Satellite Radio

[pdoel]

Just thought it'd be interesting to get a poll going about Satellite Radio. I got mine two months ago and couldn't be happier. I've heard nothing but good things from people who own either service.

Seemed silly to be paying for radio, but I gotta say. It's well worth it!

[usa bug 03]

Just got, love it.

[Steinola]

Heck with radio.
iPod... my music, my way... no subscription ;)

[Bugmonkey]

Heck with radio.
iPod... my music, my way... no subscription ;)
I felt that way once. But the satellite keeps me up on the new stuff. I don't watch much TV and the only radio station here is country. So the only way I can keep current is XM. I love it I have 4 of them (3 cars, 1 home)

[-1-]

:D I'm a BIG XM fan. I've had it in our '99 NewBeetle for about five years. Currently have it in three cars, at home and work. No commercial radio (can't tolerate it anymore), and no CDs. Just XM radio all the time. I like the 60s, 70s, and Top Tracks.

[SPIRU]

:D I'm a BIG XM fan. I've had it in our '99 NewBeetle for about five years. Currently have it in three cars, at home and work. No commercial radio (can't tolerate it anymore), and no CDs. Just XM radio all the time. I like the 60s, 70s, and Top Tracks.

I've had XM almost as long and I WILL never go back to free radio!

[dnyed]

We have both: Sirius in mine, XM in the 'vert. We both highly prefer Sirius over XM, and would get rid of it in the 'vert if we can.

In XM, I cannot find a channel that I like. Lucy? Fred? Ethel? What is that? Just when you think you find one that you like, some other genre comes on. It seems that all of the channels are all over the board. To be honest, Unsigned is the only one I can count on.:rolleyes:

With Sirius, you got: Alt.Nation, Octane, 1st Wave, Classic Vinyl, Buzzsaw....what I'm saying is, you have an idea of what they're playing on that channel. Lucy? Fred? Ethel? What the heck is that????:(

[MurphieNB]

Pay for radio? I don't think so... but then again, I probably would have said that about cable TV or DirecTV too. But for me, right now, I just don't ever it see it happening.

When I listen to radio, it's local talk radio. When I want music, I have my trusty CD's. I'd go MP3 in a heartbeat if there were some reasonably priced way to connect it. But I've got two vehicles to consider that in, so for now I'm staying with what I've got.

[marvins_dad]

Stern baby!!!
Gotta have it...will be getting one at Christmas.

[boriquais]

i love XM i've had it for about a year now. The quality is awsome, and i work at the airport so the weather and traffic reports com in handy. for the most part im usually listening to 20 on 20. my dad has sirius and i gotta say i dont like it. but to each its own just enjoy what you have

[boriquais]

i jump into my friends car the other day and i was going out of my mind. he was like whats wrong and im like this fm junk aint cutting it. he isisted that he would never pay for xm. so i gave him my roady 2 which i had lying around and bought him a year subscription for as a gift. needless to say he loves it and usually calls me to turn it on and blah blahh. i think i have to go steal the roady back so he stops calling about O&A

[PhoenixRising]

I love XM and have it in both cars. It's great.

IMHO. I have no doubt, that the other one, SIRIUS, is fine.

[beej]

Sirius, I am an NPR fan, and the 3 stations in my area do not play much of the talk....

[pdoel]

With Sirius, you got: Alt.Nation, Octane, 1st Wave, Classic Vinyl, Buzzsaw....what I'm saying is, you have an idea of what they're playing on that channel. Lucy? Fred? Ethel? What the heck is that????:(

Alt Nation rocks! That's my favorite channel!

[pdoel]

Stern baby!!!

x2!!!

:goodjob:

[boriquais]

i like stern alot. on the other hand o&a are pretty good. especially when they make fun of howard. but like i said everyone has their own tastes and that why there is a market for xm and sirius.

[GGKauten]

The way I see it...people pay for Cable TV and that has commercials ALL over it. So for a couple bucks a month I can enjoy the one piece of life that has no commercials. I mean when you think about it every where you look is a commercial.

Bulletin Boards, TV, Local Radio, Grocery Stores, everything is a commercial.

So XM is WELL WORTH THE MONEY!

