Designed to be a replacement for traditional AM and FM radio, satellite radio broadcasts a signal from one or more satellites to a receiver in your vehicle. The receiver decodes the signal into more than 170 channels, including music, sports, news and talk radio. A subscription to the service is required.
In the 1990s, three (not counting MobaHo!) major satellite radio companies emerged: WorldSpace for the Africa and Asia market; and XM Satellite Radio and Sirius Satellite Radio in North America. XM and Sirius fought hard to attract marquee talent such as television host Oprah Winfrey and radio personality Howard Stern. However, high programming costs and mounting debt hampered both companies. The two merged in 2008 to form Sirius XM Radio, which continues to operate today.
Each company used a set of Boeing HS 702 satellites and two HS 705 satellites in parallel geostationary orbit approximately 22,000 miles from Earth. These satellites cover the entire continental United States at all times, transmitting a signal to a receiver in your car. The receiver then decodes the satellite signal, allowing you to listen to the more than 150 satellite channels.
Some satellite radios also offer a variety of additional features that can enhance your listening experience and make the system more convenient to use. For example, some radios include Bluetooth streaming so that you can play audio from your phone and connect a hands-free calling app to your car. Others feature displays that show the song, artist and station information. And, for true portability, look for satellite radios that are compact and light enough to carry with you.
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