XM has been delivering satellite radio service to U.S. markets nationwide since late 2001.  We're asking XM listeners to let us know what they think. Here are their latest offerings.

A happy XM-er with a few complaints about the programming says (posted 19 February 2004):

"I am a fan of the old time radio programs, especially the Suspense, private eye, and westerns.  The comedy shows are ok, but not my favorite.  When the comedy shows come on, I usually change to another channel or turn the radio off.  Also, you are playing too many Gunsmokes.  I like them, but too many!  Would programming certain types of shows on specific days be feasible?  That would allow those of us with certain tastes to hear our preferences without having to listen to those we (the listeners) do not care about very much. Also, when is 164 going to go with no commercials?  The Golf Magazine commercials seem to be on too much.  Also, it seems that you are repeating some shows within a few weeks.  I realize that there are just so many to choose from to broadcast, and perhaps that cannot be helped.  Cannot find where to download your schedule of programs.  Would you please send me an E-Mail concerning this.  I know that this communication sounds critical, but I really love 164, and am very happy with the whole idea of satellite radio.  I think it is well worth the money."
 
RUsirius.com's response:

We invite a response from anyone affiliated with XM.


Someone with a beef about our coverage of repetitiveness in XM's programming opines (posted 23 December 2003):

"I am shocked that this site talks about the numerous complaints about XM being repetitive.  That is just wrong.  Sirius is hits-based, while XM has a much deeper play list.  Visit the various XM and Sirius forums and you will see that no one complains about XM being repetitive.  To the contrary, people who prefer the FM hits-based format complain that XM is too eclectic.  The beauty of XM's programming is that you can pick a genre and get exposed to many artists that you probably have never heard -- expanding your musical knowledge is what XM is all about.  If you want to hear the same songs over and over, and never learn about other artists who perform music in a genre you like, go to Sirius.  As for this site's comments that XM has been lax on programming because of the power issues on their birds, please, give me a great.  RUSIRIUS?  I don't think so."

RUsirius.com's response:

Thanks for expressing your concerns.  We only post comments that are sent by our site visitors and elaborate on them where appropriate.  If it appears that we think that XM's programming is repetitive it is only because that's what our site visitors are telling us.


A happy XM-er from Columbus, Ohio with some thoughts to share says (posted 23 December 2003):

"I have been a subscriber to XM Satellite Radio for over 2 years now, and I just got my second unit about a month back, and have been extremely happy with the service. I work in the broadcast industry, and have been following both the progress of XM and Sirius since the service was authorized by the FCC back in 1996. Being in the industry, I have seen the build-out, and the roll-out of both services, the programming, the audio standards, etc. and I thought XM always had the better programming, audio processing, and the launch of new equipment faster over the years, plus the financial backing of such large corporations as General Motors, Honda, Direct TV, Hughes, Cisco, and Lucent Technologies, among others. Sirius is just now bringing out the plug-n-play units that XM has had available for close to a year now, maybe longer, and Sirius barely advertises hence not getting the word out that they exist. The audio from XM is closer to CD than Sirius, and more choices in programming than Sirius. Yes radio groups such as Clear Channel (which really doesn't do any more programming since XM dropped KIIS-FM from Los Angeles for their own in house "Kiss-FM") has been programming some of the channels, but they are not the only ones. Salem runs 3 channels (Fish, Torch, and family talk channel), Disney runs 4(ABC talk, Radio Disney, ESPN, ESPN News), and don't forget Radio One (urban channels), CNN, Fox News, Sporting News, Bloomberg, HBC (Hispanic Broadcasting) and WorldSpace (some of the overseas programming like from Africa and Europe). Now since Sirius has picked up the audio rights to the NHL and NFL, they are going to have to bump some of their programming to air these games, and eventually people will get sick of trying to listen to a channel, and it's not there because the hapless Cleveland Browns are playing the Cincinnati Bengals. I would rather listen to the game on FM or AM then on my satellite radio that is delayed anywhere from 18 to 40 seconds! XM did air the playoffs and the World Series from the MLB, but they only did that because ESPN had the radio rights, and the games aired on those 2 channels. From what I have heard, Sirius will have to sacrafice 8 channels to air the NFL games because that many games could be playing at the same time.
 
 "I feel that of the 2 satellite radio companies, XM is going to survive, and Sirius is going to fail. XM has more subscribers and better financial backing than Sirius. In 2 years XM has over 1 million subscribers (projected 1.2 million by years end), and Sirius has only just over 200,000 in almost 2 years of service, and I have never heard them saying when they would reach 500,000. Sirius satellites are not geosynced over the U.S., unlike XM, and XM is launching their 3rd satellite in late 2004, and their 4th sometime in 2005 (ahead of schedule thanks to Boeing screwing up "Rock" and "Roll" with their power supplies), and XM advertises and getting their name out there, unlike Sirius (when was the last time you saw Sirius giving out units to an audience croud or placed on a TV show?). And several of my friends have XM, and several co-workers as well. Plus ask someone "name a satellite radio company", they're going to say XM way before they name Sirius. I have done my research, and XM is the better provider!"

RUsirius.com's response:

We have nothing to add.  This commentary pretty much says it all.



An enthusiastic XM listener from Los Angeles tells us (posted 24 November 2003):

"I have had the XM Sony system for almost a year.  I was so impressed that it became my new wedding gift.  I gave it as gifts in 3 weddings this year.  My one complaint is that Sirius has NPR.  I know that it isn't full NPR as with local stations.  However, have you heard anything about XM getting NPR in the future.  I love the comedy station.  My biggest excitement comes from the swearing.  It is truly great to hear good comedy to adults without all of the censorship.  I had the Playboy channel for a couple of months but canceled.  It was all the same thing and not all that entertaining.  The novelty wore off after a couple weeks.  Thank you for this site, it is wonderful to read all the comments."

RUsirius.com's response:

If the only thing they have going for them is NPR, Sirius is in big trouble.  We know of no relationship between NPR and XM at this time and would appreciate comments regarding any plans that might be in the offing.  


