| anjan |
It seems that the overpriced XM service will bump up its subscription rates to $12.95 per month. It seems that Forbes was right about there will AcuraMDX.org owners go from here?
Makes me wonder what the satellite radio service names really mean? AM is Amplitude Modulation, FM stands for Frequency Modulation. What on earth is XM? I came up with (meant for people with) Xtra Money. In the same vein, Sirius goes with "SIRIUSly, you are willing to pay this much?" :2: |
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| BostonX |
Major drag. Big mistake for them, too.
I was considering extending my subscription if, and only if, I could get the "special new car buyer" price ($60 per year).
Now I probably won't bother springing.....
As time goes on I'm less impressed with the programming; I hear the same songs pretty frequently and some of the stations play crappy album tracks that no one's ever heard or even liked. I'll go into detail when I have more time. This is an interesting and important topic. |
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| anjan |
I don't want to rip on the concept of satellite service but in order for me to subscribe even at $9.95 a month I need:
- I have to spend a considerable time in the car and HAVE to listen to the radio.
- It has to have good programming. I wasn't impressed as well with the choice of songs. Through my trial period I was channel surfing so much that I'm surprised I don't have finger cramps!
This is, of course, specific to my situation, my travel time to work is around 17 minutes and with my iPod playing my highest rated songs, I don't use the AM, FM, XM, or CD most of the time and I looooove my programming :cool: |
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| vicpai |
...."you-know-what"!!! At $9.99 it works out to about $120/year.
At $12.95 it works out to almost a whopping $160/year :eek: ...I can think of much better ways to spend that dough :rolleyes: .....especially considering, that I've heard from many people who subscribe to XM, that the service is simply not up to snuff (signal drops easily while travelling in areas not clearly visible to the sats in the sky, audio quality etc.)
Wonder if they've raised the price of Navi-Traffic too?? :rolleyes: ...it's currently at $4/month |
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| nightguy |
| Could this be in preparation for a Sirius/XM merger ? |
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| anjan |
So there'll be one company going bankrupt instead of two.
One good way for either XM, Sirius, or the combined company to market this product will be to package this as an extension to satellite TV. I wouldn't mind paying upto $3.95 a month to Dish Network for it. Hmm, maybe Dish can buy out XM and make it profitable. |
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| DaleB |
quote:
Originally posted by anjan
So there'll be one company going bankrupt instead of two.
One good way for either XM, Sirius, or the combined company to market this product will be to package this as an extension to satellite TV. I wouldn't mind paying upto $3.95 a month to Dish Network for it. Hmm, maybe Dish can buy out XM and make it profitable.
Right now, Dish is in bed with Sirius. And as a 'freebie' to my normal Dish, I don't have to buy another sat. radio for the house, which I would probably not do anyway. It does offer 'only' 30 channels, but the price is right. |
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| DaleB |
quote:
Originally posted by vicpai
especially considering, that I've heard from many people who subscribe to XM, that the service is simply not up to snuff (signal drops easily while travelling in areas not clearly visible to the sats in the sky, audio quality etc.)
Wonder if they've raised the price of Navi-Traffic too?? :rolleyes: ...it's currently at $4/month
Maybe we need a poll on satellite radio satisfaction. I have never had experienced any of those problems. In fact, can still receive some stations in a closed garage.
While I am sure there are less than desirable areas for reception (tunnnels come to mind) if you are restricted to most of your driving in such locales, then obviously Sat. radio is not for you. In fact, under those conditions, even AM/FM is probably not up to snuff. |
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| dipersp |
I've had XM for almost a year now and love it. I'm a big contemporary jazz fan and they have a great station for it - I hate to say, I pay $10/month for one station really!
It's rare that I can't find something I like on that station, but I do flip between the 80s, 90s, Comedy, etc. And the Philly traffic station is nice to have, too.
When I originally got XM, I tried the antenna in a lot of different places inside the car. Never worked well. I finally did the install outside and it's great. Rarely drops and am happy with the signal.
I'm not signing up for 5 years, but I will do a 2 year at $10/month. I miss my 2 year at $8/month. Bummer, but I am NOT going back to the commercials. |
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| anjan |
quote:
Originally posted by DaleB
Maybe we need a poll on satellite radio satisfaction. I have never had experienced any of those problems. In fact, can still receive some stations in a closed garage.
Forget about in the garage, when I drive into the shadow of my house, blocking the view from south, I lose reception and it displays the lovely No Signal message on the display. And it pretty much does it with most buildings that get between my car and a clear view of the southern sky. Glad my Dish Network reception is not like that! |
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| anjan |
quote:
Originally posted by dipersp
I'm not signing up for 5 years, but I will do a 2 year at $10/month. I miss my 2 year at $8/month. Bummer, but I am NOT going back to the commercials.
Well, they will be offering discount plans for contracts for multiple year contracts.
