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XM & Sirius Satellite Radio

1618 messages,  Last post on Nov 11, 2009 at 3:22 PM

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#21 of 1618 Roof Mount SR-2 ant. by jgmilberg Apr 03, 2002 (11:20 pm)
It is a no drill install, I ran the wires behind my 3rd brake light, under the rubber weather strip and through an existing body grommet. The wires are extremely thin and easy to get through existing grommets, and the like. If you go roof mount you can hide the wires behind the rubber window moldings and when you get to the trunk you can go around the trunk weather strip and into the trunk. That is how the guys at the install shop run them. I checked out 3 of them before I decided to do it myself. I will send picts soon. My description of the SR-1 antenna is very accurate one, and remember it need a switched and always on power supply, he SR-2 is passive and you don't need an extra power source.
#22 of 1618 Another option by nealm1 Apr 08, 2002 (1:21 pm)
I don't own a set, so I am just repeating what I have read elsewhere, but I think you can also hook up an XM receiver through a casette adapter; the signal goes from the XM unit through the adapter and is picked up by the contacts on the tape heads. This is likely to give much better freq. response than the FM modulator, but it leaves unsightly wires dangling. Personally, although I am excited about the technology, I will have to wait a while. I have a year old Lexus with a Mark Levinson stereo, which sounds FABULOUS, but is not XM-ready and has no pre-amp level inputs. Radio choices may suck, but the CDs sound just amazing.
#23 of 1618 nealm1 by oldsman01 Apr 08, 2002 (4:00 pm)
I've never liked cassette adapters and have never had them sound very good. Basially, your again transferring the digital(XM) to analog. And those wires would surely look unsightly in a Lexus:) If I were you, I'd go the RF modulator route. I was skeptical of that myself and was surprised at how well it does indeed sound.
#24 of 1618 by timadams Apr 09, 2002 (4:17 am)
Like many new technologies, there is a hardware vs. software issue. While I would probably be willing to pay the $10 a month to try XM, I'm not going to replace the head unit in my car to do so, nor spend $200+ to jury-rig an add-on. And I really don't like the idea that my $10 won't allow me to easily listen both at home and in the car without moving and hooking up some sort of extra-cost unit.   When/if I buy a car stereo head unit (either built-in or a replacement unit) that has XM built in, I'll probably try it. But I won't replace a working one just for this feature. The decision will be easier if I also have a home stereo receiver that receives XM, and I can listen both places for one fee. I have my doubts it will be around that long.
#25 of 1618 timadams by oldsman01 Apr 09, 2002 (3:54 pm)
With commercial radio going to dogs in many markets, XM and similar services are probably here to stay and if anything will grow. People had the same argument about cell phones 15 years ago. As for your home/away situation, the Sony unit undocks from your car and can be used with your home system as well. You do have to buy an additional kit, but this way you only pay the $9.99 once a month. In a year the savings over having two XM subscriptions would pay for the home kit. It will be interesting to see some home A/V receivers start coming with XM capabilities. XM isn't for everyone, but if you love a variety of music and the market driven, bubble gum pop on the radio doesn't cut it for you, XM is a Godsend. If I were on a limited budget and had to choose, I'd take XM over a cell phone.
#26 of 1618 Antenna alert for SUV owners by ssminton Apr 09, 2002 (4:47 pm)
If you have installed roof mounted antennas above the rear liftgate on your SUV, check for chaffing on the antenna line. Over the past 6 months of XM usage, I noticed a slight but steady degrading of my reception. Basically, specific zones and overpasses that had not previously created a signal loss now were. I figured it was common software/hardware problems (San Diego has quite a few). I recently checked the antenna and found that my rear liftgate had chaffed through the antenna shielding, degrading my reception. The dealer quickly replaced the antenna, no charge, and I was back to XM bliss! For those have their antenna centered on the rear of the roof above the liftgate, recommend that you shift the antenna location to one side or the other. This way, when the liftgate opens and closes it allows more space between the door edge and antenna wiring. Now with the antenna moved, it does not chafe at all.
#27 of 1618 XM, worth every penny! by ssminton Apr 09, 2002 (4:59 pm)
Lots of posts recently regarding cost of XM, and is the service worth it? YES, YES, YES... I installed XM, FM modulated, last fall in the San Diego test market. After 6 months of use, I could never go back. When you talk about the cost, I'm saving money with XM! I have not purchased a single CD or book on tape in over six months, and I am much more content with my commute time. It is amazing how fast the 5:00 hour passes while listening to shows like the Factor on FOX. Also, the quality of the FM modulated sound far exceeds my initial expectations. I have a high end factory headset and the XM sound is far superior to digital FM stations and very close to that produced by CD. Understand that XM is new technology, and there are going to be service glitches. San Diego has experienced its share. Overall, my XM purchase was worth every penny. I wish automakers would install XM headsets in all new vehicles. It is better and cheaper than a CD changer.
#28 of 1618 by timadams Apr 10, 2002 (7:28 am)
Are any syndicated talk radio shows available on XM?   Don Imus? G. Gordon Liddy? Don and Mike? Sports Junkies?
#29 of 1618 timadams by oldsman01 Apr 10, 2002 (4:20 pm)
I don't think there are too many syndicated programs on XM. Other than the news channels and a few other music channels, most of the XM programming is directly from their broadcast center in Washington DC.   ssminton, I'm with you on XM. I've had it since November and have only purchased about 2 cds since then. It is well worth the $9.99 a month. As for factory installed systems, they are coming. I think GM will offer it on about 18 different models for 2003 and other automakers have also signed on with XM or Sirius. Within 5 years it will probably be about as common as cd players in cars.
#30 of 1618 Syndicated Programs Cont. by ssminton Apr 10, 2002 (6:12 pm)
timadams, there are plenty of "tradition" talk radio programs available through XM. In addition to the new programming being produced through the XM studio, many traditional radio and TV broadcast stations are transmitted via XM. ABC talk radio in New York is rebroadcast in its entirety, but segments of many other syndicated shows are contained over several talk stations. For example, many of KFI's, AM 640 out of LA, are rebroadcast on the XM house talk channels. You just have to play with it to find them. I personally like the rebroadcast of the news stations such as BBC, CNBC, and Fox news.   Also, in addition to syndicated programs, the "best of" national music stations are also broadcast, i.e. TOP 40 station out of LA and Country out of Nashville. I think the rebroadcasting of top radio/TV is a great complement to XM's programming.

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