If you haven't experienced listening to satellite radio yet, be sure that you schedule some time to do so soon. It's a real breakthrough in radio broadcasting technology that improves the entire listening experience. For so many years, radio broadcasting has been essentially static, with no real improvements or significant changes in the technology at all. But thanks to XM satellite radio and it's competitor, Sirius, the radio broadcasting landscape has been changed forever. Here are the top 5 reasons why you need XM radio now:
1. Over 100 channels of unique programming including over 65 music channels that play almost any kind of music that you could want to listen to. But there is also talk radio and sports programming too, including MLB games. If you can't find something interesting to listen to on XM radio you just aren't trying very hard. And new, more original radio shows are constantly being made available as well.
2. The sound is incredible. Since the radio signal is recorded in digital instead of analog format, you get to hear crystal clear CD-like sound. So it's like having your CD player with you wherever you go, without having to lug along all those CDs at the same time.
3. No loss of signal. Because the signal is digital and transmitted to a group of satellites that orbit high above the earth in the atmosphere, there are no obstructions like trees, buildings, or even the curvature of the earth's surface that can prevent you from receiving any of the available channels no matter where you go. So you can drive for hundreds of miles and listen to the same radio channel if you like.
4. No commercials. On most channels there are no commercials or ads whatsoever because the XM radio service is a monthly subscription. That means that there is no need to run ads to pay for the service. It's paid for by it's subscriber base instead. What that means for you as the listener is no more irritating interruptions of your favorite programming by pitchmen that want to sell you something that you probably don't even want anyway.
5. If you happen to live in Canada, you are now able to receive XM satellite radio in your area too. XM is the only provider at this point that is making satellite radio available to Canadians.
If you add up all the features of XM satellite radio including it's incredibly diverse programming, it's digital sound quality, it's lack of on-air ads, and more it's easy to see why almost 6 million people have already subscribed to XM radio already. How about you?
Jim Johnson is a successful author and publisher on consumer related matters. You can find out more about xm satelite radio and xm radios by visiting our Satellite Radio Review website.
Article Source: ezinearticles.comHere's good news. A company called DICE Electronics has announced the development of a new device that integrates HD radio into an existing car audio system.
The unit itself is small, compact and can be added to a car audio system in a matter of minutes.
DICE Electronics says that HD-DICE will be available in the second quarter of 2006 and will be compatible with Audi. GM, Nissan, BMW, Honda, Toyota, Chrysler, Mazda and Volkswagen vehicles.
Jim Lukas, Vice President of Sales for DICE Electronics recently told reporters that “we are pleased to offer solutions that allow customers to receive and listen to digital AM/FM signals without having to replace their factory radios. Customers can now enjoy true CD-quality digital broadcasts with their existing vehicle audio systems and with no monthly fees, nor contracts.”
What exactly is HD Radio?
HD Radio technology works much like traditional analog transmissions (AM and FM are both analog signals). The difference is that the station broadcasting HD Radio technology transmits an extra digital radio signal, along with its normal analog signal. It can also broadcast a third signal for text data.
Your radio receiver receives the signal – just as it does an AM or FM signal. If you have a HD Radio receiver, it will decompress and translate the signal and viola! AM stations sound as clear and static free and today's AM stations. And it gives FM stations the crystal-clear sound of a CD.
More than 2,800 radio stations in the U.S. are in the process of converting to the HD Radio system with more than 500 HD Radio broadcasters currently on the air. HD Radio technology transmits digital audio and data alongside existing AM and FM analog signals, allowing listeners with HD Radio-compatible receivers to enjoy CD-quality sound, while virtually eliminating the static and hiss typically associated with analog radio.
What else can your expect from HD Radio?
In addition,, the technology provides a platform for advanced new services, including scrolling text on receiver display screens (e.g., artist names & song titles, weather forecasts, school closings); delivery of real-time traffic updates to vehicles; and multicasting -- a feature that allows FM stations to broadcast up to eight digital streams of programming over a single frequency and in addition to existing analog signals.
To learn more about HD Radio technology, just go my Web site, http://www.hd-radio-home.com, to get all the buzz. Douglas Hanna is a retired marketing executive and the author of numerous articles on HD radio and family finances.
Article Source: ezinearticles.comThere's a coming war in digital radio -- HD Radio vs. satellite radio.
The question is, which will be the winner.
I think the answer is “none of the above.”
Why would I say this?
Let's look at some pros and cons.
First, satellite radio is national. You can lock onto your favorite channel and keep listening to it as you drive from LA to New York. That's a definite plus. On the other hand, HD Radio is terrerestrial broadcast radio and as such, is strictly local. Once you drive out of, say, LA, you won't be able to hear your favorite LA-based station until you drive back to within the station's range. Depending on your travel habits, that could be a real minus.
However, there's a downside to national radio and that's the fact it cannot deliver local information or local programming. If you travel a lot between cities or even states, national radio can be a real boon. However, if most of your driving is within the same city, local HD Radio would make more sense – especially if you like local news, weather, sports scores and talk radio.
Satellite radio's second big advantage over terrestrial radio is that most channels are commercial free. However, HD Radio broadcasters have said that HD2 subchannels will also be commercial free for at least the first 18 months.
What happens after these initial months is anyone's guess. On the other hand, in the long run, satellite radio may not be able to stay commercial free either. XM and Sirius continue to lose money even though they are adding subscribers and there may come a time when there just aren't that many people left who are willing to pay for satellite radio.
In the meantime, most of the car audio system manufacturers who are incorporating HD Radio into their systems are also including provision for either Sirius or XM. I think this probably reflects the future of radio which is that you, the listener, get to choose. You can choose either HD Radio or satellite radio. Or you can choose both.
So, the ultimate winner is ... you.
To learn more about HD Radio, just go my Web site, http://www.hd-radio-home.com. And while you're there, be sure to sign up for my mini-blog so you can stay on top of all HD Radio news.
Douglas Hanna is a retired marketing executive and the author of more than 100 articles on HD radio, the Internet and family finances.
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