XM Sattelite
September-6th-2002, 12:15 PM
#1
D'oh!
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: VA
Posts: 302
XM Sattelite
Anyone has a XM receiver in their car? I'd love to get one but I want to keep my cd player (I don't have a CD changer). So for you XM owners, how do you like it so far? How's the service and reception? Thanks guys!
September-6th-2002, 12:37 PM
#2
OWNZ A P5
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Ca
Posts: 477
You can install an XM receiver onto your stock head unit. It would be FM modulated, so the sound quality would be as good as your FM radio. Reception depends on what part of the country you live in. If you're in an area with tall buildings, the reception will drop, as satellite reception is line-of-sight.
September-6th-2002, 12:43 PM
#3
Mark the Spark
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: NJ
Posts: 590
i heard in a few years FM and AM radio will be all digital..so why pay whatever it is a month when you can just download the music u want now from kazaa and then reap the benefits of digital radio in the future. Screw XM!
MarkSpark
MarkSpark
September-6th-2002, 02:17 PM
#5
Too Many Cars
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Danbury, CT
Posts: 356
You haters! 
XM is awesome for really long drives and around town cruising with the latest and even not music.
I don't have a broadband connection so the $10 a month for XM isn't bad to have a constant variety of new music..
I sure get tired of not having commercials though
XM is here to stay!
XM is awesome for really long drives and around town cruising with the latest and even not music.
I don't have a broadband connection so the $10 a month for XM isn't bad to have a constant variety of new music..
I sure get tired of not having commercials though
XM is here to stay!
September-6th-2002, 03:11 PM
#6
Protege Enthusiast
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Northern VA
Posts: 80
XM Absolutely ROCKS!
I have XM installed in my car, along with a Pioneer Head Unit (so no icky FM modulation for me). The sound quality is absolutely stunning (indescernible from CD to anyone but audiophiles with a multi-thousand dollar investment in their car audio!), and the range and quality of programming is excellent.
I have made two road trips - through PA/WV/OH and to upstate NY since I installed it - and the choice and quality of music, as well as the consistency (not having to find radio channels) have been awesome advantages! The talk channels are excellent as well, and help a lot especially during boring night driving!
Its easily worth the 9.99 per month - buy one less CD every month, and get 101 channels 24/7 for the same cost - no-brainer! Lots of rebates are available on head units, radio/tuners as well as free installation (this is the last week for XM, Sirius one more month free inst.) They even have recommendation rebates, so if anyone wants me to recommend them - PM me - you and I both get discounts/rebates (IIRC)!
If you use Pioneer with IP-Bus, the installation is really simple. The trunk mounted antenna is quite easy to set up as well.
Heck, they even have a Playboy talk channel now - for 2.99 extra per month. More premium programming (pay per listen fights, races, football games etc?) will follow.
If its ok to mention other discussion groups here - try
clubxm.com
xmfan.com
I totally recommend XM (or Sirius). Audiophiles will prefer XM - better quality.
As to the poppycock (sorry - nothing personal) about bad reception in cities - XM has like 7000 (?) ground based repeaters all over the US, and I lose signal on an average for around a couple of seconds every WEEK, ONLY when I pass under toll bridges, some freeway overpasses in the suburbs etc. I have had flawless reception INSIDE downtown DC, NY, Pittsburgh etc! And even inside most above-ground parking garages in urban areas - implying an excellent concentration of repeaters! Sirius has major issues with lack of line of sight, but not XM!
If you're considering it - go for it!
-ashu
I have made two road trips - through PA/WV/OH and to upstate NY since I installed it - and the choice and quality of music, as well as the consistency (not having to find radio channels) have been awesome advantages! The talk channels are excellent as well, and help a lot especially during boring night driving!
Its easily worth the 9.99 per month - buy one less CD every month, and get 101 channels 24/7 for the same cost - no-brainer! Lots of rebates are available on head units, radio/tuners as well as free installation (this is the last week for XM, Sirius one more month free inst.) They even have recommendation rebates, so if anyone wants me to recommend them - PM me - you and I both get discounts/rebates (IIRC)!
If you use Pioneer with IP-Bus, the installation is really simple. The trunk mounted antenna is quite easy to set up as well.
Heck, they even have a Playboy talk channel now - for 2.99 extra per month. More premium programming (pay per listen fights, races, football games etc?) will follow.
If its ok to mention other discussion groups here - try
clubxm.com
xmfan.com
I totally recommend XM (or Sirius). Audiophiles will prefer XM - better quality.
As to the poppycock (sorry - nothing personal) about bad reception in cities - XM has like 7000 (?) ground based repeaters all over the US, and I lose signal on an average for around a couple of seconds every WEEK, ONLY when I pass under toll bridges, some freeway overpasses in the suburbs etc. I have had flawless reception INSIDE downtown DC, NY, Pittsburgh etc! And even inside most above-ground parking garages in urban areas - implying an excellent concentration of repeaters! Sirius has major issues with lack of line of sight, but not XM!
If you're considering it - go for it!
-ashu
September-6th-2002, 03:49 PM
#7
Protege Enthusiast
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Northern VA
Posts: 80
Oh yeah - MAPP IV
So it finally seems like I'll be able to make it to MAPP IV (will sign up next week, when I'll be sure) as well, so flip703 - you're welcome to check out XM radio in my car and decide if you like it!
-ashu
-ashu
September-6th-2002, 11:05 PM
#8
Protege Enthusiast
Join Date: Oct 2001
Posts: 484
Not trying to bash XM, but face the fact. Read this:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp...¬Found=true
Good luck! 
http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp...¬Found=true
It's expected to be at least three years before XM makes a profit. The company said it has enough cash on hand to fund its operations into the first quarter of 2003.
