Satellite Radio

[JoeyGee]

Any satellite radio users on here? I drive a TON, and I am tired of trying to find stations and shuffling through the same old CD's. Any opinions on XM vs. Sirius? We just bought a Honda Odyssey, and it's labeled as XM capable, but I am sure would need to add additional hardware after a quick look at XM's site--I have not looked into the info that came with the Odyssey (that would be too easy...).

Anyway, what's the difference? I could care less about Stern and Martha Stewart. I assume programming is very similar other than that. What kind of investment am I looking at? I assume a 12-month commitment (~$12.00/month) plus equipment? Would I need (want) more than the base $50.00 unit--I would equip my car and MAYBE the van--or get something to swap between the two?

[crokett]

Mostly different channel lineups. I went with Sirius for LOML because it has more sports and other talk channels. If you go with Sirius don't get an Xact radio unit. Extremely poor customer service from Xact and Sirius doesn't handle the warranty on those units. DAMHIK. I am in the middle of jumping through hoops to get the unit replaced. Call Sirius before you buy and ask what manufactureres they provide warranty on. That way you only need to deal with one company.

[Russianwolf]

When I bought my truck off ebay, they game me a free XM radio. All I had to do was sign up for 6 months of service. No complaints at all. I'm still finding new channels to tune in and football season is rapidly approaching (they have channels that look as if the games will be on them).

The radio we received for free is this one.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...801510?ie=UTF8

Again, no complaints. I have it set up in the car. Sometimes we listen to it from the house just by leaving it on in the car and tuning in the right channel on the stereo. Also makes yardwork much nicer.

[TB Roye]

I picked up a Sirius unit off of Ebay yesterday for $6.58. It has an FM tranmiter that sends a signal to an unused frequency on you cars' FM radio. This way I can move it between my truck and LOML's Expediton by buying an extra antenna. Who ever had this unit ( got it from Pawn Shop auction) has paid the subscription on it as I plugged it in to make sure it worked and I got music. The sound is better than off the terrestial stations. When I loose this subscription I will subscribe in my name. This will come in handy when we travel form Sacramento CA to Boise Idaho every month to see the grandkids. Going accross the Nevada desert there a few radio stations so this will be nice to have. Out there in Nevada you have a choice of 2 FM stations Country and Western and while I like that music you can't keep it on one station for more than 30 min. before you have tostart a search for a new station. Siriud has 198 station listed but now NASCAR untill January of 07 while FX has it now. Now to build an mounting platform for each vehicle so I don't have to have it hanging off the windshield by suction cup and then run the antenna cable so it doesn't show.

Tom

[havighurst]

I have Sirius and I love it. I believe that they are the exclusive station for the NFL and Nascar (in 2007). They also have a deal in which you can get a free radio (after you activate one). If you check out their website, you can get more details.

[bigsteel15]

I have a Pioneer head unit in my truck that has XMReady on it and just bought their receiver. It was $50 less than a seperate unit and it plugs right into the head unit, no extra remote or wires.
The menu works right off the deck. Love it. The only thing it doesn't show me is the artist/title but maybe newer decks have that.

[430752]

Go for it.

My wife and I bought her a new Honda Pilot a few months back. And it also came with XM, but her's was built in, with 3 month free trial. I thought all Honda's now had it built it, as most car companies are choosing sides and making it std. equip, me thinks. Look into that, makeing sure its not already there.

Otherwise, I'd say go for it either way. We love it, and don't drive much. Sure, it also gets repetitive just like radio, but much less so. and no commericials (on most channels). Since I haven't tried Sirius, I can only speak of XM. XM has good alternative/punk channels, decent rap and old school hip-hop (Snoop's channel), but their Reggae station sucks. I mean it stinks, like they didn't get the licensing rights from some major labels (namely VIP records). So much good music is missing on their reggae station.

Anyway, the above doesn't mean that their other genres of music aren't good, only that I haven't really tried them.

I'll add two things:
First, when I get satellite radio on my car I'm getting Sirius, inorder to try sumthin different, for Howard Stern, and for what I hop is a better reggae station. Don't know if any of this pertains to you.

