Any one have XM Radio or Sirius?

[freethought]

I was in a bar/grill having a bite to eat and the music coming over the speakers was a very eclectic mix. One tune was a slow delta blues song, then a Carpenter's tune played, another Blues song (more upbeat, Chicago style), and then some Reggae.
I thought "This can't be a local radio station! They simply don't sound like this!" Oh, yeah and no commercials.

I asked the manager where the music was coming from and XM Radio was the answer. Considering the how bland and repetitive FM Radio is, this was some really great stuff!

For those DUers who have it, is satellite radio worth the cash? I don't know anyone who has it. So I am looking for opinions before I decide to take the plunge. Some of the advantages are obvious,what are some the others? Disadvantages?

[Initech]

1. I really like XM radio, have had it for a month now

Cant wait until March when I will really get some serious use out of it - MLB season!!

[two gun sid]

2. I have XM and yes, it's worth it...

I listen to my XM all the time.

[GOPisEvil]

3. I have XM and I'm very happy with it.

The music channels are commercial-free, and they have just about every type of music known. Plus, if you drive from city to city, you don't have to worry about losing radio signals.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

4. I have XM and I love it.

Any kind of music you want, plus Air America Radio. What's not to like?

[bertha katzenengel]

5. Totally worth it.

The only disadvantage I experience is the way one has to set it up in the car:

the receiver, with no clear easy way to mount it (at least the Delphi Roady 2) and into which is plugged:
* its power source, which plugs into a car's cigarette lighter (wire has to run somewhere)
* the satellite antenna, heavy magnet, with about 20 feet of wire (that has to run somewhere)

But even w/ all the wires it is so totally worth it. Absolutely, no question.

The receiver kit - about a hundred bucks, maybe less
The service - $12.95 per month

Fabulous thing, this XM Radio. Go for it.

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

6. Playlists are pretty good on satellite, but it was probably different

channels you were hearing.

It'd be unusual to hear all that one one station, I'd think, they tend to have "themes" and Carpenters/blues generally wouldn't mix.

[freethought]

11. You're probably correct! Still ...

this was some good music that we are not going to hear on the FM dial. I spend more time changing stations looking for something interesting than acutally LISTENING. The only station I keep it on for any real length of time is the local AAR station.

[Beware the Beast Man]

30. Sirius has a channel called "Disorder" which is open format.

It's sort of an "adult alternative" genre- they play a lot of different styles.

[ScreamingMeemie]

7. I LOVE my XM! MrG gave it to me for Christmas. I haven't found

any disadvantages yet....Super easy to set up too. I say, go for it! :hi:

[6000eliot]

8. If you listen to classic rock, Sirius has better stations.

[freethought]

12. I'm a big fan of Classic Rock and some (NOT ALL) eighties music

the eighties were not exactly Rock's high point. But more and more these days I am looking for something different. Blues, in its various forms. I found myself listening to, and enjoying a local classical station (lots of Mozart and Bach). Jazz and fusion. I can't really explain my change in taste, maybe its age. Face it, most music stations suck ass!

[DancingBear]

18. have to disagree on that re: "deep" classic rock

Deep Tracks, which is the XM station, has a much "deeper" vault of music than Sirius. Very marginal (as in exposure) 60's/70's bands get airplay on XM where the folks at Sirius would have no clue. A while back a tune from The Sensational Alex Harvey band was on XM - no way in hell that gets played on The Vault (the Sirius deep claassic rock station).

[freethought]

9. WOW! All posts positive! That's a good sign so far!

The installation was mentioned. Is this the sort of thing where you have to leave your car with a professional for installation? I drive a Mercury Sable, speaker system works great! Does the receiver have to be installed and intergrated in with the speakers? Or does it work some other way?

[GOPisEvil]

10. You have 3 choices.

1. Get a portable unit that you play though your car's cassette player (if it has one).
2. Get a portable unit that plays with an FM modulator (basically plays on an FM station through your car's radio). This can be spotty.
3. Get a satellite-ready car stereo. (Professional needed)

[freethought]

13. Can I safely assume these are listed in from

lowest to highest in terms of cost? Sure sounds that way. Fortunately my car has a cassete player, I've never used it.

[GOPisEvil]

14. The cassette option works very well.

Until I bought my new stereo, I used a cassette adapter. You'll have to figure out where to mount the antenna. I put mine on the trunk lid and ran the wire through the trunk, behind the seat, under the carpet and up to the XM unit. It's easier than it sounds.

