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I Bought A Sirius Boombox For Work....Satellite Newbie!!!!

post #1 of 37
7/14/05 at 5:49pm
Thread Starter 
After much debate, reading many sites, and lots of advice I bought a Sirius boombox with two antenna extensions for work.

FM reception really really sucks in our workplace so the problem we had to overcome was trying to get a antenna outside which we solved with the extensions and some going above the ceiling tiles.

Despite the Sirius hardware seeming to lag behind the XM hardware I came to the conclusion that Sirius had the better programming, especially when it came to sports.

I have been very impressed!!! My expectations have been exceeded!!! I really didn't know what to expect with playlists, talk shows, and variety but after just two days of listening and channel surfing, I'm blown away as well as most of the people where I work who are also thinking of buying a system. I know that talk is cheap but wow everyone was impressed with the quality and variety!!! Not to mention the glaring lack of commercials!!!

Satellite Radio Rocks!!!!
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post #2 of 37
7/15/05 at 3:06am
Blu,

Welcome to the wonderful world of Satellite radio.

You will never listen to FM again. Promise!
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post #3 of 37
7/15/05 at 4:40am
Thread Starter 
I believe you!

Only two days into it and FM just doesn't sound the same anymore!!
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post #4 of 37
7/17/05 at 6:54am
Blu - congrats on making the jump ! How is the sound quality on the boombox ? Unfortunately I have not been able to hear one yet....

Thanks !
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post #5 of 37
7/17/05 at 8:07am
Thread Starter 
It is very good and will turn up louder than I would want it to be in a work place. It sounds clear and crisp!

I'm very happy with it! If I knew the exact model number I'd give it to you but I can tell you it is the newest Audiovox offering.
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post #6 of 37
7/17/05 at 1:13pm
Hi guys-

I think I may jump into satellite radio in the
near future. I know this is a naive question,
but is the signal reliable, or can it get like
satellite TV (lose the signal in storms and clouds)?

I think I'll probably subscribe to Sirius- I heard that
the NFL package is exclusive to Sirius. I've been fed
up with commercial radio for a long time- program directors
that either don't have a clue or are hamstrung by their
sponsors, self-important DJs who think they are funny, and
all the stinking ads.
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post #7 of 37
7/17/05 at 1:23pm
Jeff,

If you like Sports, I can't fault you on
choosing Sirius. For music, XM has a much
wider playlist with far less repeats.

As for signal loss....

If you are getting satellite radio for the car....

Sirius satellites are higher in the sky. They
can't get under things such as underpasses, bank
window or gas sation overhangs. This causes seconds
of signal loss when driving or stopping under those
conditions.

I live in the NYC Metro area where you would think
Sirius would have have installed repeaters to combat
the problem, but despite complaints, they have not.

I don't have this problem with XM as their
satellies orbit lower and can more readily get
under obstacles.

That's not to say XM is perfect in combatting
ocassional signal loss, but with that company I
rarely have a single dropout on the road.

As far as both companies are concerned when listening
indoors, you need to have your antenna by a window
facing in an optimal direction. It may be south west,
but I am uncertain.

Otherwise the signal dropout issue is really nominal.
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post #8 of 37
7/18/05 at 2:23am
Thanks for the info, Ron.

The only sport that I REALLY need to keep up with
is the NFL, so Sirius is the best choice for me.
If there is only occasional drop out of signal, then
I can live with that- it beats radio static anytime.
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post #9 of 37
7/18/05 at 10:58am
If you like talk, check out Alex Bennett, Jay Thomas, and Mojo Nixon. Great stuff, and only on Sirius...no terrestrial, no FM!
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post #10 of 37
8/9/05 at 8:02am
I've just received a Sirius car system (not installed yet) and I'm thinking of getting a boom box for the house also. I was concerned about indoor reception, but Ron's post seems to indicate it may not be an issue.
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post #11 of 37
8/9/05 at 3:52pm
Thread Starter 
The way we installed it at work is with two 50 foot antenna extensions with the antenna setting outside. The boombox is at least 90 feet inside the building. Reception is good and strong

A coworker just spent 12 hours on the road with XM and was far happier with the programming of Sirius. I have the boombox transmitting on FM and his shop picks it up very well. He is saving for a Sirius system.
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post #12 of 37
8/18/05 at 3:29pm
If I get a boombox, but sit near a window, will I be OK? I don't really have access to get an antenna to the outside of my window.

