Satelllite Radio Questions
November 24, 2005 7:49 AM Subscribe
SatRadioFilter: Help me understand some things about Satellite Radio.
I'm thinking of making the dive into Satellite Radio, and although I've read several posts on which service to take (and I'm still undecided) I have some questions regarding the functionality of it all.
1.) Home kits - how the heck does that work? Do you have to run wires to the outside of your apt/house? My commonsense filter is saying yes... but is there more to the story?
2.) One major advantage they say is the quality over FM radio - however, if you don't have it permanently installed in your car, aren't you just broadcasting it to an FM station anyways?
I'm thinking of making the dive into Satellite Radio, and although I've read several posts on which service to take (and I'm still undecided) I have some questions regarding the functionality of it all.
1.) Home kits - how the heck does that work? Do you have to run wires to the outside of your apt/house? My commonsense filter is saying yes... but is there more to the story?
2.) One major advantage they say is the quality over FM radio - however, if you don't have it permanently installed in your car, aren't you just broadcasting it to an FM station anyways?
odinsdream is right, the antenna has to have a clear view of the sky. But no, you do not have to run wires outside. You have to place the antenna on a north/south/east/west facing window sill, depending upon where you are in the country.
posted by amro at 8:47 AM on November 24, 2005
posted by amro at 8:47 AM on November 24, 2005
Response by poster: clarification of the fm transmitting comment - I was referring to the signal coming into the unit itself, and then the unit acting as an fm transmitter to your vehicles radio.
posted by jazzman at 8:58 AM on November 24, 2005
posted by jazzman at 8:58 AM on November 24, 2005
jazzman, many units use an FM connection *if* they are hooking up to an unsupported stereo. In my example, I bought a pioneer XM unit because I own a Pioneer stereo. One ungodly expensive CD Changer cable later and my stereo gets perfectly clear music through proper line in inputs (inside the CD Changer cable) and I can change the channels, etc straight from the original Pioneer head unit, no weird extra boxes in the way.
Of course, a solution like this won't be portable, so you'll need a second subscription (at a reduced cost) and receiver if you want it at home as well.
posted by shepd at 10:23 AM on November 24, 2005
Of course, a solution like this won't be portable, so you'll need a second subscription (at a reduced cost) and receiver if you want it at home as well.
posted by shepd at 10:23 AM on November 24, 2005
Best answer: For both XM and Sirius, there are portable units that dock at home and the car. You would install a dock in the car, and setup one at home. XM has/had the Sony PnP, the SkyFi/Skyfi 2, and the Roady2 at least has a mounting crade, though the cables are exposed on the side.
I have one in my basement where the antenna is attached to the side of a window frame (the antennas generally have a magnetic base). The car dock is installed where my ashtray used to live, since I don't smoke, but that was my choice, as this way no wires ever show outside the dash. The sound is hooked up to the line-in on my stereo (cheapo dynex, but it's enough for the truck)
I highly recommend checking out the forums at xmfan.com, it's generally a good community, and if you decide to go that route, they have a ton of tips and pictures of installations. I'm sure there's a good Sirius forum out there, but I don't have their service.
posted by sysinfo at 1:17 PM on November 24, 2005
I have one in my basement where the antenna is attached to the side of a window frame (the antennas generally have a magnetic base). The car dock is installed where my ashtray used to live, since I don't smoke, but that was my choice, as this way no wires ever show outside the dash. The sound is hooked up to the line-in on my stereo (cheapo dynex, but it's enough for the truck)
I highly recommend checking out the forums at xmfan.com, it's generally a good community, and if you decide to go that route, they have a ton of tips and pictures of installations. I'm sure there's a good Sirius forum out there, but I don't have their service.
posted by sysinfo at 1:17 PM on November 24, 2005
In some places, you do NOT need direct line of sight to the satellite. XM, at least, has a large number of terrestrial repeater stations that pick up and rebroadcast the satellite signal. This works directly and automatically with the standard antennas. You do still probably need to be near a window.
posted by Caviar at 4:08 PM on November 24, 2005
posted by Caviar at 4:08 PM on November 24, 2005
SiriusBackstage.com is the big user community for Sirius. I chose Sirius for several reasons, not least that they were the underdog and I want to see 2 major playors competing in this market. The service is flawless and well worth the $13/mo.
You could use the FM transmitter in the car mount but, frankly, that sucks. To benefit from the digital sound quality, hardwire it to an aux or CD changer input. There are companies making wiring harness adapters for many car head units to make this easier.
My home antenna sits on a stereo speaker pointing roughly in the direction of a window, and works great.
Sirius, like XM, does have terrestrial repeaters in urban areas, but there's no way to know if you're picking up satellite or repeater signals - it's transparent to the user.
posted by Tubes at 8:07 PM on November 24, 2005
You could use the FM transmitter in the car mount but, frankly, that sucks. To benefit from the digital sound quality, hardwire it to an aux or CD changer input. There are companies making wiring harness adapters for many car head units to make this easier.
My home antenna sits on a stereo speaker pointing roughly in the direction of a window, and works great.
Sirius, like XM, does have terrestrial repeaters in urban areas, but there's no way to know if you're picking up satellite or repeater signals - it's transparent to the user.
posted by Tubes at 8:07 PM on November 24, 2005
I would just like to add that it may be cheaper to just go ahead and ditch your cable TV provider and switch to satellite for TV, since both Sirius and XM are carried by the satellite TV networks now. (Sirius is on DISH and XM is now on DirecTV)
DirecTV just added XM to their lineups last week, and the new channels (in the 800's) sound fantastic.
posted by crazyray at 8:25 PM on November 24, 2005
DirecTV just added XM to their lineups last week, and the new channels (in the 800's) sound fantastic.
posted by crazyray at 8:25 PM on November 24, 2005
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by piro at 8:40 AM on November 24, 2005