I Bought A Sirius Boombox For Work....Satellite Newbie!!!! (1 Viewer)

[Blu]

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!!!!

 

[Ronald Epstein]

Blu,

Welcome to the wonderful world of Satellite radio.

You will never listen to FM again. Promise!

 

[Blu]

I believe you!

Only two days into it and FM just doesn't sound the same anymore!!

 

[Kirk Gunn]

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 !

 

[Blu]

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.

 

[Jeff D Han]

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.

 

[Ronald Epstein]

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.

 

[Jeff D Han]

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.

 

[Michael St. Clair]

If you like talk, check out Alex Bennett, Jay Thomas, and Mojo Nixon. Great stuff, and only on Sirius...no terrestrial, no FM!

 

[Steve Phillips]

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.

 

[Blu]

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.

 

[TedT]

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?

 

[Blu]

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

 

[Brian Elwood]

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.

 

[Arman]

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.

 

[Ralph B]

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!

 

[Ronald Epstein]

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.

 

[Blu]

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!!!!

 

[Ronald Epstein]

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.

 

[mylan]

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.