Also, is there a headphone jack on the boombox?
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post #13 of 37
8/19/05 at 9:33pm
Thread Starter 
I would think it would be fine as long as the window faces the direction of the satellites.

And yes there is a headphone jack on my boombox
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post #14 of 37
8/23/05 at 12:31pm
Ronald Epstein - you keep talking about a wider playlist that XM has but you fail to mention that BOTH are still wider then FM.

With that in mind perhaps wider is not always better. I listne to Octane on Sirius and their playlist seems pretty wide - yet I do hear repeats from time to time, HOWEVER, hearing great music more then once is not a bad thing!

PERSONALLY - after looking at both Sirius is way way better then XM with rock. (in my humble opinion).

On a personal non-scientific note - I listen to Sirius 8 hours a day and I rarely hear the same song more thing once on Octane 20.
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post #15 of 37
8/28/05 at 1:26pm
Just bought Delphi's SKYFi2 and signed up with XM - I am now officially a XMnatic (Yeah, kiss my *** FM! ). Next week or so, the all new and much-improved audio gears (including the satellite & iPod ready head unit + the sweet & awesome sounding Focal speakers) of my car will be installed - am not sure if I'll put up a 2nd XM or try Sirius on that one.
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post #16 of 37
9/1/05 at 6:09pm
funny thing is......


after you listen to sat radio for a long time and then turn on FM for the fun of it. even on a clear FM station you will notice the static slightly now which i never noticed before owning sat.


FM is a joke!
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post #17 of 37
9/2/05 at 2:28am
Quote:
Ronald Epstein - you keep talking about a wider playlist that XM has but you fail to mention that BOTH are still wider then FM.

This is very true, and I have never made
a point to say otherwise.

What I am warning is that for music, Sirius
is FM radio without the commercials whereas they
stay concentrated on the top hits, consistently
repeating the same music day in and day out.
That's their programming philosophy, and for
many subscribers it suits their needs I'm sure.

The XM playlist is far wider. You'll hear songs
you haven't heard in a long time. It's the kind
of stuff that makes you say "oh wow" rather than
"why are they playing that same song again?!"

Personally, with the amount of satellite radio
I listen to on a daily basis, I couldn't tolerate
Sirius. Too much repetition. At least with XM,
I don't hear the same music over and over again.
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post #18 of 37
9/2/05 at 6:25pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
consistently repeating the same music day in and day out.


Can you give a few songs as examples please?
I'm not a subscriber to XM but would like something to compare with.

Quote:
The XM playlist is far wider.

And this please?


I'm not being confrontational or anything but would just like to have some examples to your point.

I looked over the lineups for XM and didn't see anything that wasn't on Sirius for example: I saw what Boneyard played and didn't see anything that Sirius didn't play on Hair Nation.

I looked at Top Tracks and didn't see anything that Buzzsaw didn't play or how Squizz compares to Octane. Other than the differences in name I see very little in differences.

You can look at Sirius Backstage and go to Song Seek and see exactly what has been played and how often.

I just don't see much of a difference of a wider play list in the services. However I do know two people at work who have new vehicles equipped with XM and both of them enjoy Sirius programming better. (They tune their FM radios to the broadcast frequency of my boombox to pick up the signal)

As I said, I can't compare the services only but what I hear from others. I don't really think there is a right or wrong approach to the programming of either station.

Basically to me the wide array of sports is what helped make the Sirius decision for me Come on! All NFL all the time!!!!
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post #19 of 37
9/3/05 at 5:37am
Hi, Blu!

Specific songs? Pends on what channel you are
listening to.

Sirius plays the top hits from a particular decade
or current Billboard listing and puts it in such
heavy rotation that it sounds like an FM station.

There's very little room for many of the other
hits that didn't fare as well in the charts, but
are songs that have become personal listener favorites.

I heard the most repeats on the decades and classic
rock channels. Same songs in heavy rotation with many
hits not even played.

XM concentrates on less repetition and playing a
variety of songs, in addition to the hits, that don't
often get played on FM. As I put it previously, there
is a "Oh Wow!" factor that exists on XM that is missing
from Sirius.

