Abstract: A satellite digital audio radio receiver system and method. The inventive receiver includes a circuit for down-converting a first ensemble in a received combined signal in a first mode of operation and for down-converting a second ensemble from the received combined signal in a second mode of operation. The first ensemble includes a first signal received from a first transmitter, a second signal received from a second transmitter, and a third signal received from a third transmitter. The second ensemble includes a second signal from the first transmitter, a second signal from the second transmitter, and a second signal from the third transmitter. A controller is included to selectively switch the circuit from the first mode to the second mode. The first ensemble comprises first, second and third frequency slots and the second ensemble comprises fourth, fifth, and sixth frequency slots.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for receiving dispatch messages in a broadcast radio receiver. In one embodiment, audio dispatch messages can be received, in another embodiment, data dispatch messages can be received. In either embodiment, a previously selected broadcast channel is received until a dispatch alert message is simultaneously received. The dispatch alert message includes a dispatch ID codes which is compared by the receiver with a previously stored dispatch ID code. If equality is found, the receiver switches from the previously selected broadcast channel to a dispatch broadcast channel to receive the dispatch message. Upon completion of the dispatch message, the receiver automatically switches back to the previously selected broadcast channel.