XM radio is worth it

[ToyotaNSaturn]

To say I'm pleased is an understatement. Radio that easily retrofits into the existing car stereo, with no commercials on the music stations, that includes Fox news, comedy, religious teaching programming, all MLB games and is in crystal-clear stereo... Well worth the $13 per month.

And the music stations are available from the web to listen at any computer.

The only thing local radio is good for is the traffic report, country music (this is Nashville after all!) and the occasional religious teacher-type broadcast.

The other day, I heard YYZ from Rush, and a Dream Theater song back to back. I haven't heard YYZ in rotation since 1981 back when WLUP in Chicago was actually a non-apologetic rock station. Later on, a Neal Morse tune (with Mike Portnoy on drums!) and another Rush track from their Counterparts release.

The Beyond Jazz channel is great for musicians to absorb the excellent performers. Vital Information was on and it was obvious Steve Smith was on the drums churning out another great performance. Tuning into the 50's channel had Sandy Nelson behind the kit...great to listen to different things and it NOT repeat like the rigidly structured FM stations of the last 20 years.

Where else would these quality bands show up at? Definitely NOT local stations, sadly.

The comedy channel is hit or miss. It's all personal preference I guess. Mitch Hedberg and Mitch Fatel are great to listen to!

Still haven't heard any Violent Femmes or anything from Jeff Berlin's Champion release, but then again, I've only had the service for a couple weeks.

 

[97f150]

I am very satisfied so far as well. Been having my receiver for a couple months and after my wife got to listening to it in my truck and online she wanted one too, especially after she found out about the channels dedicated to Christmas music starting on Thanksgiving. What kind of receiver do you have?

 

[Al]

My son has it and when I had the use of his car for a week, I enjoyed it. I'm just not about to spend another 13 bucks on top of Cable, internet, cell phone, house phone, garbage, sewer, electricity, yada, yada, yada.

But if you spend lots of time in the car or otherwise listen to radio a lot..I agree..well worth it.

It is really getting to the point that some stations have 50/50 mix of entertainment/commercials.

 

[ToyotaNSaturn]

I have a Roady2. The first one puked on my first road trip last weekend. I had to "suffer" with analog radio signals for the first 7 hours. Found a WalMart, exchanged the radio for a new one and after a call to XM, had digital radio the rest of the trip.

The Skyfi-2 model has a $50 rebate over at techbargains.com. Some places have this model for $68, making it only an $18 radio!

 

[97f150]

Both my wife and I have a Roady 2 in each one of our cars as well as the home kit for it. No problems with either one as of yet, but when one goes I will probably spring for the Audiovox XR9. Will keep on 1 Roady though so we can get some use out of the home kit. Al, I spend a bunch of time in my truck, including sleeping in it once in a while, depending where my job takes me and IMO it is $13 dollars well spent just to keep me sane.

 

[The Critic]

quote:

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Originally posted by ToyotaNSaturn:
I have a Roady2. The first one puked on my first road trip last weekend. I had to "suffer" with analog radio signals for the first 7 hours. Found a WalMart, exchanged the radio for a new one and after a call to XM, had digital radio the rest of the trip.

The Skyfi-2 model has a $50 rebate over at techbargains.com. Some places have this model for $68, making it only an $18 radio!

---

You put it in your SL2 right?

BTW, on a Saturn, a good radio is mandatory so that you won't have to listen to the noisy engine!

Al, is your son's TSX a 04 or 05? I thought only the 05s come with a factory XM tuner???

I thought you had to add it yourself in the 04s?

Mike

 

[ToyotaNSaturn]

quote:

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Originally posted by Michael Wan:
You put it in your SL2 right?

BTW, on a Saturn, a good radio is mandatory so that you won't have to listen to the noisy engine!

---

AMEN Brother!!!

[ October 23, 2005, 04:39 PM: Message edited by: ToyotaNSaturn ]

 

[Pablo]

Sounds good.

But when you are on a budget:

a) another $13 is another $13. Just have to draw the line somewhere.

b) "free" radio is great - I get all the news and yak I need. I surely hope it's not on it's way out!

Just curious though - are there lots more investment, real estate and home improvement chat than free radio?

 

[JHZR2]

I have sirius... Ive been real happy with it.

If I didnt drive so much, I dont know if Id go with it, because its a pain switching between three different cars... but with the time I spend in the car, it is a good thing, and worth the $10/mo.

JMH

 

[Scott P]

I bought the wife Sirius last year for her birthday. I got a deal where the unit and car mounting kit were free. I just had to pay the subscription for one year.

She loves it. No commercials, wide selection and she can see what song is playing. I like it for the NFL games when we are traveling on a Sunday.

I don't think I'd be able to pull that unit away from her anytime soon.

 

[kenw]

Been contemplating a needed change in the music source, XM/Sirius were contenders however the $13/mo ad nauseum was a bit over the top. The concept is fine, and the hardware cost is certainly doable, but it's just another monthly drain that quite honestly I don't need.

So I've decided to go IPod and mix my own. I have a few 100 CDs of my own and access to 100s more so I should have enough. And it's MY choice. Fry's has the HP IPod (20GB) for $169 and there's no $13/month fee.

If I want inane yapping (left or right), the airwaves are choked with that for free already. Paying someone to have them tell me THEIR opinion has got to be ultimate marketing coup!

And it's good world-wide, and at 33k feet.

 

[joatmon]

I've had XM for 2 years and think it's great. I listen to Blues most of the time, and unless you're in Mississippi or Arkansas, not much in the way of Blues on free radio. I also like all MLB games and the variety of music that's instantly available.

 

[bretfraz]

I'll add my vote for XM. Been a subscriber for about 2 years when it came standard in my new GMC truck. My trucks audio system does AM, FM, XM, CD and cassette. XM gets used about 80% of the time. It's worth every penny IMO.

Opie & Anthony every day.
Fred
Ethel
Lucy
80s on 8
NASCAR on 144
Comedy XL
CNN

 

[ToyotaNSaturn]

On the way home from work today, XM 51 played the entire "Fountain of Lamneth" from Rush (side 2 of their Caress of Steel album from 1975). I've NEVER heard any one of those songs on the radio, EVER.

Being a life-long Rush fan, that was a real treat!!!

XM is great!!