Sat Rad Player Streams Satellite Radio in the Background

The new Windows Phone 7.5 Mango compatible apps are just pouring in today. This time we've got the Sat Rad Player version 3. This is an app that lets you log in with your Sirius or XM Satellite radio subscription account and stream audio from any of the channels available to you. The freshly updated Mango version brings some excellent new features including the ability to listen over Bluetooth as well as the ability to listen uninterupted while accessing other applications. That's right, it takes advantage of Mango's ability to stream music in the background!

The app costs $0.99 in the Windows Phone Marketplace, but the free trial is also fully functional with the only difference being that you'll see some advertisements in the app. If you're running a Mango build of Windows Phone 7.5, fire up your Windows Phone Marketplace and search for "Sat Rad Player" now to try it out.

Source: Perry Goutsos

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Satellite Hotspot Gets You Online Anywhere, But At What Cost?

No matter how powerful our smartphones are, and what advanced 4G services they can access, their usefulness takes a nosedive when you can't find a data signal. Thankfully, we can usually get by with the likes of GPRS or another slower-speed connection, but sometimes even that signal's not available. When you're going to be out in the middle of nowhere, there will soon be a way to get your smartphone online even then, but there are some pretty huge caveats to consider.

Satellite communication provider Iridium offers globetrotters reliable communication via its hand-held satellite phones. Now it plans to extend those services to providing satellite-based WiFi hotspot connectivity through the Iridium AxcessPoint.

The $200 AxcessPoint connects to a separate Iridium satphone for communications, making it pretty expensive for an accessory that can't even get online by itself. Those phones are in the $1000 range, and then the actual data service is a little over a dollar a minute.

For that kind of money, it must have some pretty impressive performance, right? You'd better dissuade yourself of any dreams of watching Netflix from a mountaintop, because we're looking at data speeds around 26-27Kbps ? that's roughly 1000 times slower than modern LTE, and slower than nearly all dial-up internet connections.

Getting your phone online through the AxcessPoint will be slow, expensive, and require lugging around a bunch of extra hardware. On some occasions, though, there just aren't any other options. The Iridium AxcessPoint will be out sometime in Q4 2011.

Source: Iridium
Via: PCMag

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The History of America's Satellite TV Service Providers

The history of satellite TV service providers in the United States goes back farther than you might think. Most people are familiar with popular current providers such as the Dish Network and DirecTV, but very few know how satellite TV has developed and evolved since its earliest beginnings in the 1970s.

The Beginnings of Satellite TV

Thirty years ago there was no such thing as satellite TV service providers, but that was about to change. Several private companies banded together in the early 1970s to launch a series of geosynchronous satellites (geosynchronous means an orbit that keeps the satellite directly above one area of the earth at all times) to transmit signals from an originating source to multiple receiving locations.

In 1976, HBO became the first programmer to deliver satellite programming to cable companies; many other programmers like Turner Broadcasting System (TBS) and the Christian Broadcasting Network (later called The Family Channel) followed suit, and the satellite television industry was poised for tremendous growth.

Big Dishes, Free Programming

As more and more programmers used satellites to deliver their programming to cable companies across the country, a Stanford University professor developed a way to receive those signals in his own home. His receiver dish, later known as a C-band dish for the frequency that it received, was quite large and quite effective. He was able to pick up signals from just about any programmer he wanted because the signals were sent out "in the clear", or without any encryption.

At one point, the professor sent HBO a check for $100 to pay for the programming he had been receiving and enjoying so much, but much to his surprise, they sent the check back to him. They informed him that they dealt only with cable companies, not individuals. And thus, a television revolution was born.

The professor published a "how to" guide for building a home satellite dish and founded a company to produce the parts for dishes. Initially these systems were quite expensive (up to $10,000 or more) but as the technology improved, the costs dropped dramatically (to $3,000 or less).

Why would anyone want to spend that much money for a C-band home satellite receiver? After all, the dish itself was quite large and unsightly, and required a good deal of space for installation.

The answer lies in several factors. First, because the programming was free, the homeowner only had to make a one-time investment in hardware. There were no additional monthly fees. Second, the signals were extremely crisp and clear because they came directly from the programmer, rather than second- or third-hand from another provider or cable TV system. And third, there were literally hundreds of channels available, a selection that cable companies could not even come close to offering.

C-band dishes were especially popular in rural areas where there was no cable service provider and over the air broadcast signals were weak or even totally absent. As a result, the satellite TV industry surged in popularity and grew quickly.

No More Free Lunch

Of course, all good things come to an end, and it did not take long for satellite TV service providers to realize that there was tremendous value to their programming that was essentially being given away for free to C-band dish owners. They began to lobby Congress for the right to scramble, or encrypt, their signals so that they could no longer be received by dish owners who did not pay for a decoding device. Dish owners hated this idea, naturally, but they simply did not have the organization or influence of large programming companies. Congress passed the Cable Act of 1984, which allowed programmers to encrypt their satellite signals.

