Questions about Satellite Radio - Page 2 - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

Mango · 11-29-2006, 07:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bench Warmer

Okay - I get it now. So, it sounds like for my needs wanting to dock between car and office, Sirius is probably the way to go (I also live in Saskatchewan - city - but doubt XM would have repeaters here).

Thanks for info all - keep it comin'!

Your signal will still be very strong in Saskatchewan:

Our Canadian content originates from our Toronto and Montreal studios then fed through XM's broadcast center, the world's largest all-digital studio complex in Washington, DC, and uplink to our two (Boeing 702) satellites. These satellites transmit the signal across North America. Each satellite provides 18kw of total power making them the two most powerful commercial satellites ever built, providing coast-to-coast coverage. (http://xmradio.ca/contents/home/main.php?section=faq)

underGRADFlame · 11-29-2006, 07:59 PM

In my travels across western canada, the only place I lose signal is behind a mountain, in tunnels or direcetly north of a brick building, other than that if you can see the sky, you can get a signal.

Mango · 11-29-2006, 08:00 PM

If you do decide to use either service with a home kit, your antenna will have to be placed in a south facing window to receive the best reception.

Azure · 11-29-2006, 08:35 PM

Interesting to note that XM has geosynchronous satellites...while Sirius uses...

Quote:

Unlike XM, Sirius does not use GEO satellites. Instead, its three SS/L-1300 satellites form an inclined elliptical satellite constellation. Sirius says the elliptical path of its satellite constellation ensures that each satellite spends about 16 hours a day over the continental United States, with at least one satellite over the country at all times. Sirius completed its three-satellite constellation on November 30, 2000. A fourth satellite will remain on the ground, ready to be launched if any of the three active satellites encounter transmission problems.

http://electronics.howstuffworks.com...ite-radio3.htm

I have seen an image of the area those satellites cover...and it includes most of North America. Here in rural Southern Alberta...the Sirius signal is very strong.

Jagger · 11-29-2006, 08:35 PM

I've never had problems in rural areas with XM and I do lot's of travelling in the boonies. As undergrad says the only time I've lost reception is by tall buildings or in tunnels. Other than that the reception is great.

Jayems · 11-29-2006, 08:44 PM

I love my XM and don't know what I would do without it, especially with long road trips...

Opie and Anthony (XM's answer to Stern) are freaking hilarious...

6 country stations
tonnes of hockey
heavy metal... lots of rock.. 3 comedy chans [2 uncensored]...

Once you go satellite, you'll never go back.

Dissapointed with XM 204 - Home Ice (24/7 hockey chan). The DJ's or whateve they are called are freaking brutal... there is one show where all they do is laugh about inside jokes and have stupid noises like people laughing or odd circus noises and they think its sooooo funny....

KootenayFlamesFan · 11-29-2006, 08:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bench Warmer

I was kinda hoping they'd have a setup where you take the receiver out of the car and stick it on a boom-box / speaker type unit (like the ipod 'boom-box' setup is).

Here's the boomboxes for Sirius off of the Sirius Canada site:

http://shop.siriuscanada.ca/edealinv...ParentID=16689

Calgaryborn · 11-29-2006, 10:10 PM

I've been thinking about getting XM for the hockey but, am concerned about reception in the mountains. If a brick building will mess you up I'm sure it will be hit and miss on the kootenay summits.

On a side note: I can pick up the Fan 960 in places between Creston and Castlegar B.C.

Flames in 07 · 11-29-2006, 10:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Calgaryborn

I've been thinking about getting XM for the hockey but, am concerned about reception in the mountains. If a brick building will mess you up I'm sure it will be hit and miss on the kootenay summits.

On a side note: I can pick up the Fan 960 in places between Creston and Castlegar B.C.

It's quite good, on the way to banff I lose reception for about 5 - 10 seconds in total, and works great in Banff.

if you want look into www.xmfan.com

there is a bulletin board where sometimes folks talk about reception in certain areas.

Jagger · 11-30-2006, 02:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Calgaryborn

I've been thinking about getting XM for the hockey but, am concerned about reception in the mountains. If a brick building will mess you up I'm sure it will be hit and miss on the kootenay summits.

