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Post by Matt on Feb 9, 2008 10:43:32 GMT -5
So I have some $$$ in gift cards and the like to spend at Best Buy and I've decided to get either a GPS or Satellite Radio. I know very little about either. I do spend a fair amount of time travelling in my car, so both would be nice to have. I don't need or want the top of the line models for either. I have about $150 in gift cards and would probably not like to spend more than that amount in cash, which would put me at around $300 (although I can go over that if necessary.)
What GPS systems are the best? Which should I avoid?
What is the difference between XM and Sirius? Do they feature the same channels? Is it like a Dish/DirecTV thing?
Which would you get, GPS or Satellite Radio?
Have they released models that include both GPS and Satellite Radio (I read they were working on this...)
Any thoughts or suggestions? Thanks!
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Post by Trent Lawless on Feb 9, 2008 11:01:56 GMT -5
Well, we have both, so I think I can help out a bit.
Both are good for different reasons, but if I had to choose only one to have, it would be my XM. I don't know all the differences between it and Sirius, but I do know that XM has NHL and MLB coverage, so that might be a plus for you. Basically any kind of music or talk radio you could want, they've got. You also can get home units (for an additional charge) and can listen online (for free if you have a car or home unit). The online version doesn't have most of the talk channels, but all the music channels are available that way.
As for GPS, we've got a Garmin Nuvi, and while I like it for big city driving, it doesn't always tell you the right info. Like it still doesn't realize that there's a fairly major thoroughfare in the largest town near me (Cumberland) for some reason. My favorite feature of the Nuvi is the estimated time of arrival. That's really accurate. And it's not like it messes up constantly (it's still relatively rare), but I feel like most of the time I could do just as well by Mapquest's printed directions.
So count this as a vote for satellite radio.
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Post by Pete Beck on Feb 9, 2008 20:56:45 GMT -5
I have had a Satellite Radio since 2004 and absolutely love it. Both XM and Sirius music play lists are pretty much the same...both have a wide variety of music and talk channel and with XM (as Mark said) you can get all of the XM Xclusive stations, mostly music, on-line as well. I went with XM because i love listening to baseball and they have every game. Sirius got the contract with the NFL so if you want to listen to football, then Sirius is the way to go. You also have to remember that Satellite Radio has a monthly charge for service...we pay $20 a month for two devices...one in my car and one in the wife's. The wife's is a MiFi that we have the home docking station for that we'll bring in the house to listen to sports (NHL for her and MLB for me.) The MiFi has a "broadcast" capability where you can assign it to a specific FM Frequency, so you don't have to have it "hard-wired" to the radio or custom installed.
I don't have a GPS, although i know folks who do and they love them.
Me, i would get the radio.
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Post by Matt on Feb 10, 2008 0:13:09 GMT -5
I'm leaning towards satellite radio and XM would be the way to go, since they have the NHL channels. I think GPS is cool and all, but it seems a little pricey when I can look up directions for free online. Am I missing something about GPS that makes it so popular? What about units that combine XM and GPS? I noticed a couple of those, but the prices were somewhat out of my price range.
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Post by Bazzy on Feb 10, 2008 4:59:21 GMT -5
Something similar . I have seen here in UK is the Internet radio . Not sure what channels you can get . I have been thinking about buying one . Has anyone got one of them ?
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Post by Trent Lawless on Feb 10, 2008 9:42:11 GMT -5
I don't know how they handle it in the UK, but there are a lot of radio programs that you can listen to online for free or a small subscription, plus you can download the show later if you miss it. I don't personally do that, but I know some who do.
As for combined XM/GPS, a friend of mine has one integrated into her Honda CR-V, but it came with the car, not installed later. I think it's basically just the two things mushed together without any different features.
I know with some of the GPS companies you can get real time traffic reports for an extra subscription fee, but since we don't do enough city driving to make that worthwhile, we don't have it. That might be a useful feature for some urban/suburbanites. Then again, XM has traffic reports for a whole bunch of major cities, and I just use that when I'm driving to Baltimore or DC.
