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XM & Sirius Satellite Radio

1700 messages,  Last post on Apr 29, 2013 at 7:10 PM

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What is this discussion about? Audio, Entertainment System

Messages Page 170 of 171

#1685 of 1700 Re: Internet-enabled radio in the car has already begun [stickguy] by busiris

Jan 26, 2013 (1:37 pm)

Replying to: stickguy (Jan 26, 2013 10:45 am)
...until they resolve the data usage dilemma, streaming is going to be a problem. It seems strange that there is this huge push toward using the phone to stream, but at the same time, the carriers are doing everything they can to limit your usage of it.
 
Are the carriers really doing everything they can to limit your usage, or are they doing everything they can to make you pay for using it?
 
It's a subtle, but very real, difference...

#1686 of 1700 Re: Internet-enabled radio in the car has already begun [busiris] by stickguy

Jan 26, 2013 (1:59 pm)

Replying to: busiris (Jan 26, 2013 1:37 pm)
yes, a nuance. They are setting up a system to suck as much money as possible out of the customers, which will likely have the result of people cutting back on usage.
 
they are like drug dealers. Give out some free samples to get you hooked, then ratchet up the price when you are!

#1687 of 1700 Re: Internet-enabled radio in the car has already begun [stickguy] by busiris

Jan 26, 2013 (3:29 pm)

Replying to: stickguy (Jan 26, 2013 1:59 pm)
...they are like drug dealers. Give out some free samples to get you hooked, then ratchet up the price when you are!
 
Good analogy.
 
IMO, the wireless carriers see themselves as entitled to some of the gold they carry.
 
In essence, its a sly way to change the business model... Sort of like me sending you $100 each week through the mail and one day the mailman says to himself..."Sure, you paid me to deliver the $100 by purchasing a stamp, but now that I realize I've been delivering something of value to you, in a reliable manner, I'm entitled to a little piece of the action as well".
 
Carrying data only pays so much...a bit like "Time to increase the size of my piece of pie... Bigger piece of the same size pie, or same % of a bigger pie... ".
 
Either one works...

#1688 of 1700 XM reactivated? by greywulfe

Feb 11, 2013 (3:56 pm)

Hi All,
 
I have a 2011 Nissan Quest. It came with the free trial of XM, and I let it run out. A couple of weeks ago, I noticed the GPS was throwing up weather warnings - and sure enough XM is operating. I never re-subscribed - did this happen to anyone before?

#1689 of 1700 Sirius/XM by sandman_6472

Feb 11, 2013 (4:37 pm)

They have this in a lot of the rental cars I drive and it's quite enjoyable to say the least! But if one has a large enough inventory of stored music on cd's or a flash drive, it can be almost as good for a fraction of the cost. That's just what I listen to when a vehicle has no SAT radio like yesterday. I really like the 60's and 70's channels but my flash drive does almost the same thing except they have more of a selection. I've only got about 675 on the drive and I eventually will rehear stuff but SAT radio has the better variety but it just costs so darn much if one can't get the the phone person to get you a lower rate. If my car had it I'd love it but hey, I don't even have a aux plug or a usb port in my '06 Civic, something I deperately miss. My next vehicle will definitely have it!
 
The Sandman

#1690 of 1700 Re: Sirius/XM [sandman_6472] by berri

Feb 12, 2013 (12:24 pm)

Replying to: sandman_6472 (Feb 11, 2013 4:37 pm)
Every once in awhile they will reactivate for a week or two at no cost trying to get you to resubscribe. I think the latest promo around here ends today. A few days ago I was taking a long drive and decided to tune it in. But it was the same thing; constant DJ blabber, listener phone ins, etc. Within 20 minutes I was back to my CD's. I want to listen to music, not DJ's and phone ins. Just reaffirmed for me my decision to let it lapse.

