[Service] About to buy Dock and Play Unit: XM or Sirius?

Author	All Replies
Jeffrey Merry Christmas Premium join:2002-12-24 Dix Hills,NY clubs: ·Optimum Online ·Verizon FIOS ·Vonage ·magicjack.com	[Service] About to buy Dock and Play Unit: XM or Sirius? I find it odd that I'm asking this question now, yet the need for me to ask it is there. In 2004, I subscribed to Sirius after I heard Howard signed up there, and he was my motivating factor toward Sirius vs. XM. Had he gone to XM, I would have purchased an XM radio. I have since canceled this radio's subscription as it no longer functions properly. In 2007, I leased a Nissan Maxima that had Sirius built in. No issues, just started an additional subscription and I was on my way. I have recently turned in that Maxima for a 2009 Maxima SV with the Bose system but no satellite, as Nissan is tying the XM to the Navigation system now, and I refuse to get an in-car navigation system, (especially on a lease) at such a high cost. (A $300 Garmin will be just as good.) At any rate, I'm now in the unique position of needing to buy either an XM docking radio or a Sirius docking radio for the car, and plugging it into the AUX jack. I really haven't kept to close of a track of the channel lineups since the merger, but it appears that XM and Sirius have the same channels now, all be it on different numbers. I'm an avid Howard fan, 50% of the reason I subscribe to Sirius right now. I would also like to have, if possible, MLB. I'm assuming I have to pickup the "best of XM" package for the MLB, so is it better to pickup a Sirius radio and do that, or pickup an XM Radio and add the best of Sirius to get Stern? Or is it just a wash? Or am I over thinking this with all of the other problems in the world? Help the confused and ignorant, which is me. Thanks! -- "Honesty may be the best policy, but it's important to remember that apparently, by elimination, dishonesty is the second-best policy." - George Carlin [my ramblings]
	to forum · permalink · · 2009-02-26 21:21:04 ·
denb45 join:2001-02-04 Albuquerque, NM ·Comcast 3 edits	If your OEM-Radio-sound-system in your 2009 Maxima has a aux-in jack, your options are really very simple, and any Sirius XM unit would do the job, and yours being a leased car, I would go for the cig-lighter for the power, and the car dock with the aux-in-jack to your OEM-Radio, then all you would need is the outside antenna and your all set, and ready to go this setup would be so simple, that you could do-it-your-self............ Your very lucky you have that aux-in-jack on your OEM-Radio, I have a OEM-Ford-Radio, and I don't have that aux-in-option, so, I'm gonna have to fork-over a lot of money to have mine professionally installed, and that price-tag + the Sirius XM unit makes this very unattractive to me, to put in a 12 yr old Ford-Truck -- Gateway® DX4200-UB101A AMD Phenom™ X3 8400 Triple-Core 2.1 GHz*2 3600 MHz system bus AMD RS780 chipset 6 GB 667 MHz D Windows Vista™ Ultimate(64-bit)SP1
	to forum · permalink · · 2009-02-26 22:52:37 ·
Jeffrey Merry Christmas Premium join:2002-12-24 Dix Hills,NY clubs: ·Optimum Online ·Verizon FIOS ·Vonage ·magicjack.com	Thanks for your suggestions. I more than likely do what you suggest...I'll wait for a somewhat warmer day this spring, and run the installation of the radio antenna myself and hook everything up. I'm fanatatical about wires dangling around inside the cabin, so I know I'll do it neatly. I pay this place to hardwire my radar detector to the car, so I may pay the same place to do that and to hardwire the electrical aspect of the satellite radio to my car as well. I'm not going to futz around, or have anyone else, futz around with the stereo connection since the AUX port on the front of the system is readily available. May be it's me, but this whole "satellite radio" thing still isn't easy enough for the average person to put in their car. And by "easy enough" I just mean that without an AUX jack, the sound quality isnt that great. I know, I used the FM transmitter and the tape option on my 2004 Maxima that had neither an AUX jack or satellite