# Top 7 XM/Sirius stations **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 4, 2006, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-7-xm-sirius-stations/367277 "2006-08-04T02:15:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2006, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-7-xm-sirius-stations/367277/1 "2006-08-04T02:15:46Z")
I love my XM radio. I’ll never listen to terrestrial radio again. But I’m a creature of habit…I have about 7-10 favorites that get all the airplay. I generally jump between: A. 6 - The 60’s B. 46 - Top Tracks (classic rock) C. 40 - Deep Tracks (deep album rock) D. 150 - XM Comedy E. 151 - Laugh USA F. 153 - Laugh Attack (Canadian comedy, eh) G. Whatever channel is carrying the Dodgers or the Red Sox What channels are **you** listening to? ---
**Author:** ![diku](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4af34b/32.png) [@diku](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/diku)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2006, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-7-xm-sirius-stations/367277/2 "2006-08-04T03:07:34Z")
Let’s see: 1. 54 Lucy - Alternative stuff mostly from 92-00. Some new, but most of it’s in that ranges. 2. 44 Fred - Older Alternative stuff. These two stations cover most of the stuff I used to play when I worked in radio. 3. 65 The Rhyme - Classic Hip-Hop and Rap. '96 back. 4. 140 - ESPN Radio. 5. 150 - XM Comedy 6. 81 - BPM 7. 8 - The 80’s ---
**Author:** ![Max\_Carnage](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/max_carnage/32/12775_2.png) [@Max\_Carnage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_Carnage)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2006, 1:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-7-xm-sirius-stations/367277/3 "2006-08-04T13:21:20Z")
It changes from time to time but most of these are consistent. In no particular order: I. 81 - BPM II. 150 - XM Comedy (Up Yours!) III. 27 - Cinemagic IV. 8 - The 80’s V. 32 - The Message VI. 54 - Lucy VII. 14 - Bluegrass Junction ---
**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:** [August 4, 2006, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-7-xm-sirius-stations/367277/4 "2006-08-04T16:01:04Z")
41 Boneyard 42 Liquid Metal 47 Ethel 48 Squizz 54 Lucy And I surf 46, 49, 53, and 70-72 sometimes at home (XM is on Direct TV now) The only time I listen to any of the comedy or talk is on really long road trips and I need something with a train of thought to keep my mind awake. ---
**Author:** ![cantara](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6f9a4e/32.png) [@cantara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cantara)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2006, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-7-xm-sirius-stations/367277/5 "2006-08-04T16:52:42Z")
We’ve got XM. We love it and always have it on. The only downside is the number of Station IDs we hear since they play the 5 second ID after every third song. It’s enough that you can ask our 5 year old son what our favourite station is and he’ll tell you “Fred on 44”. We are in Canada and subscribed to the Canadian service, but they are increasing their rates, and my father-in-law, who lives in the US, has a subscription to the US service. I will probably cancel the Canadian service and sign on to his account (with his blessing) as a secondary unit and pay half the price. 1. 44 - Fred (older alternative) 2. 47 - Ethel 3. 54 - Lucy 4. 48 - Squizz (hard alternative, usually tune in for Ministry or NIN 5. 84 - Chill (Downbeat or my wife calls it Nouveau Elevator) 6. 43 - XMU (new unsigned…would you call this the new alternative?) 7. 151 - Comedy (any of the three, but usually the non XL one since the kids are in the car) 8/9) 110/113 - Classical or Pops Who’s kidding who? I surf all over the place (like I do when watching TV) and drive my wife batty. Actually, that’s not true…she demands it goes back to Fred. ---
**Author:** ![TommyTutone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c4cdca/32.png) [@TommyTutone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TommyTutone)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2006, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-7-xm-sirius-stations/367277/6 "2006-08-04T16:58:31Z")
Long time XM owner and am listening to it right now in the office. My top 7: 1. High Voltage 202 - Mostly for Ron & Fez who are the funniest shock jocks I’ve ever heard because they don’t rely on shock for their humor. I also listen to a lesser extent for Opie & Anthony. 2. Fuego 90 - I was turned on to reggaeton a few months ago and I have really been enjoying it and I hope to take salsa lessons someday. 3. Ethel 4. Lucy - these two are the music that I am most familiar with and have listened to most of my life 5. Fred - for my new wave fix 6. XM Comedy 150 - because comedy is better with ‘fuck’ in it 7. Bone Yard - when I need my head banging fix ---
**Author:** ![N9IWP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/n9iwp/32/3154_2.png) [@N9IWP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/N9IWP)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2006, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-7-xm-sirius-stations/367277/7 "2006-08-04T18:10:05Z")
Couldn’t the XM people think of better names? Lucy? Ethel? Brian ---
**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:** [August 4, 2006, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-7-xm-sirius-stations/367277/8 "2006-08-04T18:25:32Z")
That bugs the crap out of me. I had to go to their site to get the names, I just go by number in the car. Then of course DirectTV doesn’t have the channel number, they go by the name, so I have to memorize the Direct TV channel. I looked and looked for a Ricky. I figured Lucy, Fred, and Ethel would surely have a Ricky, but noooo. ---
