The Importance of Open Content

The advent of Satellite Radio brought dawned for the audio-broadcasting world the exact same freedom of content that the advent of Cable Television brought to visual broadcasting. Censorship became drastically more lax than it had ever been on the public airwaves, and content eventually flourished.

In television, the content arguably over-flourished with time, a contention that's more or less impossible to dispute once you know about the existence of channels dedicated to say, Catholicism and the incredible world of Rosary Beads (Eternal World Television Network, look it up).

So the golden age of television has left us. We can do better without it, I think. As for satellite radio, it seems that the service itself has been hitting quite a swing over the past few years. All it took was the massive failure of one of the players and the acquisition of it by its main competitor. What began as a bit of an experiment in new media has become a proven source of content, and it has even adapted to the internet era quite effectively (something that still has the TV world reeling).

Their success has surely come from their partnering with car manufacturers. Many listeners get hooked on the clarity, and more so on the content, and they can't resist re-upping after their free span of listening is finished.

Now in terms of the content, it's indisputable that the HBO-style lax censorship has been favorable for satellite radio's resilience. It's hard to debate against the value of wholly uncensored music, and it's more than just music. Their comedy channels are second to none, and the same people drawn to the likes of drive time greats like Howard Stern and Opie and Anthony have flocked to satellite radio to listen to their favorite DJ's talk about whatever it is that they please. When the censors are gone, real conversations materialize, and some worthwhile things (and if not, hilarious things) can be said.

Whether or not we'll be seeing satellite radio in the decades to come is uncertain, but it seems that their service in the countries with larger landmasses (like Australia, the USA and Canada) is here to stay for the time being.

Codan Vehicle Systems

You might wonder what Codan vehicles are? Is there a vehicle called Codan? Well, many would relate the name Codan with high quality radio transmitters or communication systems. There is no vehicle such as Codan vehicles, but one may call them "Codan vehicles" as Codan systems are fitted into many vehicles for Governments, MOD and so on. So, what is so special about Codan? In what ways are these communication systems useful in a vehicle? Let's first take a look at some of the communication systems available with Codan.

Codan have been designing the best communication equipment for applications like high frequency radio and digital microwave radio systems for more than 50 years. Their unbeatable service for the most demanding situations and their consistent quality driven products has made them the pioneers in this field. The company has a network around the world and has offices in countries like India, Australia, UK, China and the USA.

High frequency radio communication for the base station, portable units for the travelers or security personal and the mobile units that are fitted in vehicles are some of the products lines of Codan HF radio. Their NGT transceivers come in a wide range of models and can be used for any application like data, fax, email, chat and voice communications etc. Codan 2110 Manpack transceiver is an award winning product which is light weight, portable and has a battery backup for 50 hours.

Accessories needed to configure the Transceiver for any fax, email or voice etc like the modems, high power amplifiers, antennas, crosspatches, remote control equipments, and telephone interconnect etc are also available to suit all applications. Codan equipments are always reliable and the quality driven product line is unmatched. One example to showcase its reliability and unbiased quality is the 9350 mobile tuning antenna which is internationally acclaimed. Now that we have an idea of what Codan equipments are, let us now see who all can benefit from such high end radio transceivers.

Apart from the military services and security services personal and commercial use of the Codan equipments are increasing as more and more people feel the need for such communication systems in their day to day lives. Most of the United Nations organisations such as the Red Cross, Care, Oxfam etc are some of the social organisations which are internationally acclaimed which use these high frequency radio and satellite systems in their day to day operations. Models like Codan VR and SRx of NGT transceivers can provide fast and reliable communication in areas where there is no other form of communication. Humanitarian works and other natural disasters, famine and political unrest are some of the times where Codan has been most useful.

The need for Codan vehicles is also imperative as many humanitarian services have to reach remote areas where there is zero telecommunications or other forms of communication. This equipment can be fitted in the vehicles and used in any situation. They are portable and light weight and its high frequency receivers will ensure an uninterrupted data receipt. Developing nations and conflict driven states or nations will find a great solace in using these equipments from Codan.

Live 365 Internet Radio - Your Up to Date Resource Community

Entertainment is extremely important during this economical time, especially when it's tough. People are considering new things that entertain them inside of home and they are also creating new ways to interact and network.

The internet has grown so much over the years that it is taking over entertainment, news, politics, relationships and music. Live 365 internet radio is one of the leading prospect of building news, music, relationship and political views and will continue to spread abroad. Technology is actually giving us a helping hand in building relationships nationwide and is the best way to get your music heard.

Online radio hosting is popular because anyone can do it and create their show however they want and have whatever they want in it. Local digital radio hosts have limitations and are required to talk a certain way as well as speak of specific subjects they sometimes don't want to talk about.

