A dumb foreigner asking...

[pozo_izquierdo]

OK guys, I have to come out from the closet and show my ignorance.
Could somebody just give a simple explanation what are you using this Roadys, Sirius, XM and what have you radios for?

Are you fed up with the local FM stations country music or have you gone through all the 10000 songs on your iPods or what kind of special program do these satellite radios offer? Space music? ET communication? News from the Mars or what?

No offense, just curious as I don't know is this something I gotta have!

Best regards

[jzeiler]

Ari,

I don't have one yet (Christmas wish list), but when covering long distances in the US it is difficult to find the correct stations (local) that carry what you want to hear. They fade in and out and so on. With sattelite radio you can listen to the same channel from Florida to California and never have to hunt down or change a station. That's my answer and I'm sticking to it! Hope I have one for the trip out west in the spring.

[jtalbot]

Simple, here in Colorado I get tired of the DJ's who talk too much and commercial radio is just that commercial as in too many of them. The terrain is another, once you drive 10 miles west into the mountains anything that resembles a radio station is lost. Unfortunately, we only have one classical station and it listener supported so it too low powered. Finally, the the music/programming is far more diverse than whet is offered here. You get either C&W or classic rock. I ended choosing Sirius as it's receivers work off of 12Vdc. When we get off the LT the receiver comes into the house with us and straight into the home docking station.

[mneblett]

OK guys, I have to come out from the closet and show my ignorance.
Could somebody just give a simple explanation what are you using this Roadys, Sirius, XM and what have you radios for?

Are you fed up with the local FM stations country music or have you gone through all the 10000 songs on your iPods or what kind of special program do these satellite radios offer? Space music? ET communication? News from the Mars or what?

No offense, just curious as I don't know is this something I gotta have!

Best regardsI'll second each and every one of Mr. Talbot's comments -- particularly the commercials and inane talking. Sirius isn't truly commercial or talk-free, but it's *so* much better.

The problem you're going to find is that the XM and Sirius birds are in orbits that are primarily over North America, so no Finland coverage. I'd be surprised, however, if there's not a Euro-equivalent service either up in the air or about to be launched.

[JPSpen]

Not really but if you don't already have a GPS then XM offers weather radar as well as music... My point is you can get a Garmin 2730 which is GPS/Weather Radar/XM satellite radio all in one package...OF course it's expensive but you get it all in one unit.....

Got that on my christmas list and when I don't get it I'll buy one from an after Christmas sale....

Good luck

Spence

[dshealey]

I put XM on my LT because I was doing a lot of long distance riding, and on cross country trips I would get out of range for an FM station every 20-30 minutes or so, and had to constantly search for new ones, or use my 6 CD's. With the XM, I could listen to any one channel for as long as I wished. Also, especially in the western half of the US, there are long stretches where no FM station reception is available, and even if you have one or two, they are not likely what you want to hear.

The XM was a real blessing on those long trips!

[messenger13]

Ari, I'm trying to hold off on buying into XM or Sirius just long enough so we all realize that it's CRAP, just like America's FM radio. I believe the groovy DJs and the commercials are just around the corner with these products, and I don't want any part of that. I currently have just over 6,000 songs on my 60GB iPod with room for about 4-5,000 more. And...it's bought and paid for. No groovy DJs. No commercials. The *only* reason I could see getting satellite radio is for news and/or talk radio. (and NO! Not Mr. Stern!!!)

[S2DOG]

He Joe Ditty,

I really thought XM was not worth the investment, BUT after having one I bought "cheap" I can tell you I really love it. I have such a wide variety of things to listen to at any time and I'm the kind of person who likes varitey.

I used to have a MP3 player hooked in to the Aux jack and I liked the music, but only for so long. It was too predictable. I also didn't like spending time recodring music from the cd or download, to the computer, then to a list for transfer to the MP3, then to the MP3.... UUUUUUGGGHHH!

Just give me the D**m music!

SO, I rest while you digest... :D

Hope your Thanksgiving was a great one!

[messenger13]

Good points, StewDogg!

I may have it someday. Who knows what Santa's bringing. ;)

[jackd]

I currently have just over 6,000 songs on my 60GB iPod with room for about 4-5,000 more.

I tried to put songs I like onto CDs... took too much time.. If I had time to select and put 6,000 songs I would like to listen to onto a device I would have no time to listen.. I agree that standard FM radio is crap.. but it wasn't in the early 70's when I bought my first car with an AM/FM radio... so when Sat Radio turns to CRAP, or has Commercials.. I will find another alternative...

I'll vote with my $... Till then I'll turn on my Sirius.. on the computer, LT, truck or on the stereo...

[pozo_izquierdo]

Thanks to all for the clarification.

Now I get the point. I have to look up if this kind of service is available over here but looks like I can still survive a while without one. Our FM radio stations are not so fragmented (+ I don't have so long distances to cover - unless I head East - but there the radio programs are not the main problem...;-)

Enjoy your satellite radios, I bet I would have one if I lived on your continent!

Regards

[Lzyellodog]

I hear that XM just expanded into Canada as well. Like most of these guys I too was completely frustrated with commercial radio. I do a lot of travel around the NE and you can not hold onto any one station for a long period of time. That is different with XM/Sirius. One of the main reason really like Xm is that they now have a contract with Major League Baseball and carry every single ball game. I bought the XM2Go which allows you to record 5 hours worth of music so you can play back a previous broadcast incase you can nto get a good signal. Nice for traveling in a train or plain. That's my nickel.

See ya.