car kitsfor use at home, office, truck, RV, boat or car and antennas for home and car. It has 20 presets and a built-in wireless FM transmitter for use on all 100 FMfrequencies. If a boombox is not your style, you can go with a home systemthat integrates with you existing audio equipment. Prices range from $250up to $2000. You can put a headunit in your car, throw in a tuner andantenna and you’re wired for satellite in your vehicle without the portablereceiver and adapter. Sirius has over 15 headunits to choose from inprices ranging from under $200 to over $1000. Some of the more reasonablypriced units come with CD players and removable fronts. Comparisons So in the world of XM vs Sirius, it’s a tough call anddepends on your budget and listening preferences. The following satelliteradio comparison summary consists of information taken directly from thewebsites of the two satellite radio companies.
Satellite radio appears to be here to stay. Theofferings keep getting better and the decision between the two keeps gettingtougher. Equipment is available at store locations and websites ofretailers like Wal-Mart and Best Buy and through the providers?websites. For static free, commercial free radio listening and your favorite stationswherever you go, satellite radio is the choice of millions. Installationand activation are easy. In fact the toughest decision may be decidingwhich provider to choose. About the Author: C.J. Gustafson is a successful freelance writer for 1st-Dish-TV.net.She frequently writes on topics such as satelliteTV and car audio accessories. She vows her next car will come with a factoryinstalled satelliteradio. Copyright 2004 1st-Dish-TV.net Permission is granted to publish this article on your site only if all 3 links are kept intact.
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