built in. The quality was not good, compared to a built-in or AUX option. So, that leaves people with the task of installing it all themselves, or paying someone else to install it so it sounds right. And that may be cost-prohibitive for a lot of people. I know we're in the infancy of satellite radio, but SiriusXM really needs to work with all car manufacturers to at least get a very basic satellite radio in every single new automobile. For example, there can't be a technical limitation to tying the satelltie radio to OEM navigation; there has to be a cheaper OEM alternative. In your particular situation, would it be cheaper to put an upgraded radio (with an AUX jack) in your truck, in lieu of hardwiring everything with the satellite radio? -- "Honesty may be the best policy, but it's important to remember that apparently, by elimination, dishonesty is the second-best policy." - George Carlin [my ramblings]
	to forum · permalink · · 2009-02-27 09:44:23 ·
denb45 join:2001-02-04 Albuquerque, NM ·Comcast 4 edits	No, it wouldn't be cheaper to find a FORD-OEM-HEAD-UNIT with the Aux-in-feature in the back, I checked, they do have them, but, it would cost $300+ installation + the Sirius XM unit and at the end of the day $400 to $500 price-tag just to get Sirius XM to sound right seem way to expensive... My Ford Ranger does have a MP3-CD-Player, (I can play a 4 to 6 hrs MP3-CD), but ,no aux-in-jack........hey wait a minute, I have a Alpine Amp under the passenger seat in the back of my Ford Ranger XLT Super Cab......maybe the Sirius XM Radio can be hard-wired into that 4-speaker-audio-system (like the OEM-Radio/MP3 Player is) do you think that would work, and give me better sound quality, I'm no car-audio-installer, but It might be doable? -- Gateway® DX4200-UB101A AMD Phenom™ X3 8400 Triple-Core 2.1 GHz*2 3600 MHz system bus AMD RS780 chipset 6 GB 667 MHz D Windows Vista™ Ultimate(64-bit)SP1
	to forum · permalink · · 2009-02-27 10:28:52 ·
Jeffrey Merry Christmas Premium join:2002-12-24 Dix Hills,NY clubs: ·Optimum Online ·Verizon FIOS ·Vonage ·magicjack.com	said by denb45 : No, it wouldn't be cheaper to find a FORD-OEM-HEAD-UNIT with the Aux-in-feature in the back, I checked, they do have them, but, it would cost $300+ installation + the Sirius XM unit and at the end of the day $400 to $500 price-tag just to get Sirius XM to sound right seem way to expensive... Yeah, thats way too expensive. I agree. said by denb45 : hey wait a minute, I have a Alpine Amp under the passenger seat in the back of my Ford Ranger XLT Super Cab......maybe the Sirius XM Radio can be hard-wired into that 4-speaker-audio-system (like the OEM-Radio/MP3 Player is) do you think that would work, and give me better sound quality, I'm no car-audio-installer, but It might be doable? You could have a solution there, but like you, I'm not good with the car audio stuff in any form or function. May be ask in one of the "electronic gadget" or "automotive" forum here to see if it's doable for you? -- "Honesty may be the best policy, but it's important to remember that apparently, by elimination, dishonesty is the second-best policy." - George Carlin [my ramblings]
	to forum · permalink · · 2009-02-27 11:23:14 ·
chucky5150 Divers do it Deeper join:2001-11-03 New Iberia, LA clubs:	reply to Jeffrey There is an easy fix for not having the aux-in jack. Scosche FM modulator Well I guess they don't sell that one any longer, but you get the idea. I've never taken a radio out before and had no idea what wires did what. Just called them up and they told me what wires to splice into. and 99% of the time the sound is just fine for my truck. -- Member of the US Air Force since May 7th, 2002 To March 29th, 2005 "You sneak up behind yourself and remove your pants before you realize what's going on." KOL
	to forum · permalink · · 2009-03-01 16:32:47 ·
