Dec 20 2006
Here are the downsides to satellite radio. These might be reasons to reconsider purchasing the hardware and subscribing to the programs of XM or Sirius satellite radio providers:
- You need a special radio to listen to these special broadcast channels.
- Similar to satellite TV, when you initially program a particular station in, you will experience a very brief lag time while the receiver hones in on the satellite.
- Start-up costs can be expensive, especially if you plan to install an after-market system in your current vehicle.
- XM hardware won't work with Sirius gear and vice versa. (However, the FCC is likely to mandate interoperability within the next few years.)
- You are still likely to experience brief dropouts in urban areas with tall buildings, driving through long tunnels, or driving through heavily wooded mountains. And the stations will fade altogether if you drive outside of the U.S.
- With talk and news channels, you're getting that parts of the program that your particular satellite radio provider chooses to broadcast. It's not edited, per se, but while you might have been able to pick up 3 hours of Randi Rhodes on Air America Radio on your AM dial, you may only get 1 hour of the show on XM.
- They continuously evaluate the programming lineup and make changes over time. In order to introduce new formats and styles that are likely to be more popular than current programs, there's a chance your favorite channel could be discontinued.
- XM is partly owned by Clear Channel, opening up the door for programming biases and increasing the likelihood that you'll hear old familiar programs that you might already get on regular FM radio.
- In some cases the choice between XM or Sirius has already been made for you. On many vehicles the satellite radio receiver is standard equipment and all you have to do is activate it. Here are the vehicles that Sirius and XM are currently installed in.
Postives: The Best Reasons for Subscribing to Satellite Radio
Major Differences Between Sirius and XM Satellite Radio
Little-Known Facts About Satellite Radio's History & Future
