Satellite Radio: The Next Communications

Revolution?
A.Ram Kumar, Assistant professor,ECE Department, Sir C.R.R.College of Engineering,Eluru.

Abstract Various aspects of the emerging satellite radio construction. At the end of four years at least one satellite
technology are presented. To set the stage, the desirability of must be in orbit and operational. At the end of six years the
satellite radio and the governmental rulings are presented. entire satellite system must be in full operation. The
The various challenges to broadcasting from satellites which applicants are also forced to service, at least, the 48
each service provider must surmount are presented in detail. contiguous states of the United States.
In depth discussions of the XM Radio and Sirius Radio At the time, four companies were qualified to compete for
systems follow as a means of evaluating the efficiency and the new SDARS licenses. The companies are: Satellite CD
effectiveness of each. Radio, Inc. (now Sirius Satellite Radio), Primosphere Limited
Partnership, Digital Satellite Broadcasting Corporation, and
I. WHY SATELLITE RADIO? American Mobile Radio Corporation (now XM Satellite
Radio is one of the few services in the nation which Radio).
resisted the digital revolution. Television, wireless phones, The original proposed frequency band extended from 2310
and other devices have embraced digital communications MHz to 2360 MHz. Congress changed the band November
technologies as a means to further bolster the robustness of of 1996 by deciding one half of the proposed band be
their systems. auctioned for terrestrial services instead. The new SDARS
Today, radio generally falls into two categories. AM band then extended from just 2320 MHz to 2345 MHz. The
(Amplitude Modulation) radio broadcasts fairly low 25 MHz left in the SDARS band was not enough for four
frequencies. AM radio is very susceptible to interference and SDARS operators. Congress had effectively allowed only
propagation variability. These problems allow AM radio to two of the four qualified applicants to be licensed for use in
cover a fairly wide area but prevent Am radio from providing the band.
a reliable service over that area. The narrowband nature of The result was an FCC auction of the remaining bandwidth
AM stations prevents their broadcasts from containing any in April of 1997. Satellite CD Radio, Inc. won one of the
significant amount of audio quality. licenses with a bid of $83,346,000 and a down payment of
FM (Frequency Modulation) was the response to the $13,669,200[8]. American Mobile Radio Corporation won
problems of AM radio. FM radio uses higher frequencies and the other license with a bid of $89,888,888 and a down
more bandwidth per station. The result is better audio quality payment of $14,977,777[8]. American Mobile Radio
with somewhat reduced susceptibility to interference. FM Corporation (XM Radio from now on) uses the upper half of
radio, however, has less range than AM radio. the spectrum from 2332.5 MHz to 2345 MHz. Satellite CD
Clearly a modern digital alternative to AM and FM radio is Radio, Inc. (Sirius Radio from now on) uses the lower half of
needed. This new digital service should provide high quality the spectrum from 2320 MHz to 2332.5 MHz. The frequency
audio to a wide geographical area using a very robust system distribution can be seen below in Figure 1.
if it to compete effectively with current radio and other audio
sources such as CDs and digital cassettes.

