RUsirius.com has been in operation since May 2000.  The comments below have been accumulating since around July of that year.   The entries are organized in the reverse order of their receipt, with the most recent notes first.  Readers may note the chronological progression of speculation through skepticism and finally to acceptance as the industry developed during the course of the last three years.  This progression can be seen not only in the comments but also in our responses.

The following are comments of a general nature. 

In case anyone thinks that there's no enthusiasm for satellite radio outside the United States, here are some comments from down under:

"I can vouch for satellite radio - I had a receiver in Africa (Nigeria) receiving World radio.  It was a heaven send!  The digital channels were clear and I put it through my hi-fi.  I like classical music and in Nigeria there is no classical music.  I could also keep up with news and pop.  Yes, I think that satellite radio definitely has a part to play.  Unfortunately here in Australia there isn't any coverage - except the few channels that come over the broadcast TV satellites - but these are simply rebroadcasts and don't have the multiple channels arranged just to a satellite audience."

RUsirius.com's response:

It's good to know that someone in Australia is interested in satellite radio.  There are probably numerous markets throughout the world that are ripe for an infusion of an exciting new technology that is taking America by storm.  


 The sirius pundit with a  complaint about XM's apparent policy of cutting off service after 60 hours of non-use (see below) says this in response:

"I am the originator of the 60 hour comment.  The source was the switch board person at XM when I called to activate.  I asked questions formulated to uncover hidden inconveniences or expense.  The 60 hour shut off comment was volunteered.  I questioned this repeatedly.  I asked if the cut-off was optional.  They said there was no way around it, and that's how their system worked.  I said I would not have considered XM had I known this in advance.  I reluctantly signed up.  I cancelled XM the next day.  The final straw: You can't patch to AUX-in on non-XM head units without going through a modulator.  I hope this rather thin evidence about the cut-off proves untrue.  Both XM and Sirius are wonderful additions to our musical infrastructure."

RUsirius.com's response:

We encourage additional comments on this issue, especially from XM.

 Someone at sirius odds with the commercial radio business says:

"I'm very annoyed with terrestrial radio, and can't wait for Sirius to arrive in Los Angeles.  As I write this note, I'm listening to Sirius I-70 over the Internet.  Something for your website: You'll notice a lot of people expressing annoyance at the radio available in their area.  Likewise, I think Los Angeles has some of the worst radio stations, but I found out why.  Go to Clear Channel Communication's web site, click on 'Radio', click on 'Station Locator.'  Type in your area, and see what stations they own.  I found out that CCU owns eight stations in my area.  They own all the interesting formats, and destroy them with banter and commercials.  CCU is heavily invested in XM radio.  This is why I'm waiting for Sirius, and not in the least bit surprised when I hear people gripe about the programming on XM."

RUsirius.com's response:

We agree that the programming standard commercial radio is pretty deficient.  Their attempt to constrain both Sirius and XM via the IB 95-91 proceedings is an inappropriate action that relies on the legal system rather than better programming to make their products more competitive.  Nevertheless, we think that either XM or Sirius is superior to terrestrial broadcasts and encourage our site visitors to consider either service.
A pundit with some comments on the XM and Sirius web sites has this to say:

"The XM website is only OK, but is better than the Sirius site.  Sirius needs a prominent phone number to pop up, not buried under many functions.  It makes it appear that they don't want to hear from you if there is trouble.  FAQ's and other dead ends are disconcerting.  The ergonomic feel of the Sirius site is underdone and needs a redesign.  This is not place to save a buck, especially considering the techno nature of this endeavor.  Sirius should take advantage ASAP of their perceived upscale position.  Please don't squander this advantage.  Having a larger classical and jazz selection could help promote this image."

RUsirius.com's response:

We agree that Sirius' web site leaves much to be desired, but then again, so does ours.  We invite Sirius to comment on the above observation.


 Here's some "tech talk" from someone who seems to know:

"The RCA's on the Alpine XM receivers are inputs.  You need outputs to go to Aux In on so equipped non-Sirius ready head units.  Since this is no possible, you are stuck with modulating through the antenna.  This is contrary to claims in some advertising.  Pioneer does not claim they can patch to Aux In, although Blitzsafe says they are working on a cable.  I haven't looked into the Sony XM unit, which struck me as too bulky.  The Clarion and Jensen Sirius receivers do have RCA outputs that do patch nicely to the Aux In on head units, making such units full digital signal all the way to the DAC (no antenna FM modulator) and Sirius ready with the addition of the control unit.  The separate control unit appears to be friendlier to use than the function cluttered satellite ready head units.  It may also be safer to operate by Braille in your lap instead of dash mounted buttonettes.  Terk says you can hide their antennas in a plastic spoiler more successfully than under the rear glass.  Try both to avoid the pizza delivery look.  Clarion fails to include instructions to wire the 4-pin power connector (needed with non-Clarion head units) on their Sirius receiver.  Crutchfield confirms: Black, ground; Yellow (with the 3-amp fuse), battery; Red, ignition on; Blue (with factory installed terminal), remote on.  Best to star ground with head unit.  Long control cable best left uncut and spliced.  No problems with length (or inductance I presume) all balled up and concealed.  Don't forget to flip the slide switch (on the bottom of the receiver in a slot in the metal case) from the factory setting to 'stand alone' mode if you're not using a Clarion head unit.  Clarion doesn't say much about the antenna adapter box that plugs between the Terk antenna and the receiver.  Was this something they could have included on the receiver board?  Terks are purposely built for both systems.  Why the adapter?"

RUsirius.com's response.

We hope these comments prove useful to anyone contemplating purchasing and installing a satellite radio receiver.


 Here's more "tech talk" about the robustness of each satellite provider's service:

"Both Sirius and XM have two satellites transmitting to the United States at all times.  XM does this with two satellites.  Sirius uses three.  Each Sirius satellite is on-line for 2/3 of the time, each satellite taking a 'break' every third time interval.  A satellite radio needs line of site to only one satellite to receive a signal.  Therefore if one satellite is blocked by, say, a building, the radio can still play the signal from the other one.  In the event of a satellite failure, both companies would suffer a degradation of service, XM more so than Sirius.  In the XM example, the remaining satellite would continue to broadcast its signal, but buildings and hills would cast large 'shadows' where the signal would be lost.  In the same scenario, Sirius would suffer the same trouble, but only for 2 of the 3 intervals mentioned above.  During the time when the broken satellite is scheduled to take a 'break' the service would be completely normal.  Further, it is theoretically possible for Sirius to keep each working satellite in service until they completely disappear below the horizon.  (Currently the satellites 'hand off' when one is rising above 60 degrees and the other is below 60 degrees.)  Even while only one satellite is in service, the 'shadows' cast by that satellite will be smaller, however they move the satellite.  Neither company would suffer even a partial blackout even with the failure of one satellite, and Sirius would be able to offer better service under that scenario.  If there was a failure of two satellites, XM would be dead in the water and Sirius would still be transmitting 2/3 of the time.  Their repeaters would still work all the time."

RUsirius.com's response:

The above comment reinforces our perception that Sirius, technically, is the better of the two services since it is naturally more robust and relies less on terrestrial repeaters.  We also point out that while Sirius had three satellites in elliptical orbits, XM has two in geostationary ones.  This further reduces the likelihood of signal drop out because the satellites are always in motion relative to the ground.  Unfortunately, it also very likely contributes to the complexity of their chipsets -- the main reason that XM was the first service to begin broadcasting.


 A potential satellite radio customer in Northern Virginia provides this inquiry:

"I'm curious more about the installations at this point than the actual product itself.  Does anyone know the pricing charged by Circuit City or Best Buy to install the radios in cars?  Does anyone know how WalMart is handling installations?  Are the local installers handling the installs working for the retailer or are they totally independent?  This could be a good business opportunity to install the radios in addition to selling them.  Do you have any recent info regarding the install that I could get?"

RUsirius.com's response:

We invite comments on the issues delineated above.
A disgruntled XM subscriber says:

"Can it be true?  XM says they turn you off after 60 hours of non use.  I come back from a trip and have to call the tower to get the radio turned back on.  (Sirius says they have no such practice.)  This reminds me of my cell phone, i.e. phone without a cord, not hockey puck with buttons.  I suggest making service as transparent as traditional radio.  I am paying for the advantages of satellite transmission, not a relationship with the company.  

