XM or Sirius

[Wipedout]

Thinking about getting my wife either a Sirius or an XM radio. Read lots on here but what to get yalls current opinion on them and on which radio to get. For her I want to allow her in the car as well as in her office.

For me in my car, on my bike and in the house.

Sports isnt a real issue - not much of a "listener" to them She loves the broncos but thats about it and more of a watcher than a listener. She does like listening to NPR and Public radio. She loves all kinds of music (well except hip hop and rap)

So - suggestions - advise?

Thanks for your time

Robert

[DavidTaylor]

Based on your description I would direct you towards XM, unless she's a big Howard Stern fan. :) . I've used XM on my bike and cars for a couple of years and continue to be completely satisfied with them. Also, DirecTV just started piping the XM music channels in over their system, so if you have their service you get XM's music in your home with no extra exquipment needed.

[SilverBuffalo]

Best Buys has the Roady for $50.
I've had mine for about 3 months and like it a lot.

[Dick]

Hans, I'm gonna hi-jack this thread just a leetle bit, but the content is pertinent I think. Wuzn't it you that posted a pic of your XM radio antenna puck mounted under the right side handlebar cover?? I'm getting ready to install my XM (after dumping Sirius - another story) and just recently, helped Doug (dwsdad) install his. We couldn't get the puck to fit under the cover without it deforming the cover, leaving a gap on the outside. Wondering how you got yours to fit (btw, both of our LTs are '99 vintage). I ordered/received the 4' antenna and puck to replace the packaged 21 footer, and it looks to be identical in size, so I'm thinking I'm gonna have a positioning problem too. Any suggestions or tips of how yours worked??

Robert - apologies for the hi-jack; but it might add to your discussion topic.

[jtalbot]

Robert:

Like you, I had the same question. The answers you will receive will be a lot like the ones I received. As XM was the first most will try to send you the same way. As Sirius is the underdog most will probably try to send towards XM. I went with Sirius for two reasons first, is their equipment is 12v where XM is 6v. If you bypass their cabling your unit will go up in smoke. Second my son who works for Dish Network appreciates the same kind of music and he suggested we go with Sirius so we did. After I bought our Sirius equipment we found out that our satellite TV provider DirecTV has partnered with XM. We listened to the XM radio on DirecTV and are glad we went with Sirius as we like their music programming better. I would suggest Sirius because it operates on 12v. Program offering will be up to you. One last thought, I believe that both offer free three day listening on the Internet. Listen and decide.

[bustedknuckles]

I have the XM roady II. I enjoy the music programing and news channels. The SO likes the comedy channels.
I use the same unit on the bike, in my truck, and in the house.
Best Buy has this unit for 29.95 now. :D

[Rush1517]

For a couple of reasons.... First from what describe you want, XM fits. They have several models that will work great for you. I recommend the Roady2. It is small and fits in the oddments box, it has a built in FM modulator and it's $29.99 at Best Buy. I know your wife wants to use it in the office, so having said that, they offer XM online FREE to XM customers. It's very easy to set-up.

This might help, and anyone can use it. It's my Friends and Family deal:

www.shopdelphi.com/promo

Enter this promo code: DPSS001A

Hopefully this will help out.

[SilverBuffalo]

Dick
Yes I installed the antenna under the handlebar cover and the fit was not an issue.
However I have since then removed it from there, now it worked fine around here but when I got up in the Smoky mountains it would fade out when I was heading due North and uphill, since the satilites are in the southern hemisphere I am guessing it was my body that was interfering with the signal.
I pulled it out of there and velcro-ed it to the top of the master cylinder cover (in Wallmarts parking lot) and its worked well ever since.
Therefore I can no longer recommend hiding it.

For an interesting side note, I bought the 4' antenna and when I turned on the XM my valentine would go into full alert (rear KA band) it doesn't do this with the original 18' antenna, I'm guessing it has something to do with the internal shielding and I don't know if it's just this one or if its just a different manufactoring process.

[bmwrider79]

I went with serious for 2 reasons music programming & football when I am on the road.

That was before I heard Howard Stern was going to be on Sirius. I am not a fan of Howard in the least.

I may go XM when my contract expires in July 06.

My one dissapointment with Sirius is the DJ's I am paying for music not talk by in some cases vulgar foul mouthed DJ's (outlaw country channel. One can only imagine what is on Shade 45 the eminmen channel) This is not always the case, some are decent DJ's. I just wish there were no DJ's at all. Let the music do the talking! to borrow from the old Joe Perry project song.

During the last election they were voicing some rather negative retoric about the people running for office. Mostly against the republican party.
What ticked me off was the fact I am paying for music on music channels not someones opinion on political maters or any other mater.

I did send them a formal complaint. They did acknoledge the complaint.

The clean comedy channel can be good but it does have comercials. Why I do not know. I am paying for the service why should I hear commercials This is only on the talk channels. The music is commercial free.