BTW, I haven't listened to commercials in a long time, and no, I don't listen to satellite radio either :) |
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| TriumphDriver |
I've had Xm for two years. When I lived and work in the "boonies" of South Texas it was either Mexican mariacchi music or nothing, so XM was wonderful. I could justify the $9.99 monthly price because I could take the receiver out of Tahoe and put in on my motorcycle (I originally purchased the Sony but later went with the Delphi).
Now that I'm back in San Antonio, there are several good FM stations here. Also, I have found the so called "commercial free" mantra of XM is BS. There are tons of commericials on the sports talk and news channels and there are even commercials on the music channels because every 30 minutes they are either talking about progamming that is on another channel ("Hey, Andy and Opie are on channel blah, blah, blah for only an extra $2.95 a month--woop-te-do!) or discussing the fact XM is "commercial free" ad nauseum.
I purchased an IPOD last year and it is getting harder and harder to justify having any subscription to XM. If it increases to $12.99, I'm through with XM. |
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| dipersp |
| My only problem with iPod (While I think it's a good idea) is filling it! My cd collection is getting quite old. . . I guess the Napster thing looks good that you can download MOST songs to your device. That is a thought. Before that, I wasn't going to start buying tons of songs for $.99. At that price, I paid for XM in 10 songs a month, and the station I listen to is pretty good about "commercials" and variety. |
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| TriumphDriver |
I downloaded my whole CD collection to a Maxtor 200 Gig external hardrive and then everything was automatically downloaded to my IPOD. Apple's software is fantastic and really simple to use. I still like buying CD's and will often buy three or four albums from a artist I really like (I guess I'm old fashion in that I still buy CDs). My whole CD collection is on my IPOD. We are talking over a week of music if you were to listen to the IPOD 24/7!
I purchsed my first song from ITUNES last weekend. Up to that point, I really had not thought about buying from ITUNES. I don't mind paying .99 cents for a particular song, particular if the rest of the album sucks. Otherwise, I buy the whole CD off Amazon.com. |
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| cycler15 |
quote:
Originally posted by anjan
BTW, I haven't listened to commercials in a long time, and no, I don't listen to satellite radio either :)
What do you mean? In your previous post you mention that you lose signal when a building blocks your line of sight to the southern sat. |
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| anjan |
quote:
Originally posted by cycler15
What do you mean? In your previous post you mention that you lose signal when a building blocks your line of sight to the southern sat.
Three month trial period. Glad I had that because, going by my experience, I would never shell out that much for a service like that.
Come to think of it, its hilarious that they tout their online radio service and expect people to pay for online music!!! I have access to over 4900 free music stations with as much or less commercial than XM. Like TriumphDriver says, I have to listen to a LOT of commercials on XM begining from service and programs on other stations to other advertisers like Wendi the financial advisor promoting her services. HBO is commercial free, XM is not. |
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| cycler15 |
If you are only in your car 15 min a day and the music you like is available on AM or FM stations, then obviously XM is not worth it.
If you are in your car an hour a day and enjoy the variety of music, talk, sports, comedy, etc that XM provides, then $10 or $13 a month is no big deal. (I fall into this category).
Some people are so opinionated and they try to shove their opinions down everyone elses throats. If you don't like it, then don't subscribe. If you like it, then subscribe. End of story. |
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| anjan |
quote:
Originally posted by cycler15
Everyone is so opinionated and they try to shove their opinions down everyone elses throats. If you don't like it, then don't subscribe. If you like it, then subscribe. End of story.
Whoa! In case you haven't noticed cycler, we are chewing the cud here. No one is proselytyzing. Its a discussion on everyone's view on the service. That's what forums are for.
I could call everyone who talks about a problem here with their MDX opinionated and tell them to sell it if they don't like the car, but we have a tendency to discuss how we feel here and have a good time. Seems like you are not having too good of a day :2: |
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| nightguy |
quote:
Originally posted by BostonX
As time goes on I'm less impressed with the programming; I hear the same songs pretty frequently and some of the stations play crappy album tracks that no one's ever heard or even liked. I'll go into detail when I have more time. This is an interesting and important topic.
Yes it is interesting. In fact that's the cornerstone of the switch in XM's marketing to 'commercial free'. Eclectic programming is interesting for a while but specialty tends to get boring real quick.
With integrated iPod connections in new vehicles already here, more cell phone/music integration soon, commercial radio spot loads being slashed and (free) high definition terrestrial radio already being installed, there will have to be another marketing shift. Already both companies are nailing down sports leagues - one reason a friend of mine got Sirius. He likes the NFL Sunday Drive. Too bad he got his for Christmas !
I also predict future satellite price hikes to cover the huge debt service they seem to be growing and to make the product seem more valuable. |
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| DaleB |
quote:
Originally posted by nightguy
I also predict future satellite price hikes to cover the huge debt service they seem to be growing and to make the product seem more valuable.
We are such a small sample it is hard to make predictions one way or the other. If people are squeezed to fork over more money with fewer bennies, they will drop like flies. It's like anything else. But there is always a lag built into most things, but over time the customer base will either grow or dwindle in response to how much or how little satisfaction they are getting for their dollar.
