Don't know which satellite radio service to go with? Click here to read this in-depth comparison of both XM and Sirius.
Satellite radio is becoming more and more popular as an alternative to
regular FM radio, and especially for travelers who want to listen to
the same station throughout their trip. Basically, you get
commercial-free radio for a small monthly fee(around $13/month) and the
ability to listen to the same station wherever you go in the country.
So the question on everybody’s mind is “What is the best satellite
radio service?” Is it XM radio or Sirius radio? If you look at just
subscribers, XM easily wins the battle with over 5 million subscribers
compared to Sirius’ 3 million subscribers. However, there are a lot
more options to consider when choosing your satellite radio service.
Here are some things to consider when making your decision:
Receivers
XM has the strongest variety of satellite radio receivers with the two
best plug-and-play models probably being the Delphi XM SkyFi2 - with a
30 minute recording buffer(cost: about $95) or the Delphi XM Roady
XT(cost: about $80.) If you want a portable option, the best one is the
Tao XM2go(5 hour recording feature) - it can play broadcasts through
headphones or speakers that are included and doesn’t require a docking
station(cost: about $150.)
Sirius might not have the range that XM has in the hardware market, but
they still have some nice equipment. The two best plug-and-play models
for Sirius radio are probably the Sirius Starmate Replay - with a 44
minute recording buffer(cost: about $120) or the Sirius Sportster
Replay - designed for NFL fans and it also has a 44 minute buffer(cost:
about $95 after rebates.) Sirius doesn’t have a true portable satellite
radio device yet but they have the S50 model which will allow you to
record 1 GB of satellite radio content while hooked to a docking
station so you can play it later as a stand alone device. The Sirius
S50 also doubles as an MP3 and WMA file player. (cost: about $330)
Programming
Sirius and XM both have about the same amount of music stations,
covering Pop, Rock, Dance, R&B/Hip-Hop, Country, Christian,
Jazz/Blues, Classical and Latin. Both services also share news channels
such as CNN radio, CNBC radio and Bloomberg radio. The big difference
comes down to sports coverage and some guy you might have heard
of….Howard Stern. Sirius signed Howard Stern to a blockbuster deal that
will be sure to boost subscriptions for them.
Sirius also has a stranglehold on sports radio with exclusive rights to
NFL broadcasts, NHL, NBA and rights to NASCAR in 2007. XM currently has
exclusive rights to MLB baseball and NASCAR until 2007, they also have
a lot of college football broadcasts. If you’re a sports fan at all,
you’re going to want Sirius for their wide coverage of sports.
Costs
Currently both Sirius and XM radio services cost approximately $13 a
month. Other costs you have to consider is in the accessories that go
with the satellite receiver you choose. Docking kits for the home or
car(if not included) can add about $100-150. Headphones and external
antennas are other accessories that should be considered.
You can only expect the costs to decrease as satellite radio becomes
more and more popular. All in all, satellite radio is an inexpensive
option to get commercial-free, static-free, uncensored radio that you
can take with you anywhere in the country and listen to the same
station.
