07-01-2006, 04:16 AM
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.
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.