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Who's got satellite radio?

post #1 of 63
10/6/04 at 3:30pm
Thread Starter 
I'm thinking of getting it.
I'm basically out of touch with any music recorded in the past ten years and I also love punk, progressive, and british invasion stuff. I would love to hear some new good music as well.
Is satellite the way to go? I'm eyeballing Sirius since Howard Stern is going there next year.
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post #2 of 63
10/6/04 at 3:34pm
My dad has XM. Since he's overseas, he's been letting me use his service. I like it, especially for sports and ESPN radio.
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post #3 of 63
10/6/04 at 4:40pm
I have been kicking around the same idea.

I have sirius on my dishnetwork, and it does have some good channels, but I was leaning towards XM for my car because it offers a channel called Cinemagic, or something like that, that plays all movie soundtracks.

If I had my choice, I'd try and figure out a way to listen to my mp3 player. I have a CD player in my new car, so I can't use the tape adapter I was using before.

Edited to add that i just went to his website and he has an XM radio banner ad...I don't know if that means anything though.
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post #4 of 63
10/6/04 at 4:44pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Electrichead

If I had my choice, I'd try and figure out a way to listen to my mp3 player. .
I too would just invest in an Ipod if I didn't have such out of date taste in music. I would love to hear what's being made these past few years, but regular radio plays only a steady diet of Linkoln Park and Good Charlotte. I don't have time or money to invest in blind buying CD's or downloading music (dial-up connection).
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post #5 of 63
10/6/04 at 4:47pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Electrichead
but I was leaning towards XM for my car because it offers a channel called Cinemagic, or something like that, that plays all movie soundtracks.
Yeah, I listen to that as well.

Quote:
Originally Posted by BobClark
I too would just invest in an Ipod if I didn't have such out of date taste in music.
You'd be surprised with what older tunes you can find on the net these days. But with a dial-up connection, that might be roughing it.
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post #6 of 63
10/6/04 at 4:48pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by BobClark
I too would just invest in an Ipod if I didn't have such out of date taste in music. I would love to hear what's being made these past few years, but regular radio plays only a steady diet of Linkoln Park and Good Charlotte. I don't have time or money to invest in blind buying CD's or downloading music (dial-up connection).
I feel your pain on the dial-up...I'm in the same boat.

Maybe you can just rip all the CD's you have now. That's what I did, as I really don't like too much modern stuff either.
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post #7 of 63
10/6/04 at 4:48pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Electrichead
I feel your pain on the dial-up...I'm in the same boat.

Maybe you can just rip all the CD's you have now. That's what I did, as I really don't like too much modern stuff either.
There are also local libraries as well that sometimes have older CD collections.
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post #8 of 63
10/6/04 at 4:52pm
[QUOTE=Electrichead]I have been kicking around the same idea.

I have sirius on my dishnetwork, and it does have some good channels, but I was leaning towards XM for my car because it offers a channel called Cinemagic, or something like that, that plays all movie soundtracks.
QUOTE]
I'm listening to it right now at http://www.xmradio.com/programming/c...page.jsp?ch=27 online. It's alright, but I'd rather have just the music. The dialogue clips are distracting.

Is Cinemagic relatively new? When I was researching XM and Sirius earlier this year, I passed on both because neither catered to film music fans.
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post #9 of 63
10/6/04 at 4:54pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by ObiJuan
Is Cinemagic relatively new? When I was researching XM and Sirius earlier this year, I passed on both because neither catered to film music fans.
No, I'm pretty sure it was one of the earlier channels that XM had slated early on.
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post #10 of 63
10/6/04 at 5:15pm
Thread Starter 
The XM website has a big picture of Opie and Anthony on the main page. I vomited in my lap.

The thing is, I want to hear the new music, just not the stuff that gets regular radio play. Satellite seems like it can offer that as well as my beloved classic rock, disco, and old time radio dramas. I'm wondering about reception, sound quality, variety, etc.
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post #11 of 63
10/6/04 at 5:20pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by BobClark
The XM website has a big picture of Opie and Anthony on the main page. I vomited in my lap.

The thing is, I want to hear the new music, just not the stuff that gets regular radio play. Satellite seems like it can offer that as well as my beloved classic rock, disco, and old time radio dramas. I'm wondering about reception, sound quality, variety, etc.
Reception depends on where you live. There are some sites out there with user forums that rate the quality in areas across the US. I live in Indiana and get decent reception. It also depends on what equipment you get. I have a Sony receiver that I can mount on my dashboard if I want to. The sound quality is good. Much like comparing satellite TV to cable, if you know what I mean.

