As two satellite radio stations in the US get set to broadcast music coast-to-coast, Matthew Beecham reports on the how things are shaping up. Plus how flexible trunk storage systems, bending headlights and power door latches can make the motorist’s lot a little more bearable.
Satellite radio signals a new era
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To some folk, little has changed over the last 20 years in terms of radio broadcasting. Programmes are delivered using similar formats around tedious commercials. But for frustrated listeners of analogue AM and FM radio, all that is about to change in the US. On 25th September 2001, XM Satellite Radio made its debut in the hi-tech-savvy commuter cities of Dallas and San Diego ahead of its national roll out next month. The initial broadcast offering included 71 music channels, of which 30 are commercial free, along with 29 news, talk, sports and entertainment channels.
Let’s rock ‘n’ roll from coast to coast
For a flat rate no nonsense monthly subscription fee of $9.99, drivers can tune into XM’s channels including USA Today, BBC World Service, PBS’ News Hour with Jim Lehrer, Bloomberg News radio, NASCAR, CNN News, CNN/Sports Illustrated, Radio One, Asia One, Salem Communications and The Weather Channel. Many of the channels are commercial-free. The channels originate from XM’s broadcast centre in Washington and transmit across the US via two satellites. Each satellite – dubbed Rock and Roll — hovers 22,000 miles over the East and West coast beaming digital signals to special receivers below, providing coast-to-coast coverage
It’s radio Jim, but not as we know it
Heralding his new broadcasting service at launch as ‘Radio to the Power of X’, Hugh Panero, president and CEO of XM, said: “What we are doing is launching a powerful new communications and entertainment medium. As promised, a transmission will come from outer space today: it’s the signal of the future. 100 channels. 100 new choices, coast-to-coast, all delivered in digital quality. It’s beyond AM. Beyond FM. It’s XM! Part rocket science, part rock n’ roll. The future is happening now.”
No more snap, crackle and pop
Sure, the selling points of both units are clear but consumers still need to be won over about the benefits of satellite radio. For the 3m long haul truck drivers, far away from big cities where they can already pick up a multitude of AM/FM channels, satellite radio broadcasts are a big bonus. The crystal clear quality of satellite radio programmes should also make it popular among 100m motorists who spend more than two hours commuting to work each day. No longer will they have to re-tune to different channels or listen to the snap, crackle and pop as their analogue signal is interrupted.
Music to everyone’s ears
But of course, it doesn’t matter how good the quality of the signal or the information displayed on the set if there is nothing worth tuning in for. The choice of 100 channels, however, should provide something of interest for everyone from head bangers to hip hoppers. XM will broadcast music in just about every format imaginable including classical, folk, blues, fusion, bluegrass, gospel, urban and new age. If they don’t fancy any of that, then listeners can request a track through one of 600 free phone lines.
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| Figure 1: The receivers have a digital display that shows the channel number, channel name, artist and song title. Source: XM Satellite Radio Inc. |
But Sirius competition ahead
From its New York studios, XM’s sole competitor Sirius Satellite Radio plans to offer a similar service by the end of 2001 for $13 a month. The Sirius unit works in much the same way as XM offering 100 channels, using satellites and ground repeaters. From its tri-satellite system orbiting directly over the US, Sirius will also broadcast up to 100 channels of digital quality radio. Although it’s slightly more expensive than XM, Mindy Kramer, spokeswoman for Sirius said that the main difference from a marketing viewpoint is that Sirius offers 50 channels of 100% commercial-free music, including soft rock, album rock, rap, vintage soul, jazz, tropical hits, chamber works, blues and new age. Compared to commercial radio, that could be a big plus for those who dislike listening to around 20 minutes of ads per hour. Like XM, Sirius will have a channel dedicated to each type of music. Sirius’ digital library contains over two million tracks. Other channels will include news, sports, talk, comedy and children’s programming. While Sirius plans to target the automotive markets, XM serves the automotive and home market. The radio manufacturers will sell either XM or Sirius ready radios on the aftermarket, replacing in-dash radios. Both types will also receive traditional AM and FM broadcasts.
Will it take off?
But as the American economy slips into a lower gear, just how quickly will satellite radio take off? Compared to a conventional AM-FM radio head unit, the 11m Americans who buy a new car radio on the aftermarket each year will be faced with paying an extra $150 for the satellite receiver hardware and a special roof mounted antenna. They must then pay at least $120 each year in subscription charges. For even more flexibility, they can buy Sony’s plug-and-play receiver model DRN-XM101 for $299 allowing them to listen to XM radio in the home as well on the move.
