XM vs. Sirius

[Gridikal]

I have had no experience with either. After doing demos online of both and looking at their features, Sirius is ahead by a small lead in my book- mainly do to the fact that they include online service to subscribers while XM charges extra for that.

http://www.crutchfield.com/guides/satellite/guide02.html

heres a nifty little chart- ^

 

[Z22_Z33]

I read awhile back about these 2 companies but I don't remember much about them. Isn’t the placement of their satellites a big issue to look at as well? One company has them closer to earth around the equator so you can get a better signal, but the problem is if you live way up north something like a tree or building could get in the way of the signal. The other company has theirs further out, so this doesn’t happen but signal strength is less. Now just if I could remember who belongs to who. Or is this just old stuff and has been fixed, I believe I heard they were also putting in amplifiers or thinking about it, around certain places to pick up the signal and strength it. I think the technology side of this is better to look at then how much money you spend. Its like AM or FM or UHF versus cable. It might be cheaper but not as good or even vice versa in this case


Q: Does satellite radio carry local stations?

A: No. However, both XM and SIRIUS currently offer local traffic and weather reports for major metropolitan areas in the U.S.
http://www.crutchfieldadvisor.com/learningcenter/car/satellite_faq.html
I don't know about you people but I like to occasionlly listen to local stations, and how up to date are their traffic and weather reports?

 

[HodgePodge]

Yea, but traffic updates are useless. You are probably already stuck in line when they are telling you of major delays due to 10 car pileup..

 

[Rev Den]

I have XM, drive about 6K miles a month....it rocks.

That is all.


Rev

 

[XJeep2000]

I have had sirius for about 6 months and i love it. I have never had experience with XM but I would recommend sirius to anyone. I drive from denver to laramie every weekend and can listen to the same channel the whole way with excellent reception. good channels too.

 

[ZmOz]

I asked a similar question on another board recently...to me sirius looks alot better. I've read a few reviews that say the sirius sound quality is slightly better and they have 3 satellites where XM has 2. XM also charges extra for all kinds of things, and sirius includes everything. Sirius also has a $30 rebate on most of their receivers right now.

 

[Kejtar]

I have XM and a buddy at work has Sirius. Programming wise I think I like the content on the XM a bit more. Also the Roady unit is nice and portable enough and easier to mount as well.
It's true that Sirius offers more (internet version) in the basic price, but if I'm in front of my computer I don't really need paid radio service as there are many free radio stations available and I rather pay only $9.99/month.

 

[JBrobeck]

Have had both, its tit for tat, I too like XM's programming better however... Sound quality was the same regardless, as was signal strength, neither of them will work when blocked by a large building, parking garage, tunnel etc, thats just how satellite works. You won't be dissapointed either way, it rocks to have either one.

Josh

 

[jrsxj98]

I have had Sirius for over a year now. My buddy runs XM. They are pretty much similiar. I went with sirius due to the fact that the reps, even the XM rep told me that sirius has more sat. something like sirius has 3 and XM only has 2 and Sirius's are on a closer orbit path. They both have the drawbacks of being in trees, however I wheel the Colorado Mountains quite a bit and have never had major issues. And if you pay for 15 months of Sirius it is only 9.95 per month.

 

[Rev Den]

I drive from denver to laramie every weekend and can listen to the same channel the whole way

There is only 1 radio station between Denver and Laramie. :laugh3:


Rev

 

[jrsxj98]

There is only 1 radio station between Denver and Laramie. :laugh3:


Rev

Dude that must suck

 

[Blackash132]

