Sirius-FM 5 LAUNCH SUCCESSFUL!
- Thread starter Tgajr
- Start date
Better reception for SIRIUS subscribers. It's going to be geostationary (geosynchronous), just like XM's cluster of birds, and should provide constant, steady signal levels for those in offices or at home. As Ron Popeil would say, "You just 'set it, and forget it!'"
Their satellite bandwidth limitations are set. Short of the FCC expanding what they can broadcast on, or SIRIUS XM buying some open frequencies, they won't be able to expand their satellite bandwidth.
Which begs the question...what happened to "hierarchical modulation"??
SIRIUS to boost satellite programming capacity - Orbitcast
Which begs the question...what happened to "hierarchical modulation"??
SIRIUS to boost satellite programming capacity - Orbitcast
From what I figure, that's why older radios don't get all of the Canadian channels. Plus, they probably use some flavor of that technology to broadcast the Backseat TV.
BAIKONUR COSMODROME, Kazakhstan, July 1, 2009 – ILS International Launch Services (ILS), a world leader in providing mission and launch services to the commercial satellite industry, successfully carried the SIRIUS FM-5 satellite into orbit today on an ILS Proton. This was the third commercial mission of the year for ILS and the fifth successful Proton launch of 2009. ILS has launched the entire SIRIUS three-satellite constellation beginning with the first launch in 2000.
The ILS Proton Breeze M launched from Pad 39 at the cosmodrome at 1:10 a.m. today local time (3:10 p.m. EDT, 19:10 GMT). After a 9 hour 14 minute mission, the Breeze M successfully released the SIRIUS FM-5 satellite, weighing over 5.8 metric tons, into geo-transfer orbit.
So when will it actually be broadcasting the Sirius content?
When can I repoint my Sirius home antenna to the South West (since I'm in the NE) and get a consistant signal?
I point currently to the north west to catch the orbiting 3 sat cluster and constantly have drops every few hours due to tree canopy cover.
EDIT: According to ryan over at xmfan.com, it won't be operational for several months
When can I repoint my Sirius home antenna to the South West (since I'm in the NE) and get a consistant signal?
I point currently to the north west to catch the orbiting 3 sat cluster and constantly have drops every few hours due to tree canopy cover.
EDIT: According to ryan over at xmfan.com, it won't be operational for several months
So when will it actually be broadcasting the Sirius content?
When can I repoint my Sirius home antenna to the South West (since I'm in the NE) and get a consistant signal?
I point currently to the north west to catch the orbiting 3 sat cluster and constantly have drops every few hours due to tree canopy cover.
EDIT: According to ryan over at xmfan.com, it won't be operational for several months
That was my next question.
How damn long can it take to flip a switch?
Do they need to wait for the orbit to settle in or something?
Engage!
Damnit, engage!
I'm pretty exclusive with the repeater at work, but it's just about all sat at home and in the car.
It takes some time for the satellite to reach its final altitude and orbital slot. Once it's in place, the antennae and solar panels need to be opened. Then they'll test it for a while until Loral turns it over to Sirius/XM. Sirius/XM will probably have their own testing to do as well before it goes "live" to us.
If nothing else, it will give you some target diversity. If you can't see a satellite in one direction, maybe you can see the other satellite.
It would be nice if Sirius said what this new satellite was all about. I hate all this speculation!