• Registered: 2006-04-21
  • Posts: 729

Topic: Sirius questions?

I've finally broken down and decided I have to get Sirius so I can listen to Joe's Daily Cup of Joe.  My questions for anyone with experience are sort of technical.  I've got a Chevy with the built in XM radio (which I don't subscribe to) and I'm wondering what would be the best receiver and what all is entailed in getting good reception for Sirius in my car (new antenna?). 

I've looked at the reviews on Amazon and Cnet and there are a lot of complaints about reception and whatnot. 

Anyone with some insights on this would be appreciated.  Thanks in advance.

  • From: St. Louis, MO
  • Registered: 2006-06-20
  • Posts: 960

Re: Sirius questions?

I am not sure about using the XM receiver for Sirius radio.

We have 3 vehicles that we switch the Sirius receiver in and out of. When I am driving my explorer I just place the magnetic antenna, that usually is on the roof of the explorer, on one of those rubber pads used for cell phones on your dash. This keeps it from sliding around. I also place the receiver on the pad or use the suction cups for the window. The only time I have had reception problems is when driving under an overpass, just a second interruption. I have not decided that I want to hard wire the unit into a vehicle yet so I jut tie the wires from the antenna and receiver together.

~Rhonda

"I don't think obsessions have reasons, that's why they're obsessions....National Geographic likes their pictures in focus..." Robert Kincaid

photogal's Website

  • Registered: 2006-04-21
  • Posts: 729

Re: Sirius questions?

photogal wrote:

I am not sure about using the XM receiver for Sirius radio.

We have 3 vehicles that we switch the Sirius receiver in and out of. When I am driving my explorer I just place the magnetic antenna, that usually is on the roof of the explorer, on one of those rubber pads used for cell phones on your dash. This keeps it from sliding around. I also place the receiver on the pad or use the suction cups for the window. The only time I have had reception problems is when driving under an overpass, just a second interruption. I have not decided that I want to hard wire the unit into a vehicle yet so I jut tie the wires from the antenna and receiver together.

~Rhonda

So is your receiver a Stiletto or what?  And do you connect it with the FM signal to your car radio or do you use an "Aux in" or "Line in" jack?

  • From: St. Louis, MO
  • Registered: 2006-06-20
  • Posts: 960

Re: Sirius questions?

My receiver is the little Xact one, think I paid about 40 bucks for it when I was traveling in KC last year. I have seen them at Wal-mart as well. I also bought the home kit so I can listen to it through my stereo.

When it is in my car I just plug it into the cig. lighter for power and tune my radio to 87.1, I think. It has multiple radio frequencies in case you have a radio station broadcasting at a nearby frequency. It works great for me that way. I found no need to purchase the more expensive radio with all the bells and whistles. It is usually left on 74, the blues station anyway.

When at home and on the computer I just log on to the internet, enter my password and have all the stations on my computer.

From the time you call to activate your Sirius account you can be listening in 5 minutes. It is that easy. Also, when I signed up last year, if you paid for 12 months up front you got an additional month or two free.

~Rhonda

"I don't think obsessions have reasons, that's why they're obsessions....National Geographic likes their pictures in focus..." Robert Kincaid

photogal's Website

  • ken
  • ken
  • Titanium
  • Offline
  • From: Orlando, FL
  • Registered: 2007-05-28
  • Posts: 949

Re: Sirius questions?

I think you should look into this:

http://www.tss-radio.com/sirius-connect … p-228.html

It's a xm to sirius converter for GM vehicles. You get the best sound because it's hard wired, as opposed to the FM transmitter route. The FM transmitter has far inferior sound to either an aux in or tape adapter, so you would be better off converting your existing car stereo (which would give you a direct connection).

I used to use the FM transmitter on my radio (S50), but it sounded like garbage compared to using a tape cassette adapter (I don't have an aux in).

Hope that helps,
Ken

the dude wrote:

I've finally broken down and decided I have to get Sirius so I can listen to Joe's Daily Cup of Joe.  My questions for anyone with experience are sort of technical.  I've got a Chevy with the built in XM radio (which I don't subscribe to) and I'm wondering what would be the best receiver and what all is entailed in getting good reception for Sirius in my car (new antenna?). 

