Is XM Radio worth it?
Joined: Sep 2002
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From: NV
Rep Power: 812 
I got my receiver for $150 and antenna for $50. It was the kind that hooks directly to the deck. The quality was alot worse than cd, and even worse than radio. Sounded like really compressed music. Programming is also crap. I had maybe 5-10 channels that were okay. Then just as I was getting sick of listening, my receiver just breaks after two weeks. What a piece of junk. So I lost about $200 for nothing. Not worth it!
Thread Starter
Men, chocolate, and coffee are all better rich.
Joined: Aug 2003
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From: *FWIPP* *FWIPP*
Rep Power: 0 Wow, I read what you wrote before and I was praying you wouldn't respond! lol.
Jeez, it didn't work too well eh? Is that typical, or was your an anomaly? Why didn't you like the programming?
Can you get hockey games and stuff on it? Games in general? (Football, Baseball, Hockey, Cricket....Cricket?)
Jeez, it didn't work too well eh? Is that typical, or was your an anomaly? Why didn't you like the programming?
Can you get hockey games and stuff on it? Games in general? (Football, Baseball, Hockey, Cricket....Cricket?)
I drive a jeep to compensate for my tiny pee pee
Joined: Aug 2003
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From: vermont
Rep Power: 293 they have a couple sport channels and i have xm in my car and it works fine for me i like it a lot
i think that the quality is on par or even better than a cd and is so beyond radio that its not even funny and now all music channels are commercial free so worth the money
i think that the quality is on par or even better than a cd and is so beyond radio that its not even funny and now all music channels are commercial free so worth the money
i have all the stuff except need to order an IP BUS cable for my headunit.
it works really good, at least down here, had it in my stepdads old car and it was GREAT! I loved it. sold the car so i ganked the stuff just have been to lazy to get an IP bus cable
it works really good, at least down here, had it in my stepdads old car and it was GREAT! I loved it. sold the car so i ganked the stuff just have been to lazy to get an IP bus cable
Hail to the king baby
iTrader: (3)
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From: NorCal
Rep Power: 315 
Joined: Jun 2001
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From: Duluth, MN
Rep Power: 394 Neither are available in Canada yet...eh..
http://www.xmradio.com/faq/help_sub....=0&pgSize=10#1
http://www.sirius.com/servlet/Conten...al%20Questions
http://www.xmradio.com/faq/help_sub....=0&pgSize=10#1
http://www.sirius.com/servlet/Conten...al%20Questions
Registered!!
Joined: Feb 2004
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From: Chandler, AZ
Rep Power: 0 i have XM and love it. I listen to it every morning on the way to work. Got to love the morning talk shows. The rap stations are nice, they swear. I also love the heavy metal stations, they get pretty hardcore. Mine sounds awesome. I have the Pioneer setup, Pioneer Premier DEH-P7500 mp3 player, the Pioneer GEXM910 modulator box thing and then the antenna to go with it. IT is a nice setup and works great. I guess i would recommend it. Also if you get bored alot, i often find myself listening to the comedy stations, their pretty funny when your in for a long drive somewhere.
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 51,241
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From: NV
Rep Power: 812 I got the low profile antenna and put it on the rear deck lid and still got the same reception. So that's an option. The quality sucks either way. It is not even close to cd. Maybe if you have stock paper speakers and you listen with low volume, you may not be able to tell the difference. I mostly like pop/alt/rock, and there were only a few stations of those. Other ones were crap music that I've never heard of or talk.
And I used a direct IP bus connection pioneer to pioneer. The receiver has to match the deck, but the antenna is usually from another company like Terk. I've still got mine at home far away or I would sell to you.
Anyway, good luck, just don't expect it to meet your expectations. And that's if you can get it to work for more than a few weeks.
And I used a direct IP bus connection pioneer to pioneer. The receiver has to match the deck, but the antenna is usually from another company like Terk. I've still got mine at home far away or I would sell to you.
Anyway, good luck, just don't expect it to meet your expectations. And that's if you can get it to work for more than a few weeks.
Registered!!
Joined: Aug 2003
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From: 480
Rep Power: 0 My friend had an XM system installed in his volvo.... It sounded decent, though i could tell that it wasn't CD quality. If you're really good at telling the difference between mp3's (atleast 160 or 192) and CD's then you'll be able to hear the lesser quality of the XM. It's nice having all of the options of stations, but don't expect to never play CD's again.
Thread Starter
Men, chocolate, and coffee are all better rich.
Joined: Aug 2003
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From: *FWIPP* *FWIPP*
Rep Power: 0 Oh, I'll definitely keep playing CD's...that's what I'm all about, lol.
I just want it mainly for Sports, and the occasional tunes or Comedy.