The variety is good, might consider a trial period, but it does require you to purchase some equipment, I believe. Obviously if the service was pure crap, it wouldn't still be around, you know?

Again, search Google for some sites. I know they're out there.
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post #12 of 63
10/6/04 at 8:49pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by BobClark
I'm wondering about reception, sound quality, variety, etc.
I read a review about a year ago I believe saying something to the effect that XM had better overall sound quality than Sirius mainly because XM's signals weren't as heavily compressed. Personally, I've never actually heard Sirius so I can't comment on whether the above is accurate or not, but I have heard XM and at least around here (Los Angeles) it's near CD quality sound. Very nice variety as well.
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post #13 of 63
10/11/04 at 2:51pm
I've been leaning towards getting this next year as well, hoping for a little price drop in equipment during the holidays this year. I'm looking at Sirius, for the pure fact that they have the NFL game package available. I don't have a long commute to work, but we do pretty much drive on every vacation/trip that we take, and I would love to not have to worry about taking CDs, or stations fading in and out during the car ride.

And I'm betting that the monthly charge will drop to about $10/mo. in the next 4-6 months. Plus I own stock in Sirius now as well.
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post #14 of 63
10/11/04 at 3:14pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Martianman
Plus I own stock in Sirius now as well.
I sent for investing information a few days ago.
How much did you buy, if you don't mind my asking.
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post #15 of 63
10/11/04 at 3:15pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by BobClark
I sent for investing information a few days ago.
How much did you buy, if you don't mind my asking.
Sounds like a good idea, they should make a killing after Stern moves there. I know I'll subscribe.
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post #16 of 63
10/11/04 at 3:23pm
Thread Starter 
Exactly. I think his move to satellite could be a breakthrough for that industry.
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post #17 of 63
10/12/04 at 3:23pm
I didn't have much cash in my "play" account, so I only bought 25 shares. $3.29/ea., went up to $4/sh after the Stern deal, then some jackass broker from Barron's said the stock was "over priced" and that dropped it to about $3.50, where it is now. XM trades at like $28/sh.
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post #18 of 63
10/12/04 at 3:27pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Martianman
$3.29/ea., went up to $4/sh after the Stern deal, then some jackass broker from Barron's said the stock was "over priced" and that dropped it to about $3.50, where it is now. .
That's fine. Cheaper for me. Next year it should take off once Stern actually hits the air. That's when I predict people will actually start subscribing to Sirius and send the stock up legitimately.

Of course, I've never done this before, so I may very well take a bath.
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post #19 of 63
10/12/04 at 4:56pm
I was thinking the same thing about picking up some sirius stocks. I was listening to my usual weekly Saturday stock show and the host said that the deal is going to cost sirius so much that they need to get something like 1 million new subscribers to break even on it. I think the host was Doug Fabian, on 97.1 in LA, Howard's LA affiliate station. I don't know if this guy knows anything about it, but his point may give us something to think about.
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post #20 of 63
10/13/04 at 12:54am
I've got XM and LOVE it. XM>Sirius
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post #21 of 63
10/13/04 at 10:23am
Thread Starter 
Does XM have better reception?
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post #22 of 63
10/13/04 at 2:30pm
In my experience yes. I've got the Delphi XM SKYFi, Delphi SKYFi Vehicle Kit, the Delphi XM Radio Audio Adaptor (FM Modulator) and the Delphi SKYFi Audio System.
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post #23 of 63
10/13/04 at 2:33pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by BobClark
Does XM have better reception?
Yes, I believe it does.
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post #24 of 63
10/13/04 at 3:29pm
I love Sirius...DISH Network gives it to us for being their customers... never had XM
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post #25 of 63
10/14/04 at 5:30pm
Well, after I got all psyched up about Sirius because they have all the NFL games, I saw yesterday that XM has a comparable ACC package (and being an FSU fan, and they play in the ACC...). Dammit. So much for making an outright decision. Although I think I may still go with Sirius. Can't get enough of "Hair Nation"! And they have a "starter" kit offer on their website right now for $99 for the tuner plus a car adapter. And since I already have Sirius on Dish Network, I don't need it for the home.
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post #26 of 63
10/15/04 at 3:30pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Martianman
Well, after I got all psyched up about Sirius because they have all the NFL games, I saw yesterday that XM has a comparable ACC package (and being an FSU fan, and they play in the ACC...). Dammit. So much for making an outright decision. Although I think I may still go with Sirius. Can't get enough of "Hair Nation"! And they have a "starter" kit offer on their website right now for $99 for the tuner plus a car adapter. And since I already have Sirius on Dish Network, I don't need it for the home.
...well...since you have Sirius for the home...you could invest in XM for your vehicle...then, you're sportin' both of 'em.