"A wish list would include something akin to an Atlanta jazz station and a NYC undercompressed classical station.  The format already looks like cable TV, as in 'I can't believe this many stations has so little content.'"

"Dare I suggest broadcasting college lectures, or audio books!"

RUsirius.com's response:

We invite comment from other site visitors regarding the alleged XM policy and encourage XM to cease and desist in this irresponsible behavior.  Both XM and Sirius should operate in the same fashion as standard commercial radio.  We're not sure if the satellite radio community is ready for college lectures or audio books but we admit that hundreds of channels of banal, uninspired programming leaves much to be desired.


Here's a response to the above disgruntled XM subscriber:

"I have not had an experience with XM that would lead me to believe that they shut units off after 60 hours of non-use.  Logically, it would seem difficult for XM to determine who had their unit on or off for any length of time since the system does not transmit.  It only receives.  If XM says his is their practice, please provide a reference to the policy, interview, etc.  I would like to read it myself"

RUsirius.com's response to the response:

It's not clear that XM units need to transmit to shut off after 60 hours of non-use.  A simple clock within the unit could indicate whether or not it is being used.  We can't imagine that this is XM's policy.  We invite the folks at XM to comment.
A satellite radio enthusiast from Northern California says:

"Thanks for your interesting site.  I just returned from Washington DC where I visited and toured the XM Satellite Radio Network.  To say it is amazing is an understatement.  Everything is top quality.  They have individual studios for each of the programs hey produce so that the '60's Show' has one air booth and others their own.  The equipment is the latest available, it is all very high-tech and thoughtfully organized.  THey have many smaller production studios so that the DJs can pre-produce segments.

"At the moment, some of the DJs are the program directors for the stations, but this is the beginning and it will take time to hire more staff.  As it is, they have a thriving, creative, challenged, and happy group assembled to produce their shows.  Having read some of the comments about repeating songs, I am sure that subscribers input will change things.  The Blues host had input over 6,000 songs into his computer so there is plenty of music available.

"I checked out the Sirius and XM websites and XM's is much clearer and easier to navigate.  I am not a subscriber as yet.  I noticed that they both have the same news channels except that Sirius has NPR and PRI.  Maybe in the future XM will have them too."

RUsirius.com's response:

Thanks for your interesting comments.  

An XM subscriber who's completely satisfied tells us:

"I find the banter between XM and Sirius fans regarding which company will survive to be rather humorous.  After 3 months of XM I find that I never listen to AM/FM any more.  My suspicion is that if I had started with Sirius my comments would be no different.  This medium does its job so well that regardless which provider you choose, you will be satisfied.  I cannot imagine the listening public not moving to satellite radio as the word spreads.  The XM versus Sirius debate will carry about as much weight as two high school kids debating Chevrolet versus Ford."

RUsirius.com's response:

We agree that both XM and Sirius are significantly better than regular commercial radio.  We're sure that in the final analysis, arguments as to which is better will not amount to very much.  Nevertheless, it is entirely possible that only one satellite radio service will ultimately survive due to financial considerations.  If it comes to this, the service that is better postured in the marketplace will be the ultimate winner.  This means building "mindshare," something that XM is doing now because it is the only nationwide satellite radio provider.   Some of our site visitors may remember that at one time there were two videotape formats and numerous discussions similar to high school debates about Ford and Chevy.  There were probably numerous individuals at that time who thought that both were of excellent quality and likely to survive indefinitely.  Only one did.  Betamax anyone?

An expat living in Japan says:

"I am interested in receiving radio stations from the UK and the US especially PBS from the US and BBC from the UK. I live in a ground floor apartment in Shibuya ku, Tokyo. Can you help me by letting me know what would be the best type of radio to work in this location, what channels could I get, is there a service fee and how much, and can I purchase one via the internet for delivery and use in Japan."

RUsirius.com's response:

To the best of our knowledge neither XM nor Sirius plans to broadcast outside of the United States.  Because they do not use geosynchronous satellites nor rely as much on terrestrial repeaters, Sirius is the more likely service to expand to international markets.  Worldspace is currently broadcasting in Europe and Africa but it's not clear when or if they will ever expand their service to the Asian market.
 

A dismayed potential XM customer tells us:

"I was in a car audio store tonight after buying an XM radio and was warned not to install it.  (The salesman) said that Sirius was going to dominate the market and leave XM subscribers out in the cold. When asked about the General Motors tie to XM the reply was that at the dealer show GM cars had the Sirius system installed and not the XM......any light would be appreciated."

RUsirius.com's response:

XM has an agreement with GM to the effect that their subscription fee is buried in the monthly payment for customers choosing to use dealer financing.  To the best of our knowledge this does not preclude General Motors from installing Sirius instead of XM units in their vehicles.  As to which service will survive is anyone's guess but it's likely that the Sirius satellites will outlast those of XM.  This could be significant in a business that despite its initial success requires a significant number of subscribers to amortize its technology and development expenses.
 

A cross country traveler who's delighted with XM says:

"I just drove from Salt Lake to Maryland with my new XM receiver.  In fact I bought it in Salt Lake because I knew I would have to drive across the country.  I knew that in the longer stretches of Colorado and Kansas I would have a choice of four maybe five stations and then only for a little while.  During my 2300 mile trip the only time I lost reception was going through a tunnel and that would be true for AM and FM as well.  On the plus side I was treated to music I hadn't heard in years on The Loft and Fine Tuning.  I was able to hear ESPN shows from start to finish and a band as obscure as 'It's a Beautiful Day'.  What more could you want?  I must admit that when I got close to Baltimore I turned in a station for the local news, but we are used to channel surfing, this gives us many more channels to surf."

RUsirius.com's response:

We're glad you're so happy with XM.  Despite what we perceive as a slight technical and programming advantage for Sirius XM might well be the Goliath of the market by the time Sirius is fully functional.
 

A true satellite radio enthusiast from Eastern Washington has this criticism of one of our previous postings:

"I was reading the comments and just wanted to make a correction to a response you guys gave someone.

"((We appreciate your comments.  You could be right about one of the satellite services eventually buying the other one but given the fundamental incompatibility of their technical configurations we find this rather doubtful.))

"A condition of the sale of the SDARS spectrum from the FCC was that both companies would have to move toward interoperability or merging into one company within 5 to 7 (I can not remember the exact amount of time, it is a rough estimate) years after each company started offering service. It was stated in a tech article that dual-company radios are feasible by having both chipsets in each stereo, and a tri/quad frequency modulation capable antenna."

RUsirius.com's response:

We stand corrected.
 

A potential satellite radio subscriber says:

"Thank you for such a wonderful web site.  I travel extensively for my job and when I heard about XM radio I was thrilled.  However after doing some homework and research I have some reservations.  NPR is important to me and will for that reason probably wait for Sirius to hit the market.  The feedback you have published from your readers reinforces this decision. My guess is that with three satellites they will have great coverage and hopefully they will have learned what people are asking for and can deliver it.  NPR being a prime example.  I would like to also urge them to look into other talk formats as well.  G Gordon Liddy, Rush Limbaugh, Dr. Laura etc are sometimes entertaining and having these choices would just make them the tops."

RUsirius.com's response:

Thanks for your input.  It's good to know we have a few fans out there.  We're recommending that everyone interested in satellite radio do a little comparison shopping before taking the plunge.  Sirius should be available Nationwide in August.  By then potential subscribers should be able to make a reasonable decision as to which satellite service best suits their needs.  We're also hoping that either Sirius or XM will consider carrying at least some of the more well known radio talk shows.
 

A site visitor obviously concerned about a perceived pro-Sirius bias has this to say:

"For those who know what is actually going on at Sirius and its radio suppliers, it is quite obvious that you better start balancing coverage of XM and Sirius. It is quite obvious that your answers to posters about Sirius as compared to XM have not given 10% of the actual problems Sirius is having with its chipsets, suppliers, and OEMs."

RUsirius.com's response:

We're well aware of the technical problems that have been plaguing Sirius since they launched the last of their satellites.  Nevertheless, they have a product worthy of consideration and may very well prove to be the better service in the long run.   The final measure of their success or failure will be the number of subscribers they are able to attract and sustain.
 

An XM subscriber responding to a previously posted comment says:

"XM 'ASK' does carry Art Bell (same channel as Bruce Williams).  If you go to the XM Website and go to Programming, each channel has its own webpage and many show a schedule.  Sirius has its new website up and running, although I have not been able to find as much detail as one would like.  Why don't you go ask Rush if he was approached to be on either of the services?"