Suddenly the satellite programmers were full-fledged satellite TV service providers, with a new (but still small) revenue stream from C-band dish owners. In those days, though, encryption technology was not as sophisticated as it is today, and many dish owners found ways around the encryption or bought bootleg decoders. Theft of service remained a major problem up until the early 1990's, when digital encryption technology went into widespread use.

Competition Heats Up

As the industry grew, individual programmers realized they could not survive if they all were their own individual satellite TV service providers, so they looked to new companies who were willing to take on that role. The biggest boon to the industry, though, came in the form a technology leap that allowed receiver dishes to shrink significantly in size, to the point where they were small enough to be installed on the roof or outside wall of most homes.

A huge new market was born for direct broadcast satellite (DBS) systems. Many companies jumped into this business, most notably a consortium of four cable TV companies as well as a non-cable associated company. Their services were known, respectively, as Primestar and DIRECTV.

More and more satellite TV service providers entered the market, presenting consumers with a confusing array of services at a wide range of prices. Meanwhile, the pressure to improve the technology and deliver more advanced services meant that providers were pushed to spend more and more money to stay competitive. Inevitably, some could not keep up with the financial demands and only the strongest survived.

Industry Consolidation and Changes in Ownership

A flurry of industry consolidation, changes in ownership, and restructuring led to the emergence of two major satellite TV service providers - DirecTV and Dish Network. Their size and financial strength allowed them to invest in new technologies and rapidly expand their service offerings. Today, DirecTV and Dish Network offer consumers a huge assortment of options, including pay-per-view programming, on-demand programming, music services, satellite radio, high speed internet, and more.

About DirecTV and the Dish Network

The Dish Network and DirecTV are the two major satellite TV service providers in the market today, and for good reason. They each offer a range of services at reasonable prices, and have quite a large customer base.

In the early days of DBS, a major obstacle for the providers was the equipment costs the customers had to absorb in order to get their homes set up with a dish and a receiver. Further complicating the issue, if the customer had more than one TV in their home then they had to purchase a separate receiver for each TV where they wanted to have DBS service. The cost was prohibitive for many potential customers, so DirecTV and the Dish Network looked for ways to lower the start up costs and make it easier for people to switch from cable TV to satellite TV.

The winning strategy, as it turns out, was collaborating with equipment manufacturers and offering free satellite TV systems to customers who would agree to service contracts of up to two years. Over that length of time, the Dish Network and DirecTV were able to recover enough revenue to at least break even on the discounted equipment costs, and often gained substantial additional revenue as customers purchased pay-per-view programming and other extra services.

About the Author:

Julie-Ann Amos is a freelance writer for 1st-Dish-TV.net, a consumer guide to digital satellite TV. She has written numerous articles on free satellite dish TV systems and personally has no preference when it comes to choosing satellite TV service providers, as long as she can watch the Science Fiction Channel.

Copyright 2005 1st-Dish-TV.net

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Disgusted With Dial-Up? - Compare DSL Service Providers, Cable and Satellite Internet To See If One

Do you find yourself waiting around for your Internet pages to load or digital photo files and other attachments to transfer?

Do your friends and family complain that they can never get through on the phone line because you or your kids are always online.Chances are you are still using dial up Internet service.Perhaps it's time to consider an alternative method.

The main three types of high speed access include DSL,

cable and satellite Internet. At the current time, DSL service providers and cable are not available in all areas. Some parts of the country do not have access to either option. Good satellite Internet reception is dependant on an unobstructed line of sight to the south. So where you live can make a big difference in which high speed Internet service you choose.

Here are some overviews of each service and comparisons for those

fortunate to have more than one option available:

DSL Service Providers

DSL, which stands for Digital Subscriber Line, describes a

technology that taps into unused frequencies on copper telephone lines to

transmit information at much higher speeds. There is no dialup and accessing services. So access is immediate. With DSL, you can send both voice and high speed data over the same line. The bandwidth, or data transfer capacity, or DSL ranges from 128 Kbps to 1.544 Mbps downstream to your computer. Upstream transfer from your computer is usually limited to 128 Kbps. Bandwidth is dedicated so you don't have to share with other users, but DSL is also more effective the closer you are to service provider's facilities. If your local area has plenty of cable bandwidth available it may be a better option for those located greater distances from a DSL provider. Average monthly charges for DSL services are around $55-$65.

Verizon is one of the leading providers of high speed DSL

service, with a large coverage area. With Verizon DSL you get a monthly package for $34.95 that includes unlimited access with a personalized home page, 9 e-mail accounts, and 10 megabytes of web space. For those customers with multiple computers in the home, there is a home

networking option available. You can connect multiple home computers and laptops to a single high-speed DSL Internet connection at no additional monthly cost.

Earthlink DSL is another option. Their basic package, which includes the same features as Verizon's offer also includes a free dial-up service which allows you to enjoy 20 hours of Internet access per month when you're away from home. This package typically costs $39.99 per month. Earthlink also offers cable and satellite Internet.