Second, if you do get a receiver add-on thing, I'd get one with a good display and good controls. The one real beef I have with the wife's built-in XM is the radio unit itself. I mean its a cd/fm/am/xm radio unit. But the display is small, showing one line of text at a time, and the controls are akward, having to dial thru 200 channels unless it's one of 6 presets. And the steering wheel controls only go thru the presets. What does all this mean? well, going into nuthin' cuz you don't think you need it. But once used in a while, I'm always having to access the more text option to find out name and artist or etc and find that since I have dial thru 200 stations, I don't explore as much as I should. We keep a dopey channel guide in the car.


good luck, you'll enjoy it.

Curt J.

[meika123]

I just bought a new Acura last August which has the XM radio, which I subscribed to. I absolutely love it.
Like Crokett said, the biggest difference between XM and Sirius is the amount of sports broadcasting. Oh yeah, let's not forget "Howard Stern".
Check your vehicle at the rear of the roof outside, and see if you have a body-colored object smaller than a tennis ball in place. Then look at your radio controls, and if you see a setting marked "XM" you probably have the goods available. Just subscribe by going to XM radio.com and join.
If you bougfht the new Odyssey, I'm sure you are ready to go. Although you normally have the first three months free.

Dave in NC

[meika123]

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...801510?ie=UTF8

Again, no complaints. I have it set up in the car. Sometimes we listen to it from the house just by leaving it on in the car and tuning in the right channel on the stereo. Also makes yardwork much nicer.

Why not just load the software on to your PC. I did both at home and at my office. Whenever I want to listen to it, I just enter my user name and password. Luv it!!!

Dave in NC

[Russianwolf]

Why not just load the software on to your PC. I did both at home and at my office. Whenever I want to listen to it, I just enter my user name and password. Luv it!!!

Dave in NC

Because I think I'd be laughed out of the neighborhood if someone saw me with a PC strapped to the LawnMower. I bought a WorkTunes and just use the FM modulator that my unit has. Easy as pie. I may get a home base at some point, but it doesn't seem to draw that much power from the battery.

I've seen that you can access the music via computer, but just haven't needed too.

[TB Roye]

Ford uses SIRIUS in their vehicles. My wifes Expedition did not come Sat ready and Ford wanted $600 for a replacemnt radio and the antenna plus labor. The unit I go yesterday off Ebay is an older unit about 4"X4" with a large display and so far we love it. I built a mount for my truck using one of the cup holders in my center console, two pices of 3/4 ply cut and rounded to fit topped with piece of clear lexan for the suction cup mount to fasten onto, works great no vibration. Now working somthing for the Expedition, and then will work on mounting the antennas properly and hiding the cable.

Tom

[meika123]

Because I think I'd be laughed out of the neighborhood if someone saw me with a PC strapped to the LawnMower.

. You just kill me..

Dave in NC

[maxparot]

I personally refuse to buy into Satelite Radio.
They are asking you to pay for a service they provide over airwaves that belong to the public in the first place. If you receive the signal without a subscription your're a criminal. First it was cable companies now radio. Sorry use wires that broadcast companies own not my airspace if you want to protect your content. Just because they provide commercial free content doesn't mean they can steal part of my electromagnetic spectrum. Look what happened to the cable channels.
First they were totally commercial free now they are only commercial free during the programming.
Next every extra satelite signal adds to the microwave emissions that we are exposed to every time we walk out our doors. Do you really think that exposure is harmless?
Please people don't buy in let the subscription based business model fail! You are paying for something you should get for free.

OK I'll get off my soapbox now

[DUD]

Brother has had XM for years, it's the only way He can listen to the Cardinals Games as He is out and about. I like the Nascar channel when We are traveling together. Bill

[Wood_workur]

I have Sirius and I love it. I believe that they are the exclusive station for the NFL and Nascar (in 2007). They also have a deal in which you can get a free radio (after you activate one). If you check out their website, you can get more details.

Nothing against Sirius, but please note that those are Sunday sports, and how often are you driving on a Sunday?