Satellite vs. FM
Discover the pros and cons of satellite versus FM radio
When it comes down to it, there are benefits and downfalls to both satellite and terrestrial radio signals. Depending on what you want to hear and the terrain where you will most likely be listening, there are important things to consider in the “satellite vs. FM” debate. Here are some things to think about as you compare radio formats.
Advertising
Satellite radio, for the most part, is ads free radio, whereas FM radio has no subscription fee and therefore must sell advertising to afford to stay on the air. While most FM stations try to compete by having commercial-free time blocks, they usually compensate for this time with longer commercial breaks later, or by having DJs plug certain products or businesses in between song sets.
On the other hand, satellite radio does not break for advertising in its programming—ever—and for the most part, you won’t even hear the voice of a disc jockey (unless the celebrity of the DJ is the draw to the program, of course). So, if you would rather hear music than ads for mattress sales, satellite radio is for you.
The Lay of the Land
Another thing to consider when you compare radio technologies is where you live and where you will be most often listening. Traditional FM radio is typically broadcast out of urban areas and metropolitan cities; the further you get away from these areas, the weaker the signal and the poorer the sound quality. Eventually, you will lose a particular radio channel and have to find another.
Satellite radio beams its signal from satellites orbiting Earth, so the spread of its frequency covers millions of square miles. Thus, satellite radio stations are available across the continent. No matter where you are in Canada or the United States, you can almost always listen to the same programming with clear sound.
Hilly terrain is the only gray area, where the satellite signal can be blocked by a hill or the face of a mountain. However, this problem also affects FM radio. Classic AM radio is the only audio broadcast medium that escapes this, thanks to its super-short wavelength.
If consistency in clarity and a network-style broadcast schedule is what you are looking for, satellite radio again takes the cake over the irregularity and narrow spread of FM radio signals.
When you pit digital satellite radio versus FM radio, you can see that the former has a lot more to offer. While FM radio can brag about its local nature and the fact that anyone can receive its signal for free, satellite radio boasts a broad repertoire of specific stations with a greater broadcast range, albeit for a fee. In the end, it comes down to whether you’re willing to pay for a wide range of uninterrupted program.
