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A Bit of Satellite Radio History

Satellite radio history probably began the moment when espionage technology crossed paths with commerce communications. It seems like just a few years ago that satellites were considered to be exotic, top-secret devices used primarily by the military for activities such as navigation and spying. Now they are an essential part of our daily lives. We see and recognize their use in weather reports, television transmissions, and everyday telephone calls. Then came an old but popular medium — radio — and suddenly, satellite radio history began.

Satellite radio history involves just two companies that started up at the end of 2001: Xm Radio and Sirius. Millions of listeners signed on to the inexpensive ($10 to $12) monthly subscription packages and began enjoying audio streams from outer space. 

The two competing companies each have a network of satellites and ground-based repeating stations that have revolutionized the way we listen to music, news, talk and weather on the radio. They are set up to bring crystal-clear radio signals and extensive program variety to anyone with a digital portable satellite radio receiver. It may be the biggest change on the airwaves since the introduction of FM 40 years ago and introduced the start of satellite radio history.

In the early days of radio, the powerful AM stations were able to reach a larger audience but when FM came along, the quality of the music transmission easily beat the static-prone, low fidelity AM signal. But these “terrestrial-based” stations, with a limited antenna reach of only 30-40 miles (about the stretch to the horizon due to the curvature of the Earth), face a challenge from satellite radio has the biggest antenna of them all orbiting around earth. Satellites have been playing a role in communications and military defense for decades, but with the advances made in radio communications technology, satellite radio history has begun. 

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