Much has happened since we last looked at satellite radio. With hardware, less is more. With programming, more is better. Here's a look at the latest advances:
Programming
In 2001, XM first broadcast. They had 100 music, news and variety channels. Sirius soon followed with similar programming. The only play-by-play sports was XM's NASCAR channel, with flag-to-flag coverage of stock car racing. Each service programmed comedy and music, but news and talk were taken from radio and TV. One shortcoming, which forced listeners back to AM, was the need for local traffic information.
Now, instead of waiting for "traffic on the ones" or "traffic and weather on the eights," XM listeners in 21 metropolitan areas can get continuous reports. Sirius has ten "streams" (their channels) for traffic and weather. Two metro areas share each stream. On Labor Day weekend, Sirius added special event traffic coverage. They provided special traffic reports for the Ford Detroit International Jazz Festival, Seattle's Bumbershoot Arts Festival, and Friday and Monday coverage of beach traffic from the Jersey Shore through Long Island.
When you vote this month, results will be on local AM radio and on national cable news channels/streams on satellite radio: CNN, Fox News and MSNBC. Or, if you want your favorite partisan spin on world and national affairs, Sirius has Patriot and Right for conservatives, Left and Air America for liberals. XM offers 24-hour political spin on America Right and America Left.
XM offers sports fans three channels of ACC college football or basketball, three Pac 10 channels and three "Play by Play" selective college sports. Sirius has eight pro sports channels featuring
NBA basketball, NHL hockey and every NFL game, live.
There's far more to satellite radio than news, music and sports. Each service provides every type of music known, and variety entertainment that includes family and adult comedy, Public Radio, religion, education and children's shows. And for truckers, XM 171 features Bill Mack, Dave Nemo and Steve Sommers on the Bozo Shows. Sirius has Eric Harley and the Midnight Radio Network and original daytime talk on the Sirius Trucking Network, stream 138.
Hardware
While program offerings have grown, equipment has shrunk. And prices have dropped accordingly.
Early satellite systems cost up to $850 installed for an in-dash AM/FM/XM/CD unit. Three years ago, you needed a tuner and a separate amplifier just to send a signal by hardwire to your existing FM receiver. Today, there are a dozen companies supplying all-in-one receivers. The newest and easiest transmit converted satellite signals in FM to your truck, car or home radio.
Satellite radio systems started getting smaller and less expensive when Delphi brought out its SKYFI, a receiver/tuner smaller than a pack of index cards. Then Delphi introduced a new all-in-one unit, the XM Roady. Originally, the Roady sent its signal to existing radios through cassette adapters, but new vehicles have CDs. The adapter tended to rattle. Delphi eliminated the adapter, transmitting FM signals instead.
All the latest units are small, but the Stream Jockey, a Sirius player by XACT Communications is the smallest of all, roughly the size of a cell phone. It has all the features of larger systems, including an internal FM transmitter for wireless connections to radios, a 6-line display, car, home and universal docking stations and three optional boom boxes. One is plain, others have AM//FM or MP3 CDs and a CD-RW. The Stream Jockey can be used as a stand-alone receiver, connected to headphones or speakers.
Pana-Pacific introduced the Sirius Streamer last year. The compact receiver needs optional docking for either vehicles or home use. With an indoor-outdoor antenna, AC adapter and audio cables or speakers, the Streamer can be used as a home radio, then be taken out to your truck, docked, and heard through your truck's radio. It also has a remote control.
Pana-Pacific is a supplier to truckstops, including Travelcenters of America. TA offers the Sirius Streamer as well as Delphi's new and improved Roady 2 XM Pro, a Pana-Pacific exclusive you won't find in the "big box" electronics stores. The Roady 2 comes bundled with everything you need to plug in and listen. The unit can even match the décor of your cab, with seven backlit display colors to choose from. The Roady 2 can be mounted with a heavy-duty windshield suction mount, a vent mount, a swivel mount or Velcro. It, too, has a remote control.
All the new units' antennas are small, some with a footprint barely larger than a postage stamp. Placed high on an air deflector or on a cab roof, the small antennas work as well as the old masts and hockey puck antennas.
As for cost, XM subscriptions are $9.99 per month. Sirius goes for $12.95 per month. For many, the added sports programs alone are worth the extra $3 per month. Obviously, it's a matter of personal preference.
