Satellite radio is subscription based and has scores of channels, meaning there’s something for everyone. Whether you’re partial to ‘80s hair bands, the Grateful Dead or “emotionally driven alt rock,” you can get your fix—no matter where you are. Plus, you won’t have to hear a single commercial.
Satellite Radio
The first satellites were launched into orbit in the early 2000s. They are positioned in parallel geostationary orbit about 22,000 miles above Earth. They essentially act as a mirror, reflecting signals back to receivers located on the ground, including those in your car. Your receiver decodes the data and converts it into over 170 different channels.
Until recently, there were two (count ’em, two) satellite radio services in the United States: WorldSpace and Sirius Radio. The rivals competed to attract marquee talent like Howard Stern and Oprah Winfrey. But they also struggled to compete with terrestrial radio, online radio-streaming and mp3 players. Both companies incurred massive debt. Eventually, the Federal Communications Commission approved the merger of Sirius and XM Radio, with the condition that they continue to offer consumer choice, freeze subscription rates and set aside 8% of channels for noncommercial programs.
If your factory radio isn’t satellite-ready, you can install a Sirius or XM vehicle kit that includes the satellite tuner and antenna. The tuner connects to the radio via an auxiliary input jack. An alternative is a dock-and-play tuner that plugs into an available USB port in your car and can be transferred from one vehicle to another without having to install additional hardware.
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