Most of my readers think that I am what is called in the business an "early adopter". This means that I am a buyer on the early edge of new technology - a buyer who runs out and buys the latest and greatest technology goodie as soon as it hits the market shelves. In fact, I am not, and probably never was, except in certain special cases. I guess, when all is said and done, that I am just too cheap!
I have stayed away from satellite radio for the year or so that it has been in existence. In fact, although I am writing this column now, I still haven't purchased a unit. But two things motivated me to write: my brother-in-law bought one, and satellite radio was the subject of a column the other day in the local daily paper. The author of that article positively gushed (his word) over satellite radio, saying how great it was and how it was the savior of radio as he used to know it. Well, I don't agree.
To acquaint the technically deprived amongst you, satellite radio is basically radio that uses transmission from satellites, rather than local AM or FM radio stations. It still uses radio waves, but different frequencies, and the transmission is pure digital. No traditional radio AM or FM stations are digital. This means, of course, much better audio quality. In a sense, its just like satellite TV, except that it is audio only, no picture.
There are two competing services: XM Satellite Radio, and Sirius. The two services are not compatible, and in fact require different hardware. Thus, if you buy an XM set and decide to switch to Sirius, you have to buy all new hardware. This alone is enough to keep me out of it until they agree on a standard. It's VHS vs. Betamax all over again.
With each service, you get a number of different channels to choose from - about 100 in each service. You have to pay a monthly fee of $10 or $13 per month. XM, at $10, is cheaper, but then you have to subscribe for and pay for some content. Sirius is more expensive, but all channels (I believe) come included in the base price. But some of the channels have commercials!
Well, pardon me, but after paying a monthly fee, I'll be darned if I then have to pay MORE for premium channels, and have to listen to commercials too. Cable systems are doing this to me now, and I hate it.
The main radio used in XM is by Delphi. It's really pretty small and cute, and has a nice display. You buy the basic receiver for from $100 to $125, and then buy installation kits for your car, home, or even a boom box type thing. The car and home kits are about $70. So you pay about $250 to use it in both the house and the car.
And then, there is the antenna. Just like satellite TV, you need an antenna. Oh, its not a big dish, but it does have to be in a place that gives you good reception. The indoor unit should be near a window, and the car antenna is usually placed on the car roof.
All right. So what? All that can be overcome. Why do I dislike the service? First of all, to me its not real radio. Old-time radio was LOCAL. I remember those nights as a kid listening to my transistor radio under my pillow so my parents couldn't hear. I remember Murray the K, Alan Freed, monologues by Jean Shepherd, etc. on the air. And although they played similar music around the country, it was with a local slant. News shows were of course local.
Now, our radio is national elevator music. Even the local stations just play feeds from national services, such as Clear Channel. Satellite radio is the same - and it's not radio the way radio used to be.
Secondly, I think that the real answer to everything (mobile phones, video and music in cars, email on the road, etc.) is universal wireless Internet. All these things, and many more, can be done through the generalized mechanism of the Internet, just as you can receive music and live radio stations on the Internet right now. Instead of the government selling parts of the radio spectrum to specialized services such as satellite radio, we should be using that spectrum to provide unlimited, wireless access to the Internet. That is when I will get interested!
(Bob Seidel is a local computer consultant in the Southport / Oak Island area. You can visit his website at www.bobseidel.com or e-mail him at bsc@bobseidel.com).