# Satellite Radio: XM or Sirius? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 20, 2007, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/satellite-radio-xm-or-sirius/427189 "2007-11-20T16:02:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![want2know](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/50afbb/32.png) [@want2know](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/want2know)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2007, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/satellite-radio-xm-or-sirius/427189/21 "2007-11-21T17:45:32Z")
> [@](#): > > Originally Posted by Sean Factotum > My biggest problem is the rarity of free FM frequencies in this area that I can use to get the signal from my receiver to the car radio. I had that problem for awhile when I set the radio at 88.7; I changed it to 88.3 and for the most part the problem went away. Still, “bleed-over” is a problem in most large metro areas. There are two other options to the tape adapter: 1. There is an adapter you can have installed in your car that will effectively “hard-wire” satellite radio into your sound system. Most major electronics chains carry them. 2. Have an “after-market” satellite-ready stereo installed. You can get one for not a whole lot of money and most are better quality than factory-installed radios (depending on the make and model of your car). I’ve had XM for over 2 years now and have no complaints. I haven’t heard enough of Sirius to make an effective comparison. I got XM for baseball, and also love the comedy channels. [QUOTE=romansperson] Seriously - there are streams named Fred, Ethel and Lucy. How is that supposed to give me any clue what type of music those streams carry? [/QUOTE] A quick trip to the [XM channel guide](http://www.xmradio.com/onxm/full-channel-listing.xmc) will clear it up for you. Fred (80’s alternative) is my favorite–where else can you still hear Joy Division, Art of Noise, or any Flock of Seagulls song that isn’t “I Ran”? Another great feature of XM is their “mini-channels”. At certain times of the year, they open up a channel with music relevant to that holiday. This past Halloween, they had “Igor” with horror-themed music and narrations of scary stories. At Hanukkah, they air a channel with a Jewish theme–everything from traditional _klezmer_ music to Richard Hell and the Voidoids! ---
**Author:** ![romansperson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/romansperson/32/17100_2.png) [@romansperson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/romansperson)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2007, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/satellite-radio-xm-or-sirius/427189/22 "2007-11-21T17:54:45Z")
[QUOTE=want2know] A quick trip to the [XM channel guide](http://www.xmradio.com/onxm/full-channel-listing.xmc) will clear it up for you. [/QUOTE] Yes, but I really shouldn’t have to look it up on the Internet to figure it out, y’know? Dumb decision on their part, imho. ---
**Author:** ![Duke\_of\_Rat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Duke\_of\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duke_of_Rat)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2007, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/satellite-radio-xm-or-sirius/427189/23 "2007-11-21T17:59:16Z")
It doesn’t take long to get a feel for what’s what, and not all of the channels have goofy names. I tend to ignore the names, anyway, and just go off the channel number. Off the top of my head, I can’t tell you the names of 44, 47, or 54, but I know what music is played on them. ---
**Author:** ![want2know](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/50afbb/32.png) [@want2know](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/want2know)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2007, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/satellite-radio-xm-or-sirius/427189/24 "2007-11-21T18:00:27Z")
[QUOTE=Duke of Rat] It doesn’t take long to get a feel for what’s what, and not all of the channels have goofy names. I tend to ignore the names, anyway, and just go off the channel number. Off the top of my head, I can’t tell you the names of 44, 47, or 54, but I know what music is played on them. [/QUOTE] What he said. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![scout1222](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/34f0e0/32.png) [@scout1222](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scout1222)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2007, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/satellite-radio-xm-or-sirius/427189/25 "2007-11-21T18:02:17Z")
[QUOTE=want2know] 1. There is an adapter you can have installed in your car that will effectively “hard-wire” satellite radio into your sound system. Most major electronics chains carry them. [/QUOTE] This is what I have. I got Sirius installed earlier this year (got it for Christmas) on my Prius. I live in San Diego and have driven up to Los Angeles and at no point have I ever heard a whisper of interference. It is fantastic reception. Edit: I got it installed at Best Buy. I can’t remember how much, because the boyfriend paid for it as part of his gift to me. ---
**Author:** ![vetbridge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b5e925/32.png) [@vetbridge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vetbridge)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2007, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/satellite-radio-xm-or-sirius/427189/26 "2007-11-21T18:04:00Z")
[QUOTE=romansperson] Yes, but I really shouldn’t have to look it up on the Internet to figure it out, y’know? Dumb decision on their part, imho. [/QUOTE] You can download a printable version, plus a small printout comes in the mail with your bill/info. ---
**Author:** ![NDP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ndp/32/55_2.png) [@NDP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NDP)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2007, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/satellite-radio-xm-or-sirius/427189/27 "2007-11-21T20:06:44Z")
Just out of curiosity but does Clear Channel still have an interest in XM? ---
**Author:** ![elmwood](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmwood/32/3060_2.png) [@elmwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elmwood)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2007, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/satellite-radio-xm-or-sirius/427189/28 "2007-11-21T20:12:35Z")
[QUOTE=twickster] Looks like neither one of them has a world music channel, which would be what I would want. ☹ [/QUOTE] Sirius used to have a world music station, but programming was always pre-empted for months-long single-artist promotions. Their Coffeehouse channel occasionally plays world music, though. I love Sirius, but the single-artist channels are my biggest peeve. ---
**Author:** ![elmwood](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmwood/32/3060_2.png) [@elmwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elmwood)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2007, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/satellite-radio-xm-or-sirius/427189/29 "2007-11-21T20:21:44Z")
Damn five minute edit window. FWIW, Sirius customer service call centers are in the United States. XM customer service is in Jamaica. ---
**Author:** ![Mangosteen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Mangosteen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangosteen)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2007, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/satellite-radio-xm-or-sirius/427189/30 "2007-11-23T03:21:47Z")
I only got satellite radio for one reason: Howard Stern, so I went with Sirius. The day he leaves is the day I cancel my service. As far as reception goes, here in south Orange County CA, its pretty good but not perfect. Often the signal just disappears and its not when I’m going through a tunnel or something. There have been two or three days over the past two years where the signal was completely gone the entire day. The next day everything was back to normal even though I didn’t do anything to the system to try to fix it. Last week the signal would come in for about 15 seconds and then go out for the next 45 seconds. This lasted all day! If I’ve heard Howard’s whole show, I turn on one of the music channels. There are 3 main problems with terrestrial radio, commercials, D J’s and bad music (even on one’s favorite stations). Satellite radio only helps with one of these problems, the commercials. The D J’s on Sirius probably don’t talk as much as terrestrial D J’s, but I’m paying to hear music, not mindless chatter! Shut up and play some music. Sirius has a wide variety of music genre stations that offer pretty narrow playlists so one can choose a station the is supposed to feature the music you like, but still I’m lucky if I hear 1 out of 5 songs that I enjoy. For music listening, its not worth $12.95 a month. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/satellite-radio-xm-or-sirius/427189.md?page=1)