Will wrote:
The business news about this has concentrated on the
requirement for FCC approval and I've seen nothing
about the technical aspects or details. Has anyone?

No, I doubt that any of the reporters care.

The two different satellite-radio systems have differing
technical specs, using different digital decoding and
frequency ranges. How can these be "merged"? Wouldn't
they have to abandon one set of satellites and go with
the other alone?

I have not seen the details but I assumed they would continue to operate
their networks as long as they had customers who wanted them. What would
merge was the back end, the programs, and the business offices.

In the end there would be only one network with two delivery systems.
Similar to broadcast television today. Low defintion TV broadcast over
one channel and high def, but the same programs over another.

Eventually they would decide on one technology. It might be one of the
two they use, or it may be a newer technology that was not available
when the current ones were launched.

There are several ways of dealing with getting rid of the hardware
they no longer wish to support, from simply discontinuing service, to offering
free service or a discount to upgraders, (trade in your old receiver and
get a year's free servivce or $50 off). They may at various times do different
deals.

Eventualy they will just drop the one they won't support.

By the way, why does no one ever speak of "hacking"
satellite radio in order to get the signals without
paying the monthly fee? There's all sorts of such
illegal activity for satellite TV and every now and then
you read of the countermeasures used by the sat-TV
companies and busts of suppliers of illegal decoder
equipment, but I've never seen anything about the same
activity regarding XM or Sirius. Is it impossible or
is it just that nobody cares enough to do it?

No one has advertised it. I'm not really sure it's worth it. The
companies are too small in scope and customer base to make it worth
doing for money. People who want to hear the programs just download them
via the Internet (often illegaly).

Besides the handfull of talk radio shows that are exclusive to the
networks, is there anything really worth bothering? There are lots
of other sources for the music.

Geoff.

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Geoffrey S. Mendelson, Jerusalem, Israel N3OWJ/4X1GM
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