I have had XM since it began... I worked at Best Buy and went to many training courses on both. And wrote a 20 page paper compairing the two in college. XM uses 2 Satellites, Rock and Roll. They are the most powerful media satellites in the world. One is always over the Western half or the country and the other is always over the eastern half. Their orbit is called a Geosynchronous orbit. Which means that the satellites travel with the earth. The XM system also has Terrestrial Repeaters, which are FM modulated signal repeaters that are great for when you are in a big city and there is really tall buildings blocking the satellite signal. The quality is about the same on both. Sirius has 3 sattelites and uses a different type of Satellite orbit. Its called a Highly Elliptical Orbit which basically is way higher than the XM satellites. There are good things about both. The sirius does not really need terestrial repeaters because the orbit is so high... it's basically pointing the signal right down to your antenna.XM is more of an angle. Sirius has 3 satellites not because it's "better" but because when the satellites are rotating the earth there is always 2 satellites above the country, the other is in it's rotation and prolly above china or something at the time. So basically they both have 2 satellites above us. Sirius is more expensive. 12.99 per month whereXM is only 9.99 The sound quality is the same, CD quality 100% digital sound. I think Sirius has a few more commercial free channels, XM has Nascar, they both have plenty of sports coverage. Sirius is getting Howard Stern (I don't care cause I don't like him anyway) XM has the playboy channel for an extra money per month (to each their own) Over all they kick ass and are way better than FM or AM. Good luck with your choice. PS. they rock if you go wheelin in the middle of nowhere and you want to listen to the radio. Or if you go on a long trip in your jeep like to Moab or something and want to listen to the same station the whole way.

 

[jrsxj98]

Sirius is more expensive. 12.99 per month whereXM is only 9.99 The sound quality is the same, CD quality 100% digital sound. I think Sirius has a few more commercial free channels

Sirius is only 9.95 if you pay for 15months. they say 3 months free but it works out to 9.95 per month. and all of sirius music channels are commercial free.

 

[XJBeast96]

I have had sirius for 2 years and love it! Buddy has XM and he has no complaints. I went with Sirius because I wanted to have the Kenwood receiver. Either choice would be good.

 

[Gridikal]

well after doing the online demos for the service, I think I'm gonna go with this one: best matches my interior, Just a matter of hacking apart the stand so I dont have to use it, and then finding where to mold it into hmmmm ...

 

[bocaj]

i have xm in my truck 04 chevy came wit it free for a couple of months love it. sirius came on my tv satalite. dont know if its the same.

 

[Z22_Z33]

well after doing the online demos for the service, I think I'm gonna go with this one: best matches my interior, Just a matter of hacking apart the stand so I dont have to use it, and then finding where to mold it into hmmmm ...

How about the little storage place just in front of the shifter. That is if you are putting it in your XJ. Then again I guess it depends on the size of the "radio". Or you could do a little trick set up and mount it on the dash to the left of the driver, you'd be the only one able to use it. But then agian everyone outside your vehicle can see it. You could maybe even get away with putting in a switch so you can select your normal radio or the satelite radio. That would be the best of both worlds, I wonder why they dont have that setup or do they?

 

[copperhead]

We've had XM for about 2 years now, and it has been wonderfull on the 1,200 mile trips down to Atlanta. I tend to listen to more talk radio, especialy at night. Although I still miss Art Bell in the mornings, I don't think he is on either right now. The only problem we have up here in New Hampshire, is that we tend to lose the signal a bit easier than anywhere else I have been to. It fades in an out for a few seconds at two locations as we head into work. I don't know if it is the same with sirius or not. Although we also live in a cell phone dead zone. We call our part of New Hampshire the technology free zone.

Sirius just reciently hit the majic 1 million subscribers mark, so it looks like they will be viable. There was some question whether they would make it. Sirius used to have a $500.00 lifetime subscriber deal, which is worth it if you want to go.

As for choosing which one to go with? I would look at the channels offered, as well as for what type of radio you want (if you are putting in a new radio). We prefer alpine radios, they come XM ready, so that's what we got.

-Copperhead

 

[Ludakris]

I would go XM, lots of guys in the office have it and love it. I think they will be around longer, seem to be doing more with the business. Also, XM started in Columbia, MD.... got love the home town guys....

 

[Gridikal]

So what do you all think would happen if sirius fell through in a few years? get a "sorry" letter or would they have to buy the equipment back?