An XM subscriber who rocks comments (posted 23 September 2003) :

"I have been a subscriber of XM for 6 months. I have always enjoyed listening to rock n roll music. The digital quality of the satellite radio is awesome but i am disappointed in the programming or lack of programming for rock n roll on XM.  I find that the 70's 80's and 90's channels are to broad, not really focused on rock. The the other choices are 41 Boneyard, which seems to be all 80's bands or arena rock.  42 and 43 sound like ultra death metal stations 44 Fred which is some kind of alternative old college rock, 45 Cafe, way to boring, 46 Classic rock same ole stuff, 47 and 48 Squizz and Ethel sometimes show signs of good new music however the often repeat themselves with the same patterns of songs or mainly artist, sometimes a little to heavy.  I guess I sound like a hard to please 43 year old rock n roller, but I really like bands like Train, Matchbox Twenty, Nickleback, Three Doors Down, Aerosmith, Tonic, Government Mule, Lynyrd Skynard, Jimmy Eat World, Goo Goo Dolls, Fuel, Ect.  Maybe Sirius has a channel that would satisfy my music taste."

RUsirius.com's response:

Repetitive programming is a common complaint about XM.  We feel that as their business develops, so will their musical assortment.  Unfortunately, they also need to replace their satellites ahead of schedule so it's not completely clear that programming is at the top of the current priority list.


An X-XMer says (posted 22 August 2003):

"This week I became an ex XM subscriber.  I am a fan of older country music, and I was initially excited about having a couple of channels that play my kind of music.  After the novelty wore off though, the poor quality of the programming on Hank's Place and America made me cancel.  Listening to the endless dedications and sounds of pouring beer made my blood boil when I realized I was actually paying to listen to this nonsense.   Not all fans of classic country music are truck drivers, smokers, or alcoholics, and I found many of the DJ's comments insulting (especially the 'sit back with a fine tobacco product' comment heard before every Merle Haggard song)."

RUsirius.com's response:

We agree.  After a while even a good gag gets a little stale.  Hey XM!  Wise up!


A former XM subscribers tells us (posted 18 August 2003) :

"I have been an XM listener for over 2 years now and as of yesterday have canceled my service. The chatter got greater and greater as time went on and there were way too many repeats of the same programming. What was even worse was their total disrespect for the customer. I had a few issues with billings and after staying on the phone for over two hours and being passed to five different people I was asked for a call back number and they would call me right back. That was three days ago. This was the last straw in a long line of problems with their customer service people so I have now removed my XM and will look at Sirius."

RUsirius.com's response:

This is not the first complaint we've received about XM's repetitive programming and poor customer service.  We hope they'll take notice and clean up their act.


 A somewhat dissatisfied but Sirius listener in Upstate New York says (posted 26 June 2003):

"Due to the lack of quality FM music in NYC, I added the original Sony PnP for XM to my car one year and a half ago.  I was initially happy with it, though over the year+ the dropped signals, the DJ chatter & overused gimmicks, the increase of commercials, and mainly the repetition of songs made me wonder why I was paying $10 a month for something not fully satisfying.    I was told by an XM engineer that I needed the new Delphi system to correct the dropped signals and dead zones I encountered.  My thoughts swayed to the new Kenwood Here2Anywhere however, and I decided if I were to make any new purchase, it would be towards Sirius, a company that promised no repetition, no commercials, and no chatter.    I am disappointed, but not surprised that I am still having dropped signals even with the Sirius player.  I live in a rural area, without any tall buildings to disrupt sound.  I even moved the antenna to the roof as advised by both Kneed & Sirius, and this did not change a thing.  Ironically, the signal loss spots on the road are somewhat similar in areas to the dead spots I had with the XM player (which I had removed from my car to make way for Sirius).    I am very happy with the increase to 24 presets on the Kenwood, from the scarce 5 from the original and defunct Sony.  I am happy with the Sirius commitment to less Stream jockey talk, and no commercials.    However, their advertising is false on repetition.  I have noticed excessive repetition, even on the decade channels which feature 10 years of music.  How I am hearing songs over and again in the little time I drive around is incredulous.  It is no coincidence I am catching these 'repeaters' often.  It is apparent to me, that both satellite companies either intend to do this, have less songs to play than they say, or are just lazy in screening their playlists.  I could play all my 60 or 70's songs from my small collection and not repeat a song in one week.  How come these satellite stations can't do the same?    You could say I have had trouble with 'repeaters' on the ground for signal, and 'repeaters' on the air for songs with XM and Sirius.  If it were not for the complete inferiority of FM in my area, I would get rid of both of these satellite companies. That way it would be like the old days of my car radio playing music without me paying each month for it (BTW, I am still using XM in my home for the time being, but I have to put the antenna in a completely different room than my audio receiver so I can get uninterrupted sound).    The satellite concept, to me, has a long way to go with signal delivery and programming delivery, too.  I seriously hope they can get their acts together soon."

RUsirius.com's response:

The "repeater" problems described above are very likely symptomatic of a business experiencing severe growing pains at this time.  The moguls at Sirius and XM should note, however, that not everyone is in love with their products.


A Sirius former XMer tells us (posted 16 May 2003) :

"Hi.  This is my first time posting here, after a while of reading what other posters have to say.  I just want to tell you that with the Kenwood Here2Anywhere PNP for home use being available early next month I will be discontinuing XM and selling my equipment and will get Sirius.   One of the reasons I've had XM, which was available since April 2002, was because XM was the only one that had radio for home use.  Now since Sirius will be having one I will be getting that as mentioned.

"If CNET was still on XM I would have still kept it and probably gotten Sirius anyway.  I have to wonder though with Sirius' low numbers whether Sirius will survive.  Do you think so?   I certainly hope so.  I hope XM does too.  If one doesn't, it makes me wonder about the future of the other one, especially with no competitor.  If Sirius goes bankrupt, and I certainly hope it doesn't and I really mean that, and if XM is still around, and it looks like they will although there are no guarantees at this point unless there's something I don't know, I will be back with XM."

RUsirius.com's response:

In the words of Joe Clayton "...we are beginning to see some traction in the marketplace."   We're comfortable with the idea that both Sirius and XM will likely survive.  We encourage satellite listeners to pick a service they like and stick with it.  Until recently Sirius' major problem has been the loss of "mindshare" to XM, a situation that appears to be abating with the most recent subscription numbers.  