RUsirius.com's response:

We just have.
 

A fan of G. Gordon Liddy from New Jersey has this question on a similar subject:

"Thanks for a great website!  Much more informative than XM's.  My question for you is this, and I am hoping that you can help me.  I live about twenty minutes from Allentown, PA and about an hour from New York.  I am a devout fan of the G. Gordon Liddy program, which originates out of Washington, D.C. and used to be carried by an Allentown station until last summer.  Will I be able to hear this broadcast on your (Sirius) service?  If so, I'd be an enthusiastic customer!"

RUsirius.com's response:

We appreciate the correspondence we receive from our site visitors but we caution everyone that we are not Sirius Satellite Radio but an independent entity following developments in the field.  Having said that, we would like to post a notice to both Sirius and XM that there appears to be at least a little interest in having the satellite services carry the programming of comentators like Rush Limbaugh and Gordon Liddy.  We hope they take notice.
 

An XM listener from New York has this to tells us:

"I live in NYC.  I have had XM Radio for about a month now.  I find FM radio in my area totally unlistenable.  It features mainly commercials, or obnoxious talkative DJ's who think that we want to hear them blather all day.  Me, personally I like music.  And FM Music in NYC is so segregated that some of the worlds greatest singers don't get played anymore here (somehow they just don't fit in ANYWHERE!)

"So I was quite enthused with the possibility of a new 'XM'  band.  100's of channels with more genres then I can imagine.  I even listened to the website to hear what I'd get. It sounded really good, just like Spinner radio (from the web).  No talking, no commercials!  I think I was the first guy at the electronics store to get the unit in my car (Sony Plug & Play).  I was initially amazed at the content.  6 or 7 great songs in a row (and without changing the station!).  And so many formats, I ran out of presets on my player (only 5).  As I listened to it, I realized it was not like Spinner at all.  Now, I am finding myself less psyched than that first week.

"I am noticing the formats I like (mainly oldies-60's, 70's, soul classics), are repeating their songs quite often.  I only listen for an hour a day, yet I am sensing a somewhat 'shortened'  playlist.  I can see this happening on a Top 20 station, but this should not happen for an oldies station.  I am also hearing a lot of DJ banter, and alas, also some brief commercials (will this grow as time goes on I wonder?).

"I e-mailed programming and program directors at certain stations.  I was told they bought the rights to millions of songs.  However they claimed songs would repeat, that listeners like to hear songs repetitively.  They also said that with the library of songs played, that a specific song should come up every 3 days.  They said they were monitoring the sequences, and would not play a certain song again at the same time days later.  I am finding this hard to believe.  A station filled with a DECADE of songs should not even play the same song in a month, no less a few days.  Unless they do not have access to as many songs as they say.  Maybe PD'S favor certain artists or songs, and that is what they will give listeners.  Maybe programming is just making excuses for being lazy.  For every song they replay to me, that is one less "unplayed" song I do not get to hear.  I am finding myself jumping around stations more often, hearing "programming jibberish", songs I heard already, and talking, much more that I thought I would get.  If this radio was free, I'd accept it, and move on.  But I am paying $9 a month, and I would hate to just accept what I am being offered on air(and told via e-mails).

"I just found out about Sirius.  I am curious about how they will program their songs.  I was told they have a larger selection, and better programming.  I was also told I can not convert my player to their programming.  So I can either deal with XM, cough up some more cash & switch to Sirius (& use my $300 Sony XM unit as a very expensive paperweight), or just go back to my CD's.  I wonder, though, after reading some of the articles here if both of these stations will survive in the long run.

"As I stated, XM's programmers gave me no indication they were willing to change their programming philosophy.  Funny, one of the biggest flops on FM in my area was Jamming 105 who started as a station that would play classic R & B.  The amount of quality music they could offer was boundless.  However, they got stuck on certain songs, played them till death, and then lost their viewership.  They now play a different genre altogether.

"I am curious if anyone else in your audience is experiencing this 'repetitiousness' to XM's oldies programming?  I thank you for your time, and have enjoyed reading the articles on your website."

RUsirius.com's response:

Pardon us for saying we told you so but RUsirius.com has been warning potential satellite radio listeners about the possibility of commercials since the inception of this site.  The sad truth is that both XM and Sirius will do whatever they want as long as nobody complains.  With regard to XM's oldies programming, we should also all be a little suspicious of the size of their record library given that the same songs seem to be repeating within short intervals.  Right now, XM is the only game in town so satellite radio enthusiasts have no other choice.  Once Sirius is fully operational, however, there will be some competition.  This means that XM will have to be a little more responsive to the complaints of its listeners and that means better programming for all satellite subscribers.  We think that both XM and Sirius will survive in the long run unless regular broadcasters begin stepping up to the competition and providing better programming.  We see no indication that this will ever happen.
 

An  XM subscriber wishing to have multiple recievers says:

"Right now, if you have a cable subscription, you pay a little bit extra for the, say, bedroom box. How will XM or Sirius handle that? For instance, I would like to have the service in both my wife's and my car. Would I have to pay 2 full subscriptions? What if I also want to add a home receiver? Should I stick with Sony's portable receiver?"

RUsirius.com's response:

To the best of our knowledge, XM requires an independent subscription for each receiver.  We understand that Sirius is planning to offer a variety of plans suitable for individuals with two or more units.
 

An XM subscriber who likes C&W wishes to correct a previous posting:

"This message is to correct a mistake made by the 'serious satellite pundit' regarding one of my post. On XM radio, the deejays ARE often the program directors. Ray Knight, with whom I spoke, does program channel 10 as well as work as the primary deejay for that channel. Eddie Kilroy does likewise for channel 13, so they are the people to speak with about the format. One deejay told me that they can play anything they want within reason. I want to also note that I have noticed some of my suggestions working their way into the format. There is, however, still a little room for improvement."

RUsirius.com's response:

Thanks for your update.
 

A site visitor who has a few issues with our content has this to say:

"I have read your webpage and I find it and its topics very interesting.  However, I sense a hidden economic bias in favor of Sirius which if true should be revealed to your readers.

"Also, if either of these two ventures are run by traditional radio executives then we canot expect to see any great quality or value in the programming.  What could possibly be the mindset of these folks (radio execs) not to execute a plan to bring the kind of programming that your readers have suggested?

"Interested to read your perspective - whether or not biased (but please, what if any is your angle?)"

RUsirius.com's response:

Excuse us if we appear to be somewhat biased toward Sirius rather than XM.  We have no economic stake in either service.  We think, however, that anyone willing to pay several hundred dollars for a receiver plus ten to thirteen dollars a month for service should take the time to consider what each satellite broadcaster has to offer prior to making a commitment.  It is indeed unfortunate that Sirius encountered technical difficulties that prevented their system from becoming operational earlier.  There are two compelling reasons, however, for giving them the benefit of the doubt.  First of all, they are using three satellites in elliptical orbits instead of two in geosynchronous orbits.  This means that they need fewer ground-based repeaters than does XM.  While this may seem insignificant we think there is reason to believe that the Sirius signal will be more robust and therefore less susceptible to the occasoinal drop-outs encountered by some XM listeners.  Secondly, it appears that Sirius has put more time and attention into the organization and scheduling of its programming.  We admit that we may be wrong on this point but the only way we'll ever know is to wait until Sirius is fully operational so that listeners can judge the merits of the two services for themselves.  Until then we fully endorse XM's fine efforts at providing us with satellite radio and see no reason why anyone willing to dismiss our concerns should hesitate to purchase an XM receiver and subscribe to their service.
 

A serious satellite radio pundit has this to say about our site and others who have offered comments:

"In the portion of your site given to answer the questions of 'serious site visitors', there was information lacking that should be included in the answers:

"'An XM C&W listener' complains that the deejays agree with her complaints about the format, yet nothing changes.  It should be noted that jocks don't change the format;  program directors do.  She should repeat her complaint to the P.D. or the music director;  these persons determine what music the jock plays.

"'An interested visitor from Cincinnati' wonders whether the XM unit includes a headphone jack.  The XM unit is only an interpreter of the satellite signal;  it is the stereo (which XM plugs into via RCA cables) which plays the sound.  Therefore, your XM unit does not include a headphone jack, but if your stereo includes this, then you can listen to XM via headphones.  Should your stereo include a tape deck, you'll also be able to record XM Radio.