The best advantage of having your own internet radio show is that whatever your show is focused on, you will have a fixed audience on that subject and most likely love what you are doing.

When you are hosting a internet radio show, "it's all about you", it's not about what the owner of the radio station thinks. This is the reason why local radio stations are falling and online radio is rising. People find more interest in online radio shows because it is unique, it has a variety of genres and cultures; it focuses on their interest.

Internet radio hosting is one of the most involved movement on the web. It has its way of connecting like minded individuals and combining talents and resources to a network that is spreading abroad. Anyone can benefit because they are always reaching out a hand to help. Business owners are always helping others succeed with their advice and techniques.

Upcoming Indie artists are promoted every week with the hottest and newest songs and spoken word unheard! Internet radio helps listeners interact while learning about the world we live in. The latest news are always up to date so that people can know about it and voice their opinion about events.

If you are looking for a new way to interact, get involve or network, the internet radio business will get you there. If you are wanting to start your own internet radio business, don't be afraid, it's easy and profitable and you will learn a lot of things while doing it.

Queens of Internet Radio of EOTM Radio are building foundations to higher success and this means big for talented individuals. The internet radio industry is so huge that anyone who's looking for a chance to be the next big star should not take this lightly. People are getting discovered over the internet and it is no different with EOTM Radio. Entrepreneurs On The Move works closely with film and TV music supervisors, advertisers and other industry professionals to bring music opportunities to you as well as news, business opportunities, and freedom of speech.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Saytue_Saye

Mobile Workforce Tracking Field Service Efficiency

Optimising field service efficiency lies at the core of today's productivity-driven, fleet service businesses. Competing for and maintaining customer contracts in today's touch economic climate means the vital link between business and its customer is crucial at all stages within schedule cycles.

Mobile workforce tracking is a dynamic, field management telematics tool, enabling a realtime tracking, workflow solution and a time-critical response to unexpected change, which improves service performance and ultimately, customer relationships.

Once personnel and vehicle are in the field, controlling service operations has traditionally been the weak link in the work schedule chain. Numerous daily challenges face vehicle fleet operators or businesses maintaining a mobile field workforce. Meeting compliance requirements and key to reducing running costs, improving productivity and increasing customer satisfaction is maintaining communication via a mobile phone tracking solution between field staff and company centres of operation.

Consequently, contingency actions in rapid response to changing customer requirements, traffic conditions, manpower resources, vehicle availability or emergencies can ensure a less disruptive workflow transition. Equally critical is the provision of complete work schedule visibility to ensure correctly matched assignment to job resourcing, effectively managed timesheets and fuel emission monitoring.

Integrating best-of-breed mobile workforce solutions which is fully modular and scalable within an existing operations control "back office" system brings the essential added value of vehicle tracking to essential information management.

24/7 location data updated through customisable, real-time GPS vehicle tracking, fleet tracking and mobile asset tracking through a strategic, consultative approach can quickly enforce desired management operational efficiency and ensures rapid return on investment through enhanced reporting scheduling software bringing tangible cost reduction.

It is by automating the management of assets and mobile workers in the field that the harnessing of powerful end-to-end mobile resource management technology can significantly help businesses optimise fleet performance and the service delivery process.

Tracking field service performance assists fleet operators and field service providers by reducing operational costs, whilst at the same time increasing mobile worker productivity and customer service enables by complete visibility of field operation efficiency levels.

Replacement Portable Antennas

Replacement portable antennas have now replaced the detachable antenna which was used earlier. The main disadvantage of these was the interrupted signals and bad reception. Hence the replacement portable antenna's were introduced for excellent reception and uninterrupted signals. You can now sit at home and watch your favourite channel in the television without any interruption with the help of these replacement antennas.

The replacement antenna is available in different types based on the needs and requirements of the customer. If your antenna is broken then you can prefer for a telescopic replacement antenna that may aid you to restore the performances of the cordless phones, television, radio and walkie talkies. The main use of portable antenna is that you can easily carry and place them anywhere you want within your area. Hence if you are planning to get a new replacement antenna make sure it is portable, easy to handle and original.

If you are looking for an antenna which has long range and very good reception then you can go in for portable long range antenna's that have an increased range of connectivity even up to three miles. You can choose an indoor or outdoor replacement based on the usage and need. The outdoor antenna's are more beneficial than the indoor ones. If you are looking for an indoor antenna then you need to enhance its reception with the help of an amplifier for a better usage. You can even customize your own antenna based on your needs. All you need to know is the range of connectivity and its usage.

The price range of the replacement antenna may vary from place to place depending on the usage, type and brand. If you are looking for a cheap replacement portable antenna then internet is the best source to buy. You can get 100% genuine replacement based on the usage. The price of the replacement antenna's vary from 20$ to 50$ depending upon the brand. All you need to do before buying an replacement is to make sure they are 100% genuine. You can compare the price of the various replacements and choose the best one that suits your budget.