An XMer from Tar Heel land says (posted 16 April 2003) :

"I have had XM for 6 months now and have absolutely loved everything about it.  My family now has XM in all 4 of our cars (and this was before they created the Family Plan).  I have been following XM for over 2 years now and am very pleased with their growth, especially given the state of our economy and going to war.  Everyone that has ridden in my car has been thoroughly impressed as well and several have gone out and purchased their own!  I strongly encourage people to choose XM over Sirius as the commercials are no big deal.  They are few and far between on the channels that have them, and there are plenty of channels that do not have them."

RUsirius.com's response:

Thanks for your comments.  We've often thought that commercials are "no big deal."  If they are only sporadic and unobtrusive they can be invaluable in helping XM remain financially solvent and in reducing the monthly service charge.  Sirius has a tough road ahead if they think they can compete solely on the basis of being "commercial free."


An ex-XMer who's finally getting Sirius says (posted 14 March 2003) :

"I had to write you to tell you I've cancelled my XM service.  I wrote you a month after I had XM and complained about the IDs after every song, incessant DJ chatter, jingles, toe jams, etc.  Another problem iwth XM is they repeat songs too often.  Even after writing to Lee Abrams about this, nothing at XM changed.  What XM doesn't realize is people purchase satellite radio to hear music.  To me XM is almost as bad as commercial radio.  I gave it a try for a year, but I finally had enough.  I switched to Sirius and couldn't be happier.  Sirius is much more serious (pardon the pun) about its delivery of music. Sirius is much mature.  They don't inundate the listener with rambling DJs and stupid jingles.  I urge everyone to try Sirius."

RUsirius.com's response:

Can Sirius use you in its next ad campaign?


An enthusiastic XMer from the Pacific Northwest tells us (posted 10 March 2003):

"I’ve had XM radio service for just over a year now.  My advise to anyone curious about this service is… do not hesitate, go satellite.  The selection of music available will open new horizons, the sound quality is great, the signal reception is exceptional, and most of all, you will be spared the mindless DJs, and dumbing-down barrage found on commercial radio.  Sony seems to have corrected the display shortfalls of their original plug and play receiver, and the purchase price has fallen as well, all the more reason for others to get on board.  The new Delphi seems a bargain too.  I’ve designed a very clever small steel stand to house my Sony unit.  Shark fin antenna on top, cord wrapped below, this stand provides me with great portability.  Mounted inside my truck, I run the satellite receiver audio output to the input jack on the face of my inexpensive Jensen tuner/CD.  At work, I listen through a simple pair of computer speakers.  At home, all has change since XM.  My CD collection has now been moved to a closet, the tape player is gone, and I enjoy listening so much, I pulled speaker wire to two additional rooms from my amp.  There must be a lot of repeater antennas in the Seattle area; I get a signal with the antenna at dash level in my truck. When indoors,  I find no need to consider antenna placement; it works in every room.  When on the road, I just uncoil a bit of antenna wire and snap the antenna to the truck top.  Presets on my receiver are currently set at; Fred 44, Ethel 47, Bluesville 74, Fine Tuning 104, & BBC World Service 131.  Yet, I’ll listen to Reggae, Jazz, & New Age as well, all commercial free.  Tejano? Disco?, Caribbean?, Country?  All can be enjoyable when beamed via satellite.  One year ago, I made the decision to go to satellite radio after a local FM station started to beam Howard Stern out over this fine city.  That was the straw that broke my back.  Now life is better, no commercials, and no need to hear Howard when flipping through the radio dial.  Say no to dumbing-down America via commercial radio, go satellite. "

RUsirius.com's response:

One of the great selling points of satellite radio is that commercial broadcasts everywhere all sound the same.  It's rather ironic that we need to go to a central source to get the kind of variety that could very well be provided by local stations that are all trying to cater to the same audience.  They must think everyone likes Howard Stern ... or maybe they just enjoy all those enlightening conversations with hookers and toilet jokes.  


An XM listener truckin' through Mexico says (posted 6 March 2003) :

"I bought the Sony XM receiver last fall with the 'shark fin' antenna.  I put it in my RV without mounting the antenna, simply placed it under the skylight.  We took off for the Yucatan and we are really impressed.  We had great reception from SF to Brownsville, TX and then down the east coast of Mexico until we got to the isthmus near Villahermosa.  Spotty reception from Villahermosa east to Chetumal (on the Belize border) and then perfect reception up the Caribbean coast to Cancun and across to Merida.  On the return trip we came up the center of Mexico through Puebla, DF, and San Miguel de Allende... perfect reception there too.  Occasionally we would be on the wrong side of a mountain for a short time but all in all we had no problems.  Wow!  Since we go down every year, I will buy the home cartridge for the Sony and put it in my condo south of Cancun.  What a wonderful thing to be able to listen to whatever music you want as well as occasional CNN news while in the jungles of the Yucatan."

RUsirius.com's response:

We're happy to hear that the XM reception is so good south of the border.  We would encourage the folks at XM to consider putting a few repeaters in Mexico to fill in some of the blind spots noted above.


A listener to XM's Spanish channel complains (posted 23 November 2002) :

"I've been a XM Radio Customer since January 2002.  Unfortunately I have to say that XM are not up to date in the Spanish Channel (94) Caliente.   Always playing the old same song, no request line, while Sirius is on top of the line with their music.  Overall if Sirius were not going  through the financial problem, I would switch to Sirius."

RUsirius.com's response:

We're sorry to hear that you're so disappointed with XM's programming.  Fortunately, we happen to think that the Sirius system will survive even if the company doesn't.  We encourage all satellite radio listeners to consider switching providers if appropriate.  Despite the significant advantage that XM now enjoys neither service has a monopoly  --- yet.


An XM subscriber who likes their service and our site says (posted 5 October 2002):

"I just saw your website and I'm happy that there's a website dedicated to satellite radio!  I have been reading comments regarding both XM and Sirius services.  I haven't, however, seen a lotta comments about their urban and Spanish channels.  I really like the channel selections for urban.  You can even request your songs online or by phone and they will respond to your e-mail and answer the phone.  They have played the songs when I wanted them to.  As for the Spanish channels, I like their selections too.  Aguila (ch 90) is my favorite.  They have a 'Roq En Espanol' selections.  I also heard that XM came out with a 'new and improved'  Sony plug in system where the antenna is smaller and that control has the numbers to press which channel you want.  I wanted to know if that control is available separately and if it will work on my current Sony plug in."

