XM Radio

[Tru2Chevy]

Installed my SkyFi 2 XM tuner in the Lumina over the weekend, and I'm pretty much addicted already. Still in the process of figuring out which channels are playing the best stuff, but I'm very impressed. I have the antennea mounted on the rear deck (just inside the back window) and so far I've only lost reception a few times all weekend, and that was only for only a few seconds each time.

XM = A++ (Thanks again Kare :mrgreen: )

- Justin

[camaro2you]

glade you like it i know i love it having it in the garage but i still got a year and half till i hear it in a car lol.

[V]

how does the subscription to XM work? my gf is thinkign about getting it for her car. But here sister has it already and said she can take it and just pay the bill each month. But i was wondering how the subscription connects to the corresponding xm reciever. What i mean is, her sister now has it in her 2004 ford focus as like a seperate unit/display going through the stock radio. but my gf has a pioneer xm compatible radio already. would she need to buy a pioneer XM reciever and then somehow switch the subscription to that unit, or how does that work? i never really looked into XM so im lost.

[Tru2Chevy]

The subscription can be purchased monthly or in 1 to 5 year increments. When you subscribe you give them the ID number of the XM tuner you have, and they activate it within 10-15 minutes.

I have a Pioneer XM ready reciever too, and I just have my SkyFi connected through the IP Bus in the rear of the head unit. The XM ready feature is for those who just buy the XM tuner that you can leave under a seat or something. It uses the headunit to select and display XM stations, so it's a cleaner look.

I would start by finding out what model of XM reciever your girlfriend's sister has.

- Justin

[deadtrend1]

Ive had Xm for a little over 4 years now ... I just put Sirius in my trans am yesterday.

I have 4 xm recievers....

Starting with the oldest. The Pioneer headunit thats in my truck (used to be in my old ranger). I have like the GEN 1 tuner box for it too, but still sounds excellent. Thats in the second picture on the right.

http://mywebpages.comcast.net/tstrella/temp/pioneer1.jpg

http://mywebpages.comcast.net/tstrella/temp/pioneer2.jpg

Then I got a SKIFI2 that I take everywhere. I got the boomboxes for it (one im modifying right now with bigger speakers), car kit which i put in my work truck when i take long distance runs, and the home kit which is pictured. Thats in my spare room...

http://mywebpages.comcast.net/tstrella/temp/skifi2.jpg

In my bedroom, I have the Polk Reference XR12 and it soudns the best. No digital compression can be heard at all. I like it, little pricey though....

http://mywebpages.comcast.net/tstrella/temp/polktuner.jpg

Then I got a delphi roady 2 thats in my dads truck. Its cheaper that its on my plan so instead of him paying 12.95 a month, its 6.99 a month.

Finally after yesterday of having terrestial radio in the trans am, I signed up for sirius. To tell you the truth, I like the rock selection better then XM. I just hate Howard stern. The Sirius tuner is mounted under the passenger seat, and I had to use double stick tape to fasten the antenna on the roof. Damn fiberglass cars ... lol

http://mywebpages.comcast.net/tstrella/temp/kenwood.jpg

Satellite radio is cool ... lol

[V]

wait, can you have more than one reciever on a single subscription? or is it like 13 bucks a month per reciever unit?

[deadtrend1]

oh, and get that antenna on the highest point possible and you wont loose reception.

When I put it on my work truck, i stick it to the roof of the cab. (its a freightliner 24 foot straight box truck). Going south its fine from here to florida. Comming home, futher north i get, the more drop outs i get.

Reson: The box of the truck sticks up like 3 feet higher then the cab, so it blocks the satellites but only when I go under overpasses. ITs only a few seconds each time though.

[deadtrend1]

wait, can you have more than one reciever on a single subscription? or is it like 13 bucks a month per reciever unit?

12.95 a month flat rate for your first. 6.99 for each (up to 4 more) additional radios.

Since i have one Sirius radio. I pay $12.95 for that. Then i got the XM $12.95 for the pioneer, the $6.99 times 3 for the other 3 headunits. Some may not think its worth it but i do. I dont even have any FM antennas hooked up on the radios in my house, and i dont listen to FM driving anymore.

[1972LT1]

Ditch the XM and go with Sirius. Sirius has Howard Stern, Bubba The Love Sponge, Playboy Radio, 3 comedy channels and the music channels are commercial free. The antenna for my reciever is magnetic. I just attach it to the roll bar in my jeep and face it out the window. It works great. They even have a few recievers that can record so you can listen later or hear something you missed because of work. $147-1 year, @$300-2 years or $500 for lifetime subscription.

[Tru2Chevy]

I do like the rock stations on Sirius, but I got my XM for free, and I like a lot of their other programming too.

I need to find a better place to mount the antenna, coming home from the trucks last night (Rt 1 South) the signal was dropping out a lot.

I bought my service in a one year block. With the activation fee, I paid $150ish for a full year. Saves about $1/month.

- Justin