As noted, DSL uses copper telephone wires. Rural areas and some cities do not have these wires available for large volume use, which means that DSL is not yet an option in those areas, even if Verizon, Earthlink or another provider offers services there.

Cable

If you have cable TV available in your area, chances are

that you have access to Internet through your cable provider. This service uses the same wires as your cable TV programming and depending on the provider and the area, there may be a good deal of bandwidth available or a more limited amount. Because users share bandwidth, this could be an issue for those living in areas with limited amounts available for Internet use. It is a good question to ask your cable provider before signing up. Your choice for cable Internet is typically limited to only those providers who offer cable TV in your area. On average, cable Internet does tend to be a bit faster than DSL. Service is often slightly less expensive than DSL, averaging around $45 per month.

Satellite

If you do not have DSL or cable Internet available in your

area, satellite Internet may provide a viable option. Its speed is comparable to other high speed Internet services, its always on, and you have the option of adding satellite TV service. However, it requires that you have a clear view of the southern sky from your home anywhere in the continental United States in order to receive good reception from the satellites. The service is typically a good deal more expensive than the other two high speed options discussed, averaging around $100 per month with installation fees of up to $400.

Some people confuse satellite Internet with what's known

as WiFi. WiFi Internet services are actually provided by access nodes located in high traffic areas such as airports and hotel or through Internet cafes. If you have a laptop equipped with WiFi receiver, you can access services from within about 1000 feet of the node. There is typically a fee to use this service. It is a good idea for travelers but does not meet the need for home Internet use because it required the access node.

Although there are several satellite Internet providers,

they all use similar technology. DirecTV is a popular provider because they are also a top satellite TV company. DirecTV satellite Internet service is delivered through a wholly owned subsidiary, DIRECWAY. DirecTV satellite Internet costs $99.99 per month and requires customers to purchase a satellite dish and modem. Installation is typically available from the distributor.

Comparisons

Consult a comparison chart such as the High Speed Internet

Guide which should give you a fair idea of the speed and costs involved. However, it is important to note that the data transfer rates you can get from either DSL or Cable will depend entirely on whatever local providers are in your area.

About the Author:
C.J. Gustafson is a successful freelance writer for 1st-Dish-TV.net, a consumer guide for free satellite TV systems. She has spent hours of time researching cable, DSL service providers, and high speed satellite Internet service providers for her home office. She dreams one day attaching the satellite dish to her RV and spending the winters writing from wherever it's warmest that week

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Gigabit satellite service may be a fat pipe dream

Eutelsat's KA-SAT

Could satellites help provide the fat pipes needed to meet our mobile data demand? A news item yesterday from Tooway brought my attention to Eutelsat’s latest bird, which can deliver 70 gigabits per second that can be divided between uplink and downlink capacity. Tooway is a broadband provider that sells capacity on the Eutelsat’s satellite. The news from Monday said that ASI, the Italian space agency, has licensed access to 10 spots covering Italy so it can deliver 10 Mbps down/4 Mbps up connections to government agencies inside Italy.

Those speeds are nothing to scoff at, but if we’re going to get excited about faster satellite service, there are a host of issues we need to be aware of when it comes to sending and receiving those signals and turning them into a service that can deliver Facebook or Netflix streaming on the go.

It’s a particularly relevant issue in the U.S., given that roughly 2 percent of the population can’t get access to fast broadband because they’re located in remote areas where it’s impossible or uneconomical to deploy wired or even cellular broadband. Satellite is a likely solution for that problem, and next-generation birds such as what Eutelsat has deployed may be an option. But outside the expense associated with building and launching a satellite (and acquiring the terrestrial backhaul), there are plenty of limitations associated with satellites as broadband pipes.

Latency. Latency is how long it takes a packet to reach the user. Because signals going back and forth from satellites travel a lot farther than to the nearest base station, it can take longer for data to pass back and forth. This is mostly an issue for real-time interactions such as video calling and video streaming from a consumer point of view. Data-intensive and real-time enterprise functions such as financial trading also require low latency.

Capacity. Satellites deliver coverage in spots, which are circles of coverage that deliver a set amount of capacity. So a satellite may deliver hundreds of spots with 70 Gbps capacity, but then the satellite provider divvies up the capacity within each spot to offer service. So with 70 users in a spot, then each customer has a theoretical speeds of 1 gigabit split between uplink and downlink. This is why satellite service is good for sparsely populated areas but isn’t the solution for the urban core.

Devices. Because satellites are in orbit, they require a variety of tweaks on the receiving end to make a connection. For fixed broadband, it’s a satellite dish that faces the satellite or constellation, and for mobile devices, it’s a special chip and a larger antenna designed to pick up the signal from so far away. The end result is a higher cost for consumer devices, and for mobile devices, a larger handset and generally a shorter battery life.

So, as Europe welcomes a satellite with awesome capacity and coverage, it’s good to weigh the excitement about better mobile broadband against the tradeoffs necessary in getting a signal from the skies.

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