denb45 join:2001-02-04 Albuquerque, NM ·Comcast 4 edits	I've heard of that Scosche FM modulator, as well as the Sirius XM-sureConnect before, I did take a real good look at my Alpine Amp under the passenger seat in my 98 Ford Ranger XLT Supercab, it has 4 aux-in-inputs 2 for the Front speakers and 2 more for the Rear.... I still need to have the Installer guys look at it and tell me what my options for Sirius XM Radio ,I might be able to do it that way sense I don't have the aux-in in the Ford OEM Head-unit, if they can by-pass and power wire it that way, I won't need to do that horrible FM-Modulator I also took a look at the SAT-READY HEAD UNITS Ford has, and they are way too expensive for me, they cost $325 and up, and just has the SAT-Button and nothing else, I still have to by the Sirius XM Radio roadster5 $169.99 and the Ford-OEM-Ribbon-Adapter-Sure-Connection-Decoder unit for 69.99,just to hear it, plus installation charge of $79.99, so, that's well over $600.00 bucks for that, just to get Sirius XM in my Truck........UNBELIEVABLE -- Gateway® DX4200-UB101A AMD Phenom™ X3 8400 Triple-Core 2.1 GHz*2 3600 MHz system bus AMD RS780 chipset 6 GB 667 MHz D Windows Vista™ Ultimate(64-bit)SP1
	to forum · permalink · · 2009-03-01 19:32:42 ·
chucky5150 Divers do it Deeper join:2001-11-03 New Iberia, LA clubs:	said by denb45 : I also took a look at the SAT-READY HEAD UNITS Ford has, and they are way too expensive for me, they cost $325 and up, and just has the SAT-Button and nothing else, I still have to by the Sirius XM Radio roadster5 $169.99 and the Ford-OEM-Ribbon-Adapter-Sure-Connection-Decoder unit for 69.99,just to hear it, plus installation charge of $79.99, so, that's well over $600.00 bucks for that, just to get Sirius XM in my Truck........UNBELIEVABLE The place down the street wanted about $120 to install the fm modulator. I did it my self in less than 2 hours. Total spent was $200 and most of that was for the Xpress RC. p.s. there isn't anything horrible about it. I'd do it again. That's just my 2 cents. -- Member of the US Air Force since May 7th, 2002 To March 29th, 2005 "You sneak up behind yourself and remove your pants before you realize what's going on." KOL
	to forum · permalink · · 2009-03-01 20:05:02 ·
denb45 join:2001-02-04 Albuquerque, NM ·Comcast 4 edits	I can't find the difference between the XM-Xpress RC. and the Sirius-Roaster-5... question? did you also install the outside XM-Antenna? are did you just use your FM-Radio-Whip antenna? Problem is I live in Large Metro Area with almost NO FM Empty channels to be had, also, I heard a Sirius XM w/ the FM- Modulator,(didn't sound very good to me at all) and compared to the aux-in,(the real-way to have it) that was CD-digital-quality sound, the FM modulator just sounds as good as any FM-Stereo Boardcast, but, that is NOT CD-digital-quality sound to me, I want it too sound the way my CDs & MP3s sound, FM just doesn't even come close to that, but, if anyone is used to hearing FM-Stereo over the air, most of us wouldn't even notice the sound difference at all....... -- Gateway® DX4200-UB101A AMD Phenom™ X3 8400 Triple-Core 2.1 GHz*2 3600 MHz system bus AMD RS780 chipset 6 GB 667 MHz D Windows Vista™ Ultimate(64-bit)SP1
	to forum · permalink · · 2009-03-01 20:13:57 ·
chucky5150 Divers do it Deeper join:2001-11-03 New Iberia, LA clubs:	said by denb45 : I can't find the difference between the XM-Xpress RC. and the Sirius-Roaster-5... question? did you also install the outside XM-Antenna? are did you just use your FM-Radio-Whip antenna? Problem is I live in Large Metro Area with almost NO FM Empty channels to be had, also, I heard a Sirius XM w/ the FM- Modulator,(didn't sound very good to me at all) and compared to the aux-in,(the real-way to have it) that was CD-digital-quality sound, the FM modulator just sounds as good as any FM-Stereo Boardcast, but, that is NOT Yeah, I installed the XM antenna, you kind of have to. The FM modulator plugs into the back of the radio where the FM antenna goes. Something you could even do is just don't plug your FM antenna back in and that would fix that 1% of my problems. I drove from Louisiana to California with out having to change the station one time. I've used those wireless FM modulators before and this is 1000 times better and cheaper. It is a normal 3.5mm plug so you could plug in your mp3 player or anything else you want. I don't know how your dash is set up, but a simple google search would let you know how to take it apart. The guys in the auto forums here could help too. -- Member of the US Air Force since May 7th, 2002 To March 29th, 2005 "You sneak up behind yourself and remove your pants before you realize what's going on." KOL
