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aceofspades7

02-13-2006, 07:52 AM

I am thinking about getting Sirius in addition to XM.  The thought of Stern/Ferrall/Ron and Fez sounds really good to me.  I quickly looked at the equipment on Amazon and wasn't impressed for a home setup.  I currently have a Yamaha XM stereo and would probably want to add a smaller device similar to a roady.  Does anyone have any suggestions about setting up Sirius at home?

Death Metal Moe

02-13-2006, 08:21 AM

I know nothing about the actual hardware that connects you to the stereo or the antenna, but I saw the Sportster at Wal Mart and the newer one is actually similar in size to a Roady2.  I'd start at your local Wal Mart or check to see if a mall near you has a Sirius cart to check the size, then look online for the stuff you want.  Ebay is your friend.But I've heard from A LOT of people, even Stern fans that the show is more of the same boring shit, and don't count on Ferrall to be around that long.  You know is history. Plus, no joke.  They get fairly hot.  At the Wal Mart display they had 2 Sirius units and a Roady XT sitting next to each other.  They had both been on all day.  The Roady XT felt like room temperature plastic and the Sirius units were so hot that left in your hand for a few moments, you'd want to drop it.  That has to be a factor in the overall life of these units.  Heat is the enemy of electronics.

This message was edited by Death Metal Moe on 2-13-06 @ 12:24 PM

MHasegawa

02-13-2006, 08:32 AM

My friend has a sirius unit and the thing has a vent on it, I guess you can't leave it on that long.  Also the boombox kinda sucks, we were at a devils game (don't ask me why) and the thing had trouble getting a signal outside in a parking lot.

Doctor Manhattan

02-13-2006, 08:45 AM

aceofspades7 wrote: I am thinking about getting Sirius in addition to XM.  The thought of Stern/Ferrall/Ron and Fez sounds really good to me.  I barely have enough time in a day to listen to O&A and R&F. (I listen on my Ipod) and watch 24 and Lost.

aceofspades7

02-13-2006, 09:07 AM

Thanks for the info - that's interesting about the heat they give off - I may hold off and wait to see if they make a better radio.  I just looked at both radios from XM and Sirius on Cnet  Review.  XM has a bunch of well-reviewed radios while Sirius has none (the new S50 got a 'Good' review but that's not what I am looking for).  Also, the Sirius radios are all pretty pricy.  You think they would have something like the Roady (less than $50) to entice subscribers, but they don't.  The sportser and calypso are $142 and $89 respectively.

curtoid

02-13-2006, 09:17 AM

Both of these are great and portable AND small. <img src="http://cdn.sirius.com/servlet/BlobServer?blobtable=ImageAsset&blobcol=urlimage&blobkey=id&blobwhere=1128803465286" border="0" />SIRIUS One Model: SV1  Price: $49.99 <img src="http://cdn.sirius.com/servlet/BlobServer?blobtable=ImageAsset&blobcol=urlimage&blobkey=id&blobwhere=1126670687106" border="0" />XACT Visor XTR3CK Model: XTR3CK  Price: $49.99 Stern isn't available through Sirius online right now - once they fortify their servers they say they will. It is great having it all - I know I was an anti-satrad person, but as I 'splained to Mikeyboy, it was more because I knew that (with my obsessive compulsive issues) it's was because I knew I'd have to have both if I got one.

aceofspades7

02-13-2006, 09:29 AM

Death Metal Moe

02-13-2006, 10:01 AM

And don't forget the S50 lie they put out there.  They try to make it sound like it's a portable unit like a MyFi, but it's really just a glorified MP3 player, and it doesn't even have the FM Transmitter in itself for home use.  You need another kit to transmit the FM signal in your home so I've seen people buying 2 car kits to use in the house too.

This message was edited by Death Metal Moe on 2-13-06 @ 2:01 PM

curtoid

02-13-2006, 10:04 AM

Thanks - that is exactly what I am looking for.  It looks like the sirius one gets good reviews - I just need to do a little research on hooking it up to the reciever (it looks like there are a few home kits).  I will ponder getting sirius for the rest of the day and not mention it to the girlfriend...The home kits for both of those are pretty easy to set up - the Sirius receivers are behind on the XM ones, but they aren't stranded in the ice age.I was talking to a buddy who has Sirius and he is pissed about the streaming of Stern. He felt decieved by the way they advertise Stern on the Sirius website - something like "Listen Now" but there is no mention no streaming (which I think is true of all the talk shows on Sirius - not 100% sure about that). I was pretty annoyed too by the not-streaming, but even though they were promoting the hell out of him, i think Sirius was surprised by the sudden spike in people signing up (400,000 + phone calls to his show on the first day) and they realized that it would be very difficult with their current server set up to make sure everyone had access to the show. If they changed the way they do his replays, then that might be as bad. On the show they are saying they would like to hit 6 million by the end of the year, but I personally would not be surprised if they hit that number by the summer. I really think the subscription gap is going to be almost even by this time next year - the tech gap will still give XM the edge, I'm sure. Death Metal Moe wrote: And don't forget the S50 lie they put out there.  They try to make it sound like it's a portable unit like a MyFi, but it's really just a glorified MP3 player, and it doesn't even have the FM Transmitter in itself for home use.   Actually they don't. The only description I've actually heard on Sirius of the S50 is that they compare it to an iPod. 

