How To Buy Satellite Radio [UPDATED]
The good news is that getting the gear you need for satellite radio isn't an all-or-nothing situation. With a subscription to SiriusXM, you can listen to their programming in many ways. Currently, satellite radios can be divided into three categories: dedicated, Dock & Play, and app-based that let you listen online.
how to buy satellite radio
Dedicated car satellite radios work with in-dash car stereos only. A special antenna connects to it, and sits on the roof of the vehicle. Similarly, dedicated home satellite radios let you listen to SiriusXM at home. They connect to your home stereo system, and also use a special antenna, which usually needs to be mounted facing a window or outside.
Dock & Play satellite radios are compact units that work with sets of accessories to play over both your car and home stereos. The advantage of a Dock & Play SiriusXM player is you can transfer it from the car to your home stereo, and only pay one subscription. A Dock & Play radio will often also work with a compatible SiriusXM boombox, and packages are available.
Ready to experience the awesomeness of SiriusXM satellite radio? For further advice about choosing the right satellite radio gear for your home and/or car, contact one of our expert advisors via phone or web chat.
NOAA also plans to award a second DO to acquire near-real-time radio occultation (RO) satellite data; NOAA intends to use these data in operational numerical weather prediction models, space weather models, and other systems.
On September 15, 2022, NOAA issued a Request for Information (RFI) soliciting information on existing or planned commercial satellite environmental data and related capabilities that will be available in the FY2023 through FY2030 timeframe, and that may help NOAA meet its diverse mission objectives.
GeoOptics, PlanetiQ and Spire will provide near real-time radio occultation measurements from Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) receivers that will enable NOAA to derive ionospheric products that meet the current and anticipated needs of operational space weather models and applications.
The commercial data measurements will provide insight into near-real-time ionospheric conditions that can impact a wide range of activities, including aviation, satellite operations, navigation, and communications.
On September 20, 2022, NOAA awarded a fifth and final Delivery Order under its existing Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract for commercial radio occultation (RO) satellite weather data. An award was made to Spire Global Subsidiary, Inc. for a total of 3,300 RO profiles per day for six months beginning on January 18, 2023. The RO data consist of vertical profiles of atmospheric temperature and related quantities for operational weather models and other applications.
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One of the market's better turnaround stories is Sirius XM Radio (SIRI 1.56%). The satellite radio provider was on the brink of bankruptcy a dozen years ago as regulators dragged their feet in getting the combination of Sirius and XM approved. John Malone's Liberty Media stepped in to provide financing in a pinch, and Sirius XM has been a 124-bagger since the shares bottomed out at $0.05 -- yes, a nickel -- in early 2009.
Liberty Media's arrival eventually opened the door for investors to get into the country's lone satellite radio company at a discount. It was given a 40% preferred share stake in Sirius XM as part of the 2009 financial bailout, and it has increased its position to where it's now an 80.2% stake. Liberty Media split into several tracking stocks, with Liberty SiriusXM (LSXMA 1.36%) (LSXMB -1.87%) (LSXMK 1.29%) backed by its majority stake in the radio giant.
Retail investors generally prefer Sirius XM Radio stock as the more straightforward play in the broadcaster's empire, but a lot of value-minded institutional investors -- including Warren Buffett -- tend to favor the tracking stock. Liberty SiriusXM has historically traded at a roughly 25% to 30% discount to the value of its stake in Sirius XM Radio. It seems like an obvious way to grab the satellite radio provider at a discount, but there's a pretty big catch.
Another reason for the Liberty SiriusXM downgrade is Swinburne's near-term concern about Sirius XM Radio itself. The satellite radio behemoth posted encouraging third-quarter results two weeks ago. It beat Wall Street expectations on both ends of its income statement, boosted its guidance, and even hiked its dividend by 50%. Swinburne is concerned about how the next few quarters will play out. He sees the auto industry's supply chain issues eating into car sales, and therefore constricting the pipeline of new subscribers to Sirius XM's platform.
Satellite push to talk has become more accessible and more popular to people over time. Yet, because this technology is fairly new as compared to cellular and smartphones, we hear many questions about satellite PPT systems and what they can do.
