XM Radio

Marx

I was wondering where you heard this?

Thx.

IMO its only better if its free. The last thing this world needs is more bills... I like the idea of mp3 player hookups mentioned in CE's post.

I agree...I bought it for my wife as an Christmas gift, and after thinking about it - returned a few days later. Everything is always "only 10 or 20 bucks a month", but it all adds up and the next thing you know, your paying a ton of money out a month for a lot of "inexpensive" incidentals. And of course, the always rate increases that will be forever coming on it. I just had to draw the line at paying for radio....Just IMO...

Scott

Satellite radio is nice.... except when you are: under a bridge, under heavy tree branches (summer), in a tunnel, down the opposite side of a hill from the salellite, in a garage, in a parking garage, most other places without a clear site of the satellite location.

tree branches (summer), in a tunnel, down the opposite side of a hill from the salellite, in a garage, in a parking garage, most other places without a clear site of the satellite location.

The built in time and spacial diversity functionality eliminates the problems you mention for almost all circumstances. Most major metro areas have repeaters that eliminate any further problems.

The state I live in has no area where reception is not AT LEAST AS GOOD as terrestrial radio. In addition, I've travelled two of the surrounding states without the slightest problem in any area. Dropouts occur in no more than a half dozen places, and never for more than a second or two. There is not one repeater in the state I live in. In short, this really isn't a problem.

Sounds like you either (a) haven't tried it, or (b) live in a area where there are no repeaters and major obstructions.

Well, I live in a rural part of town and drive through a thin road lined by very tall trees and power lines with no loss of signal or quality. I have to add that most ppl who have XM will tell you that where the signal can be blocked there will be a very brief loss of signal.

My personal decision to get XM was because:

1. changing my radio or adding on a 6 CD changer would potentially cost -300 or more after professonal installation. That would cover the cost for an XM unit and 1-2 yrs of XM service.

1. legal MP3s you pay for anyways, as well as legal new CDs (up to . each) and it ends up being more expensive, considering MP3 subsciption services and/or medium (CDs or a very good MP3 player).

2. I already budgeted myself for 0. and based on the above, XM was the smartest choice for me and the most easy and inexpensive way to enhance my current car stereo.

1. So. FL. is flat...perfect for XM signals.

2. I can listen to over 100 channels of music w/o going bananas or wrecking my car pushing buttons to escape commercials and mindless drivel. Oh, and today I listened to a whole album I havent heard in 20 yrs. on my way to work and faced the day with a smile. That alone makes it worth it.

just my 2 cents....... marx404

Have you ever tried XM? In addition to direct satellite broadcast, XM has terrestrial repeaters in major markets. I rarely lose the XM signal. In fact, compared to fading FM stations and static prone AM stations, XM reception is perfect. Sirius is a little more prone to dropping out in my area (no local repeaters?), but is still better than all the local AM stations, and all but a couple of local FM stations. And once you leave town, there is no comparison. I can stay on one satellite station forever with almost no signal loss for 100's, even 1000,s of miles. Try that with any local station.

Ed

signal loss for 100's, even 1000,s of miles. Try that with any local station.

This is a major advantage to XM IMO. I have about 15 or so channels I listen to on XM, and they're always on, familiar DJs, and you know what to expect and when. Whether I'm near home or 1000 miles away, I get what I'm used to.

That's worth 13 bucks a month to me, even without the benefits of the better music and other content.

I used to spend at least $100/200 a month on CDs and my collection numbers in the thousands. But I have bought fewer than 5 CDs in the last 3 years because my CD collection is totally obsolete with XM available.

It is one of those things you just have to try before you can understand it....

I'm happier listening to the wind with my money in my pocket. It only took me 5 brand new CD's in my life (50-80 dollars total) to realize I was throwing my money away on something I can live well enough without. The most I will spend on a music CD now is a dollar, if that, at a garage sale. 10 cent plastic isnt worth more than that and the sooner people realize this the better.

took me 5 brand new CD's in my life (50-80 dollars total) to realize I was throwing my money away on something I can live well enough without. The most I will spend on a music CD now is a dollar, if that, at a garage sale. 10 cent plastic isnt worth more than that and the sooner people realize this the better.

Everyone has to have their own priorities in life.

I have just discovered a problem with my XM radio: My morning drive to work isn't long enough now. :-)

marx404

to work isn't long enough now. :-)

I'd wager you haven't noticed it yet but your blood pressure is lower when you get there, too....

MP3's are easier to carry with you than XM radios. :-P