[opendtv] Re: Satellite radio

I checked it out. They have 16 repeaters for Manhattan alone and more
than 40 for the city.  Using 700 MHz you could do a great job with 4
or 5 for the city and 10 for the greater NYC area IMO.

Always said that XM was a terrestrial radio company using their
satellites as a device to get by the NAB.

Bob Miller

On 9/24/07, Bob Miller <robmxa@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> I don't think that XMRadio is using 91 repeaters for NYC, more like
> New York State. Probably 25 to 30 for NYC and that is the greater NYC
> which could include all of Long Island (120 miles Long) lots of New
> Jersy and parts of Connecicut etc.
>
> And they are operating at 2300 MHz which is not so sweet as 700 MHz is
> for Qualcomm. Qualcomm probably covers NYC with one transmitter or a
> couple at best today with their COFDM based MediaFlo.
>
> Bob Miller
>
> On 9/22/07, Albert Manfredi <bert22306@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> >
> > What I found interesting in this piece was that in addition to its 
> > satellite transmitters, XM Radio needs, for example, 91 "small sticks" to 
> > cover NYC, and 39 small sticks to cover LA. Furthermore, that at least some 
> > of these "small sticks" are tall. They mention one example of a sanctioned 
> > 490' antenna height turning out to have been 900' in fact. I don't know how 
> > many of their small sticks are that tall. Seems to me that many were, they 
> > would be more obvious. Perhaps they are sharing TV towers in some cases?
> >
> > The article talks about power level and location violations, without 
> > mentioning what the power levels are.
> >
> > Apparenty, Sirius, with 3 ellyptical orbit satellites, depends less on 
> > terrestrial repeaters than XM, with two satellites in geosynchronous orbits.
> >
> > The NAB is against the possible merger of these two companies. Best I can 
> > tell, the NAB's concern is that such a monopoly would have so much content 
> > buying power that local stations would be shut out of competition. Although 
> > the NAB also makes arguments which I find puzzling. For example, that such 
> > a merger would reduce innovation and increase prices for satellite radio. 
> > Probably true, but it sounds to me like that would work to the NAB's 
> > advantage.
> >
> > (NAB positions at http://www.nab.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=Home)
> >
> > Bert
> >
> > -------------------------------------------
> > http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601103&sid=azdBm8rw6BmU&refer=news
> >
> > XM's Rogue Antennas Amplify Signals, Merger Scrutiny (Update2)
> >
> > By Christopher Stern
> >
> > April 24 (Bloomberg) -- XM Satellite Radio Holdings Inc. became the 
> > nation's largest satellite broadcaster with a network of hundreds of 
> > antennas that were built and operated in violation of U.S. Federal 
> > Communications Commission rules.
> >
> > At least a third of the 800 antennas that beam XM's radio channels to 
> > millions of customers were placed in unapproved locations or emitted 
> > signals that were too strong, according to a review of FCC filings. XM says 
> > some now comply with the rules, though it doesn't know how many.
> >
> > The misplaced antennas may result in fines or a shutdown of part of the 
> > company's network. Lawmakers including U.S. Representative Edward Markey 
> > say regulators should take the violations into account when they consider 
> > XM's plan to combine with Sirius Satellite Radio Inc.
> >
> > ``This series of apparent violations by XM does provide fuel to opponents 
> > of the merger and gives them reason to think they can get the deal 
> > rejected,'' said Paul Gallant, a Washington-based policy analyst with 
> > Stanford Washington Research.
> >
> > Sirius and XM need approval from the FCC and Justice Department for their 
> > all-stock combination, worth $3.42 billion at today's closing prices.
> >
> > The extent of the breach hasn't been widely disclosed by XM. The company 
> > told shareholders on Feb. 22 in a Securities and Exchange Commission filing 
> > that ``certain'' antennas had unapproved locations or power without giving 
> > further details, and said that the FCC had begun an investigation.
> >
> > `Administrative Problems'
> >
> > XM Chief Executive Officer Hugh Panero told investors on a Feb. 26 
> > conference call that while ``clearly there were mistakes or administrative 
> > problems,'' the FCC isn't likely to force the company to make changes that 
