Music from space

FEATURE

SATELLITE RADIO BRINGS YOU ENTERTAINMENT FROM THE HEAVENS ANYTIME, ANYWHERE

RVers love to roam, and they love their music on the road, but that usually calls for repeated radio searches as each station fades from reception range. Satellite-based radio is changing all that in a big way. Now it's possible to drive coast to coast without touching that dial, as you enjoy your favorite station, nonstop. It's an exciting technology that's setting a new standard for radio-enjoyment excellence.

Let's face it; once you leave the big city, your radio-listening pleasures are limited by your ability to modulate the SCAN button in search of anything that isn't filled with static - or flipping through a selection of CDs and cassette tapes stashed in the console.

That feeling of quiet isolation enjoyed at the most-remote spots in the country continues when one seeks the comfort of an RV or hits the road for another destination because the choice of radio stations is often as sparse as cruise ships on the horizon. If you don't have a good selection of CDs or cassettes, you're on your own in terms of audio entertainment.

At least that's the way it used to be before satellite radio went on the air in 2001. Satellite radio provides RVers or anyone with a radio in his or her vehicle or house - instant access to some 100 channels of crystal-clear, coast-tocoast digital broadcasts ranging from every genre of music to talk radio, sports and entertainment.

There are currently two sources for satellite radio: XM and Sirius. These companies beam their radio signals from studios in New York City; Washington, D.C.; Nashville, Tennessee; and smaller remote studios to several satellites orbiting above the continental United States. Those signals are then sent back to Earth as line-of-sight broadcasts that blanket the country with a signal that can be received across the Lower 48 and beyond.

PRICES

There are two basic requirements for enjoying satellite radio. First, you need a radio designed to receive XM or Sirius satellite radio, and, secondly, you pay the nominal subscriber fee for such listening privileges. The subscription fee varies between the two companies; XM is $9.99 per month on a monthly, quarterly or annual basis. Sirius is $12.95 per month, based on an annual contract that is billed monthly. This technology is changing so quickly that the rates may change often.

In addition, both companies charge an "activation" fee of $15 to unlock the satellite-ready radios so they can process the coded radio signals. If you go on the Internet to their Web sites, Sirius waives the activation fee, and XM gives a $5 discount.

As for the radios that provide the heavenly magic, they are already showing up in this year's crop of cars, trucks and SUVs. Electronics retailers' shelves are also filled with a wide selection of radios ready to tune in the new technology.

Of course, there's also a lot of marketing hype taking place. At the present time, each satellite-radio company has joined with major automakers and radio manufacturers in trying to sway subscribers according to what brands customers prefer.

For example, on the automotive manufacturers' side, XM is the official satellite-radio provider for numerous vehicle brands, including GM and Honda. In the Sirius camp, you'll find Ford and DaimlerChrysler among its list of automakers. So, when you purchase your next new tow vehicle, one of the options you can likely check off will be a satellite-ready AM/FM/CD stereo system.

When it comes to aftermarket radios, Kenwood, Panasonic, Clarion and Jensen radios are being equipped to receive Sirius, while Alpine, Pioneer, Delphi Delco, Audiovox and Sony are brands that are XM-ready These are easily found at the electronics and audio stores around the country.

According to industry sources, in a couple of years it won't make any difference what brand of radio or vehicle you own - they all will be capable of receiving whichever satellite-radio service you subscribe to at the time.

If you want satellite radio, the most cost-effective method is to dump your current vehicle's in-dash radio for one of the new models. Prices vary greatly according to the type of radio and associated features, but some satelliteready versions are already selling for less than $200.

INSTALLATION

Installation into a vehicle requires nothing more than what you would encounter with an ordinary AM/FM/CD stereo system - with the exception of adding the small antenna atop your tow vehicle's roof. The antennas are not always part of the radio package either, so be prepared to pay a little extra when the upgrade is completed.

Terk and Antenna Specialists sell magnetic, roof-mount and on-glass antennas that are satellite-radio specific. Prices vary, but expect to pay between $60 and $80, depending upon the type. The exception is Sony, which sells antennas specifically designed for its radios.

If you plan on utilizing satellite radio as part of your RV entertainment system, things aren't quite as simple.

XM Satellite Radio's director of product marketing, Lawrence Cheng, says, "There are a couple little wrinkles RV owners might encounter. One is too short of an antenna cable. Most antennas are sold with a fixed-length coaxial cable; some are 15 feet, others 23 feet. If an RV owner needs a longer coax, Terk sells a 15-foot extension-cable kit with a booster included.

"Another concern is that satellite antennas require a `ground-plane,' which fiberglass doesn't provide. In those instances, an owner would need to attach a 6 x 6-inch plate of thin aluminum - or steel, if you're using a magnetic-mounted antenna - to the roof so the antenna can be placed on it," suggests Cheng. "The plate doesn't have to be thick; you could get by with 16-gauge material or thinner as the mounting plate.

"If you're using a glass-mount, just make sure the top 3 to 4 inches of the antenna clears the roof line and is free of obstructions. The antenna needs a clear line-of-sight at the sky to get the best reception."

That is why Cheng and other satelliteantenna experts say a roof-mounted antenna is the best choice for trailers and tow vehicles, be it magnetic, adhesive or fixed-mount style.

OPTIONS

If you already have a good sound system in your tow vehicle, travel trailer or motorhome, several audio manufactures offer components that can be moved between locations - or that convert a traditional AM/FM to satellite receiver. Sony leads this field with a "plug-and-play" satellite-radio receiver that can be moved between tow vehicle, home or RV with a special kit designed for each specific location/application.

Plug-and-play satellite radios are not cheap; the Sony runs $300, and the compatible kits costs another $150. More choices are likely to be out by 2003.

Is there a big difference between XM and Sirius? Not one that the typical listener probably would notice. Each company claims to have better-quality sound than the other, and recent reports by audiophiles and some audio experts say XM's sound quality is closer to that of a CD than Sirius'. Our seat-of-the-pants impression from a pickup driver's position is that both are very good, and it's difficult to distinguish the sound quality of one from the other.

We did note programming differences between the two is akin to cabletelevision companies; each offers some "exclusive" programming choices among the plethora of channels. What might make a bigger difference to some RVers is that Sirius' 60 music channels are commercial-free, while XM is commercial-free on only 36 channels.

Commercials or not, the benefit satellite radio offers RVers remains the same: static-free radio reception 24/7, regardless of location, and enough channels to please the pickiest person. That should be soothing music to the ears of many of the 2 million RVers on the road each day who are tired of boring tunes, blathering DJs and incessant commercials.

SOURCES

Antenna Specialists, (800) 321-9977, antenna.com. CIRCLE 234 ON READER SERVICE CARD.

Sirius Satellite Radio, (888) 539-7474, siriusradio.com. CIRCLE 235 ON READER SERVICE CARD.

Terk Technologies, (631) 543-1900, terk.com. CIRCLE 236 ON READER SERVICE CARD.

XM Satellite Radio, (800) 852-9696, xmradio.com. CIRCLE 237 ON READER SERVICE CARD.

Copyright T L Enterprises, Inc. Nov 2002
Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning Company. All rights Reserved