RUsirius.com's response:

Thank you for your input.  We invite XM and its affiliated vendors to comment on your question.
 

A potential satellite radio buyer asks (posted 24 September 2002) :

"I am considering satellite radio and have been comparing the programming of each company.  I agree with some readers that Sirius probably would offer me the best choice of programming especially since they carry NPR.  However, I'm reluctant to go with Sirius because of the financial problems they are apparently having but it also seems that not everything is rosy with XM financially either.  Two questions, first what is the chance of XM starting to carry NPR and second, what would happen to the satellites/equipment from a bankrupt company?  Any chance that the other might take it over?"

RUsirius.com's response:

We'd be reluctant to advise anyone to make a commitment to a company that is going bankrupt.  Fortunately, we don't think that this will happen to either of the satellite radio providers.  Although Sirius appears to need a major infusion of new cash, there are lots of automobile manufacturers and after market providers who have a significant investment in Sirius' success.  XM's financial situation isn't much better but there is also plenty of investment in their ultimate solvency.  If Sirius has the kind of programming you want, go with it.  As far as NPR is concerned, we'll have to let XM answer that one.


An XM listener who's also Sirius about satellite radio says (posted 8 September 2002):

"I currently have both XM and Sirius in my vehicle.  I first installed Sirius because I liked the fact that they offered NPR, PRI, WRN, and commercial free music.  After a month I installed the XM Sony plug n' play as well.  I enjoy the XM comedy, Art Bell and Phil Henrie.  I am very disappointed with the Sony unit.  5 presets is not enough, no direct channel tuning, does not scroll artist and song, and the blue screen is impossible to read at night.  However I do enjoy the fact that you can easily move the unit from one vehicle to another without having to buy extra XM subscriptions.  I would like to hear Howard Stern, 'Love Line', and channels devoted to hardcore techno and industrial music. I get perfect reception except under expected tunnels and canyons in Colorado.  I think this will be the future of radio and better programming will come. "

RUsirius.com's response:

We like your approach to satellite radio listening.  Both XM and Sirius have something to offer and having both systems installed is the best way to make an informed decision as to which, if either, to keep.  (We suspect someone sent a similar note to our Sirius mail file.)


An XM listener in upstate New York tells us (posted 1 September 2002) :

"I live in Rockland County NY about 35 miles north of NYC. I have XM Radio in my car and at home. Unfortunately Rockland is a very hilly area and I lose the XM signal quite often while driving in the area. Additionally, my home unit only works when the antenna is next to one specific window. I emailed XM radio about repeaters in the Rockland/Westchester area and received a response that all the sites for repeaters had already been determined. I don't know if that means that we will get one or not. I really enjoy the service but am disappointed with their response. Maybe they pay attention to this website."

RUsirius.com's response:

As we have been saying on this website, when it comes to reception Sirius is the better system because they rely far less on terrestrial repeaters than does XM. XM, however, gained the early edge in the satellite radio business because they were broadcasting while Sirius was debugging its chipset.  Now that both services are on an equal footing Sirius is technically in a good position to take the lead.  Unfortunately, the current economic climate just isn't conducive to their survival. We hope that the folks at XM are watching our site and will take notice of the concerns expressed about their repeaters but given the current state of affairs in this business we doubt that any significant action will be taken.


An XM subscriber on the Left Coast says (posted 27 August 2002):

"I had XM installed in my truck about a month ago. After much consideration, I chose XM because GM was going with it. I am very very pleased. I live in Lompoc, Ca. where there is only one local station in the format I like, and I travel up and down the coast a lot, changing stations and cds hourly. I have the Pioneer, and like others have stated, the controller does not display enough characters. My only other complaint, is that the controller should have 10 buttons. So we can treat it like a tv remote. If I want channel 129, I can push 129. Getting to a particular channel now requires to much attention from the road. I've lost the signal in tunnels, underground parking garages and under bank drive ins, but it is not annoying. The sound quality is phenomenal. When ever I get back to LA, I tune in my old fm favorites, but I am totally turned of by the number of commercial minutes and having to listen to DJs opinions and observations. I also catch myself glancing at the controller to see who the artist is. XM is spoiling me. I spend a lot of time demonstrating, and a few have decided to get xm after listening and playing with mine. For some reason, a lot of people think that the subscription is more than it is. One person thought $39.95. When I tell them that subscription is less than the cost of a cd, they are very impressed. I hope XM keeps the commercial time to a minimum. I would prefer a hike in subscription rates, rather than to listen to more commercials. I realized that part of Sirius' problems are atributed to them not selling commercials.  I hope if Pioneer upgrades either the reciever or controller, that they keep them interchangeable with what we early subscribers have already invested in."

RUsirius.com's response:

We get lots of good comments about the Pioneer XM receiver.  It seems that the display is the principal point of concern about this unit.  We also get lots of comments about the value of the absence of commercials.  Unfortunately, both XM and Sirius are having rather severe financial difficulties now.  There is even talk about an eventual Sirius bankruptcy.  We think that the solution to these problems is the introduction of more commercials, tough as this may seem at this time.  The fact is that although there are many dedicated listeners who would rather pay monthly fees than listen to commercials, the vast majority of radio listeners would rather pay little or nothing and simply tolerate an occasional ad.


A happy XM listener says (posted 25 August 2002) :

"Have owned XM Satellite Radio for approximately 2 weeks.  Have not experienced any signal problems around the Monterey Bay California area.  Live in and around small mountain range between Monterey and Salinas California.  AM/FM signals come and go, while XM is solid as a rock.  Purchased a Pioneer XM module that was compatible with my 1996 Pioneer Stereo (good work Pioneer).  Pioneer only displays eight characters at a time, makes som  artists difficult to read.  So far XM has exceeded my expectations."

RUsirius.com's response:

We're glad you're enjoying listening to XM.  Given the current state of affairs at Sirius, it appears likely that if satellite radio makes it XM will be the sole survivor.


