Sirius, XM, or Digital

[Farmer in the Dells (WI)]

Looking to put a better radio in the cab. Trying to decide Sirius, XM, or a High Def radio. What does the service cost in your area? Any likes or dislikes? An HD Radio is about $300 here but there are no monthly fees.

 

[R2D2]

When you listen to evil radio it drowns out the noise of your equipment. You really need to pay attention to your equipment while operating it.

 

[rotten rrobert]

I am using the cheapest Sirius rig I could find and it works real well for me. I think I paid $49.95 at Radio Shack and $12.95 a month. I can transfer it between vehicles and with a 12v transformer I can use it in the house. Actually I can park my truck right outside and dial in my boombox and it works well. Travelling down the road my buddy can stay within about 150' and pickup the signal in his car.

The louder the tractor and equipment bang and clatter I just turn er up LOL

 

[RobMD]

100% agreed. Hearing normal noises is music to my ears anyway.

 

[KEB]

Never listend to hi-def, but I suspect you'd get a lot better variety with XM or sirius. We have a couple XM receivers, one that came with a new car and a portable one that we can move from one vehicle to another. XM service is the same everywhere in the continental US, since it comes from a direct broadcast satellite and not from terresterial transmitters like regular FM and hi-def radio.

The XM radio website will list the costs. I don't recall off the top of my head what we're paying, since we buy service a year at a time. There's a discount for paying yearly, plus a discount on additional radios after you've subscribed to the first one.

Works well, once in a while you'll lose signal if you park under a cover, but normally its not a problem going under overpasses, etc.

Keith

 

[old_bc]

I have XM and love it.
old_bc

 

[super99]

The wife wanted sat radio so the kids went together and got her one for Christmas 2 years ago. XM. Good signal, lots of variety, no commercials- except for the XM commercials. They are always coming on to tell you what is playing on other channels and when. We use it when traveling and when their commercails come on, I tell my wife I'm sure glad we don't have to listen to regular radio and hear all the commercials. But she likes it and is happy with it. Not cheap, think it's $180/year. Chris

 

[hayray]

I have XM in my tractors. I have one reciever that I move from tractor to tractor and it broadcast over my radio. I think it cost around a couple hundred bucks a year, I am in my 3rd year now.

 

[John M]

This is just my opinion on XM, since thats whats on my directtv system in the house, but I would never pay for some of the filth they play on XM. When we first got it, like around Christmas time, they were playing some of the nastiest "Christmas" music I have ever heard, took "Robin Laying an egg" to the extreme.There are a few good channels we listen to, but more filth on there to me that what we used to have.

 

[Anonymous-0]

My vote is for Sirius. The most reasonable receiver you can get at ebay for $10, and then just call Sirius and have it activated, just like a cell phone. I listen to the Bluegrass channel mostly, and the DJ's are great. They all play in bands and get to broadcast from whatever show or convention they're at. Really down to earth. I recommend Sirius. I've been wondering, how come new tractors and combines don't come with satellite radio as an option like new cars? Heck they've already got CD players and I'm getting tired of moving my radio from my truck to the combine and back.

 

[Anonymous-0]

I have it in the car and it cuts out when under a tree, in the garage, a tunnel and very overcast days but otherwise OK. Some of the bradcasts are just plain trash but at least you can generally find the kind of stuff you like to listen to.