This site is dedicated to a new medium -- satellite radio. For those of you not familiar with the concept, satellite broadcasting is a technology whereby listeners throughout the United States can listen to programming originating at a single source and distributed via satellite to special receivers. Two companies are currently competing for subscribers -- Sirius Satellite Radio and XM. Both use compressed digital audio and distribute their signals to receivers priced between two and four hundred dollars. RUsirius.com invites one and all to consider this new technology and to be aware of its vast potential. We're sure you will agree with Time magazine that satellite radio is truly one of the great inventions of 2001. Sirius and XM have even been inducted into the Space Technology Hall of Fame!

XM and Sirius are currently broadcasting nationwide. Both services charge a monthly subscription fee, about ten bucks for XM and thirteen for Sirius. Both have programming consisting of news, sports, and music. Sirius is using three satellites, XM only two. They have both been reviewed by the IEEE for their technology and by the The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and the New York Daily News for their content. The Los Angeles Times and the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette also feature good general review articles. The LA Times also features an excellent review of the current state of the industry. Especially interesting articles appear in a recent edition of the San Francisco Chronicle and in CommVerge Magazine. TVinsite also has an enlightening, if somewhat older article on the subject. Not all reviews of satellite radio are upbeat. Take a look at what the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel has to say. With the early and successful launch of its entire constellation, Sirius had been assumed to have the early edge. Chipset difficulties, however, place Sirius significantly behind XM which successfully launched and tested "XM Rock" and "XM Roll," their two satellites and began programming in October 2001. To offset XM's apparent schedule lead, Sirius announced the addition of NPR2 and National Lampoon to their programming. "They'll take this seriously," one pundit quipped. They've also added UBC Media from our friends in the UK and hosted a concert by the Blues Brothers (Dan Aykroyd and Jim Belushi) to kick off the Sirius Satellite Radio 400 at Michigan International Speedway on June 15th. Despite their recent successes and announcements, Sirius managed to sign up only 421 subscribers during the first quarter. It's a wonder that this site didn't start out as XmFiles.com! Sirius got off to a late start after experiencing some chipset difficulties but finally became fully functional this July. Aware of the new competition, XM made a special offer to DirecTV customers.

Don't just take our word on the future of satellite radio.  Check out these reviews from across North America ---

        The Columbus Dispatch
        The Seattle Times
        The Christian Science Monitor
        USA Today
        The Los Angeles Times
        The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
        The St. Petersburg Times
        The Christian Science Monitor (5 July 2002)
        The Buffalo News (2 July 2002)
        The Washington Post (7 July 2002)

XM has announced that it now has over 136,000 subscribers nationwide with more than 350,000 expected by the end of this year. If you're one of them we want to hear from you. We'll be posting all comments here. Their advertising campaign, developed by industry giant TBWA/Chiat/Day, features a "falling stars" motif and carries the theme "Radio to the power of X." We thought that "falling stars" might have referred in part to pitchman David Bowie who, along B.B. King and Snoop Dogg, were featured in the XM promotional campaign featured in movie theaters across the country this summer. The events of September 11 and a weak economy, however, have forced them to rethink their strategy according to CommVerge's Steven Fytte. In announcing the new service XM CEO Hugh Panero said "We have to make this real and authentic, so that on the blues channel you feel like you're in a blues club drinking whiskey." Considering that their service is intended primarily for motor vehicles we find this a rather odd remark. Speaking at SkyForum, Mr. Panero remarked that the early success of satellite radio "points to this becoming a mass-market service." Both Sirius and XM, however, are fighting with the FCC and users of wireless communications services (see below) in a battle in which Sirius' Joe Clayton says he has "no idea what the FCC will ultimately do." Given that Sirius is less dependent on terrestrial repeaters, more FCC restrictions on their use would hurt Sirius far less than XM. Unfazed by potential FCC action, XM announced that it would be broadcasting Major League Baseball games live on ESPN Radio. Another innovation by XM is the addition of a live performance studio at their Washington D.C. headquarters. The inaugural performance at the new facility featured trumpeter Wynton Marsalis, described by CEO Panero as a young man with an "old soul." Marsalis described the studio as reminiscent of Star Trek's "Enterprise". Marsalis will regularly be "beamed up" to XM's satellites. He's been signed to host a series of 12 hour-long programs on his music and career. Site visitors who aren't "Sirius" might want to check out the "XM-rated" XMBuyer, a site for products and additional information.