Hope this helps

[Steve_R]

Thinking about getting my wife either a Sirius or an XM radio. Read lots on here but what to get yalls current opinion on them and on which radio to get. For her I want to allow her in the car as well as in her office.

For me in my car, on my bike and in the house.

Sports isnt a real issue - not much of a "listener" to them She loves the broncos but thats about it and more of a watcher than a listener. She does like listening to NPR and Public radio. She loves all kinds of music (well except hip hop and rap)

So - suggestions - advise?

Thanks for your time

Robert

If she is really into NPR, then you want to check our Sirius. IIRC, it has 3 NPR channels where XM only has one and it is NPR International.

JM2CW.

[Wipedout]

I'm getting ready to install my XM (after dumping Sirius - another story)

Robert - apologies for the hi-jack; but it might add to your discussion topic.

No apology needed - it is relevant - however do tell me the story about dumping Sirius pls

[CWF]

Sports isnt a real issue - not much of a "listener" to them She loves the broncos but thats about it and more of a watcher than a listener. She does like listening to NPR and Public radio. She loves all kinds of music (well except hip hop and rap)

So - suggestions - advise?

Robert

If she like NPR you want Sirius. I could almost weld my channel selector to NPR so I know how she feels. And I love Bob Edwards (a Louisville St. X Grad) formerly of Morning Edition and Sirius has given him his own channel.

XM does have better comedy though!

[DonRich90]

Dick
Yes I installed the antenna under the handlebar cover and the fit was not an issue.
However I have since then removed it from there, now it worked fine around here but when I got up in the Smoky mountains it would fade out when I was heading due North and uphill, since the satilites are in the southern hemisphere I am guessing it was my body that was interfering with the signal.
I pulled it out of there and velcro-ed it to the top of the master cylinder cover (in Wallmarts parking lot) and its worked well ever since.

I have a Suzuki 650 Burgman (scooter) that I just installed a Sirius unit on. I had read on another bike forum that the master cylinder caps were a good place to mount the magnetic antenna but I have aftermarket engraved tops on my master cylinder covers and I didn't want to cover either one of them with the antenna.
I found a small black right-angle bracket in a hardware store that is about 1 1/2" wide and is 1 1/2" long on one plane and 2 1/4" long on the other. I mounted the shorter plane to the side of the cylinder (right side) using two black plastic wire-ties so the longer side is level with the top of the cylinder and put the antenna on the bracket.
So far, after about a week, I haven't had any reception problems and the mount is very secure and not obtrusive.

Don

[CarSalesman]

My limited experience is that the audio quality of XM may be significantly better than Sirius. I say "may be" because my opinion is based on particular equipment I've tried, but that equipment is heavily biased in favor of Sirius, and the XM was still better.

We have the original XM SkyFi using the XM wired FM modulator in my wife's 2004 Grand Cherokee. The vehicle has the high end Infinity audio system. Audio quality of the FM is fantastic. Its easily as good as CDs or anything else the car's system can reproduce. Using an FM modulator, I expected the audio quality to be reduced, but its great. Maybe Delphi just uses a very good modulator.

Just got her new Grand Cherokee, which also has the best factory audio system, and also has built-in integrated Sirius. I was expecting it to be better (or at least as good) in audio terms, because its built in, not a modulator. The audio quality isn't bad, but it definitely isn't as good as the 2004 model was. If you didn't get out of one vehicle and get directly into the other, you wouldn't be disappointed with either.

I think the audio systems themselves are comparable. The XM is at a disadvantage using the modulator, but still sounds better.

In Sirius favor, however, there are no dropouts in the Sirius signal. We're on the PA/NY border, and when we go behind a mountain (sometimes not even a big one), the XM signal does drop out. It doesn't last for long, so it never bothered us, but Sirius comes through just fine in those same spots.

On a motorcycle, I doubt you could tell a difference in audio quality between the two, with comparable equipment.

[YumaLT]

I have both XM and Sirius. The music programming is much better with Sirius.

[Texas42]

Sirius has NPR and better Music IMHO. :)

[dshealey]

It is not "XM" that is lower voltage, just some receiver manufacturers. I had a Terk Commander XM system on my LT, and it was 12 volt. Loved it and the programming.

[Dave]

I have XM radios in my car and house. I also receive Sirius from Dish on my Satellite system. I prefer the XM, more music and less DJ chatter.

[markfran]

I have Sirius in my work truck, my wife had xm that came with her new car and we have it with Direct tv. My wife let her XM go I do not care for it on direct tv. Sirius has the best mix and shows in my opinion.

[Photoman]

I have had XM for several years and really enjoy it. Fox is no longer available on Sirius and they have Howard Stern...two strikes against them IMO. XM is less money per month by about $2.00 I think and I just don't see the value of their product. Good luck with your decision.

[shadowofshoe]

Is IMUS availible on either format that would sell me!!!
mike