PhreeZone 20 #1 November 5, 2003 Alright, who all has or uses one of these things? I've got one in the rental car I'm in for the week (Brand new '04 Mustang ) and I'm loving it. Its great... just pick the type of music I'm in the mood for and its there. Even stuff like the Weather Channel, FoxNex, the BBC, NPR, and any type of music I've been able to think of has its own channel. What I'm wondering is anyone use these things for more then a week and if so do they grow on you like a Tivo or is it just another fad? Is it worth the cost to drop on in your own car?Yesterday is history And tomorrow is a mystery Parachutemanuals.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
indyz 1 #2 November 5, 2003 A friend of mine has had one for about a year. He was going to sell it because he needed the dash space to mount a boost gauge, but he decided that he would miss it too much. I'm pissed, because I've spent a lot of time in that car and fell in love with the thing. Now I'll have to pay full price to get one of my own. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TheAnvil 0 #3 November 5, 2003 I love XM radio and Sirius. XM broadacasts using a two sat constellation - Rock and Roll; aptly named birds - at 85 and 115 W (in GEO obviously) I think - don't ask me how the hell I remembered that. Sirius uses a three bird constellation. There is another satellite radio company called WorldSpace targeting the Central/SouthAmerican market, the African, and Asian markets as well. My US$0.02. It is addictive.Vinny the Anvil Post Traumatic Didn't Make The Lakers Syndrome is REAL JACKASS POWER!!!!!! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
moodyskydiver 0 #4 November 5, 2003 My new truck came w/XM radio and its pretty cool.It really comes in handy when you're driving long distances and your FM signal goes to crap or can't find a local station w/the music you like.The comedy channel (laugh USA) is pretty funny sometimes too. I don't see it as any different from any other radio stations I use (except the reception is better of course and there are several stations w/no commercials).I don't use it really often b/c I have tons of CDs so I don't have to listen to damn commercials.But hopefully I'll be getting an ipod in the near future to cut down on the bulk of lugging the friggin CDs around lol.As for cost I don't know if the whole installation stuff is worth it or not b/c it came as a standard option when I bought this truck.I just have to pay $10 per month if I want all 100+ stations.If I don't pay the $10 I still get 10 free stations that they alternate among the 100+. Yeah, yeah I know, I'm spoiled rotten (and lovin' it!) "...just an earthbound misfit, I." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RkyMtnHigh 0 #5 November 5, 2003 You must by Psychic!!! I have XM Radio and was about to post a message to see if others like it as much as me! My FAVORITES are: FRED, ETHEL, XM CODEMY, BPM, and MOVE!!! Can't get enough or take a long enough road trip..LOVE IT! _________________________________________ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PhreeZone 20 #6 November 5, 2003 The system in the rental is a Sirius and other then the poor dash mounting system I've only noticed issues with it on city driving when I pass under an overpass. Alt Nation is my fave at this point. Whats the content diffrences between the Sirius and the XM?Yesterday is history And tomorrow is a mystery Parachutemanuals.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RkyMtnHigh 0 #7 November 5, 2003 QuoteThe system in the rental is a Sirius and other then the poor dash mounting system I've only noticed issues with it on city driving when I pass under an overpass. Alt Nation is my fave at this point. Whats the content diffrences between the Sirius and the XM? __________________________ I agree that going under an underpass or in a tunnel, or in a parking gargage cuts off the signal and it makes me cranky if it's the punchline and I miss it! _________________________________________ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TheAnvil 0 #8 November 5, 2003 Different companies dude. I think one of them has some repeater stations in some cities or something. I'm a space geek - I just know enough about telecom to be considered dangerous. Hehehehe...Sirius has the cooler logo.Vinny the Anvil Post Traumatic Didn't Make The Lakers Syndrome is REAL JACKASS POWER!!!!!! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Gawain 0 #9 November 5, 2003 I read a comparo of these two services several months ago. XM isn't commercial free, so on principal, I wouldn't pay for that service (pay to listen to commercials ). XM's satellites are in geo-sycnh but IIRC, they are situated "lower" along the southern horizon of North America, so, if go into some canyon areas, you'll lose coverage (especially in the west and northwest, so I read). XM is essentially the brainchild of Hughes, and thus GM. Sirius is commercial free, but a little more per month. They use statistical multiplexing in their streams of data interestingly. Anyway, I believe they have three satellites that are not in geo-synch orbit, but are positioned more "overhead". I don't know...for 9.95 to 12.95 per month...I can continue to expand my CD collection nicely every year. XM seems to be in good shape, has a lot of subscribers (over 1M) and is trading at over $21/sh. Sirius on the other hand has about 100,000 subscribers and is trading at about $3/sh, but I believe it has more cash. XM can claim a lot for subscriptions though, if you buy a new Acura TL, you get three months of XM radio. They can claim that, but it keeps their numbers fluctuating.So I try and I scream and I beg and I sigh Just to prove I'm alive, and it's alright 'Cause tonight there's a way I'll make light of my treacherous life Make light! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