Really, what it all boils down to is personal taste.
Like repetition, great talk and just the hits? Sirius
is for you. Are you a someone that enjoys a wider
selection of playlists? XM is for you.
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post #20 of 37
9/3/05 at 6:12am
I have very little experience with satellite radio but a resort I go to plays XM around the pool. To give you an idea of how wide the playlist is, they were playing an 80's
channel and I heard a Styx song that has never been in heavy rotation (can't remember the title) and the long version of Sweet "Love Is Like Oxygen". When is the last time you heard THAT one?!
I can't wait to install XM in my whole house audio system but I failed to run an antenna or a raceway to accomodate an antenna. Hi Fi Buys had a display with Polk's XM receiver and the antenna was sitting there pointing outside
30 ft. from the door so maybe I will be ok.
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post #21 of 37
9/3/05 at 6:47am
hate to rain on anyones parade but.......


"Love is like Oxygen" is played all the time on the classic rock FM station around here and yes, they do play the long version.

as well as very old styx songs too.

yes, FM! lol


I have siruius and I hear alot of songs I never hear on FM and I am very much into obscure music. so I would love to hear what XM plays that makes it so obscure. with the cheap receiver price it might make me jump if someone can convince me.
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post #22 of 37
9/3/05 at 7:17am
You are not raining on my parade, but around Atlanta stations are so competitive that they play the same songs over and over. Daytime is the worst, I have heard more obscure songs played late at night but who wants to stay up past midnight to hear different music? Even the classic stations around here playing "deep cuts" always play the song you figure they will.
Obviously you have been convinced by satellite radio since you have Siruius but don't piss on XM for the rest of us. When I get ready to buy satellite radio i'll figure out which fits my needs by the programming and if I get the "other" one chances are i'll never know what i'm missing.
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post #23 of 37
9/3/05 at 7:49am
Thread Starter 
I don't think anyone is disputing the fact that Satellite is far superior to FM and any rotation.

Hair Nation is what I listen to most at work and I hear bands such as:
W.A.S.P.,London Quireboys,King's X, Salty Dog, Badlands, Blue Murder, Shark Island, Leatherwolf.

Now I was a huge WASP fan and I am familiar with a lot of the bands I listed. I rarely hear a repeated song on Hair Nation and I doubt that WASP was ever heavily on the radio during the Hair Band heyday. Well I know they weren't where I live and occasionally the KATT would play Forever Free. WASP's radio friendly ballad from The Headless Children album.

They go very deep into the bands like Bon Jovi, GNR, Motley, Judas, Def Leppard, Warrant, and Poison. Granted they were more of the quintessential Hair Bands but they also play Metal Church, Metallica, the occasional Slayer, Black Sabbath, Alice, and some very obscure bands I couldn't even begin to remember and I wouldn't swear to it but I think I heard King Diamond the other day.

For someone who was in high school in the 80's when Heavy Metal became Heavy Metal before the Grunge scene, I know 80's Metal. I'm happy with the depth of this channel
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post #24 of 37
9/3/05 at 11:37am
who pissed on XM ? surely not me. I was asking to show me what they play that is so much more than sirius as I dont own XM, I was serious if someone could elaborate that I would jump if convinced. a little defensive are we? i think you took me the wrong way. I was making a point. XM recievers are quite cheap now.


Hair Nation is a great station and listen to it all the time. infact I was listening to it poolside. they do play alot of jackyl too and dont usually hear a repeat of them either. Im with you blu, alot of depth on hair nation.

love hearing kings X and wasp. they did play king diamond the other day too. wasp was never heavily played on FM even back in the day but you did hear it once in a while. I think i seen more wasp played on mtv(HBB) than on the radio. sirius hair nation plays alot of wasp and again not alot of repeats.
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post #25 of 37
9/3/05 at 2:33pm
Ummmm, sorry about that Ralph. I think what set me off was your statement that your FM stations played Love is like Oxygen and that it wasn't a big deal....well, stations around here suck vigoriously, I have neither XM or Sirius but I think that XM leads in hardware. I am thinking about whole house audio and XM has the Polk receiver and also the Russound. I have not seen that with Sirius so it makes sense to me to go with XM. I'm glad you enjoy Sirius, whenever I get around to it, it may work for me as well. Peace out....
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post #26 of 37
9/4/05 at 9:00am
NP, reason I picked sirius was for the football.


if I wasnt so broke I would try XM to see whichi like better. maybe I still will for a trial. $50 for a reciever is dam cheap!
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post #27 of 37
9/6/05 at 8:45am
Quote:
Ronald Epstein - you keep talking about a wider playlist that XM has but you fail to mention that BOTH are still wider then FM.

Very true. The Sirius bashers (XM fanboys) always say that Sirius is FM without the commercials. Actually, it's FM with 10x the playlist diversity (much more than that on some channels like Jam On and Disorder) and five times the station variety. That's not enough for some people, so they can go to XM with 100x the playlist instead of 10x. Neither have the limited playlists and genres of FM.