Even though you buy a good antenna with excellent reception it's very important to keep it in the right place. You need to ensure that heights and objects do not interrupt the signal. This is the reason why amplifiers are now used along with the replacement antenna these days. The amplifier usually enhances the reception of the replacement. There are number of shops and online stores that sell the best replacement portable antenna. You can choose the best one based on the price and usage.

Proper maintenance of replacement antenna is very essential in order extend the life of it and reduce antenna failure. It is always advisable to maintain a record in order to ensure proper functioning of the antenna. If you are planning to get a new replacement portable antenna make sure that you maintain it well.

The Growing Issue of Satellite TV Theft

To most people, the idea of getting free access to hundreds of channels, including premium movie programming, special sports packages, high quality digital sound and picture, and unlimited pay-per-view options, probably sounds like a dream come true. And the fact that this "dream" is against the law is not stopping satellite TV piracy from increasing at rates that are downright nightmarish for the satellite providers who are being robbed in the process.

The fact is, satellite theft, which is extremely illegal, has grown remarkably in recent years. Now, the number of people stealing satellite TV is almost as high as the number of people stealing cable. There are a number of factors to blame for this. For one thing, everyday people are becoming more and more technology-proficient, which means that not only more information is becoming available-mainly over the Internet-on satellite piracy, but also that more people are able to access and use such information.

In addition to that, as the legal use of satellite is becoming more popular, it follows that the illegal use of it is becoming more popular, as well. More and more people are switching from legitimate cable subscriptions to legitimate satellite subscriptions for the many benefits that satellite TV has to offer. These same benefits also make satellite more popular among pirates.

It is estimated that over a million people are currently accessing satellite TV illegally. And this estimate does not even take into account the many people who have a legal subscription to a basic satellite package but are illegally receiving more than they pay for. Sometimes people tamper with their satellite systems themselves to get free access to premium channels, special packages, and pay-per-view. Other people might "tip" the professional technician who is sent to install their system, bribing them to open up their access for them.

The latter case is just one example of the many ways that satellite pirates are making money off their hacking skills. A lot of the profits being made off piracy come from sales that are made over the Internet. This makes the pirates anonymous and hard to track and prosecute. One of the most profitable satellite features for pirates to steal is pay-per-view programming, especially films and pornography. This makes the satellite providers that provide the most pay-per-view options the biggest targets for satellite pirates. Satellite pirates will obtain and record movies and sell them on the street. There is a huge profit margin on such DVDs, as the only cost to the pirates is the price of recording equipment and blank DVDs.

Other popular features include special packages like the NFL Sunday Ticket, Mega March Madness, MLB Extra Innings, Cricket Ticket, NHL Center Ice, NASCAR HotPass, and NBA League Pass.

As tempting as the idea of receiving free digital programming, premium movie channels, special packages, and pay-per-view services may seem, the bottom line is that it is illegal. When you steal satellite service, you are contributing to rising problem of satellite piracy, a practice that costs satellite providers billions of dollars a year.

Satellite Radio - What Is It and Why You Need It?

For me, the greatest advantage of satellite radio is being able to listen to music commercial free. The main reason being that their main source of income does not come from advertisers, but instead from the listener.

Satellite radio offers over 70 channels of commercial free content with a pretty diverse variety. Everything from hip hop to heavy metal and now there even a Catholic talk channel.

Another benefit of satellite radio is the lack of static. You can basically drive from one coast of the country to the other and you will receive a strong and clear signal pretty much the whole way. The satellite signal is digital which insures its clarity wherever you go.

Another great feature is being able to identify what you are listening to you. The radio tuners receive meta data that includes song information like title, artist etc It's a great way to discover new music as you can simply scan the channels until you hear something you like, then you can see exactly what it is.

Unlike conventional radio, satellite radio is complete uncensored. This is the main reason why artists like Howard Stern chose to abandon their old radio gigs and establish their shows on satellite radio. It's great to be able to listen to music without those annoying beeps interrupting the vocals.

In addition to music, satellite radio also offers information about local weather and travel conditions. This information can be very detailed especially for the larger metropolitan areas. In the case of a natural disaster such as an earthquake which can knock a conventional radio signal off the air, satellite will always work and you can count on it for the latest news and information regarding the calamity.

So these are a few of the advantages that satellite radio has over conventional radio. To those that argue that the subscription costs money and conventional radio is free, I say this: Think of all the time you spend listening to commercials and scanning the dial for something you like and you will find that inexpensive cost of a subscription well worth the price.

