XM Satellite Radio

[3dracer]

Has anyone had experience with satellite radio? I purchased a Delphi Boom Box unit a few days ago and I really like it. It will be handy this summer at the campgrounds. 24 hour NASCAR is good too. At least you can find out about what's going on down at Florida now. Nascar's web site sucks, and our local newspapers never have anything in them.

 

[sheldon]

When XM puts KPIG out of Freedom, CA on their system I will be interested. Until then I will stick with amateur radio, shortwave, and public radio.

 

[Nightwing]

XM Radio

3dracer;

I have XM in my haul truck and love it!

Nothing like being able to listen to the same station nationwide. Their selection of channels, talk, decades, & comedy are a kick on those looong drives.

I have it hooked up through my regular radio using a Panasonic converter and roof antenna. Lost reception a couple of times through the Snake River canyon, but thats it. It even receives while my truck is in my shop.

Best of luck, Nightwing

 

[Dane]

Allright Sheldon!



Another KPIG fan

107 oink 5 on the dial, Pure Pork

 

[JohnMcIntyre]

I need my KZOK fix!

Just curious if anyone knows whether an FM classic rock radio station out of Seattle in the Pacific North West ( KZOK 102. 5FM ) is available through Satellite XM? This radio station does not appear to support streaming (yet) via the Internet/www.:{



More importantly, does anyone know how you can find out if the XM satellite coverage footprint extends much beyond the continental USA..... like Europe... Not holding my breath though ... . : ( some sort of collaborative bandwidth sharing agremeent with the Astra 1 or 2 satellites perhaps?)



I was passing through Washington state upto BC for my Bill K. makeover :-laf just before Easter 2001 and it would be great to hear them again from time to time.....



Why? here's a recent audio clip from the Bob Rivers show off the KZOK website. (You'll need Windows Media Player to listen). The clip lasts 10 minutes and the download speed is reasonable even on a regular 56kbps dialup connection - but it is well worth it, although your wife/girlfriend may not be so easily convinced... ...

 

[crawler]

XM is awesome

I gave my father XM over 1 1/2 years ago and he loved it. Anytime I drove his truck I found my self listening to it more than the normal radio. So I bought it for myself and absolutely love it. It is more than worth the cost of equipment and the subscription fee. My dad's setup is a Pioneer FM modulated setup playing through the stock head unit. Mine is an Alpine XM receiver playing through an Alpine CVA-1003 head unit. If you still have the factory head unit then the Pioneer FM modulated unit gives the most bang for the buck and makes a very clean install. Be sure to get the Terk roof mount antennae. It works better than any that I've tried. The Pioneer system has already been switched between 3 trucks and what sucks is my dad keeps asking me to uninstall/reinstall. Sorry to rant PM me with any questions.

 

[Tardog]

JohnMcIntyre



I live in BC and work all over western Canada, I too thought about coverage so I e-mailed "XM". This was their response. "We have no plans at this time to extend coverage beyond the continental USA. We are strictly bound by the laws of the air waves similar to cel phone coverage. Thank you for your inquiry".



So with that said I gave up on my persute of the great idea of one station across Norrth America. You will probably be able to pick up "XM" just slightly over the border, just like all celphones work?



Cheers,

 

[JohnMcIntyre]

Originally posted by Tardog

You will probably be able to pick up "XM" just slightly over the border, just like all celphones work?

Which border are we talking about here? My current location (conservative estimate) 4,000 miles from the eastern seaboard of the lower 48.



Hey I just thought a bit deeper on that full coverage issue, what about the guys in Alaska? if Canada is in between, how does XM selectively ignore Canada and give full coverage?



JMc

 

[Tardog]

Canadian - US border. Not sure if Alaska gets "XM". It would be easy to control, just like cel's and Sat TV. ?

 

[crawler]

Only suppose to work in the continental US (48 states). But people have reported extending a decent way into Canada and Mexico.

 

[kevincook]

Wife and I both have XM Delphi systems and love them. We also have a home kit and we are looking at a boom box for this summer (on the lake). I would not trade my XM for anything!



XM only works in the 48 states, some of Canada may be covered.



KC

 

[Tardog]

JohnMcIntyre



Sorry about which border, forgot to look where you were located. I keep forgetting that is is the WORLD WIDE web. Maybe shoot "XM" a e-mail and ask them about Europe. Seems as the population is large and there are many autos it would only make sense?



Cheers

 

[JohnMcIntyre]

Originally posted by Tardog

Canadian - US border. Not sure if Alaska gets "XM". It would be easy to control, just like cel's and Sat TV. ?

If the satellite "footprint" (from Rock'n'Roll) spills over the US/Canadian border, then anything is possible. I guess the Alaskan TDR users will chime in soon to set the record straight... .



Later



JMc

 

[JRodgers]

The day after I got my new 02 CTD, I went and installed a Pioneer CD/Receiver/XM unit. I love XM. I have been a loyal listener since middle of last year. Its great to have a large selection of stuff to listen to and be able to get it anywhere all the time.



Joe

 

[rich m]

about the "boombox"....

does the signal go thru roofs well enough that, maybe, someday, there would be a viable XM walkman that I could use at work? I like Rush L, and some of the other information/talk people (not H. Stern... he's a waste of electrons)... but AM really sux bad around computers, conveyors, and printers, oh My!

 

[JRodgers]

Depending on the type of building you are in, it will work. I have seen it work through the roof of tilt wall buildings with a simple flat roof deck covered with tar paper. Multi story buildings and some metal buildings will not work. The SNR must be pretty good to get reception. The car units have a gain antenna on them that provides between 18-28 dBi for reception. If you go inside a building and reduce the signal strength by 20+ dBi, yoiu are not going to get it. Remember, the satellite that the signal is coming from is up to 36000 miles away.



Joe

 

[kevincook]

Re: about the "boombox"....

Originally posted by rich m

does the signal go thru roofs well enough that, maybe, someday, there would be a viable XM walkman that I could use at work? I like Rush L, and some of the other information/talk people (not H. Stern... he's a waste of electrons)... but AM really sux bad around computers, conveyors, and printers, oh My!

I can't speak about the boom box but the home unit does go through walls, roofs, window ect...



KC

 

[HVAC]

Got It Yesterday

Dane, I'll second that vote for KPIG Used to work in Watsonville and I would PIG out on the way down the coast from Half Moon Bay. Hard to get the signal till I reached Ano Nuevo though. Corralitos sausage company is another winner out towards Freedom.



I picked up the boobbox and It's cool. I wish it had a little more balls though. Needs fifty percent more power and a bit more bass for this party boy



The same control head that works in the boom box is transfered to the receiver in the truck. It docks in it's cradle and the antenna is magnetically secured to the roof or where ever you decide to locate it.



Using a cable we tied the boom box into my home system. Much more power and bass.



The selection is absolutly nutz! The quality is excellent. The fun factor is highyiyi cause there are almost no breaks for commercialsOo. Oo.



I've got $300 in equipment and the subscription is $10 per month. I expect the monthly rates to increase as time progresses.

 

[DennyDay]

XM

We have been able to get XM acroos Canada from Buffalo to Toronto, to Pt. Huron. Not legal but 'oh well.



Denny