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