Satellite Radio -- SIRIUS vs XM

[Crispy]

I have a Kenwood HU and I just bought the Kenwood Sirius Tuner and Antenna ... I'm pretty stoked on this but now I am actually wondering if there is a difference between the 2? XM boasts like 100 channels and I think Sirius is like 60+.. Are there differences or benefits over either? Secondly are any of the stations the same?

I'm thinking that it would be pretty much like internet radio (shoutcast) am I mistaken? Also, once the unit arrives how do I subscribe and is there a delay at all in turning the unit on after I pay a monthly fee?

I believe that I will put the antenna on the package tray and run the wires thru the seats and the console... will that give me good reception without having it in the window or mounted outside on the glass?

thanks in advance.. :)

[Excelcier]

Well the only thing I can tell you to help ease your mind is that the navigation system I do at work ( and have in my car ) is for Ford for their Lincoln vehicles. This is also the vehicles primary headunit for audio as well. I just started working on the 04 model year updates and Ford has requested the addition of the Sirius satellite radio vs. XM. I have one sitting on my desk next to me and I'm pleased with it... I may add it to my nav unit eventually but I prefer MP3's personally, even better control over what I hear. I rarely listen to the radio unless there's a traffic jam.

The antenna must be mounted over a ground plain so either it goes on the roof ( where my GPS antenna is too ) or if you want it on the package tray ( ours is cardboard covered in carpet ) than you'll have to add a ground plane behind it. Even still you may not be pleased with the performance as it needs a clear line of site in a 30 degree radius around it which you wouldn't be able to get from inside the vehicle. We just installed the Sirius antenna on the roof here at Pioneer for testing the system because we got crappy signal with it in a big open window facing the sky without blocking.

The activation is within minutes of calling up and setting it up.

[BrantlyJ]

I have XM and love it. I wouldn't trade it for anything. it has over 100 channels, a few have commercials but it's around like 5-6 minutes an hour (standard radio is about 15 minutes per hour) even with the commercials I rarley hear them caus ethe majority of the channels I listen to have them at all. You can even get the playboy channel for a fee on XM.

Sirius is about a year late to the game. I know they aren't doing as well at XM. I have heard complaints that Sirius repeats alot. Just like standard radio. I can listen to XM for 8 hours before I hear the same song twice. If Sirius dosen't pick up soon I wouldn't be surprized if they go belly-up. Someone told me they are already bankrupt.

As for the antenna if you have tinted windows it might not work to well. The anti-fading metal crap they put in window tint will block it. I have mine mounted to the roof. It's really not that bad. Being that your car is red you could paint it as long as it isn't metallic paint.

Satalliete is CD quality.

[CatMan]

I have XM in my car and a friend of mine has Sirius in his. I can't say enough about how awesome XM is. My friend says that he's pretty pleased with Sirius, but BrantlyJ said, they tend to repeat a little too often. I've also heard the rumors that Sirius is going under/filed for bakruptcy, et... but I don't know how much truth there is to them. I haven't really listened to Sirius all that much, so I can't really say if it's as good, better, or worse than XM, but I can say that XM rocks. Also, I have my windows tinted and the antenna on the rear deck. I very rarely have it lose signal, and sound quality is just fine. But I doubt I'd ever lose signal if it were on the roof, so kind of a trade off. I personally think it's worth losing the signal for a couple seconds a few times a month not to have the huge ugly antenna on the roof of my car.

[ReiKo]

get XM becuz siruis just took out a 1 billion dollar grant from the gov.

[Crispy]

thanks... but I have a Kenwood HU... I have to get Sirius correct? my tuner and antenna arrived yesterday so it will be installed this weekend most likely... is it really that bad seeing as how everyone is dogging it? I've always been a fan of Kenwood

[BrantlyJ]

if it's set up for siruis you have to get them. which I think sucks, they should make it so you can choose which provider you want.
personally I would return that stuff and get something that plays XM.....

[ReiKo]

WRONG.. SHE CAN get an adapter to play XM radio...

[mp91]

Crispy, as far as I know... in order to use the XM service, you would have to use the RF modulated tuner. Personally, I would much rather not. I used the FM modulator to my stock radio and it was horrible. I then decided to get a Pioneer HU that has the ipbus jack on it and hooked that up, MUCH BETTER!! Bottom line is, if you want XM... get a different cd player. Otherwise, get Sirius (Which I've heard good things about).

[Crispy]

thanks... The Sirius Tuner and Antenna will be installed tomorrow... I hope I am happy with it... if not.. I might just have to take the Pioneer plunge which I am not happy about..

