XM Radio (or Sirius)

[MATCHBX]

XM is much better these days than back then. Sirius is actually the struggling company. XM just added 10 new channels. Plus you get XM online with your subscription. Opie and Anthony are included as well. With Stern going over to Sirius, they are going to be having some issues. Stern is getting sued by CBS (his former employer) because of the way he exitted. To the tune of 500 million dollars. The same amount Sirius is paying him. They put all their nuts into one basket with him and he's not delivering. Back in the day he was worth listening to. Now he just sucks. O&A are the way to go now. Their material is 100 times better. XM has Nascar (I know roundy round racing), NHL, MLB, etc. Plus Xm is the only one of the 2 that has a portable device that you can listen to the programming live rather than having to record it then play it back. They are leagues ahead of Sirius as far as the technology goes.

[Halon]

Well I ended up getting Sirius. WE'll see how it goes. If it sucks bad then I'll prolly end up just selling it and getting XM.

[Kracka]

What type of contract did you have to sign?

[Halon]

No contract. I signed up for the year plan though to save money. But if I cancel before then, I get reimbursed.

[MATCHBX]

That's the same way XM is. I am on the every 3 month plan.

[Halon]

So far so good. Those of you with the portable units that attach to the windshield, what do you guys do with the antenna? Mine is just kinda shoved behind the unit, and I know that isn't ideal, but I don't want it just swinging around the dash everytime I take a turn.

[AJ]

In case you question a change: http://www.radiosatellite.org/

Very strong comparison of the 2 in their current forms. Sirius has a better satelitte situation currently than XM's 2 made by Boeing. This is comparable only to the area they cover though. Since Boeing's allows coverage in more dense area's (Canada and Alaska) and Sirius does not. Probably not relevent here.

[MATCHBX]

I wouldn't put a huge amount of faith in everything listed on that site. There are partners that are missing, channels that are wrong and a few other flaws.

[AJ]

Bringing this one back up. More so to chat about current receivers.

I have 2 options with the 6. Spend around $600 to have the mazda equipment installed to make my factory system a full working Sat radio ready unit. No additional antenna, everything is hooked up under the dash, and the wires are run under the carpet with everything else. Just like it would of came if we would of opted for it as a factory option.

Or I can spend under $250 for a receiver to be installed on the side of my current radio, and have a portable reciever to use as well. I'm leaning to this direction just for the cost aspect alone.

But I am not sure what receiver I would go with. We are thinking about the Starmate 4 but the downfall is how do all these compare when we talk about sound quality? I've been told by one best buy intalled that going with the factory setup will result in 50x better qaulity of sound and if cost isn't an issue he'd suggest that over anything they would sell.

But at Circut City i was advised it wouldn't even be noticeable and it's all personal choice on what type of unit you want to work with.

[Kracka]

Personally I would go the factory route so its all integrated as one unit. If for no other reason than just having a much cleaner install. I would assume your steering wheel controls would be able to adjust the sat stations.