II. GOVERNMENT ACTION

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) set aside
in the Code of Federal Regulations a section defining the
necessary qualifications to be licensed for its new Satellite
Digital Audio Radio Service (SDARS) classification. The
qualified applicants had to describe in detail the proposed
satellite digital audio radio system, setting forth all pertinent
technical and operational aspects of the system, and the
technical, legal, and financial qualifications of the
applicant.[9]
The applicants also had to give specifications for receivers, Figure 1. The SDARS Spectrum[18]
compression rates, and meet various milestones. At the end
of one year, from the date of authorization, the applicant has
to complete contracting for construction of its first satellite or
begin the actual construction. At the end of two years the III. TECHNICAL ISSUES WITH SATELLITE
second satellite, if applicable, must be contracted or in BROADCASTS
A. The Problems to Overcome
 The SDARS operators target audience is consumers in a
mobile platform (essentially automobiles). This raises a
unique problem. The antenna used for reception of can not
be overly expensive or else consumers will not want the
service. XM Radio and Sirius Radio are forced to abandon
special high gain antennas and complicated satellite tracking
mechanisms to keep the receiving antenna pointed at the
satellite. The providers are forced to use omni directional
antennas very similar to the antennas used for mobile phones.
Ruling out special antennas gives rise to the importance of
schemes for mitigating the three basic reception problems of
satellite communications.
As the mobile receiving platform moves, from time to time
the broadcast signal from a given satellite will be blocked
completely. This affect depends upon the vehicles
movement, the satellites movement, and the satellites angle Figure 2: An Example of Multipath Interference [1]
of elevation. The faster a vehicle moves the move possible
blockages it comes into contact with but the length of those Research has been conducted into the effect of foliage.
blockages decreases. For non-geostationary satellites, the
path which the broadcast travels to the mobile receiver The transmission margin necessary to overcome
changes over time which further complicates the possibilities multipath fading or attenuation from foliage has been
for blockages. The movement of the satellite is much less of both measured and estimated by experts to be in the
a problem than the movement of the vehicle, however. As a range of about 9 to 12 dB for satellite radio broadcast
satellites angle of elevation increases with respect to the systems operating at UHF frequencies with reception at
mobile receiver the satellite becomes closer to being directly mobile platforms having roughly a 20 degree or more
overhead of the mobile receiver. It is obvious that a signal elevation angle to the satellites. Fortunately, multipath
which travels essentially vertically (as in the case of a very and attenuation from foliage seldom occur
high angle of elevation) to the receiver is much harder to simultaneously. However, the need for 9-12 dB
block in some ways. Conversely, a low angle of elevation transmission margin means that satellite transmitter
will allow the broadcast signal to reach into tunnels and under power must be increased by a factor of 8 to 12 over its
overpasses better. initially high level.[1]
The broadcast signal can also be attenuated by foliage.
Foliage acts, to an extent, in the same way complete B. Solutions to the Problems
blockages work with respect to the motion of the mobile There are a number of very inventive ways to alleviate the
receiver, the motion of the satellite, and the angle of elevation problems associated with satellite broadcasts. The first
of the satellite. However, foliage is unique in that the amount solution is called spatial diversity. Implementing spatial
of attenuation can depend on the frequency of the signal and diversity entails having more than one legitimate broadcast
the angle at which the signal strikes the foliage. Foliage can signal path which the receiver can draw on. The simplest
also reflect a signal with a random phase shift. This is related way to accomplish this is to have more than one satellite as
to multipath interference. Multipath interference occurs shown below in Figure 3.
when the broadcast signal bounces off of any variety of
objects with varying degrees of attenuation and phase
shifting. The receiver picks up these other paths as well as
the original broadcast signal and must determine how to
interpret the multiple signals as shown in Figure 2. The
reflected signals can even tend to cancel the legitimate
broadcast signal.

Figure 3: Implementing Spatial Diversity [1]

Spatial diversity helps to solve each of the three basic

reception problems. As seen in Figure 3, the probability of
completely blocking or attenuating multiple broadcast signals
at the same time, as the mobile receiver moves, is fairly In the time diverse system, the longer the broadcast delay
unlikely. Spatial diversity also helps reduce the effect of between the signals is the longer either of the signals can be
multipath inference. By providing two legitimate broadcast completely blocked from reception at the receiver. The
signals the receiver, in some cases, is able to ignore one of broadcast delay is typically between 0.5 seconds and 5
the signals will all of its reflections in favor of a much minutes [2].
cleaner second signal. The last solution is a repeater station. There are some
Another solution is called frequency diversity. In a places (generally within cites or within very mountainous
frequency diverse system the single broadcast signal is sent territory) where even the previous 3 solutions can not ensure
via two or more frequencies (preferably spatially diverse) to a reliable signal fro the receiver. Repeater stations are set up
the receiver. This solution is primarily aimed at stopping to receive the satellite broadcast and then rebroadcast at an
multipath interference which, as stated before, can be entirely new frequency (which further adds to the frequency
frequency selective. An example of frequency diversity is diversity of the overall system). Recall from Figure 1 that
shown in Figure 4. some of the SDARS spectrum was reserved by both XM
Radio and Sirius Radio for repeater stations. The operation
of repeater stations is shown below in Figure 6.