"An 'anonymous satellite radio pundit' asks whether there is any unit that is designed to capture the signals of both XM and Sirius.  At this time, such a product is not available, but in March of 2000, both companies signed a partnership agreement with the eventual intent of producing co-op units.  However, the technology was too far along at this point to merit stopping the 'first wave' of releases to include the dual standard."

RUsirius.com's response:

Thanks for your enlightening comments.
 

A delighted XM customer from the San Francisco Bay Area says:

"My Christmas gift from my wife turned out to be a Sony combination home/car XM radio receiver. I had recently heard some news about this new technology but had no idea any services existed. We connected the unit in our home and made an 800 call to subscribe to the service and Wallah! I am truly impressed.

"It took a little time to find the right location for the antenna, as our home has a metal roof. We eventually found a location just outside a window and the reception is flawless. The cable length for the antenna just just barely sufficient to reach, but it made it.  We listened to the comedy channel for hours, then switched to the Highway 15 channel for country. We also cruised the entire spectrum of stations just to see what was there.  Normally, FM reception in our area is chancy at best. I've tried several FM antennas with no real success. This technology solves it all. I love it. And no more (or very little) commercials. Kudos to XM!"

RUsirius.com's response:

We're glad you like XM.  Radio listeners in poor reception areas are likely to be among the first to turn to satellite radio as a way of correcting a persistent problem.  The real test for satellite radio is going to be the competition with standard commercial broadcasting in good reception areas.
 

An XM C&W listener tells us:

"I have been a subscriber to xm radio since it was in my area. I am both pleased and disappointed in the service. I love traditional country music and xm radio has some great traditional country stations. The problem is that all that they play on these stations is music that is more than 20-years-old. There are plenty of new country singers who sound traditional (such as Wayne Hancock, Dale Watson, Dallas Wanye, ect.) who are very popular with people that love country music with a little twang. Regular country music radio won't play them because they are considered too country for today's market. xm radio's channel 12 "X Country" may play some of these people but it is mixed in with what they consider aternative country, which doesn't sound traditional at all. I was really hoping to hear the likes of Wanye Hancock beside Hank Williams, since they sound alike. Instead I hear Hancock (if at all) beside Steve Earl, which he doesn't sound at all like. I have talked to some of the DJs about this and they say they all agree....but they refuse to change. Just like am/fm, they seemed locked in to a formula. It either has to be old country, new country, or altervative country. There should be more common since, keep the steel guitars together and keep the electric guitars together. Don't stick someone on an alternative country channel because they are under 40 and regular am/fm radio won't play them. True country fans know the difference between country music and what I call "grundge twang".  I am really surprized that xm radio seems to be missing the mark with this. If Sirius gets this, then I will drop XM and get Sirius."

RUsirius.com's response:

We think a lot of XM listeners may very well decide eventually to switch to Sirius.  Both services, however, have a long way to go before their programming has matured to the point at which appropriate comparisons can be made.  Thanks to criticism from listeners like you, XM might be willing to consider revising both its programming content and its schedules in the coming months.
 

A Rush Limbaugh fan says:

" I have specific radio talk shows I want to listen to.  So far, XM strikes out on all but 1.  I found that they have Bruce Williams (although their site search engine doesn't hit on his name), but not Rush Limbaugh, G. Gordon Liddy, Art Bell, and Don Imus.  I'm not sure about Dr. Laura.

"The long pole in this tent is Rush Limbaugh.  I'm sick of traveling across the country and having to go into a search thru my radio dial initially to find Rush, then again one or 2 times as I drive out of the local station's signal and have to find a new station.  Car AM radios search feature don't work for all except the strongest of stations, but the station I really want is the one I am traveling toward, which is usually initially fairly weak.

"If Sirius has Rush, I'll sign up.  If it doesn't, I'll continue with my regular car radio.  Its puzzling why the satellite companies are making such programming so difficult to get or even find out about.  Sirius website doesn't give _any_ clue about their programming.  These people need to communicate."

RUsirius.com's response:

You're absolutely right about Sirius.  They just don't communicate so it's difficult to make an informed assessment of either their technology or their programming.  We expect, however, that their music programming will be excellent given the quality of the talent they have in charge of the various categories.  Either they or XM should be carrying Rush Limbaugh, Gordon Liddy, Art Bell, and Don Imus.  We're not sure about Dr. Laura either.
 

A UK expat. living in California tells us:

"As a UK national I've been spoilt in the past with BBC radio, particularly Radio 4 news, current affairs etc. Note this is not the BBC World Service I refer to, although another world class radio service.  Transmitting uninterrupted BBC radio 4 would be worth the subscription fee alone. Can any radio listener in the USA imagine no nauseating advertising or irritating 'pledge drives' - Heaven. Are oversees radio stations going to be part of the format? If the plan is for just more domestic music stations then it  seems a wonderful opportunity to relaunch radio will have been lost. Please give me hope!"

RUsirius.com's response:

We hate to disappoint you but to the best of our knowledge the are no immediate plans to include international stations in the format of either satellite radio provider.  This does not mean that this cannot change as the services develop.  They should, however, satisfy your desire for no nauseating advertising or "pledge drives."
 

An interested visitor from Cincinnati writes:

"My question is about the Sony portable system.  Will I be able to take it from my car to my desk in an office building and get proper indoor reception?  And will it have an earphone jack?"

RUsirius.com's response:

Any portable system should be able to receive the signal indoors.  We're not sure about the earphone jack.
 

A site visitor looking for some advice says:

"Thanks for the great site.  I am very interested in satellite radio.  In particular, I'm interested in the differences between Sirius and XM.  I just purchase a new car and I'm having a stereo system installed this weekend.  I need to make some decisions and I could use your help.  I have decided to purchase either a Kenwood Sirius compatible CD receiver or a Pioneer XM CD receiver system.  The Kenwood would cost around $200 less; but, would require me to purchase and pay to install the Sirius receiver at a later date.  The Pioneer system costs a little more now; however, it includes the XM receiver.  Other than an antenna, the Pioneer system would not require any further installation.  I am interested in music.  What are the main differences between the services?  Are there any issues that should discourage me from installing the Pioneer XM equipment now versus waiting later for Sirius?"

RUsirius.com's response:

Despite Sirius' technical difficulties, we still think it's ultimately going to be the better service.  It's technically better because it relies more on satellites than on ground repeaters and it seems to offer a better and more organized selection of programming.  We hope they get their act together and start broadcasting next year.   If they don't, XM will have won the national "mindshare" and Sirius will be history.  Our advice is to wait until everything has been resolved before making any decisions.  If you can't wait, go with XM.
 

A long time radio listener writes:

"My one constant companion for the past 40 odd years has been a radio.  Tuned to "current" and then more and more 'oldies' stations.  but lately I've been forced to curtail my listening by the pitiful programming and personalities.  The short play lists and frequent commercials, most of which are poorly produced, have just turned me OFF.  Cassette and CD have always have cuts that I don't like and require constant tending.  I don't want to invest the time or money to acquire all the music and then sort it and re-record it into a listenable format.  So, I'm really hoping for something good with satellite delivery."

RUsirius.com's response:

If you're mostly interested in listening to good music without commercials, satellite radio is probably for you.  Although both services seem to be somewhat lacking when it comes to providing extensive sports and news coverage, they seem to be providing more than enough musical selections to satisfy just about everyone.  We encourage you to try out either satellite radio provider once they are fully operational -- sometime next year.
 

A satellite radio enthusiast opines:

"I just wanted to say that I think that Satellite Radio is a very interesting concept that will surely succeed if it is presented properly.  Being commercial free (or EXTREMELY limited) is a big plus.  I can't stomach local FM radio for more than a few songs usually.  Imagine the archive of music that will be available.  The possibilities are intriguing.  To be able to listen to classic tunes from the 70's and 80's, then switch to Discovery Radio, then tune into a Broadway play or opera is amazing.  Will I then be able to listen to my favorite NFL team when I'm traveling in the car?  Will I someday be able to upload a personal music playlist via their website, and then hear hours and hours of my selections on the satellite radio?  I have so many questions and your site has been very informative.  I hope Sirius and XM do this thing right, because the initial reaction is pivotal to long term success.  Heck, with stock prices anywhere from $3 to $5 per share, could this be the next great investment opportunity?  I think it might be, if they provide what people want."

