satellite radio

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Jul 25, 2005
124
- - -
I plan on it...

I have an XM Roady 2 unit in my car and I just purchased a Hunter 25.5 it doesn't have a radio so I am plotting how I am going to use my Roady on the boat. I might have to install a radio on the boat because the Roady 2 doesn't have a "boombox" attachment that I know of. -- Jeremy
 
Jun 8, 2004
3,009
Catalina 320 Dana Point
I use an XM (Roady II) wired to aux. input

on the boat's radio. Just using the car antennae that came with it was adequate but required moving it for different headings to prevent interference. I have a Terk Marine ant. mounted on the stern rail that works excellent.
 
Dec 2, 2003
4,245
- - Seabeck WA
I have XM in my new truck.

The reception sucks. We have too many trees and hills. They tell me that a new satellite was due to go up over Canada last week. It's suppose to solve my problem. My trial period expired this week. I set up a monthly account. The person on the phone was in Jamaica. My online banking showed a charge for 3 months, not one month. I called yesterday to complain. Yep, another person in Jamaica. She assured me that she would close the incorrect account parameters and open a new account with the correct billing info. Yep! you guessed it. This morning I checked online. A new 3 month charge was added, not credited. Is this a culture thing in Jamaica? I called again and was connected with Olga in Texas. She credited back my cash while we spoke. Whew. Still don't know if the new satellite will help or if it's even going to launch. More bogus Jamaica spiel? But the boat should have good reception. We'll see. Oh, and Olga gave me a Texas-direct 800 number. Oh, another thing. When the camper is on the truck it partially blocks the antenna. The only direction the truck can point for a good signal is south. Anybody know of a way we can extend the antenna to the top of the camper. Something like a plug on the end of a coax leading to a roof top antenna. I didn't see anything on Terks web site.
 
Jun 6, 2004
104
Pearson P422 Warwick, RI
Love XM

We have a Delphi SkyFi which we carry between the house and the boat. It's on all the time, with an FM modulator in the main cabin or the Delphi Boom-Box in the aft cabin. I haven't played a CD in two seasons. I installed the Terk XM-5 marine antenna on the aft rail. It works fine, but the "FAKRA" style connector does not connect properly with the Sky-Fi's SM-B socket without removing the plastic housing. The underlying connector is very weak, and I have somehow broken two of them without trying.
 
Dec 5, 2003
204
Hunter 420 Punta Gorda, FL
Sirius

We added a Kenwood Sirius tuner to the boat about 3 years ago. Its works great. We spend 2-3 months every year in the Bahamas. AM and FM radio and TV reception is almost non-existant except near Nassau. We like the satellite radio for the commercial free music, CNN, CNBC, NPR, Old Time Radio, and the clean and dirty joke channels. It really passes time on the long passages. They used to have a channel named Vacation that had a lot of island music and Jimmy Buffett, and others. They replaced it with Radio Margretaville which isn't quite the same. Any time that I'm on the boat, Sirius is on. Bill
 
Dec 31, 2004
85
- - Guilford, CT
Sirius

I have an Xact Sirius tuner that goes from the house to the car to the boat. I love it! Great music and no commercials.
 
May 10, 2004
22
Catalina 27 San Francisco Bay.
XM on My boat

I have had XM on my O'day 27 for 2 years. Originally with a Delphi SkiFi in a boom box and now have upgraded to a SkiFi II and a nice Pioneer deck with BOSE speakers in the cabin. This is a really nice set up and this winter will add marine speakers in the cockpit and a sub-woofer somwhere out of the way. The XM is always on and I've never had any problems with the XM service... Really adds a whole new spectrum to the great sailing I already enjoy. Cheers.
 
May 25, 2004
173
Oday 25 Tampa Bay
plug and play

I also have Sirius, I can move the unit from my car to the boat to the boom box, maybe a couple hundred bucks for the kit. It plays from the fm stereo already installed in the car or boat, the boom box might have been another hundred but to me worth it. I am sure the other people have satelite stations almost as good, jack {share holder at .75 a share.}
 
W

Waffle

Sirius is the only way to go!

I have stock in the company. I would not get it either, too cheap. But I you are get Sirius!
 
J

Jack Swords

XM

Have had the original SkiFi XM on our boat for 2 years. Reception is great down here in Mexico. Just purchased a battery operated portable unit (handheld) for Xm and it includes the home unit, car unit (works on 12 vdc or 110 vac or batteries). Has built in RF modulator so you can pick up the signal on any regular FM radio (no wires). I use a tiny FM radio on the deck and get the XM signal on it. Sweet unit! We went with XM as they have over 5 million subscribers. Never had a problem with them. Check out www.XMFan.com for questions, answers, complaints, etc.
 
T

Terry

Do research!

Both Sirius and XM have 3 satellites. Sirius has theirs in inclined ellptical orbit so one is over the US each day. XM has theirs in Geostationary orbit like Direct TV. A Google search will give much info. While searching, check out the financial strength of each company. Neither is making a profit, both losing millions. Income is mainly from the $13 monthly subscriber base. Check out the number of subscribers. Hopefully both will survive for competition, but if one fails the XM or Sirius equipment you purchased (not cheap) will not wotk on the other. Another thing to research is how much aftermarket equipment is being made by other companies for either XM or Sirius. They would not invest in production if there was a risk. These are questions to ponder, but all things being equal (?) check out the programming lineup. Each is decidedly different, buy the receiver that will get you the programming you desire. Or, like some of us, get both.
 
H

Hank

Sirius boom box

Don't get the Sirius boom box it sux. The protable car unit works with any stereo you may already have in your boat. I put some velco just outside my vent for the steering locker and ran the antenna out that way. Attached it with velcro and it works much better than the boom box ever did.
 
Sep 14, 2004
204
Hunter 42 Deltaville VA
XM Roady 2

I have the Roady 2 and bought a home kit for the P42 and a connection that allows the Roady 2 to plug into the FM CD built-in player. The home antenna is mounted under the deck up against the fiberglass in the TV compartment. Reception is great. And you get a remote control with the home kit. So now I can listen to XM driving to the boat, on the boat and back at home in my living room, where I have another home kit installation, all on one Roady and one subscription.
 
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