> > would affect customers. The company is ``just working with'' the FCC to 
> > find a solution, Panero said.
> >
> > ``XM voluntarily disclosed these variances to the FCC, took unilateral 
> > action to eliminate many of them, and continues to work directly with the 
> > FCC to address any concerns,'' XM spokesman Chance Patterson said. The 
> > differences between the approved and actual locations or signal strength 
> > are ``generally immaterial,'' he said.
> >
> > XM depends more on its ground-based network than Sirius, whose satellites 
> > give better coverage. Sirius Chief Executive Officer Mel Karmazin told 
> > Congress last week that 11 of the company's 138 antennas violated rules and 
> > that he switched them off in October.
> >
> > Four Hearings
> >
> > Lawmakers have no direct authority to block the merger, though they might 
> > influence the outcome by making their feelings known. Congress has held 
> > four hearings on the proposed combination at which legislators raised 
> > concerns over issues including XM's violation of FCC rules.
> >
> > Shares of XM fell 20 cents to $10.93 at 4 p.m. New York time in Nasdaq 
> > Stock Market trading. They've dropped 22 percent since the purchase by 
> > Sirius was announced.
> >
> > Sirius shares were down 3 cents at $2.77 and are down 25 percent since the 
> > announcement.
> >
> > The two companies ran afoul of the FCC last year, when the agency said they 
> > were selling radios with signals that were too strong. Sirius and XM pulled 
> > the radios off the market temporarily while they were fixed.
> >
> > XM uses antennas, or repeaters, to boost signals where buildings or hills 
> > block reception from orbiting satellites. The unapproved repeaters are 
> > dotted throughout 59 markets including Los Angeles, New York and Chicago, 
> > Washington-based XM said in an FCC filing in January.
> >
> > 42 Percent
> >
> > In the filing, XM said the antennas in violation serve 42 percent of its 
> > network. In Los Angeles, 23 of XM's 39 antennas are in breach of the rules, 
> > the company said. In New York, 35 of 91 are.
> >
> > XM said in December filings that turning off Los Angeles repeaters would 
> > have a ``drastic and adverse impact'' on reception and a New York shutdown 
> > ``would devastate'' service.
> >
> > Some antennas were erected thousands of feet from their approved location, 
> > said XM, which has 7.5 million subscribers. In Chicago, an antenna was more 
> > than 11 miles from the authorized spot. In Austin, Texas, a repeater 
> > sanctioned for a height of 490 feet was 900 feet high.
> >
> > Consumer groups including the Consumers Union and the National Association 
> > of Broadcasters, the trade group for broadcasters that provide free radio, 
> > said the violations show why the companies shouldn't be allowed to combine.
> >
> > ``Given their repeated lack of candor in dealing with the FCC, it is 
> > astonishing that XM and Sirius would now seek a government-sanctioned 
> > monopoly,'' said Dennis Wharton, spokesman for the broadcasters' group. FCC 
> > spokesman David Fiske declined to comment.
> >
> > Raising Doubt
> >
> > XM's failure to follow FCC rules indicates it may not live up to Karmazin's 
> > promises that the combined company will offer consumers more choice and 
> > lower prices, said Markey, who chairs the House Telecommunications and 
> > Internet Subcommittee.
> >
> > ``What is the expectation it will follow through or fulfill any public 
> > interest conditions?'' Markey, a Massachusetts Democrat, said in an 
> > e-mailed statement.
> >
> > XM committed the violations as it raced against Sirius to begin service in 
> > 2001 and sign up customers. The two have racked up combined losses of more 
> > than $6.4 billion in five years as they built their networks. Annual sales 
> > at XM grew from $20 million to $933 million in four years. Sirius had 
> > revenue of $637 million.
> >
> > The companies say the merger won't stifle competition because of the 
> > availability of alternative providers of entertainment and information such 
> > as Apple Inc.'s iPod as well as high-definition and traditional radio.
> >
> > To contact the reporter on this story: Christopher Stern at and 
> > cstern3@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> >
> > Last Updated: April 24, 2007 16:27 EDT
> >
> > _________________________________________________________________
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