Figure 4: An Example of Frequency Diversity [1]

The third solution is called time diversity. Time diversity Figure 6: The Compete System with Repeater Stations [2]
is employed is systems already having spatial diversity and
frequency diversity. In a time diverse system, one of the two IV. ACTUAL IMPLEMENTAIONS
broadcast signals is delayed in time before it is broadcast. So A. XM Radios System
while one signal is at second X in the program the other XM Radio owns three Boeing HS 702 satellites of which
signal is at second X C. Time diversity allows the receiver two are deployed in a geostationary orbit (about 22223 miles
to experience fairly severe blockages of both signals at the above the earth). One satellite is at 85 degrees west
same time. The concept of time diversity is demonstrated in longitude and the other is at 115 degrees west longitude. An
Figure 5. artists rendering of the XM Radio system is shown in Figure
7.

Figure 5: An Example of Time Diversity [2] Figure 7: The XM Radio System [16]
Each satellite in XM Radios system essentially covers one Sirius Radio has about 105 repeaters serving 46 markets.
coast of the United States. By spreading the satellites over These repeaters are significantly more powerful than XM
such a wide distance XM Radio is implementing spatial Radios. The Sirius repeaters are up to 40 kW. Sirius
diversity. implements frequency diversity (as in Figure 1) and a time
XM Radio claims the Boeing HS 702 satellites it owns diversity scheme like XM Radio.
transmit an effective energy of 10 MW. By using very high
power satellites XM Radio is compensating for multipath and
attenuation effects. The satellites have a 45 degree angle of
elevation. Recall from the previous discussion how the angle
of elevation affects reception. Although XM Radio chose a
typical angle of elevation, the angle is such that a significant
number of repeaters are necessary. In fact, XM Radio has
approximately 1500 repeaters covering about 70 markets.
These repeaters are mostly 2 kW stations. These are not very
powerful repeaters compared to a standard AM or FM station
which can run up to 100kW.
Frequency diversity is implemented in the XM Radio
system by giving each of the satellites and the repeater
stations a different broadcast frequency. Again recall Figure
1. XM Radio also employs a time diversity scheme although
the exact timing is undisclosed.
XM Radio is headquartered in Washington, D.C. At its
headquarters it has 82 studios. The channel line up includes
100 channels, 60 of which are commercial free. There are 6
channels dedicated to decades, 5 to country music, 15 to hits,
10 to rock, 7 to urban, 6 to jazz and blues, 4 to dance, 5 to
latin, 6 to world, 4 to classical, 2 to kids, 12 to news, 5 to
sports, 3 to comedy, and 10 to talk and variety channels.
Currently Sony, Pioneer, Alpine, and Audiovox produce
XM Radio ready receivers. The receivers range from $100 to
$2100 with antennas costing in the neighborhood of $100.
GM, Isuzu, Nissan, Volkswagen, and Honda have deals with
Figure 8: The Sirius Radio System [17]
XM Radio to install satellite radio ready receivers in select
models. The XM Radio service runs $9.95 per month.
Sirius Radio is headquartered in New York City. Sirius
To be profitable, XM Radio estimates it will need 4 million Radio has 75 studios. The channel line up also includes 100
subscribers. At the end of March 2002 XM Radio has signed channels, all of which are commercial free. There are 8 pop,
up about 76,000 people which is ahead of schedule. By the 11 rock, 6 country, 8 R&B or Urban, 4 dance, 7 jazz, 5 latin,
end of the year they hope to have 350,000 subscribers.
3 classical, 8 variety, 14 news, 5 sports, 5 hispanic, 9
entertainment, and 7 lifestyle channels.
B. Sirius Radios System Currently Kenwood and Clarion produce Sirius Radio
Sirius Radio owns 4 SS/L-1300 satellites of which 3 are ready receivers. The receivers range from $180 to $2800
deployed in an inclined elliptical constellation. In the with antennas costing the same as XM Radios. Sirius Radio
constellation each satellite spends about 16 hours of every
has deals with Ford, DaimlerChrysler, BMW, Mercedes,
day over the continental United States. The Sirius Radio
Mazda, Jaguar, and Volvo to install satellite radio ready
system is shown in Figure 8. Although the Sirius satellites
receivers in select models. The Sirius Radio service runs
are constantly on the move they can be considered to be at $12.95 per month. Sirius Radio is not fully covering the
100 degrees west longitude while they are over the United United States at this time but estimates the full service will be
States. The Sirius satellites tend to be over the center of the launched in July of 2002.
United States as opposed to the coastal approach of XM
Radio. Sirius is implementing spatial diversity but to a lesser
V. ARE THEY WORTH IT?
extend than XM Radio. The Sirius satellites have an angle of
From all indications, the services live up to their claims of
elevation of 60 degrees which is much better than XM Radio. nonstop high quality radio. Reviewers thus far, have noted
It appears Sirius traded off some of the spatial diversity for a that signal losses are hard to generate and fairly short in
better angle of elevation which hopefully provides equal length. The biggest complaints are from very urban areas
quality service.
like New York where the immense urban jungle has not been
The Sirius satellites are of lower power than the XM
pierced by repeater towers as of yet.
satellites. This is partially made up for by the angle of Perhaps a better question is whether consumers will be
elevation. Sirius Radio, like XM Radio, requires repeaters. willing to pay to listen to the radio when terrestrial radio
stations go digital was well as they hope to do in the next few
years. In any event, satellite radio will spark the digital [14] Yahoo!, Inc., Satellite and digital radio news stories,
revolution in radio industry which has been so long overdue. dailynews.yahoo.com/fc/Tech/Satellite_and_Digital_Radio/.