my two cents
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post #27 of 63
10/15/04 at 3:36pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by PsYcHwArD101
...well...since you have Sirius for the home...you could invest in XM for your vehicle...then, you're sportin' both of 'em.

my two cents
But not as good as sportin' a woody. And I looked last night...Sirius on Dish doesn't have the NFL stations or the talk stations...just music.

Just read this on PCWorld.com about folks hacking XM radio:

Quote:
A band of car and computer hobbyists has reconnected the XM Radio broadcasts to PCs, after the satellite radio company discontinued hardware that was being used to copy and archive digital music from the service.

The XM satellite radio service is used largely through dedicated hardware, but until last month could be heard on a computer by using hardware that plugged directly into the PC. The company phased that PC link out, in part citing slow demand, after a Canadian programmer wrote software that allowed listeners to record and archive individual songs on a computer as MP3s.

Now a small Florida company that makes in-car computer systems has re-created its own version of the hardware, saying its customers want a way to hook their onboard PCs to an XM system.

The system may also be plugged back into the TimeTrax radio-recording software, again raising the possibility of pristine digital copying from the satellite service. The developers, at a company called Hybrid Mobile Audio, say they're more interested in giving people flexibility in listening to the XM Radio service, however.

"A lot of people in the MP3 car community...wanted XM satellite radio, but don't use normal (radio) units; they use touch-screen computers," said Ben Stahlhood, chief software architect for Hybrid Mobile Solutions. "We decided we could help them work out the problem."

The continued tension over XM's link to personal computers foreshadows what has already become a larger debate over new digital radio technology. Broadcasters are slowly moving to signals that provide pristine, CD-quality signals over the airwaves. Record companies in particular are worried that consumers will record music using TiVo-like devices, putting more downward pressure on music sales.

The Recording Industry Association of America has already asked the Federal Communications Commission to include some kind of copy-protection standard along with rules for digital radio technology.

The new XM Radio equipment also shines a light on a small community of hobbyists who are pioneering onboard car computer systems, however. The community, which hearkens back to the early "home brew" days of do-it-yourself computer builders in Silicon Valley, is creating car radio systems that are more like Media Center PCs than they are old-fashioned FM radio.

Some of those hobbyists had used XM Radio's PCR hardware to plug into their onboard computers. When that hardware disappeared, engineers at Hybrid Mobile took apart the remaining XM Radio receivers, figured out how they worked, and created a new piece of software and a cable that could support the XM technology, aimed at plugging it all back into a PC.

The new kit costs $40, and is available on Hybrid Mobile Solutions' Web site. Customers must be XM Radio subscribers, and purchase official XM Radio hardware in order to use the kit.

The company said it is in talks with TimeTrax, the company that created software for recording using the original PC-based hardware, to make the two companies' products work more closely together.