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Post by hofclemens on Feb 10, 2008 13:10:52 GMT -5
Well hopefully the XM/Sirius merger goes through and soon and then no matter what you choose you'll have access to everything. I have Sirius and love it. Although whenever we go somewhere everyone wants to take my car because they don't have it!
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Post by Matt on Feb 10, 2008 13:55:48 GMT -5
Well I guess it's pretty well a lock that I'll get XM. Now, what type of equipment do I buy? Should I have it "professionally" installed or can I do it myself (I'm not good at this kind of thing so it'd have to be easy....)
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Post by Havoc on Feb 10, 2008 14:33:30 GMT -5
I'd get in done professionally so they can wire it in to the car attenae to get better reception. Of course, this adds to the cost, though.
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Post by Trent Lawless on Feb 10, 2008 14:37:14 GMT -5
I did mine myself, but I do have a bit of experience with putting car stereos in. It's really not that hard, though, if you get the kind that just mounts on your dashboard and tunes in to an FM frequency. You don't have to open up the dash or anything -- mine just mounts with sticky stuff or screws. There's a wire that goes to your outside antenna and then another one you plug into your lighter for power. Then you go to the XM site, put in your zip code, and it'll give you some choices of FM frequencies tht are least likely to cause interference. As you drive further from your home, however, you might have to change the frequency (easily done from the menu). Fortunately I've found a frequency that works for me on my weekly commutes to DC all the way there and back, but when I drive to Jamestown for GalactiCon, I have to search around a few times. Not that big of a hassle, though.
I can't remember what the unit name was that I bought, but if you look for one that's dashboard mountable, that's probably the one or something very much like it.
FYI, my monthly subscription for just the one car unit is $12.99.
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Post by Havoc on Feb 10, 2008 14:47:13 GMT -5
I did mine myself, but I do have a bit of experience with putting car stereos in. It's really not that hard, though, if you get the kind that just mounts on your dashboard and tunes in to an FM frequency. You don't have to open up the dash or anything -- mine just mounts with sticky stuff or screws. There's a wire that goes to your outside antenna and then another one you plug into your lighter for power. Then you go to the XM site, put in your zip code, and it'll give you some choices of FM frequencies tht are least likely to cause interference. As you drive further from your home, however, you might have to change the frequency (easily done from the menu). Fortunately I've found a frequency that works for me on my weekly commutes to DC all the way there and back, but when I drive to Jamestown for GalactiCon, I have to search around a few times. Not that big of a hassle, though. I can't remember what the unit name was that I bought, but if you look for one that's dashboard mountable, that's probably the one or something very much like it. FYI, my monthly subscription for just the one car unit is $12.99. Man, they must've raised the rates. I stopped using XM a year ago but I think I was paying 6.99/month. |
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Post by Matt on Feb 16, 2008 23:36:19 GMT -5
Got my XM radio installed today. Thanks to all for your feedback!
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Post by Trent Lawless on Feb 17, 2008 9:32:47 GMT -5
Cool. You'll soon find your favorite channels, if you're anything like me, but play around a while. Don't forget channel 150, the uncensored comedy channel. Some great stuff on there.
You'll enjoy it!
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Post by Pete Beck on Feb 17, 2008 23:31:03 GMT -5
Enjoy it! As Mark said...play around with it and don't forget to get your on-line account active so you can listen there are well.
150 is a great station to listen to when you want something different...
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Post by Matt on Feb 18, 2008 0:06:48 GMT -5
Enjoy it! As Mark said...play around with it and don't forget to get your on-line account active so you can listen there are well. 150 is a great station to listen to when you want something different... Did, but they don't have the sports channels online! Damn! |
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Post by Avarice on Feb 19, 2008 14:25:34 GMT -5
I have Sirius and enjoy it. It has the NFL games and NASCAR, which I am both a fan of. Also it carries the Howard Stern show, which is ok. It has about 3 channels I really listen to for the genres, plus the sports. I love it cuz there's no irritating commercials, plus it scans across the screen who's playing and the name of the song. I vote for Sirius.
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