Satellite Radio
clams_casino
50 channel a la carte subscription for $7/mo. They appear to have
two units (Starmate - 5 @ $130 and Stratus 6 @ $70) that can be used
both at home and in the car with this a la carte subscription.
Are they easy to hook up? Is the reception acceptable while driving
(do trees, buildings, etc significantly interrupt the reception)? How
difficult are they to switch between home and the car? Is an extra,
special outdoor antenna needed for home use? Any feel for why one unit
is twice the price of the other (what are the useful options)?
sr
"clams_casino" <PeterG...@DrunkinClam.com> wrote in message
news:YoYPm.20984$gd1....@newsfe05.iad...
I can only ans one question I have sirius for the home. I put the antenna
up, must be unobstructed.
I used a cheap radio about 7 dollar from Walmart as the receiver. I just
turn the Sat. reciever, sirius, in my case, just sit that near the antenna
of the radio, find the channel on the radio where the sound is transmitted.
It is the best thing I have in the house I like this better than the TV.
In fact I seldom turn the TV on except for some PBS programs in the evening.
Now, if you have a bunch of
money I would get it for the car and house. It is worth it for the old time
radio shows, alone. All kinds of music, all kinds of talk radio and sports.
you need an antenna for the car and seperate one for the house, the set up
is different. I never knew anything about the system, I had no problem at
all. There will be interruptions, you can handle it, I'm sure. 50 up
front to get service, 12 a month, cheap enough because it is my main
entertainment. or was, until i got the laptop Radio Shack can educate you,
or whatever business you like on further options, I'm sure
clams_casino
>"clams_casino" <PeterG...@DrunkinClam.com> wrote in message
>news:YoYPm.20984$gd1....@newsfe05.iad...
>
>
>>Anyone familiar with satellite radio. I've been reading Sirius has a 50
>>channel a la carte subscription for $7/mo. They appear to have two
>>units (Starmate - 5 @ $130 and Stratus 6 @ $70) that can be used both at
>>home and in the car with this a la carte subscription.
>>
>>Are they easy to hook up? Is the reception acceptable while driving (do
>>trees, buildings, etc significantly interrupt the reception)? How
>>difficult are they to switch between home and the car? Is an extra,
>>special outdoor antenna needed for home use? Any feel for why one unit is
>>twice the price of the other (what are the useful options)?
>>
>>
>=====
>I can only ans one question I have sirius for the home. I put the antenna
>up, must be unobstructed.
>I used a cheap radio about 7 dollar from Walmart as the receiver. I just
>turn the Sat. reciever, sirius, in my case, just sit that near the antenna
>of the radio, find the channel on the radio where the sound is transmitted.
>It is the best thing I have in the house I like this better than the TV.
>In fact I seldom turn the TV on except for some PBS programs in the evening.
>
>
A few years back at another location, we had an option on our cable for
the music & as you pointed out, we used that much more than the TV (we
only took the very basic TV coverage since we had little interest in
sports, etc, but needed some cable due to very poor over-air reception.)
. We were recently at a friends home who has the extended HD network
with the cable music. It reminded us of how much we liked that option.
>Now, if you have a bunch of
>money I would get it for the car and house.
>
I'm hoping I can simply move the unit between docking stations for
driving trips & if I'm understanding it correctly, they have a 50
channel / a la carte option for just $7/mo. If so, for $100/yr, we'll
get much more out of it than we would the TV part of cable. If there is
a set-up charge, I can live with that. There are only about a dozen
stations of high interest for us, but it will be nice having it again..
>It is worth it for the old time
>radio shows, alone. All kinds of music, all kinds of talk radio and sports.
>you need an antenna for the car and seperate one for the house, the set up
>is different. I never knew anything about the system, I had no problem at
>all. There will be interruptions, you can handle it, I'm sure. 50 up
>front to get service, 12 a month, cheap enough because it is my main
>entertainment. or was, until i got the laptop Radio Shack can educate you,
>or whatever business you like on further options, I'm sure
>
>
>
>
Thanks for the comments.