Communication & Control Systems

Communication was used initially to interact with one another. Later it was used for data transfer, running planes, trains, guiding the rockets, etc. No one can deny the great service communication systems does for the military, naval and air forces. It looks like the whole world is connected and is functioning only because of communication and control systems.

It is hard to even imagine a life without the basic communication system every man uses today like the mobile, internet etc. Man has become so dependable on this communication media and it is now hard to pull him back to olden days when the only mode of communication was snail mails or trunk calls. Not to mention the messages passed on through doves. If we ponder on the history of communication we can see that even cave men used drawings to express himself. Communication forms existed at all times only now it is growing in size, medium and functionalities.

It is possible to watch over an enemy nation or keep the radar systems working 24.7 to watch the enemy movements. Today it looks like the whole country along with its army, navy and air force depends hugely on the communication and control systems performance. What would happen if for even a minute these systems stop working. Will it not cost the nation's security breach if any of these control systems were seized or hacked? Imagine the commotion in a train schedule or flight timing if its control system stopped suddenly. Don't you think we are becoming more and more dependant on these communication and control systems? It is in fact done enough damage by hopelessly making us all follow what the control room says or does. But then these systems are fool proof to some extent and thus very dependable and reliable.

Research and development in this field is a never ended episode. Updating the present system to suit the changing needs of the customer or the duties it is assigned is very imperative. Newer communication methods or tools to enhance the control systems performance and usability is also developed and has become a necessary evil. Developing, maintaining and updated these control systems is a huge process and people need proper training to handle them efficiently. Therefore humans should also update their knowledge of these systems for the fear of being branded as aliens. Right from car and home security control systems to larger systems used in banks and organization all control systems are developed with their focus on the particular need of the customer. Military control systems need a system wherein the data can be handled safely and the confidentiality of the messages are kept a secret. High level of security and compatibility is required to face the threats of deadly viruses and hackers.

Communication and control systems are costly or cheap according to the need. A control unit for your home security might be less when compared to business related communication systems. The control unit used by airports, ships, military vigilance etc are all huge control units whose capacity in manifold.

Repeater Station Antennas

Repeater station antennas have gained popularity these days due to their high power to transmit signals. These antennas have the unique power to receive a weak or low frequency signal and transmit them into a high frequency signal for better reception and quality. They have wide range of applications during emergency, fire brigade, ambulance, police and tow truck. These antennas are highly successful in different walks of life. There are different kinds based on the area of usage.

Though the antennas are most widely used among professionals they can also be used for excellent reception at home. If you are looking for high frequency then opt for an antenna that transmits signal at a high frequency. A duplex repeater antenna generally uses two different kinds of frequencies namely the input and output frequency. The main aim of this duplex repeater is to retransmit the signals at a high frequency for better reception. If you are looking for indoor antenna which has excellent reception then you can opt for repeater station antenna.

There are different kinds of these antenna's that are used for several types of transmission of signals. They are generally of two types namely low level and high level. The low level antenna is generally placed at a low altitude to prevent interference with the other frequencies. The high level repeater is kept on top of tall buildings for maximum area of coverage. Hand held walkie talkies can make use of the high level for better reception and communication.

Radio transmission is also now made possible with the help of repeater station antennas. In this type of transmission the digital signals are transmitted over a frequency band between the base stations and the receptor. The numbers of repeater stations generally depend on the type of transmission. This type of transmission can also be used for telephone communication networks. These repeater stations are fully automatic and can be used when there is interruption between the signals. They can extend the communication range for excellent communication. If you are looking for an antenna with good reception and excellent range then go in for repeater station antenna. Morse code is mostly used form of identification.

Are you planning to get a repeater station antenna for good communication? Then don't forget to look for high quality antennas. There are many shops that sell antenna for a very low price. You can compare different types and then choose the best one that fulfils your needs and usage. If you are looking for an antenna with the maximum coverage then you can even opt for multi beam antenna. The price of the repeater station antenna ranges from 25$ to 50$ depending on the frequency range. There are many online stores that sell antenna based on the needs of the customers.

Uninterrupted Entertainment With Sirius Satellite Home Radio

Do you listen to the radio in the morning, when you first wake up or when you're in the shower? Do you listen to the radio at night, before you go to sleep? Most people listen to the radio for news, music and entertainment in their homes. Up until a few years ago, people were limited to receiving radio broadcasts in their local area, based upon the strength of the radio transmissions. In addition, these transmissions are paid for through advertisements, which interrupt the content which listeners enjoy.

Satellite home radio has revolutionized listening to and enjoying radio broadcasts. Sirius satellite home radio offers uninterrupted, music, sports, news, weather, comedy, and talk shows for a subscription fee. These broadcasts have no static, one can hear each channel broadcast very clearly. In addition, home satellite radio can offer content found exclusively on this type of medium. A famous example would be The Howard Stern Show. Stern, tired of FCC restrictions on speech took his show to satellite radio a few years ago. Now satellite subscribers can pick up his show with no commercial interruptions.