RUsirius.com's response:

We've often said that as revolutionary as satellite radio may prove to be, it still must provide the kind of programming that can win listeners away from local radio -- even if if costs ten dollars a month.  They should be able to offer you the features you want given sufficient time.  The question is whether or not they will.

A new car owner from Maryland says:

" I am not sure if I understand this whole satellite thing, but it is to my understanding that you have to pay around $250.00 dollars or more to have the receiver installed into your vehicle, and then pay $10 bucks a month for service? and if your vehicle already has the XM satellite symbol on it, is the receiver inside the radio or do you still have to pay for a receiver to be installed?"

RUsirius.com's response:

We certainly hope that any radio that carries XM's logo is already equipped to receive their signal.  Ten bucks a month should just about do it.
 

A Sirius investor from Arizona writes:

"I am a stockholder in SIRI and would like to suggest that you dedicate one of your 100 channels to broadcasting National  Emergency Alerts which could be sent to all parts of our country. This channel could report emergency situations such as ------ terriorist attacks, car bombings, sports stadium alerts, bridges down, tornadoes warnings, hurricane warnings etc,etc. Anything where the public safety is involved.This would provide a great service to the USA and I beleive would also sell lots more satellite radios in this time of  national emergency. Maybe you could even get government funding for such a channel. This emergency channel could either be CHANNEL 1 or CHANNEL 100. Just an idea for you to consider before you start your broadcasts."

RUsirius.com's response:

In light of the events of September 11 we think this is a good idea that should be considered both by Sirius and by XM.
 

A satellite radio enthusiast from the Big Apple tells us:

"As someone who is fervently interested in this technology and service, kudos to you guys.  I live in NYC and have applied to work for XM (a very small staff that I likely won't squeeze into).  My dream is to work at Sirius, who I'm hitting up. However, maybe your site should mention that funding for both companies comes from Apollo, who financially fathered both companies.  It's not really a free market."

RUsirius.com's response:

Thanks for the informatoin about Apollo...and to the folks at Sirius -- Hey! Hire this guy!
 

An anonymous satellite radio pundit says:

"I think the whole prospect of satellite radio is a true 'new wave' for the future of radio. The repetitive programming of ANY format today only provides an hour or so of entertainment before you start hearing the same songs from the limited play lists. The potential choices offered seem nearly limitless. Whether a listener wants C&W, classical or all Led Zeppelin all the time, it seems to be coming.  My question is this: Are these two system compatible with one another?  If I chose a Sirius radio, will I be locked out of XM? Will this be the VHS versus Betamax war for the 21st century?"

RUsirius.com's response:

Satellite radio may well be the future for the industry but both Sirius and XM have some obstacles to overcome.   To the best of our knowledge the current generation of satellite receivers supports only one signal format.  We believe that this will change soon, thus avoiding a "Betamax vs. VHS" scenario.  We also believe that anyone wishing to purchase equipment and sign up for satellite radio service should wait until both XM and Sirius are operational.  We sincerely hope that there aren't any listeners out there who want to listen to Led Zeppelin all the time.
 

A disgruntled commercial radio listener from North Carolina writes:

"I look forward to Satellite Radio for one reason. I want to hear an all 70's & 80's format. There were over 2000 songs that hit the top 40 charts between January 1970 thru December 1989. Local radio stations in the Raleigh-Durham area don't care about listener preferences as long as the ratings are decent. I'm so tired of being ignored by local stations. I hope we get a good alternative SOON!!!"

RUsirius.com's response:

The satellite radio providers need people who are fed up with commercial radio.  The majority of the initial subscribers to Sirius and XM are very likely going to be current commercial radio listeners who can no longer tolerate the endless stream of bad music, weak formats, and banal commentary that have become the trademark of broadcast radio.   Kudos.
 

A potential satellite radio customer from the Wild Cascades tells us:

"I am very excited about the prospects of satellite radio.  I do have concerns about their ability to transmit uninterrupted signals across the country.  I live in Washington state and am curious if the signal will be blocked by mountains and heavy foliage while through the mountain passes.  If satellite requires line of sight, it would seem that I'm going to lose the signal numerous times."

RUsirius.com's response:

To the best of our knowledge, both Sirius and XM plan to use ground-based repeaters to fill in areas where the satellite signals are expected to be partially blocked.  Because of the orbital patterns of their satellites, Sirius is probably in the best position to offer uninterrupted service in these areas -- even without repeaters.  Additional information on this subject can be found in an article on digital radio in the July 2001 issue of IEEE Spectrum.
 

A classical music enthusiast tells us:

"I visited both the Sirius and XM site and was disappointed at the lack of  specific programming information such as a schedule.  As a classical music  listener I have found that there are all kinds of classical music stations. Some of the commercial ones tend toward short classical pieces I would  call wallpaper music.  Even some if the public radio stations affiliated with NPR tend to soften their content assuming, perhaps, that their listeners are at best occasional classic music listeners that can't be bothered with anything too serious.  Not that all stations are like that. I also get DMX classical music on my C-Band satellite dish and their programming has been good.  But I always have had the option of going to their web site to see exactly what they were playing on any given day.  Before I subscribe to a car satellite service and purchase the extra equipment required I would like to be able to do at least as much with Sirius or XM. Of course, as a measure of their customer friendly attitude, neither one provides an e-mail address to contact them (though they do offer a phone number).  Should I take this as an indication that they are not interested in what I want?"

RUsirius.com's response:

We concur with your assessment of classical radio stations.  Even the ones affiliated with NPR play little other than short pieces by Mozart, Beethoven, Bach, and Brahms, punctuated by public affairs announcements and appeals for money.   But take heart.  Things will get better once satellite radio is fully operational.   Just because Sirius and XM don't post e-mail addresses doesn't mean they aren't interested.  They're both struggling to make their systems operational at this time.  Once they're ready to commence programming, we're sure they'll post their schedules.  We'll also plan to post the programming schedules for both Sirius and XM here at RUsirius.com.
 

A newcomer to satellite radio says:

"I just recently heard about satellite radio.  After doing some research today I am very disappointed in the programming that will be offered.  I was hoping it would enable me to listen to 'The Howard Stern Show'.  I would have been happy to pay $10.00 a month for that amd maybe the opportunity to listen to a rock station out of New York or LA.  That would be great.  The programming that will be available will not get it done for me, though.  I'll just listen to my local channels.

"Why would I pay for commercial free music?  I have a CD player, and I can listen to commercial free music anytime I want and save 10 bucks and buy a new CD every month instead.

"As for the talk programming, that isn't appealing to me either.  I'm sure I would find it interesting but I'm not paying for it.

"If they want people to subscribe to this, they're going to have to pick up some syndicated shows and give people something they can't already get...not just a variation of what they're already listening to."

RUsirius.com's response:

You raise a very interesting point.  Satellite radio providers are going to have to compete effectively with local radio by offering programming that local radio cannot provide.  This is an issue that RUsirius.com has been raising since its inception.  It's nice to be able to travel long distances without having to re-tune the radio but satellite radio really has to provide more than just this.  We happen to think that it will.  As to Howard Stern, we think he'd be a welcome addition to any satellite radio lineup.  (Frankly, we're a little embarassed to admit this.)
 

A fed-up commercial radio listener writes:

"Thank you for your informative site on the dawn of domestic satellite radio.  My personal dissatisfaction with FM radio content in just about every single major city in this country fortifies my desire to receive (and even pay $10 a month) a diverse mix of programming. Urban areas of our country are plagued with stations that are delivering content that is automated, repetitive and at an entertainment level that we 'settle for' versus truly desire. XM and Sirius have the appearance that their product, being diverse in content, high in quality and widely available, will satisfy the urgent need for an alternative to "Jack Diamond in the morning" and repetitive, brain numbing, music programming dictated by a large, blue chip corporation which owns and runs many stations across the country..

"In the early days of radio, when Howard Armstrong developed FM, a new level of radio quality was suddenly available and with it, came diversity of content, because the quality was so much better than the existing AM stations. XM and Sirius are poised to make the same 'new generation' of quality and diversity of content.  As also with FM, compatibility of the XM and Sirius receivers was a excellent step to fortify the success of digital satellite radio, which should extend well after the service kick-off dates of both companies. As was said years ago, 'the public will never pay for television' and now, the US (and International) marketplace bears a serious quantity of it."