	to forum · permalink · · 2009-03-01 22:19:57 ·
denb45 join:2001-02-04 Albuquerque, NM ·Comcast 4 edits	said by chucky5150 : said by denb45 : I can't find the difference between the XM-Xpress RC. and the Sirius-Roaster-5... question? did you also install the outside XM-Antenna? are did you just use your FM-Radio-Whip antenna? Problem is I live in Large Metro Area with almost NO FM Empty channels to be had, also, I heard a Sirius XM w/ the FM- Modulator,(didn't sound very good to me at all) and compared to the aux-in,(the real-way to have it) that was CD-digital-quality sound, the FM modulator just sounds as good as any FM-Stereo Boardcast, but, that is NOT Yeah, I installed the XM antenna, you kind of have to. The FM modulator plugs into the back of the radio where the FM antenna goes. Something you could even do is just don't plug your FM antenna back in and that would fix that 1% of my problems. I drove from Louisiana to California with out having to change the station one time. I've used those wireless FM modulators before and this is 1000 times better and cheaper. It is a normal 3.5mm plug so you could plug in your mp3 player or anything else you want. I don't know how your dash is set up, but a simple google search would let you know how to take it apart. The guys in the auto forums here could help too. (I take it that there is 2 jacks right?) FM-Out-Jack (where the car antenna go's) and then the Satillite Antenna jack (Where the outside antenna go's) right? I know how to take out the Ford-OEM-Factory-Radio (I have the loop-pull-prongs that lock into the holes)so, no problem there...... I just priced what I wanted....if I go w/ the XM-Xpress RC and the FM-Modulator-kit it's only 159.99+ shipping & activation on the XM website, and the Sirius-Sportster5 w/ the FM-Modulator-Kit is only 169.99+ activation and shipping.......... I kinda want it to look good, and not to have all of the wires hanging down, also, I want the power supply hardwired-somewhere instead of the cigarette lighter adapter sticking out and showing, looks kinda tacky that way, don't cha think? -- Gateway® DX4200-UB101A AMD Phenom™ X3 8400 Triple-Core 2.1 GHz*2 3600 MHz system bus AMD RS780 chipset 6 GB 667 MHz D Windows Vista™ Ultimate(64-bit)SP1
	to forum · permalink · · 2009-03-01 22:40:59 ·
denb45 join:2001-02-04 Albuquerque, NM ·Comcast 3 edits	OK, I took the Sirius XM Radio plunge , after a year of having Sirius XM on-line, I wanted it in my Ford Ranger, so, I bought this: »www.myradiostore.com/sirius/siri···r-5.html along with the FM-Modulator/switch: »www.myradiostore.com/fmmodulator···swb.html "Drum-roll-Please" PRICE was only 159.99 + shipping for the above I'll do the Car-install myself, and later-on, I'll get the power-supply (hardwired) if I cannot do a neet-looking-job After I activate my new radio in my Car, will this reduce the 12.95 online price I'm paying right now? and to what? anyone know? -- Gateway® DX4200-UB101A AMD Phenom™ X3 8400 Triple-Core 2.1 GHz*2 3600 MHz system bus AMD RS780 chipset 6 GB 667 MHz D Windows Vista™ Ultimate(64-bit)SP1
	to forum · permalink · · 2009-03-02 11:30:50 ·
Pig Vomit @rr.com	reply to Jeffrey I think that a lot of people miss some of the deals available from Sirius, as they are kinda buried on their website. Go here: »shop.sirius.com/edealinv/servlet···tID=7871 Sportster 5 with Vehicle Kit, AND PROFESSIONAL INSTALLATION INCLUDED, for $149.97. Not good enough? Yeah, I thought so too. That's why I used "SIRIUS15" as a coupon code for 15% off and free shipping. My total? $137.35, which includes tax, shipped to my front door and installed. Here's the rub: You must commit to 2 years of subscription. It's paid monthly and not pre-paid, so you don't have to worry if Sirius goes belly up.