A potential satellite radio subscriber from Southern California (posted 31 July 2002) says:

"I've just started looking into satellite radio. The top complaints I've heard about subscribing to this type of service are 1-actually paying a bill for radio service is not going to happen & 2- local news and traffic are missing from the service. I also have read that car salesman are reluctant to sell the service because of the lack of commission incentives. I believe that bundling the service into the car price (3 or 4 year service) would sell many more subscriptions. For one, the consumer bill is hidden in the car payment. I don't know of anyone who decided not to buy a car when the payment was $460 instead of $450. If I receive a separate bill to renew my service I have the opportunity to ignore it & I probably will. After 4 years I might be buying a new car again which would bring the company 4 new years of service.  The other idea of local news and traffic would be huge. For you commuters - How many times have you missed the turn for the alternate route waiting for the traffic report every 6 minutes, which is actually every 12 minutes since they only cover your area every other report. If there were a local traffic and news channel that used some sort of GPS identifier to receive your local channel I think people would line up for that kind of information."

RUsirius.com's response:

Thanks for your suggestions but the addition of local news and traffic seems a little impractical given that both services broadcast nationally.  In addition, providing any kind of local service would likely infringe on their agreement with standard broadcasters not to compete in local markets.


A delighted XM listener tells us (posted 26 July 2002) :

"I have been going back and forth on what to get and I finally got XM radio for my RV, I got the Sony plug and play. I had to get a different antenna for my RV cause I have a rubber roof. I ordered a thru the glass antenna from antenna specialist. I must say I was very how good the reception was, I drove from Columbus, OH to Cedar Point amusement park this weekend. I had no lose of signal the whole time. I love the fact that on a three hour drive not once did I have to change the channel to listen to something else. My wife loves the NASCAR channel and I like the Talk radio that they offer. I was going to get an in-motion satellite dish so that I would have something to listen to on those long drives in my RV. I am glad that I have found XM radio. I just wish Sirius would have gotten off there butts I like there programing but I did not like the fact that they had no options for antenna's. So far I think XM is the better (service)."

RUsirius.com's response:

We're glad you're enjoying XM's signal and programming.  We also wish that Sirius would have been a little more responsive to the needs of potential subscribers, if for no other reason than to provide a little more competition to XM.


 A delighted XM subscriber from Arizona has this (posted 8 July 2002) to say:

"Its been two weeks since Circuit City installed my RF Modulated Pioneer XM receiver.  After a few highly anticipated hours of waiting for my activation to kick in I was hook up and ready to go.  Unfortunately, I had no place to go...so I sat in my drive way for an hour listening to the wide array of stations (a process that has been repeated many times throughout my two week affair).  The first station I went to was RAW.  I couldn't resist the draw of uncencored rap on the radio.  It's like watching NASCAR, it is really pretty boring until someone crashes - then the adrenaline gets going.  Don't really recall what the word was but I know the first song I heard any intelleagble cursing on was by NWA and even the title of the song is too explicit to be heard on FM.  I was quickly falling in love.  Quickly I went to the country stations to find out just what kind of country was to be had.To my surprise, the "new" music was fresh and was more current than any of our 5 local country stations.  Before I gave my car battery a break, I checked out the comedy stations.  I found myself entranced by a number of comedians of whom I have never heard.  What a festivity.  The next morning, I told my ride-share buddy that I was going to be driving myself.  She didn't take to kindly to the idea of sitting in traffic while those in the HOV lane flew by, but I knew that my hour commute would be an enjoyable one. Not once was I dissapointed.  On my way home, I purposely went the long way home just so that I could go through Phoenix's one and only tunnel.  I received full strength the whole way through.  This thing isn't the Chunnel, but it's the worst we got.  That weekend was time to entice two of my fetishes; roller coasters and music.  A friend and I took the approx 400 mile trek to Six Flags Magic Mountain.  Through channel surfing, overpasses, the General Patton Museum, the sky scrapers of LA, to the hills of Valencia - not once did my XM give out.  In fact, the only complaint that I can begin to register is that somewhere, I remember being given the prospect of song lyrics "where available."  Wheather this was advanced thinking or just a pipe dream, I havn't seen any yet and I would love to see just what Nelly thinks is so hot in therre.  All in all - no real complaints.  I'd love to have a smaller antenae but hey, if smaller means static, I will stick with my nub on the roof.  Wish this thing came in a walkman or something too. But that is all the future and this is what I get for being one of the first in America to have satellite radio...and I love it."

RUsirius.com's response:

We're always glad to hear from genuinely satisfied satellite radio listeners.  This kind of enthusiasm is what will keep the industry going.


An XMer from the Pacific Northwest tells us:

"After much back and forth over which provider to go with (Sirius or XM), I went out and bought XM over the weekend.  For me, it was a choice between music and NPR.  I felt the music was better on XM but Sirius had NPR.  I immediately took the truck out for a long drive between Seattle and Bend Oregon.  The sound quality was great, the music was everything I had hoped, and I doubted whether I would ever listen to FM again.  I did, however, experience a number of substantial signal losses on my way through the Cascade Mountains.  The first stretch was on the way up toward Mt. Hood on US 26 where one signal loss lasted over 1 minute.  On the way back through the Columbia River Gorge on I-84, there was a stretch of 20 miles of off-again-on-again signal.  My excitement for the product has diminished somewhat because of the reliability of service in the mountains.  Are more transmitters being erected in the mountain areas (specifically in Washington)?  Will newer stereo equipment buffer the signal longer than just a few seconds?  Will I get a signal even if one of the satellites is obstructed?   Does cloud cover increase the probability of dropouts?"

RUsirus.com's response:

HELLO XM!!  Do you read us??  The subject of the above note touches upon a subject that is fundamental to the difference between Sirius and XM, namely the satellite orbits and the need for ground repeaters.  Because Sirius has three satellites in elliptical orbits, their signal fills out very nicely just about everywhere (please see the comments of Sirius listeners on this site).  XM, on the other hand, uses two satellites in geostationary orbits so they need a lot more support from ground repeaters.  Unless they start putting in repeaters in areas such as the ones mentioned by the above listener, their big lead in the satellite radio business is in Sirius jeopardy.