RUsirius.com's response:

Thanks for your input.  We could not have said it better ourselves.  Satellite radio represents a new and unique medium that can be expected to have an impact on the broadcasting community unlike anything since the development of FM.  We have a somewhat more pessimistic view, however, on the analogy between pay radio and pay television.   While it is true that cable television eventually came to dominate the medium this process took the better part of a decade to complete.  Because of the need to amortize their development and launch costs, Sirius and XM need to sign up listeners at a somewhat faster pace.  If they're successful we can look forward to your  "'new generation' of quality and diversity of content".  If they don't, it's back to "Jack Diamond in the morning."
 

A potential satellite radio enthusiast from Florida says:

"I was in the market for upgrading my car's radio and came across the news of Satellite radio.  Totally cool.  The initial research on various Internet search engines showed several hits on XM receivers but practically nothing on Sirius receivers.  I also found RUsirius.com.  Thumbs up dudes!  After comparing XM vs Sirius, I opted for Sirius due to its clearly better programming.  My next step was to find a Sirius receiver.  In February, Kenwood was the first to release the first Sirius-ready car radios in the US. Kenwood's web site announced that their Sirius-ready products will be available via several major distributors.  I went to each one of those distributors and was very disappointed to find that their web sites were horribly outdated and incomplete.  The inventory visible through the web is not even a fifth of what is available on their corresponding brick-n-mortar stores.  In other words, if you are trying to find out what is available, don't believe that their web site says.  Call or go to the store.  They probably have it in stock.

"Although their Internet web site store sucks big time, SoundAdvice quickly and aggressively hit the market with a direct-mail to the Tampa Bay area. I'm sure that they hit other major metropolitan areas across the country as well.  It was a very elegant brochure adverting its XM and Sirius car radio offerings, among other things.  The prices were very reasonable.  Very tempting.  But being a shrewd bargain-hunter myself, I'm going to hold off until Sirius-ready receivers become available on online distributors like OnLineCarStereo.com to save even more $$."

RUsirius.com's response:

Thanks for your input.  We encourage all our site visitors to shop carefully when choosing a satellite radio service and equipment.  We'll continue to post any enlightening notes like yours to assist all our site visitors in making the right choice.
 

An investor and future satellite radio subscriber writes:

"For the past 3/4 of a year I have been anxiously following news of the two satellite radio companies, both as a person with some stock invested, and as a future member of this new audience/community that will be experiencing the same music a the same time across the country.

"One question about the future of these companies concerns me:  While technology currently imposes serious limitations on internet radio, what about the day when technology makes internet radio competition for satellite radio?  At present internet radio lacks digital music quality, and would fail at sustaining a solid wireless connection for automobiles.  However, are these obstacles not temporary in nature?  I'm sure I am not the first person to raise this question, and therefore imagine you already have a well-researched response."

RUsirius.com's response:

As a matter of fact, you are the first person to have been interested enough in internet radio to have raised this question.   To support the kind of internet radio that would pose a serious threat to satellite radio requires more bandwidth.  This bandwidth can be provided by the FCC's making more of the spectrum available, by better coding techniques, or by satellite internet access.  All three are currently in the works but the day when intenet broadcasts present a serious challenge to satellite radio is probably pretty far off.  It is likely that the first form of wireless intenet broadcasting will consist of segments that can be continuously downloaded but only heard in bursts.  This is not necessarily a severe limitation given that most listeners would not be expected to require continuous, uninterrupted service.
 

But don't take us too seriously, folks.  Look at what this site visitor had to say:

"I read your little website.

"What you write is the most unresearched nob of crap I have read on the internet on satellite radio. Who pays you to bash this industry?

"Why not do yourself a favor, save some space and take your stupid website off the internet you jackasses.

"You may puyblish (sic) this note everywhere you would like."

RUsirius.com's response:

We're not bashers.  We support satellite radio as the next great innovation in the broadcasting industry but we have some reservations, as should anyone seriously considering purchasing equipment and paying monthly service fees.  These reservations are with respect to programming, commercials, the response from the broadcasting industry, and the impact of future technology.  We encourage everyone to experience satellite radio when it becomes availalble.  Just be aware of its limitations as well as its potential.  Thanks for encouraging us to publish this note.  We just did.
 

A visitor from LA writes:

"In the Los Angeles area, there's an internet radio station commonly called 103.1 World Class Rock, or 103.1 WCR.  Before moving to the internet the station had a solid if narrow following in Southern California.  Now, the internet audience is naturally huge compared to previously, and most followers would be interested in seeing WCR become a part of the satellite broadcast. The parent organization, Clear Channel Communications supposedly is a principle with XM and accordingly it would seem to be a natural connection for WCR to become a component of their music venue.

"In what way would it be best to approach XM Programming in order to propose the inclusion of WCR?  I'm aware of a mail address that would allow contact, but an e mail address would be more appropriate I believe.  If possible, please send that address if you have access to it.

"The following note was copied from comments sent to WCR regarding satellite transmission of their programming.  I think it's thought provoking, and apparently written by someone familiar with the marketplace.  I'd like to know what your spin is on it.  I don't necessarily agree with the content, but I don't have any background with  the radio advertising issue that's raised.

'The one thing that everyone is overlooking is that WCR is owned by one of (if not the) largest radio groups in the country, and that there are other properties, in other parts of the country, that also supply listeners with WCR and are extremely successful and even profitable. Broadcasting WCR nationally would diminish some of the strongest radio brands in the country (one in particular).

 I'm saying this because XM radio is a great idea with potential of becoming the next great music distribution revolution, but not if it's done hastily.

WCR is a perfect fit for a global market place, but on a national level it's still a touchy subject...if you could selectively screen out parts of the country from getting the national broadcast, you might be on to something. Until then, there's more advertising to sell in the sum of lots of individual markets than there is in one global market...at least for radio.' "


 RUsirius.com's response:

We know of no address, e-mail or otherwise, that would permit interested listeners to suggest any alternative programming to either XM or Sirius.  They are both locked into their own shows and personalities and are generally not interested in opening their system to other services.  That WCR is currently broadcasting on the Internet is encouraging.  We at RUsirius.com think that the era of wireless webcasts may not be that far off.  Should this technology become available, it would obviate any need for satellite radio.

With regard to the marketplace for satellite radio, we concur with the comments made in the forwarded message.  Frankly, we think that although satellite technology offers drivers the opportunity to travel from coast to coast without changing radio stations, few listeners are actually going to be interested in this capability.  The average radio audience is concerned with getting better programming within the local area, and if satellite radio cannot compete in this arena, it will not survive.   This means that satellite radio will have to carry excellent programming.  Carrying stations like WCR would be of obvious benefit within certain listening areas, but this strategy does not necessarily guarantee universal appeal.  Frankly, we like the idea of selectively screening out parts of the country from the national broadcast, but they're just not equipped to do this -- at least for now.

The problem that satellite radio needs to address is competition from local radio.  This competition is significant because local radio is provided free of charge, albeit with commercial interruption.  In order to guarantee an audience, satellite radio has to provide a product that is significantly better than anything local stations can provide.  Being able to listen to the same station during long-distance driving just won't cut it, because the market isn't there.  Don't think so?  Look at what happened to Iridium, a satellite telephone system that permitted subscribers to carry their portable phones anywhere in the world.  Conceptually, it's a great idea supported by state-of-the-art technology.   But it doesn't work, because nobody really wants it.  The average consumer rarely travels more than about fifty miles, well within the range of local cellular telephone systems -- and local radio.
 

A potential satellite radio subscriber writes:

"Are the receivers for these two services going to be compatible?  If the outfit I subscribe to goes belly up, am I going to be stuck with a worthless receiver?

"Will these things work inside a house?  Will there have to be an outside antenna?  Will they work around (under) trees?"

RUsirius.com's response:

To the best of our knowledge receivers compatible with both Sirius and XM will be available; so, if one of these services suffers the same fate as eToys, listeners should be able to switch to the other one.   Home and portable units that will work in the presence of obstacles should also be available.  We recommend, however, that you avoid standing under trees -- especially during thunderstorms.
 

On the above subject a knowledgable visitor informs us:

"You guys failed to mention that SIrius and XM aslo use radio towers for areas that are prone to lose the satellite signal.  Sirius uses a system of three satellites and around 100 repeaters to beam a digital signal across the United States.  XM will use two satellites and about 1,500 repeaters to distribute its signal.  Any satellite-based system requires a line of sight to deliver data, so repeaters are necessary in urban areas where buildings can block the signal as well as tunnels, and heavy surrounding terrain.  With starategically placed repeaters, the satellite signal is retransmitted to provide coverage in the shadows of tall buildings."