September-7th-2002, 10:21 AM
#9
Protege Enthusiast
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Northern VA
Posts: 80
Business 101
I don't know how familiar with basic business models you are, but how many companies out there, according to you, actually have enough money to operate indefinitely without cash infusion in the form of investments or additional sales (or in the case of XM, subscriptions)?
And if current trends are anything - XM is up to almost 150,000 subscribers, with over 60K of them having signed up in the 2nd quarter of 2002 alone! I think the adoption rate is quicker than that for SirectTV or DIsh Network, when those two began operations - and they're still around doing well enough for themselves!
And it can only get better - most car manufacturers have made XM or Sirius an available option across their model lines! In fact, I believe you get free XM as a promotion with ANY Pontiac (or was it Chevy) that you buy now! Mazda offers Sirius only. Some companies (Audi) offer the choice of both, fully integrated into the OEM sound system! In fact, if anyone is at risk, its the manufacturers of aftermarket car audio - what with amplifiers, multi-speaker systems, DVD navigation and DVD movie players and excellent head units with indash CD changers becoming increasingly common across the board!
Of course, I would certainly like XM to do real well and stay active, but I do realize that there is always some risk in being an early adopter of great technology!
And if current trends are anything - XM is up to almost 150,000 subscribers, with over 60K of them having signed up in the 2nd quarter of 2002 alone! I think the adoption rate is quicker than that for SirectTV or DIsh Network, when those two began operations - and they're still around doing well enough for themselves!
And it can only get better - most car manufacturers have made XM or Sirius an available option across their model lines! In fact, I believe you get free XM as a promotion with ANY Pontiac (or was it Chevy) that you buy now! Mazda offers Sirius only. Some companies (Audi) offer the choice of both, fully integrated into the OEM sound system! In fact, if anyone is at risk, its the manufacturers of aftermarket car audio - what with amplifiers, multi-speaker systems, DVD navigation and DVD movie players and excellent head units with indash CD changers becoming increasingly common across the board!
Of course, I would certainly like XM to do real well and stay active, but I do realize that there is always some risk in being an early adopter of great technology!
September-8th-2002, 01:04 AM
#11
Protege Enthusiast
Join Date: Oct 2001
Posts: 484
I dunno. Just the fact there are so many companies filing chapter 11, it's hard to convince me that a company is not profitable at the moment to survive this economic slowdown.
Ok. So they have funds to last till 1st quarter of 2003 (and this probably means that they're not making any profit every month right now. If this isn't the case, they won't be digging into their reserve fund). But what are they going to do between 1st quarter of 2003 and 2005?
And at $9.99 a month per subscriber, I don't know how many subscribers it needs to sustain a satellite channel, to maintain and install more repeaters, to hire customer service people and to pay the CEO's salary
. On the other hand, Direct TV charges $30-$40 per month, so i think it's in much better shape than XM. And did I mention that satellite TV has 18.3 million subscribers?
http://www.sbca.com/press/Feb28-02.htm
One last thing is that most Satellite TV networks give you the hardware free if you subscribe. If they can lower the price on the XM receiver, they might have a chance.
Ok. So they have funds to last till 1st quarter of 2003 (and this probably means that they're not making any profit every month right now. If this isn't the case, they won't be digging into their reserve fund). But what are they going to do between 1st quarter of 2003 and 2005?
And at $9.99 a month per subscriber, I don't know how many subscribers it needs to sustain a satellite channel, to maintain and install more repeaters, to hire customer service people and to pay the CEO's salary
. On the other hand, Direct TV charges $30-$40 per month, so i think it's in much better shape than XM. And did I mention that satellite TV has 18.3 million subscribers?http://www.sbca.com/press/Feb28-02.htm
One last thing is that most Satellite TV networks give you the hardware free if you subscribe. If they can lower the price on the XM receiver, they might have a chance.
Last edited by douggie; September-8th-2002 at 01:35 AM.
September-8th-2002, 01:54 AM
#12
**Punani Lover**
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: Hawaii (duh!)
Posts: 1,861
i want satellite tv thingy for my ride. that way i can watch bball when i'm waiting my turn at the courts!
i thought about xm or the other one (sirrius?), but i live on a damn island with mountains and crap and my cell phone is not the most reliable, so i decided to get dvd instead.
i thought about xm or the other one (sirrius?), but i live on a damn island with mountains and crap and my cell phone is not the most reliable, so i decided to get dvd instead.
September-8th-2002, 01:56 AM
#13
Protege Enthusiast
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: North, CA
Posts: 93
got my xm radio today late so i will install and subscribe tommorow i got the sony DRN-XM01C its a sweet little add on unit wich can be used threw you aux input on you reciever and it can also be used in your home as i am going to try it while i wait for my pioneer ip bus adapter to arrive so i can hook it up via rca's but on my home stereo the preview channel sounded crystal clear and the antenna was on the bed in my room i imagine it should be just as clear if not better in my car cant wait hehe.
September-9th-2002, 10:09 AM
#15
Protege Enthusiast
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Northern VA
Posts: 80
Positive(ish) XM article in the Post today
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...-2002Sep8.html
Quote "People who have tried satellite radio say they like it. With 100 channels to chose from, there is music to fit every taste and mood, and the sound quality is far better than conventional radio."
What's not to like about that?
While everyone else watches and waits for one (or both) Satellite Radio players to go bankrupt, the rest of us are enjoying great music and other entertainment in our cars for the relative bargain cost of $10 per month
Quote "People who have tried satellite radio say they like it. With 100 channels to chose from, there is music to fit every taste and mood, and the sound quality is far better than conventional radio."
What's not to like about that?
While everyone else watches and waits for one (or both) Satellite Radio players to go bankrupt, the rest of us are enjoying great music and other entertainment in our cars for the relative bargain cost of $10 per month