Other benefits of satellite home radio offers are that you can listen to radio broadcasts outside of your geographic area. This is important because if you're out of town and you want to know what's going on at home, you can pick up a local news broadcast from thousands of miles ways. Another example would be that you are a huge New York Mets baseball fan, but you're living in Detroit. Through satellite radio for home, you can enjoy New York Mets baseball broadcasts wherever you live.

How do you get satellite home radio service? First, you choose a home satellite service, such as Sirius. Second, you select your equipment. For at home satellite radio service, you will need an indoor/outdoor home antennae (cost app. $39.99) or an outdoor antennae (cost app. $49.99). Also you may want to buy an Echo Wireless Home System Repeater System. This system allows you to enjoy Sirius radio throughout your home without running antennae wires (cost app. $129.99).

Lastly, you install and activate the service. This can be done professionally or by yourself. The home radios range in price from $100 to $250 per unit, depending on features. The monthly subscription fees range from $13 to $17 dollars a month depending on what package you select. There are always sales so these prices may be lower during the holiday shopping season or during other promotions.

Travel the World With Online Radio

With the advancement of technologies a new form of radio is available to us. It is online radio which is often termed as live radio also. This form of radio is a result of the progress made in the telecommunication technologies. Moreover, you need not buy any separate device in order to listen to internet radio. It can be listened to on the speakers of your home or office PC. Now you are able to enjoy notorious jokes, informative news, melodious songs and lots more while working on the other side of your PC which also enhances and increases your capacity to do work.

Loads of websites are available on the internet, which provides the user with a free live radio facility. Moreover, some of the websites are specially formed to facilitate the easy access to these stations for the users. Listener can find the list of different nations on those websites. On clicking the name of the nation, you get the list of the stations related to that country in alphabetical order. One can listen to any channel by clicking on that station. One major advantage of free live radio is that you can easily get to know about the current events of your area even if the person in not at his place.

Day by day many firms are getting into the the work of launching new channels so that people get the appropriate platform to express their feelings as radio stations come up with many programs which play the songs according to the audience interests. If the listener gets all this without even spending money live radio has come up with the same. Cricket lovers has lot to do with live radio if you are working and not in a position to watch ball by ball match then online radio brings you ball by ball commentary at least now the user is able to enjoy the match to the fullest.

Radio jockeys style of speaking binds the listener for hours; especially the mimicry artists provides loads of great fun. The jockeys even provide a sense of spirit and their magical words work as the motivational spirit to the listeners and they really feel motivated to achieve their goals. These sites are user friendly and easy to use and people love to tune into these radio channels. In a short span of time live radio will be proved as the success story.

SiriusXM - What is the Future?

For the last five years, SiriusXM has enjoyed strong success. This has been based mainly on the fact that The Howard Stern Show started its famous run on the then-Sirius radio network in January of 2006. Since that time, Sirius merged with XM satellite radio and has grown to over 20 million paid subscribers. So, your plans to go ahead and purchase a SiriusXM radio, get a subscription, and install it in your home or place it in your patio are a great idea. Right?

Well, not so fast. Much of Siruis' success was predicated on two things: The Howard Stern Show and the XM merger. It is estimated that over 80% of Sirius listeners are listening to Stern when their unit is turned on. Stern still enjoys a loyal following despite the controversial nature of his program, and since the show replays 24 hours a day, many do not listen to anything else. In other words, folks are paying an average of twelve dollars a month just to listen to a radio show. It may be unheard of in other arenas, but in the Stern world, the unreal is routine.

The question is, will Stern return to SiriusXM at the end of this year? If he doesn't, that may very well spell the end of SiriusXM as well as satellite radio in general. Is there anything else that is going to get the average person, who can listen to free radio, to pay good money for a media that may not exist in 2011? In other words, hold on to your money and wait until Stern re-signs at the end of this year. Even if you're buying SiriusXM to listen to commercial free music or comedy, the whole thing may not be around long if Stern returns to regular radio or someplace else to ply his trade.

Controversial or not, as Stern goes, so goes Sirius. If he stays, invest. If not, save your money. Iphone and other smart phones have apps that give you nonstop, commercial-free music for a much lower price.

How Satellite TV Receives Information

Television can be a very important part of your life because it enlightens you with information about the world. Yes, there are things on TV that are not very uplifting, but there are also things on the television that can be educational and informational. That being said, finding the right TV provider for you is really important because it could mean the difference between having certain channels and getting the right kind of reception that fits your lifestyle.

