Home » What is satellite radio? Satellite radio is broadcasted from satellites (hence the name) approximately 22,000 miles above the Earth. These satellites are the most powerful to date, eliminating the need for precisely-aimed 18" dishes, like satellite television. The average satellite radio antenna measures only 2" x 2" and is less than an inch high. It does not even look like a satellite dish, but just a small bump. The signals can be received all over the United States and there have been reports of people receiving the signals in Canada, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Bermuda, and Alaska (coverage varies slightly between XM and Sirius). Where needed, terrestrial repeaters act as additional transmitters that allow the signal to stay strong in cities with large skyscrapers and underpasses that can disrupt a direct line-of-sight to the satellite signal. Sirius and XM Satellite Radio are not only for the rich and famous. With hardware costing as little as $50, and a monthly subscription charge as low as $10 per month, it is cheaper than many other subscription services. Sirius and XM gives you over 60 music channels, 100% commercial-free. No more used car commercials, no more 10 song supersets; just the music you want, when you want it. And while there are disc jockeys, they are not as intrusive to the music, but offer amazing insights into the music as opposed to trying to hawk their latest endorsement deal. Each music channel has its own style and imaging, with almost every genre you can imagine. In addition, they offer dozens of news, sports, and talk channels, which vary signifigantly with each service (more on that later). With FM approaching close to 20 minutes of commercials every hour, why bother? Going on a trip or just leaving your market means radio stations breaking up and having to find a new station every twenty minutes. Want traffic and weather for your destination city? That's wasted time trying to figure out what station gives traffic reports before you leave, or you can hope that there is a billboard advertising the station somewhere along your route. Sirius and XM offer unmatched coast-to-coast coverage, and in March 2004, they started broadcasting traffic and weather reports for 20 markets, with reports every 4 minutes or less. Why wait? Satellite radio is here. Top of page
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