satelite radio

[kmclarke]

Hello all
Satelite radio is very popular around here. Has anyone tried it on a sailboat ?


KC

[sailorjim99]

G'Day KC
I hope you get a reply or two because that was a question I was going to ask the forum.
Hope you had a good Christmas.
Jim.

[camaraderie]

I don't have satellite radio on board but here are footprint maps for both systems since those may concern you:
http://satelliteradio.digitalinsurre...rius_radio.php
http://www.radio-at-sea.com/images/footprint_small.gif

I've had lots of friends here and in the Bahamas with both services and all LOVED their radios. Assuming reception is not an issue for you, I would focus on programming content to make your choice as there is some considerable difference. The respective sites will let you compare this and decide what is best for you.
The only additional caveat is that both of these services have lost and continue to lose a lot of money. XM at this point seems to be the more likely to turn a profit rather than fold its' tent so that may be a tiebreaker if you are having a hard time deciding!

[Goodnewsboy]

Look for high performance satellite internet to emerge. I fear that internet media streaming may make satellite radio obsolete if and when it becomes available.

[Pamlicotraveler]

We have used it on our sailboat and it works great. The appeal to me is the ability to get the News and talk channels. I have XM, so its CNN, CNBC, Fox etc. As far as music, there are so many ways to get music without dealing with satellites that I don't see the need.

I wouldn't worry about the long-term profitability of the services since the majority of your expense is the monthly fee, you would just just stop paying if they failed. Eventually they may merge. In reality the problem they are having is recouping the huge initial investment of developing the systems. The satellites are already in the sky - so the companies will someday declare Chapter 11 and reorganize if they aren't able to turn it around.

[hellosailor]

"The satellites are already in the sky - so the companies will someday declare Chapter 11 and reorganize if they aren't able to turn it around."
Satellites are cheap. Expenses of running the earthstations, administering all the accounts (they broadcast "kill codes" if you don't pay), doing the paperwork, and the monthly payments to lucrative franchise holders like the NBA and NLB are the real problem.
How many payments of $12.95/month does it take to fund the first billion to Howard Stern, or Major League Baseball? If the satcos go bankrupt and the big contracts are voided...who is to say those will ever be remade?

I like the music (don't own one, have visited with folks who do) but "Yet another hundred dollars in communication subscriptions every year" just turns me off. Too many hands in my limited pockets!

[DLM]

Really no reason they shouldn't work.

I have a unit I take from car to car...as long as you have FM in the boat, can plug the unit into a 12V outlet (I have XM).... set out the little gps type antnenna...so it has a clear view of the sky, you should be good to go.

I like my XM in FL and for going cross country....

Not to expensive to get started....it's the next 3 years!!!

dlm

[Jotun]

I have Sirius and have taken my portable unit aboard. It worked great. I recommend Sirius. But then, then have the programing I want.

[wildcard]

Look real hard at there foot print and see if it fits your needs first. They are geostationary sats and only cover the lower 48 and not far offshore.

[seabreeze_97]

Internet streaming....available in my car, or at sea (mighty long cable)....without a computer? Yeah, when they manage that, I guess I won't need satellite radio.
Sirius sats aren't geostationary, they're geosynchronous.