Digital Audio Radio Service

Satellite Digital Audio Radio Services ( SDARS ), is a satellite based radio system in North America.

Provider

The two proprietary systems have been built by the company XM Radio and Sirius Radio. After XM Radio was acquired by Sirius Radio in 2008, the company SiriusXM newly emerged operates on both systems. The reception area extends from the northern border region of Mexico to Canada. This is achieved with a total of 9 satellites and about 700 repeater stations in urban areas with poor satellite reception.

To receive a special radio is required, which costs from around 100 euros, and is already installed in many new and rental cars. In addition, fall monthly subscription fees in the amount of approximately USD 15 ( as of 2012).

SiriusXM 2012 has around 22 million subscribers.

More than 200 programs are ad-free and divided into the fields of music, sports, talk and entertainment, and news and information. Highlights include playing sports including: NFL, MLB, NASCAR, NBA and NHL, as well as entertainment programs with well-known people such as Howard Stern and Oprah Winfrey.

Technology

SiriusXM operates a fleet of nine satellites. Of these, four used for the Sirius system, and five used for the XM system. You are partly in geostationary and partly in geosynchronous orbits. Another satellite to be launched in 2012.

To receive a line of sight to a satellite is required. To improve reception in areas with many high-rise buildings, SiriusXM operates more than 700 ground-based relay stations.