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I am considering an XM radio purchase that intend to use in the Seattle Area. I have heard pros and cons with and was wondering if I could get some feedback about the reception of the service.

I am curious if it works inside a building or not in the Downtown and Tukwila Areas. Any opinions and advice are welcome.

Thank you in advance for your help.

I am a 10 year subscriber, there are spots where you will have blips while driving. I am currently in my house listening, I also have had it at work. the nice thing about stationary is that you can move the antenna about till you get service. When all else fail's I flip to xm online. (hope that helps with your building q) as long as you can "see" the south sky you will have it, and if you can bounce good from the south its good.

I know that paying for radio is "odd" to some, but I have had the same radio channels nationwide for 10 years and love it. the only thing I love more then XM is pandora, because its all my music all the time. However about once a year I go to a new channel on XM and find new music. I love nothing more then spending a 3 hour trip and having the same radio station the whole way. its not for everyone but I am a very happy user

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If I had an antenna, I would; but I can only transmit on 160 meters.
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DE K7MHI

Unfortunately I can not stream at work I was hoping to be able to hear it inside a commercial building. I hope someone can shed some light on this before I purchase the service.

I do appreciate your input

well it sounds like your going to buy it anyway haha... as I said if you can see the south sky, or bounce easy and clear to the south sky it will work.. if you cant see the sky only testing it out will answer it look around for co workers with it.

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If I had an antenna, I would; but I can only transmit on 160 meters.
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DE K7MHI

One thing to consider before purchasing a XM receiver and subscription is XM's financial state.

They are in considerable debt and are trying to sell out and the last
company that was interested in purchasing them just backed down.

I also have had
XM for some years and hope they don't go under.

This has nothing to do with their reception but may be good to know.

They had at least at one time some earth repeaters in the greater Seattle area that relayed their signal but I don't know if they are still in operation.

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" SILENCE IS CONSENT "

Made to Government Specs:
1) Measured with a micrometer.
2) Marked with a chalk.
3) Cut with an axe.

Jim N7UAP - Bellingham, WA / InterceptRadio.com

one other thought... if you buy one of the new fancy radios they will record like 12 hours of XM to the device so that you can play it back at a later time.

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If I had an antenna, I would; but I can only transmit on 160 meters.
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DE K7MHI

I really was not looking for a recorder. There are some Sports and Talk radio stuff I was wanting to recieve.

well the radios just have recorders in them, so its not like its a drain on the bank. its just how they build them now a days if you dont go for the base version of the radio.

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If I had an antenna, I would; but I can only transmit on 160 meters.
_____
DE K7MHI

Since XM and Sirius merged, do you hear both sets of programming?

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I generate Board Warnings

No. You can get XM plus the best of Sirius (Additional 10 channels)

Or I believe if you have Sirius you can get the best of XM (Additional 10 channels)

But you can't get both XM and Sirius all channels on one radio.

The best of cost extra above the normal XM or Sirius channels.

_________________
" SILENCE IS CONSENT "

Made to Government Specs:
1) Measured with a micrometer.
2) Marked with a chalk.
3) Cut with an axe.

Jim N7UAP - Bellingham, WA / InterceptRadio.com

If you have a smartphone, consider streaming on that.

how much is it per month ?? :beer:

the channel set has actually merged, as stated you can get "the best of sirus" which is things like Howard or XM with playboy etc. so you can actually get all channels on one radio, its one lineup now a days. the "extra channels" are all lame IMO I just need music.

however the music channels are the same now, they merged them all and its the same music on each system (I have each system oddly) it is also the same content on DishNetwork. The only system with different content is the streaming which has additional channels not available over the air, I think its where they test out new ones as well as ways to get people to buy that alone or something

its 14-7 a month depending on who and where.. I have handful of radios and paid life subscription on them so I pay about 7 a year for the ones that I don't have life on, with the family plan thing.

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If I had an antenna, I would; but I can only transmit on 160 meters.
_____
DE K7MHI

K thanks for the info :bowrofl:

Yes, the XM system DOES employ "ground repeaters" in metropolitan areas to allow the signal to penetrate buildings, unlike Sirius which didn't.
Now that it's all "one big happy family" who knows...

If the system ever "goes under" there will be LOTS of really cool stuff us
HAMS could put up on the 2.3 Ghz band.

The "low power" ground repeaters run 300W SSPA's, the high power unit on the KOIN tower in Portland when turned up to full smoke makes 3KW
from a BIG klystron-- the blower motor that cools it is 1HP and throws off enough heat to keep a small house warm and toasty.

Saw that when the coax jumper from the waveguide to the antenna failed and I got to ride a tower elevator for the first time... Still have to climb 70 feet up to reach it, but 900 feet of half-inch nylon rope is HEAVY!!! Also replaced the antenna and the poorly made mount it swayed around on (causing the 1-5/8" air-dielectric cable to flex at the EIA flange fittings, then, arcy sparky :mrgreen:

The KTWB tower on Capitol I believe... has the same ground setup, the antenna not being quite as high, and waveguide feeds a power divider and three panels instead of the big hundred-pound omni they run in Portland...

There are probably 30-40 low-power ground repeater stations in the
"Seattle" market, the company I work for did the "drive test" antenna installations for LCC International, the company that engineered the whole mess.

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That is how the people at DARPA think. they take things and use them in unconventional ways, to see what happens.