The satellite radio service recently launched a PC-based service, but the computer has to be connected to the Internet for it to function. A spokesman for XM Radio had no comment on the Hybrid Mobile product.
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post #28 of 63
10/15/04 at 3:40pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Martianman
But not as good as sportin' a woody. And I looked last night...Sirius on Dish doesn't have the NFL stations or the talk stations...just music.
oh...well, I didn't know that. I watch sports on ESPN so...doesn't really bother me with the radio stuff; however, I could see how that would annoy some people.
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post #29 of 63
10/29/04 at 1:12pm
XM All the way. My favorite channel is cinemagic!!
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post #30 of 63
10/29/04 at 1:28pm
The day they announced that MLB is coming, I got XM. I like it so far, though a lot of it will never be visited by me.
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post #31 of 63
10/29/04 at 2:11pm
I'm getting Sirius this weekend for my birthday (although it's still 2 weeks away). Just have to narrow it down to a tuner that I want (there's like 10 different tuner varieties).
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post #32 of 63
10/29/04 at 2:12pm
I'm upgrading my equipment through my father. He's buying a new system, and he's passing his older (but better than mine) system to me.
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post #33 of 63
10/29/04 at 7:38pm
I have the xm commander in my truck. Very clean install i will post pics later when i have some more time.
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post #34 of 63
10/30/04 at 3:48am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Electrichead
If I had my choice, I'd try and figure out a way to listen to my mp3 player. I have a CD player in my new car, so I can't use the tape adapter I was using before.
Look for something like this. I've seen them everywhere from Radio Shack to Walmart for similar prices.
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post #35 of 63
11/1/04 at 10:57am
Well, I picked it up this weekend and have not been disappointed. Listened to about 4 different NFL games on Sunday while I was driving around running errands (including listening to my Steelers end the "streak" of the Patriots). And I haven't even scratched the surface of all the music. Trying to get the internet listening piece set up right now (I'm waiting for my login and password to take effect). Will give it the major test this weekend when I road trip down to Tallahassee for a football game.
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post #36 of 63
11/9/04 at 7:06pm
This is probably kind of late but I have Sirius in my car and it is awesome. I don't really have road rage anymore because now I don't have to hear any stupid car sales commercials screaming at me or annoying dj's. I tried to to the Clarion plug and play system but it was too annoying - too many wires all around and the darn thing kept falling off the dashboard! So I ended up getting a new head unit from Crutchfield and that works beautifully. Thank goodness for satellite radio!!!
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post #37 of 63
11/11/04 at 11:03am
Hey, if you're interested...Sirius has a deal right now from their "SiriusDirect" website...you can get the tuner and 1 adapter (car or home) for FREE with a paid year's subscription. You pay S/H ($10) only. Go to sirius.com, under "Get Sirius", go to SiriusDirect, enter "261" for the promo code and click "Go", then choose your tuner, then enter "sirius" in the next code box and choose your adapter and hit "Go" again. You'll have a choice for either the year or lifetime ($499) membership and S/H. That's it. Don't know how long this will last.
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post #38 of 63
11/11/04 at 4:55pm
Thanks, Martianman. My Christmas shopping is officially done.
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post #39 of 63
11/23/04 at 3:57pm
Woo hoo! Sirius stock has doubled since I bought it. Now, if I'd only bought 250,000 shares instead of 25...

Oh, and I read on a thread in the Sirius Backstage forums that a guy has taken his XACT tuner (a portable Sirius tuner) on an airplane and successfully used it there. Pretty wild. I never would have thought about doing that. He just sat in a window seat and put the antenna right next to the window.

Oh, and since they've run out of the PNP2 tuners that you could get with the Stern offer, they've now started shipping out the XACT tuners instead. They're a little bigger than a cell phone, and you can buy a "pod" that will power it for up to 3 hours, so you can use it jogging, working out, on a plane, etc. Yeah, I know..."SHILL!".
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post #40 of 63
11/23/04 at 4:17pm
Sirius is royally fucking me. So far I've sent two emails and suffered through three 45 minute phone calls trying to find out why my goddamn order is stuck in the processing stage, and nobody seems too concerned with helping me.

Their stock may be rising, but their customer service sucks goat. Caveat emptor.
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post #41 of 63
11/23/04 at 4:22pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Slater
Sirius is royally fucking me. So far I've sent two emails and suffered through three 45 minute phone calls trying to find out why my goddamn order is stuck in the processing stage, and nobody seems too concerned with helping me.

Their stock may be rising, but their customer service sucks goat. Caveat emptor.
I've heard that ordering from Sirius Direct takes a while. I've read both sides--it sucks and it's great. I think that's why I stuck with getting one directly from the ol' brick and mortar building. They're getting killed with people ordering, which is a blessing and a curse, as you're finding out. Sorry it's taking forever for your order. Try posting something on the SiriusBackstage.com forums, or looking out there for "backdoor" numbers or suggestions. I've found out a lot of stuff by reading those forums.
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post #42 of 63
11/23/04 at 6:17pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jennifer
Look for something like this. I've seen them everywhere from Radio Shack to Walmart for similar prices.
Yeah, I got one of those and it sucked ass. Couldn't get it to keep the signal. It may be that I just got one that was too cheap. I may try again, or just get a XM/MP3/CD deck from Best Buy or something.
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post #43 of 63
11/29/04 at 1:30pm
Fuck Sirius. Without a doubt the very worst customer service I've EVER received from any company. Ever. In my life. Unreturned phone calls, unanswered emails, unkept promises, and after three weeks of no response, they decide today that I'll have to cancel my existing order and make a new one...except they won't let me use the same coupon.

