Gizmodo
Sirius' update to its Starmate line, the Starmate 5, is currently in front of the FCC for testing, and it looks like it might have a little trick up its sleeve. The gadget includes the standard abilities to pause, rewind, and replay up to 44 minutes of live radio, a memo feature to store up to 30 favorite artists or songs and a wide-angle 5 line display, but it also might just have the ability to play XM radio stations as well.
Though the function to grab sweet sounds from its partner-to-be isn't listed in the Starmate 5's spec sheet, a memo between a testing firm and the FCC authorization staff hinted at Sirius XM interoperability. In a letter asking the testing firm to do another bandwidth test, the FCC said that it "used the satellite radio signal coming from either XM or Sirius."
If the hint means what we think it means, the Starmate 5 could be the first hybrid satellite radio receiver out on the market — kind of a bold move, considering the FCC isn't even thinking about voting on the merger until late May or early June. [Electronista]
Comments
What is it with the people and measuring things? I swear every weird classified shot has a ruler in it.
@Substance_D: I think it's an FCC thing.
If I spent more time in my car, I'd definitely be into this. Maybe it's because I'm going senile, or maybe it's just because now that I have a DVR I think I should be able to timeshift everything, but I find myself constantly wanting to hit the rewind button on live radio..
XM and Sirius in the same unit would be nice in the same unit for when the do merge operations, but my guess is that by the time everything is sorted out they'll have much better devices that handle both.
@Substance_D:
you retard, this an FCC speciman photo. CLASSIFIED SHOT - LOL this is public information.
It is actually not a bold move. One of the things the FCC wants to see when it looks at the merger of the 2 companies is how the services are going to work together, including a dual receiver such as this.
Sirius and XM are actually behind, and should have submitted a device like this before the Justice department had approved their merger. This is why there was an outcry among some Radio broadcasters (among many other reasons, but this was one), because Sirius and XM hadn't done what they said they were going to do much earlier in the process.
From What I have heard, I thought that every reciever would have the capability to at least play some of both. After all XM and Sirius are both the same 2.3gHz S band satellite communications. The difference is Sirius and XM have their satellites in different orbit. It seems to me like all it would take would be for both to start transmitting their streams on each other's satellites, and all current recievers could get either.
weatherman: You're not the only one. I think it's the advent of the DVR and the timeshifting that it allows. I always want to pause and rewind live radio.
There are apps for the computer that'll do it, but I'd love a radio dvr (drr??) for my car...that would rock.
I own an original Starmate Replay and I use the replay feature a couple of times a day at least.
I'm actually a little bummed that the car I have my eye on features Sirius, but NONE of those cool features my Starmate Replay gives me.
The additional capability of XM programming is no bad thing.
ALL I want out of this is the ability to listen to SIRIUS on my integrated XM Radio in my 08 Acura. I currently have a starmate reply on the dash
I thought that this deal was going to get the kybosh, what with the chairman of the FCC already being against this on the record.
Rather than giving the capability to receive both broadcasts, couldn't they just share programming? I don't see why the same program couldn't come from both satelites.
We will find out soon enough. 1 of 3 things are going to happen:
1. The FCC Approves the merger this week with little to no conditions.
2. The boards of Sirius/XM meet to discuss extending the merger agreement on May 1st if the FCC hasn't approved yet.
3. The boards do not renew the merger agreement and Sirius walks away.
I am getting the impression that Sirius will walk away from the merger deal. It's my understanding that XM's debt comes due immediately upon approval and I think Sirius has issue with it.
I've lost what little respect I had for the FCC due to this issue. 15 months without a decision. In January Martin said he expected to rule before the DOJ. In February he said expect something in March. In April he's suggesting it may be May or June.
It's pretty obvious that he's trying to hurt SATRAD at this point. I doubted that he's in the pocket of NAB but now, it appears he is.
Martin's handling of this mirrors the incompetence of the Bush Administration in general. Lies and non-performance. Think FCC, Iraq and Katrina as they resemble the same outcomes.... F'd up and late.
lots of misinformed people here....
XM & Sirius were both mandated to build a receiver that handled both signals, both have failed to do so
XM & Sirius use different codecs, ex. try playing a wmv on a ipod
There are plenty of 3rd party solutions that replace the "brain" to receive the other signal in your car.
@OMG! Ponies!: The chairman of the FCC can suck on my hairy ass.
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