XM Satellite Radio

Little House on Unaka | May 21, 2006 | don-o

[don-o]

I looked on the Best Buy and Curcuit City sites. Not a lot of help there. So, I turn to the smartest and savviest folks on the planet for advice.

I want a portable unit - car and home/office. Also speakers for the latter. I have a great set of speakers in the car.

[beavus]

Is there some question or point to this post?

[don-o]

Sorry. Thought it was obvious. What should I buy?

[NormsRevenge]

Buy American..

If you can. :-D

[billbears]

I have the Pioneer version. I've had a few problems with XM's customer service (billing my cc correctly), but that's been worked out. It's good for what it is. Course I only listen to 2 or 3 stations (Highway 16 and a couple of the rock stations)

[beavus]

I have XMRadio with a built-in FM modulator and remote control. Works great in the car. I bought a separate home kit which I plug into a set of computer speakers. Sounds great there too. The radio comes in a cradle, so to transport it I just lift it out/drop it in.

In the end, however, I rarely take it out of my car.

[don-o]

Anything else, Nork? I am seriesly needing some guidance from experience here!

But, wisecracks are also welcome. Ping your list, please.

[CheyennePress]

I'm a broke student, so what do I know?

On matters like these, I generally go to epinions.com. You can usually find quite a few reviews there from individual users, so you learn what you're looking for and what to be aware of.

[Reactionary]

For my home/office I listen to an online radio station I created. It beats the hell out of anything available commercially. In my humble opinion... :)

http://www.pandora.com

[don-o]

Sounds like what I want - plugging into computer speakers at home is what I want to do do. What model did you get?

Also what about a set of speakers for the office?

[don-o]

I trust freepers to give me knowledge where I am ignorant. Thanks.

[WestCoastGal]

Pinging the XM expert.

[CFC__VRWC]

I have the Delphi Sky-Fi2 unit. It comes with a car kit that incluses a mounting bracket/interface cradle and antenna. The receiver itself uses a low-powered FM transmitter to allow it play through the car stereo. It runs for about 80-100 dollars or so, depending on where you shop, rebates, etc. If you don't feel like changing FM stations when a strong ground signal takes up your slot, there are cassette player adapters available.

You can buy a home stereo kit for it that runs about 50 bucks or so - that kit includes the interface cradle and the antenna. I use that in my office - just plugged it into the Aux input on my stereo there. Also, Delphi sells a boom box that you can plug it into to take to the beach, the park, etc. That runs about 100 dollars. It takes 6 D-cell batteries (but an AC adapter is included), and you'll get 10-12 hours of play out of one set of batteries.

[spectre]

I'm not sure of your specific question. If you get the XM SKYfi radio, car kit and boombox it will cost about $200. With this unit you can easily move the receiver from car to home to office, etc. I buy the service by the year so the annual cost runs about $120.

It is one of those things that when you DO get it you can never live without it. :>)

[don-o]

Thanks Gal! I am hot to stimulate the economy today!

[don-o]

And, missed you at the race last night, such as it was.

[don-o]

Looking for brand names. That helps. Sorry my post was unclear.

Thanks

[beavus]

I have the Delphi SkyFi2. It has nice features, like a multiline display, stock quotes/sports banner, replay; but the one I find I can't go without is the remote control.

Any computer speakers will do. I use the Bose computer speakers. They are small and come with a nice controller with handy mute/volume controls and in/out audio plugs. They also have a nice dynamic range without distorion or static.

[WestCoastGal]

Thanks don-o I hurt my back trying to unstick a bathroom window. Hard to sit at the computer for very long.

As it turned out that was a terrible race anyway, if they use the same tire next week someone will get hurt!!

[don-o]

It is one of those things that when you DO get it you can never live without it. :>)

The older I get the less I sleep. And broadcast radio, in the wee hours stinks bad.