Just as an FYI.. I found out that my HU has Sirius capabilities even though it is not supposed to.. not sure if XM is like that but for 2001 units not "ready for Satellite Radio" according to the box it will work w/o a modulator if you have a changer control on the back of your HU... just plug in the tuners cord into that spot and your good to go... at least that is how it is for my Kenwood MP3 Player which is a 2001 model.. The unit that was 1 step up for being Sirius ready was 100.00 + more... so I passed and later cried about not being able to get Sirius unless I get a FM Modulator... thanks to the Kenwood Forums for each model I found out this important detail.. Whooooo Hoooooo!! :biggrin:

[mp91]

That is true. Same goes for the Pioneer decks. They just have to have ipbus capibilities (cd-changer, etc). From what I noticed, you just don't get the "cool" XM graphic when you switch to the XM tuner. Good discovery though Crispy :)

[caenus]

Yeah I have a Sony MD deck w/ Sony disc changer plugged directly into it, I was looking around crutchfield (too expensive, but good info and pics) and saw that all you need for XM is a sony deck after 2000 - since thats when they started allowing the cd changers to be controlled directly from the deck ( i suppose ).

This probably probably similar along all brands of headunits, as long as your headunit has support for a cd changer it should be "xm ready". But best to check before investing all that money.

[ArizonaCougar]

Originally posted by: ReiKo
get XM becuz siruis just took out a 1 billion dollar grant from the gov.

Yeeahhh....um, just for future reference - a grant is free money. You don't take one out (like a loan), you write a proposal and it's "granted" to you, thus the term. Sorta like for college - grants/scholarships = free money. Loans = you pay back + interest.

Not trying to be a dick, but just wanted to set it straight...

[Slikrthnu]

I have a Pioneer 8400, and the Pioneer XM reciever. I like XM, its got TONS of kewl stuff on all the time. Also, I got the Equipment free threw werk ;)

[ReiKo]

i know what a grant and loan is.... and they did get a grant not a loan.. otherwise they would of gone bankrupt and XM would have a monopoly

[Cueball13]

Any difference between the two as far as reception? One of my friends had an XM and returned it because he was always losing the signal during normal driving after having two professional installers work on it. When he returned it, the manager said they get lots of returns on them for that reason.

[mp91]

I haven't completely lost my signal yet. However, I was driving through a long bridge and the signal became pretty bad (it can in the garage sometimes as well) but overall signal isn't an issue.

[Crispy]

Well my Sirius got installed and activated tonight and I must say that I am quite impressed... the sound and the signal are awesome.. I listened to a few channels for a few hours and everything I listened to was 100% commerical free.... I kept going back the The Rave station and it sounded better than a CD... my subs were hitting sooooo damn hard... I did mount the antenna on the package tray and ran the wires down under the rear seats and under the carpet and center console up to the unit... absolutely no probs with signal - minus the activation when I needed to drive the car outta the garage so they could send the signal to me...

THUMBS UP from me thus far...

[Alan]

I have Sirius as well and I am fairly happy with it...They changed their programming about a month ago...I think the programming was better before

[Crispy]

DOH! perhaps it is best I didn't have it earlier then.. cuz now I think it's the shizzy... heh!

[CGburns]

hmm yeah i was lookin at gettin the sirius as well but when i was told that big ugly antenna would have to be on the roof i was like ugh nahhh...didn't think it would work inside...hmmm maybe i'll reconsider now

[Crispy]

yeah same here... I thought it had to be in your front window or on the car.... I got the idea from Cru when I saw his XM antenna on his package tray at CF.... the reception is fine... I moved mine as far back to the window as I could and used velcro to attach versus the 3M that is on the unit.. it was really easy to run the wires down the rear seats under them.. and then up the console into the glove box area where I have mine mounted.. get it.. I think I spend a total of $120.00 for the tuner and the antenna brand new... then activation was $15.00 and now I pay $12.95 a month.. you can subscribe for a year and your costs would be less and more competitive with XM

[caenus]

Where'd you get the antenna and tuner for $120? I may get XM soon because I found out I don't have to replace my headunit. That $120 is probably Sirius prices but XM shouldn't be too far off.

[joshts0]

How do you have the playboy channel on a radio?

That sounds.. dumb...

[Crispy]

Originally posted by: caenus
Where'd you get the antenna and tuner for $120? I may get XM soon because I found out I don't have to replace my headunit. That $120 is probably Sirius prices but XM shouldn't be too far off.
Both the XM and the Sirius Antenna are 49.99 thru Crutchfield right now... and I bought the tuner off E-Bay brand new for under 70.00 :biggrin:

[mp91]

The Playboy channel on XM is a premium service that is an additional $2.99? a month. I don't personally have it but I guess there is mixed reactions on it. From what I hear, it can be entertaining but others say its plain stupid. If you are intersted, check out clubxm.com's forums.