Sirius is currently broadcasting nationwide as well as on the Web. If you are a Sirius listener we want to hear from you. We'll be posting all comments here.

In recent news about satellite radio, the Wall Street Journal is reporting that both Sirius and XM are currently in a dispute with Fusion Lighting over their microwave-powered light bulbs. Apparently their product is capable of interfering with satellite radio transmissions, something that might give pause to potential satellite radio customers. Another issue of concern is the use of ultra wideband devices (UWB). UWB's, developed by Time Domain Inc., are low-power, unregulated, devices used for ground penetrating radars and other applications. Sirius and XM are currently petitioning NASA for assistance in the "safe introduction of UBW at higher frequencies." This issue appears close to being resolved. Meanwhile, XM is coming under fire from five wireless carriers who are concerned about interference from their ground-based repeaters. Local radio stations, represented by the National Association of Broadcasters has recently jumped into the fray. They're claiming that XM and Sirius can potentially compete in local markets via their terrestrial repeaters. The dispute appears to have been settled in favor of the satellite radio services by the FCC, which granted Special Temporary Authority (STA) to XM on September 17. Representatives of both sides are currently presenting arguments to the authorities in proceeding IB 95-91. This issue continues to haunt the satellite radio services and a final permanent settlement is far from imminent. To complicate matters further, XM has recently been awarded a patent that would allow it to compete in the local radio arena. Check out this story in the Washington Post for a review of current developments. In addition to competing with satellite radio in the legal arena, terrestrial broadcasters appear ready to pursue their own flavor of digital transmissions. Known as in-band on-channel (IBOC) terrestrial radio, the new service should be ready for prime time in 2003 thanks to a new chipset by Texas Instruments. CommVerge magazine reviews this exciting new technology that promises to offer some serious competition to satellite radio. The Toronto Star has also reviewed this new development. In another development, XM revealed that its satellites may not be quite ready for prime time and may need to be replaced at an earlier date that had previously been anticipated. Sirius doesn't appear to be ready for any time. Embroiled in a class action lawsuit over its apparent late service launch, Sirius announced the resignation of its CEO. To make matters worse, former chief executive David Margolese escapes with a "golden parachute" worth $5 million after being replaced by Joseph Clayton, vice chairman of the telecommunications firm Global Crossing Ltd. In another apparent setback, DaimlerChrysler AG and Ford Motor Company announced that they won't install many of their Sirius-ready radios until the 2004 model year. To mitigate the negative effects of these disappointing developments, Sirius has announced a new lineup of programming, including Court TV, is sponsoring a Dodge NASCAR racing team, and has entered into an agreement with Thunderbird to install Sirius receivers in their Formula powerboats. They're also sponsoring, with Kenwood, the 2002 Formula Racing series and have dumped auditor Arthur Andersen. Their accounting firm is now Ernst & Young.

As satellite radio plans progress, look to this site to provide information on equipment vendors, schedules, and programming expectations. We'll try to provide listeners with reviews of all the shows offered by both competing services together with some critiques of the services themselves. Don't think American satellite radio can make it? Try moving to Europe or Africa where WorldSpace has been providing broadcast services. They're due to begin broadcasting to Latin America and the Caribbean soon.

Until then, you might want to ask us -- Are you serious about satellite radio? To which we answer -- yes. RU? Just take a look at what some of our serious site visitors are saying. And while you're at it, let us know what you think.