XM/Sirius--any users?

[JimH5]

Does anyone here have a subscription to satellite radio? If so, do you listen online? Is the baseball programming good?

I'm trying to decide on whether or not to get a subscription. With Chris Russo's departure from WFAN and set to debut on Sirius/XM next month, that at least got me thinking about it.

Do they podcast programming? Or is there any other way to time-shift specific shows? Do you get MLB games?

Right now, I'm in Asia, and would only be able to utilize the service online. I'm currently listening to podcasted shows--Dan Patrick, ESPN Radio's daily baseball podcast, WFAN segments, MLB.com's Fantasy focus, Tony Kornheiser (January to June)--and I'm always looking for more. With the time difference, I wouldn't be able to listen to Russo live anyway, so podcasting would be a big factor (unless they re-run the shows during the overnights).

Any help is much appreciated.

[Patrick425]

I'm an XM subscriber. I have a 3 year deal that expires at the end of the year and have not heard any new on how the merger will effect me or what options I will have for programming.

I do listen online occasionally. However, I do not believe the main baseball channell (175) or any of the channels that they broadcast games on are available online.

I wish I could answer your question about podcasting, but I don't understand any of that stuff. I will say I have enjoyed my xm radio, although I have been having issues lately getting good reception in my car (the FM static has been bleeding through, it comes and goes - better at night than during the day, and seems to really improve if I go into a tunnel.), although up until the last couple of weeks I have never had a problem with reception.

[Brian the Automator]

I'm an XM subscriber, and the baseball coverage is great. You get EVERY game, as well as XM Home Plate (a 24/7 baseball talk channel). You can also listen to XM Home Plate online (you might even be able to get a free trial). Can't recommend it highly enough.

 

As far as I know, now programming is podcasted... As far as time-shifting goes, I don't think that's possible (outside of the normal play/pause feature on radios that have built-in recording).

[Fatter than Joey]

I'm an XM subscriber, and the baseball coverage is great. You get EVERY game, as well as XM Home Plate (a 24/7 baseball talk channel). You can also listen to XM Home Plate online (you might even be able to get a free trial). Can't recommend it highly enough.

 

I have both XM and Sirius and I like them both -- You can't listen to the MLB/NFL etc. online though.

 

The 2 companies recently had their merger approved, so I would wait a couple of months, before investing too heavily into equipment -- as there may be a whole new set of purchasing

options available.

 

From a music standpoint I prefer Sirius.

[eanelson4]

I used to have XM and it was nice. I wasn't in the car enough to justify keeping it, however, and thus got rid of it.

 

To anybody with XM currently:

 

If you want some free months, I suggest calling up and telling them you want to cancel. When I did, they first offered me a lower rate for a month or 2, then eventually it got to where they offered me 6 months completely free. I still canceled it, as I didn't want the hastle of calling up again and I didn't use it that much (only to listen to the Brewer games). I think its definetly worth a shot to see if they still have that going on.

[Brian the Automator]

I do listen online occasionally. However, I do not believe the main baseball channell (175) or any of the channels that they broadcast games on are available online.

The games aren't available online, but XM-175 is now available online.

[burniebrewer]

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The games aren't available online, but XM-175 is now available online.

Really? I didn't know that. I listen to XM Online when I'm outside and always wished that some baseball was available--and now it is. Nice.

[Brian the Automator]

Really? I didn't know that. I listen to XM Online when I'm outside and always wished that some baseball was available--and now it is. Nice.

Yeah, I think it went online just back in June. Pretty sweet.

[GAME05]

want to second that comment. i was all excited to listen to a game online at work, but XM doesn't offer the game channels online, only channel 175, which is baseball talk.

 

if you'd just listen to it online, wouldn't MLB be the best subscription to get for Brewers games?