VI. REFERENCES [15] Kevin Bonsor, How satellite radio works,

[1] Robert D. Briskman, John M. Seavey, and Paul Medeiros, www.howstuffworks.com/satellite-radio.htm.
Radio frequency broadcasting systems and methods using
two low-cost geosynchronous satellites and hemispherical [16] XM Satellite Radio, www.xmradio.com/.
coverage antennas, U.S. Patent 5485485, January 16, 1996.
[17] Sirius Satellite Radio, www.siriusradio.com/.
[2] Robert D. Briskman, Mobile radio receivers using time
diversity to avoid service outages in multichannel broadcast [18] David H. Layer, Digital radio takes to the road,
transmission systems, U.S. Patent 5592741, January 7, www.spectrum.ieee.org/WEBONLY/pressrelease/0701/0701
1997. dig.pdf.

[3] Daniel Lieberman, Satellite multiple access system with

distortion cancellation and compression compensation, U.S.
Patent 5720039, February 17, 1998.

[4] Daniel Lieberman, Satellite multiple access system with

distortion cancellation and compression compensation, U.S.
Patent 5745839, April 28, 1998.

[5] Robert D. Briskman, Satellite broadcast system

receiver, U.S. Patent 5794138, August 11, 1998.

[6] Robert D. Briskman, Digital radio satellite and terrestrial

ubiquitous broadcasting system using spread spectrum
modulation, U.S. Patent 5864579, January 26, 1999.

[7] Robert D. Briskman, Satellite broadcast receiver

system, U.S. Patent 6023616, February 8, 2000.

[8] Federal Communications Commission Report No. AUC

97-05, Auction No. 15, FCC announces auction winners for
digital audio radio service,
wireless.fcc.gov/auctions/15/releases/da970656.pdf, April 2,
1997

[9] Code of Federal Communications 47CFR25.144,

Licensing provisions for the 2.3 GHz satellite digital audio
radio service, October 1, 2001.

[10] FCC Auctions Division, 2.3 GHz spectrum band

allocation,
http://wireless.fcc.gov/auctions/data/bandplans/wcsband.pdf.

[11] Leslie Taylor Associates, Inc., Regulatory update:

satellite digital audio radio service (SDARS),
www.lta.com/sdars.html

[12] Jim Wagner, Wireless providers in Sirius Trouble,

ww.internetnews.com/isp-news/article/0,,8_992321,00.html,
March 15, 2002.

[13] Renae Merle, XM Satellite Radio reaches 30,000

users, www.newsbytes.com/news/02/173464.html, January
8, 2002.