NPR Finds XM's Achilles Heel

PreacherTom writes "In the ongoing radio wars, one only has to listen to 20 seconds of Howard Stern's language to know that the lack of regulation gives satellite radio a distinct advantage. Of all the challengers, it seems that NPR has finally found a weakness in XM, which supplements its satellite coverage with earth-bound transmitters. A recent test found that 19 of these transmitters were unlicensed and another 221 exceeded their authorized power level, giving NPR an opening to press with an apparently sympathetic FCC. It certainly doesn't help that XM's own filings support their case."

Re:Why the anti-NPR slant?

[jonnythan]

No. NPR has two stations on Sirius.

Read the article for NPR's actual complaints. The summary is misleading. The article is a conglomeration of actions from the National Association of Broadcasters as well as NPR.

Re:If the signal is encrypted, so what?

[Anonymous Coward]

The problem is that people use FM transmitters in the XM or Sirius receivers to listen on their car radios. Most of these come tuned to transmit on 88.1 Mz. I frequently hear Howard, or Opie, or some other obnoxious DJ exercizing their satellite free speech habits on MY radio interfering with NPR programming. This is causing frequent complaints to the NPR stations. The post erred in that it is not the repeaters that are the problem, it is the in-car receivers. As unlicensed transmitters they are forbidden to interfere with licensed broadcasts. XM has admitted that many of the devices do not comply, they are too powerful and transmit over too large a distance. This was accepted by XM because they wanted to avoid having their paying customers being interfered with from other stations. NPR is fighting back.

Ah yes the lovely NPR

[Anonymous Coward]

NPR also helped kill off low power fm [commondreams.org]. I haven't been able to listen to them since.

Re:Why the anti-NPR slant?

[renderdude]

The problem is that the transmitters have "excessive" power, and thereby leak into nearby receivers. Why NPR is involved is that most of the satellite to FM transmitters are, by default, tuned to the low-end of the radio spectrum, which by chance is where most NPR stations are located.

NPR has received a significant number of complaints regarding the broadcasting of "filthy language" on their stations, without the complainers realizing that it was from another vehicle.

As an FYI, I have a 20+ mile commute through a semi-rural part of Maryland on lightly congested roads, and my NPR signal gets interrupted by satellite and iPod transmitters a minimum of 5-6 times, sometimes for 5 seconds as a car passes in the other direction, or the entire trip if it's the car behind me.

The amusing part of this is connecting people to their music, e.g., the burly construction worker listening to broadway musicals, or the soccer mom in her minivan listening to hard-core rap.

Re:Think of the children

[Mr. Slippery]

What is that might "frog with wings".

I have no idea how to parse that sentance (or sentance-like string of words, anyway), but from context I'm assuming you're expressing skepticism that an NPR listener might have Stern suddenly interrupt the program they're listening to.

I can vouch for this, it happens to me about once or twice a week now. Not always Stern, sometimes it's classic rock, and there's one house I pass that's usually listening to what appears to be and all-Sinatra channel. They have some sort of repeater (like the ones people use to listen to their iPod via the radio, but much more powerful) that is set to broadcast the XM content on 88.1FM, the same channel as our local NPR station.

So I'll have problems listening to FM 87.8?

Dunno. Maybe. But I can state from my own direct experience that around here, you'll have trouble listening to 88.1.

Re:YRO??!!!

[planetmn]

Because you obviously didn't read the article. NPR is upset at the makers of satellite (and other) FM modulators. The modulators are overpowered and do not comply with FCC regulations. The manufacturers of the units have admitted this and just went on their merry way. So NPR is asking the FCC to hold these manufacturers to the regulations.

This is perfectly reasonable. Think of it this way. If Linksys sells a router with increased coverage area (because they exceed the power limits imposed by the FCC), and your neighbor buys one which causes your router to stop working, don't you think Linksys should have to comply with the law?

-dave

Re:Why the anti-NPR slant?

[planetmn]

According to http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/nationworld/bal-t e.radio26oct26,1,519954.story?ctrack=1&cset=true [baltimoresun.com], below 89MHz is set aside for non-commercial radio. Hence why NPR is located there.

-dave

Re:XM = Hearst

[Anonymous Coward]

XM is a publically traded corporation under the symbol XMSR.

You can see most of the major holders and institutions that own a chunk by going to:

http://finance.yahoo.com/q/mh?s=XMSR [yahoo.com]

Hearst may have been one of the original investors, but I don't believe they currently own a major portion of outstanding shares.