Satellite Radio XM or Sirius??

[thecount]

So time to think about adding satellite radio.

Comments on XM Radio vs Sirius for satellite providers? Garmin new Zumo 665 has XM.

BUT already have a GPS device. Other question, anyone using the portable satellite receivers vs the car mount device?

 

ON the weekend, saw 2 Harleys with the docking station mounted to the left clutch resevior bolts and wired in. Actually looked good, but then again, Harely? Enough said.

 

Thanks for any comments.

[Guest tx2sturgis]

They both have good programming, you can look on the websites and see what interests you. With either you can add-on the best of the other, so you wont miss any sports or talk shows that you like.

 

You can generally get more talk shows on standard XM or choose just music, whatever you like. They both offer various packages.

 

I think it comes down to a coin toss. XM uses geostationary satellites, and Sirius uses highly elliptical orbit, long duration birds, which tend to work better in the northern latitudes....and antennas mounted on a bike arent the best at reception, but they do OK except in urban canyons, tunnels, parking garages, and highly forested areas.

 

Most of the time they work great.

[SC89Venture]

Aren't they one in the same company now?

[SilvrT]

I had XM when I had the '87. The radio died. Got a Sirius Stratus 5 coz I like the design of the radio. For the most part, I like it but would prefer a directly wired power connector. I used the vent mounts from the car kit to hook mine up... been just fine for a year and a half.

 

[ATTACH]46923[/ATTACH] [ATTACH]46924[/ATTACH] [ATTACH]46925[/ATTACH] [ATTACH]46926[/ATTACH]

 

Thought the unit had died about a month ago so I called Sirius and they sent me out a new unit. Then I discovered it was just a loose power connection so I called them and told them and they just said... send the new one back (at their expense) as they'd already provided me with return shipping for the old one.

[Guest tx2sturgis]

Aren't they one in the same company now?

 

 

Well its like a radio station that has an FM and an AM side....they have some overlapping programs, but there are also some differences in some of the channels on each service.

 

And although there are some dual service radios out there, most people pick one or the other based on the sports they prefer to receive, or the talk shows...the music selections are different too, but most susbscribers base their choice on the other channels, not the music alone.

[Smalltowntx]

I have mounted my Sirius Satellite Radio using Ram Mount Clutch Mount (part #Ram-B-346U) I have attached a couple of images (I am not a photographer). I purchased a Sirius motorcycle mounting kit for the convenience of having the antenna, and docking station. I have never used XM but since Sirius and XM are now the same company, I imagine it is just a matter of program selection/price.

 

Edited June 22, 2010 by Smalltowntx
images on venturerider site now

[Mariner Fan]

I've had XM on my bike for awhile. I had two different radio's before I got the Garmin. The only thing I could add is that the little antenna's are real prone to dropping out the signal. I don't know why the big XM puck for the Garmin works so well but it does.

[hunter 1500]

Do you have a radio with a jack that can accept Sirius or XM. I have one that has a plug just for the satalite radio and a Sirius tunner that is compatatable. Works great. Mounted the tuner in the sadlebag and routed the wires up to the fairing and into the radio. Other than the antenna you wouldn't even know it's there. Also has an aux jack for my Ipod.

[ablumny]

Sirius for me for years. Went on Ebay, bought an older model with a dock, on the cheap. Handlebar Ram mount keeps it in place. Magnetic antenna sitting on top of the brake res.

 

Not sure if this is right but I read that XM satellites are newer and follow a different orbit resulting in better audio. I had a friend come over with XM in his car and I have to agree. Sirius in my car sounded sort of muffled when compared but Im not changing out hardware now....

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_9EMyKcng_yA/SgcFULDy9SI/AAAAAAAAB8I/mrvrkKRSGRk/s640/P5100249.JPG

[cb1313]

Cycle gadget sells a motorcycle antenna, works better than the other antennas.

 

Been a sat user for about 6 years, have wired my 4 cars, 2 bikes, I even have a headphone set to use while cutting the grass. I just transfer the docking station to whatever I'm driving. Each sat item.... cables, docking station , antenna can get expensive.... I picked one radio I liked and then stated to puchase sets on Ebay that were complete but the radio might be broken. If you like baseball all games are on XM radio.

I use a Delphi Myfi

 

IMPORTANT NOTE Sat radio is NOT talk free....they have dejay the sometimes get in the way of the music... BUT there are NO commercials.

if you have any questions...ask ?

 

Cb

[Proud Dad]

Google Roady Holder. They offer a great holder for your unit and some good wiring info is available. The Roady II is an older model, very dependable and can be purchased used and inexpensive on ebay. xm

[sarges46]

We have Xm and Marilyns boy has sirrius. The reception is betting with his (sirrius). It was mentioned about the higher sats so that must be it.

 

I have no complaints about mine and it seldom cuts out...just downtown when the buildings get in the way.

 

Marilyn has the myfi portable. She is having trouble with it on the bike the antenea plug keeps falling out. She will be switching over to a sirrius car unit very soon specifically because of the better reception.

[dynodon]

I have Sirius in my Chrysler, and XM came with my new Wing, but it did eventually cut off as the previous owner cancelled the account. Took a couple weeks to kill it, and the channels I listen to were identical for that time between the two services.

 

Also, BOTH services now cut out under any big tree, or any bridge, no matter how small. My Sirius used to take a double interstate bridge or tunnel to cut out.

 

I think both services recently lost some satellites or they canceled them, because they just don't seem to recover from storms or anything over their head. Also, parking near big buildings will kill the signal (and this is in small towns.)

 

I have tried several times to get in touch with them to add back in the account on the XM radio, but no joy getting to a live person, and they have zero info on prices for a second account on their web site that I can find.

 

Their price increases recently don't sit well with me either.

 

Still, I love the music and local radio keeps getting worse.

[Brenda H]

I've had both. Roady II on the XM side and currently both a Starmate and Sportster 4 on the Sirius side. Strictly in my 4 wheelers tho, not on this bike as yet. Both services are great. I'm currently using just my Sirius radios as we follow Nascar and that is a Sirius channel. I did run my Roady on my last bike, mag antenna stuck on the brake resevoir with the radio stuck inside a fanny pack that was strapped around the handlebar mounts and a set of headphones. It worked!!

 

We've had sat radios for years. Hubby is a 50's & 60's RnR fan and got so thoroughly pissed at the trouble he was having finding music he liked on standard AM/FM stations while we were travelling that he spent a nice piece of change to buy one of the early Sirius models. It's gotten to the point now that about the only place I listen to AM/FM radio is in the cab of our tractor as I haven't bought a mount for the radio to go in there. I have a boombox set up for the radios in the house and will be mounting a permanent outdoor antenna on the new deck when we get the darn thing built.

 

Sirius and XM are the same company these days but do not have 100% the same programming. Major sports are split between the two, at least until their contracts expire as they were negotiated while the two were separate companies. The Nascar channel is Sirius but you can get it along with several other Sirius channels on XM for an extra fee. They do have commercials but not on the music channels. If you have Dish Network, you can listen to a fair selection of the Sirius music channels as they are part of DN's programming. About the only thing I don't like about them is the monthly fees. My two radios run me about $75 every 3 months. Just wish it was a lil cheaper.