gulaz 1 #10 November 5, 2003 I have wanted to get XM radio for a while, but its not available in Canada... has anyone with one of these driven north? Im pretty sure that the satellite footprint extends fairly far into the country... if the signal is strong enough, I might just have to find a way to get it here... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mnischalke 0 #11 November 5, 2003 Got one in an Avis rental in Colorado Springs and totally fell for it. I got caught up on a little sidetrack to the Royal Gorge Bridge on the way to northern New Mexico. I was driving through canyons and around mountains trying to get to the Great Sanddunes NM from the wrong side, probably 10 miles from the nearest house. I don't think I ever lost the signal. Fantastic stuff. The stereo in my truck is ready for the direct hookup of one of those reciever thingys. Thanks for reminding me! mike Girls only want boyfriends who have great skills--You know, like nunchuk skills, bow-hunting skills, computer-hacking skills. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ChasingBlueSky 0 #12 November 5, 2003 One of my bosses in radio back in 95 left to go work at some wierd digital thing called XM Radio and offered to take me with him. I told him that paid radio would never take off. Bad call on my part... He explained that the idea was to offer digital quality radio with no "shadows" like you get in Metro and mountainous regions, which meant eventually installing repeaters in some areas. He explained that commercials would be introduced on the non premium stations to help increase revenue eventually. So, I would guess that the prices on the plans would change was the installed base hits a certain amount and offer plans much like cable companies. Content is roughly the same on both services - you can go to Best Buy and they have a pretty simple EndCap that shows the differences in the channels they offer and what you get for the price. A simple search on google also turns up a few web pages on both services._________________________________________ you can burn the land and boil the sea, but you can't take the sky from me.... I WILL fly again..... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RevJim 0 #13 November 5, 2003 had one when I was driving over the road, and will have another one when I sart again. Nothing beats it, especially when your routes take you through Utah, Arizona, New Mexico, and/or West Texas. In those cases, you pretty much have 3 choices: XM, Church radio, or silence.It's your life, live it! Karma RB#684 "Corcho", ASK#60, Muff#3520, NCB#398, NHDZ#4, C-33989, DG#1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AndyMan 7 #14 November 5, 2003 We had a car with Sirius a few monthes ago, and initially loved the choices. After a few days we started to get really frustrated at the short play-lists - they appeared to be even shorter then the crappy clear-channel stations we got over FM. So... we ended doing a lot of switching between the different stations... in the end we gave up and went back to WXRT a local FM station with un-noticable play-lists. _Am__ You put the fun in "funnel" - craichead. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kai2k1 0 #15 November 5, 2003 Ive got XM in the big truck and i absolutely love it!! It follows me wherever I am and never has gone out on me. Now all i need is to be able to switch it from the truck to my car and to my house. Dows anyone have the sky=fi boombox? ive thought about it but i dont know yet. There's no truer sense of flying than sky diving," Scott Cowan Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skymedic 0 #16 November 6, 2003 I miss XRT... Marc otherwise known as Mr.Fallinwoman.... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RkyMtnHigh 0 #17 November 6, 2003 Quotehad one when I was driving over the road, and will have another one when I sart again. Nothing beats it, especially when your routes take you through Utah, Arizona, New Mexico, and/or West Texas. In those cases, you pretty much have 3 choices: XM, Church radio, or silence. ____________________________ Lick! _________________________________________ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RevJim 0 #18 November 6, 2003 QuoteQuotehad one when I was driving over the road, and will have another one when I sart again. Nothing beats it, especially when your routes take you through Utah, Arizona, New Mexico, and/or West Texas. In those cases, you pretty much have 3 choices: XM, Church radio, or silence. ____________________________ Lick! ok, make that 4 choices, but I rarely had passengers. It's your life, live it! Karma RB#684 "Corcho", ASK#60, Muff#3520, NCB#398, NHDZ#4, C-33989, DG#1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RkyMtnHigh 0 #19 November 6, 2003 QuoteQuoteQuotehad one when I was driving over the road, and will have another one when I sart again. Nothing beats it, especially when your routes take you through Utah, Arizona, New Mexico, and/or West Texas. In those cases, you pretty much have 3 choices: XM, Church radio, or silence. ____________________________ Lick! ok, make that 4 choices, but I rarely had passengers. ______________________________ hehehe... ICE CREAM!!!!!!! Wanna "lick"?(Delirious) _________________________________________ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
