Sirius XM

[CKN]

Originally Posted By: Delta
Originally Posted By: Nick1994
I found the signal quality to be hilarious.

I could drive through the tunnel in town and not lose signal, but it skips out when I drive under small 2 lane freeway overpasses at 75 mph

Funny you mention that, I live in a mountainous region and during the spring and summer when the leaves are on the trees the signal is always cutting out on the mountain. Ironically enough works great in the PA Turnpike tunnels...


XM used to have repeaters in various locations in many major U.S. cities. I guess they were not permitted by the FCC-and they had to take most of them down. So yes-you can experience "dead spots".

I will tell you it works fine in the middle of no where Wyoming-when I had no AM/FM nor cell phone service for at least 100 miles. Yes-there are still places like that.

 

[Johnny2Bad]

The company can best be described as consumer-hostile. As long as you don't have to deal with them for any reason, the channels are great.

If you are in the mid point of North America, the sats are right over your head, mostly. Basically up through Minnesota and down through Montana. They turn around at the 60th parallel north and in the Caribbean south, and there are sats going in either the north or south direction at all times so one is always above you somewhere.

 

[sparky123]

Personally, I wouldn't have anything to do w/this company. Just "google" XM-Sirius customer complaints. Their way of doing business is just disgraceful. Proceed w/caution especially if they have a cc on file.

 

[JustinH]

Funny, I would subscribe if they offered online no question cancellation similar to my sling TV.

I don't need another service provider that I need to call and argue with every six months. Don't like it that much.

 

[CKN]

Originally Posted By: sparky123
Personally, I wouldn't have anything to do w/this company. Just "google" XM-Sirius customer complaints. Their way of doing business is just disgraceful. Proceed w/caution especially if they have a cc on file.


Google "Comcast" and XM's complaints pale in comparison. And Comcast is the largest cable company.

Also-you should look at the performance of XM's stock over the last 5 years. Very investor "friendly".

 

[CincyDavid]

I seem to recall reading that their signal isn't stereo, it's 2 channel mono or something along those lines. If that's even true, I don't know, and if it is true, what does it mean functionally?

I have a free trial in my new VW, there are only 3 channels I even like, and I seem to be hearing the same songs on those channels, so their play list must not be enormous. I've taken to plugging in my iphone and playing youtube mixes, that way I can get my Ferlin Husky and Faron Young fix.

 

[supton]

I'd think 2 channel mono is stereo but by another name. Stereo is 2 channels, "FM stereo" is just a fancy modulation method to support both mono and stereo setups off a single "channel". Stereo is two channels, left and right.

 

[CKN]

Originally Posted By: CincyDavid
I seem to recall reading that their signal isn't stereo, it's 2 channel mono or something along those lines. If that's even true, I don't know, and if it is true, what does it mean functionally?

I have a free trial in my new VW, there are only 3 channels I even like, and I seem to be hearing the same songs on those channels, so their play list must not be enormous. I've taken to plugging in my iphone and playing youtube mixes, that way I can get my Ferlin Husky and Faron Young fix.


How ever they arrive at it technically speaking-it is "stereo".

 

[CincyDavid]

What ever became of the "quadraphonic" setups in the 70s? That was a 4 channel system of some sort. A friend's father had elaborate stereo equipment in his home, including reel-to-reel tape player and speakers built into walls in the living room and finished basement. I think some automakers had quad stereos too...

 

[charbaby]

: What ever became of the "quadraphonic" setups in the 70s? That was a 4 channel system of some sort.

I believe today, we call it "Digital Surround Sound".

 

[Garak]

Originally Posted By: CincyDavid
What ever became of the "quadraphonic" setups in the 70s?

 

[sprite1741]

I have had SiriusXM since 2005. Had 3 mos when I bought the car and didn't extend it. I only hear it now when they have the free promo's every few months. The music channels play a few songs I like but a lot I don't so I end channel surfing. Some of the channels have a DJ type personality that really annoy me. The news channels have commercials which annoy me as well. Patriot radio has Glenn Beck, that right there is enough to keep me from subscribing. If I want music I can play hours of my songs on mp3. Why pay for someone else's music choice when I can have mine for free. If I want commercials I can use AM/FM for free. Even traveling I wouldn't use it. More fun to tune in the locals where I am at.

 

[Virtus_Probi]

The thing that really makes Sirius XM worthwhile for me is that it gets me to listen to music that normally wouldn't be on my radar screen.
One of my saved channels is Bluegrass and I went out and bought a Kruger Brothers CD after being blown away by "Watching The Clouds Go By" on a long drive, I certainly never would have heard of those boys without Sirius XM. It's an easy way to broaden my musical horizons.

Yes, I did say buy a CD...I lost dozens of "digital" albums after my first iPod died and I couldn't remember how to get into my iTunes account, which I very stupidly set up on a work email that is long defunct. I still like CDs.

 

[dparm]

Originally Posted By: Nick1994
Originally Posted By: JustinH
Sound quality is bad and fades out near interstate i35.


I found the signal quality to be hilarious.

I could drive through the tunnel in town and not lose signal, but it skips out when I drive under small 2 lane freeway overpasses at 75 mph

They heavily compress their audio, and you can actually hear it due to the lousy algorithm. It's barely better than FM radio, and I would say that HD radio is actually superior.

I just let the trial lapse and subscribed to Pandora Plus for $5/mo.