Sirius or XM - What's the deal?

[TVC15]

I was looking at portable players today while nabbing my Vision W, and I'm pretty tempted.  I had a few questions and I figured someone here could educate me.

Which service is better for what?  What are the strengths and weaknesses of each?

What's going on with the merger?  Is that expected to go through?  I hear the formats use different types of hardware, so won't one set of hardware be rendered obsolete and unusable by the merger?  If so, what format would they use once they merged?

Also, what's the breakdown on teh service prices?  I noticed the fliers I grabbed are mum.

[MrAngryFace]

I WISH THEY WOULD MERGE ARGH!

Merger probably isnt going to happen. Their stock values are dropping because of it and the Govt isnt too keen on the idea.

[TVC15]

I WISH THEY WOULD MERGE ARGH!

I'm wondering will the FCC even let them merge?  I mean, that would pretty much be a monopoly.  They'd at least have to take some time to consider it, you know?  I'd like to know what's going on before I plunk down for a player.

[MrAngryFace]

I edited my post, but yeah the govt is putting a big ol FROWNY FACE on the concept.

[TVC15]

I edited my post, but yeah the govt is putting a big ol FROWNY FACE on the concept.

That just means they need to buy the gumment more vacation houses in Monaco before they rubber stamp an approval.  But having this up in the air like this is seriously going to hurt either of them attracting new customers until the dust has settled.

[Mupepe]

i have no idea what XM actually offers, I picked up Sirius on a whim and I am very satisfied.  I don't really think you can go wrong with either unless you're looking for specific people (howard vs O&A).  No commercials - Glorious.  awesome sound quality - glorious.  amount of channels - glorious.  uncensored - glorious

and the way that sirius divids up genres into sub genres is fucking fantastic.  if i feel like listening to emo, i just swith to a certain channel.  if i feel like listening to mid 90 alt rock, i switch it to altnation.  

seriously, it's incredible and absolutely worth the 12 dollars a month.

[TVC15]

haha you feel like listening to emo

[Mupepe]

haha you feel like listening to emo

i'm quite emo.  we've gone over this 

[TVC15]

The Sirius players were easily the better looking of the two.

[MrAngryFace]

TVC: lol maybe. I've actually been thinking about getting satellite radio too, lemme know what you end up going with. Im never sure what ill actually NEED, specifically for my car.

[TVC15]

TVC: lol maybe. I've actually been thinking about getting satellite radio too, lemme know what you end up going with. Im never sure what ill actually NEED, specifically for my car.

It seems like there's a good amount of overlap concerning music and news stuff.  It really looks like you can't go wrong with either format, unless you like, NEED Howard or Opie or Oprah's channels and shit.  I'll have to find a fair comparison chart.  The merger thing is what has me a bit more concerned.  I'll have to read up on that.

[Mupepe]

The Sirius players were easily the better looking of the two.

this is why i chose sirius

they had them side by side and the XM radios looked like a mid 90's car tape deck with a shitload of extra buttons.  they were fugly.  

not to mention, i don't know who opie and anthony are and stern has entertained me on occassion.  

seriously, the price to get a satellite stereo and service so cheap that it makes it incredibly worth it.  My sirius player was only 38 dollars.  that's not bad at all.

MAF: All you need is the stereo actually.  All the players come with 3 different connections (line in for tape decks, auxilliary for newer head units and an fm transmitter).  Installation is easy as balls.  Takes like 10 minutes.  The only somewhat difficult part is running the antenna from your roof and into your cab.  it just requires pulling back some weather stripping.  but it's easy as hell.

[demi]

haha you feel like listening to emo

WTF

[Mupepe]

TVC: lol maybe. I've actually been thinking about getting satellite radio too, lemme know what you end up going with. Im never sure what ill actually NEED, specifically for my car.

It seems like there's a good amount of overlap concerning music and news stuff.  It really looks like you can't go wrong with either format, unless you like, NEED Howard or Opie or Oprah's channels and shit.  I'll have to find a fair comparison chart.  The merger thing is what has me a bit more concerned.  I'll have to read up on that.

yeah, there are a lot of channels for almost everything you could ever want.  there's a fucking martha stewart channel and a playboy channel.  they have channels for everything.

[TVC15]

Yeah, MAF, at Circuit Shitty, most of the players were also either close to nothing with a service plan, and the ones that weren't still had big ass rebates.  I doubt there was a car player there for more than like 50 bucks, all said and done.


Mupepe, is there NPR?

[Mupepe]

yup

NPR has TWO channels on sirius

[MrAngryFace]

I have an XM ready cd deck already, what would I need for that?

[G The Resurrected]

I saw the Sirrius portable car/home player at costco for under 150 after rebates and comes with a few months service for free. I have to see but i might jump on it. I really wish they would just merge damnit. I'd really like HD radio to take off but i hear its rather expensive to broadcast on.

[Mupepe]

I have an XM ready cd deck already, what would I need for that?

that depends, some cd decks say XM/Sirius ready and mean that they have the actual unit already there, you just need a sub, or that you it has a connector specifically for it.  since you're asking, i'm guessing it's that you have a convenient connector

basically just buy a receiver.  they're cheap and it should plug just right into your head unit and mount on your dash