[WolverineDG]

15. I have Sirius & I love it

I got it for AAR, then they left, so I went off & started exploring other channels. :) The music channels are great, & I like many (not all) of the programs on Sirius Left.

I bought my first through Best Buy & although skeptical, bought the extended warranty. It's a good thing I did because one day my receiver gave up the ghost & I was able to get a new one (plus have it installed) for free (I just had to buy a jambox because they no longer made the model I had originally purchased).

Since I bought the radio at Best Buy, I paid for them to install it. Sue me, I know zip about cars & radios. On the upside, if I ever have to get another car, they will uninstall & reinstall for free. They installed the new set-up for free as well. Plus this second time around, the guy installed the mount in passengerside cup holder so it's no longer in my line of vision on the dashboard.

dg

[liberaltrucker]

16. XM for AAR, Sirius for NFL games

nt

[Maat]

17. I have XM, and I get Sirius music through DISH satellite t.v.

I couldn't live without satellite radio; I am addicted. I could never go back - the sound quality is too good on satellite radio.

I love Air America, and Deep Tracks #46.

On Sirius, it's #19 Buzzsaw.

We don't go on big vacations - so we like to splurge on entertainment - the satellite t.v., the satellite radio, and dining out frequently.

I think we might end up re-activating the old Sirius unit someday, too.

[renie408]

19. Both

I have XM in my car and my husband has Sirius in his truck. He likes his and I like mine. It is WAY worth the cash. We travel around and it is nice to to always have a station. I also like that I can pick out the kind of music I want to hear. And my husband's Sirius receiver shows the song title and artist. I think mine does it, too, but I lost the instruction and can't figure out how. And of course there is Air America. It is worth it for that alone.

[Kingofalldems]

20. XM is great but only for cars

I can't get a decent signal in my house. Anyone have any advice on this?

[ScreamingMeemie]

21. We taped the receiver to the window and it works perfectly now,

We had the same problem.

[Kingofalldems]

22. I must have bought the wrong type

I have the modular unit (Roady I think) that plugs into the car and a boombox which you can plug the Roady into.

[ScreamingMeemie]

23. We have the modular ( I thought it was Pioneer, but it's Delphi) and

it has the wire with the little satellite receiver thingy attached to it. The satellite receiver thingy is the thing we taped in the window. :hi:

[Kingofalldems]

25. Aha!!!!!!!

Thanks, I'm a little dense. I will try that.

[bertha katzenengel]

34. We bought the boombox - it came with a HUGE antenna --

same shape as the little magnet antenna, but about four times the size. We just set that antenna up next to the boombox and the signal came right through the house. Your boombox didn't come with the antenna?

[Maat]

24. Now, I had the opposite problem.

My Sirius indoor antenna was no good. My XM unit is superb - I get crystal clear reception in the Land of No Radio.

Go figure.

[I Have A Dream]

28. Are you aware that you can get it on-line? Not all stations are...

available, but many are. I take my laptop and headphones with me to ride my stationary bike. I also listen to it on-line at work.

[Presidentcokedupfratboy]

26. Both have great music channels

They range all over the place from Rock to Broadway to classical.

I personally have XM because they have the exclusive rights to broadcast EVERY Major League Baseball game, which means I can listen to the Mets whenever I want.

Sirius has the NFL.

[Beware the Beast Man]

27. Have Sirius now, used to have XM.

Both were great, and way better than terrestrial radio, but IMO Sirius has the edge with their music programming. XM had a tendency to get a bit repetitive with some songs and artists.

[I Have A Dream]

29. I have XM radio, and I love it. I listen to it more on-line than in...

my car. The receiver was built into my car, so I didn't have to install anything.

It's nice to listen to it at work and while I exercise. (Using my PC & headphones.) To me, it's definitely worth the money.

[XOKCowboy]

31. Add me to the list of sattelite radio lovers - I have XM

I've had it for 2 yrs and just signed up for a 3 yr subscription ($9.95 a month that way). I use it in my car and all of the vehicles I drive. I couldn't live without it now.

[XOKCowboy]

32. XM or Sirius?

XM has Air America. Other than that go to their respective websites, listen to their streams and check out their channel listings. It's all a matter of what you like. XM suits me just fine but I know a lot of Sirius listeners who are just as happy. They're not Dems though! lol

[Room101]

33. I have Sirius and I'm in love!

I originally got it becuase of Howard stern. There is always something to listen too. (music and talk)