It says it's not available in Canada, but it still works close to the border...I'm about 1.5 hours away from the U.S border, do you suppose it would work?
I just want it mainly for Sports, and the occasional tunes or Comedy.
It says it's not available in Canada, but it still works close to the border...I'm about 1.5 hours away from the U.S border, do you suppose it would work?
Joined: Feb 2002
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From: Moore, Oklahoma, US
Rep Power: 317 sirius has better programming, especially in the sports area. they also offer free tuners, thats saving $150. buy a kenwood deck, get a free kenwood tuner, buy a clarion deck, get a free clarion tuner, etc. eclipse is joining the sirius compain, and believe it or not, alpine will be adding sirius support also (but they will keep xm also).
also, sirius has 3 satelites in orbit, xm has 2 (but they are not in orbit, they are stationary). 8 hours out of the day, there are no xm satelites over the US, ground repeaters are used instead.
sirius is also has a promotion going on, pay for one year of sirius and get 3 months free, so get 15 months for the price of 12 months.
i doubt sirius is going anywhere, i'm definately picking it up, along with there new, oreo cookie size antenna.
also, sirius has 3 satelites in orbit, xm has 2 (but they are not in orbit, they are stationary). 8 hours out of the day, there are no xm satelites over the US, ground repeaters are used instead.
sirius is also has a promotion going on, pay for one year of sirius and get 3 months free, so get 15 months for the price of 12 months.
i doubt sirius is going anywhere, i'm definately picking it up, along with there new, oreo cookie size antenna.
Thread Starter
Men, chocolate, and coffee are all better rich.
Joined: Aug 2003
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From: *FWIPP* *FWIPP*
Rep Power: 0 Ok, so what if my Deck's compatible with XM?
Should I just get a Sirius deck as well?? One of those little ones they stick on your car?
Should I just get a Sirius deck as well?? One of those little ones they stick on your car?
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 51,241
Likes: 20
From: NV
Rep Power: 812 You will get better reception with a receiver specifically made for your deck. The addon ones use FM modulation to transmit the signal. If you're just getting it for talk and sports, you'll probably like it. Just don't expect awesome music and quality, cause there isn't any. Maybe I have new speakers so I could tell the difference more.
Joined: Feb 2002
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From: Moore, Oklahoma, US
Rep Power: 317 if your deck is xm compatible, get the xm tuner and antenna, i wouldnt waste a cent on fm modulation, crap if you ask me.
there is a difference between cd and xm/sirius, but both are tons better than regular fm, atleast i think so from what i have heard.
there is a difference between cd and xm/sirius, but both are tons better than regular fm, atleast i think so from what i have heard.
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 10,658
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From: Woostah
Rep Power: 413 Sirius is NOT going out of business.... Read up on their stock if you don't believe it....
Sirius announced at the CES in January that they will be broadcasting to canada this year... I haven't heard anything about XM there yet...
To be honest, either one is great. Mystic3030 has XM and I have Sirius... we both love satelite radio in general... very clear and no commercials either way.... each service has it's plus' and minus'....
If you are on the US border, I'm sure either will work fine... Maybe go to an audio shop by you and see if they sell it...
The antennas that we both have a very small and unnoticable...
Sirius announced at the CES in January that they will be broadcasting to canada this year... I haven't heard anything about XM there yet...
To be honest, either one is great. Mystic3030 has XM and I have Sirius... we both love satelite radio in general... very clear and no commercials either way.... each service has it's plus' and minus'....
If you are on the US border, I'm sure either will work fine... Maybe go to an audio shop by you and see if they sell it...
The antennas that we both have a very small and unnoticable...
Registered!!
Joined: Feb 2004
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Rep Power: 0 When it all comes down to it, these companies are still not making money and their equipment and costs are astronomicaly high. They have a small base of subscribers compared to many other types of service like satelite TV or digital cable, but at the same time XM and Sirius have the same up front costs as Satelite/Dig. Cable. Unless they start getting better contracts with car companies and improving their content (it's all original other then a few syndicated shows through talk radio and information services) they need to take on stations like Radio One which that one channel in general I would get XM for. Take it from me, Im a finance dork and I have installed XM in 2 cars now, and in my opinion (not saying that I am right) if you have a good system in place with good quality speakers and good amps you will enjoy the preprogramed content of these services. Also after destroying two antenna's by having a wire pinched or cute, the antenna on the dash or back window works just fine. Unless you get the terk glassmount I would install it in the back window.
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 51,241
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From: NV
Rep Power: 812 I can't believe Mystic doesn't hear a difference with all his pimp audio stuff. I have a small amped system and I can tell a BIG difference in quality compared to 128kbps MP3s.