[monogodo]

My option isn't there for me to vote:

Don't have it. I don't plan on getting it, but I'm open to the idea of getting it.

[marvins_dad]

Sirius Folks...

How is the NFL programming? Just noticed this weekend that they carry the NFL and being in Dallas I never get to see a Saints game, that would be a cool bonus!

Also - what hardware are you Sirius guys using? Anyone using a portable device? I'm wanting to go from Home to Car to Work...unless streaming it over the net is just as good...then mainly Car.

[daisybug]

I got XM for Christmas, and like another post on here, I couldn't really find anything that I really liked. I like rock, and to me the stations they had weren't the kind of rock i liked. Plus it seemed as soon as I got mine, they went up in price, story of my life!

[pdoel]

Antoine,

I have the Sirius Sporter Replay. I'm very happy with this player. I have two car kits, so I can move it around depending on which car I'm in. I also have the boombox. However, keep in mind, you need to have a clear shot of the satellite to get reception. So, unfortunately, the boombox doesn't always work as great as I'd like. So at work, I mostly stream it off the internet, which works great, and comes with your subscription (no extra fee).

Also, I believe you have Dish Network? If so, keep in mind you can listen through there (although, I think they only offer the music channels, not the talk channels).

A couple nice things about the Sportster Replay. You can pause, rewind, forward live radio, just like with a DVR or TiVo. You can also program in your favorite songs, and it'll let you know when it's about to be played on another channel. You can also program your favorite sports teams, and it will scroll their scores across the screen.

Plus, the colors aren't too far off of the New Beetles, which is cool.

http://akamaipix.crutchfield.com/products/2005/607/h607SPTK1-f_mt+car.jpeg

[marvins_dad]

:bigthumb: Yeah - I could easily stream it at work...what direction does the satellite beam from? I have a south window at work and might be lucky.

Yeah, Dish only has the music - I checked it out last night, sooo wanted them to carry the NFL and it would also be great if they carried Howard's channels so we could keep the unit in the car and be covered at the house with Dish and work with Streaming.

I'll look into that unit - love the ability to replay...that's pretty cool.

I guess the boom box is really for when you are outside and not really for inside use.

[pdoel]

Well, not necessarily. It says that when in the house, it's best to point it out a window.

The signal sometimes just doesn't make much sense. I can be driving down a flat road, nothing inside, go under an underpass, and lose it for a split second. I can lose it from time to time driving under trees.

But then there are also times I can get halfway through a rather long tunnel before losing the signal. So you never really know.

I'm actually not sure what direction the signal beams from. I have read that they have 3 satellites, and two are positioned over the US at any one time. Not that that helps you any.

[BeetleBon]

If you are a NFL fanatic, you must have Sirius.

Not only do they have a dedicated NFL channel, but you can listen to every game (including preseason)- and the hometown feed at that. So, for example, I am an Oakland Raider fan in New Jersey, but I listen to KSFO out of San Fran on Sirius. I LOVE IT! The score is on the display too.. oh I'm so happy just thinking about it.. I flipped back and forth between games driving from MD to NJ yesterday.

I have the Blaupunkt America which matches the NB interior perfectly - that Sportster Replay is HOT! :)

So.. yeah I got satellite.. guess which company :)

[marvins_dad]

'Nother question - I went and looked at Best Buy at the Sportster Replay and quized the sales associate and he mentioned that everything was $13, but when we asked him about the Stern Channels coming online soon he said that those channels would be a premium channel and it would have an upcharge...any news of that? And Pete will you be listening to channel 100 on thursday morning? :LOL:

I did see the thing about the Hometown NFL - so I will be able to enjoy the New Orlean Saints from their WLL feed :clap:

[PhoenixRising]

If you are a NFL fanatic, you must have Sirius.

Not only do they have a dedicated NFL channel, but you can listen to every game (including preseason)- and the hometown feed at that. So, for example, I am an Oakland Raider fan in New Jersey, but I listen to KSFO out of San Fran on Sirius. I LOVE IT! The score is on the display too.. oh I'm so happy just thinking about it.. I flipped back and forth between games driving from MD to NJ yesterday.

