satellite radio

[highteknology]

anyone have it? which one do you have? pros and cons??

we're thinkin about gettin it for my mom for her birthday. i'm just wondeing if it is really worth it. my dad wants to go with Sirius because they have the NFL games, which i wouldn't mind either. plus it has Howard Stern and the Playboy talk channel. just tryin to get some opinions from any users out there. thanks

[speediva]

It depends on what music you are into... I like the alternative rock/Top 40/That kind of stuff, and I have XM and can listen to any of 6 channels (narrowed down from the dozen they offer) if I want that kind of thing. Now, when I want to listen to modern rock, the channels are pretty lousy on XM. I find that Sirius has better rock stations.

Anyhoo, I've had XM since Christmas, and get pretty good signal in most places, but if there are a LOT of overhanging trees and that sort of thing is when it starts to fizzle a little. My antenna is on top of my dash, though, so that is probably part of it.

Edit by Tangie: I forgot to mention that Pittsburgh has the WORST radio I've EVER heard. There aren't ANY consistently good stations, so I would spend minutes searching for ANYTHING that didn't suck. My particular XM unit lets me search the categories I like and see what is playing before I select it. I can also set up notifications for songs I really like, so if it comes on a channel I'm not listening to I can switch over when the song comes on. Pretty cool, IMHO.

[00accord44]

I still listen to the free stuff. Hell, i don't even pay for cable tv, I'm not ready to pay for radio just yet. (How long til crackheads learn how to hook up free XM?)

I think the decision between which two depends on the specific channels available. I like Howard Stern (wish they hadn't replaced him with this shitty new morning guy in Chicago) so I'd lean toward Sirius. NFL games are nice, but I'm never away from a tv on Sunday mornings. But XM has my boy Tony Kornheiser's show. So I'd have to find some other deciding factor personally.

Do you have a good idea of who specifically your mom would wanna listen to? Doesn't Oprah even have a channel on Xm or something? or maybe she just owns the satellite they use and the Earth it orbits around.

[highteknology]

that's the thing. personally i don't really think my mom would use it. first she would have to figure out HOW to use. she is not very tech savvy. and my dad, for some strange reason, thinks that she would really like it. we don't pay for cable either, despite the fact that i try and convince my dad to get it. i think that he really just wants it for him and is using it as an excuse to get it. the NFL channel would be cool but like 00Accord said, i rarely leave the tV on sundays. some of our friends have XM and some have Sirius. I think i like the programming better on sirius. too bad my deck is XM capable.

the only reason my dad thinks my mom would like it is because some of the radio stations that she likes here locally have gone off the air. so he thinks she will be able to find something she likes on satellite. in all reality i don't understand why she doesn't just listen to CD's.

[00accord44]

Originally Posted by highteknology

that's the thing. personally i don't really think my mom would use it. first she would have to figure out HOW to use. she is not very tech savvy. and my dad, for some strange reason, thinks that she would really like it. i think that he really just wants it for him and is using it as an excuse to get it.

Sounds like somethin my pops would've pulled in his day. We tried to get my mom Tivo, she was like "What the hell is this thing?" I sent it back and got her some West Wing dvds instead

[sv650s]

don't have satelite radio but i chose sirius mostly cos of that mobster "i just died in your arms tonight" commercial

[beef_bourito]

i just listen to whatever's on the radio, i've got a few stations i flip through when commercials come on. i might get it when i get my own car but right now i don't drive enough to make it worth it.

[Damien]

why can't i select an option "gay as hell"???

seriously. First of all, has no one heard of CDs? Second, what's so bad about a few commercials. Around here at least, commercials are being cut down to 3mins or less. 3rd...everyone now of days has a freakin' ipod or some sort of mp3 player. The cost to buy one and the fm tuner for it or some adpater to play in your car is a hell of a lot cheaper than any satellite radio. I just dont get it and there variety is way too off the wall!

rock can be anything! stupid punk like...well, whatver they're called to pantera. Of course there is heavy rock and metal and what not but still. id still have to change stations too often.

We have it on cable. My parents listen to it too much.

[pre98zetec]

i have XM and love it

[TexasF355F1]

Pay for radio? Screw that. The only stuff I listen to on the radio is the Rod Ryan Show on the way into work, and flip around the AM dial on the way home. Other than that I listen to my own music, that way I don't get burned out.

[blindside.AMG]

Originally Posted by Damien

why can't i select an option "gay as hell"???

seriously. First of all, has no one heard of CDs? Second, what's so bad about a few commercials. Around here at least, commercials are being cut down to 3mins or less. 3rd...everyone now of days has a freakin' ipod or some sort of mp3 player. The cost to buy one and the fm tuner for it or some adpater to play in your car is a hell of a lot cheaper than any satellite radio. I just dont get it and there variety is way too off the wall!

rock can be anything! stupid punk like...well, whatver they're called to pantera. Of course there is heavy rock and metal and what not but still. id still have to change stations too often.

We have it on cable. My parents listen to it too much.

No, not gay as hell. One of the best additions I ever made to my truck (and soon to the Benz). Regular radio plays nothing but shit music, period. Nothing but pop-rock, pop-hip hop, pop-country, & safe talk radio. Satellite offers you uncensored music and *gasp* a VARIETY of different bands that would never hear of otherwise.

SIRIUS is the way to go. XM is falling into the shitter so let's just let it do that. I have experience with both companies and Sirius is by far better...and they just keep getting better. Consumer reports also rates them high if you don't want to take my word for. Plus I own a shitload of stock in Sirius, so go buy it.


EDIT: For the record, music is a huge part of my life and I pride myself on finding new and upcoming bands. I have a huge CD collection and most of my friends live for music and do nothing (literally) but find new bands. That being said I STILL find new bands and music to listen to on satellite radio. If $12 a month sounds like a lot of money then I pity you.

['97ventureowner]

I picked "free radio" although I listen less often as I used to, especially since I just bought a new mp3 player ( hey, my leap into the 21st century) I also bought a cassette adapter to hook up my mp3 player to my stock car stereo to listen to continuous music much like satelite radio,( best $14 I spent in awhile.) I do get xm satelite radio stations on my Directv system, which is like 30 or so stations of mixed genres.

[Damien]

i have 20gb of music and constantly growing as i find new things. Satellite is stupid.

[blindside.AMG]

Originally Posted by Damien

i have 20gb of music and constantly growing as i find new things. Satellite is stupid.

Cheap ass.

[Nicole8188]

I bought my dad Sirius for Christmas, he loves it. And it works everywhere.

I don't listen to any radio, I have 80 million (yes, million!) CDs.