Satellite Radio - And Things To Think About
If you're thinking about getting either XM or Sirius satellite radio - whether it's factory-installed or aftermarket - you should consider a few satellite-specific issues before you make the commitment:* You'll have to choose one (XM) or the other (Sirius) Most automakers now offer satellite radio capability in their new vehicles; however, only a few offer buyers their choice of XM or Sirius. Usually, it's just XM. Or just Sirius. GM cars, for example, tend to come with XM - while Chryslers tend to offer Sirius. But don't let that stop you from buying a brand of car you otherwise like. It's easy to get an aftermarket receiver for either XM or Sirius - whether it's for a brand-new (or older) vehicle.
* Is factory-installed better? By no means. One big advantage of aftermarket XM or Sirius receivers is greater choice as to features, styles and function. Also, aftermarket systems are sometimes portable - so you can use them in other vehicles, at home (or even, as in the case of the Sirius Stiletto) carry them with you in hand-held form like an iPod. Some of these aftermarket systems replace your vehicle's existing receiver; others work through the existing in-car stereo via a wireless (or plug-in) connection. A salesperson can explain the pros and cons of each particular set-up. Electronics and audio stores like Circuit City offer both sales and installation.
* Which service to choose? The answer here depends on your personal likes and dislikes. Review the packages offered by Sirius and XM - and decide which holds the most appeal for you. Each service has some specific programming unique to that service - for example, Howard Stern is a big attraction on Sirius. XM, on the other hand, is generally considered to have a better range of music channels. Parents should also be aware the both XM and Sirius offer programming (such as the Howard Stern Show on Sirius, or "Raw Dog" on XM) that includes some raunchy/explicit content that's for adult audiences only - again, just like cable TV.
* Merger worries? - As far as the much-discussed potential merger of XM and Sirius: This is, at best, a long-range theoretical issue. The FCC will have to wade in and decide whether to grant a single company what amounts to a monopoly. Any merger is probably years away, at the earliest. And if it does eventually happen, current XM and Sirius subscribers would almost certainly have several options available - including a new "combined" package - or the option of canceling the service entirely. For the foreseeable future, it's not an issue to be concerned about, however.
Consumers should also be aware that satellite radio has some downsides unique to the format. For example:
* The reception can be spotty - Perhaps the biggest draw of satellite radio (beyond the variety of available programming) is that you can listen to the same station on satellite radio on a coast-to-coast drive from New York to LA. The bad news is that there are sometimes annoying gaps in coverage; the station just goes "dark" as it "searches for signal" when you're in the mountains.Or there are tree canopies overhead. These gaps can last as long as several minutes at a time and can be very aggravating. It's a good idea to test drive XM or Sirius (borrow or rent a car so equipped) in your area before you sign up - to determine whether there are problems with reception where you live.
* You pay to hear commercials - One of the early appeals of satellite radio was the prospect of escaping the endless barrage of commercials on FM and AM radio. You pay XM or Sirius a monthly subscription fee, which ostensibly took the place of commercial ad revenue on "free" radio, allowing the satellite station to provide content only - and no (or very few) commercials. At first, when satellite radio was still pretty new, this was generally the way it worked. There were commercial-free (and "limited commercial") channels. And there still are. However, "ad creep" has become a problem. On several XM and Sirius stations (especially talk radio stations) commercials are becoming almost as omni-present as they are on "free" radio. The difference, of course, is that you are paying a monthly fee to hear them now. Keep this in mind if you are thinking about XM or Sirius as a way to escape the commercial juggernaut. Again - a "test drive" is highly recommended.
* Too many channels, not enough on - Satellite radio is similar to cable TV in that there are more than 150 channels available - but you may only be interested in a handful of those. Also like cable TV, the packaging is less than ideal. For example, some people have little interest in sports coverage. Yet one has to wade through dozens of permutations of ESPN (and so on) to find the talk radio channels. Sports fans, meanwhile, may feel the same way about talk radio - and want all sports, all the time. Or perhaps you just want the music channels. Unfortunately, neither XM nor Sirius allows you to buy just the individual channels you want. Like cable TV, you have to select a "package" that will include the programming you want - plus some you probably don't.