I have the Blaupunkt America which matches the NB interior perfectly - that Sportster Replay is HOT! :)

So.. yeah I got satellite.. guess which company :)See, I love that, the NFL deal, but here is my question:

Let's say you have the DirecTV (which I do), and I am watching the Redskins game. I know the SAT delays the game by about five (or so) seconds...does the SIRUS also delay that much? Or would one or the other feed be ahaed all the time?

In other words, it would stink to be listneing to the game, and it's ahead of the action on the field, or watching and it's ahead of the play by play on the radio...

(One thing I miss from D.C. is listening to Sonny, (insert new guys name here), and Sam broadcast the Redskins. )

[pdoel]

'Nother question - I went and looked at Best Buy at the Sportster Replay and quized the sales associate and he mentioned that everything was $13, but when we asked him about the Stern Channels coming online soon he said that those channels would be a premium channel and it would have an upcharge...any news of that? And Pete will you be listening to channel 100 on thursday morning? :LOL:

No, there isn't supposed to be any additional charge. That has been a rumor, but there's no truth to it. In fact, the new channel lineup went into affect last week, so my radio already has channels 100 & 101, even though there's nothing on them yet.

I don't know if I'll be listening on Thursday. For some reason, that whole subject, I just find rather disgusting. I did chuckle a little last week when I tuned to channel 100, and it read: "HOWARD STERN. FARTERS, COMING SOON."

But, I would probably be disgusted to actually tune to it when that starts.

[marvins_dad]

I don't know if I'll be listening on Thursday. For some reason, that whole subject, I just find rather disgusting. I did chuckle a little last week when I tuned to channel 100, and it read: "HOWARD STERN. FARTERS, COMING SOON."

But, I would probably be disgusted to actually tune to it when that starts.

That would be great news - no upcharge.

Thursday AM - :fart: <----I knew there was a reason I submitted that smilie:D

I'd have to tune in just to see the historic first 5 minutes...then out.

[beetlejay]

I'm geting ready to buy Sirius. Can't Wait For Howard Stern!:D

[oneighturbo]

XM jumps on DirecTV platform
By CNET News.com Staff, CNET News.com
Published on ZDNet News: September 29, 2005, 11:41 AM PT

DirecTV announced on Thursday that it will provide music and talk radio shows to subscribers through a new partnership with XM Satellite Radio.

http://news.zdnet.com/2100-1040_22-5885600.html

[PhoenixRising]

XM jumps on DirecTV platform
By CNET News.com Staff, CNET News.com
Published on ZDNet News: September 29, 2005, 11:41 AM PT

DirecTV announced on Thursday that it will provide music and talk radio shows to subscribers through a new partnership with XM Satellite Radio.

http://news.zdnet.com/2100-1040_22-5885600.html

Huh. I would have thought that XM and DirecTV would be mortal enemies.

[oneighturbo]

Huh. I would have thought that XM and DirecTV would be mortal enemies.

dont ask me but the other day i got a message on my directv tivo that said this feature was coming. it will be replacing the normal radio channels.

cool with me ;)

[Steinola]

Don't have it. I don't plan on getting it, but I'm open to the idea of getting it.

Especially if boriquais had a second Roady laying around and bought me a year's subscription... then, yeah, I might consider it ;)

[BeetleBon]

See, I love that, the NFL deal, but here is my question:

Let's say you have the DirecTV (which I do), and I am watching the Redskins game. I know the SAT delays the game by about five (or so) seconds...does the SIRUS also delay that much? Or would one or the other feed be ahaed all the time?

In other words, it would stink to be listneing to the game, and it's ahead of the action on the field, or watching and it's ahead of the play by play on the radio...

(One thing I miss from D.C. is listening to Sonny, (insert new guys name here), and Sam broadcast the Redskins. )

DirecTV is a little ahead of Sirius.. I have the TiVo so I just pause it for a few seconds to get everything synced up. :D Hope this helps!

[NBTurboFreak]

I love my Sirius radio and I also love the fact that I ca paly almost anything in my head unit from CDs to DVDs to MP3s as well.

[VelvetFoot]

What does the OEM head unit display for satellite stations?

[BeetleBon]

What does the OEM head unit display for satellite stations?