[Invader3K]

I have had XM for over a year and like it for the most part. I love MLB Home Plate (channel 175) and listen to it pretty much every day. The shows are generally very good, with knowledgeable hosts, and they actually talk about all 30 teams (for the most part). "Baseball Beat" with Charlie Steiner and "The Show" with Rob Dibble and Kevin Kennedy are my favorites. You can listen to every game as well. I know for a fact you can listen to MLB 175 online, but I'm sure you can't listen to the games online.

 

The music channels are something of a mixed bag...I have my favorites, but if you listen long enough, you seem to get some repetition. It's kind of like one week they'll favor certain artists, and the next they'll favor another set of artists. Also, the sound quality of many of the music channels is border line junk...like listening to low quality mp3s. I can only take so much of the swishy drum cymbals and lack of bass before I have to change the channel back to a talk station, quite often. That's my biggest criticism: the low quality of the sound, which they seem bent on NOT fixing, unfortunately.

 

As far as investing in equipment...some of the basic receivers and set ups are pretty cheap (under 50 bucks easily) so even if the merger somehow affects your equipment in the future, it's not like you'll have sunk tons of dough into it. I'm pretty sure XM and Sirius have both claimed it won't, though. I have a nice little Aiwa (I think) unit that can be moved from the car to my home office pretty easily. It's about the size of a pocket calculator, which is pretty cool. You have to buy and extra "cradle" and antenna for each location you want to use it in, though.

[bullox]

Not sure how true it is, but I've heard that with the merger there will be an 'ala carte' option to choose up to 50 channels for $6.99 a month with extra channels having an additional cost. Since I really only listen to the MLB and comedy channels on XM, that is probably what I will end up doing.

[I Heart Brewers]

They both use different compression technology so the will only have some content available on both platforms beginning in September. I have Sirius and Howard Stern interviewed Mel Karmazan, CEO of Sirius/XM mentioned that the two platforms will be available for the next 8-10 years to allievieate any confusion from those that have an XM or Sirius stereo in their cars or homes. So it's as if they are really still 2 seperate companies from a content standpoint. Sirius has everything except baseball (which I would love, but MLB gameday audio has me covered for a fraction of the cost online).

 

If you want the best overall content I don't think XM comes close to Sirius, but I am biased and haven't listened to XM for more than a few weeks over several years.

 

If it's specifically baseball coverage you're after, the $12.95/month subscription for XM is probably worth it, but it sounds as if it's similar to Sirius where you get one channel for MLB coverage, but not the actual games themselves online (Sirius offers NFL and NBA). Again you could supplement that with the MLB gameday audio online for about $13/year.

[BrewCityUnit]

I have a lifetime subscription with Sirius for $500. I hope with the merger I get the baseball package added to my list. Sirius radio is one of the best creations ever!

[Highroller720]

If you want some free months, I suggest calling up and telling them you want to cancel. When I did, they first offered me a lower rate for a month or 2, then eventually it got to where they offered me 6 months completely free. I still canceled it, as I didn't want the hastle of calling up again and I didn't use it that much (only to listen to the Brewer games). I think its definetly worth a shot to see if they still have that going on.

 

 

When I got my car in 2005 I bought a year of XM (it came with 3 month free). I called to cancel and they offered to refund me for a month to keep trying. They never refunded me, so I called the next month to cancel and they offered me the same package. I told them they told me the same thing last month and said there was no record of me calling. Needless to say I've been a Sirius subscriber since and will keep it as long as I can.

[LouisEly]

Right now, I'm in Asia, and would only be able to utilize the service online.

 

Like others have said, there are limited channels on-line and usually do not include the games. That being said, with Sirius you can get an on-line only subscription with CD-quality sound for $2.99/month. (I don't know if you have to have a regular subscription and that is an add-on, but I think you can get on-line only for $2.99/month.)

 

I have the lifetime Sirius for $500. One of the best investments I've ever made.

[JimH5]

Thanks to everyone who responded. I'm going to give the online trial verisons a try, to see how it goes. Plus, I'm curious how the merger is going to work, but if the programming is good--and so many of you said it is--then with or without podcasting, it seems like a worthwhile purchase.

