XM Satellite Radio Service
XM Satellite Radio Service
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The XM Radio service offers some
commercial-free channels, but most contain commercial adds. The commercial breaks on
the music channels are very short, usually less than two minutes in length (much less
XM Radio offers good audio quality. Using the service in a car gives awesome sound
quality. But its audio limitations become noticable when listening to the service
through a home stereo system or through headphones which allows more audio discrimination.
The audio quality is similar to listening to an MP3 encoded song at either 112
or 128 kbps. The audio quality however
is still better than FM due to elimination of static noise and multipath
which occurs on FM broadcast staions. Currently the only music service that offers
better sound quality is your own CD changer loaded full of your own CDs. All that
stated the sound quality in an automobile is quit remarkable, and most will never
listen through headphones or a home stereo system.
I got my XM Satellite Radio through a special promotion. I had a choice of either
a Pioneer car head unit or the Sony Plug and Play unit designed to be taken from the
car to the home using home and car mount craddles. I went with the Sony Plug and
Play unit (Model Number DRN-XM01C2) because I mainly use the XM radio in the house.
I also ordered the Home
Accessory Kit (Sony Part Number DRN-XM01HK2) to make it work easily in the house. I
did some research online about antenna placement, most sites recommended placing the
antenna outside on the southern side of the house. One website stated that they had
Later I put the XM radio service through its final test. I installed the car kit in
the car. For our test we drove throught the North Georgia Mountains. We set a course
north up Interstate 575 which turned into GA Highway 515. At Jasper we proceeded east
along Highway 53 through Tate and Dawsonville. From here FM stations out of Atlanta
can still be received on the stock car radio, but along the winding road at the foothills
of the North Georgia Mountians, the multipath and static did start to annoy us. But the
XM Radio still delivered static free music. We did however loose the XM satellite
four times during this 30 mile eastward trek. Each time we were located in the valley behind
the north side of a mountain incline. None of the outages lasted more than a second, and just
resulted in a low key ssszzss sound which was barely noticable. Outside of that outage, the
only other service loss occured farther north while driving up the hairpin turns to the top
of Brasstown Bald, which is Georgia's highest mountian peak. The XM service only
dropped out for about 15 seconds while on the northern side of the mountian climb.
As those who also drive in mountainous areas already know, FM broadcast signals in these
conditions are usually unbearable, but outside of a couple of breif outages, the XM service
blazed right throught the speakers. Good Job XM equipment designers!!
All I have to say is Wow! I have had my Sony XM Plug and Play Satellite Radio for about three weeks and so
far I love it. Believe me I have put it throught its paces. With about 100
different channels it is impossible to make time for them all. My favorite radio channels
are: 70s channel 7, 80s channel 8, 90s channel 9, Top 20 Countdown Channel 20, KISS-102.7
delivered from Los Angeles, CA on Channel 21, European Pop on Channel 29, Dance Club Hits
on Channel 81, and the different Alternative Channels on 43, 44, 45, and 47. There are
also numerous news, info, talk, and comedy channels that I also switch between. There
is just not enough commuter traffic for all this programming! But if these channels don't appeal to
you, check out the
complete XM programming listings.
The Programming options is well worth the $9.99 monthly subscription.
than AM/FM radio), and if that bothers you for a subscription service, just change
to a new channel, you have 100!! The
XM DJ's do a good job of enhancing the music and are not annoying like commercial AM or
FM radio. Lots of the DJ's even take requests. I was very impressed when
listening to KISS-102.7 FM out of Los Angeles which is carried on XM Channel 21. This
station is the nations top billing station as far as radio ad sales, and takes lots of
commercial breaks, many of which the XM service insert additional music while the
California commercials run.
luck placing it on the window sill of a southern facing window. Unfortunately my
window faced west, but I decided to try. With digital data transmission you either
get the signal or you don't. The window placement got a signal and gave me several
hours of entertainment, but when I moved around the room, or others moved around the
house, the signal would go out for a brief second dropping from 1 to 0 bars on the
reception status display. I then decided to move the antenna around the room just
for kicks. The strong magnent on the bottom of the antenna caused me to drop the
antenna onto the metal case top of my Astron Power Supply, which I use for my Ham
Radios. Believe it or not that turned out to be permanent spot, even with its close
location to a working PC, Ham Radio Transceivers, and lots of other RF producing
devices located just two-four feet away. I knew that ham transmitting antennas like
to have a metal ground plane, this requirement also applies to the XM receive
antenna, this is no big deal for cars. The reception signal is almost always three
bars, but has never dropped below two bars. This XM Radio antenna works fine indoors
if placed on top of a metal cabinet such as onto of a Stereo Tuner/Amplifer Component
enclosure.
All things considered, I give the XM Satellite Radio Service and the Sony Plug and Play
Satellite Receiver a 9.8 out of a possible 10. The service consisting of 100 channels
from 40's hits to Alternative Rock to News/Comedy/Talk is worth the $9.99/month
subscription fee (which is less than the cost of one Compact Disk a month). The radio
and antenna works good even indoors and in mountainous areas and delivers audio
quality that beats FM stations and approaches CD quality.
The radio even displays and Artist and Title information, which can be stored for later
reference. If your ready for an AM/FM media escape XM Radio is for You.
Thanks XM Radio!
Paul J. Lossner
KE4NFU
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