Sirius vs XM Satellite radio

[daka]

Maybe not a real tech question but,
I've had it with the screaming commercials!
Has anyone installed either of the above systems? Do you like it and why did you choose the one you did?
Daniel

[89911]

I've got 4 XM radios. One At work and the other 3 in my cars. Haven't listened to Radio other then Football games. Once you start listening to Satellite, you'll really see how bad broadcast radio is.

[lateapex911]

yes...i love my Sirius, and can't wait until I get it in my 911!

the benefits are numerous. I listen at work, then take the receiver out and mount it in my car for the drive home. The lack of commercials on the music streams is awesome, and there are a gaziliion stream choices. Great music too, they have knowledgable programers.

I won't bore you with all the details and equipment tricks, PM me if you want more details, but I will say I chose Sirius after listening to both online and comparing content, prices and such. XM is larger, but I think Sirius has better technology. I also liked the NYC based Sirius because I know all the DJs who have fallen out of radio and into Satelite radio!

[jpahemi]

Sirius is the best way to go.
j.p.

[JP911]

I've had XM for about 3 years now and just installed it in my 911. It's a great service and I've been very happy with it. I haven't really looked into Sirius; it wasn't out yet when I signed on with XM.

[Sonic dB]

another vote for Sirius here

[84porsche]

Just got Sirius for my other car and love it. Need to get an extra antenna so I can move it into the 911. Using an FM Modulator works fairly decent. If you buy it from Crutchfield they give you a free home kit as well.

[jtratza]

XM roadie for clean installation. I've one in two of the cars and couldn't do a long drive without them. Only problem with the FM modulator on the roadie is other FM stations walk on the reception causing you to switch a small button to another FM frequency. Best installation is to repleace the radio with a sat. equipped radio.

[DonMo]

Sirus if you like NFL, XM if you like MLB and college footbal from ACC, PAC 10 and others. Both have commercial free music. XM lets you go to their web page and listen to the channels via the internet for free (minus the sports and talk radio). Don't know about Sirus.

[vash]

i agree with mr. ratza. if you live in a FM crowded area, the sat. signal gets it's butt kicked periodically. it is horrible in the bay area.

also, with the many overpasses and tunnels here, i lose my sirius signal all the time. kinda annoying when you are listening to stand up comedy.

[Bill Verburg]

XM, In the mountain valleys w/o a southern exposure you do get an occasional dropout

[jtratza]

Bill, I hope your occasional drop out isn't caused by the same thing I was getting. Seems I set the system to shut down automatically every 90 minutes. It only happened of course on drives to South Texas so I thought I was loosing the sat signal in the vast open stretches of Texas.

I had a Sirus system for a couple of weeks and did notice it cut out while going under overpasses. That was when the system first came out.

[duke3282]

I have sirius and love it. I chose sirius because thats what all my friends had and I like the content when i rode with them. If your CD player has an AUX input you can use that and wont have to worry about the whole FM modulator thing. The sound should be better too.

[JackT]

I do not want to highjack your thread but where has everyone mounted their XM/Sirus receivers and are you using the fm modulator?

[Bill Verburg]

Bill, I hope your occasional drop out isn't caused by the same thing I was getting

No, it is always the same places regardless of time of day. It is topographically generated

[daka]

Great info, thanx.....
I don't think dropout will be a problem in FL, no hills, no canyons, no valleys, no tunnels, just plain ole flat Florida....

[Bill Verburg]

Not to mention the extra southern latitude that gives you a better angle to the satellites than us northerners have

[porcupine911]

this may or may not matter, but howard stern will be moving to sirius.

[jfpound]

I'm plannign to get Sirus, I just like the music better I think.
Where do you put the antenna?

[jtratza]

Gee Howard and Martha both on Sirus now. Imagine them combining their shows into one, "So Martha what do think of the leather straps hanging from the ceiling? Well Howard I'd change the color and put some bars on the end of the bed to remind me of jail."

Regarding antenna, I got the magnetic antenna and put it on the front fender by the windshield. I'm moving off the fender and into the car. I'll fab a small piece of thin metal that somehow I'll attach by the windshield and then stick the antenna on this.