An XM subscriber in the Peach State says:

"Just had XM installed in my pickup about 2 weeks ago.  Can't quit driving around.  For a true radio junkie, it's like heaven.  Have even ordered one for my home.  Some say that those that have CD players in their car will not be interested, because they can play their own music.  The thrill of radio is that you never know what song is coming next.  'The Loft' and 'Fine Tuning' so far have enjoyed most of my attention, but I haven't had time to listen to others.  Long live satellite radio!"

RUsirius.com's response:

We're glad to hear that XM radio is being well received in the land of the free and the home of the Braves.  If only they had a channel specializing in Alan Jackson or the Allman Brothers...Is Ted Turner an investor?


RUsirius.com received this series of messages from a disgruntled XM subscriber in California's Bay Area.  Although we do not necessarily endorse the views of the author, we feel it necessary to post the series in its entirety as a service to XM listeners and those who are considering subscribing to XM.  The first message is one that was written to XM regarding signal loss.  It has been edited only to remove the names of individuals and of local businesses.

"I am writing this email in response to your response to my trouble report and also because I have a passion and belief that this technology has a SERIOUS potential (no pun intended).

"Yours was such an awful response to give to a customer, albeit an ex-customer... You say my distortion was an ISOLATED incident??? no way...

(Editors note: Four apparent instances of sound distortion at four different locations in the Bay Area are delineated here.)

"If I were working at your company (which I am very glad that I am NOT), I would investigate ANY problem with signal quality...ESPECIALLY if, as you say, it's only an isolated incident.  It wouldn't take much time or resources.  Just the chanced that it WAS real, and the thought of how many customers it will drive away would be motivation enough to me to investigate, NOT just dismiss it out of hand.

"To prove this, I'd be willing to bet your company 1. The cost of an XM radio installed with lifetime subscription (to listen to after you get it fixed),  2. The cost of a Sirius radio installed with 1 years programming (to listen to until you get it fixed), that I can walk in ANY retail store that has XM and I could tell you if the audio playing is XM or not within 15 minutes.  Your signal distortion is THAT distinct.  If you don't have poor signal quality, you have nothing to worry about...or you can just ignore this again.  I suggest you forward this letter to your company president/board.  I wonder what is HIS/HER response?  You have already lost my subscription, but a GOOD company would want to win it back at all costs."

This is the message sent from XM (listenercare@xmradio.com) to the author of the above note in response to the original complaint about signal quality.

"Thank you for your interest in XM Satellite Radio!

"If the distortion were in our signal we would have hundreds of calls like yours.  But yours is an isolated incident.  Please click on the link below to get a better understanding of our sound quality

" http://www.xmradio.com/newsroom/screen/pr_2002_04_18.html .

"If we can be of further assistance, please feel free to send an additional email or you may contact a Listener Care Representative directly at 1-800-852-9696.  As always, you can visit our web site at www.xmradio.com for all the latest news on XM Satellite Radio.  Our Listener Care Centers hours of operation are as follows:

"7:00 AM - Midnight EST M-F, 10:00 AM - Midnight EST Saturday, Noon - 8:00 PM EST Sunday"

The following is the author's original message sent to XM.

"I purchased a Pioneer XM radio and had it professionally installed in my car.  After a short while I noticed a distortion unique to digital sampling in the signal.  I went back to Circuit City and they said it was XM's signal, and I called XM and opened a trouble report, and they told me it was poor installation.  I never heard back from any technician about the problem.  The installer at Circuit City was VERY nice and helpful and although he could not 'hear' the distortion I mention, he offered to uninstall it and refunded my purchase price.  I noticed this distortion: 1. sounds like the distortion you get when you play back an MP3 compressed at a low bit rate;  2. for some reason, cannot be heard by all people;  3. it exists on all brands of receivers for XM; 4 is present 'more' on the rebroadcast 'real' radio channels (LA Kiss-FM, MIX-FM Houston, etc.); 5. seems to be very noticeable on sustained high-end vocals and horns.  I know of one other person who has returned their XM radio due to this digital distortion.  When calling XM, I noticed they don't have the sharpest tools in the shed answering their phones.  I was told that I would be credited the remaining unused BALANCE of my 3 month payment.  Then after proving I submitted a trouble report, they said they would refund the entire amount (although I don't believe them at this point).  All and all, I liked SOME of the programming on XM but what I hear on the internet from SIrius sounds much better.  I wonder how the Sirius sound quality stacks up against the distorted XM."

RUsirius.com's response:

We invite comments from XM defending their position in this matter.  We also invite comments from Sirius explaining exactly how their sound quality "stacks up."


An XM subscriber in Canada says:

"I am in Toronto.  I have had XM for about three weeks.  The installation was a breeze and the sound is just wonderful.  I placed the antenna inside a south facing window.  The programming is OK.  There is considerable reception on some channels but there are 100 channels.  I believe the sound quality is almost CD-like.  The amazing thing is that every channel sounds good unlike my regular FM tuner.  I plan to get Sirius as well and compare.  Sirius is very poor at customer relations.  No '800' number, and no return of email queries.  The website is also difficult to navigate.  The folks at XM, on the other hand, were extremely helpful.  I must confess that the programming at Sirius does look a little better but the nuances in programming will probably lost on the general public.  I hope Sirius gets its act together before the XM lead in subscribers is insurmountable.  BTW this is an excellent, informative website"

RUsirius.com's response:

We're glad you like our site.  We're also hoping that Sirius "gets its act together," which they plan to do by July.

An XM listener from Maryland has these interesting things to say:

"Thanks for sharing the views of other XM subscribers.  I've been listening to the Sony home unit for 3 days.  The range of content is great, and is the main reason I made the purchase.  But I am disappointed with the 'near CD quality' sound.  Near is a relative term.  While all channels are in fact crystal clear and have good stereo separation, the music stations fall short or CD quality.  It's more like MP3 quality.  I'm surprised few others comment on this.  Regular FM radio has background noise, but has a much truer sound.

"My Sony home unit makes a low humming noise.  When I'm not using headphones, I wrap it with a wash cloth, which makes it get hot.  As others have commented, the display is terrible, and the unit only has 5 presets with no direct tuning option.  Is this the best Sony engineers could come up with?

