SATELLITE RADIO

 
 
Satellite radio is just what its name suggests: a radio service that uses satellites circling Earth to broadcast its programming. Satellite radio is a radio service broadcast from satellites with the signal broadcast nationwide, across a much wider geographical area than terrestrial radio stations. It is available by subscription, mostly commercial free, and offers subscribers more stations and a wider variety of programming options than terrestrial radio.
The history of satellite radio dates back to 1992. Till around this time, radio services were provided by commercial ventures. They were largely subscription-based and subject to the clarity permitted by proprietary signals and specialized hardware. Sound reception was dictated by the extent of decoding and playback, demanded over a specific population density. Earlier providers of radio frequencies did cover news, weather updates, and reports from the world of sports, and music, as well as stock market readings. However, most of the time broadcasts were subject to weather conditions and proximity to structural obstructions, but all this changed with the advent of satellite radio. The use of orbiting satellites to refine sound quality and frequencies, slowly replaced the redundant Digital Audio Broadcasting and HD Radio.
Satellite radio broadcasters are slowly emerging, but the enormous entry costs of space based satellite transmitters, and restrictions on available radio spectrum licenses has restricted growth of this market.          
SATELLITE RADIO

Satellite radio, also called subscription radio (SR) or digital radio is a satellite-based radio broadcast service. It uses direct broadcasting satellites (DBS) a type of satellite used for consumer services such as radio and television programs. A direct broadcasting satellite is similar to a fixed service satellite (FSS), but offers a higher power output requiring smaller antennas for receiving the signal. Companies such as Sirius, XM, and Worldspace are the pioneers in the use of this technology.
Satellite radio now competes with conventional terrestrial radio broadcasts. It offers the potential of far more channels than that can be offered by terrestrial broadcasters.
Satellite radio subscribers purchase a receiver and pay a monthly subscription fee to listen to programming. They can listen through built-in or portable receivers in automobiles; in the home and office with a portable or tabletop receiver equipped to connect the receiver to a stereo system; or on the Internet.
Currently, two companies dominate satellite radio: XM Satellite Radio and Sirius Satellite Radio. Both charge a monthly fee for music services. Being largely Commercial- free seems to be their major part of attraction. Both services are available either via portable receivers in automobiles or home receivers.  

SATELLITE RADIO SYSTEMS

Satellite radio is an idea over a decade in the making. Satellite radio systems are composed of satellites, ground repeaters and radio receivers. In 1992, the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) allocated a spectrum in the 2.3 GHz band for nationwide broadcasting of satellite-based Digital Audio Radio Service (DARS). The FCC gave licenses to two companies in 1997.
 CD Radio (later Sirius Satellite Radio), and   American Mobile Radio (later XM Satellite Radio).
With its headquarters in Washington D.C., WorldSpace (founded in 1990) is the only private satellite radio platform so far in India. WorldSpace’s rivals at the global level includes Sirius and XM, also based in U.S. WorldSpace was free- to – air when it was launched in 2000 but since then has become a pay service, offering over 40 radio channels in several Indian languages and in variety of genres.
XM was founded in 1992, but back then they weren't known as XM – they were originally called the American Mobile Radio Corporation. It wasn't until 1997 that the FCC granted the company a digital audio radio service (DARS) license. XM has two
Boeing Satellite Systems International satellites that transmit its signal to cars and home across the country.
Sirius Satellite Radio was founded in 1990, and was the first satellite radio service to get an FCC license in 1997. But because of technical problems with its satellite. Sirius broadcasts satellite radio from three satellites, which were launched in 2000.
XM and Sirius each offered more than 100 channels. Although the companies merged, both XM and Sirius still exist as separate services. Part of the reason for this is due to differences in hardware and software.

WORKING OF SATELLITE RADIO

Satellite radio works a lot like satellite TV, you purchase a receiver and pay a monthly subscription fee for a certain number of channels. For the moment, there are slight variances in the three satellite radio companies' systems.
Just like analog radio works by broadcasting the radio frequency to local transmitters and then on to the listener, satellite radio instead of using stationary transmitters which have limited range to broadcast uses mobile satellites orbiting the earth. They pick up radio signals straight from orbiting satellites, usually with the help of a small receiver with antennae. The satellite bounces the transmitted radio frequency off of the satellite and out to the millions of satellite radio listeners around the world.
All a user needs to do in order to access satellite radio services is purchase a satellite radio device either stationary or portable. On purchase of the service, the satellite radiodevice is programmed into a database that allows to receive specific radio transmissions from specific satellites.      

CONCLUSION

The two most notable satellite radio providers include Sirius and XM. The two companies merged in 2007 to create a single satellite radio network in the United States and Canada. Presently, key satellite digital radio systems in the world are WorldSpace (covers Africa, southern Europe, Middle East and Asia), XM Radio, Sirius Radio (US and parts of Canada), and MBCo (Japan and Korea).
For those tired of long commercial breaks, satellite radio can be a good option. In India, Satellite radio is not allowed to air commercials to protect the interest of local FM broadcasters.
Also, religious organizations and political parties will not be allowed to set up their channels. This is probably in order to protect the sentiments of people belonging from different sects.