| Satellite radio is actually composed of two | | | | chipsets to its manufacturing partners in |
| Boeing HS 702 satellites orbiting our | | | | late September or early October of 2000. The |
| atmosphere and aptly named Rock and Roll. | | | | chipset consists of two custom integrated |
| One is located at approximately 85 degrees | | | | circuits designed by STMicroelectronics. |
| west longitude and the other at 115 degrees | | | | Satellite has partnered with Pioneer, Alpine, |
| west longitude. Geostationary Earth orbit | | | | Clarion, Delphi Delco, Sony and Motorola to |
| (GEO) is about 22,223 miles (35,764 km) above | | | | manufacture satellite capable car radios. |
| Earth, and is the type of orbit most commonly | | | | Each radio receiver uses a tiny, |
| used for communications satellites. The | | | | car-phone-sized antenna to receive the |
| first satellite to up, Rock, was placed in | | | | digital signal. GM has invested about 100 |
| orbit on March 18, 2001. Roll followed with | | | | million dollars in digital satellite radio, |
| its launch on May 8. Satellite radio has a | | | | and Honda has also created a contract to use |
| third HS-702 satellite on the ground ready to | | | | these same radios in its cars. General Motors |
| be launched in case one of the two orbiting | | | | first began installing satellite radio |
| satellites break down or fail. | | | | receivers in specific models in late 2000 and |
| | | | early 2001. |
| Satellite radios station on earth transmits a | | | | |
| signal to its two GEO Satellites, which | | | | For approximately twelve dollars per month, |
| bounce signals back down to the ground. The | | | | subscribers can listen to crystal clear |
| radio receivers are programmed to receive and | | | | digital sound. For this small price, music |
| unscramble the digital data signal, which | | | | aficionados receive up to 100 channels of |
| contains up to 100 channels of digital audio. | | | | music, talk and news. They can also listen |
| In addition to the encoded sound, the signal | | | | online via streaming audio service with over |
| contains additional information about the | | | | 70 channels. Most of the stations received |
| broadcast. The artist, song title and | | | | are commercial-free, with none of the |
| category of music are all displayed on the | | | | channels having more than seven minutes of |
| radio. In urban areas, where buildings can | | | | ads per hour. Satellite advertisers include |
| block out the satellites signal, broadcasting | | | | USA Today, BBC, CNN-Sports Illustrated and |
| equipment is supplemented by ground | | | | The Weather Channel. The service is clean, |
| transmitters. | | | | clear and more of what the surveyed |
| | | | population asked for. The future of |
| Each receiver contains a unique manufacturers | | | | satellite radio is clearly bright. |
| chipset. Satellite radio began delivering | | | | |