**Author:** ![griffin1977](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/977dab/32.png) [@griffin1977](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/griffin1977)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2006, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-7-xm-sirius-stations/367277/9 "2006-08-04T19:15:15Z")
Sirius has saved from commerical radio hell… 1 - Left of Center - an indie music station not leftie talk radio as the name suggests 2 - Boom Box 3 - BBC World Service 4 - Raw Dog Comedy - though they repeat stuff alot and “The Wise Guy” show is the least funny thing I’ve ever heard. 5 - BBC Radio One - though I wish they’d replace it with BBC 6 Music… (anyone fancy starting a grass roots internet campaign to get 6-Music on Sirius 🙂 ). 6 - Premiership footie on “Sports play-by-play” 7 - Underground Garage - Despite its name its about as underground as MTV 🙂 Similar to LoC accept popier and rockier 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![brianjedi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3be4f8/32.png) [@brianjedi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brianjedi)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2006, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-7-xm-sirius-stations/367277/10 "2006-08-04T19:28:00Z")
My top 7: 47 - Ethel 48 - SquiZZ 54 - Lucy 150 - XM Comedy 202 - O&A/Ron and Fez 26 - Flight 26 9 - The 90’s I also listen to Big Tracks, Top Tracks and Top 20 on 20 a lot too. ---
**Author:** ![Generic\_American](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/f07891/32.png) [@Generic\_American](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Generic_American)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2006, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-7-xm-sirius-stations/367277/11 "2006-08-04T19:30:14Z")
[QUOTE=Duke of Rat] I looked and looked for a Ricky. I figured Lucy, Fred, and Ethel would surely have a Ricky, but noooo. [/QUOTE] For Latin music, natch. Here are 7 of my 10 “A” list. 1. Fred 2. Ethel 3. Fox News (primarily for “Special Report w/ Brit Hume” on the drive home) 4. XMU 5. The Verge 6. XM Comedy 7. The Rhyme ---
**Author:** ![Ms2001](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ms2001/32/18463_2.png) [@Ms2001](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ms2001)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2006, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-7-xm-sirius-stations/367277/12 "2006-08-05T00:12:36Z")
Sirius… 1. TalkLeft (liberal talk, naturally: [Young Turks](http://www.youngturk.com), Thom Hartmann, and Stephanie Miller among others) 2. Chill (mellow electronic/rock) 3. Left of Center (indie rock) 4. Boombox (big beat electronic) 5. First Wave (“classic alternative” - new wave and other 80s stuff that’s not typical 80s station fare) 6. Raw Dog Comedy (stand up clips) 7. Alt Nation (used to be higher, but is rapidly becoming Emo Nation) ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2006, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-7-xm-sirius-stations/367277/13 "2006-08-05T02:27:03Z")
XM: XM Classics BPM Real Jazz 90s on 9 The Message (Christian) The System (Techno) Beyond Jazz Sirius: The Vault (Classic Rock) Symphony Hall Pure Jazz Sirius Spirit (Christian) Area 33 (Techno) Outlaw Country Sirius Gold (50s) ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_the\_Turtle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_the_turtle/32/2926_2.png) [@Fear\_the\_Turtle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_the_Turtle)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2006, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-7-xm-sirius-stations/367277/14 "2006-08-05T03:49:09Z")
Count me as another Fred/Ethel/Lucy. Sometimes I’ll just start at 54 and scroll one at a time to 40, then check the 90’s, 80’s, 70’s, 60’s. If still no joy I’ll shoot up to 150 (comedy). On the commute home after work I’ll often scroll thru the MLB games. At home the TV is on Lucy (DirecTV 838) anytime I’m not actually watching something. ---
**Author:** ![want2know](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/50afbb/32.png) [@want2know](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/want2know)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2006, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-7-xm-sirius-stations/367277/15 "2006-08-05T18:19:59Z")
XM: 1. 70’s on 7 2. Fred 44 3. XM Comedy 150 4. 60’s on 6 5. 80’s on 8 6. Top Tracks 46 7. Chrome 83 (classic disco) Mrs. Know likes Highway 16 and The Blend (25). ---
**Author:** ![want2know](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/50afbb/32.png) [@want2know](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/want2know)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2006, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-7-xm-sirius-stations/367277/16 "2006-08-05T21:58:50Z")
Slight hijack: For those XMers with a taste for some radio nostalgia, this weekend, both the 70s and 80s channels are re-airing random broadcasts of **American Top 40** with Casey Kasem. I know that may sound kinda lame to some people, but IMHO (and to paraphrase Maude Findlay), one "Keep your feet on the ground and keep reaching for the stars) is worth a hundred "Seacrest out"s. Carry on. ---
**Author:** ![sleeepy2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@sleeepy2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sleeepy2)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2006, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-7-xm-sirius-stations/367277/17 "2006-08-06T00:30:47Z")
Sirius 1. Howard 100 2. The Vault- Deeper Classic Rock 3. Left Of Center - New/College/Indie 4. Rolling Stones Radio 5. Raw Dog 6. Alt Nation 7. Symphony Hall (perfect in the office) ---
**Author:** ![Meeko](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e495f1/32.png) [@Meeko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Meeko)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2006, 10:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-7-xm-sirius-stations/367277/18 "2006-08-06T10:33:40Z")
There is a simlar post, that has what stations or your presets. With XM presets, you can just press one button, and jump to a station. (As long as your not in Direct mode. XM: 1.81 BPM 2.80s on 8 3.Flight 26 4.49 Big Tracks 5.40 Deep Tracks 6.151 Laugh USA (Chicken Man!) 7.163 Sonic Theatre 8.20 on 20 (Was ESPN, but I figured that 9 could cover my sports for me) 9.123 Headline News 10.227 Atlanta Traffic Not 7, but, it is my preset line up. ---
**Author:** ![Meeko](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e495f1/32.png) [@Meeko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Meeko)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2006, 10:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-7-xm-sirius-stations/367277/19 "2006-08-06T10:37:20Z")
I often Joke, that XM needs PIP for radio. I feel sometimes that it canibalizes it self.