"Despite issues with XM, overall I am a satisfied customer.  I don't have cable TV, so it's nice having access to Fox News, CNN Headline News, the  BBC, and USA Today.  The music stations I like the most, 'Fred' and 'The Loft,' don't have commercials.  I also like XMComedy.  The FM stations in my area can't compete on content.  Ten dollars per month seems a fair price to pay.  If Sirius has superior sound quality, and if they have an in-home option, I will eventually switch services."

RUsirius.com's response:

We're glad to hear that someone in an urban area finds satellite radio better than local FM radio.  This is the arena in which both XM and Sirius must compete if the services they offer are to be viable.  Thanks for your enlightening comments.


An XM subscriber from the "Land of Lincoln" tells us:

"I bought XM in January right before my road trip.  I live in Illinois and I was driving to Vegas, about 1200 miles.  While driving to Vegas I was totally impressed.  Clear signal the whole way nonstop music, sports, news, weather, and so on.  I lost reception one time.  That was going underneath a mountain in Colorado during a blizzard.  But I just gotta say for car audio fanatics this is a must have.  I have never been more pleased with any other service I have ever owned."

RUsirius.com's response:

We're sorry to hear that you drove from Illinois to Las Vegas in January.  We're sure that having XM must have helped.  Satellite radio should prove invaluable to anyone who drives long distances between urban centers.  We hope it proves as invaluable to city slickers.


An XM listener who enjoys listening at home says:

"I just received my Sony DRN-XM01H a couple of days ago.  I had it hooked up in my living room in about 20 minutes with the antenna situated outside.  There were some initial problems getting the service activated but since that time I've been in radio heaven.  The sound is great and I am very pleased with the programming.  I am an investor with Sirius but they just don't seem to have any home units available.  Perhaps in the future I hope to be able to subscribe to 'both' services using the Sony I have now.  If anyone is wondering whether or not to spring for one of these babies I would heartily recommend it!"

RUsirius.com's response:

We're glad you're enjoying satellite radio.  Sirius is definitely behind XM both in launching its service and providing equipment for listeners.  We're sure that a Sirius home unit will soon be available -- probably after they are fully operational nationwide in July.


 A delighted XM listener from California's Silicon Valley says:

" I purchased an XM receiver for my car back in December.  I found the service so extraordinary that I now have a second receiver for my office.  There seem to be a lot of negative comments concerning commercials and programming.  The programming is incredible and I rarely hear commercials (I listen at work for almost 10 hours per day.).  The commercial breaks also only last about one or one and a half minutes as opposed to 5 or 6 minutes on FM.  If it wasn't for the commercials, XM probably would not even exist as these companies are paying advertising dollars.  If a commercial does come on, then I just switch to one of the other 99 channels.  I NEVER have a hard time finding something to listen to.  XM is an incredible value for only $10."

RUsirius.com's response:

We've never claimed that commercials would be bad for satellite radio, only that they would be inevitable.  It's good to hear from some listeners who apparently aren't upset with advertising.  Without it, both satellite radio services would have a pretty hard time making their financial expectations...and ultimately insuring their viability.


A listener who wishes he'd spent his money on lottery tickets instead of XM tells us:

"I have had my XM radio for about two months.  I don't think I have ever paid so much for so little. (I think a lotto ticket would be a better investment.)  I have actually timed the advertisements.  They consume 1/3 of the air time.  I find it disturbing that I am paying $10.00 a month for this.  I would also like to add that my ears are still bleeding from the transitions from regular programming to the advertisements.  They just love to boost the advertisements.  Then I have to turn the radio down, then back up, then back down, then back up.  I would not recommend XM to anyone."

RUsiurius.com's response:

We have often said that claims by satellite radio providers that their programmning would be commercial free should be disregarded.  Both satellite services need to amortize their satellite development and launch expenses at the same time that they are trying to maintain their studios and keep the on-air talent happy. Their costs are enormous and when the bills come due they'll do whatever it takes to pay them.  This means commercials.  We're sorry that we can't be more encouraging in this regard but cable television started off this way too.  Get used to it.


A maritime worker asks:

"I work on a container ship that runs from the East Coast USA to the Mediterranean Sea.  Do you know of any receiver and service(s) which I could buy for the vessels?"

RUsirius.com's response:

Because their satellites are geosynchronous, XM is unlikely ever to provide worldwide service.  It seems possible that eventually Sirius could provide such a service but this seems rather far off given that they are currently behind XM in the U.S. market and have not yet begun nationwide broadcasting.   WorldSpace currently broadcasts to Europe and Africa and it is certainly possible that they might be able to fulfill your needs.


A delighted XM subscriber says:

" I have owned XM satellite radio for approximately 2 weeks.  I have not experienced any signal problems around the Monterey Bay California area.  I live and around small mountain ranges between Monterey and Salinas California.  AM/FM signals come and go, while XM is solid as a rock.  I purchased a Pioneer XM module that was compatible with my 1996 Pioneer stereo (Good work, Pioneer!).  Pioneer only displays eight characters at a time, makes some artists difficult to read.  So far, XM has exceeded my expectations"

RUsirius.com's response:

We're glad you like XM.  It's somehow appropriate that you like your Pioneer receiver since XM is the "pioneer" in this business.  


An XM subscriber with some "Sirius" comments about their programming tells us:

"Satellite radio is a really good concept.  100 Channels, all in CD quality sound anywhere in the country.  XM's reception is almost immaculate.  But that is where my praise ends.   In January when I purchased $600 worth of equipment, I thought that XM was going to change the face of radio, since FM has too many commercials and lacks quality content.  Apparently, XM may not have the numerous commercials that FM has, but the programming is only marginally better.  Ethel, the commercial and DJ free alternative hits station sounds as if there is one mp3 CD in the player on random repeat.  The same songs keep coming on again and again.  I listened to Sirius' counterpart on the web and there is so much more variety.  Other stations have to many DJ interruptions, not flowing music.  On a side note, though, the boneyard's 4/20 4 times a day is cool.