Seriously, fuck them. I hope this company goes out of business, and now I'm buying XM just to spite these miserable, child-molesting cocksuckers. This has screwed up my entire Christmas shopping, and now I'm having to rush around and cancel five different orders for Sirius products. Just ridiculous.

So...anybody got any deals for XM...?
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post #44 of 63
11/29/04 at 1:35pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Slater
Seriously, fuck them. I hope this company goes out of business, and now I'm buying XM just to spite these miserable, child-molesting cocksuckers.
Good. Welcome to the club.
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post #45 of 63
12/1/04 at 1:46pm
I'm sorry you had a bad experience, Slater. I love my Sirius, especially after the 10-hour car ride we just endured for Thanksgiving. I was going b/w Xmas music, rock, NPR, and college and NFL football all during the ride.

eCost.com also has some deals right now on the older JVC tuner. Tuner and car kit for $59 plus S/H. And like I said, I may have paid more because I bought my tuner directly from a retailer, but I didn't have to "wait and see" from a mail-order place. Good luck with XM!
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post #46 of 63
12/1/04 at 1:52pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Martianman
eCost.com also has some deals right now on the older JVC tuner.
I can't seem to find this. Could you direct me to a link?
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post #47 of 63
12/1/04 at 2:43pm
I recieved XM for Christmas last year and I love it. Personally, I prefer XM to Sirius. One of my friends has Sirius, and maybe I just haven't heard enough on it because he only listens to one channel. I do occasionally get to flip through the channels, though, and the selection seems better on XM to me. I rarely get to listen to anything different than his stuff on Sirius, though, so my thoughts may be totally unfounded. I'm a big fan of Blues so my radio stays on Bluesville (Ch. 74) a lot. I also like Classic rock/metal (Ch. 41 - The Boneyard), classic country (Ch. 10 - America), and Jazz (Ch. 70 and 72), so I'm all over the dial and there's just a great selection for anything that you could want to listen to. The news, sports, and comedy channels are great to have, and for you movie soundtrack lovers, there's one channel devoted solely to movie scores. Like I said tons of great stuff, I hope this helps.
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post #48 of 63
12/1/04 at 4:58pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by L7 Productions
I can't seem to find this. Could you direct me to a link?
https://www.ecost.com/ecost/search/s...=1&incimage=on


Don't know if they have any left (as it's a "Bargain Countdown"), but it's worth a shot. I may buy the car adapter by itself (even though I have the newer tuner) just to get the 2nd antenna so I don't have to keep moving mine b/w vehicles, just the tuner and holder.
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post #49 of 63
12/1/04 at 5:04pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by BluesManBDR529
The news, sports, and comedy channels are great to have, and for you movie soundtrack lovers, there's one channel devoted solely to movie scores.
On their "recommendations" forum on Sirius Backstage a lot of people mention that "Cinemagic" channel.

And yeah, I can hardly stay on 1 station for too long. I thought all I'd listen to would be Hair Nation, but I bounce around to everything, and usually sit on NFL Radio for the longest time. And I love the Comedy Channels too. I sometimes stay on those all day long.
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post #50 of 63
12/1/04 at 5:28pm
I think this thread started a while ago, but here is my one cent (kinda late for two, huh?)

Anyway I have had XM for over a year now and I love it. I have the SKYFI Delphi tuner (the bigger one that hooks up to different kits). I have the car kit (for my car, duh!) and I have two boom boxes (and I saw that now they have a CD/XM boom box for sale but $199 is a little high, I was able to get my two boom boxes for only $80 thanks to a friend) , I keep one at work and one at home. I am getting the most out of my $10 a month, as I listen to it almost all day long..

I love all the sports radio stations (I'm a sports nerd..) like ESPN, FOX, Sporting News.. there is also a great talk station out of Orlando (Real Radio I think) that I listen to a lot. The Stand up comedy stations are awesome.. (one clean, one dirty) and craploads and craploads of music stations...

Now shop away...
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