Satellite radio

[jam26]

XM Radio is now available in Canada. Has anyone subscribed?
I subscribed the first day and have been really impressed. Virtually all NHL games, a 24-hour hockey talk station, uncensored comedy and about 80 commercial-free music stations.
Definitely worth $12.99/month IMO. I don't work for XM Radio...but I love the concept and was wondering if anyone else has signed up or is thinking about it?

[metallicat]

As much as I was against satellite radio when I first started looking into it a few months ago, I have definetely warmed. Warmed to the point of buying an XM portable receiver from the US, and in the process of signing up in the US. The American feed gets a few more channels than the Canadian feed, so I have found a person in the US willing to add my receiver to their bill.

I will essentially be getting everything the Americans do for less cost than the average Canadian subscription. I recommend everyone doing the same as well.

[Josh]

I have it, but I live in the US, its been in my car for over a year and I have to say that I absoluetly love it!! Well worth the $10/month I pay for it.

[FlamesKickAss]

Ya I have american sirius have for almost year now i pay 6.95/ mo. US
I love it, and it just updated the other day to give me the few canadian channels too

[jam26]

I would suggest using the Canadian service simply because that money helps fund Canadian talent. XM Canada has to put a portion of their proceeds back into the Canadian music industry.
Also, XM Canada employs Canadian staff, rents Canadian office and studio space etc. The fact there are already thousands of Canadians subscribed to the US service is a huge obstacle for them. They are allowing those customers to switch to a Canadian account and waiving the activation fee.
The only stations removed from the Canadian channel lineup are U.S. weather and traffic stations.
Also, I believe the cost is the same, $12.99 so you're actually saving the exchange. Unless you are signed up on your American friend's account in which case you're probably getting a few bucks off (I believe secondary accounts are $9.99).

Originally Posted by oilers_fan

As much as I was against satellite radio when I first started looking into it a few months ago, I have definetely warmed. Warmed to the point of buying an XM portable receiver from the US, and in the process of signing up in the US. The American feed gets a few more channels than the Canadian feed, so I have found a person in the US willing to add my receiver to their bill.

I will essentially be getting everything the Americans do for less cost than the average Canadian subscription. I recommend everyone doing the same as well.

[hah]

I hear you can hack the US system and get it for free. Save your money.

I get XM satellite on Directv, US.

[metallicat]

Originally Posted by jam26

I would suggest using the Canadian service simply because that money helps fund Canadian talent. XM Canada has to put a portion of their proceeds back into the Canadian music industry.
Also, XM Canada employs Canadian staff, rents Canadian office and studio space etc. The fact there are already thousands of Canadians subscribed to the US service is a huge obstacle for them. They are allowing those customers to switch to a Canadian account and waiving the activation fee.
The only stations removed from the Canadian channel lineup are U.S. weather and traffic stations.
Also, I believe the cost is the same, $12.99 so you're actually saving the exchange. Unless you are signed up on your American friend's account in which case you're probably getting a few bucks off (I believe secondary accounts are $9.99).

I am not into supporting Canadian things simply for the sake of doing so. It's great they put money back into Canadian artists, but it doesn't make me want to subscribe with them. Not only that, but my American purchsed receiver won't be activated in Canada. I believe they have said they will only activate ones purchased in Canada.

But that is what I am doing. Hooking up to an American subscription for 6.99/month USD. After paying half of his bill, rather than the 6.99, it is about the same as it would cost me here in Canada...except I get more stations.

[ken0042]

Originally Posted by oilers_fan

Not only that, but my American purchsed receiver won't be activated in Canada. I believe they have said they will only activate ones purchased in Canada.

But that is what I am doing. Hooking up to an American subscription for 6.99/month USD. After paying half of his bill, rather than the 6.99, it is about the same as it would cost me here in Canada...except I get more stations.

First off, it appears that we were mislead about the cross border activations. The early indications point to being able cross activate, however if you activate a US receiver on a Canadian account, you aren't getting all of the Canadian stations.

