Sirius XM Satellite Radio system overview and services

Abstract

Sirius XM Radio, through its Sirius and XM Satellite Radio systems, broadcasts continuous high quality audio, video and data content to over nineteen million subscribers throughout the Continental United States (CONUS) and Canada. The original Sirius system utilizes three satellites in highly inclined orbits. The original XM system utilizes two satellites in geostationary orbits. Both systems achieve a coverage pattern with high visibility to two satellites at all times. Robust diversity and signal coding techniques further ensure reliable reception of over one hundred audio channels, three video channels, and a range of data services. Recently Sirius XM added a new satellite to the Sirius fleet that operates in a geostationary orbit, and soon will be launching two new satellites to join the XM and Sirius fleets, both operating in geostationary orbits. This paper provides an overview of the Sirius and XM broadcast system designs and applications, and describes the coverage benefits achieved through the employment of geosynchronous and geostationary space segments in the North American continent. In addition to presenting the operational satellite radio conditions in the US, we will provide a discussion on offering similar services in the rest of the world with respect to possible satellite and repeater network structures with particular attention in Europe. We will discuss the latitude and longitude aspects for various regions of the world, and discuss the expected QoS levels using conventional SDARS satellite and repeater architectures.