satellite radio

[ken k]

howdy fellow tubenetters,

Anyone out there in tubenetland have satellite radio? what is the difference between XM and Sirrius? Also i am looking for a portable unit that I can use in my car and in my house. any recommendations??? i am going to ask santa for one....

k

[iiipopes]

http://www.siriusxm.com/" target="_blank

[Jeffrey Hicks]

I have it in my wife's car. It came with it new. I must say though that I do not have any idea about anything jazz or classical related. I do not listen to that type of music. I do enjoy the fact that there is relatively few commercials. We had it for free for 6 months with no intention of paying for it once it lapsed. However once you let it lapse they send you a letter asking if we want do for 6 months at 24.99. It comes to about few bucks a month so we do it. But once our six months is over we let it lapse till we get another letter.

[Carroll]

I admit that I do pay for radio. I am sure there are those who would castigate me for spending money on something that is available for free. Broadcast radio, in my area, is limited to Country and Rap. Only the Country stations are clear where I work. I appreciate having up-to-date weather coverage and breaking news in the backwoods. I enjoy big band and straight ahead jazz while I drive. I also admit to listening to a bit of political talk radio.

These factors make my purchase of radio worth it, for me. I imagine if I were a rabid sports fan, it would prove even more worthwhile.

The other part of your question: Sirius and XM have combined. There are portable units that can do what you want. As with many things, the hardware is not the main expense...it is the service.

[tbn.al]

I live in a city where I can get about anything I want on FM, so I bought an HD FM. Every station has a couple of substations in addition to the main one so you can find lots of diversity. The quality is better than the sat radio in my car.

[TMurphy]

I have a portable XM radio that I use in the car, the XM Onyx: http://amzn.to/WfkKVj" target="_blank

I got it when the only FM station here that I liked changed format. I love the service, and am quite happy to pay for it. As mentioned in a previous post, XM and Sirius have merged, but still offer slightly different programming. The only difference is in sports; XM carries MLB, Sirius carries, well, just about everything else. If you want, you can get a pricier package, which gives you the "best of" whatever service you don't have, which would give you all the sports. If sports don't matter, find the radio unit that you like, and run with it.

Packages typically cost around $13 a month, HOWEVER, they often have special discount offers, giving you 1/2 price on a year's subscription. You pay up front, so it's $77 for the year (plus takes and fees, ends up being around $90 I think). When you go to activate, call up and ask for it. They'll hesitate, but keep pressing. Eventually, you'll get it. If not, say nevermind, hang up, and try again. If you push them, they will give you the promotional price (however, that doesn't include the "best of" stuff, or internet radio).

Good luck!

[Ricko]

We became heavily addicted to XM after purchasing a used car with XM paid up for a year - there isn't a lot of difference between the two these days, really only in sports.

Likes - clear signal, very few commercials, variety, the ability to take an all-day trip without having to hunt channels every hour or so, the iphone app is pretty cool too.

Dislikes - paying for it, antenna must have clear southern view (truck's antenna is on the roof, car is on the trunk, office is in the window) - my garage opens to the northeast so it's a royal PITA to string the antenna 1/2 the way into the drive to listen while working in the garage.

Warning - you'll think that FM absolutely sucks after you've had it for a while.

Ricko