A loyal reader of Orbitcast - let's call him Proper Modulation - sent in this bit, and I gotta admit it's a great idea. He recently learned that the FM transmitter on his satellite radio receiver is a bit stronger than that crappy iTrip he had... quite a bit stronger. In fact, he'd get over a block radius of broadcast reception out of the thing.

Suddenly the gears started grinding and he came up with an idea. If other people knew the frequency of his receiver, they could tune in to his satrad unit while on the highway. Sure, they'd lose signal eventually - but it at least gives them a taste of what they're missing.

So he made a simple sticker that shows the frequency on it, and stuck it near his satellite radio antenna. Some geeks will get the fact that it's satellite radio, while others will tune in just out of curiousity. Awesome! Talk about viral marketing. Below is a pic...

Even cooler, he decided to open up a CafePress store in hopes that others will help establish these ad-hoc radio networks on the highways. You can call yourselves roving repeater towers. :) I don't really think he's out to make a quick buck out of it - but then again, who cares if he does. It's a great idea and I'd love to see if people could get involved.

Do you love reading Orbitcast? Are you one of the thousands who visit here everyday hitting that refresh button waiting for the next post? Are the words "XMelot" and "Hoo hoo!" part of your daily vocabulary? Then you're a loyal reader and most likely very bored at work.

And that also means that if you haven't nominated Orbitcast for the 2006 Bloggies, you'll be betraying yourself, your friends and most importantly this girl.

So please please please head on over there and submit your nomination. Nominations close at 10PM EST, so it's still not too late!

(Thanks to everyone who's already voted - you guys rock!) 

In the blogging world, there's only a few things that get you giddy like a Japanese schoolgirl watching a Michael Jackson video - and one of those is getting nominated for the Weblog Awards. It has nothing to do with the fame, the girls, or even getting some recognition for the endless hours of work spent on something that has little impact on my actual professional career. No, it's the money.

See, if you could find it in your hearts to nominate Orbitcast for the 2006 Bloggies, I might have a shot at winning that $20.06 and omgomgomg that would like, totally rock.

So seriously, please take a quick minute and head on over to the Bloggies and nominate Orbitcast is you so desire. I'm not sure if this is a "technology" weblog, or a "topical" weblog, or just the "best-kept-secret" weblog - so let's just play it safe and nominate Orbitcast for as many as your lil' fingers can handle.

Nominations end at 10pm EST Tuesday, so uhhh, don't dilly-dally and get in there!

[2006 Bloggies] 

(thank you!)

There are times when we all need to bind together for a unified purpose, as the mouse-clicking masses we have the duty to try our best to game the system! I know many of you are pro-SIRIUS but that doesn't mean you have to be anti-XM. And if you are, now's the time to put everyone's differences aside and do what's right for the industry goddamnit!

What the hell am I talking about? I'm talking about the inevitable "best of CES" polls that are now showing up. The two that have come to my attention are CNET's (link) and PCMag's (link). In both polls, the Pionner Inno XM2go has the chance of capturing the gold - so get in there and help out!

We moved mountains with the Sirius S50 poll on Forbes, and now's our chance to do it again. Stop reading and start voting:

[CNET CES 2006 People's Voice Award]
[PC Magazine's Last Gadget Standing]

UPDATE: It's working! CNET's People's Voice Award now has the Pioneer Inno in the lead (up to ~10% from ~4%). Keep on voting people.