RUsirius.com's response:

Thank you
 

A South African satellite radio enthusiast writes:

"As is often the case with Americans, you don't appear to know much about the world outside of the States.

"Here in South Africa, I have been listening to digital direct broadcast satellite for many months on Worldspace's Afristar satellite on a Hitachi receiver, which cost (sic) the equivalent of $150. Visit www.worldspace.com to see what they are doing. Multichoice also have a digital satellite radio bouquet available in Africa, and in Europe I think Sky have one too (sic).

"I'll visit your site from time to time in case you actually do become the Internet guide to Satellite radio."

RUsirius.com's response:

Yo, Dude from South Africa -- Maybe you should quit working for De Beers and have a few instead.  We never said that we were the world's authority on satellite radio, only the "Internet guide" to this technology.  Frankly, we had come upon Worldspace at the time that we were putting this site together but decided to concentrate on the systems that would be available in the United States, the world's biggest market.  These systems are XM and Sirius; thus, our name.  But, all kidding aside, if you have some information that should be brought to our attention we invite you to forward any additional comments about Worldspace or any other satellite radio systems.  If your comments can contribute to this site in any way, we'll post them.
 

A site visitor from the United States writes:

"I think your site is a good overview of what has been happening in the world of satellite radio. One comment on the satellites. You state that the third Sirius satellite is a 'spare'.  Not true. They need all three to broadcast uninterupted. The way it works is two satellites will be over the US at all times; one 'sets', another 'rises'.  If one was missing there would be a hole in the system.

"XM has two but could operate uninterupted on one. Their satellites are more powerful than Sirius. Just thought you would like to know. Keep up the good work!"

RUsirius.com's response:

Thank you for your support. Our site has been corrected to reflect your helpful input.
 

A satellite radio investor writes:

"Just viewed your site and I think it will be great to have a sort of one-stop info site for both XM & SIRI. 'I do need to point out though that SIRI will also have 100 channels, not 50 as you say on your site. SIRI will have 50 channels of commercial-free music, PLUS 50 channels of news, sports and entertainment, for a total of 100. Check out their website and you'll be able to confirm this. XM says they will have some commercial-free channels, but most will have commercials, although not to the same extent as current radio.' "

RUsirius.com's response:

We're pleased that you find this site useful. We've corrected our site to reflect the information you've provided. Pardon us for our misunderstanding. We're not surprised that XM is planning to have commercials. Frankly, we think that both Sirius and XM will eventually have commercials. With any luck, they'll use the commercial revenue to eliminate the nasty ten dollar a month service charge.
 

Another site visitor writes:

"A recent look at the news coming out of both camps, would suggest that it is actually XM, and not Sirius, who is further along...despite the satellite status. The reason behind this, it doesn't matter how many satellites you have in the air if you don't have a radio that can receive the signal. XM has completed development of it's chipset technology and has made that available to the manufacturers. Sirius is stumbling in this area, and analysts predict that they won't even have a working prototype until mid 2001. THis would delay the release of their radios until roughly the end of next year.

"That, combined with the superior talent pool that XM is putting together...people who are known for being visionaries...should provide for quite the advantage to the XM camp."

RUsirius.com's response:

We agree that XM is probably in a better position to succeed because of their advanced chipset technology. Nevertheless, Sirius has all three of their satellites in orbit at this time. We hope both services eventually become profitable, and besides, if Sirius fails what would we call ourselves -- "RUXM"?

The following are comments specific to Sirius Satellite Radio:

A visitor to Alaska who's Sirius about satellite radio says:

"I am from Arizona, have Sirius in my Durango.  You can receive Sirius in Anchorage, Alaska and surrounding area, parts of the day.  From chatting with other Sirius subs, we think that when Sirius Bird #3 is in position over Alaska, it either doesn't focus on Alaska (footprint doesn't cover it) or its power is lower than the other birds.  Certain hour blocks of the day, Sirius drops out, but when id does come in it BOOMS.  It was quite exciting to have satellite radio in a location that isn't supposed to receive it.  If Sirius would invest in a repeater here, they would own the south central Alaska market (population approximately 400,000), as XM's angle is so low it can only be picked up while not moving or having a clear shot of the Southern horizon.  Alaska has a population high in income and ready to spend on the trendy offers that the lower 48 states get exclusively.  Even while driving near large mountains (on the north side), Sirius can be picked up while driving!!  If anyone wants to know more about my Sirius and XM reception experience up in Alaska while I am still here, let me know."

RUsirius.com's response:

Thanks for your comments.  Additional input about the Sirius and XM signals in Alaska would be appreciated.  We're not surprised about the robustness of the Sirius signal in extreme parts of North America.  Because they use three satellites in elliptical orbits their signal can generally be heard everywhere with very little assistance from ground repeaters.  By contrast, XM uses geostationary satellites so their satellite footprints don't change.  Consequently, they must rely more on ground repeaters.  As to your comment about a possible Sirius repeater in Alaska, you're probably right.  One or two repeaters in the Anchorage area should provide the kind of coverage that would allow them essentially to capture the entire market.  We encourage the folks at Sirius to consider your suggestion.


A Sirius listener in upstate New York tells us:

"On 6/1/02 I believe I became the first subscriber in upstate NY.  I had already had the equipment installed on Friday at my local Circuit City store.  I must say the sound quality blew me away!!  It is everything they said it was and more.  I did catch a couple of glitches I didn't anticipate though.  Number 1 was the frequent dropouts caused by multi-lane overpasses and trees overhanging the road completely.  Part of the reason I got satellite radio was for rural areas out of broadcast radio reach -- i.e. forested mountain areas.  Not unlistenable mind you, but just an occasional 1-2 second dropout.  Number 2 is almost trivial, but not to me!  I came on board Sirius (instead of XM) because of Sirius' sponsorship of Casey Atwood and his #7 Winston Cup car.  How shocked was I to find out NASCAR isn't on Sirius Radio!!!  I've followed Casey's career since he ran the Busch series and was looking forward to listening to the races while on the road.  Why would Sirius spend millions of dollars promoting a NASCAR team, and not showcase it on air??  Again minor irritations overall, but seems to me someone dropped the ball on the NASCAR thing."

RUsirius.com's response:

Given that Sirius recently sponsored the "Sirius Satellite Radio 400" at the Michigan International Speedway, one would think that they would be providing coverage of motor sports events on one of their channels.  We hope that this is just an oversight and that such coverage is in the offing.  Frankly, we're happy to hear that perhaps the first Sirius subscriber in upstate New York took the time to get in touch with us.


 Someone siriusly in love with satellite radio says:

"I just got here in Florida.  I have the Kenwood unit hooked up to my eXcelon head unit.  It is BETTER than I imagined!  Sound quality is very good (near CD), reception is perfect, and the programming is amazing.  My early favorites are The Vault and Planet Jazz.  Being able to listen to ESPN without the annoyance of AM reception difficulty is great too.  I am hooked after 2 days."

RUsirius.com's response:

Thanks for your comments.


A Sirius Texan writes:

"I have had Sirius for a day - 80 miles of driving around Houston, and I am so far very positive.  Very good sound quality.  Only a momentary break (fraction of a second) seems like maybe every 20-30 minutes which would be barely noticeable among the static and multipath on regular broadcast.  Good stereo separation. I am using the Kenwood tuner and Kenwood 419 radio.

"My impression of the sampling of programming I have had both on the air and on the Internet has also been positive.  Classical stations (my #1 interest) have had a pleasing mix of the familiar and things that are less so.  Commentary is short, pleasant, and helps to smooth the transition between pieces rather than getting in the way.  One small suggestion I have is to show the composer on the selection information for classical pieces.  (The display) currently symphony number, key, orchestra, conductor but the identity of the composer is missing.  Can't have it all, I guess, but I would trade performer identification for composer.  My short samples from 2-3 other musical genres with which I have some familiarity confirmed that the selections being played were very appropriate form my expectations.  I'll reserve judgment about talk channels until I have more experience, which I will get on a driving trip from Texas to Maine and back in a few weeks.

"In summary, I like it a lot!"

RUsirius.com's response:


Thanks for your enthusiastic comments on Sirius.  We're sure that the failure to include the name of the composer on the classical channel is an oversight.  We encourage Sirius to correct this problem as soon as possible. It's possible that the breaks you have been encountering are due either to periodic hand-offs from satellite to satellite or to your passage from one ground transponder to another.  We invite comments on this issue.


