Just wondering, what's the consensus on XM radio?

Thanks for your vote!

 

We have something like 5 subscriptions. One each for both my dad's cars, one for mine, one for the house, and one for the boat... We love XM . Now to get my mom to get XM...

 

need to add a choice...adding sirius to the car

 

When I first got the car I didn't think that I'd keep it past the trial period. But it's a great way to find some new albums to check out. Clear Channel-based radio sure as hell isn't going to help me out.

 

Same here - I'm cheap but renewed for a second quarter for $17 total & will renew again when this ends - hopefully with another discount!

 

I have 3 XM subs (4 when the free period is up on the TL) and 2 Sirius subs (3 really if you count Dish Network, since they added Sirius to their music line up). Everytime a new piece of Sat Radio hardware comes out, I buy it and deactivate the oldest sub and replace it with the new equipment. For Sirius, I've had every sing Plug and Play unit that they offer. Which is something like 8 models. A plug and play unit is where you can take it from the car to the house. And since XM has only had 3 Plug and Play units, I have all of those activated. I'm a true Satellite Radio junkie.

 

I installed XM myself on my G35 - piece o'baklava. Deactivated when I sold the car a few weeks ago. Have a Roady for the office which is great.

Outside of the programming weaknesses and other gripes heard here and on XMfan.com still enjoy the service and rarely go back to FM.

 

And XMXP.com, which has a song alerter that you can download for your computer if you have all of your TuneSelect full on your Roady.

For those of you interested in Sirius, Siriusbackstage.com is a great site.

 

I had it installed in my 2G TL, as I've said many times before. It was only natural that I continue my subscription with the 3G TL.

What programming weaknesses? I guess I don't notice because I mostly listen to the news stations--mostly CNN, Fox, BBC--and (nowadays) America Left (and occasinally Right).

 

XM is worst than cable TV - - nothings on - its a waste of money

 

I signed up for two years at a discounted price. I really like the XM, but am finding way too many places that the signal drops out. Especially now since all the trees have tons of leaves. I guess I just need to put up with it until XM puts another retransmitter/repeater in my area.

 

Getting ready to sign up for two. The fact it's commercial free is good enough for me, and I've found a great mix.

 

I renewed my XM radio for two years after the trial period expired. I listen to XM 95% of the time that I'm in the TL. I couldn't imagine not having it.

 

I just started using it in the car. So far, I have defaulted to the 2 comedy channels most of the time when I am not playing DVD-Audios. I think it may be worth renewing, esp if they have a package.

However, I too am suprised at how many times it fades out when I am in wooded areas.

:-jon

 

Being in the Northwest, we have aLOT of leafy trees. I really haven't noticed that problem so much as structures (i.e. apartments) to the east of where I'm driving. Occasionally an underpass, but not nearly the problems everyone else has cited.

I have found a g-r-e-a-t solution to those problems, simply by turning the car around and driving backwards. No deadspots at all!

 

Satellite is line of sight isn't it? I remember when I was installing the first generation DirectTV dishes it was line of sight, so if you had a house or a tree in the way you were screwed unless you installed the dish in another area of the house.

 

Yes it is, unless there are terestrial repeaters in your city. Then the antenna will pick up the terrestrial signal. If you have one in your city, you can sit in a parking garage listening to sat radio because of the terrestrial repeater.

 

Duh, I forgot about that since I've not had XM radio since my free trial expired. I've actually sat in the parking garage before and heard the XM radio, but usually it's laggy and breaks up once in a while.

 

You were probably right at the outer edge of the area that the repeater is covering, that is why it would be slow and would cut out. We have 3 XM repeaters in Akron, so I'm good anytime I'm downtown.

 

I love my XM radio. I like the programming for the most part, don't find the quality all that bad, and I can even listen to XM sitting in my garage. It doesn't sound as good as the DVD-A discs, but then what does?

 

I've had XM on my Trailblazer since October. The 3 month subscription on the TL expires June 1. I called Saturday and had the TL added to my account. The additional service is $6.99/month.

 

We had these nasty critters in Baltimore until they beefed up the street patrols.

 

They gave me another 3 months to decide... Not bad customer service.

 

I'll preface my comments with the statement that I am not much of a radio listener, and also don't spend a lot of time in the car. If either were not the case perhaps I would have a different viewpoint. Initially I was impressed with XM and enjoyed the comedy and news channels most of all. I do find myself listening to music more than I used to simply because of the radio quality.

I am almost at the end of my 3 month trial service and I find that many of the channels I enjoy have commercials or promo's. The comedy programs are already repeating what I have heard and I am seldom in the car and certainly not always on comedy.

I will not activate the account at the conclusion of the trial time. The only thing I will really miss to any extent is being able to listen to FoxNews. We have plenty of am and fm stations in NY metro area, seems like overkill to have extra XM stations as well for me anyway.

George in NY

 

XM is nice but i don't really think its worth it for me. its hard to navigate thru all the stations and the quality is little disappointing for most stations. some stations are great and sound awesome but most are just ok. my biggest wish is to get the Ipod integration with the stereo. i don't like the FM modulation idea and really hope that this Alpine device works.

 

best money I've ever spent was on XM subscription. I can't even remember the last time I turned on regular radio.

 

Thanks to everyone for the feedback. My brother is in the radio business, and we were arguing about what % of TL owners would subscribe to XM radio. He thought it would be below 25%, I thought it would be at 90%.

Thanks again!

 

Just signed up for two years as I figured that's the best way to lock in the price in case they decide to raise the rates next year....just hope they stay in business that long! I've probably jinxed them as I plowed a lot of $$ into 8-tracks and Betamax tapes. Look what happened to them!

 

I will never pay for XM radio.

They claim there is no advertising, but there are subliminal messages embedded in the broadcasts.
If you listen to XM radio, you may find yourself drinking Pepsi when you really prefer Coke.

It's all part of the vast left/right wing conspiracy to control the masses.

I'm not making this up.
It's all true.
Really.

 

Strange. I used to believe XM was using subliminal messages, too, but lately I don't seem to think so. Lately I seem to be more and more satisfied with XM, more and more preoccupied with listening to XM, more and more desiring of XM. XM. XM. XM.

 

I love XM...