20m subscribers by 2005
For the investors of the two publicly traded satellite broadcasters, however, it’s an anxious time. Both broadcasters have already spent well over $1bn in launching their programmes to date. The broadcasting license alone costs $85m. But they are confident of success as Charles Robbins, spokesman for XM Radio told us: “We expect to have 100,000 radios sold at retail by the end of the year. And our breakeven point is four million subscribers by 2004.” According to industry analysts, that figure should be easily reached. “Although it’s too early for us to project subscriber projections,” said Mindy Kramer, “some industry analysts are very enthusiastic for this service, forecasting about 20m subscribers by 2005. So we are looking at a pretty vast market opportunity.” As the cost of the hardware falls and the range of receivers increases, the market could well reach that potential in just four years. If things work to plan, the duo could be looking at a subscription market worth $2.4bn by 2005.
In a showroom near you
Faced with the prospect of digital satellite radios being even more ubiquitous than cell phones, small wonder that carmakers are finding these developments appealing, offering them in a wide range of models. Cadillac Seville and DeVille models will offer optional factory-installed XM receivers by the end of 2001 and at least 20 GM models in 2002. For truckers, satellite radio receivers will also be offered in Peterbilt and Freightliner models by the end of the year too. The subscribers to XM Satellite will have an option to include their monthly subscription fees in their leasing and financing bills. GM plans to introduce satellite radio service in all its models by 2004. Meanwhile, Sirius has exclusive alliances to install AM/FM/SAT radios in Ford, Chrysler, BMW, Mercedes, Jaguar, Volvo and Jeep vehicles. Ford is expected to provide cars equipped with Sirius for all of its lines, including Ford, Lincoln, Mazda, Jaguar and Volvo. DaimlerChrysler is expected to offer Sirius in all brands, including Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Mercedes-Benz and Freightliner and Sterling trucks. BMW is expected to offer Sirius in all BMW models sold in North America.
Stay tuned
Given that 70% of American households can already switch onto cable telly, consumers are now far more in tune with subscription based entertainment choice. They have it in their home and now they want it in their cars. But how is this all going to pan out? Stay tuned.
| Just-auto new tech bytes |
· Dipstick days are over, say Hella
According to Hella, monitoring the quantity, temperature and condition of your engine oil can now be done by peering into your car’s cockpit. The German family-owned group better known for its lighting technology has developed a new oil condition sensor. Hella claims that its latest innovation, based on its 1990s thermal oil level design, can not only measure the oil temperature to the nth degree but also record some additional physical values in order to evaluate the oil quality. By extending the measuring range using micro-sensors and adapting evaluation using higher quality temperature sensors, Hella reckons that it is possible to extend oil change intervals on the basis of current data.
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| Figure 2: Hella’s oil condition sensor (1 of 2) Source: Hella |
· Shut that door
Leaving a car door ajar while on the move can seriously compromise the vehicle’s crashworthiness. ArvinMeritor has added a powerful actuator module to the latching system in order to make sure the door shuts tight once the driver or passenger has begun to either pull or push the door. The module also allows the handle to act purely as a switch and electrically release the door without any effort from the driver or passengers. This new power latch features a patented over ride function that can cancel and reverse the power closure stroke to avoid people trapping their fingers. In the event of a crash or simple power failure, the door can still be opened using the mechanical system.
· Valeo drives you right round the bend
Bending light around blind corners will be specified on two European cars by 2004, say Valeo. The French parts group recently contracts from two European carmakers to supply its Bending Light technology collectively worth €50m over the production life of the models. Valeo’s Bending Light headlight system consists of either a bi-Xenon projector or reflector headlamp motorised to rotate by to 20-degrees from the normal position or an additional projector or a combination of the two in order to shed more light around an on-coming bend. The actuation of the motorised lighting unit within each headlamp is controlled electronically. The systems’ performance is optimised through a control algorithm, which takes into account signals from a steering wheel sensor, a wheel speed sensor and a satellite navigation system.
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| Figure 3: Curve illuminated without Valeo’s bending light. Source: Valeo | Figure 4:Curve illuminated with Valeo’s bending light Source: Valeo |
· Shake, rattle and roll all the way home
Returning home from a trip to the supermarket can feel like a rattling experience. Go easy round those islands or the beer will crush the bread. But wouldn’t it be great to get some order in the boot? Interior designs at Johnson Controls have come up with a super-flexible boot organiser. Johnson Controls’ CargoFlex system comes in the shape of a fold-up transport box that can be sub-divided with partition walls. To load-up, the driver reaches over to pull the fold-down box from the rear seat, across to the boot door on a track. For the summer vacations when more space is needed for pushchairs and cool boxes, the box and track can be folded up into the rear seat. Already featured inside the Skoda Superb, the company says its CargoFlex can be customised for use in any car.
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| Figure 5: Trunk tactics: Johnson Controls’ CargoFlex. Source: Johnson Controls. |
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