XM Radio... wow, the bliss...
 

So I just got XM Radio for my birthday. I have always been a very big critic of the idea of paid radio service... now granted, I am not paying for this, my business is (family business). So I am still biased in the fact that for me, it is essentially free.

However, now that I have it, I do not think that I can live without it. I am half tempted to also setup a receiver in my wifes car so that when I have to drive her car, I wont be without it!!!

The sound quality is out of this world. It is night and day richer then FM as far as the sound goes and I swear, it sounds better then actually having the CD of the same song playing.

Very Very Very cool... plus, I can listen to every Royals game at no extra charge... too bad they suck. :(

Also now, the new series of receviers and car kits are a no brainer on install. I had it fully installed in my car in a matter of about 4 minutes. Also, you no longer have to buy the FM Modulators like the original models because most of the newest receivers have an FM modulator hard wired into them.

I am using the Delphi SkyFi2 receiver and it is exceptional. They also now build in minor recording settings so that you can pause live radio, like Tivo almost.

Very cool technology. However, I do think that eventually, it will be a free ad based system like modern AM FM is. Then, it will be REALLY cool.

Ouch. You got XM? Ouch. No NFL.


Should have got Serius ;)

(I'm sure XM is fine... I just own Serius stock) :)

Good thing you don't have to spell the company's name right to own its stock.

Just the ticker baby...

ROFL

With XM now raising rates to match Sirius, there is virtually no difference between the 2 services besides NFL NBA NHL and March Madness vs. MLB and Nascar (until 2006 when it moves to Sirius) AND whether you want a more hits based playlist or a wider deeper playlist.

I'm just waiting for the Howard Stern hype to jack the stock back up to 8 so I can ring the register.

If you're in a car during your favorite NFL team's game you should be bashed in the scrotum with a garlic hammer anyway...

ROFL

I've had it in my car for 2 weeks now. Haven't listened to regular radio since...

Who cares about NFL on radio? Come gameday, I'm firmly planted in front of the tube...

What is the initial cost of equipment for Sirius and XM?

Varies on what you want. What I got from XM is in the $100-$125 range.

When I got XM, I purchased a Skyfi 2, car kit, home kit and car installation for around $300 total. Since I recently purchased a 2 year subscription, it's only around $9 a month.

Or until his ridiculous half billion dollar salary bankrupts the company.

The reason I asked is because they are probably headed where Directv and Dishnotwork have gone. When D* started in 1994, the equipment cost to a customer was around $600. Today, the equipment is free in exchange for a 1 year programming agreement. All of these companies are in business to sell programming, not equipment. It's nice to get both and D* did while they could. If history is any indication the price of this radio equipment will start dropping and continue to do so until it is free. I'm going to wait for that to happen.

XM is the sh**. Especially XM 40!!!!!!

The Polk Audio receiver for your home is only $299

I dig 43

I check 43 from time to time, but most of my time is spent on 40 & 41

I have a little roation consisting of...

43 - XMU
45 - XM Cafe
46 - Top Tracks
9 - 90's
60 - Soul

Aaah...60 IS nice too.

yeah i wasnt concerned about NFL since I am always in front of a TV on gameday with NFL Sunday Ticket.

I am really enjoying it. I stay usually around teh XM Cafe and XM Loft overall but really like some of the Jazz and Blues programming and the comedy stations.

The FoxNews feed is weird because it is simply the audio off of their TV feed... but since I usually am watching FoxNews in the morning, it is kind of cool to pick it right up where I left off when I left home.

I'm a Squizz, Boneyard and Opie & Anthony guy. I also listen to the alternative stations (Lucy, Ethel, Fred) from time to time and when I need something different I listen to The System (82).

im listening to opie and anthony right now and they are interviewing the cast of family guy. VERY cool

Anyone have the Delphi Roady2 that Best Buy has on sale for $19.99 right now?

Yes. Works great. And I'm highly pissed that I paid $100 for 9 months ago...
:banghead:

Thanks for the feedback. Most of the "cons" listed in the reviews seem to focus on the tuning dial, but Bob Dole doesn't expect to be changing channels much.

If you're using an FM modulator, you are seriously degrading the sound quality to down to FM quality. I've got Sirius hooked directly into the AUX input on my stock radio and the sound quality is still not up to par with CD. This is because the audio coming from Sirius is compressed, like an mp3. But, it's all a matter of preference. If it sounds good to you, then that's all that matters.

The only thing that sucks about Satellite radio so far.... I keep forgetting to switch to regular radio in the morning (92.3) on the way to work and I miss Craig, Al, and Andy. Of course all the Stern hype lately has made it worse these past couple weeks. He's had some seriously hilarious shit on his show.

Sirius is great. I liosten to it every day. DOnt hardley ever turn on "normal" radio anymore. Got a scaled down version of XM on Direct TV and it blows. I dont like it much. Sirius is the bomb IMO. Well worth the money.

I have the Delphi SkyFi II, and I love it. The Roady2 is also a good receiver. The nice thing about the Skyfi II is 1) it will alert you when your favorite artists have songs playing and 2)it has a pause feature that can basically pause the station for up to 30 minutes, similar to a Tivo. Then you can fast-forward back to realtime.

The MyFi's (basically an XM Radio walkman) have also come down in price a ton.

Just found the SkyFi II car bundle for $50... Not sure the 30 minute pause is worth the extra $30 since Bob Dole will be listening to tunes about 99% of the time.

ARGH! The choices!

I'd imagine programming is quite similar, save the NFL. I don't care about that. My problem with Sirius, is their tuners are just too damn pricey compared to XM...