This message was edited by curtoid on 2-13-06 @ 2:13 PM

Johnny4

02-13-2006, 10:32 AM

I have the Sportster replay for the car and the boom box for the house. I haven't had a problem with either and the whole set up cost me about 150 after rebates. The sportster does get heated, but I wouldn't say hot. I get a perfect signal from the boom box when I put the antenae on my window sill. Outdoors it never goes out, and I live in a  heavily wooded area of NJ. I have heard through friends and through research that XM's signal is a little more consistent.I get XM through Diredt TV so I wouldn't know first hand.

Dirtybird12

02-13-2006, 10:33 AM

<img height="118" src="http://cdn.sirius.com/servlet/BlobServer?blobtable=ImageAsset&blobcol=urlimage&blobkey=id&blobwhere=1126670687106" width="185" border="0" />I've got this one. I love it. Easy in /out for both car & home. Never had a problem with it. Not a fan of the boombox tho.

Death Metal Moe

02-13-2006, 10:47 AM

curtoid wrote:  Death Metal Moe wrote: And don't forget the S50 lie they put out there.  They try to make it sound like it's a portable unit like a MyFi, but it's really just a glorified MP3 player, and it doesn't even have the FM Transmitter in itself for home use.   Actually they don't. The only description I've actually heard on Sirius of the S50 is that they compare it to an iPod. No, I haven't seen them come out and say "This will pick up a signal on the go" but they call it "Portable" and don't really seem to keen on letting people know it's NOT their answer to a MyFi.  Not an out and out lie but they're not making sure you know all the portable and RIAA limitations before you purchase the overpriced thing.  Dishonest business.

aceofspades7

02-13-2006, 10:56 AM

I just ordered the visor and the home kit.  Thanks to everyone.  I'm going to be in radio heaven.  Now only if they would replay R&F at 7...

Death Metal Moe

02-13-2006, 11:01 AM

aceofspades7 wrote: I just ordered the visor and the home kit.  Thanks to everyone.  I'm going to be in radio heaven.  Now only if they would replay R&F at 7... Preach it.  WE NEED OUR REPLAY!!!

Dirtybird12

02-13-2006, 11:12 AM

aceofspades7

02-13-2006, 11:26 AM

thanks perrynoid - that show sounds awesome.  i love hee haw hell on fungus, so if it's anything like that, i will love it.

MilkmanDann

02-13-2006, 01:25 PM

Death Metal Moe wrote: Plus, no joke.  They get fairly hot.  At the Wal Mart display they had 2 Sirius units and a Roady XT sitting next to each other.  They had both been on all day.  The Roady XT felt like room temperature plastic and the Sirius units were so hot that left in your hand for a few moments, you'd want to drop it.  That has to be a factor in the overall life of these units.  Heat is the enemy of electronics.This message was edited by Death Metal Moe on 2-13-06 @ 12:24 PM Yeah can also 2nd that. When I was asking the guy at Bestbuy about the 2 systems, he had me come over to the display and touch both the myfi and ... I really dont remember the portable sirius unit names sorry, but the latter was baking hot. He said they turn them off every couple of hours just in case.

aceofspades7

02-15-2006, 05:19 PM

so i got the visor and the home kit today - i set it all up and i get acquiring signal (at one point it said updating channels with a percentage indicator).  i had no problems setting up xm putting the antenna near a southern window.  has anyone had this problem with sirius?

Dan G

02-15-2006, 08:42 PM

I have Sirius set up through my surround sound system. Reception is tricky. If you can, mount your antenna outside so that it can get a direct view of the sky. I had to buy extension cable so that I could run the antenna outside.

curtoid

02-16-2006, 03:39 AM

<blockquote style="">aceofspades7 wrote: so i got the visor and the home kit today - i set it all up and i get acquiring signal (at one point it said updating channels with a percentage indicator).  i had no problems setting up xm putting the antenna near a southern window.  has anyone had this problem with sirius?  [/quote]<blockquote style="">Sorry - I actually get better reception with the Sirius inside than the XM (the XM sometimes fades out), but they are both in different places in my home. The XM has been stronger in the car, tho, but really - neither has been a problem for me - so far.[/quote]

Dirtybird12

02-16-2006, 03:56 AM

When I first bought Sirius I had some problems with it for the first day - off and on. It was more about ME trying to find the right spot for the signal. After I found the right spot. I've never had ANY problems with it. XM in my car has bad bleed over. It was worse in DC actually in DC the bleed over was insane. Worse than an FM signal. In fairness to XM - Im pretty sure it was shotty install.  I have sirius in my new car and it sounds insane. Im still hoping for an XM/Sirius reciever to come out. I only really listen to 202 for the Ron and Fez Show.  I'd listen more, in my other car if it didn;t bleed so much. Spite, the people complaining about the sirius gear(usually from people who do not have sirius) I have never had my visor kit - overheat or shut down.  Same with MYFI - it never overheated.

aceofspades7

02-16-2006, 05:06 AM

my xm antenna is in my place next to my stereo - never had problem (except when running microwave) and i live in dc.  i had to run the sirius antenna out a window which is a bit of an eyesore in my place.  i'm going to mess with it tonight.  it was great to hear ferrall and howard though.  the stern show did literally sound a bit off - like they were in a cave or distant or something.

Death Metal Moe

02-16-2006, 05:18 AM

aceofspades7 wrote:   the stern show did literally sound a bit off - like they were in a cave or distant or something.  "They're ripping me off, hoo hoo."<img src="http://www.villagevoice.com/blogs/bushbeat/archive/images/osama-strat1.jpg" border="0" />