Thoughts on XM radio?

[de8212]

Anybody here have xm radio yet? Just kinda thinking about getting it. It says there is 100 channels currently avaliable. WIll they likely be adding more?
Are there any disadvantages/catches involved?

de

 

[ThaGrandCow]

Advantage: Get radio anywhere, same station all across the US.
Disadvantage: 100 stations, most suck. Go to Best Buy and check out the station listing. You'll find maybe 5 that you like.

Advantage: Clear broadcast, no signal degradation like you get when leaving a city.
Disadvantage: Commercials are still there (what you you paying that monthly fee for then?) and come in just as clear as the music.

Final judgement: Unless you're in an area where you don't have any radio at all, wait till it hits 500-600 stations and it's worth your monthly subscription. That'll probably be about 6 months to a year

 

[yakko]

I have not tried it yet.

 

[N8Magic]

I wish it was available in Canada. It's perfect for people with long commutes. (like me)

 

[bmacd]

thought about getting it myself, but found a DVD player and monitors to be of a more solid investment.

-=bmacd=-

 

[fatbaby]

Consider it this way:

Satellite radio is like digital cable, there are some gem channels/stations, but the rest you usually won't watch/listen to, unless you are a video/audiophile, you won't be able to tell the difference in quality

 

[HappyPuppy]

If you are a coast to coast truck driver, or if you just travel long distances frequently, it makes sense. There are many places right here in Calif., like crossing the Mojave Desert, where you can't pick up any radio signals.

 

[kgraeme]

Disadvantage: Pay a subscription fee for crap.

Disadvantage: You get to be one of the first to put local radio stations out of business.

 

[iamwiz82]

<< Disadvantage: Pay a subscription fee for crap.

Disadvantage: You get to be one of the first to put local radio stations out of business. >>



there are not mayn locally owned stations. They are all owned by major corporations, like clear channel.

 

[Aves]

<< Disadvantage: You get to be one of the first to put local radio stations out of business. >>



there are not mayn locally owned stations. They are all owned by major corporations, like clear channel.[/i] >>


100% Correct. What difference does it make to me which mega-corporation gets the $.

 

[kgraeme]

<<

<< Disadvantage: Pay a subscription fee for crap.

Disadvantage: You get to be one of the first to put local radio stations out of business. >>



there are not mayn locally owned stations. They are all owned by major corporations, like clear channel. >>



I actually don't listen to the corporate stations. I only listen to the local owned ones. Living in a college town actually has some nice perks. Cute young women and good radio are among them.

 

[goob2k]

<< Living in a college town actually has some nice perks. Cute young women and good radio are among them. >>


Listen to this man. He speaks the truth!

 

[notfred]

Doesn't appeal to me. Instead of listening to local radio for free, I can pay to listen to national stations. Stations that don't advertise local concerts, don't take requests, and have no presence in the community.

Considering that I'll be able to hear the same music on either one, I'll pass.

 

[Vadatajs]

XM is completely unnecessary.

 

[BillGates]

Don't forget the huge disadvantage - that it's super expensive!! Now, give me satellite TV in my car....

 

[Mookow]

[yakko and/or Adul impression]



<< Thoughts on XM radio? >>



I have none.

[/yakko and/or Adul impression]

 

[Maggotry]

Seems like a waste to me. Nobody plays the stuff I listen to on the radio and XM radio won't either. I never listen to the radio, just my cd collection. I can only see truckers having any use for XM radio.

 

[blueghost75]

You might wait for Sirius radio, go to their website, they have a lot more talk stations, and over all, I think they have a better satilite service. I don't beleive they have actually launched yet however. They do brodcast the stations on their website right now though.

Sirius, as I understand it, does not have any commercials at all, but costs a couple more dollars per month. They also have more support from car manufacturers.

 

[alrocky]

Do you listen to that much radio to justify paying for it? And in sufficient quanitity and variety over what is normally available to you? I think one or two of those pay radio outfits was having money problems and may be bought out or go belly up. Check before you send that check.

 

[dawks]

N8Magic, I might be possible to get a friend in the US to register and pay for it for you.. I mean, its not like they can just make the signal stop.. However, you may have problems trying to get it in more northern parts of Canada.. But most of populas ontario is below the 49th..

 

[Stifko]

how much is the monthly fees?

are there as many commercials as regular radio?

 

[fatbaby]

<< how much is the monthly fees?

are there as many commercials as regular radio? >>



$9.95-12.95 and it depends

 

[StageLeft]

Seems good but personally I prefer to listen to CDs most of the time. Radio can do only so much. I cycle through 6 stations each time I'm in the car but ultimately I go to CD if one of them isn't playing something I want and even if they were often times I'm using CDs anyway. $250+ plus $10/month for a radio is a tough sell on me.