As far as reception goes, not everybody has access to cable and/or Sat. TV either. No new ground there. |
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| nightguy |
Sirius CEO Mel Karmazin says he can't rule out a price hike in light of XM's announcement earlier this week. As I said before here and in another thread, it will happen but perhaps they have more benefits to go along with it.
He's also considering running local ads for sports broadcasts they obtain the rights for. So you would hear ads for LA based products and services for an LA sports team regardless of what part of the country you're in. He calls that a cost of doing business. I think it could be kind of neat actually. |
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| Sinecure |
| I like my iPod through the tape adapter. |
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| TriumphDriver |
Well I just got my letter from XM saying they were raising my rates from $9.99 to $12.99 starting May although if I pay in advance for the year, I get XM at "only $9.99 a month" blah, blah, blah. Frankly, I'm pissed. I was a loyal subscriber to XM for over two years back back in the dark ages when you had to be pretty handy to get everything to work in your vehicle (TIP: the FM modulators for XM receivers are crap). I spent hours in trial and error just to get the placement of the antennae to work right on my truck and motorcycle, upgrading several receivers from the "stone age" Sony to the newer Delphis. The $3.00 difference in price between XM and Sirrius as well as better, more portable receivers for XM made it an easy choice for me to go with XM. Now, all of that has changed. The price is the same, there are excellent receivers for Sirrius and, frankly, the programming has gotten much better on Sirrius. If you like listening to the NFL on the road, and I do, Sirrius has XM beat hands down. I'm not a baseball, Big Ten, Big East, or "Andy and Opie" fan so all of that programming on XM is wasted on me. I use to be a sport talk radio fan on XM but XM got cheap and fired all of the well known successful sport talk radio personalities and gave the jobs to the unheard of guys that were previously doing the 3:00 am shift. Now sport talk radio on XM is terrible. While I'm at it, whose brilliant idea at XM was it to have two (or is it three) NASCAR channels? I like to watch on TV but have you tried to listen to a NASCAR race? BORING!
I just placed a deposit on an MDX I'm picking up Friday. One of the factors that put me in favor of a purchasing a MDX instead of a 4Runner was the built-in XM. Now I wished the MDX came with Sirrius (which ironically was built into the Kenwood Navigation I added to my Tahoe three years ago--I never subscribed to the Sirrius because I used my portable Delphi XM receiver so I could have one subscription for truck, my motorcycle and my house).
Grrr.:roadtrip: |
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| hockeyplayer |
| .......REGULAR RADIO SUCKS.......:trustme: |
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| dipersp |
Also to note on the XM increase. . . They are throwing in a premium channel (Don't care) AND XM Online, where you can listen to XM anywhere you have Internet. This was $4 before. Now it's included. I had previously thought about doing it, but wasn't going to spend the extra money to be lazy (Carry the Roady in and out of the car.)
Now it looks like the decision has been made for me! |
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| DaleB |
| For exisitng XM owners, you can only stay under 10 bucks a month by signing up for at least 2 years, minimum. The only fall back position is that it is only a financial agreement. The service is month to month, regardless. If you cancel on a 2+ year service agreement, any unpaid monies are refunded. Not a great consolation, but better than being hitched to cell-phone like contract. |
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| anjan |
quote:
Originally posted by TriumphDriver
Now I wished the MDX came with Sirrius (which ironically was built into the Kenwood Navigation I added to my Tahoe three years ago--I never subscribed to the Sirrius because I used my portable Delphi XM receiver so I could have one subscription for truck, my motorcycle and my house).
Grrr.:roadtrip:
I find Nissan's position the best on this one. You pay $400 and you can get Sirius or XM integrated - your choice. They will have the iPod connector this summer as well :cool: But Acura decided our fate for us - they like XM and you will have too. iPod? What is that? And while they are at it - HIDs are not good for SUVs health. There you go.... :3: |
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| nightguy |
quote:
Originally posted by hockeyplayer
.......REGULAR RADIO SUCKS.......:trustme:
So does satellite radio. It's even worse that it has to be paid for. :banghead: |
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| anjan |
quote:
Originally posted by nightguy
So does satellite radio. It's even worse that it has to be paid for. :banghead:
:21: |
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| BlueStreak |
Everyone wants that monthly revenue income. I'm getting tired of being nickel and dimed for this and that.
I concur regular radio sux and I'll stick with an iPod. As perviously mentioned, I can do a LOT with the $160 I'd spend on sat. radio and spend that on Momma instead. And I'll bet my return from Ms. BlueStresk is MUCH more enjoyable! :yesyes: |
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| frostyra |
quote:
Originally posted by hockeyplayer
.......REGULAR RADIO SUCKS.......:trustme:
Most regular radio, perhaps, but -- if you're lucky enough to have access to one of the better not-all-talk public radio stations (like the one I work for), it can be a joy. But all of them will get around to asking for money at least twice a year -- that's the only way they survive.
Try mine sometime (but only if you like classical music) at www.theclassicalstation.org . |
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