Some questions about satellite radio (XM & Sirius)

[nsafreak]

I have a few general questions that may not matter on the provider but if they do let me know. I've been thinking about getting a satellite radio system for a little bit now. I'm leaning towards XM as they have a really nice portable unit (Delphi Skyfi) and they have a good selection of channels. However I'm not too sure how good the reception will be at my workplace. Should be no problem at home but the office building I work in has a large amount of steel (or some kind of metal) and a large proportion of the roof is also made of metal. AM radio reception in this building is quite poor although FM seems to come through fairly well. I want to know what kind of reception, if any, for satellite radio I can expect? Also does Sirius have any manufacturers that make nice portable units for their service? I want to be able to take this unit between home and work and right now the Skyfi is looking best although the large amount of sports networks on Sirius has me tempted. Btw for the reception question I live in the Littleton, CO area and the office building is in the same area.

 

[aphex]

My experiences with Sirius - LINK

As for Sirius Portable Recievers? Look into either the Kenwood H2A, Audiovox PNP2, or Brix Streamer 🙂

 

[Freejack2]

I have an XM Roady. I mounted the antenna on my roof over the rear door on the right side. For the most part I don't have problems. The only seriously extended blackout I have is while going downhill eastbound on the Massachusets Turnpike there is a spot just before the bridge near Westfield. There is a big cliff there right by the highway though. I do get other times when I get brief blackouts but they are usually only a few seconds when something is blocking it's view of the southern sky.

I've heard Sirius has more satellites and more variety. Problem is they are more expensive and they didn't really have anything like the Roady at the time. I have the Roady going into the rca in (adapted from cd changer input) on my Kenwood deck and it sounds pretty good.

As for your in home or office use, make sure your antenna has a clear view of the southern sky and you should be fine. Supposedly some cities have ground transmitter stations, (Never lost my signal in Hartford) which supposedly helps. Did lose my signal a number of times in NYC though.

 

[nsafreak]

Eh, I don't have a view of the southern sky really because of the way this building is setup so it might not be such a good idea. I'd use it at home to be sure but I'd really like to use it at work.

 

[Anubis]

i have XM it works pretty much everywhere. only doesnt work when im in a tunnel or sorrounded by very large clifs. few spots in central PA where it goes out but so does FM and my cell phone. its a dead zone. .

 

[nsafreak]

Any more opinions? Thanks for the info that I have gotten so far though 🙂

 

[SportSC4]

maybe someone who has used both can clear this up but i heard that xm has commercials and sirius doesn't.

 

[Freejack2]

They both have stations with commercials. Though Sirius has more commercial free stations from what I've heard.

 

[mgourlay]

The music stations on sirius do not have any commercials. Some XM stations have commercials, but the commercials are not very often and not very long.