Another Sirius Texan writes:

"I just got Sirius Radio service on yesterday.  I am in Austin, Texas.  Needless to say, the service has been more than anticipated.  No commercials.  The service is actually what it is hyped to be.  I have the Kenwood Sirius Add-on for the Kenwood eXcelon series stereo.  I ordered this from Crutchfield who is giving you the antennae until June 9th.  I hope this helps someone."

RUsirius.com's response:

We're glad to hear that you're enjoying Sirius.  One would think that the Kenwood eXcelon series would offer only an XM add-on.  Perhaps someone in their marketing department should re-think this.

A Sirius listener from Louisiana tells us:

"I'm in Louisiana and have the Jensen SSR2000 ad-on unit.  Had it activated on the morning of May 1st.  Picked it up at Circuit City for $200 including antenna!  One gripe is the output audio level is only 400 mv which is below the average 'standard' of Aux inputs, and certainly too low for the Blaupunkt Digiceiver.  I have to keep it at full volume.  Sadly, the easiest solution to this problem would be to buy Jensen's FM modulator.  (Think they designed it that way on purpose?)

"As far as the programming goes I'm thrilled as I expected.  Reading articles early on in the development stage I realized Sirius would be my choice.  Sirius' programming has so much more depth and variety than XM.  I've been a hard core radio listener since childhood, and have been in the radio biz for 22 years.  I have to say I'm disappointed in the audio quality.  I hope the current status is a work in progress and will be improved.  There is a flanging sound in the voice region and up through the high frequencies of the audio.  It seems the digital bit rate varies from channel to channel, some sound good, others are irritating.  For comparison it sounds like a moderate rate internet stream.  Actually, there are internet streams that sound better.  It really sounds bad on the channels they are receiving (I assume) the program audio from a compressed digital satellite link from other program providers, such as NPR & PRI.  Either it's the cascading compression algorithms, or Sirius is using a lower bit rate on these and other primarily talk channels.

"I realize they're working with limited bandwidth and have to make the best use of that bandwidth.  I'd be curious to learn from the inside of  Sirius, is the music on the computers there compressed or uncompressed?  And if my assumption is correct, are decisions made as to which channels receive a better bit rate than others, and what are the criteria?  Is the system from transmitter through receiver designed in such a way that upgrades to the compression schemes can be made?

"I say all this without really having had a good listen to XM.  I have a friend who has it and will try to get some time to listen this week.  I read the other day that XM is upgrading their compression algorithm to improve the audio quality.  I hope Sirius can improve theirs, one way or another.  I really like the service and really want it to thrive.  Also I feel the slightly higher cost is worth it, not for the lack of commercials, but the depth, variety, and quality of music AND talk programs they offer."

RUsirius.com's response:

Because they use digitally compressed signals, both Sirius and XM can be expected to have audio qualities that are not quite up to the expectations of all listeners.   We hope that as these services mature, adjustments will be made to improve the fidelity.  


A true believer says:

"I think you are doing readers a disservice by telling them Sirius will advertise in the future.  The main thing that differeniates Sirius and XM is Sirius is 100% commercial free music.  Now, I could see Sirius raising their monthly rate a few more bucks and stay commercial free in the future.  Sirius is putting in these huge listening stations all over America with big letters saying '100% commercial free music only on Sirius.'  I really think they could not do this in the future legally. This sold me on Sirius 'If you're going to pay for radio why would you pay for a service with commercials?'"

RUsirius.com's response:

We stand on our previous opinions.  Just because Sirius doesn't have commercials now doesn't mean they won't have them in a few years or even in a few months.  Why would anyone pay for radio service with commercials? --- the same reason people pay for cable television.  It's the reception stupid!


 A sirius trucker tells us:

"After one trip to California with my new Sirius system I think I did the right thing by waiting even though I was severely tempted to buy XM.  Just the fact of no commercials on the music channels is well worth the extra 3 dollars a month.  I drive for a living and really appreciate the extra programs with entertainment like Radio Classics and Sci-Fi and NPR.  I did my own installation and mounted the antenna inside the truck wth a metal plate underneath as the signal will go through fiberglass and due to the higher position of the Sirius Satellite there is no problem at all with receiving the signal.  I bought a Jensen unit and so far everything works fine and I really like the controller as it gives you the ability to access channels directly.  If you're undecided between XM and Sirius wait for Sirius to at least try both out and then decide."

RUsirius.com's response:

We're glad to hear that someone who listens to a lot of radio has some positive things to say about Sirius.  Because of their satellite orbits they can be expected to have the better signal on open roads and in rural areas.  Unfortunately, the battleground for satellite radio is in urban areas and it's not clear that the stronger Sirius signal is likely to help them in this arena.  As for their commercial free music channels, these are likely a temporary phenomenon.  Once they  have  a sufficiently large listener base, they are as likely to feature advertising as is XM.  Let's not get too sirius ... yet.


An apparently satisfied Sirius listener from Phoenix says:

"I have really enjoyed the variety of music.  The DJs are the cool informative types that do not get in the way of the music.  The two Phoenix installers said Sirius simply sounds better."

RUsirius.com's response:

Thanks for your comments.  We predicted at this site's inception that Sirius very likely would have the better music lineup.  (We take this siriusly.)


A genuinely "sirius" listener tells us:

"I'm actually pleased with your website and keep up the good work.  Contrary to popular belief, Sirius Radio IS up and running right now.  It's a satellite based signal, so it covers the entire United States.  However, the diversity system that makes up for gaps in satellite coverage is only in selected cities.  For cross country travelers Sirius is available for your listening pleasure.  I come from another company and have listened extensively to both XM and Sirius.  I like the variety and choices of Sirius over XM.  Some of the stations on XM are lame, playing the same songs over and over in a 2-3 hour block.  Sirius has yet to do that.  Sound quality is an issue as well.  XM compared to Sirius through the same head unit Sirius wins hands down.  Please let your readers know not to buy an FM modulator.  They will be very disappointed by its performance.  Also from preliminary tests the Jensen and Kenwood systems are the best receivers."

RUsirius.com's response:

Thanks for your input.  We're not surprised that listeners find Sirius' programming to be superior to that of XM.  They seem to have put a lot more thought and planning into establishing their lineup.  We're also not surprised that their signal can be readily received by cross-country travelers.  Sirius uses three satellites in elliptical orbits instead of two geostationary satellites.  This makes their signal easier to receive in the presence of large obstacles and significantly reduces their dependence on ground repeaters.  Unfortunately, most people live in sprawling urban areas with numerous buildings, roads, and towers and it is in these areas where ground repeaters are essential.  It is also in these areas where XM and Sirius are directly competing with each other and with conventional broadcast radio.  Because of its late entry into the urban markets Sirius is at a distinct disadvantage relative to XM and might not be able to gain the "mindshare" that it so desperately needs.  


An impatient Sirius customer from La La Land says:

"Listen here, I bought a Kenwood CD car radio with the 'Sirius' technology with the intention of listening to uninterrupted radio.  Low and behold I am sure enjoying my radio tunes.  The clarity is remarkable.  The content is astounding.  They are so clear they almost sound as if they aren't there at all.  Maybe that's because I don't get Sirius radio here in Los Angeles.  In any event, I am still waiting for it to get here.  I invested 400 bux on a pretty sweet Kenwood that has all these bells and whistles.  Too bad Sirius isn't working.  I guess I'd say more but I'm depressed now.  LONG LIVE SIRIUS!!.  I shoulda stuck wih XM!"

RUsirius.com's response:

Don't worry, help is on the way.  Sirius should be on the air nationwide by August.  Those who can't wait that long might want to consider listening to their web site or moving.   If only all Sirius subscribers in LA would move to Phoenix...

An unhappy Sirius investor who is upset with their financial performance tells us:

"Too bad Wall St. is punishing the stock. Down 2 bucks since the product launch 7 days ago and down 50% in the past two months! What gives! The short position in this stock is massive and generally not a good sign. No covering...the stock is tanking, and the PRs from the company have been near nonexistent. Put into play NOT ONE product review since the launch and the MMs take this thing down faster than Jenna Jameson's pants during an orgy.  The longs are selling and weeping. WHEN WILL SIRIUS WAKE UP AND HELP OUT THEIR INVESTORS! There are too many issues that must be addressed so as to put us back on the right track. Investors are