XM and Sirius satellite radio broadcast clear, static-free digital signals from orbiting satellites. They offer a wide selection of channels for varied tastes in music, as well as sports, news, comedy and other talk programming, all commercial-free. Their service is available in your car, on your portable boombox or in-dash receiver and at home through an external antenna.
The history of satellite radio begins in 1992, when the Federal Communications Commission set aside a portion of its spectrum for nationwide distribution through satellite broadcast. SIRIUS and XM bid huge sums of money for the license to use this spectrum, which they were awarded by the FCC.
To deliver their digital signal, XM used a network of repeaters that rebroadcast the satellite’s signals, which were transmitted by two Boeing HS 702 satellites in geostationary orbit 22,000 miles above Earth. This design provides gap-free coverage throughout the United States, Canada, Mexico, and parts of the Caribbean Islands.
Because satellite communication depends on maintaining a line of sight between the satellite and the radio receiver, these systems required specialized antennas that can pick up a signal even through thick roofs or tree canopies. They also needed to be able to operate reliably in vehicles that frequently pass under bridges, drive into parking garages or tunnels, enter canyons of both the natural and urban variety, or go over high-rise buildings.
Aside from the technical challenges, both XM and Sirius faced resistance to their monthly subscription fee, which was more than most people were used to paying for regular radio. But both companies marketed their services and hardware aggressively to make them as attractive as possible, while making sure that the technology was affordable for the average consumer.
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