There are two main types of television providers and those are satellite TV and cable TV. There are a lot of differences between the way you get said providers, but the overall gist of the story is that both types of providers bring you TV and offer an outlet into the world that you want and need.

Satellite TV is brought to you by the use of, you guessed it, a satellite dish. The company of your choice has an enormous satellite dish in the atmosphere and then receives the information by placing a small satellite dish on the roof of your house. This satellite dish gets the information from the larger one and then takes that information and brings it to your television set through the use of a receiver box. The receiver box attaches to your television set in any of the rooms of your choice. Compared to cable TV, satellite TV has a lot more equipment but also guarantees great reception and picture because of its all digital picture equipment.

Are Superpowered FM Broadcasters Affecting Mother RF Spectrum?

One day not too long ago I happened to have my spectrum analyzer connected to the outside discone broadband antenna. Out of curiosity I scanned the entire first GigaHertz of the RF spectrum, curious to see who had the strongest RF signal into my house. It turned out to be a pair of FM broadcasters. So I then focused in on the FM broadcast band spectrum.

I quickly discovered two FMs who jointly held the top signals. I measured received signal levels from each station of -16 dBm. These two are the strongest measured off-premises signals at my residence between 0 and 1,000 MHz, and probably in the entire RF spectrum. When that signal level is developed across a 75 ohm receiver input, it produces more than 43,000 microvolts!

Few, if any, non-broadcast broadband receiver front ends are going to handle a signal of that magnitude without folding into compression. It's no wonder that my sensitive monitoring receivers on outdoor antennas curled up and died whenever they were tuned to within a few tens of Mhz of the FM broadcast band. That grossly excessive received signal level is really needed only for receiving broadcasts on electric toothbrushes!

I then went to the FCC Media Bureau database to determine just what transmission conditions these two stations were authorized. And I discovered, after some data analysis, that great changes had recently occurred in the FM authorizations in my market.

First, both of these "top signal stations" are now authorized 50 kW ERP. Both are atop the same six hundred foot tower whose primary use is as an AM (ND) antenna. The tower is located on flat land, line of sight to my driveway, three miles due south, and in the middle of a long-established residential area. But there is no rational purpose in using this great a power level in my area, since VHF signals are always blocked by existing terrain before they can decrease to the noise level at far distances.

The primary FM had always been a twin of the co-sited AM, but it appeared that the FM had recently received a power increase authorization. The second FM had been first established at an mountaintop broadcast site but had moved down to the ground and in doing so picked up about another 10-13 dB in authorized ERP.

Two more established FMs had moved their locations to another pair of AM towers, these only four miles distant from my house, and also had been granted 50 kW ERP each. So the game became clear to me: relocate to a tower on the ground, receive big ERP increases, and be able to sell air time to your clients on the basis that they are buying onto a "dominating 50 kW signal!"

Also, almost all of the other local FMs had separately moved to the premiere established broadcast hill and all picked up additional ERP; the average now from that hill (about ten miles away from my house and also line of sight) is about 30 kW.

But one dirty little secret remains. The local FM NCEs don't have that gross power level. They kick out with an average 2 kW ERP. AND NO LISTENERS EVER COMPLAIN THAT THE NCEs "CAN'T BE HEARD!"

So the commercial broadcasters are all pumped up with "superpower" ERP authorizations, and non-broadcast VHF receivers all over the region are being squished. And for what? What's the point? Where's the ecological regard for "Mother RF Spectrum?"

We have lots of RF power in the region producing bone-crusher signals that go nowhere. Lots of primary electrical power being consumed for transmitters and A/Cs in a region noted for continuing power insufficiency. Lots of imported oil, domestic coal and natural gas being burned to generate lots of electricity. Lots of carbon dioxide and nitrogen oxides spewing into the atmosphere. But just what do we get for all this waste? The Curmudgeon can't see the point in it.

Media Bureau, do you have any idea what you are doing?

The "fix" to my receiver desensitization problem was fairly easy, even if it came at my own expense. A commercial FM band-stop filter, working ahead of a broadband distribution amplifier and the multiple monitoring receivers, solved the problem. The filter has a minimum of 22 dB attenuation from 88 to 108 MHz, and a notch of 45 dB at one of the -16 dBm carriers. My monitoring receivers can handle FM band signals in the range of -40 to -50 dBm without folding. I can hear VHF aircraft band once again! The receiver blanketing is essentially gone!

For many years I unquestioningly believed that "bigger outdoor antennas were better antennas." Finally I measured actual received signal levels. And I discovered that the real problem was far too much RF in the air over my residence, not too little!

Home Satellite Radio Brings the World to Your Doorstep

Consumers can be indecisive with regards to home satellite radio subscriptions. Mainly because of the many costs associated with installation and monthly subscriptions. Unfortunately, they are usually unaware of the huge advantages to having a satellite radio at home. Advantages that will swiftly justify those costs.

