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Technology Stocks : XM Satellite Radio Holdings Inc. (XMSR) -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: calgal who wrote (99)	8/2/2001 10:31:30 AM
From: calgal	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 3386

Dallas listeners will need new equipment and a subscription for satellite radio 08/02/2001 By AL BRUMLEY / The Dallas Morning News On Sept. 12, XM Satellite Radio will debut, offering 100 channels of digital-quality radio that can be heard from coast to coast. Dallas gets to hear it before anyone else because this is the first city where the necessary equipment has been shipped. XM's subscription fee will be $9.99 a month. Its competitor, Sirius Satellite Radio, plans to debut later in the year, offering 100 channels for $12.95 a month. Each company has spent roughly $1.5 billion sending up satellites, setting up high-tech studios and hiring hundreds of programmers and announcers. Music formats will include everything from blues to acid rock to reggae to Broadway tunes to classic country to comedy. Talk channels will feature news, politics, sports and other topics such as teen talk. Most channels will be manned by DJs – "announcers" in satellite-radio jargon – and the channels will also feature live performances and interviews. Dallas listeners will need new equipment and a subscription for satellite radio • Stories and links • Extra content index Both companies will air commercials on their talk channels. Sirius' music channels will be commercial-free. XM says 34 of its music channels will air commercials – thus, the lower monthly fee – but far fewer ads than FM radio. So if you hate radio in its current state, perk up: There soon will be three bands to choose from: AM, FM and satellite. BEFORE YOU BUY Pick your service: A radio will receive either XM Satellite Radio or Sirius Satellite Radio – not both. The companies have agreed to create interoperable service within the next few years. Are you compatible? If you have a Pioneer or Alpine radio in your car, chances are it is satellite ready – capable of displaying the name of the channel, the artist and the song Check your user's manual or ask your satellite radio dealer. But you'll need more: Even a satellite-ready radio won't work without an antenna and receiver (a small box that delivers the satellite signal to the radio, or "head unit"). Most receivers will be installed in car trunks. Short antennas are mounted either on the roof or rear windshield. NOT SATELLITE READY? YOU HAVE PLENTY OF OPTIONS Buy a new satellite radio: Manufacturers include Clarion, Blaupunkt, Delphi, Sony, Sharp and Mitsubishi Electric. Receivers are a separate purchase unless you go with Sony, which includes everything in one unit. Other receivers are made by Alpine and Pioneer. FM modulator kit: This works like those old adapter kits people once plugged into their AM radios to hear FM. It comes with a small display module that rests on your dashboard. Cassette adapter: For now, this is only available through Sony, which makes receivers only for XM, although Sirius plans to have cassette adapters available, too. The Sony receiver mounts on the dashboard. It displays information and plays through the cassette deck. CD adapter: Not available yet, but coming. It's the same as the cassette, except it plays through a CD player. Auxiliary input: If your current radio has one, some satellite radios can be wired into that. Check your user's manual or ask an expert. Keep in mind: Unless you buy a Sony unit, you still need to buy a separate receiver. Or buy a new car: Satellite radios will be available in 2002 models this fall. XM has deals with some Cadillac models and with GM, Saab, Honda, Isuzu and Acura. Sirius has deals with Ford, Daimler-Chrysler and BMW. The subscription fee will be folded into the monthly car payment. Want to listen at home? At this point, there is only one option: Sony makes receivers with built-in antennas that will work both in cars and homes (they can be hooked up through an auxiliary jack on a home stereo system). But for now, that will only work if you decide on XM as your satellite radio provider. Bottom line: Prices for the whole setup vary widely, depending on the manufacturer and model you want. Expect to pay $200 to $600. How to subscribe: For XM, call 1-800-852-9696. Or go to www.xmradio.com. Sirius information will be available later. dallasnews.com