You may think that accessing satellites for communications across the globe is difficult, but the truth is that this technology is very simple to use. After a Talk Group has been defined, you simply push a button and speak into the handset. Everyone in your Talk Group will hear you in seconds.
You may be wondering how satellite PTT can be of use in your life, but the truth is there are so many applications for this type of technology. If you plan to travel, you simply want to be prepared for an emergency or natural disaster, or you spend a lot of time out in the remote wilderness for work or play, then satellite PTT is a technology that can be of great use to you.
Not to mention, satellite PTT technology is reliable, working even when cell phones will not. They cover the globe, can automatically transmit your location, and can be used to contact help in case of an emergency.
We have investigated the best satellite communication devices for 10 years and present a conclusive summary of the top 11 options available today in this review. Finding the best personal locator beacon is a trying task, with dozens of options and many more subscription choices. We summarize our findings below, drawing on real-world experience and a solid understanding of the technology and systems. We have tested all the relevant players across five comprehensive metrics encompassing dozens of individualized tests. In this latest update, we track some exciting developments in the space.
We all want to get further into the wild, at least occasionally, and technology can assist and enable these retreats from civilization. Besides this in-depth look at satellite communications, we offer complete testing and reviews for handheld GPS devices, walkie talkies, other backpacking gear, and all the top hiking gear to help you prepare for whatever nature throws your way.
The same product won our highest award for years and years. That product is still very, very good. But its sibling, the brand new Garmin inReach Messenger, is ever so slightly better. This device has a very long battery life, full-function messaging, and employs proven satellite technology. If you're ready to step into the world of locator beacons, this is the one we think is the best for most users.
The Somewear Global Hotspot is a piece of hardware from a smaller company that uses a proven satellite network and SOS monitoring service. The device itself is compact, light, and low profile. It is slightly larger than others, but not by enough to actually matter. With the availability of a small handful of similar devices and services, the competitors are being forced to compete on price. The initial purchase price of the Global Hotspot is similar to other options, but the subscription plans are a little less expensive than average. Depending on how you intend to use your wilderness communicator, the Global Hotspot can be much cheaper than the alternatives. For instance, with their "Plan Ultralight," you can use the Hotspot a few times a month, over five years, for hundreds of dollars less than using another device in the same way.
If custom messaging is not important to you and you're looking for an emergency signaling device only, the Ocean Signal rescueME PLB1 is your best option. It is a little expensive upfront, but no annual fees or subscription plans are required. It broadcasts a distress signal through two radio channels, 406 MHz and 121.5 MHz. They are sent, respectively, to a monitored satellite network and a local aircraft distress frequency. This powerful transmission is sent on the military's reliable COSPAS-SARSAT network.
The SPOT X fills a small niche. This is a two-way, satellite-linked, backcountry messaging device that works entirely on its own. The built-in physical QWERTY keyboard distinguishes it from all of its competitors. With this keyboard, the user can text readily without needing to link to a separate, battery-draining device. If you prefer a smartphone interface, the newest version of the SPOT X (denoted as "with Bluetooth" and released mid-2019) can be linked to a smartphone app for use that way.
The SPOT X is unique, but it is exceeded in some ways by its close competitors, particularly in regards to size and satellite system used. Additionally, we had part of the first (of two) SPOT X antenna we tested come apart. Functionality did not change with this issue, but it's not encouraging. These drawbacks are not at all deal breakers. If that physical keyboard and its benefits appeal to you, there is no reason not to choose the SPOT X.
To compile this review, we started by carefully selecting the top models of satellite messenger and personal locator beacons. It's usually impossible for us to satisfactorily test every product on the market for a particular category. With PLBs and satellite messengers, though, there aren't many options available, and we can test nearly every device. Especially in the two-way satellite messaging device sub-category, we've worked to get every single new option in our hands. The end result is a set of tested products that represent essentially all of the available satellite communication options currently on the market. From there, we purchased and activated these beacons and put them to the test for hundreds of hours, side-by-side, in several distinct situations and locations. We do so while calling on decades of experience with wilderness communications. Test settings have varied through most latitudes, terrains, and climate/vegetation types. 041b061a72