Installing a home system can be an exceptionally smart choice. Especially for people living in districts where a regular radio reception can be a problem: for instance, a rural area with bad to zero reception.

Home satellite radio includes a wide variety of stations, suitable for a wide selection of personalities. Together, they cover an enormous range of outlooks, topics and interests. It provides religious stations; comedy stations; home and fashion oriented stations; entertainment; legislation; weather and sports. Even a good helping of bygone radio shows.

The assortment of music on offer is just as varied, and just as good, with over 100 channels of streaming music alone. Satellite radio offers a wide range of genre, from classical to jazz. Chances are, whatever anyone's into, at least one of the stations is playing it right now!

And best of all, it is totally commercial free.

When chewing over the 'ins and outs' of getting a home system, it is important, nay essential, to understand the entire costs that come with your purchase. Regularly referred to as start-up costs, the price for installing a satellite radio can range from $150- $300. Everything required for a working installation is included: receiver, cables, connectors, satellite meters, and wall mounts. This is a one off bill to cover the initial installation costs and activation. Frequently, various incentive packages are offered, temporarily omitting part or parts of those costs. For example, Sirius and XM recently included free activation. In addition, the total cost of start-up has lowered, in general.

The choices you make after installation will control how much the home satellite radio will cost, on a monthly basis. Many aspects will ultimately affect the price. Prepay is on offer, as well as contract. The length of commitment will vary the price. In addition, it is possible to add extra receivers and special channels. If the home satellite radio is actually for a business, the monthly charge will also be affected. Even so, normally everyone will be looking at quite a low fee. The average subscription being less than $30 a month.

Before putting in your order, take some time to browse the latest offerings online. You may just find an unexpected deal that will go on saving you money. Forever!

Tuning That Radio Antenna For Better Reception

Going back to the times when radios had antennas attached to them for transmission as well as reception of signals, it's probably not a common sight to see such gadgets in use. Mainstream technology offers us real-time options to communicate with one another on computers via the internet as well as enjoy listening to news and music streamed into media players. However, nothing beats the rasp and crackle on the conventional radio as a means to connect into the unknown.

A radio antenna's main function is to convert radio frequency signals picked up from the air by its receivers, into electrical signals to produce audible sound. If the radio is also meant for transmission, it then converts electrical signals, which represent a human's voice or a song, into radio frequency signals and emit them. Since these signals travel through the air, there is always a great chance of signal loss depending on its surroundings. Any electrical device radiating some form of frequency can affect the radio's transmission and reception. An antenna constructed of incorrect height and material is also subject to further interference.

Radio stations sport giant antennas to ensure strong signal transmission to its listeners. Hence, radio antennas attached to the device itself are quite sufficient to pick up these strong signals without having the need for secondary antennas. The trick, however, is to adjust the antenna to pick up the best reception possible. Since radio signals travel as waves, the antenna height plays an important role. Simply extending it to its fullest doesn't automatically ensure good reception.

If you are staying in the outback away from civilization, an outdoor antenna may be required to pick up and transmit stronger signals. Ensure you place it in a clear area on high ground for maximum effect. Within city limits, an indoor antenna is a good alternative to avoid a sore thumb in your garden. Normally attached to the highest part of the house, insulated wire is run from the antenna to the radio. There is no hard and fast rule on which antenna heights work best. It all comes down to testing and tuning for what best suits your environment.

Radio - Software Defined

As the name itself suggests, software defined radio systems (SDRs) are nothing but the radio communication systems where some software will be implemented with the help of PCs to make two way radio communication possible. There will be no more irritating circuits consisting of some typical wires and other stuff employed in software defined radio systems. As you know, in traditional radio communication circuits, you will of course find some major components such as mixers, filters, amplifiers, modulators, demodulators, detectors etc. There are also some sorts of advancement witnessed in the field of radio technology when software defined radio systems came into existence.

Here, an antenna is attached with an analog-to-digital converter in order to act as an ideal receiver. The converter is later interpreted by the digital processor of signal. It is then the stream of data is transformed by the software with the help of converter. In fact, this is the same in case of the traditional radio communication systems, where a stream of numbers is generated by the digital processor of signal. Later, the analog-to-digital converter, which is attached with an antenna, will receive the data. To be more specific, all that the SDR consists is an analog-to-digital-converter, sound card and of course a computer. The processing of radio signals are carried out by the general processors rather than using some hardware for special purpose. This design is well equipped to produce a radio, which can transmit as well as receive the radio signals with the help of different software allotted for some specific purposes.