#1691 of 1700 Re: [steve_] by broken_arrow

Feb 21, 2013 (4:02 pm)

Replying to: steve_ (Jan 24, 2002 2:04 pm)
Hi Steve, after I bought my 2013 Subaru Forester, 5-speed MT, with mix/match add-ons I wanted, I spent the most money of any after-build item on a Sirius sattalite radio install. Not even the version with a blue LED panel sitting over the gear shifter. This one looks like nothing was ever added, but I do pick up maybe 5 channels of not classic rock, try a Spanish station playing music that 1st came out on 78's! The auto-trim shop that activated my free trial period didn't send me anything but a channel line up, no good if proramming it is what I needed. a pro-car-audio installer, my salesman showed up, sat next to me dazed & confused, waste of both our time. Unless it starts doing what every reference on the Sirius models I studied-up on tells me it will do well. It stays only an annoyance and embarrassment to any passenger hearing junk just turned their ride with me something they should hav brough their own MP3 player. When free trial runs out I will call Sirius and cancel their incomplete features. Increasing the volume just distorts the sound bad, and honestly out of 140 commercial free but puntuated by motor-mouthed DJ's singing this radio's praises is worse than commercials. When the freebie 140 channels only have maybe 10 stations playing tinny music on a loop, with just one soft-rock elevator music that comes in then fades out and the Elvis channel takes over offering balanced out against around 100 channels of sports, news, comedy, financial, weather, chat-shows, bible thumpers, and all the junk I don't want to hear like it's coming out of a mono 8-track fossil! Not a so called state of the art music breakthrogh complete with genres, jerks, J-birds and aging has-beens. I will leave it insde the dash LED display, but if Siruis wants to get serious, then I expect crystal clear perfect recetption, complete with eyes-on scrolling artist facts, from the album titile, track, released year and genre. Too picky U say? Go listen to it in one of your loca auto dealerships for a good feel on just how sub-standard Sirius is no cheap waste of your cash, and tell me U don't slip a CD into the bay to hear what your favorite music is supposed to sound like before you even have one of these junkers put into your honey of a new Subaru Forester, I double-dog-dare-U! I asked the Sirius sales ep why my reception was so horrible, her answer "It depends where you are an certain stations only come through clear close to a wi-fi relay-tower. I'll remember that next trip I take to New Mexico, or Alaska! Steve, your feedback would be useful. I really wanted the Sirus music-only deal, but if living miles from a relay tower, then I my as well switch and keep it off.

#1692 of 1700 Re: [broken_arrow] by fintail

Feb 21, 2013 (4:13 pm)

Replying to: broken_arrow (Feb 21, 2013 4:02 pm)
Maybe I misunderstood, but you had an aftermarket unit installed? I'd take it back and try a different model, sounds like you got a lemon. Maybe find a better shop as well. I'd be unhappy too. Does Subaru not have the service available in a factory stereo unit?
 
I just bought a new car, and had an aftermarket unit in my old car. The Sirius trial was already active, and I simply migrated the old subscription over, took about 15 minutes on the phone. Went off without a hitch. Everything works perfectly in the new integrated unit, and some stations even offer year of release info.

#1693 of 1700 Re: [broken_arrow] by steve_ HOST

Feb 21, 2013 (7:30 pm)

Replying to: broken_arrow (Feb 21, 2013 4:02 pm)
I haven't listened to Sirius since we house sat for a few weeks near Taos about 3 years ago. The "coffee house" channel was enjoyable.
 
Being frugal, I got a $5 FM transmitter gizmo for playing MP3s on a USB stick when I'm in my old Outback and can't pick up anything on the radio. But I'm no audiophile.
 
It does sound like you got a lousy install or unit. Maybe you can swing by the dealer and listen to an OEM one and compare notes.

#1694 of 1700 Re: [broken_arrow] by busiris

Mar 01, 2013 (3:45 pm)

Replying to: broken_arrow (Feb 21, 2013 4:02 pm)
I'll begin by saying it sounds like your equipment installation was improperly done, or you have a defective or poorly designed unit. So, verify its not your problem before proceeding.
 
Having made that clear, its important to note that for the average listener, most will be satisfied by the quality is Satellite radio music.
 
However, one with exceptionally good ears, or a true audiophile may not be very pleased with the sound quality of satellite-transmitted music, even when it's at its best. Just as the MP3/4 format deletes part of the audible frequency range (to compact the signal) and will never sound as good as a .wav file, satellite transmission does that even more. Occasionally, you can hear a song over Sirius/XM that sounds like one of the stereophonic tracks got lost, but I don't notice it very often.
 
If it really bugs you, I suggest you simply listen to CDs. That way, you get the next best thing to a pristine analog album.

Messages Page 170 of 171

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