If you are interested in something way better than FM for music plus NFL and great exclusive talk, Sirius is a great way to go. If you want even greater diversity of music and don't care about the other stuff, go XM.

And no matter which you like, pray that both stay in business.

If you want something that
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post #28 of 37
9/18/05 at 11:42pm
Quote:
How is the sound quality on the boombox ? Unfortunately I have not been able to hear one yet....


I haven't signed to satellite yet but I bought the Sirius Sportster system because the boombox has an auxiliary input (which I used at work with my CD changer)

It says it's 5 watts but it's a great sounding 5 watts
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post #29 of 37
9/19/05 at 9:14am
let me preface this first by saying I don't have cable because there's too much to watch and too little time to do much else, plus it's getting incredibly expensive.

I've now had the Sirius Sportster Replay for 3 weeks and it goes with me wherever I go. To all the naysayers about Sirius and their music, I turn my nose to them because I love the music being played. Do they loop, sure, but far less than radio and they play tons of music styles if I'm lucky I hear on college radio stations. For all the people who say that Sirius' music doesn't have enough variety well I ask them what kinds of music do you listen to? Here's what I listen to

Techno, Electronic, and Old School Rap
Any kind of DJ'd music
90's Alternative, 80's alternative,
Acoustic Rock, R&B and Soul
Funkadelic, Jam, classic rock and roll, punk
Jazz (classic and modern and Swing)
Classical (doesn't matter)

Yeah, everything but country really...

So what does Sirius have for me?
2 classical and 3 jazz stations that more than suffice.
Left of Center for Indy rock, Alt Nation for 90's alternative, First Wave for 80's alternative, three really good electronic stations that do prog,trance, breakbeats, remixes, and ambient electronic/music.

I've got all the classic rock and roll I need, and a new coffee shop station is coming out, plus the reggae, blues, etc.. so if I really feel that there's repetition, i just switch it. Everything else is bonus. I am more than satisfied with the variety

I blocked all of the useless channels to me: country and all of the news (Except BBC and NPR) and religious stations and made it my new entertainment machine catered to what I like.


PLUS
Sure I love stern, and have been a fan for over a dozen years. I can't wait for him to get on Sirius. You can bet that he made the decision for me, but I wanted to reap the benefits of the sports packages so I bought it early. I can still get the baseball games I want in on AM radio, but I love having every NFL game at my disposure, and I get more things done instead of watching every game. I get any college football game I could ever want, plus Raw Dog Comedy is a time-killer, 4 hours straight on Labor Day!

I've listened to the NFL channel and ESPN radio nearly every day since having it and it never gets old. So I honestly don't need Fox Sports Radio whose sports personalities I hate. I can still get Jim Rome for free and I can't wait for the NBA so I can follow my Cleveland Cavs and Denver nuggets while living in Detroit. And I think it's cool they cover some other sports that's not the big three too... A definite edge for sports programming and talk/entertainment for Sirius in my opinion.


HardWare
Would it have been nice to wait for a portable? Sure, but I'm not going to spend a couple of hundred dollars for it. I'll wait for the bugs to get worked and for them to come out with one that is reliable. I got the Sportster Replay and it totally fits my needs, and once I found a use for the 44 minute recording ability (listening to regular radio for Jim Rome or Howard Stern and listening to Sirius on the long commercial breaks rule!) and who needs 4 hours of recording time, I just plug my minidisc recorder into it and record tons of hours and archive it that way.

So not denying XM's great hardware, but it's still overpriced for me, and for the type of listening of music, the sports packages, and sports coverage, there is no draw for XM for me. One thing that it has actually, and that's the Cinemagic, but I guess I can still buy CD's for scores and soundtracks. I hope that XM continues as good as it has, as I do hear good things about the music programming but I think Sirius has an equally good but different package. Competition is good, but I felt that I needed to speak for the Sirius fanboys too because Sirius gets way too much bashing for my liking on this site.
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post #30 of 37
9/19/05 at 10:49am
Ernie,

Thank You for your input. Good read.

Part of the Sirius bashing here is directly
my fault, I'll admit.

I had very bad experiences with Sirius and
their management team well over a year ago.
It's a long story, but the short of it is
that I actually went to their studios and did
a radio show only to have them botch it up
quite badly. Their only goal in the affair
was to get positive press on this forum.

Again, long story, but it greatly affected
the way I look at that service and its management.
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