You Can Not Be SIRIUS! ... or XM?

I think it was tennis great John
McEnroe who made the phrase "You can not be serious" famous, but he certainly
wasn't referring to SIRIUS and the latest trend in digital satellite
technology... Satellite Radio. Any discussion about Satellite Radio just
wouldn't be proper without first paying homage to its digital forerunner,
Satellite TV. Since its introduction in 1994 Satellite TV has been the single
most successful consumer electronics product in history. Over the years we have
grown accustomed to the little dishes poking out from behind our neighbor's
rooftops. Together, DirecTV and DISH Network have made Satellite TV the main
source of home video entertainment for over 23 million subscribers!

It only seems natural that on the heels of such success would come yet another form
of digital satellite technology, Satellite Radio. Like Satellite TV, Satellite
Radio claims to address the shortcomings of the current technology. FM Radio
signals are relatively short range and prone to static. Throw in a healthy dose
of commercials, and you have the makings for some pretty disgruntled
listeners.

As far as technology is concerned, Satellite Radio leaves FM in
the stone age. Multiple satellites located in geosyncronus orbits above the Earth
deliver crystal clear, near CD quality audio signals to wherever you may be. That
means you can get in your car and drive across the entire United States while
listening to the same radio station. To top it off, your music will never be
interrupted by annoying commercials! If you love music, Satellite Radio is a
dream come true.

The launch of Satellite Radio was obviously well planned
by both companies who eagerly compete for your business. The scene currently
consists of two players, SIRIUS and XM Radio. Both knew that it wouldn't be easy
to convince the public to part with their hard earned cash unless the value of
their product was readily apparent. Having the advantage of starting with a blank
sheet of paper, SIRIUS and XM have designed their systems from the ground up to
be nothing less than state of the art.

SIRIUS operates from an ultra
modern facility located at Rockefeller Center in the heart of New York City.
Being in New York was an important part of their mission, as this puts them
within close proximity to major recording artists, and disk jockeys. Their custom
designed and engineered performance studios are frequently visited by top
musicians stopping by for live interviews and performances. SIRIUS programming
features over 60 music channels with ZERO commercials, along with 40+ specialized
sports, news, and entertainment channels.

XM Radio's broadcast center is
located in Washington, D.C., and includes a 2,600 square foot performance studio
for live recording and broadcasts. It is the largest and most advanced of its
kind in the world, where artists from all musical genres come to perform
exclusive concerts for XM listeners. For regional broadcasting and location work,
the Washington studio is supplemented by studios in New York and at the Country

Music Hall of Fame in Nashville. XM also offers over 60 channels of 100%
Commercial-Free music, 30+ channels of News, Sports, Talk & Entertainment, and
20+ channels of XM Instant Traffic & Weather.

Although it's in its infancy, Satellite Radio is begriming to prove that people are willing to pay for what they currently can get for free. XM Radio has topped the 1 million subscriber mark, and SIRIUS is close behind. With its roots in automotive sound, the recent availability of new hardware has truly made Satellite Radio a total solution. Walkman style units now allow you to take Satellite Radio just about everywhere, and sophisticated home units are also available that perfectly integrate SIRIUS or XM Satellite Radio into your home entertainment system.

The future looks bright for Satellite Radio. For those who spend a lot of time behind the wheel, the decision to switch to Satellite Radio can almost be a no brainer. The fees are reasonable, and the service and programming are absolutely top notch. The hardest choice you will have to make is whether to go with SIRIUS or XM Radio. All things in life should be this easy.

© Written By: Michael Casamento

Michael Casamento is the founder of the SatelliteVista and SatelliteSmarts web sites, offering comprehensive comparisons, along with the latest News, Deals, and Information on Digital Satellite TV, Radio, and Internet Access.

For more information visit:http://www.satellitevista.com or http://www.satellitesmarts.com

This article may be freely reproduced so long as the above resource box is included in its entirety.

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