I've looked at the reviews on Amazon and Cnet and there are a lot of complaints about reception and whatnot. 

Anyone with some insights on this would be appreciated.  Thanks in advance.

  • Registered: 2006-04-21
  • Posts: 729

Re: Sirius questions?

ken wrote:

I think you should look into this:

http://www.tss-radio.com/sirius-connect … p-228.html

It's a xm to sirius converter for GM vehicles. You get the best sound because it's hard wired, as opposed to the FM transmitter route. The FM transmitter has far inferior sound to either an aux in or tape adapter, so you would be better off converting your existing car stereo (which would give you a direct connection).

I used to use the FM transmitter on my radio (S50), but it sounded like garbage compared to using a tape cassette adapter (I don't have an aux in).

Hope that helps,
Ken

the dude wrote:

I've finally broken down and decided I have to get Sirius so I can listen to Joe's Daily Cup of Joe.  My questions for anyone with experience are sort of technical.  I've got a Chevy with the built in XM radio (which I don't subscribe to) and I'm wondering what would be the best receiver and what all is entailed in getting good reception for Sirius in my car (new antenna?). 

I've looked at the reviews on Amazon and Cnet and there are a lot of complaints about reception and whatnot. 

Anyone with some insights on this would be appreciated.  Thanks in advance.

Thanks, Ken.  I guess I'm out of luck for now with the GM converter because I have an '07 Impala, and that's not listed under the cars that are compatible with the converter.  I do have an Aux in jack so that's a possibility.  But do I need to put another antenna on the roof and wire it throughout the car, or can the radio get an adequate signal by itself, or can I just use the antenna with my XM?  I'm not nuts about a bunch of wires all over the place either.  Thanks to Photogal for your replies, too.  And any further help would be appreciated.

  • ken
  • ken
  • Titanium
  • Offline
  • From: Orlando, FL
  • Registered: 2007-05-28
  • Posts: 949

Re: Sirius questions?

Any radio you get will come with it's own roof antenna. I put my antenna on my dashboard and hide the wires behind the dash. There are a few wires you'll have to try to hide (power wire from the cigarette lighter, antenna, and the aux in jack wire). I would definately go through the aux in.

Check out the sirius forum, http://www.siriusbackstage.com/forum/

There's a lot of info pro/con about sirius in general, service complaints, and also lots of installation tips and info about all of the different radios. I'm sure any question that you might have has already been answered on that forum.

Ken

  • Registered: 2006-04-21
  • Posts: 729

Re: Sirius questions?

ken wrote:

Any radio you get will come with it's own roof antenna. I put my antenna on my dashboard and hide the wires behind the dash. There are a few wires you'll have to try to hide (power wire from the cigarette lighter, antenna, and the aux in jack wire). I would definately go through the aux in.

Check out the sirius forum, http://www.siriusbackstage.com/forum/

There's a lot of info pro/con about sirius in general, service complaints, and also lots of installation tips and info about all of the different radios. I'm sure any question that you might have has already been answered on that forum.

Ken

Thanks a bunch, Ken!

9 Reply by Bill (edited by Bill 2007-11-26 13:58:45)

  • Bill
  • Bill
  • Titanium
  • Offline
  • From: New Jersey
  • Registered: 2006-04-24
  • Posts: 958

Re: Sirius questions?

Hey!

I don't know if you would be interested in this, but Sirius is having a holiday promo where you pre-pay a subscription and you get a free radio:

http://shop.sirius.com/edealinv/servlet … entID=7870

-Bill

Official Joe Bonamassa Fan Website | Facebook | Twitter
bill@bonamassalive.com

Bill's Website

  • From: Detroit
  • Registered: 2006-06-02
  • Posts: 5,807

Re: Sirius questions?

Ken, that XM conversion sounds awesome, I wish I wouldve had that when I was having to get XM. Sirius is what I always wanted.

- Nic from Detroit... posting on JB's Forum since 6-2-2006
Ask me about my handwound Great Lakes Guitar Pickups
Since 2010, Bonamassa fans have taken advantage of my JB friend discount = my cost + shipping. cool