SIRIUS' Satellites to Pack 30% More Punch
Tuesday, September 5, 2006 at 3:15 PM
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SIRIUS' new satellite, a geostationary one as opposed to their current elliptical setup - meant to compliment their satellite constellation - is set to be completed in the fourth quarter of 2008. In preparation for that, SIRIUS has requested authority to launch the new bird... and as a result, we learn something very interesting.
This new satellite - as well as the current satellites - will use a fancy "overlay modulation" technique, which will add an additional 1.35 Mb/s throughput. That's an additional 30% increase in throughput, and that's set to rollout as early as next year.
The reason? Most likely it's the SIRIUS Satellite Video that we've been hearing so much about. Afterall, the ability to download The Backyardigans while driving in your 2008 Jeep definitely will require some additional bandwidth... no doubt we'll see some sound quality improvements from this as well.
[via Satellite Radio TechWorld]
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Comments
Hmmmm... And to think that XM has three geostationary birds (Rock, Roll, Rhythm) and one more (Blues) on the way.
Now who was the genius that claimed Sirius' elliptical constellation of sats was better?
At least Sirius is learning from their technology mistakes. If only XM would learn from their marketing mistakes.
Posted by: theicepik ? | September 5, 2006 6:37 PM
That would be good for Sirius.. every time I listen to it in my wife's X3, I just shake my head at the poor quality . (I have a home XM receiver, and it has far superior sound quality)
Posted by: Lucien | September 6, 2006 12:42 AM
Am I the only one that thinks that Satellite Video is a tremendous waste (for both XM and Sirius)? That market is severely limited, to say the least, in my opinion.... Sirius should try to acquire a newer, better codec and use the additional bandwidth for improved sound quality and more music channels (namely, a TRUE 90's channel and a TRUE punk channel)
Posted by: baldrick5 ? | September 6, 2006 12:51 PM
I think that Sirius should be talking a LOT about their superior reception in rural areas and other places where there are no repeaters.
I have both XM and Sirius in my van. Here on the Oregon coast, you have to drive through the forest a LOT and I can tell you that Sirius consistantly comes in better in areas where XM cannot be heard.
I realize that rural areas may not represent that large a percentage of their business, but a sale is a sale, right?
Posted by: Cranky Media Guy | September 6, 2006 8:25 PM
"Am I the only one that thinks that Satellite Video is a tremendous waste (for both XM and Sirius)?"
No, you're not. I think Satellite RADIO should concentrate on RADIO, not video.
Sirius should be using that extra bandwidth to improve sound quality, not waste it on niche technology like video in a car.
The DVD player will not be taken over by a video service that risks a chance of dropouts. The kids in the back would have a fit.
Posted by: SatelliteRadioFan ? | September 7, 2006 10:23 AM