KenK
$gd1....@newsfe05.iad:
> Anyone familiar with satellite radio.
I've has XM for several years at home. I love it. Listen to classical and
jazz. But there's tons of other stuff available. I've not found good
world news so listen to NPR news on FM.
> I've been reading Sirius has a
> 50 channel a la carte subscription for $7/mo. They appear to have
> two units (Starmate - 5 @ $130 and Stratus 6 @ $70) that can be used
> both at home and in the car with this a la carte subscription.
>
> Are they easy to hook up? Is the reception acceptable while driving
> (do trees, buildings, etc significantly interrupt the reception)? How
> difficult are they to switch between home and the car? Is an extra,
> special outdoor antenna needed for home use?
I use the little antenna (an inch or so square) supplied with the radio.
I live in a mobile home and it sits next to an east-facing window. Works
just fine there.
> Any feel for why one unit
> is twice the price of the other (what are the useful options)?
--
"When you choose the lesser of two evils, always
remember that it is still an evil." - Max Lerner
ra...@vt.edu
> Are they easy to hook up? Is the reception acceptable while driving
> (do trees, buildings, etc significantly interrupt the reception)? How
> difficult are they to switch between home and the car? Is an extra,
> special outdoor antenna needed for home use? Any feel for why one unit
> is twice the price of the other (what are the useful options)?
I got XM when I bought a new car in 2006. Being next to a tall building
will block the signal, though in major cities they have repeaters set up
to cut down on that problem. For example, I had no trouble getting
continuous reception while driving in New York City, but driving through
very steep valleys in West Virginia it will lose signal. It's mostly
great, though. Trees, in full leaf, will sometimes block the signal
but not often.
As far as ease of hookup, it's about the same as any other stereo
component. The antenna does need a view of the South or Southeast
sky. The satellites are geo-stationary, so once you get a good signal
you won't have to move the antenna. Through a window should work,
but outside is better. I got a home unit for my wife and the antenna
cable is very small diameter, so you don't need to drill a big hole for it.
Bill Ranck
Blacksburg, Va.
clams_casino
Thanks for the encouragement. I intend to do some serious looking
later this week.
Who knows, I may end up dumping the cable TV.
George
Both XM and Sirius satellites are in a very elliptical geosynchronous
orbit so depending on how your home antenna is sited the radio can loose
reception as the satellite changes location during the day.
> Bill Ranck
> Blacksburg, Va.
sr
<ra...@vt.edu> wrote in message news:hf0vua$2f7$1...@solaris.cc.vt.edu...
a can of spray foam will close any hole right up >
> Bill Ranck
> Blacksburg, Va.
KenK
$X01....@newsfe07.iad:
> Who knows, I may end up dumping the cable TV.
>
I did in around 1992 when my cable company doubled its price. After a few
weeks I didn't miss it a bit - and especially in the recent years that I
have had satellite.
clams_casino
>clams_casino <PeterG...@DrunkinClam.com> wrote in news:oMTQm.48166
>$X01....@newsfe07.iad:
>
>
>
>>Who knows, I may end up dumping the cable TV.
>>
>>
>>
>
>I did in around 1992 when my cable company doubled its price. After a few
>weeks I didn't miss it a bit - and especially in the recent years that I
>have had satellite.
>
>
>
>
Once again, we looked at the extended cable TV lineup to see if we could
justify buying an HD unit. We liked the music, so we went with the
Sirius music. Hooked up the home unit today. Really pleased, although
I'm not sure what will happen in the spring when the leaves are back on
the trees. Reception is currently quite adequate with the antenna
simply at the window. Guess I'll wait til the spring to decide of I
want to get out the ladder, etc.
Next project will be to hook up the car so I can use it for trips.
So much for the TV, but I suppose I'll keep the cable... at least for a
while..