[ND4SPD]

Originally posted by: Crispy
thanks... The Sirius Tuner and Antenna will be installed tomorrow... I hope I am happy with it... if not.. I might just have to take the Pioneer plunge which I am not happy about..
No way dude! my past two headunits have been Pioneer - they both rocked serious ass :biggrin:
i mean... the one i have now even has like... a repeating clip of dolphins swimming around, or people skydiving, and like 8 other video modes :wiggle:

[1badcat]

well i hate to, but i just have to pipe in here. first of all there are major differences between the sirius, and XM tuners and how they work. when sirius first came out they were still in the developmental stages of the programing and coding getting the digital signal into the radio. they are now well past that point, and if youve had sirius for a while then youve more than likely noticed a huge sound quality difference over the time theyve been around. second they are not broke and have no intentions of being so. sirius is 100% COMMERCIAL FREE!!! XM is NOT. and xm does overplay songs. if you listen to channels 20, or 21 on xm for more than a hour and a half i bet youll here at least 3 repeats. and in case you dont know how satellite works, the sirius satellites are in better locations to the earth than the xm satellites. they are higher (more vertical) and have better chances of not cutting out, where as xm has to use repeaters and repeaters and more repeaters. im not saying xm is bad. ive had it and loved it, but i will be making the switch to sirius because it offers better service, and of course because i can control it through my eclipse headunit, which i will not change. later
josh

[Crispy]

HI Josh! :wave:

The only complaints that I have so far with the Sirius service is that when I go under overpasses I lose the broadcast... I assume it is true with either brand.. I have a covered parking ramp at work and unbelievably it picked up a signal the whole way in right up until when I parked the car and put it in park... and yes, he is correct 100% commerical free... I'm addicted to "The Rave" station and like I said before it sounds 100 times better than a CD in my system.... I love it :bowdown:

[Keane]

Josh, you are 99-44/100% correct about sirius vs. xm. Before I go on, let me first say that I'm not trying to pick a fight or say that I know more than you. I just want to make a couple of clarifications, based on my work with the people at XMSR.

First, Sirius recently released their new chipset for the tuners. I am under the impression (but don't know it to be fact) that the improved sound quality would only be available to people who buy the new tuners with the 2nd generation chipset. This was a point of contention in a magazine sponsored head-to-head comparison of the services and the sound quality -- that the XM sound quality was superior to Sirius, especially in the treble area of the frequency spectrum. That sound quality issue with Sirius seemed to be rooted in the CODECs used to translate the digital signal into analog.

Second, the dead horse of commercials on XM continues to be flogged. It's one thing to say that there are commercials on XM, but it's another thing to point out the truth that over two thirds of the 100 channels on XM are COMMERCIAL FREE. I listen to XM Ch. 11 (Nashville), XM Ch. 40 (Deep Tracks), XM Ch. 44 (Fred), XM Ch. 45 (XM Cafe), XM Ch. 46 (Top Tracks), XM Ch. 47 (Ethel), XM Ch. 48 (Squizz), XM Ch. 73 (Frank's Place) and XM Ch. 74 (Bluesville). The only one of those channels that has any commercials is XM Ch. 48 (Squizz), and if you compare the amount of commercial content to music between XM and regular old FM radio you will find that XM averages about 8 minutes of commercials while regular old FM radio averages about 20-24 minutes of commercials. Bottom line: it really isn't that big of a deal.

Third, as for XM channels 20 & 21 being guilty of repeating songs -- all I can say is "DUH". XM Ch. 20 is in the "Hits" category, and that channel is known as the "Top 20 on 20". They repeat the same Top 20 songs over and over again. When the Top 20 changes, they change the playlist. XM Ch. 21 is a simulcast of the Los Angeles station KISS FM. The XM management and DJs have no control over the playlist on XM Ch. 21. It is what it is. You either like it or you don't. Typically, you will find that if the satellite radio channel (regardless of whether it is Sirius or XM) you are listening to is very close in content to what is already available on regular old FM radio, then you are much more likely to hear regular repeats of songs. Those songs are in the "Heavy" rotation, according to radio jargon. I'm familiar with the technicalities of programming the music as I was a DJ at an AOR/Classic Rock station (KLBJ-FM 93.7) back home while I was in college.

Edit: forgot to put XM Ch. 44 (Fred) in my favorites list.

[ND4SPD]

...so in conclusion Satalite Radio kicks major ass. :biggrin: