Anyone have Satellilte Radio?

[CapeCodTenor]

Anyone have either of the satellite radios? Anyone have a preference? I've been listening to Sirius now for the last couple of days, using their four day listen for free deal, and am really enjoying the Broadway's Best channel and the Sirius Pops and their classical voice channel-I love the fact that they play full operas everyday. But what I'm curious is, how is the signal? A partner in the law firm I work at says that if it's really cloudy it's hard to get a good signal...he's even had problems with the signal in the office, depending on where his office is. Has anyone else run in to this problem? I've been listening to it online so that hasn't been a problem. I'd appreciate opinions from those who have a satellite radio. Thanks everyone.

 

[ChrisnSteph]

I have Sirius. I haven't had any signal problems, even in really remote areas. I like Sirius, however there is one channel that I really like on XM, but my dh won't let me switch. He won't give up the Margaritaville channel!

 

[holycow]

We have XM and LOVE it! We get heavy rains in Fl and yes the signal will go out but normally if it is just cloudy it isn't that bad. XM has a great selection too...the Opera and Classical are wonderful!

Enjoy

holycow

 

[CapeCodTenor]

We have XM and LOVE it! We get heavy rains in Fl and yes the signal will go out but normally if it is just cloudy it isn't that bad. XM has a great selection too...the Opera and Classical are wonderful!

Enjoy

holycow

I'm going to listen to XM next week to see what I think of it (they too have a listen for free deal). I like the price of the receiver from XM-$50, at least the one I looked at. I noticed that XM also has opera, pops and broadway...so I guess it's a matter of which one is more reliable. Maybe they are both the same in that area...who knows?

 

[ScoJo15]

I've had XM for a few years now and have to say that I've never lost a signal other than when I'm in a parking garage under my work building. Cloudy, rainy, storm, snow doesn't seem to impact the reception at all.

I have a boombox for the house also and it works as long as the antenna is in a window or within about 10 feet of one.

The Sirius reception should be the same as they use the same companies to manufacture their antennas.

XM has broadway and classical channels as well.

 

[OhMari]

We had Satellite radio for free all summer and it never went out. Only on the last free day, it started going in and out and finally a voice came on and said, "if you would like to receive XM Satellite Radio, please call this number. My husband said the radio is good enough, why pay $17 a month. I sort of miss it. I received a phone call about 3 weeks later offering it for $6.00 a month for 3 months, but then it is back to $17.00.

It still cracks me up when people saw the Play-by-Play stations and they thought it was a Playboy channel.

 

[LoraJ]

I subscribe to Sirius and love it. I love that there is a channel for whatever music mood I am in. I also love some of their talk programs like Jay Thomas and Radio Chick. And I couldn't believe it, but I actually got sucked into the Richard Simmons show last weekend.

I can get the XM music channels through AOL. I prefer the Sirius ones more. XM prides themselevs in playing deep tracks, but sometimes I am just not in the mood to hear some obscure 80's song where there's a good reason why it was never a big hit.

As for signal, I get a pretty good signal in my car. There are a couple of spots where my antenna goes out but that's because there is a bridge blocking my view and it only goes out for 2 seconds.

For installing in the car, I would highly recommend getting a relay switch that will shut your FM antenna off to block out any interference.

Good Luck and enjoy whichever one you choose.


ETA:
Also, check out siriusbackstage.com and xmfan.com

And note that Sirius will soon have $50 rebates on select models of their tuners.

 

[powellrj]

I love my XM radio. I have only had problems a couple of times. Once I lost signal when I was in a traffic jam between 2 tall building between 2 semi trucks (how often will that happen) and another time I started getting a broadcast station over it,( I was in the middle of nowhere, so I figured that was it)

 

[CapeCodTenor]

Thanks for the replys everyone. Not too sure why this partner would have signal problems, but at least I'm getting a nother, a few more at least, opinions. Right now I'm really enjoying sirius, but I'll give XM a try next week and see what I think.

 

[rigs32]

Sirius has a better Broadway channel, IMO. Seth Rudetsky is awesome! And their Tony Awards coverage is great, they (seth and christine petty and jason watever-his-lastname-is) watch the show and talk about it, so it's like having them in your house.

Sirius also has 3 NPR channels and they have broadway/theater coverage on the weekends.

 

[Miss Jasmine]

We have Sirius and we love it. DH uses it the most in his truck, so I am saving up for my own receiver (I am going to get the new portable one). Well worth the money.