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we took a trip on Airtrans this week and my son really enjoyed XM satellite radio. i didn't mind listening to the folk channel either. i generally hate subscription services but i told him i'd split the cost with him.
i felt a bit overwhelmed looking at this equipment in walmart. what's the least expensive set-up for listening in the car and on the boombox in his room? or is the room thing not an option w/o an XM boombox?
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You give him everything he wants?
Or you just using him for an excuse to buy more toys?
BGnR
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[quote BigGuynRusty]You give him everything he wants?
Or you just using him for an excuse to buy more toys?
BGnR
no. yes.
he has very little in the way of modern toys compared to his peers. no gameboy or psp. a hand me down playstation 1. limited use of the one television in the house and i yay/nay his program choices.
i figure there's room for me to lighten up a little.
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go somewhere else besides walmart?
where peeps might know a thing or 2 about XM?
walmart is bad anyway...
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he works in a factory making iPods =)
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In most instances, a wireless unit that you can get a home kit for will give you the most useage time.
With the wireless system, theoretically you could have every radio in the house tuned to 88.1 (default on Sirius)(there is a range limitation) listening to the same satelite station.
The biggest problem in a house can be getting the satellite antenna in range of the satellite.(usually a southern exposure window or up on the roof ) The car antenna cables can be rather short. Most of the stores don't sell the extenders and aren't even aware of the amplified antenna systems available when 30 plus 20 feet of wire just aren't long enough. Many of the car antennas require the car's sheet metal as a ground plane for the antenna and will not work or possibly only work marginnally in/on a wooden structure. The house antenna won't need a ground plane.
There are solutions.
Sharing that receiver is gonna be tough. Sirius and XM both had 1/2 price plans for a second unit(monthly subscription), but If I recall correctly, they both had to be activated at the same time.
Circuit City had a car system for $99.99 last week with a $20.00 rebate ($79.00AR ). The home and car system was $149.00 (rebate?) Sirius Starmate Replay.
I rather like a larger display myself.
You do not need to buy the system boombox. That's just a convenient system bundle. It is fairly slick though.
It can be a bit overwhelming and confusing with all the different manufacturers /models and their non-necessarily-interchangeable parts.
Before you buy a unit, decide whether Sirius or XM has the preferrable programming. I know people who have both. Turn on XM system for a couple months then swap for Sirius NFL in the Fall.
XM has a weather channel that's an extra $30.00/$50.00 a month that plugs into a PC that's fairly slick. For those that need it.
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Maybe this answers your questions better.
In the store you'll usually find for sale:
1. receiver
2. receiver with car kit
(includes car antenna, 12 volt cigar plug power, usually a cradle for the receiver, maybe a remote)
3. receiver and car kit and home kit
(car stuff listed in 2., plus home cradle for receiver , window antenna, AC power adapter.)
4. all the stuff you need to build 2. or 3. above depending on what you bought the first round. Lost/ broke, etc..
A. For each system (sirius/XM)
B. For each model and/or brand they carry (or used to carry).
The wireless Receivers do not necessarily come with RCA out adapters, even when the unit is capable of it.
PM OK.
Addendum: I think I was 13 when I got my portable FM radio for Christmas.
FM was great in the sixties. Went with me everywhere. Considering the amount of crap on FM now, satellite seems like a viable solution not to be bombarded with commercials , shock jocks and the same-old/same-old tunes. (and there's shock jocks if you want that, too, just not between and over-riding every tune)
Seems to me, the worst that happens is you get a full time satellite receiver if/when he gets bored with it. :-)
, could you explain exactly how this kid is going to split the (quite substantial) yearly cost of this? As in earn the money?