Home
Site Info:
Galt Home
Internet Guides
Finance
Household/DIY
Travel
Cars
Health and Fitness
Fashion and Beauty
Cell Phones
Sports

   MENU:   Technology and Internet Guides | Rubberfaces | Screen Savers | Wallpaper

What is XM Satellite Radio? - XM Radio

We've been listening to normal radio wave broadcasts for decades. First there was AM, then FM stereo to bring new, music, and sports to our radios, whether at home or in the car. The latest invention in the world of radio is satellite radio. Rather than having to be physically close to a radio broadcaster (in a specific city, for example), satellite radio broadcasts allow you to pickup and listen to broadcast content wherever you are under the broad swath of the satellite signal. Think of is as cable TV, without the cable. Imagine you could watch cable TV anywhere, any time, in your car, in your bedroom, when visiting New York, whatever. That is how satellite radio works. All you need is the special satellite receiver (like a mini radio), and you can pick up the signal wherever you are, with all your favorite channels and stations.




The two main players in the satellite radio field are XM and Sirius. XM is the #1 satellite radio service in the US with almost 6 million subscribers, about twice as many as Sirius. They have music, sports, news, talk, and comedy channels that go wherever you go. You pay a monthly subscription fee (just like with cable, see the comparison?) and your receiver will pickup the satellite broadcast wherever you go, commercial free. Howard Stern, the famous shock, will soon be leaving his FM radio home and moving exclusively to Sirius Satellite Radio. How much does XM satellite radio cost? XM Satellite Radio costs $12.95 per month, but if you sign up for a longer contract, you can bring the cost down to $10 per month. You can also add additional radios to your account for just $7 a month. How to activate your XM Radio - once you get it, you tune it to channel 1 to make sure you are receiving the preview station. Then turn to channel 0 to get your hardware ID. Then you can activate your XM Satellite radio either online (XMRadio.com) or via the telephone with a credit card. Once activated on their end, your radio will begin receiving all the channels of XM radio broadcast.

Types of XM Satellite Radio Receivers

To receive the XM Radio Satellite broadcasts, you need a special receiver (radio). You can select a car radio replacement, a home stereo unit, or a portable unit that travels with you. The portable XM radio family includes: The Roady XT ($79), Xpress ($89), the Delphi XM MyFi ($149), the TAO XM2go ($199), and the Airwave ($149). The XPress is the smallest satellite radio to offer a 5 line display screen and it comes with a vehicle docking station, sports ticker, and stock ticker (it is made by Audiovox). All the portable XM radios can be used in you car, but they also offer specialized car models: Roady2, XC59, SkyFi2, XM Direct, and XM Commander. The Roady2 is just $29 after special discount, while the XM Commander is $119. Many of these can also double as home models -they plug into your existing stereo and bring in all the satellite channels you want for commercial free music, news, sports, whatever. All units come with a wireless FM transmitter to play back through your existing radio in your car or home.

What kind of music can I listen to on XM Satellite Radio?

One of the nice things about XM radio is the huge variety of music and programming it offers. What's on XM? They have channels dedicated to each decade, (40s, 50s, 60s, etc.), country music, bluegrass, top 20 hits, adult contemporary, christian rock, gospel, classic rock, 80's rock, acoustic rock, punk/ska, classic soul, jazz and blues, new age, opera, sports talk and news, NASCAR talk, PGA coverage and talk, MLB, CNN, Fox News, CNBC, the list goes on and on. Whether you want talk and informative news programming or just your favorite style of music, you can get in on XM Radio. It includes 150 digital channels, 100% commercial free music, 20 channels of XM Instant traffic and weather, and more than 2 million songs in their network wide playlist.

XM Satellite Radio Installation

When it comes to installation, you can do it yourself or opt for professional installation. Most retailers that carry the XM Satellite receivers, like Circuit City, also offer installation packages.


Do you have a quality site or product that belongs in this guide? We are always happy to evaluate or review new products and websites. Feel free to contact us at the email address below and let us know about you. If you have a demo product you'd like us to look at, please contact us before sending anything. Thank you.


Review and Internet Guide Index:
Cell Phones:
- Nokia N91 phone (4GB MP3)
- palmOne Treo 650 cell phone/organizer
- Cell Phone Free Ringtones

Computers and Internet:
Discount Computer Memory Upgrades, Best Color Laser Printers, HP Photosmart and Deskjet Printer Reviews - Notebook and Laptop Buying Guide - Domain Name Registration

Software:
Download Adobe Acrobat PDF files - Adaware Anti Spyware Remover - Pop-up Blocking, Removing and Stopping pop up ads - Adobe Photoshop Tips and Tutorials - Microsoft Small Business Accounting

Audio/Video Electronics:
Sony Portable Playstation PSP Buying Advice - What is Tivo and how does it work? - DirecTV - Sony Wega LCD TVs

Digital Cameras and Photos:
- Canon EOS 350D Digital Rebel XT DSLR
- Nikon D50 Digital SLR
- Buying a Digital SLR Camera
Sharing Digital Photos - Digital Camcorder Formats

MP3 Music, Players, Speakers:
- Best Headphones and Popular Earphones Rankings
- Cambridge Soundworks PlayDock MP3 Speakers
- Free MP3 Music Downloads
New iPod nano

Internet Guides:
Health - Obesity - Diabetes - Plastic Surgery - Treatment for Depression

Finance - Car Insurance Quotes - Mortgage Payment Calculator - Debt Consolidation

Best Pet Supplies, Jewelry, Most Popular Travel and Hotels, Vacation Guides, New York Sight Seeing, Hybrid Cars, Handbags and Purses

Cars and Automobiles

Sports and Outdoors

Household/DIY/Tools

Send email to: galtemail (@) yahoo.com
Copyright (C) 1995-2007 Galt Technology, Inc.   Terms of Use    Privacy Statement