[Fatter than Joey]

Jim -- I got onboard early with Sirius -- and many people that I have come across since then have gotten it -- I have yet to have someone tell me that they regret getting Sirius (or XM).

[Patrick425]

Brian the Automator wrote:

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The games aren't available online, but XM-175 is now available online.

Really? I didn't know that. I listen to XM Online when I'm outside and always wished that some baseball was available--and now it is. Nice.

I have not listened to XM online for awhile now. I decided to go online today and listen to MLB Homplate (175) based on this thread from a couple of weeks ago. I'm not seeing 175 listed as an online option.

 

Edit: Nevermind - It's not listed on their online chanel listing but if you type in 175 in the "quick tune box" it shows up and you can click on it.

[brewcrewreview]

I have the lifetime subscription to Sirius and they told me a while back that the lifetime subscription would also cover all of the XM programming for free if they merged. Now it's even a way better deal than I imagined!

[LouisEly]

One very important term and condition that you need to be aware of... I just called them to switch my service to a new vehicle and the customer service rep told me that once you switch your service to a vehicle w/a factory-installed satellite radio receiver you cannot switch it to another receiver. This was not told to me when I switched my service from a plug & play receiver to a vehicle 3 years ago - I was charged $75, but they never said once it was switched to a vehicle that you can't switch it again. After demanding to speak with a manager the CSR told me that they would allow me to switch my service to a different receiver three times, and that I had already used one of them. So if you have or are considering a lifetime subscription I would be very hesitant to switch it to a vehicle and would keep it on a plug & play receiver - and make sure to find out the terms and conditions before doing so. I wonder what they would say if you totaled your vehicle and could not use it anymore; you could probably talk insurance into covering that in your claim though.

 

So some lessons learned:

 

1) There is no such thing as a "lifetime" subscription - even if you can switch your service three times, these receivers are electronics and won't last forever. Neither will vehicles.

 

2) If you want service in a vehicle that has a factory-installed receiver and you are leasing it or don't plan on having it for long I would consider getting a second subscription (which they usually give you for $6.95/mo or so) for that vehicle and the lifetime subscription on a plug-and-play receiver that you can take with you.

[GAME05]

when i canceled my XM subscription they tried to give me a new reciever (mine didn't work well) and a free three-month subscription. in my opinion, when Sirius and XM merged, the quality of the music channels hugely declined. Channel 175 (baseball talk radio) was almost worth keeping the subscription, but their increased charges just doesn't make it worth it anymore. it got to be that 175 was the only channel i listened to, and that isn't worth $15 a month. for that, i'd be better off getting mlb.tv and watching the Brewers that way.

[burniebrewer]

when i canceled my XM subscription they tried to give me a new reciever (mine didn't work well) and a free three-month subscription.

I recently canceled and they pitched me the exact same deal.

[Invader3K]

With my new Blackberry, I can stream Pandora through my car stereo (you have to have an unlimited data plan on your phone, though). I've found it's a very nice alternative when I want to listen to quality music. The sound quality is much better than XM/Sirius. You just don't get DJ voice-overs (which can be a good thing).

 

I still sometimes miss MLB Home Plate, but I can't really justify spending $10+/mo for one radio station.

[Schlitz001]

I was paying $77 dollars a year for XM, and I decided that was too much so I called up and now I am paying $20 for 5 months of service. Whenever 5 months is close to ending I call up and tell them to renew my service on the same payment plan. I love XM radio and the deal I'm getting makes it worth keeping.

[LouisEly]

You can get an "A la Carte" subscription where you pick 50 channels for as low as $6.95/month:

 

http://www.sirius.com/packages/alacarte

 

Most people only listen to a dozen or so channels anyway. Sirius play-by-play sports consumes 25 channels, XM play-by-play another 10 so there's your sports channels. Then choose 15 more, and that should encompass most of the music channels you listen to. The premium channels cost $0.25 per month on top of the $6.95/mo.