The SDR is widely employed in the cell phone services and in military academies, as they need to be served with a wide variety of radio protocols. The SDR technology is said to be one of the most advanced technologies in the field of radio communication. This is also the only system that enables the cognitive radio. The variable frequency oscillators, filters as well as mixer are utilized by most of the receivers for tuning the signal desired into a baseband or intermediate frequency. This is where the analog-to-digital converter interprets the signal. However, tuning the signal into baseband or intermediate frequency is not required in all cases. The analog-to-digital converter samples the radio frequency signal directly in some cases i.e. after getting the signal amplified.

Unfortunately, the analog-to-digital converter used in traditional radio communicating systems will fail to identify the nanowatt radio signals; sub microvolt etc. hence, the step of conversion must be preceded by the low noise amplifiers. However, the low noise amplifiers also witness some problems in most of the cases. In fact, this is what led to the distortions in the signals that are desired. In order to avoid these problems, the band-pass filters are placed in between the amplifiers and the antenna. The flexibility of the radio is reduced by the band-pass filters. They are used to communicate with many people at the same time in many huge industries. The communication quality in software defined radio communicating systems is also outstanding. Hence, the modern world is making the most of two way radio communication opportunity offered by software defined radio systems.

An Introduction to Satellite Radios

The satellite radios have definitely taken off. They are incredibly popular mainly because of three reasons that are: content, availability and quality. When you are referring to satellite radio, the quality means the sound quality that can be generated by the equipment by using the satellite signal. The content refers to the type of programs being broadcast by different radio channels or radio stations. And lastly the availability refers to the coverage area or footprint of the satellite. In other words how much land area can receive the satellite signal?

Most of the comparisons are made with obviously the terrestrial radio broadcasts. For example, we all are aware that the standard FM and AM radio stations are different in quality. The content may get heavily filled with jingles, mindless chatter and advertising. The coverage is generally limited to the local area. The two biggest players in the US satellite radio market consist of XM and Sirius. These two are competing against each other and are trying to outdo each other in these three areas.

The subscription radios generally produce a quality of sound that is comparable with the CD quality. That is very high typically if you make use of good quality equipment for playing the received signal. In case you are just replaying the subscription radio signal via small, old and blown speakers then you are not likely to benefit from the raise in quality. All these three factors content, coverage and quality have played an important part in the rising popularity of satellite radio. However most probably it was the content that played the most significant part.

A few of you might be wondering why anyone would wish to use the satellite radio when there is so much of free radio available. Quite a fair point actually, however the comparison can be made with broadcast TV and cable TV. So why do people pay for cable TV? The reason could be quality of sound? Or better content? Or what else? A lot of people believe that cable TV is rubbish as well. The sports coverage could be a reason.

One good advantage of satellite radio is that it is mostly free of any advertising. So surely it is worth a couple of dollars every month and that in fact is its biggest selling point. Most people give the lack of advertisements as the main reason for going to satellite radio. It is quite possible that most of the major league sports will move to the subscription medium in the coming years. This includes the use of satellite radio as well. All major sports such as soccer, basketball, American Football and baseball will probably get their own channel or get attached to other channels.

How to Set-Up the Evoke Flow

If you are worried that you will not be able to figure out how to set up the Evoke Flow after you purchase it then there are a few things that you will want to learn. There are a lot of radios that make it a little bit difficult to learn how to set them up and start using them, but the people at Pure have taken steps that will ensure that you will be able to set-up your radio and start using it when you take it out of the box. Make sure that you learn what all is involved so that you will be able to easily set-up your internet radio.

One thing that you will need when you are setting everything up for your Pure Evoke Flow DAB is a Wi-Fi connection. You will need to be able to connect your radio to the internet so that you can pick up the stations that you want to listen to. Without a connection to the internet you will not be able to tune in all of your favorite radio stations, but there is no need to worry. You will be able to find a Wi-Fi connection almost anywhere you want to take your radio.

When you first buy the Pure Evoke Flow you will want to go over to Pure's online discovery and management site called The Lounge and set up an account. This is where you are going to be able to choose all of your favorite internet radio stations to add to your radio. It is not hard to set up an account and is not a very long process like you might find at some other websites.

All you have to do when you are setting up the stations that you want to listen to from The Lounge for your Pure Evoke Flow DAB Internet Radio is go down through the list of the stations available and put a check mark next to the ones you want to listen to. You will find the list in order by the country they are located in and the genre of music that you are interested in. Once you have put a check by all of the stations you will just click on the favorite's button to have them added to your radio.

It is not a long difficult process to set-up the Evoke Flow DAB, so you will be able to start listening to it very quickly after you receive it. Going to The Lounge is not the only way that you will be able to add stations to your radio, but you can also add stations from the radio itself. When you buy the internet radio make sure that you take the time to carefully go through all of the steps required so that you will be able to get everything set-up correctly.

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