"With all of this being said, I think that if you are not committed yet, you should wait and see if Sirius actually materializes nationally before making a significant investment.  Lee Abrams and the rest of the XM programming staff need to get more in tune with listeners, because the novelty of non-FM wears off fast and word of mouth can either make or break XM once they have competition.   I just hope XM does improve so that my equipment doesn't become worthless"

RUsirius.com's response:

Since its inception, RUsirius.com has been advising its site visitors to wait until both Sirius and XM are fully operational before making a commitment to either service if possible.  Nevertheless, we support the effort that XM has been making to establish itself in the market as the first and only nationwide satellite radio broadcaster.  XM's current programming difficulties are due partly to its initial reliance on other sources for content rather than concentrating on developing its own original programming.   Sirius took a completely different approach, developing its own programming first and filling out its schedule with content from other organizations.   Consequently, Sirius now has the better programing, just as RUsirius.com originally predicted.  Thanks to a little competition and some comments from listeners like you, XM should eventually catch up so that no one's equipment becomes worthless.

An XM enthusiast from the Left Coast says:

"I spend quite a large amount of time in my car calling on clients in rather remote areas of the NW and have been looking for something better than the obligatory AM country western stations in rural America.

"XM has not only met my expectations but exceeded them. I have yet to experience a signal drop out other than in a parking structure.  If there is a complaint, it is due to the lack of big time talk personalities.  The only time XM gets turned off is when Rush is on.  When not traveling, the receiver moves into the office where it plays through a set of computer speakers.

"Another complaint is with the Sony portable unit.  It is not up to the high level of functionality that I have come to expect form Sony.  Most of the problems surround the remote which does not allow direct access to any station, but limits you to the five preprogrammed presets.  With 100 channels of programming, five presets is not enough."

RUsirius.com's response:

We've noticed that quite a lot of XM listeners are also fans of Rush Limbaugh.  XM should get its act together and begin carrying his show as part of its programming lineup.
 

An new XM subscriber with a Sony Plug'n Play tells us:

"I received a Sony Plug'n Play unit for Christmas, and have been very satisfied with it.  I live in a "fringe area" between 2 cities, and reception of anything worthwhile (not likely) is spotty at best.  FM radio has really hit rock bottom around here, and I was really waiting for something like this.

"I have been on 3 long road trips since I installed the system and the reception is very good.  There have been a few times when the signal was lost, but only when expected.

"The channels featuring talk programming, especially channel 152, 'Extreme XM', have problems with the gain of their input signal.  The external programming sometimes is very low, and, when the commercial breaks come, the volume is so loud that I'm afraid it will damage my speakers.  I have emailed XM about this, but have not received an answer as yet.

"From the streams I have heard on Sirius's web site, it does appear that Sirius's programming is slightly better.  XM is missing dedicated channels to punk and folk music.  XM's alternative country station really isn't.

"I haven't noticed a lot of repetition, but I do surf the channels quite a bit.  A one poster mentioned previously, when something 'not fantastic' comes on, it's very tempting to see what you are missing on other channels.

"Satellite radio needs to pick up the big talk show acts.  I believe that whichever station comes up with Howard Stern, Don and Mike, Rush Limbaugh, G. Gordon Liddy, Love Lines, Dr. Laura and the other big names on their programming list will be the victor.  More likely, some will go to each.

"It would be nice if the talk shows were live, as well.

"I'll stick with XM for now.  There is no comparison to this anywhere else for the time being.  It is light years from FM radio and I am extremely pleased, despite the minor problems I have mentioned."

RUsirius.com's response:

Thanks for your input.  We've been getting lots of e-mail about satellite radio and talk shows.  With any luck both Sirius and XM will soon begin carrying broadcasters like Rush Limbaugh , G. Gordon Liddy , Dr. Laura , Howard Stern , Don Imus , and Michael Savage .
 

A new XM subscriber has this to say:

"Saw your web site and thought I'd give my 2 cents worth.  I have been very happy so far with the programming and the reliability.  I do live in a rural community, however, and have noticed service interruptions when around even moderately high buildings when going into town.  The only complaint I have is them not offering NPR.  This is HUGE.  I will definitely switch to Sirius when they are available in my area for this reason alone."

RUSirius.com's response

Both XM and Sirius are expected to experience outages due to gaps in their terrestrial repeater systems.  We have been of the opinion that Sirius should be better in this regard because they do not depend as much on ground transmitters as does XM.  Recent reports, however, indicate that Sirius is also expected to have large "dead spots" where its signal cannot be received.  Since both services are in their infancy at this time, it is impossible to say how and whether theses difficulties will be resolved.  With regard to programming, if you're looking for NPR you're probably not going to find it on XM so Sirius may well be your only choice.
 

A dissatisfied XM listener who has previously written to us has this complaint about XM's country programming:

"I have written in the past, but I just wanted to give you an update on my XM radio experience. I was amazed to read what another person wrote about Hanks Place because I feel the same way and have had almost the same experience. I wrote vAbrams too and got much of the same response. Eddie Kilroy is a real nice guy, but they need a few people who have spent a little less time in radio and can think outside the box. They are very repetitive on that station and a few others that I listen to. I hope that Sirius  is monitoring this web site so they can hear what the subscribers want. My trouble is that I am a huge fan of country music and have a large collection of music and I know what's out there and what they could be playing. I have even gone as far as send XM some of my personal CDs to get them to widen their playlist and the answer was 'Thanks, but no thanks'. I have about given up. I'm waiting on Sirius to come out then my XM receiver may show up on ebay."

RUsirius.com's response:

Sirius may well be better prepared and therefore less repetitive in their programming than is XM.  We happen to think, however, that XM will eventually get their act together and that listeners like you will be more satisfied in the future.  If they don't, there well may a lot of XM receivers showing up on eBay .
 

Not everyone feels the way the above critic of XM's programming does.  Look at what this listener has to say:

"A close freind recently subscribed to XM and is thrilled with it. I too like it & plan to subscribe within the month, but I am VERY disappointed that there is no channel specifically for Punk rock, which is the music I am mainly interested in. Some people confuse alternative with punk, they say, 'Oh, theres' an alternative channel'  it's NOT the same thing, what they play on the alternative channel consists of some power pop & whiny folk-rock.  That aside, XM's non-music programming is reason enough to subscribe.  I travel a lot & having Fox news channel & it's contemporaries in the car is awesome!"<