RADIO TO THE POWER OF X: HOW IT WORKS XM Satellite Radio, the first digital satellite radio service in the U.S., offers 100 channels of revolutionary radio including 71 music channels, more than 30 of them commercial-free, and 29 news, sports, talk and children's channels, broadcast coast-to-coast in digital quality. Transmitted via XM's two powerful satellites directly to car and home radios, the service is available for a monthly subscription fee of $9.99. XM radios, built by manufacturing partners such as Pioneer Electronics, Alpine Electronics, Sony Electronics, and Delphi Delco Electronics Systems, are available in retail outlets throughout the US; and major automotive manufacturers like General Motors are offering factory-installed XM radios in new car models. Part Rocket Science, Part Rock n’ Roll: XM Satellite Radio consists of a state-of-the art Broadcast Center in Washington, DC, that covers 150,000 square feet and includes some 80 studios; two Boeing 702 satellites, appropriately named “Rock” and “Roll;” and more than 1,000 terrestrial repeaters located throughout the continental United States. XM broadcasts digitized programming, both original and acquired, to the satellites which are positioned over the East and West Coasts in geostationary orbits. The repeater network ensures signal coverage, particularly in urban areas where tall buildings and other obstructions may otherwise interfere with signal reception. The repeaters receive the XM signal directly from the satellites and then re-transmit it to XM radios in cars and homes. XM Radios: An XM radio can receive and play XM’s encrypted digital signal once that radio is activated. XM radios incorporate a proprietary chipset that decodes the signals from the satellites and repeaters. The chipset, designed by XM in conjunction with STMicroelectronics, consists of two custom integrated circuits that process satellite and repeater signals, and decode audio and data streams. Each XM radio requires an XM antenna. There is a broad array of XM Radio products available from leading manufacturers like Sony, Alpine, Pioneer, and Delphi Delco, among others. XM radios come in a wide variety of configurations, allowing you to easily add XM to your existing stereo system or buy a new AM/FM/XM car stereo system, or buy a new car with XM as a factory-installed option. Each XM radio comes with an information display screen that shows the channel name and number, artist, and song title. Add XM to Your Current Stereo The Sony “Plug and Play” Radio (DRN-XM01) can be added to your existing car or home stereo to enable them to receive XM. The radio slips into a sleek docking station installed in your car or home; the radio can be transported between multiple cars or between car and home using separate accessory kits. It can also be used as a stand-alone XM home stereo system when connected to a pair of powered speakers. The DRN-XM01’s features include a USB port, two-line display with 20 characters per line, five preset stations, blue backlit LCD, and remote control. The Pioneer Universal XM Receiver can be added to your existing car stereo to enable you to receive XM. It includes a small, 10-character display and control unit that can be attached to your dash, allowing you to hear XM through your car stereo system, select XM channels and view all XM channel display information. Replace Your Current Stereo with an AM/FM/XM Car Stereo System An “XM Ready” car stereo can be combined with an XM receiver and an XM antenna to create a new AM/FM/XM car stereo system. Pioneer currently offers 16 XM Ready car stereos, from the popular AM/FM/Cassette players and single CD players to its Premier line of performance CD players. Each of these can be combined with a Pioneer XM Receiver and antenna to receive XM. Alpine offers six different XM Ready car stereos, including five different AM/FM/XM/CD stereos and one in-dash retractable monitor/receiver, offering a choice to fit any lifestyle. When combined with an Alpine XM Receiver and XM antenna they will have access to the XM service. Antenna Options: Two leading antenna manufacturers, Terk and Antenna Specialists, have worked closely with XM to ensure that XM customers will have a variety of attractive antenna options from which to choose. Terk has developed both a low-profile roof-mount and a glass-mount antenna for cars. Antenna Specialists has also developed a glass-mount car antenna, as well as specialty XM antennas for the trucking and boating markets. Pioneer, Alpine, and Sony have also each developed magnetic mount XM antennas that will be available at retailers. To download this document via the web go to: https://www.xmradio.com. Click on the “About Us” section and go to “Fast Facts.”