87.3 or whatever station you tune it to to listen to the satellite. It uses a FM modulator (I think that's what it's called) so your Beet will pick the satellite on that station.

Someone more tech savvy can probably answer that one better :)

[spdbump2001]

The signal sometimes just doesn't make much sense. I can be driving down a flat road, nothing inside, go under an underpass, and lose it for a split second. I can lose it from time to time driving under trees.

But then there are also times I can get halfway through a rather long tunnel before losing the signal. So you never really know.

I'm actually not sure what direction the signal beams from. I have read that they have 3 satellites, and two are positioned over the US at any one time. Not that that helps you any.

In the major cities, they have terrestrial repeaters which would account for reception where you would least expect.

Here's a better explanation that I just found.

The elliptical orbit is unusual for commercial telecommunication satellites. Normally telecommunication satellites fly in circular geostationary orbit 35,880 km (19,375 nmi) high where the craft can match the Earth's spin and "park" over one spot of the globe. Sirius Satellite Radio discovered, after testing, that the geostationary satellite configuration did not provide high enough angles of elevation to deliver the seamlessness of coverage that they felt was really critical for product acceptance, leading them to select their elliptical orbit plan. Cars driving on the road with man-made and natural obstacles, which could be anything from a 2-story building to tractor-trailers driving alongside, block the view to satellites flying above the equator, whereas the orbit of the Sirius Satellite Radio satellites provides an elevation angle in excess of 60 degrees. The satellites will be spaced such that two are always in view of the U.S., with one satellite setting, another rises. A problem that remains are skyscrapers. To address that problem, Sirius Satellite Radio plans to deploy 105 terrestrial repeaters in 46 cities that will pick up the satellites' signal and transmit the programming locally. The Sirius Satellite Radio receiver will automatically switch from satellite to the local system as needed.

[larryziegler]

The cd player in my Honda CR-V is starting to malfunction on CD's causing a skip. I plan to replace it next spring with an Alpine unit (can't remember the model number) that has built-in AM-FM-CD-Satellite in the receiver,so no additional Satellite unit has to be installed. Just have to find a way for a good antenna installation. It uses XM, btw, which is what I am thinking is the better service for my tastes.

[Wazabi_Al]

Tons of music that I want to listen to without commercials - that's what the iPod is for! Now all I have to to is just have to find time to install my USA-Spec adaptor and I'm good to go... :D

[marvins_dad]

Tons of music that I want to listen to without commercials - that's what the iPod is for! Now all I have to to is just have to find time to install my USA-Spec adaptor and I'm good to go... :D

When you get live Howard Stern on that. Let me know!:rolleyes:
I totally understand the power of the MP3 player, one of the original avocates on this site - however it's limits are that it can't broadcast live shows...football....etc.
There are definately reasons for Satillite programming. I probably won't even check out the music channels, cause like you say, we have MP3 players for that...and I definately would be able to choose my music easier that way.

[Steinola]

When you get live Howard Stern on that. Let me know!:rolleyes:
I totally understand the power of the MP3 player, one of the original avocates on this site - however it's limits are that it can't broadcast live shows...football....etc.
There are definately reasons for Satillite programming. I probably won't even check out the music channels, cause like you say, we have MP3 players for that...and I definately would be able to choose my music easier that way.

I would bet that Stern will have a PodCast, here, fairly shortly... if you want it. Could almost be better than a live broadcast because you can listen to it when you want to, and pause it if/when you needed to.

So even if I wanted to listen to Stern during my drive time (and... heh... I don't... but that's a whole 'nother thread)... I most likely will be able to on my iPod.

As for sports... I've never been unable to tune in the game(s) that I want to listen to just using my regular old AM/FM tuner. I realize there are bigger sports geeks (and I use that term in only the best way, with admiration) than I am. But for me, being able to tune in the high school game in Pennepodunct, Maine just isn't a huge selling point.

[marvins_dad]

I seriously doubt Stern would do a podcast...no money in it.

As for the sports - I live in Texas...but am a Saints fan and other than paying the NFL for a stream feed from my computer there is no way to get the game.

There are limits to the iPod....like I said, I am a fan of MP3 players for music, but for live talk radio and sports - I can totally see the importance of Satellite.