	to forum · permalink · 2009-03-06 09:07:02 ·
denb45 join:2001-02-04 Albuquerque, NM ·Comcast 4 edits	I activated my Sportster 5 yesterday, I only got a three-month deal (if they go belly up) $38 + installation of $15 + Tax it all came out to about $60, I also got the best of XM and FREE Online listening, it sounds as good as any FM-Radio, but, later on I'll go for broke and get a FRDN-AUX or the XM5-FRDN so, I can use my CD/MP3 Players CD Button as my AUX-IN, I hear it sounds way better than the FM-Relay-way.........but that's another $60 + all of the other stuff that go's with it (RCA cable Mounting bracket) about $100 »us-dc2-order.store.yahoo.net/ymi···sco.cart along with the PROFESSIONAL INSTALLATION $79.99 + Tax it's gonna cost me at least another $180 to $200, but if it sounds better than FM, then it's well worth it to me, I'm gonna wait on that (till my 3 months are up) tho, and see if Sirius XM doesn't go belly up, that sure would SUCK, after I bought all of that equipment and had it installed in my 98 Ford Truck.......only for Sirius XM to go belly up UPDATE: the XM5-FRDN AUX Adapter has it's own power supply as well as all the cables to connect into my Sirius Sportster 5.it has the power, & the audio cable, all I have to do is connect it to my Ford-factory-head-unit's 20-pin connector on the back, and I'm all set to go, with CD-Qauilty Sound, that's all I need to buy for the $60 dollars, turns out I don't even need anything else, or even a Professional Installer to do it, I can do it myself..... that's a savings for about $125 »www.myradiostore.com/p/xm5-frdn.html -- Gateway® DX4200-UB101A AMD Phenom™ X3 8400 Triple-Core 2.1 GHz*2 3600 MHz system bus AMD RS780 chipset 6 GB 667 MHz D Windows Vista™ Ultimate(64-bit)SP1
	to forum · permalink · · 2009-03-06 10:17:38 ·
denb45 join:2001-02-04 Albuquerque, NM ·Comcast 4 edits	Took my Truck to BESTBUY to have the(FORD-PIE-XM5-FRDN-ADAPTER installed,so it will play thur my CD, making it an AXU-IN) installed, IT WORKED, and took about 20 minutes tops, cost was $37.35, and the Sirius XM Sportster 5 sounds GREAT, just like playing a CD, I'm impressed, the sound is way better than the FM-Relay(where you have to find an open FM FREQ just to listen) and way better than FM-Radio, sounds more like HD-RADIO to me -- Gateway® DX4200-UB101A AMD Phenom™ X3 8400 Triple-Core 2.1 GHz*2 3600 MHz system bus AMD RS780 chipset 6 GB 667 MHz D Windows Vista™ Ultimate(64-bit)SP1
	to forum · permalink · · 2009-03-13 17:22:50 ·


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