Which to get? XM Radio or Sirius?

Aceshigh

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Aug 22, 2002
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Well, after many long boring drives, I have decided to spring for one of the satellite radio services. I have heard good and bad things about both of them. Does anyone have any opinions on which they think are better? I have heard Sirius could be on shaky financial ground and may not be around long. Is the programming better on one or the other? Any other opinions? Thanks.
 

LordThing

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Jun 8, 2001
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Can't give you total personal information, but from a few people I know, they like XM.

I thought about XM, since my new Pioneer deck is built for it, but I just can't get passed paying per month for it. Maybe my next car I might get it, but for right now I will stick to MP3 disks I burn. 11+hours of music per CD keeps me busy enough :)
 

tweakmm

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May 28, 2001
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I'm currius on the activation for each of these. Do they have cards like satelite TV?
 

Stifko

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Dec 8, 1999
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there is an article in the the NYTimes today about Sat radio, XM is way ahead in popularity.
 

BDawg

Lifer
Oct 31, 2000
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I don't know if the same problems are present, but a year ago Sound and Vision did a comparison and said that the Sirius audio sounded too compressed and tinny. They enjoyed the XM though.
 

LordThing

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Jun 8, 2001
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Originally posted by: tweakmm
I'm currius on the activation for each of these. Do they have cards like satelite TV?

Well, I asked that at best buy when I bought my deck (DEH-4500mp). It has on the outside of the box "XM ready". All that means is it can control XM tuners, but you will still need the tuner box and antenna. I have to assume that they use that "tuner" box S/N to track you. Sort of like a cell phone.

It took a friend of mine 7 hours to activate his account. Well, not the full 7 hours, but he had to wait 7 hours from signing up with the company before his receiver went live.

 

sohcrates

Diamond Member
Sep 19, 2000
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i've had xm for about 6 months, i love it. never listen to cd's in my car anymore.

just installed my buddies new car stereo system this weekend with an xm ready head unit.....he loves it too

i would steer away from sirius....not sure how long they'll be around....
 

Atvar

Senior member
Jan 8, 2002
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I would give another vote for xm. I have had it for over a year and love it.

Atvar
 

ElFenix

Elite Member
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Mar 20, 2000
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sirius actually has more cash and a lower burn rate than XM, so if one fails, XM is the one.
 

Aceshigh

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Aug 22, 2002
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I have pretty much decided on the XM service using the Pioneer universal receiver. I went to BB and looked at all the gear. My question, where is the best place to go for the install, should I let BB do it? Also, I am selling my car in about 8 months, is the install going to involve having a bunch of holes drilled that could look bad after I remove the equipment and sell the car? What about the rooftop antenna? Advice appreciated. Thanks.
 

AvesPKS

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Apr 21, 2000
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The only thing I can think of to differentiate the two is that XM seems more readily available as proprietary equipment; Pioneer, Sony, and Alpine all use XM, whereas only Kenwood (as far as I know) uses Sirius (of course, this does not address just getting a standalone tuner to use with your factory system). I am stuck with Sirius by default, as I decided a long time ago to use Kenwood. If and when I get a satellite radio tuner, it will be Sirius.
 

Aceshigh

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Aug 22, 2002
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bump

Ive decided to go with the XM pioneer setup.

Does anyone know what kind of drilling and holes are involved in the installation of the antenna? And where would be the best place to go for installation? Best Buy, Circuit City or someplace else?

Thanks.
 

sohcrates

Diamond Member
Sep 19, 2000
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best buy and CC are similar for installs. both will probably require antenna to be mounted on roof or trunk. no wires to drill though....they just stick it on and run wires into rear of car.

they can usually mount the controller wherever you want them to do it
 

Anubis

No Lifer
Aug 31, 2001
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tbqhwy.com
Originally posted by: Aceshigh
bump

Ive decided to go with the XM pioneer setup.

Does anyone know what kind of drilling and holes are involved in the installation of the antenna? And where would be the best place to go for installation? Best Buy, Circuit City or someplace else?

Thanks.

no drilling required.
the antenna attached to you window like your rearview mirror with an adhesive. there is a radio signal from the antenna to the satellite decoder. Which runs by wire to your head unit


and I suggest getting a Head Unit that plays MP3s also. definitly worth it
 

pinoy

Golden Member
Nov 19, 2000
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another vote for XM radio! My whole family loves it. My wife loves ch.23, 22, 20. My kids love radio disney. I love comedy channels.:beer::D
 

NikPreviousAcct

No Lifer
Aug 15, 2000
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Originally posted by: ElFenix
sirius actually has more cash and a lower burn rate than XM, so if one fails, XM is the one.

Serious has more cash than General Motors, the company that basically owns it and is pouring money into it like crazy?! The company that rated SECOND PLACE in the Fortune 500 list in Forbes last year, second only to Walmart?

rolleye.gif


XM ain't goin anywhere, folks. As soon as XM gets around 1.4 million customers, it will turn a profit. That won't be more than a few years away.
 

TubStain

Senior member
Apr 19, 2001
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Sirius is THE way to go:

1) 100% commercial FREE, unlike XM
2) Will be pre-installed in all the top of the line cars (BMW, Mercedes, Audi, Aston Martin, Chrysler, Jaguar, Ford, Land Rover etc...) come 2004.
3) Has the capability to do video with MPEG4 compression. XM does not. We are talking sport clips etc
4) They have tons of money and their credit rating just got upgraded by S&P
5) They have a $400 lifetime subscription, so that if you ever decide to keep it permanently, pay a flat fee and that it.

There is just too much potential in Sirius to write it off the board... I see it overtaking XM in a few years easily. Especially with preinstalled options in cars.
 

glen

Lifer
Apr 28, 2000
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Sirius has NPR and PRI.
That is a deal breaker for me and lots of other folks if XM does not have them.
 

NikPreviousAcct

No Lifer
Aug 15, 2000
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XM Radio. $9.99/month. More than 100 channels, most of them virtually commercial free. 30 of them 100% commercial free.

And the best part? Playboy. ;)
 

TubStain

Senior member
Apr 19, 2001
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Originally posted by: FFMCobalt
XM Radio. $9.99/month. More than 100 channels, most of them virtually commercial free. 30 of them 100% commercial free.

And the best part? Playboy. ;)

9.95 for the rest of your life vs 2.5 years flat ($400) with sirius and no more payments

Playboy is a "premium" channel i.e. like cable you have to pay more to get it.



 

dolph

Diamond Member
Jan 18, 2001
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personally, i'd wait until free digital radio arives. it's supposed to come out this year, and have tivo like funcitons (ugh... i hate saying "tivo-like," but it just sounds so much better than replay. damnit!). and it's free :)