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Post by RickW on Jan 7, 2009 15:13:29 GMT -5
Resubscribed to Sirius, and am happily listening, both at home and in the van. I love it. Non stop music, no commercials, no popularity based play lists. The Coffeehouse for acoustic music, the Loft for slighly more electric music, the blues station, the pops classical station, Deeper Classic Rock for old album cuts - it's wonderful. Sound quality is excellent.
Wondering if any of the rest of are satellite radio lovers.
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Post by billhammond on Jan 7, 2009 15:15:05 GMT -5
Wondering if any of the rest of are satellite radio lovers. Sigh, I'm not even a lover these days.
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Post by theevan on Jan 7, 2009 15:17:33 GMT -5
LOL, Bill How much, Rick?
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Post by dickt on Jan 7, 2009 15:21:41 GMT -5
Our cable TV offers a bunch of XM radio channels. The few times I've tuned in I haven't been that impressed by the playlists on folk or bluegrass or blues channels, but I haven't really given them much of a try. It certainly hasn't been compelling enough to me to shell out money for a receiver and $15 a month.
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Post by Marshall on Jan 7, 2009 15:24:58 GMT -5
I've toyed with the idea. Kari has it. In our drive to IJ-08 we listened to and fro. I loved it. What great music.
But I haven't taken the plunge. $12/mo just sort of sticks in my craw. Not that it's a lot and not workth it. I don't know why it bothers me. Maybe it's the Free Music thread.
But I deceided I'd be better off buying a new CD every month and giving the money direct to the artists.
Of course, I probably spend $12 a week at Starbucks on coffee and donuts. I should quit that and get a satelite radio and be more healthy.
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Post by RickW on Jan 7, 2009 15:39:08 GMT -5
I got a receiver with car kit for $50, with three months free and set up free, and a home kit for $70. I got the whole package of channels for 15.95 per month. Next time I may get less, not sure how it works.
It's nice to be able to turn on tunes in the house, not have any talking heads, and hear a lot of stuff I have not heard before, mixed with familiar tunes when I want them.
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Post by RickW on Jan 7, 2009 15:40:30 GMT -5
For instance, on the Coffee House, they have a show in the mornings, acoustic covers of big hits, either by the original artist, or another one. Right now, I'm listening to George Harrison do a live version of Something. Pretty darn fine.
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Post by Fingerplucked on Jan 7, 2009 16:23:23 GMT -5
I had it in the rental car when we were in Florida. I loved it. I told my wife that I was going to have to get it when we got back to town, and that maybe I should get a new car to keep it in. I probably should've stopped with just the satellite radio.
Finding stations was pretty confusing though. Every time I found one I liked I was afraid to switch, because I had a hell of a time trying to get back to where I'd just come from.
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Post by Dan McLaughlin on Jan 7, 2009 17:07:57 GMT -5
I've had Sirius and love it. Unfortunately, trees and buildings block the sat where I am now. I'm hoping that I can get it when I move this summer to a differnt, more open area place.
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Post by mccoyblues on Jan 7, 2009 17:12:30 GMT -5
I had the option of satelite radio or an ipod and car connection and chose the ipod route for my wife this Christmas.
My thinking is it was cheaper in the long run and she could control what she wanted to hear. Plus she could carry that cuter little iPod nano anywhere she wanted to go. Her reaction was "I guess this means I'm not getting satelite radio" .
Wrong again!!!! I should be used to it by now.
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Post by Fingerplucked on Jan 7, 2009 17:35:07 GMT -5
I bought an FM transmitter for my wife's iPod. It plugs straight into the base and extends out about 3/4". The sound quality is significantly better than the cassette converter she had been using. In fact, it sounded so good I went out and bought a second one for myself.
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Post by RickW on Jan 7, 2009 17:57:23 GMT -5
Those are very cool, Jim. Got one for mine. Most new cars now come with an audio in in their stereos now, which works for both satellite radio, and iPods.
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Post by patrick on Jan 7, 2009 18:39:36 GMT -5
I've had Sirius in two rental cars I've had over the last two years. Both times I loved it, to the point where now I'm seriously (Siriusly?) shopping for one. This last trip my wife also fell in love with it. Now we can bask in lefty radio all across the country no matter where we drive.
Coffeehouse is great, but I also loved Margaritaville, the Jimmy Buffett station. They often play live performances they've recorded at his various concerts as well as unusual tunes he's recorded. I heard him do a duet with Frank Sinatra of "Mac the Knife" that had me in stitches.
I should think that this format would provide more exposure and royalties to small artists than the usual broadcast radio formats controlled by the likes of Clear Channel.
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Post by patrick on Jan 7, 2009 18:40:44 GMT -5
Rick, what model receiver do you have?
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Post by RickW on Jan 7, 2009 19:41:54 GMT -5
I have the Stratus 5. Only think I'd like more would be to have more presets - 10 is not enough. Though when you think about it, remembering what 30 presets are presents its own challenges.
You want one that uses the docks - the plug and play ones. Much easier to use. I think all the new ones do that. Also, you need one that will plug direct, and not just do the FM transmitter thing. Of course, if your car does not have an audio in, it's moot, but if you're planning to use it at home, still nice. One thing for home use, you really need to be able to get an antenna into a window that faces the right direction, whatever that is for your area, or better yet, you need to be able to get it outside
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Post by Marshall on Jan 8, 2009 9:00:01 GMT -5
Is there anybody out there? One-two-three On the satellite radio? Big daddy on the air, Are you listenin` to me? On the satellite radio At the galaxy`s end where the stars burn bright Are you tunin` in and turnin` on? Is there anybody listenin` to earth tonight On the satellite radio?
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Post by PaulKay on Jan 8, 2009 9:26:43 GMT -5
I could never bring myself to pay for it. I get all my music through my iPod. The only downside is no exposure to new music. I subscribed to Pandora for a year and use to subscribe to Yahoo's Launchcast service. But when they blocked Launchcast at work, I shifted to just plugging my iPod at work too.
I'd probably consider it if the subscription rates were the same prices as Launchcast or Pandora and I could pay once per year.
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Post by RickW on Jan 8, 2009 10:35:15 GMT -5
Lots of new music is one of the best parts of it, for sure. Lots of different kinds. I've had difficulty for years finding the stuff I like, because it hasn't been mainstream. Vancouver had oldies, soft rock, and some mixed bag stuff, but there's so much great music out there to hear.
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