I've actually had very few problems with reception in the Rockies. Perhaps I've been lucky but there have only been a few occasions where I've had fade in and out for a few minutes.

jam26 · 11-30-2006, 05:26 AM

I also have an XM subscription and can't be without it. I enjoy having the hockey games in the evening, baseball in the summer and Ron and Fez on XM 202 at lunchtime. I find they're far funnier than Opie and Anthony and that annoying Jimmy Norton.

Bench Warmer · 11-30-2006, 07:33 AM

Well, it is without a doubt that satellite radio does sound like the way to go. However, I want to listen to it at work and although my office faces south, I have no window (with no window nearby - it's a poor building setup) so I wouldn't be able to get a signal methinks...

TimSJ · 11-30-2006, 07:54 AM

I have sirrius Canada and have had xm US in the past. Love Howard/ ferrall and Bubba the love sponge... Margaritaville radio as well.. Nascar goes to sirrius next year as well if that is a caonsideration for you.

underGRADFlame · 11-30-2006, 08:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bench Warmer

Well, it is without a doubt that satellite radio does sound like the way to go. However, I want to listen to it at work and although my office faces south, I have no window (with no window nearby - it's a poor building setup) so I wouldn't be able to get a signal methinks...

It might be something to test, if you have a friend with a sat. radio, ask if you can borrow it, or go to a electronics store and say you want to test one, and that if it works you'll buy from them, the idea of a sale might get you a loaner for a couple hours, you never know untill you try, also you can get up to 200' extensions for the antenna's so if you are able to run a wire it would work too.

Jayems · 11-30-2006, 10:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bench Warmer

Well, it is without a doubt that satellite radio does sound like the way to go. However, I want to listen to it at work and although my office faces south, I have no window (with no window nearby - it's a poor building setup) so I wouldn't be able to get a signal methinks...

Well, if you have the net and speakers, you can just sign in at xm.com or whatever and choose your live streaming station.

I know they don't get all the chans online (like hockey, etc..) but they have most of the main chans...

I listen to it at home all the time this way.

burn_baby_burn · 11-30-2006, 11:11 AM

I have a Canadian Sirius. I really like it. No more Jim Rome for me. The big reason I chose Sirius was for the NFL and Howard Stern. I find myself listening to Howard Stern the most. Right now Sirius does have NHL hockey. Like was stated above they are losing the rights either after the season or on Jan 1st. In reality, I get all my NHL info from the Fan960 anyways. The music is good, I rarely use my MP3 player in my vehicle anymore. The comedy is pretty good as well. All in all I would say that the $15 a month is well worth it.

Eagle Eye · 11-30-2006, 12:02 PM

Well I just got my sirius radio and I am enjoying quite a lot. I am able to pick up a very strong signal downtown while be in the middle of my building with no windows in sight. I think calgary has a very good repeater as I am not picking up any sat signal.

The only issue I am having is the strength of my FM transmitter.

Bench Warmer · 11-30-2006, 12:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eagle Eye

Well I just got my sirius radio and I am enjoying quite a lot. I am able to pick up a very strong signal downtown while be in the middle of my building with no windows in sight. I think calgary has a very good repeater as I am not picking up any sat signal.

The only issue I am having is the strength of my FM transmitter.

That's good to know. Maybe it will work here after all. As mentioned previously, I can't use the net as radio through the net is blocked here...

Jayems · 11-30-2006, 01:49 PM

I have gone through the mountians several times w/ the XM and never lost the signal, or it cut out for 1 millasecond.

Jonrox · 11-30-2006, 03:17 PM

Don't buy into the Howard hype. He and his crew are absolutely terrible. Go with XM and listen to Opie and Anthony. There's a reason Howard tried to shut these guys up and ruin their careers... he was and is scared of their genius.

As for music, Sirius and XM are very similar. With either one you'll have no problem finding something great to listen to. For many Canadians, I think it will come down to NHL hockey coverage and XM is (or will be very soon) the only choice.

The XM Roady XT can be had for around $80 (this includes the car kit and receiver), with the home kit costing about $70 (I think this is what I paid). The receiver can then be used in either kit. Plus, all of the Sirius units I've seen are incredibly ugly in comparison to the XM units.