[pdoel]

With two channels dedicated to Stern and whatever programming he wishes, they are planning to rebroadcast his show a couple times a day. So while you can't just listen anytime you wish, it will be available later in the day if you missed the morning show.

For me, I use an MP3 player when I run. That's it. I used to listen to CDs quite a bit in my car, but to be honest, it gets old listening to the same thing everyday. I like the variety that satellite radio provides.

I don't want the hassle of constantly updating play lists, copying things to an MP3 player, trying to find music online, and then just listening to the same playlists over and over and over again.

I like that I get the latest music on Satellite. I'm much more up to date on the latest releases than I was before. I hear music there will before it hits MTV or the local stations. Plus, it's much more random. I don't get stuck listening to the same thing over and over. And, no commercials.

:goodjob:

[boblamb58]

Pay for radio? Are you NUTS?!?!?! :D

Of course, if that's the onlyway you can tune in what you really want to hear, then I suppose you have one of 2 options: pay, or don't listen.

If the radio stations I listen to go satellite, that's when I might consider a pay service.

Mostly, though, I listen to mp3s from my CDs or even that I downloaded, as well as broadcast radio shows I've recorded over the previous weekend. And you can't beat college radio.. very few commercials, and even then, they are always either Public Announcements or station promos.

:rockband: (http://www.gagliarchives.com)Click on the band. Go ahead, I dare ya ;)

[pdoel]

If you think about it, we're already paying for regular radio.

So many commercials. That money has to come from somewhere. Companies pay to get their commercials on the air. Prices of products reflect the fact that companies have to pay for advertising.

So anyway you look at it, we're all paying for radio.

[dnyed]

I have the Blaupunkt America SR04 in my car. I don't have the "home kit"...yet. ;)

[thebigtexan]

I have the new Sirius portable S50. It is awesome! It has 1 Gb of storage for MP3's and you can record music off of your favorite stations. You can take it off of the cradle and listen to the recorded music or MP3's just like an IPOD. It retails for $300.00 or so, but there is a rebate. Happy listening!

BT :D

[pdoel]

:goodjob:

Keep us up to date on the S50. It looks like a pretty cool device!

[larryziegler]

I need to change my vote! I am now an XM user. :D
I have no need for a home kit as I can play XM thru my home computer.....computer is in a loft "office" and with great speakers (and powered subwoofer) and open beam ceilings, the sound comes down pretty decently. My Dephi RoadyXT does have a home kit option if I ever changed my mind.

[Rocky]

Most of the new Stern shows are posted on a usenet group. I think it is Alt.Binaries.Howard-Stern or something like that.

[Bonedaddy]

I'm sold. I've had satellite radio a couple of months now and love it. I too never, ever thought that I'd never pay for radio. Then again I hate commercials with a passion.

I did the MP3 player solution too. My player has 60GB of music on it. I can personally testify that the same subset of music eventually gets tired.

[TeddyTiger]

I just got the Delphi Roady 2 XM receiver for my car and I love it. XM I think has a better quality of sound, with Sirius, I can actually hear the artifacting from the compression they use. But to each their own. Now I just gotta figure out how to plug the line in into my stock deck so I don't have to use the FM transmitter.

[Oyveychris]

I have been an XM subscriber for over a year and could not live without it (I'm in outside sales) in the car. The uncensored comedy channel kicks a@#!:D

[PhoenixRising]

I have been an XM subscriber for over a year and could not live without it (I'm in outside sales) in the car. The uncensored comedy channel kicks a@#!:D
XM rules!

[sledmeister]

I agree, Alt Nation ROCKS!, and so does Hair Nation on 23! Sirius is far superior to XM. XM has cr&**y reception up here in the NW. It cuts out all the time where Sirius rarely does.:cool:

[DomoFizz]

I currently have XM but only because my dealer couldn't find me a new '06 TDI Beetle with Sirius. My dealer is currently trying to see how costly it would be to shift everything over to Sirius. He's thinking that it'll just be cheaper for me to get a standalone unit (I want that S50) and then just tap into the current sat antenna.

Before Stern came to Sirius I was hooked on XLSquizz, but now I listen to the MP3s of Howard's show more than I do to the XM stuff!