As far as splitting an account is concerned, I don't think it's fair to compare the price of service by breaking the rules vs paying what is intended.

Myself, I picked up a Sirius system yesterday. Got it activated and didn't have to listen to regular radio going into work this morning. I went Sirius for a couple of reasons; they have NFL as well as NHL (they lose NHL for the 07-08 season.) XM doesn't have NFL. I also have the Sirius channels on my US Dish system so I already know that I like them.

Not counting road trips I spend about 50 hours per week in the car. That works out to 30¢ per hour to be entertained.

[Engine09]

I would suggest using the Canadian service simply because that money helps fund Canadian talent

No thanks, I do not want any of my money going to Nickleback, Tom Cochrane, or 54-40.

Just kidding, althought those bands do suck real bad.


Can you get Howard Stern on XM, or is that only available on Sirius?

[ken0042]

Originally Posted by Kryzsky

Can you get Howard Stern on XM, or is that only available on Sirius?

Nope. He's only on the US version of Sirius.

[metallicat]

That's another thing...satellite radio is supposed to be censor free. The CRTC has already screwed with Sirius. By going with the American subscription, you can avoid any of that crap altogether.

[Deelow]

So are the NHL games on XM Canada? I thought that wasn't happening until 2007?

[metallicat]

Yes, NHL is on both XM and Sirius it would seem.

[KipperIsGod]

You can get all NHL games on the radio at www.nhl.com for free!

[ken0042]

Originally Posted by oilers_fan

That's another thing...satellite radio is supposed to be censor free. The CRTC has already screwed with Sirius.

How has the CRTC screwed with Sirius? Sirius decided all on it's own to not to carry Stern. Keep in mind the entire application was very precarious. Myself I didn't think it would ever go through. By Sirius not offering Stern; they made a more attractive package.

There's also nothing saying they can't add it some time down the road.

[ken0042]

Originally Posted by KipperIsGod

You can get all NHL games on the radio at www.nhl.com for free!

Unfortunately I don't have internet access in my car.

[browna]

Been doing some looking into this the last few months...best site out there for XM is XMFAN.com.
Buying through their store, even after shipping and customs and the exchange rate, works out to about 40% off what they are charging at stores here. And, if you have family/friends in the US, get them to send in the rebate form for 50$(US) on any recievers, and your cost is about 50% off for the same products that Future Shop etc.
That means some of the car radios with kits, cost as little as $20 US after this rebate...so with taxes and exchange, $60 CDN?

The go anywhere handheld radios, including home and car kits, work out to $220-$280 CDN shipped and taxes in...compared to 400$+ tax Futureshop is charging.

[metallicat]

Originally Posted by ken0042

How has the CRTC screwed with Sirius? Sirius decided all on it's own to not to carry Stern. Keep in mind the entire application was very precarious. Myself I didn't think it would ever go through. By Sirius not offering Stern; they made a more attractive package.

There's also nothing saying they can't add it some time down the road.

Why would Sirius not offering Howard Stern be more attractive than actually offering him? That doesn't make any sense. I just assumed it was the CRTC trying to interfere into something that is supposed to be free from censorship.

Edit- It seems you are right. http://www.newsmax.com/archives/ic/2...6/223102.shtml

But that article states the reason Stern isn't coming here, is a FEAR of the CRTC eventually shutting him down. That's BS. Not that I should really care since it's XM I'm getting...

[FlamesKickAss]

Originally Posted by ken0042

How has the CRTC screwed with Sirius? Sirius decided all on it's own to not to carry Stern. Keep in mind the entire application was very precarious. Myself I didn't think it would ever go through. By Sirius not offering Stern; they made a more attractive package.

There's also nothing saying they can't add it some time down the road.

I heard that CBC said they wouldn't come aboard if stern was there or something to that tune.

[nfotiu]

I have the US version of Sirius in our BMW. I'm pretty happy with it overall. I like the "Left of Center" channel a lot. Very good indie station. My only complaint is sound quality. It sounds like a very compressed mp3. Definitely a step down from FM quality.